Spiritual Power: 3.74
With his chin propped on his hand, Carl's eyes flickered back and forth before pausing momentarily on a line of the data panel.
Spiritual Power: 4.24
He had converted all his Source Material into spiritual power at a 2:1 ratio, his spiritual power soaring to 4.24.
Perhaps I should construct a few Water Element Zero-Circle Magic spells that specialize in lethality. Supportive witchcraft makes it difficult to convert increased spiritual power into offensive power, only enhancing defensive capabilities. This was also why I hadn't returned earlier to upgrade. My defensive power is already strong enough that it's hard for Great Knights to break through, and against a Legendary Creature, even a slight increase would be of little use. If I had added the Source Material to my Constitution, I could have strengthened my offensive power, but in the long run, it wouldn't be cost-effective. If I practiced offensive witchcraft, then the enhancement of spiritual power could be quickly transformed into offensive power. Even when facing a Legendary Creature, I would have a chance of victory. Of course, this is all under the precondition that my spiritual power has already increased.
A Senior Wizard Apprentice with the ability to kill a Legendary Knight—there have been many precedents for this. I've been a Senior Wizard Apprentice for too short a time, my accumulation is too little, and I don't even have many witchcraft spells at my command. Carl sighed. If it were Tutor Adolf facing the situation in Freedom Port, he would probably have an easier time than me.
Shaking his head, he couldn't help but laugh at himself. Most Senior Wizard Apprentices are practitioners in their sixties or seventies, possessing decades more experience than me. Comparing myself to them is hardly fair.
If I were to follow the normal path of a wizard, next I should construct the Zero-Circle Magic Multiple Water Arrows, then spend a decade or two elevating my spiritual power above five, before attempting to construct the One-Circle Witchcraft Tidal Force. And while building spells, consume Green Potions, sense the Star Realm, and connect with it.
Carl took a deep breath. By the age of fifty at the latest, I would have the chance to attempt to become an Official Wizard. However... compared to following the path of a Natural School Water Element wizard, the route of Bloodline Magic is clearly more suitable for me.
As he thought this, his gaze drifted over to the corpses of several Legendary Creatures in the field, pausing on the giant squid. Of all the Legendary Creatures he had encountered, this one was the most powerful.
Hmm... Still, I should first construct the Zero-Circle Magic Multiple Water Arrows to temporarily increase some offensive power. With many buffs applied, the lethality of Multiple Water Arrows should not be weaker than an extraordinary Dharma Seal Earth Shattering.
To avoid being besieged by mermen and Legendary Creatures, Carl did not return to Freedom Port during this period. He stayed on Black Swamp Island.
At dawn, Hibell opened her eyes. She stretched out a slender arm from beneath the soft blanket, then stretched her body. She then rolled over and laid Carl's arm underneath her neck.
Carl looked at the ceiling, his eyes unfocused. "I woke up a while ago."
"What are you thinking about?" Hibell wiggled her body. "Deep in thought so early in the morning?"
"Some problems with witchcraft," Carl said, his voice distant. "There are a few issues I just can't figure out. I thought I had accumulated enough knowledge, but it seems I still have much to learn."
In the past few days, while analyzing Legendary Creatures, he had encountered several new problems. There had been no progress whatsoever.
"Witchcraft?" Hibell asked. "Do you want to talk about it with me? Considering what happened last night, I might help you solve the problem for free."
"You?" Carl shook his head. "Forget it."
"Are you looking down on me?" Hibell raised her eyebrows, her hand sliding back and forth over his body. "Junior Brother, you've really grown bold. You should remember that the witchcraft knowledge you first came into contact with was taught by me."
Carl didn't respond. What troubled him was Bloodline Magic; Hibell had no experience in that. Moreover, since it involved Legendary Creatures, he couldn't discuss it with others and had to figure it out on his own.
"Fine, don't talk about it," Hibell pouted. She understood Carl's current state well; all wizards were when faced with unsolvable problems. She herself had been stumped by several Zero-Circle Magic spells before. Since Carl wouldn't elaborate, she figured it was something he couldn't easily share and didn't press further.
"Junior Brother." Hibell shifted her body and sighed. "Women don't like men who lack initiative. You can't always expect me to be the one to... make moves, right?" ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ NoveI-Fire.ɴet
What? Carl snapped back to reality and rolled over, pinning her beneath him.
Breakfast was casual. Hibell, knife in hand, cut her steak, smiling at Carl. She was clearly pleased with his earlier performance. After thinking for a moment, she asked, "In a while, I'll invite some friends over. Would you be able to meet them?"
"Friends?" Carl shook his head. "I've been quite busy lately."
"Okay then," Hibell sighed. "Sometimes, don't let the problems in front of you blind you. Perhaps if you sidestep the issue or try a different approach, the answer will come to you unexpectedly."
"I'm full!" She put down her utensils and got up to leave.
Change the approach? Carl stopped his movements, lost in thought.
「A fragment of the Divine Domain.」
Hibell is right. I should change my approach; maybe my thinking was wrong from the start, Carl muttered to himself as his Mage Hand controlled the sorting of materials laid out on the experiment table.
The rapier danced. He sliced a thin piece of flesh from the 'giant squid.' Its flesh was incredibly tough; even though it had lost its vitality, slicing off a piece was no easy task. The flesh was held aloft by an invisible force, gradually sinking into a bottle filled with a strange blue liquid.