Polluted Spirit Forest
Chwaaak.
Jehyun's eyes lit up with admiration as he pulled the item from the box. In his hands was a robe. The fabric felt soft yet sturdy, a clear sign it was made from top-grade monster hide.
"Oh......"
It was black, with a phoenix emblem—the symbol of the Phoenix Faction—emblazoned right in the center. Jehyun was already impressed by the design alone.
"Haha. Do you like it? We put a ton of effort into the design this time. Here's the appraisal sheet for its stats."
Jehyun pretended to glance at the sheet Kim Shin-ho handed him while scanning the robe with Dragon Eye. It gave a more precise read on the abilities.
The first masterpiece crafted by pooling all of the Phoenix Faction's resources. A robe engraved with overlapping magic circles.
Made from finely crafted top-grade crocodile hide.
—Grade: Legendary
—Equip Requirement: 4th Circle or higher
—Fire Resistance +200
—Fire Affinity +100
—Physical Damage Reduction -5%
—Magic Damage Reduction -5%
—Casting Speed +2%
—Self-Repairing Durability
—Embedded Magic: 4 (Overlapping Magic Circles) (2 can be used simultaneously)
1. Sky Walker
2. Wind Barrier
3. Jumping
4. Landing
'Legendary grade?'
Jehyun's eyes widened. He hadn't expected that. It wasn't overwhelmingly powerful since it was designed for low circles—anyone at 4th Circle could unlock its full potential—but for Jehyun, freshly at stage 4, it would be a huge boost on its own.
"I love it."
"Haha, glad to hear it. Since you basically created the overlapping magic circles, we figured the first masterpiece should go to you."
"Thank you. I'll put it to good use."
"Hit us up anytime you need anything. Oh, and if any more inspirations for overlapping magic circles strike, please give us a heads-up."
Jehyun flashed a grin and nodded at Kim Shin-ho's words. People really do respond to talent. Just one idea on overlapping magic circles had completely won over the Phoenix Faction.
"We're about to finish the crafting process for mass production soon. We'll officially credit you with the patent then, and the royalties will be settled and paid monthly, as discussed."
Jehyun nodded. Once sales kicked off in earnest, money worries would be a thing of the past.
"Oh, want to test the embedded magic?"
"Yeah, it'd be good to check it out."
Jehyun followed Kim Shin-ho into a gym-like building, where he tried out the robe's magic.
"Just channel mana into both at the same time, like I showed you."
Jehyun started with Jumping, pouring in just enough mana to account for the ceiling height.
Kuung.
With a thud of impact, Jehyun's body shot up about five meters into the air.
'Now for this.'
He channeled mana into the robe again, activating Sky Walker and Wind Barrier simultaneously.
Tak.
His body halted in midair. Sky Walker, a 6th Circle spell, had kicked in. It let him walk freely through the air for ten seconds.
And on top of that...
Shaaaah.
Wind gathered around him, forming a spherical barrier centered on Jehyun. A 5th Circle spell: Wind Barrier.
Unlike a shield that only covered one side, a barrier defended in all directions—a full 360 degrees.
As the ten seconds ended, Jehyun's body plummeted toward the ground.
'Landing.'
Just before impact, Landing activated, rapidly decelerating him.
Tak.
He landed softly.
"Whoa. You handled it so naturally on your first try."
Kim Shin-ho clapped as he approached, stunned by Jehyun's mana control. Most mages needed time to adapt to artifacts, but Jehyun showed no such lag. No wonder they call him a once-in-a-generation genius.
"No big deal. Trying it out makes me like it even more."
"Right?"
Kim Shin-ho grinned.
* * *
4th Floor Ascension Tower Exam.
After parting with Kim Shin-ho and registering for the exam, Jehyun returned to his dorm. The faction's bustle faded behind him as the Magic Tower's postponed events normalized.
"Dungeon time's a bit iffy right now."
—Another dungeon? Can't you take a break?
"Look at my level—no time to rest."
Jehyun was now level 30, freshly at stage 4. For a mage, that meant he'd finally become a proper one. But inheriting all of a dragon's power? He had a long way to go.
"Shall I give this a shot?"
Jehyun pulled out the Polluted Spirit Forest Entry Ticket (A) from his pocket.
—Hmm. A-grade might still be too much.
"That's why I'm just popping in for a look."
He had his reasons for a quick visit.
◈ An entry ticket allowing access to the Polluted Spirit Forest.
◈ Enter anytime before the forest is purified.
It wasn't a one-time use. A-grade meant monsters around level 50. Normally, you'd need 6th Circle for a stable clear.
'But at stage 5, I could handle it.'
No need to clear it in one go anyway. Scout it out, pick off any loners, and bail if needed.
"Yeah. And now I have this robe."
With Sky Walker built in, escaping would be easy. Decision made, Jehyun activated the ticket.
Pajijijit.
Space tore open, forming a small portal in the room. Jehyun leaped through.
* * *
"This place......"
Jehyun looked up ahead. A dark, overcast sky loomed over a lifeless forest below.
—That's it.
Jehyun nodded at Alkasha's words.
"Yeah, no way I'm diving in yet."
His sharpened senses at stage 4 screamed it: he wasn't ready.
"Hmm."
Not wanting to leave empty-handed after coming this far, Jehyun scanned the surroundings.
'What's that......?'
Far from the forest entrance, among some rocks, stood a lone tree about three stories tall. It gave off a strange vibe—familiar yet repulsive, laced with purple energy.
'Dragon Eye.'
'......!'
Confirmed. It wielded that purple power too.
"And a tree spirit?"
He'd never seen one. Nature Clan spirit users handled elementals, but tree spirits? Unheard of.
Grraaah.
The tree spirit spotted him and let out a low growl. The ground beneath Jehyun writhed, then roots shot out in attack.
The earth flipped, dozens of roots surging upward.
"Hup."
Jehyun inhaled sharply and triggered Jumping.
Pat!
His body soared over ten meters. Wind Barrier formed around him, halting him midair.
The roots chased up to a certain height, then stopped.
He thought the assault was over—but no.
The root tips split, spraying purple liquid at him.
"......!"
Jehyun dodged urgently. With Sky Walker active, midair maneuvers were easy. But the spray was fast; he couldn't evade it entirely.
Tsuaak.
Something melted. He glanced back—the Wind Barrier was corroding in spots.
The purple liquid was ultra-concentrated acid.
—Be careful. That purple energy amps up the acid's power.
Jehyun nodded.
'Summon Kasa.'
Two golden-flamed eagles materialized in the air at his will. His rising Spirit Magic level allowed more summons.
'Spirit Magic: Kasa's Wrath (B).'
Fireballs merged with the Kasas, forming twin golden orbs that hurtled toward the tree spirit.
It crossed branches to block.
Kwaaang!
Golden flames exploded, scorching the branches.
"......!"
Fire and wood were natural counters. Despite the level gap, it should've taken damage—but only the blocking branches burned.
Still, Jehyun saw potential.
'I can take it.'
His aura shifted. His eyes turned amber, dragon horns sprouting from his head.
Jehyun went all-out.
…….
…….
Thirty minutes in, the battle's end was in sight.
The tree spirit was heavily charred, its condition dire. Jehyun had minor scratches all over, but fared far better.
"Hoo. Time to finish it."
He caught his breath, summoned Spirit Magic: Sword of Raging Flames (A), and cleaved the spirit's body.
Grraaaaaah!
In agonized screams, golden flames engulfed it, blazing fiercely.
Glorious Victory title effect: Mental Strength +2.
'Leveled up already?'
Jehyun's eyes widened at the surprise. Post-stage 4, leveling felt twice as hard intuitively.
Yet one battle did it.
"This is a gold mine!"
His eyes sparkled. Sure, prior fights and training EXP helped, but the gains were massive.
—Tougher foes accelerate growth—that's the rule.
"Is that so?"
Jehyun eyed the Spirit Forest. The gloomy woods now looked like an EXP farm.
"What's this?"
He approached where the tree spirit had burned to ash. A fist-sized gray orb lay there.
◈ Remnants of a mid-grade tree spirit corrupted by an unknown energy.
No clue what it was for, but he stowed it in his inventory.
"Heading back for now."
He used the entry ticket again, stepping through the portal.
* * *
Back in his dorm, Jehyun lay on the bed, replaying the fight.
'Its attack and defense were beyond imagination.'
The patterns weren't just roots and acid. It fired volleys of leaves, lashed with branches. Even grazes shredded shields and barriers like paper, leaving scratches on him.
Top-tier A-grade offense and defense, boosted by purple energy.
'If it hadn't been rooted, I might've lost.'
Jehyun's firepower and mobility outclassed his stage. The matchup favored him—that's why he won. One solid hit, and it could've flipped.
'Better attack penetration would've made it easier.'
The spirit regenerated even as branches burned. Insane defense and regen.
—Still, impressive. Honestly, I didn't think you'd beat an A-grade, even with the advantage.
Alkasha meant it. His recent insights must've been huge. Beating a foe two stages higher? Massive.
"Tch. Could've been smoother, though. With gear, it'd be easier?"
Better equipment might let him farm to 40 fast.
"Yeah. Time to get some gear."
At stage 4, it was time. Plus, the 4th Circle exam tomorrow—he needed it now.
"Alkasha, open the Golden Goblin's Everything Shop."
—Now? Fine, opening it.
Golden light poured from Alkasha. The background blurred, space splitting to reveal another realm.
"Long time no see. Kak kak. Got a lot of points saved up, eh? Kak kak."
The golden-glowing goblin welcomed Jehyun.