What is Secret Transmission Dynamics?

"……."

I shot a glare at Janggil after his grandiose introduction. For the explanation of Secret Transmission Dynamics to feel so much like some cult sermon—its credibility plummeted straight to rock bottom.

"So. Why say it won't work?"

"Hm…."

I pointed to my foundation, which was vast bordering on absurdly ridiculous.

"1-level Secret Transmission Dynamics is that powerful? Enough to obliterate this entire space?"

Janggil's red orb squished into a semicircle again.

"Hard to believe, but…."

I shrugged as I glanced around.

"Then how did the previous pathfinders train it?"

"Virtual dimension?"

At my question, Janggil shuddered briefly.

No sooner had he spoken than a grid pattern spread across the surroundings. The black metal staff transformed into human form. In a short time, a boy with black hair and red eyes appeared.

I swung my limbs around, getting a feel for it.

"Feels off— is this the virtual dimension?"

He muttered about explaining how intricate and advanced the virtual dimension tech was, but I brushed it off lightly.

"So, when do you teach me Secret Transmission Dynamics…."

Before I could finish, his finger tapped my forehead.

"No way."

Suddenly, a skewer-stabbing shock pierced my brain, and a flood of information poured in.

"Agyaaak!"

"Kkuuuugh…."

Once I endured the brain-searing pain, I had a rough grasp of Secret Transmission Dynamics.

"Ah, so Secret Transmission Dynamics is basically like a nuclear explosion."

"Wait, I've heard this somewhere before."

Furrowing my brow, I recalled a massive snowflake crystal.

"Ah! Attribute Collapse!"

A spell that steadily exposes a mage's imagery to ether, then triggers a massive chain reaction for huge destructive power. Monica had mentioned it was a recently developed magic lineage.

Janggil pulled the memory from my head as if it were obvious.

The footage showed Eunbyeol casting her spell.

"See? This is it, is it not?"

Janggil watched the footage in fascination, letting it play on.

"What you're teaching is different?"

A huge ether cloud appeared before Janggil, compressing into a straight beam.

"…No clue on the principle."

I tried replicating the knowledge now in my head, but it didn't work.

"Not happening."

Janggil demonstrated visually.

The line he floated rippled up and down.

The rippling lines converged into shapes like fire, water, ice.

Gently undulating lines were gripped by Janggil and shaken slightly, forming a massive wave that straightened into a line.

The huge wave shot straight, turning into a black laser.

Staring at the ether wavelengths, I strained my eyes to see if they were quivering as he said. After the explanation, they seemed subtly shaky.

"Is that so? Felt like a slight tremble."

"Look at this."

Sensing the faint vibration intuitively, I tensed it just like Janggil had.

Kwaaaang—

A massive roar echoed, followed by a huge explosion ahead. Flames filled my vision. When I came to, we were back on the original beach.

"?"

Returned to staff form, Janggil spoke despondently.

"What is it?"

"So, I pulled it off."

I furrowed my brow, recalling the explosion.

"But if that were real, everyone would've died."

"So mastering Secret Transmission Dynamics means generating just as much of that insane energy as needed?"

I reached for the quivering ether, then squeezed my eyes shut.

"Feels like my whole body suddenly has nuclear switches attached."

Janggil hummed with vibration.

"…Of course. I'm different from them."

I grinned and leaned on the staff.

"I am a rather special human, after all."

Time flew by—a month passed. All I'd done was learn a few basic spells and achieve 1-level Secret Transmission Dynamics.

"Not satisfied at all."

Monica pressed her forehead watching me lick candy.

"Kid, your greed's off ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the charts. You mastered a 3-level spell andSecret Transmission Dynamics in one month. What more do you want?"

I pouted.

"…Foundation league only allows registered spells, right? Shouldn't I learn one or two more 3-level ones?"

Monica chuckled awkwardly and fetched some cards—ones depicting the spells I could use.

"From Novatech: [Yu Eunha Magic Cards]. Verified specs for your spells."

A few more spells, but frowning at their lackluster ratings. I'd seen Monica's cards recently—full of 10-star ones. I knew this was nothing.

"Way below you, Monica."

"Kid, I'm a 7-level mage…."

Monica shook her head.

"This is plenty for foundation league—thanks to Secret Transmission Dynamics, you've got a five-star spell."

I pointed to the stars on the card.

"These indicate power, right?"

"Yeah, roughly one star equals ten times a standard Ether Shot. So 1-level Secret Transmission Dynamics is about 10,000 times a basic one."

That was the minimum output of Secret Transmission Dynamics.

"Hm, better not register Secret Transmission Dynamics unless necessary."

"Duh, registering that would make everyone's heads explode."

So I'd have to fight with just six spells at 4-star or below. As I sulked, Monica beckoned.

"A 3-level mage having 4-star spells is absurd to begin with. Normal 3-stars are usually two-star."

"…Meaning."

Monica grinned slyly.

"The day you register this deck? Chaos."

"Hm…."

Monica scratched her cheek and shrugged.

"Most'll dismiss it as fake—Novatech inflating specs. Basic Ether Shot's already two stars."

"Hm."

"They'll call it nonsense."

I narrowed my eyes.

"But I can make Ether Shot 100 times stronger than standard."

Monica shook her head incredulously.

"Still, don't. Efficiency sucks."

"True. Max output leaves my brain tingling."

"Do that and you'll suffer ether addiction in old age?"

Saying that to a 7-year-old, but….

Having seen too many mages retire suffering like that, I nodded.

"Master's right."

"Weirdly, you listen on stuff like this."

I picked up the magic cards.

"So, practical training with these today, right…."

"Heh heh heh, saved some secret sparring partners for you."

As Monica laughed, the doorbell rang perfectly timed.

Ding-dong—

The intercom showed two students with familiar faces.