Chapter 405 - 403: Success!
Swish!
A failed scroll was crumpled by Hilia and thrown into the trash can.
A new one was spread out again.
"This time I will definitely succeed!"
The young girl lifted the pen, its tip emitting a faint glow due to the output of magic power.
Where the pen tip passed, a bluish glow appeared and then faded away.
Array, scroll, magic guide device—three directions requiring runes. Arrays do not demand high detail and magic power; the philosophy is that bigger is stronger. The supply of magic power relies entirely on magic crystals and materials that produce specific attributes of magic power, allowing even ordinary people to set them up, focusing only on macro-regulation.
Magic guide devices, including magic puppets, aircraft, weapon armor, etc., merely use runes as an auxiliary function, emphasizing the connection between components and the efficiency of transmitting magic power, focusing on material strength rather than runes. There are machines capable of drawing runes in batches, specialized in creating micro rune arrays for mass-producing magic guide devices.
Only scrolls test the skill of rune drawing. It involves injecting magic power and spiritual power; magic power draws magic circuits, imprinting magic onto the scroll, while spiritual power serves as an interface, allowing the scroll user to control the magic within.
"When will there be a machine capable of drawing scrolls..."
Another error occurred, leading to the destruction of the scroll, Hilia rubbed her temples and sighed deeply.
Benovia, quietly reading beside her, laughed upon hearing this: "Scrolls require mages to inject spiritual power, needing coordination between spiritual power and magic power. Magic guide devices don’t have spiritual power, so it’s not feasible."
Hilia put down the pen and stretched lazily, "There must be a way, just like magic puppets—whoever thought they could surpass mages and even store magic before?"
She was attempting to create a combination technique scroll.
However, even with Rose’s guidance, it remained incredibly challenging.
Combining four spells together, each spell has a different magic power input value, requiring constant caution, sometimes the input value needs immediate modification during the transformation of paths.
For some paths, the magic power input value needs to gradually diminish, until the input value reduces to zero when the pen is lifted.
In such situations, if one is not careful, it’s easy to overlook due to prolonged concentration, wasting all prior efforts.
Especially when trying a new type of scroll for the first time, errors become more frequent.
Even Hilia, after failing with 100 scrolls, still hadn’t successfully completed one.
If drawing scrolls weren’t time-bound, Hilia would definitely choose to take brief rests after completing each part before continuing.
Unfortunately, that’s not feasible; if paused too long, the magic power input at the beginning dissipates. Scroll ink can only keep magic power for a limited time, unable to preserve it indefinitely. Completion is required to form a complete magic circuit, securely locking magic power within the scroll.
"Magic power input control, path precision, ink quantity... all these tasks could be replaced by magic guide devices."
Hilia picked up the pen again, tapping her rosy lips in thought, considering the feasibility of machines replacing manual scroll drawing.
"Which is to say, we’re missing a magic guide device capable of outputting spiritual power. Once resolved, mass production of scrolls won’t be just a dream."
A magic guide device storing spiritual power is the focus of research for major empires, guilds, and chambers of commerce. Unfortunately, no one has succeeded yet.
Thinking of scattered thoughts, Hilia was about to continue when her peripheral vision caught the scroll of array records she had casually tossed aside.
Blake had sent it over; it was recorded by an array master they dispatched to yesterday’s location, printed on paper and returned.
Today, not only were student groups pausing their advance, but the Law Enforcement Knight Order also halted their main camp assault.
Instead of resting, they received orders to inspect yesterday’s completed outposts for any hidden sacrificial arrays.
News reported every outpost has them underground.
Upon receiving the array records, Hilia studied them briefly and shared insights with Blake, informing them of this array’s function.
Upon parting, Hilia saw Blake’s face light up in realization, seemingly solving his puzzle.
Unintentionally glancing at this heap of array information, Hilia mused on the array’s function and suddenly had an epiphany.
"Absorbing souls... souls and spiritual power seem somewhat related. If souls can be absorbed, might it uncover methods to absorb spiritual power?"
Hilia stared at the array documents.
Unfortunately, the central altar was destroyed, preventing knowledge of the core array structure, only showing the soul absorption framework used on residents.
"These cultists used beds as mediums. As soon as someone lies down, the array activates, extracting soul energy during sleep..."
Magic power can be replenished through meditation, spiritual power through sleep, souls... can only slowly recover through gradual nourishment.
Reports on ordinary cultists sent back revealed their bodies and minds were in poor condition, with some remaining delirious, still exhibiting madness.
Those who regained consciousness remained bedridden, requiring months or even years of recovery.
Such an evil array merely thinking about it made Hilia uncomfortable.
Rose’s voice echoed in her mind, "It’s not the array that’s evil, but humans. This array was reverse-engineered from one that nurtures souls; arrays are just tools. Every magic can kill many ordinary people, does that mean magic itself is evil?"
Hilia replied, "I know... just feels uncomfortable. Lord Rose, do you think this array could serve as a reference to study spiritual power storage runes?"
"Of course. The body and spirit are vessels for the soul; arrays targeting souls inherently address body and spirit, akin to combination techniques. Once developed and matured, it evolves into a separate classification, no longer called combination technique."
Rose said with a smile, "Just like the combination technique you’re researching now—once you succeed, you can call it a multi-attribute spell and give it a unique name. Arrays and magic guide devices can run parallel with multiple attributes, so why can’t scrolls?"
Hilia nodded and refocused on scroll creation.
Fully automated scroll-drawing magic guide devices could be discussed later.
Currently, the time and conditions aren’t available for research.
Hilia lifted the pen, took a deep breath, drank the potion provided by Encore, cast Clarity Skill on herself, enhancing concentration comprehensively, and resumed writing.
"Today’s goal: complete one!"
By dusk, the pen was lowered.
Hilia tossed aside the scroll pen, picked up the scroll, and observed the rune pathways circulate, gradually forming circuits, revealing joy.
"Finally done, it consumed nearly 300 blank scrolls, the difficult beginning ended, verified success! Next is—"
"Manual batch drawing time!"