CHAPTER 94: CHAPTER 25: FLIGHT

Shawn’s daily walks have turned into security patrols.

It’s now around seven in the evening, and there aren’t many pedestrians on the streets. The riots a while back destroyed quite a few streetlights, and the city hall hasn’t arranged for repairs yet. Many shops along the street have closed, typically shutting down before six.

The situation has quieted down significantly, but some issues, once uncovered, are hard to cover up again.

"Recently, some bizarre murder cases have appeared in Dorne City."

Shawn thought of Hank’s words again as he returned from the Wharf District.

Though Dorne City had cases before, overall, its security was quite good, as evidenced by people taking walks every evening.

Now, the murder cases have increased multiple times, and Hank is currently investigating a case involving skinning victims, which inevitably brings to mind dark ritualistic sects.

Hank found fragments of human skin and a binding machine near the hidden basement where the incident took place, suspecting someone is making a Human Skin Book.

This is one of the materials for the Dark Blood Sacrifice Ceremony.

"In the past, Human Skin Books were often used to create Black Magic Books."

Hank has been predominantly stationed at the police bureau lately, while Shawn reports daily to the Night Watch Headquarters to handle sudden emergencies.

Shawn has killed a lot recently, but his mental resilience is strong.

Building 3, Apartment 12B.

Just as Shawn returned, he saw Yima carrying some trash. She had lost her laundering job at the factory district, and to keep her job at the apartment complex, she’s been working harder than before, even keeping the hallways spotless.

"Good evening, Mr. Sean," Yima greeted actively.

Shawn nodded silently, stopping in his tracks as they passed by each other. He said, "Don’t work too late from now on, go home early."

"Take the central city road at night; it’s safer."

Yima nodded gratefully at his words.

The night fell.

Shawn maintained his routine of entering a meditation state on time, digesting the knowledge memorized through Reading Magic. He is now almost mastering the catalogue of bizarre creatures, relying on Reading Magic abilities to nearly finish memorizing all recorded monster data at the Night Watch Headquarters.

"The knowledge is a bit restless today."

Shawn had just meditated for a while when he sensed a tinge of loosening of the Extraordinary Essence within him, showing signs of accelerated digestion of the last bit.

This meant he was soon able to digest all the Extraordinary Essence of the first stage.

"Is the Third Ring spell finally coming?" Shawn’s expression showed a hint of excitement.

In the Wizard Path, mastering the Third Ring spells marks the beginning of the first qualitative leap because at this point, they can already use some powerful spells. Wizard apprentices officially graduate from mastering the Third Ring spells, and in the Old Era, a wizard wielding Third Ring spells could venture out alone.

The Casting Path is the slowest to take shape in wizards; the learning cycle is too long.

At midnight.

Shawn suddenly felt a peculiar sensation, again perceiving the existence of Primitive Magic Power; it was immensely vast as if enveloping the entire planet like a single-cell organism. With a fleeting flash of Spiritual Light, the last bit of his Extraordinary Essence was completely digested.

He reached the bottleneck of the current stage. Without merging the next stage of Extraordinary Essence, his Extraordinary Level cap would be five.

—Magic Tricks (Ring 0).

Shawn slowly opened his eyes and lifted a finger; a weak flame hovered at the tip. With a gentle wave, the dust on the floor automatically cleaned, and the light’s color slightly changed at his will, transforming into different shades.

Magic Tricks is an amazing Ring 0 spell; it can’t be used for combat but can simulate many special effects, can clean, carry, create, ignite, cool, heat, etc., but all are the weakest trick effects.

This counts as the spell with the most functions at Ring 0.

"Very practical," Shawn secretly commented.

—Sleep Skill (Ring 1).

The knowledge was slightly restless, for this is a very useful spell; Gemma had demonstrated it before.

"The Sleep Skill can cause the target to fall into a slumber state; they will wake when attacked immediately. Regular influences, like slight noises and touches, may not necessarily wake the target. The caster can cause the target to enter deep slumber state." Whispered the knowledge.

This is a range control spell; Shawn can make an array of enemies fall asleep within a specific perimeter through consuming more Primitive Magic Power.

"Kind of a half-hard control spell." Shawn was quite satisfied.

This time, Shawn digested more mysterious knowledge, and alongside the infusion of this knowledge into his brain, a new spell emerged in his consciousness.

The knowledge teaches him spells.

The process resembles a lottery.

Because one never knows what type of spell the acquired mysterious knowledge contains from the massive Primitive Magic Power. The twisted manifestation of the entire Magic Power concept of the Bizarre Realm encompasses nearly everything known.

If using other means to advance, such as through the Extraordinary Relics of hag-like creatures, Mirror Demon, Nightmare, and other bizarre beings, the Transcendent definitely masters specific spell abilities that the monsters possessed before life.

However, advancing through Primitive Magic Power sets a high threshold, requiring extremely high talent, while other wizards mostly use Extraordinary Relics to advance.

—Mirror Image Technique (Ring 2).

Knowledge whispered.

"You can summon several illusion clones around you; they stay by your side until struck to disappear. All clones mimic your actions, casting spells when you do, lift their hand when you lift yours, float when you float, etc.

Enemies cannot determine the real body by sight and hearing. When you move, you can combine and separate from all clones arbitrarily, confusing the enemy’s judgment."

A bit interesting.

This is an ability of the Illusion Series.

Shawn got up and moved to the living room, accompanied by a flash of spiritual light, nine identical Shawns appeared in the living room simultaneously.

The room suddenly became a bit crowded.

"So many?"

When Shawn spoke, all the illusions also spoke, but there was only one voice, after all, this wasn’t a High Ring Illusion Technique and couldn’t completely simulate the abilities of the original body.

These illusions surrounded Shawn, allowing them to pass through each other, making it easier to move and change positions.

"It’s almost indistinguishable to the naked eye, nearly identical."

The gaps between these illusionary clones were about a meter; they had no substance or attack capability. When he moved, he could merge with all the illusions and then separate again, skillfully confusing the enemy and making it hard for them to identify the real body.

"This spell has a lot of room for maneuver."

Shawn seemed to think of something and put on a black piece of clothing, like a Black Cloak.

The next second.

Nine mysterious figures in black robes appeared, looking almost identical.

This scene was quite intimidating to behold.

Shawn drew a gun and aimed ahead, and eight illusions simultaneously drew guns, aiming at the same spot. The illusionary clones could be micro-controlled to a certain extent, but since it’s a Low Ring Illusion Technique, it’s not very flexible in use.

Only Projection Technique and Simulation Technique and such High Tier spells can summon substantial clones and assist in combat.

Going further up would be the Outer Body Incarnation, a capability only possessed by Legendary beings of destiny.

—— Flying Skill (Third Ring).

Shawn digested the last part of the mysterious knowledge.

"Finally here!"

His first Third Ring Spell, he initially thought it would be the Human Immobilization Technique or the famous Fireball Technique, but didn’t expect it to be the Flying Skill.

That’s even better!

Shawn couldn’t wait to walk to the balcony, and with the surge of Primitive Magic Power, his figure soared directly, ascending to a height of about two hundred meters. At this moment, most of Dorne City was in his view. Flying is an ancient dream of mankind, and at the moment of using the Flying Skill, even Shawn couldn’t help but feel a touch of excitement.

"Finally, I can fly!"

At this moment Shawn felt like he finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Starting from the Third Ring Spells, a wizard’s power becomes increasingly strong, becoming more terrifying at later stages, and upon ascending to destiny, directly joining the first echelon of all Extraordinary Paths.

Of course, the speed of advancement on the Wizard Path is a significant flaw, with a higher chance of losing control compared to Transcendents on the Warrior Side, which can lead to madness.

"The flight speed is okay."

"The duration is a bit short. Consumes a considerable amount of Primitive Magic Power."

For the first time, Shawn felt that his internal Primitive Magic Power wasn’t quite sufficient. Starting from the Third Ring Spells, the consumption of Primitive Magic Power significantly increased, after all, this is an important watershed, with iconic spells being not Fireball Technique, Lightning Beam, or Fixed Body Skill.

The most rare spell is the ’Small Dimensional Bag’, which can open a small dimensional space for storage.

However, it’s rare to encounter corresponding bizarre creatures on the Material Plane.

"Mobility is good."

"Can perform some high-difficulty maneuvers."

Shawn flew a circle around the area of the city center, and after feeling that the consumption of internal Primitive Magic Power was considerable, he planned to return to his residence.

But just then, he saw a dark figure sneakily climbing down from the second floor of the opposite villa area, carrying a large bag of things, like a thief.

"Someone?"

"Next time, I should cast Invisibility first, and then use the Flying Skill."

"That way, others won’t be able to see me."

Fortunately, the suspected thief did not notice him.

Shawn didn’t plan to take action himself. He landed outside the villa area, intending to notify the patrolling police.

However, just before he left, his steps involuntarily paused.

"Did someone just see me?" Shawn frowned and turned around.

No discoveries were made.

"I still need to cast Invisibility first next time." Shawn silently reminded himself.

After all, this is the real world, and although most Transcendents can climb over eaves and walls, very few can fly directly, and being seen like that is somewhat astonishing.

The operable space for the Flying Skill is enormous.

He needs to think carefully about new tactics upon returning.

.........