Chapter 209: Life Magic (Seeking Guaranteed Monthly Votes!)
The mirror image said to Ace: “Perhaps we can use Advanced Magical Trickery and the Mana Crystal Shaping spell as a starting point to study the Mana rhythm that shapes and fixes forms. We can use the Spirit of the Book to record the fleeting rhythm for analysis.”
Ace heard the mirror image’s words and said admiringly: “Worthy of me. We have accumulated rich experience in improving and even modifying Lesser Runes. It is not impossible to create a specialized rune. A rune is a regular expression of supernatural power in nature. If we need this tool but there is no matching original rune, then we shall create it!”
The mirror image continued: “The host is indeed clever. We can fully exert our subjective initiative. Based on understanding the laws of the supernatural, we can utilize them to achieve our desired goals!”
While they were speaking, the small flame had stopped. It had used up almost all its Mana, and the flame was about to extinguish. Ace saw its humanoid shape disappear, revealing a transparent spherical object in the center.
In the vision of Insight Perception, Ace discovered two complex Lesser Rune structures within the transparent sphere at the center of the small flame: the Lesser Familiar Covenant Spell and the Lesser Activated Flame.
A certain part of the Activated Flame rune structure was flickering, slowly siphoning Mana from the surrounding environment.
“It seems the Automatic Siphon Rune is working. An elemental life form capable of replenishing its own Mana can be called a true elemental life.
From the current perspective, the elemental life created by this spell consists of a rune core and an elemental exterior. The rune core is its heart; the loss of the elemental exterior will not cause fatal damage.”
Ace observed and recorded the reactions of the created Lesser Fire Elemental. Subsequently, he destroyed the rune core directly, and sure enough, the elemental life vanished immediately.
After the elemental life disappeared, Ace continued recording:
“Currently, two forms of disappearance have been discovered: one is the complete dissipation of Mana, and the other is the destruction of the core. The Lesser Fire Elemental is more suitable for combat, but the Activation Spell should be developable into a series. Perhaps I can create more activation types and application varieties.”
Closing the Grimoire, Ace said to the mirror image: “The Activation Rune and its derivative applications have been preliminarily explored. We can combine this spell and its variations with the Familiar Covenant Spell to create a large number of low-level activated familiars. Activated familiars will become capable assistants to Wizard Apprentices, applicable in research, combat, production, and daily life!”
The mirror image replied: “Further exploration and research cannot be solved overnight. I propose we stop this research for now. Let us first study the remaining two runes, explore a method for rapid magical shipbuilding, and execute the ‘Raid Ace Estate’ plan as soon as possible!”
Subsequently, the mirror image began drawing a new simple rune structure. The activated spell affected a group of somewhat shriveled mushrooms. Under the spell’s influence, the mushrooms began to grow wildly, then quickly withered.
“The effect of this rune is rapid growth. It seems to use some force to promote orderly division and proliferation, but the nutrition couldn’t keep up, leading to excessive consumption and withering. This rune can be called the Proliferation Rune.”
Ace analyzed the spell as he watched.
The mirror image then tested a simple Spell Model composed of the last rune. After casting, the withered mushrooms actually began to recover. Simultaneously, in Ace’s Insight Perception vision, the nutrients in the soil decreased significantly, and desertification even occurred.
“Promoting plant recovery and growth by rapidly absorbing and consuming soil nutrients—this rune can be called the Nutrient Siphon Rune. Now that its effectiveness on plants is confirmed, we need to test the effects of these runes on animals.”
The mirror image grabbed a few fresh Spike-Headed Marmots from the Monster breeding and confinement area—the same kind that had suddenly appeared in the northern farm. He carried the special Mana-contaminated iron cage in one hand and brought them all over.
Ace first used a simple Spell Model composed of the Lesser Activation Rune on a Spike-Headed Marmot. It seemed to have no effect. The marmot looked at him with a bewildered expression. Looking at the innocent marmot, Ace punched it hard on the head with a fist reinforced by Mana Crystals. Seeing the marmot seeing stars, Ace smiled happily.
“Seeing these marmots reminds me of that dead barbarian mother. I won’t feel relieved unless I punch them a few times!”
Ace said with a chuckle, his hands not stopping. He used the second Spell Model, centered on the Lesser Proliferation Rune.
As the simple Spell Model activated, Mana pulsed and rushed toward the Spike-Headed Marmot. It seemed to sense something was wrong and struggled to escape, but Ace pinned it down with a Mana Crystal weapon, rendering it immobile.
The Mana smoothly poured into the Spike-Headed Marmot. Its muscles bulged, its eyes protruded, and it seemed to endure great pain, aging rapidly.
“Huff, huff…”
The aged marmot gasped weakly. Ace was somewhat surprised by this result, but it was reasonable.
A spell that rapidly promotes plant proliferation causing animal aging is an acceptable phenomenon. Ace wished he had a high-magnification microscope now so he could observe the cells or even deeper changes, assuming the animals and plants of the other world were also composed of cells.
Subsequently, he used the Spell Model composed of the Nutrient Siphon Rune. It seemed to have no effect either. The aged Spike-Headed Marmot remained lying on the ground. Ace tried feeding it food and found that although it didn’t regain its youth, its weakness was greatly alleviated.
Over the next few days, Ace used several spells continuously and combined them repeatedly, finally reaching a conclusion.
“The Activation Rune can also produce a weak effect on animals, slightly enhancing their overall functions. If used on inanimate objects or plants, the Spell Model composed of Activation Runes can produce powerful effects, directly changing the state of the object, possessing the marvelous ability to bestow life upon inanimate objects (including elements).
The effect of the Activation Rune is adjustable. We can use the Activation Rune incompletely, ultimately turning an inanimate object into a slightly active object that can be commanded. This application might be one of the research directions for future magical shipbuilding.
The Proliferation Rune is effective on both plants and animals. It promotes rapid growth in animals and plants in a short time, essentially causing immense consumption of their life force.
The Nutrient Siphon Rune can effectively absorb nutrients to nourish the target of the spell, but nutrients do not come from thin air. Plants need fertile soil or fertilizer nearby, and animals need to consume large amounts of food. Notably, this nourishment cannot offset the life consumption caused by proliferation, meaning proliferated animals and plants are inevitably short-lived.
Finally, we have not yet determined the efficacy and nature of the rune with an unknown identity, but the above three runes can only take effect if this rune exists. Therefore, we can hypothesize that this rune is a kind of foundational rune, similar to how elemental spells require the corresponding Elemental Foundation Rune to take effect.
The effects of these three runes are all related to life. I provisionally name this unknown rune the Life Rune. Its specific nature and efficacy await future research.
In summary, after in-depth research on these four runes, I am certain this is a brand-new direction for magical research. Perhaps it can be named Life Magic!”
Ace concisely recorded the research results in his Magic Diary and closed the Grimoire.
Just then, the mirror image suddenly shouted: “I discovered a magical combination spell!”
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