n

n

nEveryone had their fill at the cafeteria assigned for all the participants. Their numbers weren't that large to begin with. Aside from the participants, including the managers, and substitutes for the line up, there were barely 70 people that was needed to be fed.

nWallace ate together with the other participants and left to meet with Van, the substitute, in a meeting room assigned for their team.

n

"I'm unconvinced. In your view, I may look like someone selfish but that is not correct. Although our officials in Zairus didn't force us to get the championship, it didn't mean that we should be complacent and accept the fact that we'll just show our skills here. I believe that we have to win in the competition.

" Van passionately said as he started to convince Wallace. He was a head taller than Wallace with a fit figure and tanned skin. He looks more like a combatant rather than an Mana Technician.

n

"I understand. I would try do my best to win, rest assured.

" Wallace said after understanding what Van was trying to tell. It seems that this substitute have a good intention after all.

n

"That's not what I mean.

"

n

"Eh? Then what else?

" Wallace asked to clarify the man's intention.

n

"What I'm trying to say was that you got selected here because the officials just wanted you to experience the feel of this high-level competition, alright? But if you understand or feel that we should win here instead, then you should let me fight.

"

n

"I can do that for you instead. I'm pretty skilled as well.

"

n

"No, you can't even defeat me.

" Van said and shook his head. He was confident about his skills especially being a senior, his knowledge should've surpassed this second-year student.

n

"Then, shall we bet?

" Wallace tried to go to the main point of this meeting. He was already prepared and had been aware that showing off will be necessary in this meeting.

n

"I don't want to bully the weak. If people learned that I defeated you so I could participate here, it would seem like I've stolen your chance to experience the world. But if you volunteer to give up and be replaced because you had 'troubles' or may even be 'injured' due to wherever place you went to, then that would be better.

"

nVan shook his head and even hinted Wallace what to tell if he gave up.

nOf course, Wallace was amused about the train of thought of this person.

n

"How about this, if you beat me in a match, I'll do just that. I'll tell that I'm not in a good condition to participate. But if I won, aside from you accepting my position as real participant you have to give me a copy of those blueprints you received as a reward during TMAC.

" Wallace said while having a grin on his face.

nThis man was a 3rd year student from Skywalker Academy who received 1st place ranking during the competition.

nAside from the pass they received to enter the Revitalization Mana Spring, they also received 10 Peak Grade A Manager Artifacts and 6 blueprints of different Peak Grade 2 Magic Structures.

n

"Oh? Those six?

" Van said as he contemplated a bit. Of course, he have a copy of those six and it wasn't that impressive individually. But those six together could contend to many Grade 3 Magic Structures.

nWallace waited for the man to answer. After all, those six magic structures isn't that simple. He even expected the man to bargain but it seems that for Van, the competition was really important.

n

"Fine. That wouldn't be a problem. In a very small case that you defeated me, I can give a copy of those six but you should never inform anyone that I'm the one who gave it to you.

"

n

"Good. But before that, how can I be sure that you'll give them to me after defeating you.

"

n

"You sure are confident... Take this.

" Van said before throwing a ring to Wallace.

n

"That's a Peak Grade A Manager Artifact I received as a reward. You can hold it for now as a guarantee.

" Van said as he was confident he could take it back later.

nWallace checked the ring and information about it was shown in front of him.

nWith the evolution of the Pathfinder and Divine Sense, detailed status can now be seen whenever he tried appraising a Mana Artifact.

n Impact Ring: Peak Grade A Mana Artifact

nA ring that grants the owner the power to store a small amount of Mana to create a strong blunt force and released to any target that was touched.

nIt also absorb a strong impact of explosions.

nMade of Golden Gourd Shell and unknown materials.

nMagic Structure: Archon Series 9

nAuxilary Magic Structure: Zerg Series

nWallace saw the information and nodded at its authenticity.

nAside from possessing exclusive magic spell to create a strong impact or blunt force, it can also help on taking damage. He glanced at the magic structure series and found it familiar.

nThe Archon Series was mostly used within the TMAC as the series was made exclusively for Zairus Magicians. Wallace wasn't just sure what was the series that was used before since this is the 9th version.

nDuring TMAC, the magic structures that was mostly being used aside from Archon was Prime, Enchant, and Royal Series. Those were magic structures that anyone could get as long as they have money and a licensed Magic Engineer in Zairus. But just like the Archon Series, with a lot of versions coming up, these Series wouldn't be viewed as something cheap and below average. With a lot of versions coming up, it can also be seen that the manufacturers were trying to improve any of it's shortcoming and also to incorporate any new innovations.

nThese arrangements were likened by many magicians who always tries to seek newer things. To these magicians who doesn't want to get stuck in a single magic structure, the four was the best choice.

n***

nWallace and Van had decided the rules of their match. Due to the limited time and preparation they have, they decided to create the best magic structure they could make using a Basilisk Stone that Van has obtained thru Vanessa's kindness.

nNormally, this thumb-size stone was being used to place at the tip of a scepter. The Mana Artifacts like Vulcan Scepter and Craze Wand that uses this Stone would actually increase the speed-casting of a magician whenever they used fire-related spells. Aside from that, if the stone was smaller like a bead, it can still be used as pendant that could handle Grade 1 Magic Structures.

nThe material was a bit tricky to use because of it's small capacity. The magic structure that can be inlaid in a standard thumb-size stone couldn't reach Peak of a Grade 2 Magic Structure. It can only sustain magic structures that would not burden the material by a lot. So with all the experiments and study from many Magic Engineers in this specific stone, they discovered that only Grade 1 up to Low Grade 2 Magic Structures can be used to inlay on the stone.

n

"There is an Artifact Forging Box here, but we only needed it to inlay an offensive Magic Structure on the Basilisk Stone. The one who has a higher grade of structure that was inlaid would be the winner.

"

n

"Eh? What if we both created a Grade 1 Magic Structure? Or what if we created an original magic structure? Who will grade them?

" Wallace asked to confirm the rules of their match.

n

"We'll get someone to review our magic structure. They can check the effectiveness, strength, and destructiveness of the Magic Stucture.

" The substitute said while feeling a bit of contempt now that Wallace seems to imply that he was planning to make an original Magic Structure. In matches like these, it was normal to use a known Magic Structure because creating an original one would be tough and difficult to grade. There could be a chance where you are expecting a Grade 3 Magic Structure but when checked by professionals, it turned out to be a Grade 1 structure.

nAlso, if any mishap happens during the creation of an original magic structure, you can only rely on yourself to try and correct it. Unlike the one that was already known, magicians would have a lot of guide if ever there was any deviance during the creation process.

nThe Artifact Forging box that they currently have here was a bit more advanced than the one in their Academy. This box can also be used as a quality tester for a Magic Structure that is known and registered in it's database or memory crystal.

n

"We'll only contact someone later if needed after we produced a magic structure. It's better we keep our bets a secret.

" Van said before they started. He was implying that during the appraisal process, whoever the appraiser is, they shouldn't be aware that the two were doing some kind of a bet.

nAt this point, Wallace could only chuckle at the man's careful plans.

nHe sighed and tried to think of the best magic structure appropriate for the stone.

n