A blazing wall of blue flames erupted beneath me, and I barely managed to sidestep in time to dodge it. I quickly noticed the fire mana particles converging toward me, signaling another imminent attack.
"Tch!" I clicked my tongue in frustration. Instinctively, I touched the wall of flames with my left hand, channeling my ice magic through Lucent Harmony.
[Ice Wall]
My ice magic clashed with the fire, the two elements battling for dominance. Using the Laplace method, I simplified the complex calculations, allowing me to cast the spell more swiftly. The flames hissed and crackled as they met the encroaching ice, which spread rapidly, freezing the wall of fire solid.
I exhaled deeply, feeling the strain on my
But I didn't have time to catch my breath properly. With a snap of Alastor's fingers, wind scythes manifested in front of me, slicing through the air with deadly precision. My senses screamed in alarm as I predicted the flow of mana and twisted my body to dodge the scythes I could, while using lightning magic to shatter those I couldn't avoid.
The added challenge of not being allowed to use my sword made it even harder. Every movement had to be precise, every spell perfectly timed.
"Your use of the Laplace method is pretty good," Alastor remarked, his voice carrying a hint of approval. He snapped his fingers again, and the ground beneath us began to rumble, cracks spreading outwards as if the earth itself was being torn apart.
This was my training: surviving Alastor's relentless onslaught of magic. Of course, he had placed many restrictions on himself. The strongest magic he could use was limited to five-circle spells, and he couldn't cast too many at once.
Without these limitations, he could blitz me by insta-casting a 7-circle spell, and I wouldn't stand a chance.
That's just the gap between us.
I used my earth magic to counter the tectonic waves he was casting. Destructive interference occurs when two identical waves are superimposed exactly out of phase. By observing the flow of mana with Lucent Harmony, I ensured my spell's waves would align perfectly out of phase with his, neutralizing the seismic force.
With a focused breath, I channeled my mana into the ground. The earth responded to my will, creating waves that mirrored Alastor's but in perfect opposition. The ground quivered, then stilled as the destructive interference canceled out the violent tremors.
Alastor watched, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Impressive," he said, his tone carrying a hint of challenge. He wasn't done yet, and I knew it.
He pointed a finger and mimicked the firing of a bullet. I saw the congregation of mana particles, but before I could react, pain seared through my right shoulder.
"Ah!" I cried out as his spell struck, rock mana enhanced and fired with incredible velocity.
"That couldn't be a five-circle spell," I gasped.
"It was," he chuckled. "It's a five-circle spell even seven-circle mages would struggle to cast, but of course, it's nothing for me."
Show-off, I thought. Turning to Luna, who I could communicate with telepathically, I asked, How do I stop him?
Use time magic, she replied swiftly.
Alastor prepared to cast the spell again. This time, I activated my time magic, slowing down the world from my perspective. The rocks moved with relentless speed, even in this slower reality, but now I had the edge to dodge them.
As the spell fired, I sidestepped, feeling the rush of displaced air as the rock bullets whizzed past me. My heart pounded as I moved with precision, evading each projectile. The pain in my shoulder was a constant reminder of the stakes, but the adrenaline sharpened my focus.
"Impressive," Alastor remarked, a glint of approval in his eyes. "You've adapted quickly."
I nodded, my breath steadying. The training was brutal, but every moment was a step closer to mastering my abilities.
Alastor wasn't done testing me. He raised his hand, summoning a series of fireballs that hovered menacingly around him. With a flick of his wrist, they shot towards me in rapid succession.
I called upon my water magic, using Lucent Harmony to manipulate the mana flow. Streams of water erupted from my hands, meeting the fireballs mid-air and dousing them with a hiss of steam. The intense heat and pressure made my skin prickle, but I held my ground, maintaining the flow of water until every flame was extinguished.
"Good," Alastor said, nodding. "But let's see how you handle this."
Without warning, he conjured a whirlwind of wind blades, each one slicing through the air with deadly precision. The blades converged on my position, and I quickly realized I couldn't dodge them all.
I activated my lightning magic, calling forth a surge of electricity. With Laplace's method enhancing my calculations, I directed the lightning to intercept the wind blades. Sparks flew as the blades disintegrated upon contact with the crackling energy.
The strain of using multiple elements simultaneously began to wear on me. My mana reserves were depleting rapidly, and I knew I couldn't keep this up for long. Alastor, sensing my exhaustion, paused and lowered his hands.
"You're pushing yourself too hard," he said, his tone more instructive than critical. "Balance is key. Conserve your mana and strike when the moment is right."
I nodded, panting heavily. "Understood, Uncle."
He smiled at my use of the familial term, then gestured towards the training area. "Take a break. Reflect on what you've learned today. We'll continue when you're ready."
I deactivated Lucent Harmony, feeling the rush of power dissipate as the elements I could use were once again locked away. Exhaustion washed over me, and I let out a deep breath.
Over the past week, the intense training sessions with Alastor had deepened my understanding of five-circle magic. Combining this hands-on experience with the knowledge I'd gained from the novel, I felt more confident in my abilities.
Each day, Alastor pushed me to my limits, forcing me to adapt and refine my techniques. The grueling regimen was paying off; spells that once seemed daunting were now within my grasp. The intricacies of mana manipulation, the precise control required for each element, and the strategic application of the Laplace method were becoming second nature.
As I stood there, muscles aching and mana reserves low, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The path to mastery was long, but I was making significant strides. I knew I had to keep pushing forward, honing my skills and preparing for the challenges that lay ahead.