Chapter 629 - Current

The loop resets just a few days later. It seems like it happened because Sophie got close to locating the Candidate by taking over dozens of students and creating some sort of quasi-hive mind, and also going through their memories.

Just the fact that she was able to do it here in the Academy, under the noses of some quite powerful Professors, is scary. I would have expected at least the Vice Director to notice, but even she did not. The speed at which Sophie has progressed in making her abilities more difficult to detect is impressive, to say the least.

Sophie said she’s been doing this kind of stuff over the last few loops and comparing the results. Just in the latest one, she noticed inconsistencies, likely caused by someone moving in the background, thinking the Examiners or Candidates won’t notice. So she went after that track. And so the loop reset, likely because of that.

This loop starts with her doing the same, while the rest of our party moves around in groups. Even if it’s risky, I don’t expect any attack on us, maybe with the exception of a surprise morning toxic dart. The Candidates should see us as “bugs” and will likely choose to wait it out. Especially after seeing us move this way, they’d come to the conclusion we’re likely working with one of the Candidates.

With me removing the 10-year-old Kenah from the list, and the one dying not that long ago, there are possibly only two Candidates remaining. I think the part of the information from Ari talking about the number of Candidates can be trusted, and I already have an image of what is actually happening after putting together most of what we have found out and my own suspicions.

It all feels like the floor is coming to an end in this or the next few loops.

So I start this loop by putting a mark on the thermonuclear warhead, even though I think I know who is responsible for stealing it, because of the tiniest remains of the mana I have noticed before when it got stolen in the last loop. I place similar marks on the rest of group 4.

These marks are some of my best work so far. Even though there are no Ley lines stretched to members of the group, it works in a similar way, more reminiscent of my [Tether]. As much as I have been focusing on the lines, creating marks like these is something I can still do. And these improvements are something I’ve been working on for a while.

A new loop also means a new skill.

This time it’s called [Conduction], and it uses [Mana Manipulation] as the main skill, with [Mana Domain] and [Ley Line] as supportive.

Losing [Ley Line] makes some things difficult, but I’m someone who tries to properly master the skills, so even though it’s gone, there are still things I can do. Just like the marks I’ve created and placed on the warheads and group 4.

As for [Conduction], it is good. Crazy good. Goddamn good. Like holy fuck.

Still, I’m a gambler. I’m a little shit. If someone were to come to me, give me 10 million dollars, and ask me double or nothing, and the result relied on a coin flip, I’d likely flip that coin myself, and then complain for years if the result isn't as I wanted it to be.

Probably.

Or maybe that’s just when it comes to the system? I don’t know anymore. I’m just sure that even though it’s possible the next loop might be the last, I’ll still try to use one of the combinations I’ve been thinking of.

Even after seeing [Conduction] in action.

I tested it in the Sweatbox, in the challenge called Current.

This one is the second longest after the Run that can take over thirty minutes. Current takes 10 minutes, and you’re put into a room shaped like a sphere. That sphere gets filled with mana that bounces, changes frequencies, and increases in density to the point where later there’s enough mana radiation to wipe out most of Hell difficulty.

The objective of this Challenge is to stay in the room as long as possible. You get points for how long you can endure and also for how well you channel mana around you.

You can make it easier by grabbing that weird neutral mana, channeling it, swirling it around you, and fighting against all the currents clashing with each other. You can add your own mana to the mix and make it even more difficult. In the later parts, even the slightest mistake can kill you.

There are safety measures, of course. But after reading through a long text written in that lawyer-y talk that causes damage to your brain, you can sign it, and lower those safety measures to allow yourself to continue longer. A ten-minute challenge can turn into a much longer one then.

Once again inside that sphere, I move my mana around me. I synchronize it with the waves. I watch it swirl, bounce off the walls. I radiate it to defend myself from the mana surrounding me.

After some time, just using my mana is not enough. The intention of the Challenge is to use the mana filling the sphere. It’s made for that.

I continue even as the amount keeps increasing, and all of it feels like being thrown into a huge whirlpool in the middle of the sea. The pressure continues to increase. Waves of raw mana crash against me, the air crackles, thick with ozone and the constant hum of mana. Colors I cannot name flash at the periphery of my vision as the mana density climbs to absurd levels.

Even then, I stay calm. I spin it around me. My mind splits into as many parts as needed. Sometimes, twenty to help with smaller currents, sometimes just one powerful, focused will is needed, a singular vortex of intent to counter a particularly massive surge. Most of the time, it’s a powerful main mind with two supportive ones, interweaving and working together, one predicting the incoming waves, another smoothing the transitions as I absorb and redirect, the main one maintaining the overall integrity.

My body endures it all with practiced ease. All that experience with Mana Cycling transfers over as if it’s something it’s made for. The sheer radiation pressing in would probably kill me if I slip up, yet I am weaving it all around me.

The ten minute mark passes, then fifteen.

The sphere's output intensifies again. Now it’s not just currents, it’s like spears of solidified mana searching for any weakness. The drain on my mana is immense, but I continue to take and channel all that mana in my reach and force it under my control. Something like this cannot compare to the trouble black mana gives me any time I use it.

It's a very fine balancing act I'm doing, it is exhilarating and utterly terrifying. The slightest miscalculation, the smallest lapse in focus, and the raging mana I am currently dancing with will consume me instantly.

But for now, I hold and continue to channel it for as long as I'm able to, pushing my body and mind to their limits.

I leave the room only after one of the walls cracks and the Challenge shuts off while the wildly flashing red light fills the room, together with sounds of an alarm and the pressure of the Academy´s defensive arrays increase in the area.

Outside of the room, I find dozens of people. Professors, students, and assistants.

There is a defensive array placed around the door I just exited through, and further around the entire sphere where I took the Challenge in. All around the place, an intense mana radiation lingers.

Like some of them, I glance at the screen.

My score is still in Tier 4 only, as this is my first challenge of this loop.

1st, 9783 pts - Loop Loop Loopity Loop

The first one in Tier 5 is at 5500 points.

***

Professor Elian is not offering lessons, unfortunately. The longer this goes on, the more I suspect the guy is a fraud. Could contact lenses mimic someone having a Mana Wavelength Iris? Is there a skill that could make a person seem stronger than they really are?

A few days later, my warhead gets stolen, and I track its location, which is as I expected. After a quick check, I confirm that we have time and leave it be.

The Champion dies again after his talk, but this time, they find Kenah dead next to his body. It seems like the Candidate came up with a way to kill her, even if only to confirm that Kenah wasn’t the Candidate.

This time, I stand over their bodies as one of the first. Over the loops, we have narrowed the area where the Champion often dies and act as if I just noticed a commotion, then get there.

Both the Champion and Kenah are very pale, their eyes burned out. For some reason, that sight hit me harder than I expected. I still remember Kenah and how much she reminded me of Vega. The way she lies there on her master's body almost makes it seem like she died after him while trying to protect him.

Not even a speck of mana inside their bodies or in the area around. Even when I testingly send a bit of mana toward the spot, my mana refuses to go there.

It is quite terrifying.

***

In the following days, I meet with the Head Crafter. Since I’m not sure when the loop will end, I visit him daily for updates on the design he’s working on. It clearly annoys him, and lately he’s been growing more suspicious, probably noticing that parts of the design resemble his own style.

I also get a lesson from the good old Trait Specialist. He tells me about ways to use my eyes to a higher degree. According to him, Wavelength Irises are one of the best ways to perceive certain things. In my case, mana. Also, according to him, even specialized skills rarely match Wavelength Irises.

It’s something I’ve suspected, but it’s good to have confirmation.

In his usual rude manner, he gives me a few more recommendations and some useful information. He knows a lot about combat specialists who are close to the rank of Champion or just a step below, and he has a good idea of what they did to be offered the traits they received.

As with all the knowledge I’m taught, I take what’s useful to me. I’m doing things my own way, not following what someone else thinks is best.

Then I ask him if he was one of the people who killed Champion Dion and his disciple. I ask out of curiosity, not because I actually care whether he did or not. Even though I thought Kenah was cute and, in some ways, innocent like kids tend to be, I also know she was native to the tutorial. I also know that Champion Dion, for all he might care about consequences and the lives of many people, wouldn't hesitate to kill me in a second if he wanted to.

The sense of danger from the old man in front of me rises to an incredible degree.

All three of his traits activate. He hasn’t told me about them in this loop, but in the previous one, where I spent more time with him, he did.

Hollow Core, Mirrorskin, Still Blood.

An area void of mana forms around him, a very similar one to the one around the Champion, just much weaker.

“I could kill you for what you said.”

"Probably," I agree with him.

He turns to his left and looks toward the tower that stands far away, likely on the edge of the academy grounds, around one mile away.

“I see that blonde loitering over there, and I can already feel that genius brat nearby, the one all the healers won't shut up about.”

"How?"

His eyes slide back to me. "What do you mean, how?"

"How did you know about that blonde? I understand being able to strengthen your sight to see her, but how did you know she was watching you? She isn't even using any attack skills. I’ve met a few people like you before who seemed like they could sense others just from being looked at, so I’m curious."

"You little shit, are you serious?"

I nod.

He looks at me for what feels like a minute. Even though his eyes stay cold, his mouth under that mustache twists into a smile.

"Ah, so you are one of those." His traits deactivate one after another, and that terrifying field around him disappears. "And stop gathering so much mana. The main defensive array will notice it."

As if it's not worth dealing with, he leaves, and I don't try to stop him..

(So?) Sophie sends through our connection. She is also waiting nearby in one of the diners between a lot of students and is the only one the monstrous man hasn't noticed.

(I think he did it, but not alone. They probably put their old gang back together, so likely the Vice Director helped, along with some others we don't know about.)

(Even then, I don't think they would be able to kill the Champion so cleanly.) Tess joins the conversation.

I try to look in her direction and strengthen my sight as much as possible to see her. Even then, she’s barely a blurry figure, I find only because I know where to look.

Shaking my head at finding yet another area where I'm lacking, I answer, (It's almost certain one of the Candidates had a hand in it for some reason. I bet that, over 100 loops, you could come up with some method to either help these guys or manipulate them into doing it. It's also possible that, in the real world, they already had plans to start killing Champions and start another war, either to replace the Absolute or simply to get revenge. And maybe that weapon the Absolute left behind really does exist and played a part?)

(I don't like that old Professor.) Lily says.

(Me neither,) Tess agrees with her. (At least we’ve more or less confirmed it. I know the end of the loop is likely getting close, but let’s just be careful and leave the Academy for now.)

I give up trying to strengthen my sight. (School trip it is. So what do you prefer, an airship or a train?)

***

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