n

n

nWallace granted Tristan's request for checking out the new product at the store.

n'Hmm... Senior's product was still a hot item, huh.'

nWallace thought after seeing the Blazing Thunder Ring as the most popular product of the store.

nIt can't be helped, Mana Artifact that contains a magic structure related to thunder and lightning was very rare. Lacus Minerva's creation was a great way to get used to such magic.

nThis time, Wallace utilized his Silver Membership card as he went to the 3rd floor. It was the floor that was only allowed to Silver and Gold Members. As for Bronze members, they were only allowed up to the 2nd floor.

nThere, Tristan introduced him to several interesting Mana Artifacts. But in the end, only two Mana Artifacts caught his attention.

n Black Phantom Automaton

nHumanoid automaton specializing in assassination jobs. The automaton has 12 Hidden Weapons and all of them were smeared with a potent poison.

nOrigin: Unknown

nCreator: Unknown

nPrice: 8,000,000 Credits

nThis automaton wasn't new to Wallace as he had seen this before.*

nThis is definitely the automaton they've looted within that ruins!

nLooking at the other Artifact, it was also the same thing. It also came from their looted treasures.

n'So they ended up selling these things here.' Wallace thought after he saw the two familiar Artifacts. Well, it wasn't so surprising as this shop has a wide range of networks and could identify the value of the treasures that others can't.

nThe second Artifact was actually the previously

"Sealed Book

" they identified since it was carefully covered by glass cases and wrapped by a chain lock.*

nWallace read the description and he was astonished by the discovery.

n Records of Unknown

nRecords that were written in an unknown language. It contains blueprints of many machines and weapons but due to unreadable content, it was unusable.

nOrigin: Unknown

nCreator: Unknown

nPrice: 2,500,000 Credits

n

"Oh, are you interested in this book?

"

n

"Mhmm... You can say so...

"

n

"You have good eyes... As expected of a Grand Arcanist's Apprentice. Well, many researchers were also interested in this. So if you want to purchase it, it will only be a certified copy of the book. If it is not, the book would probably reach a price of 20 million credits. The value isn't just because of its content but its historical value... Just where did this come from anyway? Are you sure to purchase this, even the current scholars were unable to decipher this...

"

n

"Don't worry... I would like to purchase one for my collections.

" Wallace said nonchalantly as he even tried checking out the other artifacts when he said this.

nSoon, he left the Magic Shop while carrying a copy of that book. As he went inside his car, he quickly gave instructions to Avalon.

n

"Avalon, analyze this book.

"

n Affirmative.

nAvalon quickly transformed into a floating metal ball as it quickly scanned the whole book. It didn't take long before the results came in.

nDing!

n The book was written in Aerathi Language. It is the official language of Lonar Alliance before it was invaded by the Meredith Empire.

nThe Lonar Alliance was composed of three different races including a small part of the Human race

n

"Only a small part of the Human race?

"

n Correct. The Humans in the Alliance were from a defeated faction of a Prince in the Meredith Empire. The Lonar Alliance was also recognized as an ally of the Galactic Federation due to the identity of the Prince.

nThe Alliance lasted for only 15 years before it was routed by the Meredith Empire. This all happened 50 years ago before you were born.

nWallace had limited knowledge about the many events in the vast universe but he was aware of the most important things.

nThe Galactic Civilizations were divided by Major Races and Minor Races. The 8 Major Races were also divided into two alliances.

nThe two powers were being led by humans. The Galactic Federation was composed of Humans and 4 other races and the Meredith Empire that was genetically enhanced Humans who allied with two other races.

nIt was said that all the people of the Empire were all born from test tubes and that they could be called superhumans at times. Although the humans in Galactic Federations were also using enhancements, it was not to the point of making transformation to human body unlike the Meredith Empire who put it to the extreme in order to achieve their so-called

"Peak Evolution

".

nThere were many occasions that their experiments were leading them away from being called a human.

nAnyway, it was not important for now as Wallace wanted to first have a read on the book.

n

"Create a translated book for me...

"

n Affirmative.

nWallace then proceeded to the Cloud Hawk manor to meet his senior sister. Translating the thick book might take 15-20 minutes for Avalon since a lot of its processing speed was being taken by productions of VR Pods.

nAs soon as Wallace arrived, he was greeted by the butler, Clyne Troyard, and lead him to the living room where Lacus was already waiting.

n

"I heard that you already learned the Lightning Break?

"

n

"Yes, Senior Lacus...

"

n

"Show me...

" She quickly stood up and lead him to the practice area where multiple targets can be seen.

nAs expected of the first apprentice. Her composure was different. There was also this aura suffocating him a little.

n'I'm sure that she's an Arcane Artificer now. But the last time we've met, she wasn't this intimidating. Did she gets promoted? Arcanist?'

nWallace wasn't sure so he kept his words with himself. She didn't wait for the lady to speak as he prepared himself in showing the second stage of Awakening of Thunder and Lightning... the Lightning Break!

nHe closed his eyes and remembered all his practices. His breathing method was perfect as he controlled the new energy accumulating within his body to his right fist...

n

"Eh?

"

nThe lightning wasn't forming. It was not doing what he wanted which surprised him for a moment.

n'This...'

nHe quickly used his suppressed Divine Sense and noticed that the area he was at had a formation that puts the mana around to be unstable.

n'Perhaps, another test?'

nWallace wasn't sure so he just restarted his formation. As long as he was aware of what was disrupting him, he can easily do something about it.

nWallace strengthened his lightning formation and to ensure that he will achieve the best result. He added his recently learned Soul Arts. Thanks to Miss Chamber who didn't hold back on teaching him the Art.

nBy utilizing his Soul Arts together with the technique, he can easily create multiple Lightning Breaks!

n

"Haa!

"

nIt wasn't just one target dummy. All twelve targets were hit!

nEven Lacus was frozen for a moment seeing the display of his strength.

n

"You... you said that you're still a third-year student, right?

"

n

"Yes, Senior.

"

n

"And you're studying Artifact Forging? Not a Combat Magician?

"

n

"Yes.

"

n

"Mhmm... Very well. Keep it up. I believe that you can do better than that.

"

n

"Yes. Thank you, Senior!

"

n

"Let's go take a look at your Iron Knight.

"

n

"Ooohh! I'm looking forward to this...

"

nWallace didn't hide his joy after hearing this. Ever since the first time that he saw such a version of Mech Frame, he had been so interested in dismantling it and seeing what was inside. He was curious about how it was made and its source of power.

nHe had heard about the Molten Core used by Steel Knights since they can't copy the cores of the Iron Knights. It was a core made by the combined intelligence of the country's Arcanists. It was a huge breakthrough that had increased the military might of Zairus.

nAlthough the blueprint for the core was leaked in the end, their country was still the one that benefitted the most since the government has already acquired most of the cores from the Fire Mana Beast, making the other powers unable to mass-produced them.

nWallace then had a good look at his new asset.

n

"I heard that you have a very high synchronization rate... It was higher than mine...

"

nLacus said smilingly.

nWallace remembered that he achieved a 90% sync rate while his senior... He couldn't remember.

n Lacus Minerva achieved an 89% sync rate as per Grand Arcanist's Slaine Allusia's words.

n'Oh... Thank you, Avalon.'

n

"Well, I just got lucky... I guess.

" Wallace replied as he scratches his head not knowing where this conversation will lead to.

n

"Haha... Is that so? You don't even have any recorded modifications or any enhancements in your body but you still reached that rate. How intriguing...

"

n

"Me too... I'm also curious about that. So anyway, can I take this home already?

"

n

"Of course. Since you already have an Iron Knight and you also have a higher sync rate than mine... Then, how about we test it in combat?

"

n

"Eh?

"

n

"I have never fought someone who can equal me in the battle of Iron Knights... As you are aware, your other seniors have below sync rate than mine. So, can you grant my request?

" Wallace almost saw a pleading face of the beautiful senior apprentice. It may have been his imagination but as she requested like this, he couldn't just refuse.

n