[Please Welcome 'WeAreLegion'!]
Gray had barely entered the Chat when THEY arrived. Just like sharks who had smelled new blood, they were hooked!
— SleepiestWizard: "Welcome… WeAreLegion!"
— ClassyMagus: "A New Member? Sweet!"
— JollyRanger: "Hehe, introduce yourself!"
— HumongousStaff: "Three sizes too if a fairy!"
They wanted him to introduce himself, eh? Then he bloody would, the only way he knew how: going way freaking overboard! He couldn't help but chuckle as he typed:
"Sigh~ I'm merely a humble mage, cursed from birth. Handsomeness? Unbelievable! Smarts? Mind-blowing! Female fans? Wanting my babies and always ambushing me!"
Humble?! If that was called humble, then there were no shameless people in the world! Seeing this, the mages instantly replied:
— HumongousStaff: "I'll help you with the female disciples!"
— IcicleMaster: "If the above is a curse… please share it all with me."
— FluffySlime: "Still, how about you do it properly this time? Rank? Affinity? Teacher?"
Alright, alright. He would be serious for once, only slightly embellishing the truth…
"Rank? I just arrived, so none. Affinity? Not to brag, but ALL! As for a teacher, there's one I have my eyes on. He's called Teacher Gale…"
— ThornMaster: "That's crazy! Avoid Teacher Gale at all costs!"
— FluffySlime: "Who knows if he's even alive anymore!"
— ClassyMagus: "Dead? Necromancy time, haha!"
— Little Apple: "That's if there's still a soul left…"
They were all freaking convinced that he was dead?! Seeing this, he couldn't help but feel mischievous as he confidently added…
"Dead man? He's literally chilling at home right now, and I guarantee he'll reappear tomorrow! As for the Headmaster and Enforcer? They were utterly blown away!"
This was… a prophecy?! This Newbie sure was insane! First, the overall way he answered questions, and now this?! Seeing how over-the-top he seemed, he was doubted:
— NotEasilyFooled: "Bullshit! I would know if a new student had an Affinity to ALL!"
— ThornMaster: "Damn, Not Fooled calling out the Newbie! New guy, what now?"
Answer his question? Why would Gray do that? No, he'd do the opposite!
"You're well informed? Do you know what happened in that Blood Realm? Do you know why the Headmaster's losing hair? Did you hear the tragedy of Dark Plagueis the Wise?"
— NotEasilyFooled: "W-What?! How is anyone supposed to know all that?!"
— WeAreLegion: "Oh, but I DO know it all. Wanna ask the Headmaster to fact-check this?"
— NotEasilyFooled: "T-There's no need. We'll see if Teacher Gale does resurface tomorrow!"
Disturb the Headmaster to ask him why he was losing his hair? Fuck, this was the best way to court disaster! Fact check? More like annihilate one's future!
But just as Gray was about to change the topic, he noticed something. In the Chat there was now a user called KnowledgeWell?! As soon as he saw the name, he knew he'd be the one!
— KnowledgeWell: I see that we have a new member. Welcome Newbie!
— WeAreLegion: Oh? That name, are you a scholar? Let's be friends!
— KnowledgeWell: Sure! If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Gray didn't hesitate. Now that he had the okay from the guy, he instantly stormed him with so many questions that they filled the entire goddamn Chat!
"What's Mana? How does it work? How does one sense and get it? How do spells work in general? What about Astral Magic? What do you think of crafting professions? What…."
The poor guy couldn't help but freeze for a second, but then he wholeheartedly started answering. With this, it didn't take long for the two to take over the entire Chat!
Gray Asking → Well guy answering → Gray not understanding something in the answer and asking even more questions → …. It was an infinite cycle!
Still, at some point, someone did try to stop it…
— SerenityFirst: Fellow Mage, don't you think we should let Well rest a bit?
— JollyRanger: Yes! You should just attend classes! There's no need for all this!
— WeAreLegion: No need? Let him rest? Scoff— What is the point of a well that doesn't quench one's thirst? I'm allowing KnowledgeWell to reach his full potential! Let's resume!
The two could only watch shellshocked as the two's conversation resumed. As for anyone trying to stop them? They'd be crushed by Gray's impeccable arguments!
As he saw them try, he couldn't help but chuckle…
"Pfft— You guys are way too green to stop me!"
Yet, even as he laughed, his hands were busy noting all that information down. Basically, every type of Magic had its rules, but getting Mana boiled down to 3 core principles.
1. Mana Gathering → From the atmosphere…
2. Mana Borrowing → From the stars usually…
3. Mana Plundering → From Magical Beasts' Cores mostly…
And once one found a way to get Mana, the next step was to condense it all into a Mage Core in order to use powerful spells eventually! The Knowledge guy made it so simple!
Gray even unconsciously found himself trying to sense Mana.
That's when it all changed, EVERYTHING!
The air started… glowing?!
Something suddenly clicked in him as he started seeing tons and tons of blue particles floating around, just like hundreds of fireflies! It was… MANA!
Focusing, he sucked it all in— or tried. As if his crush in high school, the blue particles totally ignored his existence! Still, that didn't mean he'd give up.
"You blue little shits, just you wait! I'll conquer you all!"
What followed could be called the most pathetic training montage ever. Only now did Gray understand the effect of this thing → Mana Potential: NULL
"It's fine! You're Gray Gale, the man who can use EVERY magic in existence!" As far as he was concerned, Special Affinity: NONE = ALL, with extra work.
Thus, he kept frowning, struggling, and clenching his butt as he focused non-stop until finally…
— WOOSH! WOOSH! —
It was small, but a tiny breeze suddenly erupted from his hand, knocking over a glass on a counter. This was…. MAGIC! He felt so ecstatic that he even jumped on the sofa and…
"Muhahahaha! This Lord's Ascension starts now!"
"Breeze? What breeze? Before long, it will be a GALE!"
"Watch out, Golden Crow Academy! I'm coming for you!"
Only then did Gray finally realize how much time had passed. He had spent an entire night training, asking countless questions, and giving PTSD to a poor student.
As for the dark circles under his eyes? Who freaking cared? MAGIC!
As long as he obtained magic, he wouldn't mind not sleeping for an entire year!
No, he was not only hyped but also knew exactly where he needed to go now! Since magic would take some time, he'd focus on unlocking his Library instead! Time for SOULS!
But, just as he opened his home's door, he was suddenly ambushed.
On his doorstep was a stray?! Well, she was kinda cute…