Labyrinth of time and space (3)

Tess also experienced the power absorption, but without a single interruption, she rewound her actions and sheathed her sword.

Distance control, maximum acceleration, everything was perfect. All eyes were focused on the sphere.

A number appeared. 442. It was the first time the number surpassed 400.

What would be the outcome? Tess looked without showing any emotion.

Shortly after, the number disappeared and the sphere turned red.

"Phew, it didn't work. What a pity."

Tess turned around without hesitation. She could understand the feelings of the two who shouted they would try it again, but she thought it would be a loss of dignity to follow their example.

"Darn it! Is it really broken? She hits it with a rapier, how can she get more than a blunt weapon?"

The warrior roared in frustration. Living in a world that relied on brute strength, being beaten and outdone by a woman hurt his pride, but from Tess's perspective, it was rather pathetic.

"Why bother about that when we both failed? And controlling power and using it are completely different! Why don't you practice some skills instead of just lifting rocks?"

"What?! Are you disregarding my strength? Can't you see these muscles? Do you have anything like this?"

Tess turned her head as if she had seen something disgusting. She thought it would be easier to talk to a cow about subtlety than argue with this barbarian.

"Has the sword warrior's trial ended? Then it's my turn."

The archer pulled the longbow from behind his back and stepped forward.

Given the results so far, it seemed difficult to achieve a high score solely through physical strength.

Although an arrow was a physical attack, the archer was confident. Despite being an expensive method, if he didn't display at least some skill, wouldn't people laugh at him?

"It seems you intend to use that."

As the wizard said, the archer pulled an arrowhead from his back and removed the arrow tip. Then, he took a uniquely-shaped arrowhead from the hard leather pocket on his pants.

The tip wasn't sharp but rounded like an almond, yet it wasn't the usual color of iron, it was purple.

"Hmm, alright. Shall we try this one this time?"

Amy's eyes brightened upon seeing the uniquely colored arrowhead. Indeed, with that, it could generate a much more powerful impact than an ordinary arrow.

"Shirone, look at that. It's a magic bullet."

"Eh? Is that so?"

"Shirone had also heard about magic bullets in class. It was an item infused with magic in magic crystals, extracted in extremely small quantities from nature.

The principle of appearance of the magic crystal stone is a mystery, but it's a common theory that it's a chemical reaction responding to unique natural phenomena.

For instance, magic crystals of lightning could be collected in dry highlands or tropical jungles where lightning storms often occurred.

Minerals gathered in this way showed affinity for specific phenomena, and magical engineers succeeded in storing magic in magic stones using such properties.

Of course, this level of success was merely lab science that could hardly be called an achievement.

To use magic crystals in real life, it needed support from material science that turned them into energy and mechanical engineering that consumed those materials in various forms.

The series of processes in which magic crystals are extracted and consumed by society required so much labor and enormous capital that it could be described as an industry.

And the field that competed for the top spot in the industry was the magic bullet, a lethal weapon.

"So, that's the expensive magic bullet. How does it compare to the magic we use?"

"It's not particularly powerful or anything. The big merit is that even those who aren't mages can use magic. It probably costs a gold coin each. Although the weight of the magic bullet that actually goes into the arrowhead is only 10 grams."

Shirone opened his mouth with a surprised expression. It costs a gold coin to pluck the string of a bow once. Then, how much money was poured into the rain of magic bullets from 3,000 archers mentioned in history books?

"It's a big deal. I don't think I can use it because it's too valuable."

"It's natural for us as mages to think about the cost. But in real combat, whether you have a magic bullet or not is a very important matter. You might be able to save your life with just one magic bullet when you're about to die."

"I see. But do you know a lot about that? They didn't teach us that in class."

"I just found out recently too. The reason my older brother came home was due to the issue with arrow supply to the archer division. It seems the company has been committing corruption for a year, but I don't know at what stage the money is leaking. I was curious and asked Neid about it, and he knew everything, from the production process to manufacturing technology."

"Eh? Neid? When did you ask him that?"

"You know when you woke up and took a break from the academy. According to rumors, he made an invisible cloak; that's some technology. If it's Neid, he probably could make magic bullets."

"What? Is he going to make that expensive thing himself?"

"What, didn't you know? Are you really my friend who can't live or die without me?" (T/N: An expression or saying, but I don't know what it means. 너 정말 죽고 못 사는 친구 맞니?)

"Haha, well... But Neid always shows strange things. Like a carriage that never stops or a doll that does a dozen fun dances."

"Well, just having the technology doesn't make it possible. Since it's a state monopoly business, if you don't get a license, you'll be arrested for making illegal weapons. But if you get bored later, ask him to make one for you. If you ask, he'll probably make it. You can buy magic crystals at a low price at the Alchemy Foundation."

While Shirone and Amy talked, the archer launched the magic bullet control device.

Reactive arrows always need a safety device unless they're in a danger zone. If it reacts to being hit by a carriage, a leg could go flying.

"Hey, I'm going to use magic bullets from now on. It's called the Lightning Arrow. If you're close, you might get hit, so step back."

Shirone and the others moved as far away as possible within the range of sight. They had hoped the Labyrinth of Time and Space would absorb the magic power, but it was better to be cautious.

When the archer tightened the string, even the tension around seemed to increase. A moment later, when he released it with a whistle, the arrow sank into the Labyrinth of Time and Space with a swoosh.

When the magic bullet reacted, it released powerful lightning.

However, the blue electricity was generated only inside the sphere. As expected, it seemed to absorb even the magic power.

The sphere flashed for about 3 seconds and then fell silent. People waited for the numbers to appear, thinking it was really worth the money.

1,020.

The archer's mouth corners lifted as the score reached four digits.

But the result was inevitably a failure. After scoring over 1,000 points and getting no result, the archer stepped down from the altar thinking about his capital.

"Damn it! What, did I just waste money?"

"I really can't say that. It looks like your body seems fine, are you okay?"

At Amy's words, the archer checked his condition. He saw the swordsman's legs weakening, but this time he was fine.

"Eh? That's right. It seems the Labyrinth of Time and Space doesn't steal the archer's strength. It seems to only measure damage by impact."

"That might be a piece of information. What are you going to do? Do you want to try it again?"

The archer looked at the sphere. After all, he got the highest score, so he didn't feel too bad. But spending money beyond this was an obvious thing.

"No, I don't want to. No matter which attribute I use, it won't make much of a difference, and I don't think I can pass with this. I just wasted the magic bullet."

Amy immediately agreed.

"So, is it the wizard's turn now? Shirone, who should go first? You or me?"

The mercenary wizard smiled and pointed at Amy.

"Why don't you give it a try? Then it's my turn, so we can definitely compare who's stronger."

Amy accepted the challenge as if there was nothing to hold back. She still had unresolved feelings with that woman.

"Great. Shirone, shall I go first then?"

"Yes. Show off your skills. Go for it!"

Shirone saw potential in Amy. Her specialization was the Fire System, which focused on offensive magic. Additionally, she had the Target Type that emphasized the power of a single shot.

There are countless types of magic, and trends change at the speed of development, but the Fire System has always been the strongest in the magic world, ranking first in the power category.

But Amy was cautious. She stood on the altar, calculating which spell to unleash.

It's surprisingly complicated. The distance is too close to use the Sniper mode. Should I attack with Target Type? But then the power will be lower.

Unlike the Ice System, where absolute zero is the limit, the Fire System has no limit to the rise in temperature.

Many wizards are drawn to its infinite possibilities and choose the flame, but it was difficult even for high-level wizards to surpass the barrier of 1000 degrees Celsius.

Still, Fire System spells are powerful. This is because most things on the planet are under the control of 1000 degrees Celsius.

However, just as there is no perfect attribute in the world, there were disadvantages to Fire System magic.

It was its lightness.

The total energy is tremendous, but it lacks weight. They usually graft the air system to complement the impact, and Flame Strike was a representative example.

'However, due to Flame Strike's nature, its power doubles as the distance increases. In such cases, is it better to focus on the fire?

It was also a good strategy to compete with the Pure System, which can purely raise the temperature since the Time and Space Maze measures not only impact but also magical power.

Thinking of the magic that fits there, Amy made a decision.

'Fireball.'

Two flames rose on Amy's palms. Originally, it was a sphere, but due to the nature of fire, it formed a shape of water droplets rising upwards.

If there was a difference between fire created by magic and fire in reality, it was indeed the density. In other words, fire mages increase the temperature by adjusting the density of the fire. Additionally, as the temperature increases, they could also increase the flame's spread radius.

Amy just twisted her wrist while holding the flame. Then, a fiery fireball stretched its tail and flew.

As soon as the flames hit, the Time and Space Maze swallowed them. An incredible fire whirlwind circulated endlessly within the sphere.

When the score finally appeared, people burst into exclamations.

3,270.

It was the highest score so far. And looking at the results so far, it seemed difficult to surpass that score.

The archer realized that Shirone and the others were not ordinary students. The power of Electric Arrow, boosted by Magic Bullet, was 1,020. However, the fact that the power of Fireball, the most basic magic, was more than three times stronger than that, meant that there was a difference in magic level.

But Amy frowned. The Time and Space Maze seemed to mock her as if it wasn't enough, emitting a fierce red light.

"What! What do you want me to do?"

She thought it wouldn't matter, but she felt like going crazy when she actually failed.

"Hahaha! That's how kids are. Is it my turn now?"

"Wait a minute! I'll try the Sniper Mode. I'll find out how much you demand today."

Shirone smiled awkwardly and headed towards the altar. Amy, who had an extraordinary fighting spirit, wouldn't back down unless he went and stopped her.

"Settle down for now. If you get angry and lose focus, you won't score more points."

"Oh, really! Shirone, I'll definitely do it again. Got it?"

The wizard who ascended the altar turned to Amy and said.

"Coincidentally, were we from the same series of mages? I'm also a fire mage. To match your level, I'll try with Fireball."

'Huh, that's funny. She thought the same thing as me.'

Amy responded with a snort. Anyway, there were no words for the loser, so even responding was annoying.