After advancing to a first-level wizard, Ronan's greatest regret was not being able to fully leverage the advantages of his two transcendent domains.
At Hoddam Academy, he had chosen to focus on energy spells in front of Grace to utilize his trump card, [Energy Missile - Particle Stream], building a stronger spell system around it.
Later, at the Silver Magic Ring, he yearned to join because the metal spell inheritance and [Charged Weapon - Breaking Force] were a "match made in heaven," capable of maximizing this domain power.
Unfortunately, both plans fell through, leading Ronan to choose ice spells.
Now, turning back to practice zero-level spells merely for an ice domain, while neglecting first-level spells, seemed foolish—he already had [Particle Stream] as a domain-level trump card, so why need another ice domain? Couldn't first-level spells develop a transcendent domain?
But now, the situation was different.
"If my theory holds true..."
Ronan suppressed his excitement, his eyes bright with anticipation, "Then the [Permafrost] sigil in my hands might reach unprecedented heights!"
With his current first-level wizard strength, reverting to zero-level spell proficiency was, if not as easy as eating or drinking, significantly simpler than mastering a first-level spell.
Once a spell developed a transcendent domain, the ice domain constructed by [Permafrost] could undergo a transformative leap!
Fortunately, he possessed most zero-level ice spells, courtesy of Linus.
Ronan calmed himself, quickly formulating a plan.
The initially chosen anchors, the three first-level spells—[Ice Armor], [Frost Spear], [Frost Howl]—would be reduced to two, with the third anchor slot reserved for—zero-level [Ice Ball], [Frost Ray], [Ice Blade].
These were the skills Ronan would focus on next.
A new domain structure was forming.
In the short term, this new ice domain might weaken, but once the "lagging" zero-level spells reached master-level proficiency and developed a transcendent domain, everything would change drastically.
Energized, Ronan was ready to practice [Ice Ball].
He already had a foundation, with proficiency nearing mastery; reaching expert wouldn't take long.
"Hah!"
Casually throwing an ice ball at the distant test wall, lighting a small area of crystals, Ronan suddenly shook his head, realizing.
"Why practice zero-level spells in a training room? I don't care about power output. It's a waste; I'll find a spot outdoors."
Ronan left the training room, heading straight out of the Ring City instead of returning to Blueberry Inn.
Exiting the massive metal gate, leaving the rune array's protection.
Standing on the edge of the seven silver towers' base, Ronan looked down at the empty valley, the high winds making his robe flap.
Using his flight ring, he descended, supported by an invisible force.
This was his first time leaving the Silver Magic Ring since arriving, gazing at the vast forests shrouded in mist, with distant, eerie roars echoing.
Ronan extended a hand, watching ice crystals and frost drift from his fingers, scattered by the wind.
"From now on, I'm a bona fide ice wizard."
In a small tavern, the air was filled with harp music like flowing water. Wizards in various robes sat in groups, enjoying an atmosphere of quiet leisure.
With a pleasant chime, the door opened, and a figure entered.
A tall, burly man with a rugged appearance and fiery red hair, looking more like a knight than a wizard, if not for the flame patterns covering his face and neck.
The red-haired man scanned the tavern, quickly spotting a figure in the corner, smiling as he approached.
"You're late again, Quidi."
Before the red-haired man reached the figure, a cold voice spoke.
Seated alone at a round wooden table, the figure in a silver-gray robe looked up, revealing a handsome, energetic face.
An undeniably attractive young man, exuding charm, though his overly calm azure eyes and the cold aura around him sent a clear "keep away" message.
"Just a minute. You're too strict, Damien."
Quidi shrugged, ordering his drink with a snap, then sat across from the handsome man, "Are all ice wizards as hard to get along with as you?"
"Am I hard to get along with?"
Ronan swirled his crystal glass, squinting at his reflection, whispering, "Perhaps."
He realized he'd gradually become a loner in others' eyes, whether from walking the wizard path alone or months of ice spell practice.
Ronan didn't know—perhaps both.
"Enough about that, the usual."
Quidi smiled, and Ronan tossed a small black pouch onto the table.
It landed with a clink, filled with small gems, heavy.
Quidi quickly opened it, soon exclaiming over a thumb-sized, irregular blue crystal, "A mid-level beast core?! Wow, Damien, you've gotten stronger!"
Ronan stayed silent, watching him.
After a bit more fussing, Quidi finished checking the pouch's contents, pulling out an assortment of bottles and jars from his pouch, placing them before Ronan.
"Mental enhancement potions, take your pick."
Ronan focused on the potions, methodically selecting from the table.
When he stopped, he'd kept only three bottles, returning the rest.
"Convert the remainder to equivalent magic stones."
Ronan's face remained calm, unreadable.
"Damien, at this rate, you'll become a potion expert."
Quidi grumbled, collecting the remaining potions, "As a friend, I must warn you, over-reliance on potions will clutter your mental energy like a carpet infested with decades of dust mites."
Ronan listened to Quidi's rambling impassively.
Quidi, this month's acquaintance and barely a friend.
Like Ronan, a first-level wizard, fire-focused, not a Ring member.
Once a knight and mercenary, an adventurer for decades, Quidi discovered wizard potential by chance and pursued it.
Uninterested in runes, potions, or alchemy due to his background, Quidi earned a living hunting magical beasts outside the Ring and trading in their cores.
This connection led Ronan to him.
Ronan spent the month outside the Ring's forests, practicing ice spells on various first-level beasts, refining his spell system, selling cores through Quidi for steady extra income.
Quidi's many years outside the Ring introduced him to other first-level wizards, some studying potion-making, selling potions through him, offering a greater variety than shops.
Ronan had exhausted the early first-level mental potions in shops, turning to Quidi for new potions.
But this avenue seemed limited; last time, he'd found two or three "new" potions, now only one.
"If there's nothing else, I'll go."
Collecting his potions and Quidi's magic stone difference, Ronan rose to leave.
Quidi, exasperated, slapped the table, "Come on, Damien, there's more to wizard life than meditation and battle!"
"Yes, and spell research, rune study, potion development..."
"..."
Quidi, speechless, sighed, "Talking to you is dull. Fine, something of interest."
Ronan paused, glancing back, "Let's hear it."
Quidi took a swig of beer, "A Ring member needs an ice wizard to adjust a rune array.
"The task's been posted for two months, unclaimed. Haven't you wanted someone to vouch for your Ring application?
"Maybe this is your chance."
Ronan turned.
He knew Quidi had special channels, accessing tasks limited to Ring members.
Usually low-reward, shunned by Ring members but necessary, these tasks reached "pre-Ring" wizards through intermediaries like Quidi.
"Is it difficult?"
Ronan pondered, asking.
"Not difficult."
Quidi explained, "It's a long-term task, posted monthly.
"The issue's the task issuer."
"The issuer?"
Ronan frowned.
"They've upset many in the Ring, so no one takes their tasks.
"The rewards are low, and their temper's foul."
Quidi shrugged, "So no one outside the Ring wants it either."
"It is a chance."
"Just a chance."
Quidi tossed Ronan a slip of paper, sipping his drink, "Be prepared; others had your idea but failed.
"Joining the Ring offers resources, but how much trickles down to us?
"So many restrictions; why not enjoy thirty years of freedom first?
"Time's on our side, right, Damien.
"Damien! Damien! Are you listening?"
Ronan had left, Quidi's shouts fading behind.
He glanced at the slip, noting a simple address—131 Bronze Ingot Avenue.
If the Ring's outskirts had a "slum," Bronze Ingot Avenue was it.
Ronan strolled the desolate street, cracked ground underfoot, abandoned houses and shops lining the sides.
Only a few homes had lit crystal lamps.
Hard to imagine a Ring member wizard living here; even the poorest first-level wizard wouldn't tolerate this.
Ronan spun a pigeon egg-sized ice shard in his fingers, a technique he'd developed for ice energy control.
He walked the street, checking his character panel.
**[Strength: First-Level Formal Wizard (24%)]**
Potion after potion, his progress reached 24% of a first-level wizard, mental energy more than doubled since advancement.
By wizard standards, he approached mid-first-level status.
Frequent potion use required impurity removal, prompting Ronan to diligently practice [Basic Meditation], keeping [Realm of Clarity] active, breaking the master-level 100 proficiency threshold.
Every 100 points marked a threshold; Ronan noticed improved impurity removal efficiency.
Anyone slightly aware of his situation would warn against excessive potion use, fearing mixed mental energy would hinder future advancement.
In truth, Ronan's case defied expectation—thanks to [Realm of Clarity]'s constant cleansing, his mental energy was purer than typical early first-level wizards.
Ronan felt the benefits—faster casting, reduced mental energy expenditure, smoother spell transitions.
His only hindrance remained soul aptitude, even after purification, ranking him average among first-level wizards.
Focused on ice spells, his usual spells advanced little, with first-level ice spells [Ice Armor], [Frost Spear], and [Frost Howl] reaching proficiency.
His hard-worked [Ice Ball] had reached (Expert 784/800).
A breakthrough to master-level wasn't far.
With first-level wizard strength focusing on a zero-level spell, proficiency rose swiftly.
Previously, reaching this level would've taken three months.
Ronan tested, finding his near-expert [Ice Ball] with two first-level anchors matched prior all-first-level domain power.
Adding [Ice Ball] as a fourth anchor boosted domain power by nearly one-third.
His efforts seemed rightly directed.
But true transformation awaited [Ice Ball]'s master-level breakthrough and transcendent domain development.
Unknowingly, Ronan reached his destination.
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