The Matrix

"Instruction confirmed. Initiating The Matrix. Scanning owner's identity. Creating folders. Owner's identity confirmed. Do you want to bind account?"

After a long while, a monotonous digital voice rang again and echoed in Merlin's head.

"Yes!"

Merlin did not hesitate. He knew once he had bound his credentials, he would be able to use The Matrix. Others could not even see it because this advanced quantum calculator was injected into the blood in the form of liquefied metal. It merged completely in the flesh and blood of the owner and no one could destroy it.

"Collecting blood samples. Binding successful! Reading folder. Folder crashed. Building a new folder… Please name the new folder."

"New folder, huh."

Merlin's eyes shone and said in a deep voice, "Folder name Merlin!"

"Naming new folder successful. Welcome, Mr. Merlin to use The Matrix, the quantum calculator!"

At this time, the voice of The Matrix had turned into a sweet girl's voice. Her voice sounded relaxing.

Merlin was sitting on the high wooden chair quietly. Although he seemed calm, his shining eyes had betrayed the excitement he felt on the inside.

For a Spell Caster to construct a suitable Spell Model, he would need to spend a few dozen years to make all sorts of simulation and calculation of the Spell Model. Even so, many final Spell Model of the Spell Casters was still not satisfying.

The creation of Spell Model had wasted many of the Spell Caster's time. Now, Merlin had this quantum calculator with him. It represented the most advanced technology in his previous life. With its aid, maybe Merlin would not need to waste much energy on creating a Spell Model.

"Anyhow, let's test it. Let's see if The Matrix is useful."

Though excited, Merlin still kept his head cool. He knew he had to use The Matrix to test these Spell Models. He needed to see if this could work.

Merlin immediately ordered, "The Matrix, create a Fireball database."

The Matrix immediately began its scan and recorded all the Spell Models of Fireball that old man Etha had studied for years into the database.

"Fireball database successfully created."

"Immediately analyze these Spell Models!"

Along with Merlin's order, the powerful quantum calculator began its work. Its speed was unfathomably fast. In the blink of an eye, The Matrix had immediately created up to ten thousand of Spell Models for Fireball with old man Etha's Spell Models as the base. On top of that, the number was still increasing.

"Dee! Analysis completed. In total, one hundred and eighty-six thousand five hundred and nineteen models created."

Hearing the voice of The Matrix, even Merlin was dumbfounded. One hundred and eighty thousand Spell Models. Just from old man Etha's few Spell Models as the foundation, one hundred and eighty thousand new Spell Models were created.

This was the forte of this calculator. If it was pure manpower, they could not have thought of all the possibilities no matter how creative they were or how strong their Mind Power was, not to mention creating one hundred and eighty thousand Spell Models.

Of course, most of the Spell Models found were not what Merlin needed. Merlin still had to filter the overall best and the most suitable Spell Model for himself.

Merlin thought the first element of choosing a Spell Model was its stability, not power. With stability as the foundation, he would increase the strength of the spell. Spell Model created from this line of thought would be the best Spell Model for him.

Merlin closed his eyes. With a serious look on him, he placed his hands lightly on the table, hitting a frequent yet dynamic rhythm. This was Merlin's habit. Whenever he was thinking and preparing to make a decision, he would naturally do this action.

After a long while, Merlin opened his eyes and said, "The Matrix, use the Spell Models in the database and choose all Spell Models that have stability above Spell Model No.1!"

Merlin's so-called Spell Model No. 1 meant the Spell Model created by old man Etha with the highest stability. It was the one old man Etha was most satisfied with among all. Its specialty was its stability. Once he simulated it in his mind with Mind Power, the possibility of it falling apart was very low.

Merlin's choice was undoubtedly focused on stability. Without chasing after the mere strength of a spell, Merlin knew only a stable Spell Model would be a good foundation for higher-level Spell Model in the future.

This was just like a building. Zero-level Spell Model was the foundation. The more stable the foundation, the higher the building could be possibly built in the future.

Merlin had thought a lot about it before making the decision.

"Filtering begin… Dee! In total, one hundred and thirty-eight Spell Models are more stable than Spell Model No.1!"

The Matrix had completed filtering in lightning speed. In addition, the result also surprised Merlin.

There were one hundred and thirty-eight Spell Models that were more stable than the Spell Model created by old man Etha after building it for several years.

This was the effect of high-speed calculation incomparable to the human mind no matter what.

From these filtered results, Merlin wanted to filter them further.

"From these Spell Models, choose the Spell Model that causes stronger explosion than No. 13."

Merlin issued his order to The Matrix. No. 13 was the most powerful model among the Spell Models created by old man Etha. However, its structure was greatly unstable. Once No. 13 was forcefully used, it could fall apart easily. Since it was highly dangerous, old man Etha advised in his Spell Manual numerous times against choosing such Spell Model which was easily collapsible.

"Dee! Filtered ended. There's no Spell Model that fits the criteria."

Merlin frowned. There was no Spell Model among these one hundred and thirty-eight that was stronger than No. 13.

However, after some thoughts, he calmed down. A Spell Model that was stable and powerful was not easy to find. Stability and strength – one could only choose one trait or reach a compromise.

After understanding this point, Merlin continued his order, "Change of filter criteria. Find the strongest one among these one hundred and thirty-eight Spell Models."

Soon, an extremely complicated Spell Model appeared in Merlin's head. It was the Spell Model that The Matrix had found which fit Merlin's criteria.

This Spell Model was stable enough. As for its power, Merlin thought about it then asked The Matrix softly, "As compared to No.13, how strong is this Spell Model?"

"According to the structure of this Spell Model, this Spell Model's strength was about seventy percent of No.13!"

"Seventy percent? More than enough. It's much better than Teacher Etha's Spell Model No.1."

Merlin sighed in relief. It was good enough to have seventy percent of the strength of Spell Model No.13 and it was far stronger than old man Etha's Spell Model No.1.

Then, Merlin closed his eyes slightly. He began to carefully study this Spell Model that was chosen from one hundred and eighty thousand Spell Model where it was deemed the most suitable for Merlin.

Moreover, this Spell Model could be considered as the best compromise between stability and strength. The Spell Models old man Etha used a few dozen years to create could not compare to the Spell Model that was created using The Matrix in a short amount of time.

After choosing the Spell Model, the last step was to simulate it in his mind with Mind Power. This process was the step that took the longest time to complete and easiest to fail.

If he had weak Mind Power, even remembering the complex Spell Model would be difficult, not to mention simulating it in his mind. That would be more than difficult.

Although old man Etha had left a note noting Merlin's strong Mind Power and his potential to become a Spell Caster, Merlin had to complete the last step to become a true Spell Caster.

Thus, Merlin closed his eyes in silence and focused his mind. He began to simulate the Spell Model of Zero-level Fireball.

The Spell Model modified by The Matrix was even more complex as compared to old man Etha's Spell Model. It was even difficult to draw all the curved lines on a paper and moreover, he had to simulate it with Mind Power.

Facing such a complicated Spell Model, the consumption of Mind Power was beyond imagination. Merlin had already felt the exhausting effect from trying to simulate the Spell Model with Mind Power.

One hour, two hours…

Snow suddenly fell outside the window and so, the temperature in the house seemed lower.

Merin had sat on the wooden chair for two to three hours. His legs were numb from the cold but he could not feel a thing right now. This was because his attention was all focused on the Spell Model in his head.

After simulating it repeatedly, Merlin finally felt a slight change in his Awareness.

Awareness was the place where Mind Power resided and was the most mysterious place in the brain. The Spell Model in which Merlin simulated with Mind Power had taken its form by now and appeared in the empty Awareness.

"Finally, it's done…"

Suddenly, Merlin opened his eyes. His voice even trembled from excitement.

Finally, after spending three hours, Merlin had successfully simulated the Spell Model of Fireball in his mind with Mind Power.

As soon as the Spell Model had formed its shape, Merlin had a feeling that was slightly different than before. Even though he had sat without moving for a few hours and his limbs had gone cold, but now there seemed to be a ball of heat surrounding him.

He could see it if he closed his eyes. The Spell Model of Fireball in his Awareness was spinning slowly right now. There seemed to be a small spark of fire being absorbed into the Spell Model from the outside.

That fire spark made Merlin thought of Fire Element!

When Merlin was asking Macy how he could sense Fire Element, Macy had described the shape of Fire Element. Since Merlin did not possess an affinity to the Fire Element, he could not attract Fire Element into his body by nature so he could not become an Elemental Swordsman.

However, now that he had the Spell Model of Fireball, he could feel endless Fire Element entering his body in a frenzy. They were rapidly merging into the Fireball's Spell Model. It was as if the Spell Model in the Awareness was a black hole, crazily engulfing the endless Fire Element around it.