986 -974- Finish this quickly

And so, unnoticed, two years passed.

During these two years, Rozen, aside from his daily life, continued to diligently refine himself, receiving guidance from Natsuki in various aspects, elevating his abilities to new heights.

His proficiency in Space Manipulation Magic became increasingly remarkable, and he simultaneously engaged in various personal research and enhancements.

As Hokuto had already reached its limit, further progression required accumulating strength over the long term. Rozen saved a significant amount of time, no longer needing to tediously refine Dragon Spirit Aura. Instead, he focused on his research.

Consequently, Rozen became more familiar, skilled, and adept in utilizing the various accumulated knowledge in his mind. He continued learning magic from Natsuki, making strides in mastering more knowledge, techniques, and skills.

Naturally, Rozen's own abilities did not lag behind. Whether it was Summoning Arts, Onmyoudou, or Puppetry Arts, all were steadily advancing.

For instance, in Summoning Arts, Rozen had mastered the summoning techniques of familiars at three levels: lower, mid, and upper. He had even started researching the summoning of the top-tier familiars, with some initial success.

A year and a half ago, Rozen successfully summoned the top-tier familiar through "Golem Summoning," bringing forth a colossal golem over a hundred meters in size.

A year ago, he also succeeded in summoning the top-tier familiar through "Shikigami Summoning," calling forth a nine-tailed cat spirit.

Then, Rozen began researching the advanced technique of "Wyvern Summoning" — "Dragon Summoning."

As the name implies, it was a technique to summon true dragons, not to be compared with the summoning of pseudo-dragons. Once successful, each summoned dragon would be at least of the tactical peak level.

Unfortunately, this summoning technique wasn't as easily achievable. Even among Phantasmal Species, dragons were considered the strongest. Successfully summoning them posed a difficulty comparable to "Heroic Spirit Summoning" in certain aspects.

Rozen felt fortunate numerous times. Fortunately, he encountered Hokuto; otherwise, success in commanding dragons would still be an unknown.

In this way, Rozen continuously elevated himself, steadily accumulating strength.

Aside from that, Rozen didn't forget the main issue of his journey — resolving the inadequacy in magical power.

"Now, summoning the highest-level familiars is a burden for me without using 'Crimson Wing Formation.'"

No matter how exceptional the familiar, the consumption of magical power by the highest-level familiars made it impossible for Rozen to freely command them without Crimson Wing Formation. 

"Is human magical power ultimately too weak?"

Rozen realized this.

In the past, he thought his qualities as a magus were quite high among magus. His magical circuits were exceptionally excellent, and his magical power ranked high among servants. If represented by servant parameters, it would undoubtedly be A-rank, the highest level.

However, using A-rank magical power for magic or jujutsu was indeed sufficient. But surpassing it and employing miraculous methods was not so easy.

Rozen could steadily improve in various aspects, reaching a level beyond humans, but his inherent magical power couldn't transcend the realm of humans.

"Because magical circuits are naturally fixed, a magus's magical power and limits are determined from the beginning."

This was the limitation of magus in the world where Chaldea was located.

They couldn't continuously cultivate magic like magus in the Automaton world, enhancing their magical power.

They also couldn't employ various means to increase magical power, like the mages in this world.

Even though having magical circuits made it convenient to convert life force into magical power without the need for rigorous training and accumulation, it also meant that the talents and limits of Chaldea's mages were decided at birth and almost impossible to overturn.

Even the "Holy Grail" couldn't increase the number of magical circuits in a magus's body.

Thus, magical families appeared, using family inheritance and selective breeding to increase the magical circuits of descendants, allowing aristocrats or major magical families to easily disdain, underestimate, and even ignore ordinary magus—a rather abnormal situation.

Rozen could amplify magical power through "Crimson Wing Formation" and "Infinite Chain Reaction," and it was indeed astonishing.

But no matter how astonishing it was, amplification was still amplification, not an inherent increase in Rozen's magical power.

In fact, Rozen's magical power was already high, effortlessly using various grand magics and spells, proving this point.

However, Rozen's magical power, high among humans, still didn't reach the level of non-humans.

Rather, Rozen's magical power was already comparable to high-ranking demons. This was quite terrifying.

Consider that even someone like Natsuki, a witch, needed to sell her soul to demons, form a contract with them to obtain magical power comparable to high-ranking demons. Rozen achieved this feat purely with his own abilities, leaving Natsuki stunned numerous times.

Certainly, Rozen's magical circuits weren't entirely innate; certain circumstances led to the exceptional quantity and quality of his circuits, but that's a story for another time.

In any case, what Rozen currently desires the most is twofold: first, to fully realize the principle of "Infinite Chain Reaction," which can defy the law of energy conservation, allowing the use of "Crimson Wing Formation" without any cost; second, to enhance his inherent magical power.

Although the magical circuits of Rozen, already shaped, cannot change the reservoir of magical power, this limitation is only within the world of Chaldea. Perhaps in this world or another, such a thing could be achieved; that remains to be seen.

For the sake of achieving these goals, Rozen continues to strive.

During this period, Rozen has advanced to the third year of middle school.

With half a year left until middle school graduation, stepping into the era of high school, Nagisa has successfully been discharged and, as promised, enrolled in Saikai Academy, becoming Rozen's junior.

As for Rozen, he not only has Kojou as a familiar face at school but also has two close friends who often act together.

One is Aiba Asagi.

The other is Aiba Asagi's childhood friend, a boy Rozen got to know later.

The four of them often act together.

Today is no exception.

"YAHHHHH!!!!"

On the basketball court of Saikai Academy's middle school, the screams of many girls resound incessantly.

Looking closely, the two classes of the third year of middle school are in the midst of a basketball game.

Rozen, dressed in a basketball uniform, sighs under the scorching sun, addressing his two teammates.

"Kojou, Motoki, let's finish this quickly!"

Rozen declared as such.

"Yeah!"

Kojou confidently responds.

"Well, I guess it's time for me to put in some effort too."

The other boy with a stylish hairstyle also smiles triumphantly.

The three of them exchange glances, then charge forward simultaneously.

"YYAAHHHH!!!!"

The girls on the sidelines once again scream, bringing the basketball game to its climactic conclusion.