Extra's Descent

"Rejected, please submit another thesis."

Fyodor's voice was firm but not harsh.

The student standing before him, a young mage with hopeful eyes, turned pensive.

His thesis had been on fire magic, a topic Fyodor had seen countless times.

"Professor, I worked hard on this…."

"I know," Fyodor replied, softening slightly. "But hard work alone doesn't make it groundbreaking."

The student looked frustrated, clutching his papers tightly.

"It's not a bad thesis."

Fyodor continued, gesturing to the pages in the student's hands.

"But it's nothing new. At the Summit, the standards are higher. You need something innovative."

The student's eyes widened at the mention of the Summit.

The Summit was no ordinary event.

Held annually in Anemoi, the Greatest Continent on Earth, it was the pinnacle of magic.

Professors, researchers, and students from every major academy in the world gathered there to present groundbreaking discoveries and theories on magic.

Additionally, the Summit was not only a platform for intellectual exchange but also the most prestigious event where academies from across the globe could compete directly.

Central to the event was the highly anticipated tournament, a grand competition that showcased the skills, talents, and battle prowess of each institution's best students.

To be accepted into the Summit meant prestige—recognition from the best minds in magic.

Anemoi itself was legendary, a continent that faced no internal strife for centuries.

Known as the most neutral continent there ever is.

Brandon was well aware of this already.

However, for the first time after the Great War, during the year 2149, the summit had to be canceled due to the calamity.

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Which meant participants had a year to prepare, making this year's summit even more grandiose than every year thus far.

Additionally, a new academy had been invited to participate—replacing the previous Astrea Academy.

Imperial Academy.

"It's not enough to explain fire magic, especially not at the Summit."

Fyodor said, bringing the student back to the present.

"The judges have seen fire magic theory a thousand times over. You need something that pushes the boundaries."

The student nodded slowly, though disappointment lingered in his eyes.

"Think bigger," Fyodor added. "Don't just show them what's been done. Show them something they haven't even thought of."

"....I understand, Professor."

"Good."

The student finally bowed and left.

Fyodor watched him go, narrowing his eyes.

The Summit was only a few months away, and every student in his class was hoping for a chance to present.

But as the esteemed Silver Archives Institute, they had planned on only bringing fifteen students this year.

In fact, Fyodor had no intention of accepting that student at all.

In any case, Fyodor was quite excited for this year's summit.

After all, he could finally see him for own eyes—knowing he was a student of this…. Imperial Academy.

Brandon Locke.

It wasn't just him, but every esteemed mage and duelist, who had served as a panelist for the Summit every year—was keen on meeting Brandon Locke.

From what everyone knew, this year was the worst for Holy Britannia.

While Holy Britannia was behind the times in terms of magic, for some annoying reason, they had produced the greatest magic warrior in history.

Lucian Frost.

And now?

There was another genius that appeared within their borders.

But truth be told, Fyodor didn't care at all about the thesis itself.

He just wanted to see Brandon Locke personally.

'Could he really be…. Vainglory?'

To– Tok.

Snapping him out of his thoughts, was a knock on his door.

"Enter."

Emerging inside the room was Noah von Aria, who sat down on the couch upon entering.

"How are your preparations going, Noah?"

"My thesis is far from done. I still need to align the circuits correctly. Additionally, I plan on presenting something that's never been done before."

Fyodor raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the bold claim.

"Oh? Do tell me."

"A hexagonal magic circuit based on lightning."

Noah said, his voice filled with confidence.

"Hm?"

Fyodor's interest piqued further. A hexagonal circuit?

That was certainly ambitious. It was textbook knowledge that the most efficient way to channel magic was through a circular magic circuit.

"How do you plan on achieving that?"

Noah leaned forward slightly.

"By applying the Law of Gab Song, combined with the Law of Unity and the Law of Zone Correlation."

Fyodor's brow furrowed.

"You're proposing to stabilize a hexagonal structure with the Law of Gab Song? You do realize that would create an imbalance in the mana flow, right?"

"Not if you factor in the Law of Unity."

Noah countered.

"The unification principle will stabilize the polarity between each point of the hexagon, allowing mana to flow symmetrically through the six nodes. And with the Law of Zone Correlation, I can synchronize the output across multiple layers of mana zones, ensuring no overflow or misalignment."

"Ambitious, indeed."

Fyodor nodded slowly. It was an innovative theory, albeit extremely risky.

"But even if you can theoretically balance the mana, the energy output might be unstable."

"That's where the unique properties of lightning magic come in."

Noah replied with a glint in his eyes.

"Lightning thrives in instability. The more chaotic the circuit, the stronger the amplification. Holy Britannia doesn't understand that."

Noah's tone shifted, a trace of bitterness creeping into his voice.

"They're too full of themselves, focusing on constitution and brute force. They rely on their physical resilience, their natural gifts. But do they not realize there are far more efficient ways to increase magical output? By modifying their circuits, by adapting their channels, they could revolutionize their casting."

Fyodor chuckled.

"They do modify their circuits."

Noah shook his head dismissively.

"Not enough. They tinker, yes. But they don't push boundaries. They don't aim for groundbreaking discovery. It's all about tradition. It's stagnation. It irks me even more that someone like Lucian Frost hails from Holy Britannia."

Fyodor's eyes sharpened at the mention of Lucian Frost.

"And what of Brandon Locke?"

Fyodor asked, gauging Noah's reaction.

Noah's lips curled slightly.

"Brandon Locke? He's a nobody. He's two years younger than me, and while he's talented, he's just following the same mold as the others. Strong, sure, but predictable."

There was a pause, a flicker of intensity in Noah's eyes.

"I'll crush him."