Pseudo-5-Star Artifact

"There is supposedly a secret technique left by a 9-circle mage in there...

Long ago, there was a 9-circle mage who after sensing his death decided to pass on a secret technique by using his remaining lifespan to form an indecipherable illusion by creating a pseudo-5-star artifact. Because of that, even his majesty Hugo Chronos could not decipher it despite also being a 9-circle mage.

A few years ago, a 7-circle battle mage under the Emperor accidentally found this artifact in a secret region during a mission. The reason why it was not found for many years was not only because of the place where it was kept but also because when not active it turns invisible and cannot be detected even by grandmaster mages.

Many people including the Emperor entered it and realized that no matter their power they couldn't find anything, since the requirement for finding the secret technique was not power, he figured it might've had something to do with potential. So Emperor Hugo decided to transport the artifact to the Academy, a place where the most talented youngsters from all over the continent gathered and merged it with a library, covering it and making students try to find the secret technique hidden inside, every semester on the day the library opens.

When activated, the library transforms into a one-floored building that had a rectangle-like shape, and it lasts for 2 hours."

"Hooh, so there was such a thing in the Academy, thank you so much senior, and I wish you luck!" said Kyle.

'This must be the second time this senior has entered this place then. This also explains why there are so few fourth years, if it depends on potential, failing one time should be enough to know that you weren't chosen so imagine failing 3 times. If anything, the fourth-year seniors currently present are extremely persistent.'

'I'm going to do my very best and try to find the secret technique, who knows what kind of power-up I could get from it, it might just be the thing I need most right now.'

"We will now start the trial!" announced the headmaster, even though he was not there physically, his voice was still heard by everyone present.

The artifact was activated and thousands of people rushed in, however, upon entering the building everyone was separated, each one in a seemingly different space.

Kyle found himself in front of 3 different paths, he felt as though each path will lead him to a different world, yet he still trusted his guts and went through the middle path.

After walking for about half an hour, he stumbled upon 3 different paths again. Kyle felt that they were similar, but he didn't care much and went down the right path this time. Another half an hour went by, and he still came across the same junction. This time, Kyle went through the left path which also led him to the same junction yet again.

'What is happening? I've been going through different paths from the start, but I'm returning to the starting point,' Kyle felt helpless as even changing the paths didn't change the destination, yet only remembering the secret technique waiting for him at the end was enough to strengthen his resolve and continue on.

Over 10 hours passed and Kyle still didn't make progress. 'How can this be?!! Didn't the senior previously tell me that the illusion only lasts for 2 hours?'

Kyle was getting dizzy with all that was happening and decided to activate his breathing technique and absorb the remaining mana in the air, as not doing so would only hurt him and regress his rank.

After absorbing all that he could, he continued on with his journey and so, another 10 hours went by.

'This is unbelievable!! I've been here for almost 24 hours. Don't tell me I'm trapped in here, was there some type of malfunctioning with the artifact? No, no, no' Kyle shook his head aggressively as he remembered that this was created by a 9-circle mage and thought, 'Could it be that the mage who created this was a master of not only the Choros element but also the Chronos element??'

Kyle knew that the mage was a Choros element master, grandmaster even as the size of the building was much bigger than what it seemed like from the outside, however, what made him speculate that he was a master of the Chronos element was the possibility of time inside flowing faster than time outside, as this would justify his current situation.

However, what Kyle didn't know was that although he was indeed a master of both elements he didn't apply any time magic on this artifact, and the trial had already ended in the first 2 hours, yet the library didn't change back, staying in its one floored-building form.

Headmaster Theodore quickly sent a telepathic message to his older brother, Emperor Hugo Chronos, informing him of the artifact not closing even though 2 hours already passed.

The Emperor reinforced his body with time magic making himself infinitely times fast and instantly reached the Academy upon hearing his message. Hugo was delighted but concerned at the same time, he was delighted because this could've meant that the artifact has accepted a person, but concerned because of how much time it will take to clear it and if something unaccounted for will happen.

Hugo took countermeasures for that and evacuated the Academy with only himself, his brother, the Professors, and the Assistant Professors staying in.

"Do we know the who student stuck in there is?" asked Hugo.

"Yes, it is Kyle Fowler from the Viscounty of Fowler," replied one of the Professors.

"Fowler, Fowler huh? Isn't that the household of my teacher?"

"Yes, the student currently trapped inside is the grandson of your late teacher, Keith Fowler"

"Hoh, how mysterious fate is, to think two generations of a mere viscount family would rise up to become pillars of the empire" murmured Hugo

"But sir, are you sure he will pass the trial?"

"HAHAHA, you don't need to worry about that, the creator of the artifact created something that even I couldn't decipher or break, so it obviously wouldn't make a mistake after it has already chosen its successor,"