Chapter 97: Reward and Discovery.

(Lot's of explanations in this chapter. I apologize in advance to those that dislike the explanation.)

Stuck in between space and time, Ray stood in a void while facing a screen that stated his performance in his recent Bounty and the reward.

After receiving the said reward, there Ray discovered the reason for his inability to use magic and his apparent reason for being talentless.

To put it simply, Ray wasn't born with the required organ to use magic but he does have mana inside him naturally but he simply came from a world where humans had yet to discover magic. However, that isn't his biggest obstacle to using magic. But simply his mindset is incapable of using magic.

When a person's logical thought is too strong and lacks the imagination for fantasy-like thoughts, even if the said person has everything it needs to use magic, the person will still be incapable to.

Then the activation of the spell itself needs extreme accuracy like trying to make a chemical reaction. Add less and the reaction will not happen, a little over and the reaction will fail and react violently. The latter part will cause the spell to explode before the mana could exit the caster's body and explode inside, causing internal injury.

Thus, the mana must be added very precisely to the brim of the spell matrix which can be represented by a cup. The more complicated the spell is, the bigger the cup will be. Perhaps a simple fire spell is the size of a normal cup but for example a more complex spell like Serafall's Celsius Cross Trigger would be a cup the size of a lake. Eyeballing from one side to another will be hard and filling it to the precise amount would be even harder. That's if the spell caster is stationary. If moving, it would be trying to fill the cup while having an earthquake.

Fortunately, Ray has AI, implants and numerous cybernetics of both physical and intangible one to cover for that part.

The same apply when dealing with spell constructs from multiple spell matrices like his Barrier Array spell. That would be equivalent to trying to fill a thousands cup at the same time and have to be very precise or the spell will explode.

For the issue with imagination, when casting a spell, the spell matrix is merely the vessel to hold the fuel needed to power the spell. The imagination is the one that constructs the machine that the fuel will power later. The effect of the spell is the machine that the mind needs to construct. From the start to finish and the process that needed to take place.

For example, if Ray wants a spell that freezes a glass of water. He needs to imagine the normal glass of water turning solid by freezing all the way until it's a solid ice. But just that isn't enough because the spell would be just an empty shell without any content inside. The spell will be very weak, like a house made of cardboard. However, if Ray also imagines how the molecule inside the water loses its energy or heat and thus slows down before turning into solid, the spell now becomes more sturdy. Like how the cardboard is replaced with wood or brick and the house becomes sturdier.

Though, there is a condition to these. The process will need to be affected with mana.

Water can freeze into ice immediately under the condition of extremely low temperature. Then the possible way it occurs is either in a naturally low temperature of winter or tundra or either frozen by liquid nitrogen. So, the mana will be imagined to have the same effect as liquid nitrogen that instantly freezes the cup of water.

In Ray's case, he didn't have any problem imagining liquid nitrogen poured on the cup of water and freezing it solid. However, simply imagining isn't enough as the caster must be 100% convinced that the process is real and possible. Ray already lived long and used to the idea that only liquid nitrogen can freeze a cup of water instantly and nothing else could. What he believed in is very hard to change and it takes time to do so.

In conclusion, that part is the 'talent' that he lacks.

There was a way around for the lack of this talent which can be cultivated which is practiced by all magus families. They train their young to have this mindset from young when their mind is a clear canvas.

For Ray, his canvas already has a lot of sketches and the clear canvas is tainted by a lot of ideology that already takes root in Ray's mind which are very hard to change.

Still, this isn't the dead end yet. There are still other ways although less effective but still possible and it takes time to obtain the talent. Funny enough, time is the least of his concerns after consuming the Peach of Immortality gifted from the Jade Emperor of the Chinese pantheon.

The way described in the knowledge of magecraft he obtained as reward, stated that a magus can use self hypnosis to adjust their mindset and strengthen their belief to perform the reenactment of miracle or more known as magecraft.

———

Rubbing his chin while in deep thoughts after receiving his previous thought, as a lackluster reward, now Ray believes is the best reward ever. A complete package of knowledge about magecraft from the said equivalent of Prometheus of magecraft.

After the Age of Gods ended, magic became unusable to the majority of the said age magic practitioner. However, Merlin discovered the school of Thaumaturgy and his discovery spread among the magic practitioners that later became magecraft that was used by the modern magi.

His only complaint would be most of the magecraft knowledge is in Illusion and unsurprisingly, Eromancy. Merlin is half incubus after all.

Ray is very excited for the prospect of wielding magic. He immediately followed the step to activate his magic circuit only to remember he didn't have one to begin with. Ray frantically scans through the knowledge to find a way to obtain a magic circuit. The first possible step is to artificially gain magic circuits by implanting the circuit. But this method requires a donor which he didn't have.

Then the next possible method is dragon core. Literally the method Merlin used on King Arthur or Artoria. All he needs is a willing donor for the dragon core and preferably a dead dragon or willing donor dragon because dragons can store will in their core which can affect the core's performance later when implanted in Ray.

Already, from his mindscape Ray can hear a cough from Ophis that can read his thoughts and he doesn't mind at all.

"*Sigh* This is going to be a hard one." Ray sighed in resignation and prepared to cater to Ophis' will so she will help him in his quest of finally wielding magic.

And let say the convincing is definitely very hard after what Ray did to Ophis and she is using this advantage to the fullest to get a pay back on Ray by denying him of his request like how Ray has been denying her offer for her power now that Ray actually needed it.

How the table had turned indeed.

———

"Please tell me, Milady. This ungrateful one is willing to do anything to redeem himself for your grace and blessing." Ray lowered his head and pride six feet under but still wouldn't work after he tested the usual food bribe that failed.

Ophis is still pouting and stares away with her arm crossed over her undeveloped chest, covered only with black fabric that magically sticks to her body and covers the important bits.

Seeing no progress was made, he is at the verge of giving up many times but he still perseveres because the temptation of magic is too strong for him to give up that easily. At the moment, Ray is even willing to kiss her feet to show her his sincerity but Ophis can read his thoughts to know Ray would be more likely to fulfill his lesser known fetishes instead of feeling apologetic.

Despite holding a grudge on Ray, she is still incapable of mounting an unbreakable wall to keep that grudge as her defence slowly gets thinner as she remembered how Ray had pampered her, fed her and given her a home.

Eventually, Ophis provides Ray a way to earn her forgiveness.

"Ray is mine for a week. Ray will listen to my wish. Understand?" Ophis said while hiding her deepening blush with her long hair and avoiding gaze.

Meanwhile, Ray sees this as no different than the usual of pampering his daughters, although he expects Ophis will be more demanding than usual. He saw no harm in it since he did like pampering his daughters as it felt therapeutic to him while also an opportunity to spend time with them.

If only Ophis isn't too distracted to hide her blush and actually read Ray's current thoughts when he receives her condition.

Thus, as the result of the negotiation. Ray obtained a dragon core. It's not just any dragon core but a dragon core from a Dragon God.

Missing a dragon core isn't crippling for Ophis but more like a temporary minor inconvenience. Her Infinity extends to regeneration that ame her able to regenerate even when her body is minced and scattered all over the world. Just a dragon core is like temporarily losing one kidney but her other kidney also has infinite working capacity.

Ray then finally leaves this void-like space before ending up in the previous location in the dungeon where he was battling soldier ants.

Feeling excited to test his new found power, Ray dive head first into the depth of the dungeon to seek out target for testing his magecraft. A fairly simple spell of fireball conjuration but it's power level inflated greatly due to Ray being grossly 'overspeced'. Equipped with dragon core from Ophis that supply nigh inexhaustible highest quality mana and the support from AI, implant and cybernetics that allow extreme percise spell casting.

Ray can be said to be fed with spoon made with material exceed even the most brilliant diamond.

———

Laughing maniacally while gunning down the last soldier ant that are defending the helpless Ant Queen. All over the massive chamber is corpses of burning ants and eggs.

Ray look at his only remaining obstacles to conquer this dungeon. He didn't feel much of the passage of time since his excitement numb his sense of time but he already spent 8 hours navigating this maze of a dungeon and reach the boss room.

Ray look at the helpless brood ant that couldn't fight and only laying eggs that instantly hatch into adult ants to defend itself. This would have been a perfect location to grind EXP if the ants killed actually drop a decent amount of EXP but each of them only provide 1 EXP that signified Ray's Level is too high compared to these ants.

As such, Ray perform the coup de grace on the brood ant with a clean decapitation with a sword. Then a notification that informs about him conquered the dungeon and his reward.

[ 1000 EXP]

[500 Points]

[Giant Ant Queen - Summons]

A thousand EXP isn't even worth 1% on his EXP requirement for next level. The same with points since he have numerous of points. But the summon isn't bad even if the Ant Queen is weak.

Ant's is proficient builder and worker after all. Now, they even can listen order according to the description.

Ant Queen is weak and quite useless at is, but it can spawn more ants which is very useful if Ray needs workers or something similar.

Immediately he uses the skill and summons the Ant Queen which looks identical in appearance but slightly bigger with 3 meters tall and 10 meter long body. She had a natural crown-like shape on its head and a darker gray-colored body which is perfect for its natural environment of underground space.

Ray tried to communicate with it and found the Ant Queen is intelligent to some extent that she understands order but not high enough to the level of a human either. She also communicates telepathically to Ray and asks if she needs to spawn soldier ants and worker ants.

"Go ahead."

Ray replied as he observed with interest as the ants are spawned not through eggs but immediately appeared just like when he summoned the Ant Queen.

After that, Ray and the small group of 11 ants continue to travel. Ray decided to continue his purpose of seeking out more of the quick travel waypoints but with the Ant Queen as his mount and 10 worker ants and soldier ants as his escort.

—————

So, our MC finally gets magic but not immediately very strong since he needs to do the usual experimentation and testing like normal magus to develop spells and stuff. Still, even the basic of the basic spell fireball is 10-100 times stronger due to Ray being 'overspeced'. Though I will scale the opponent's strength that even with these advantages, Ray can't easily steamroll everything. Strong opponents have resistance and shiz and elementary spells, no matter how strong Ray is, Ray can't easily hurt those kinds of opponents.