Lucian had thoroughly analyzed the spell model for "Starlight Shield" and had attempted to simulate and construct it many times. The line data and spatial relationships had long been committed to memory, and he harbored no doubts about his own methods of calculation and construction. So, with calm detachment and no emotional fluctuation, he let his soul itself condense one transparent, almost ethereal line after another, allowing them to slowly form into a complex but entirely linear three-dimensional model.
As the "soul lines" appeared one by one with precision and connected together, Lucian sensed no signs of failure—no chaos, no collapse—while simultaneously discovering that his mental power was being consumed at a tremendous rate. With only a third of the model constructed, his mental power had already dropped to half.
"I must use every bit of mental power with precision." Lucian felt no panic, no worry. Like an observer examining an experimental subject, he watched his own soul, striving to control his mental power so that not a single shred was wasted during the process of guiding his soul's vibrations to condense the lines.
Moreover, without causing the soul lines to tremble or err, Lucian divided his attention to absorb the surrounding "earth, fire, wind, and water" elements, slowly restoring a portion of his mental power.
This was the benefit of having sufficient knowledge and a thorough understanding of the spell model. Otherwise, while focusing intently on calculation and construction, it would have been impossible to multitask. The vast majority of magic apprentices, when constructing spell models, had not fully analyzed or thoroughly mastered them—they could only try slowly, using the feedback from repeated failures to adjust the lines until the final spell model was completed. In that way, their mental power consumption would naturally be several times, even a dozen times, that of Lucian's. That was why they often waited until their mental power approached that of a formal mage before daring to attempt a breakthrough, and some even had to rely on "Gate of Magic" potions—capable of replenishing large amounts of mental power in that state while containing the correct spell model—to assist them.
Time ticked by, second by second. Lucian's observing consciousness gradually grew unstable as his mental power approached exhaustion, but the "Starlight Shield" spell model was nearing completion—a small pyramid made of many straight lines, transparent and luminous. Throughout this process, not a single problem had arisen in Lucian's construction.
Lucian had the illusion that his entire body was trembling and his hands and feet were shaking, but he still endured the discomfort, squeezing out his last shred of mental power to steadily condense the final soul line with a smooth vibration—like a surgeon performing an operation.
When this "soul line" connected with the "small pyramid," the entire model was finally complete. It suddenly collapsed inward, condensing and frantically absorbing the surrounding power of the stars.
The power of the stars surged forth, pouring into the vortex of the collapsing model, and even Lucian's soul itself was completely suffused with brilliant radiance, causing him to feel excruciating pain emanating from the very depths of his soul.
His observing consciousness had grown very hazy, but Lucian's unyielding determination still stubbornly held on.
At that moment, gentle and lucid stellar radiance bloomed from within his soul, soothing the intense pain and dispelling the illusions. Lucian's observing consciousness stabilized.
When the starlight faded, Lucian saw that within his soul, surrounding the "Reflection of the Destiny Star," there was now a transparent, ethereal crystal the size of a fingernail—the "Starlight Shield" spell model, shaped like a small pyramid.
And his soul itself, though still ethereal and untouchable, appeared even more dense and stable, with the illusion of faint starlight flowing through it—a qualitative transformation of some kind that Lucian could not yet clearly define!
Opening his eyes, Lucian felt that his soul and mental power were stronger than they had ever been. If he willed it, he could instantly cast "Starlight Shield" at any time. He smiled and murmured to himself, "Hello, Mr. Mage Lucian."
The smile carried pure joy from the depths of his heart, because Lucian believed this was something earned through his own ability and effort—something that belonged entirely to himself. It made him happier and more satisfied than the success of his concert, the frenzied response to his symphony, or being hailed as the dawn of a new era.
........
"Only ten minutes? Hehe, one more minute and my mental power wouldn't have held up. Knowledge really is the foundation of magic..." Lucian glanced at the "Hourglass of Time" on another table and saw that only three minutes remained before the labyrinth lock dissolved. He abandoned his plan to construct another spell model.
Lucian's mental power was now fully restored. He estimated he could cast apprentice-level magic two to three hundred times in succession and first-circle magic nearly twenty times—a qualitative leap from before. As long as he could thoroughly analyze a spell model without exceeding his soul's tolerance, he could construct another within minutes. The "Magic Missile" model, for instance. But there wasn't enough time now; he had to wait for the moment to leave.
Lucian stood up and pulled at the door, finding it wouldn't budge at all.
Then, following the unsealing method Muskin had left behind, Lucian used his formal mage-level mental power and intensity to easily undo the first seal of the "Crown of the Sun" in one minute, enabling him to use the two Divine Arts: "Sacred Light Strike" and "Resistance to Undead."
After completing all this, counting down the final seconds in his mind, Lucian dashed into the rooms on both sides, leaving afterimages in his wake. Those spellcasting materials couldn't go to waste!
"Materials that are too dangerous—don't take them! Who knows what situation might arise later. If the magical containers storing the materials break and they leak out, I'd qualify for the 'Darwin Evolution Award' for the most foolish death."
"Don't take materials you don't recognize. Even just determining whether they're dangerous and whether I could use them would waste too much time, and there are less than two minutes left."
......
Lucian calmly eliminated various greedy but impractical thoughts. In a minute and a half, he collected one vial of "vampire blood," two vials of "aether," two bundles of "fairy hair," three vials of "Snea burning powder," and one box of "enchanted oil." Some were spellcasting materials, others were key ingredients for brewing magic potions—for example, the "Song of Water" healing potion required "vampire blood" and "aether."
When only fifteen seconds remained, Lucian restrained his greed, returned to the main hall, and stood before the door leading to the magic garden, focusing all his attention as he waited for the labyrinth lock to begin dissolving.
"Ten seconds, nine seconds... three seconds, two seconds..."
The entire hall suddenly began to tremble faintly, and the small black door leaped backward like a living creature, retreating to reveal a long, seemingly endless gray-white corridor. On both sides of the corridor stood all manner of monstrous magical plants.
The pale flames in the hearth, the soft black, white, and gray tones of the surroundings—suddenly, countless horizontal and vertical cracks appeared, silently peeling away bit by bit like shattering glass, revealing the eternal silence and the forever monotonous contrast of black, white, and gray behind them.
The moment Lucian saw the small black door retreat, he paid no mind to how it had animated itself, nor did he marvel at the shattering of the surrounding scenery. Transforming into a faint white afterimage, he charged directly into the gray-white corridor that had not yet begun to crack.