Shirone reflected on his achievements.
At first, his magic was merely a means of transmitting information. However, after comprehending the essence of divine particles, he evolved it into the Photon Cannon. This breakthrough also allowed him to master the art of sustaining light for extended periods, leading to the creation of his own advanced flash magic.
Yet, he did not stop there. Shirone continued to evolve, reverse-engineering the principles of the Photon Cannon through mathematics, ultimately mastering laser magic—a highly advanced technique.
While the Photon Cannon had a higher single-impact force, the cumulative damage of the laser was nearly infinite. Unless the material was immune to wave interference, no matter how solid, it would inevitably be obliterated. It was a terrifyingly powerful magic.
’I really worked hard, didn’t I?’
More than anything, what pleased him most was that his mastery over his specialized magic had advanced to an entirely new level.
Shirone’s theory of photonization had now surpassed subluminal speed and reached the domain of near-light speed.
The reason he had come to the training ground today was to test space transition—a technique only possible at near-light speed.
"I wonder what it will feel like?"
Unlike teleportation, which was merely a point-to-point transfer, space transition allowed a mage to experience the curvature of space-time through the special properties of light. The fundamental nature of the world itself would bend before him.
As Shirone activated his Spirit Zone, his synesthetic perception made the surrounding landscape vividly clear.
Focusing his consciousness on a single point, he unleashed his photonization magic at near-light speed.
The moment he combined omniscience and omnipotence, shifting his center of balance, his physical body evaporated into pure light.
A blinding flash shot skyward, piercing the barrier of time before descending rapidly to the ground.
Upon arrival, Shirone gasped for air, his face drained of color.
His heart pounded furiously from the sheer intensity of the experience.
The scenery that entered his eyes was unlike anything he had witnessed before.
Teleportation gave the impression of the world rushing toward him, but space transition felt as if the entire universe had folded like paper, with the sky and earth merging into one, rotating together.
’So this is space transition... It’s utterly disorienting. I can’t use this in battle .’
Even Etella, a certified Sixth-Class Mage, had primarily relied on teleportation during her battle against Arcane. This proved that space transition, while impressive, was not practical for combat.
’But for a mage, it’s still an indispensable skill.’
The greatest advantage of space transition wasn’t its combat utility, but its superior long-range movement capabilities.
No matter how fast one teleported, they still had to account for obstacles in their path. That was why most mages limited their teleportation distance to about ten meters, even with a vast Spirit Zone. But space transition bypassed such limitations entirely.
’The difference is enormous, especially in wartime situations.’
Of course, for it to be viable in battle, his Spirit Zone needed to expand far beyond its current range.
While professional mages didn’t judge one’s level purely by the size of their Spirit Zone—since density was an equally crucial factor—expanding it was an unavoidable requirement for space transition.
Currently, Shirone’s Spirit Zone had a diameter of roughly fifty meters.
If he relied on his past level from six months ago, he could extend it to over a hundred meters. However, for high-tier magic like space transition, his control still felt lacking. It was more practical to consider his effective range as fifty meters.
’Hah! People would laugh if they heard I was attempting space transition with just a fifty-meter Spirit Zone.’
Most mages at his level couldn’t even reach near-light speed. In essence, his mental fortitude had outpaced the standard learning process by leaps and bounds.
That was how he had overcome countless obstacles, and Shirone was simply grateful for it.
’Besides... even fifty meters isn’t insignificant.’
If he converted his Spirit Zone into a target-based type, he could extend his movement range up to two hundred meters.
For instance, if a mage received an urgent mission requiring them to travel ten kilometers, they would have to teleport a thousand times to cover that distance.
However, if they could move two hundred meters at a time while ignoring obstacles, they would only need fifty transitions to reach their destination.
In a battlefield where every second mattered, cutting down nine hundred and fifty teleportation casts was an overwhelming advantage.
’It’s not just about learning powerful spells.’
Without a solid foundation in Spirit Zone control, no mage could truly be competent.
’And it’s not just about increasing its radius either.’
The expansion had to be balanced with durability, ensuring that core spells could function reliably. Density was also a critical factor in maintaining precise spell accuracy.
Shirone exhaled deeply, staring blankly ahead. The path before him stretched endlessly.
’There’s so much more to learn.’
Expanding the radius and durability of his Spirit Zone, mastering omniscience and omnipotence, refining application and proficiency, gaining real battle experience, sharpening judgment—there was no end to the qualities a mage needed to cultivate.
Rather than feeling overwhelmed, Shirone was exhilarated.
It felt like he had caught a glimpse of the vast, infinite world of magic.
’This, too, is proof of my growth.’
Shina, Etella, and Arcane must have felt the same way. They had all undergone extraordinary trials to reach their current positions.
The road ahead was arduous, but he never once felt as if it were broken beyond passage.
’I can do this. I will become even stronger.’
Having advanced to Class Four, he would soon be eligible to apply for graduation. Once he graduated, he would finally become the mage he had always dreamed of being.
"I... am going to be a mage..."
His heart pounded with excitement.
At one point, he had resigned himself to a life as a simple mountain dweller. Every step he took toward his dream felt surreal.
"So much has happened."
Leaving the teleportation training area, Shirone entered the fourth sector—the cutting magic range.
This area was designed to measure slicing force. Cylindrical targets, known for their high viscosity, floated in the air.
The moment he chanted, a fierce gust slashed through the air, cleanly bisecting a target with a sharp snap.
’Perfect. Another element mastered.’
Compared to his early days at the academy, Shirone’s omnipotence had improved exponentially. Having passed all his subjects with over eighty points, executing a spell like Wind Cutter was no longer a challenge.
As he smiled in satisfaction at his progress, a familiar voice called out.
Turning his head, he saw Naid and Iruki waving at him excitedly.
Feeling a surge of joy, Shirone was about to run to them—then suddenly, an amusing thought struck him. He stopped in his tracks.
Converting his Spirit Zone into a target-based mode, he activated space transition.
With a zing, a sharp frictional sound echoed as he transformed into light and landed right in front of them.
"Whoa! What the hell was that?!"
Naid jumped back in shock, while Iruki’s eyes widened in astonishment.
"No way... Space transition? You’re really something else. Still training until the last day of the semester?"
Shirone scratched his head with a sheepish grin.
"Well, not exactly. Since we won’t have access to the training grounds once we leave, I just wanted to go over everything I learned this semester one last time."