Artificial Magic Circuits

"These are the artificial magic circuits I created after researching over a thousand magic circuits."

Morgan explained calmly as she pointed at the notebook's content.

"The main concept is to attach an external neural tissue layer to the body's surface through specific techniques. With these tissues, even ordinary people can generate magical energy like mages and perform magecraft, achieving the same effects as regular magic circuits."

"Why have I never heard of this before?" Arkhan was somewhat amazed.

Magic circuits are the foundation of becoming a mage, the crucial distinction between mages and ordinary people. This hidden knowledge has likely deterred many from pursuing the path of magecraft.

However, Morgan had actually managed to create the artificial magic circuits that could replace the regular magic circuits, which was a groundbreaking discovery from the world of magecraft's perspective, nearly on par with Newton's discovery of universal gravity.

In all honesty, once this invention became known, the entire world of magecraft would shake with excitement. It might even disrupt the fundamental rules of the current world!

So, Arkhan found it strange that, given Morgan's invention of these artificial magic circuits, there had been no hint or rumor of it until now.

"Because these artificial magic circuits are flawed in many ways, and what I said before was just a concept after all."

Morgan sighed and extended four fingers.

"First, this thing requires a connection with the host's mind, and the whole process is excruciatingly painful. To give you an idea, it's like cracking your head open with a stone and inserting needles into your brain, and during this process, the host must remain conscious. Otherwise, even if the artificial magic circuits are successfully inscribed, they won't function due to a failed connection."

"I once conducted this experiment on fifty death row inmates, and only two of them made it to the end."

Arkhan's throat subtly moved as he listened to Morgan's description. Just hearing it sent shivers down his spine.

"Second, these external neural tissues would amplify the host's perception to an unimaginable extent. Even a faint insect's chirp would sound like a dragon's roar to them. In such a state, almost no host can survive for more than half a year."

"Third, these artificial magic circuits cannot connect to the thaumaturgical foundation. This means they can only generate and output magical energy but cannot perform magecraft."

"Fourth, these artificial magic circuits can't connect with regular magic circuits. In other words, using them to expand your magic circuits is simply impossible."

"These four points are the main defects of my artificial magic circuits. Besides, this invention has many other minor inconveniences, such as the host's altered mental state, making them easily irritable and impulsive. Many times, they can't control their lusts."

"I tried various methods to improve them, but in the end, none of them worked, so I eventually gave up on this technology."

"Are you researching magecraft, or is this a form of torture?" Arkhan's mouth twitched slightly as he quipped.

As Morgan heard his words, she shot him an annoyed look.

"Do you think I'm an all-powerful god who can simply obtain anything I desire? I've already done quite well with just my own abilities. All new things evolve through a process of trial and error. This is such a simple principle; don't you understand it?"

"Ahaha, you're right; I apologize for my remark." Arkhan chuckled, then, gazing at the densely packed notes and annotations in the notebook. He contemplated for a moment and asked, "Is there really no way to improve it further?"

"By myself, there truly isn't, but maybe... if we work together, there might be a glimmer of hope." Morgan snorted. "After all, you are a genius, aren't you?"

*Cough! Cough!*

Arkhan cleared his throat forcefully a couple of times, pretending not to hear her final statement, and spoke earnestly, "In that case, we shouldn't waste any time. Let's get started right away."

===

For the sake of the experiment, Arkhan acquired a mansion on the city outskirts from the duke. In the following two weeks, he and Morgan spent most of their time at the mansion, working on improving the artificial magic circuits.

During this period, the duke's subordinates traveled throughout most of Camelot, spreading the news of Ganna's demise to various villages, towns, and cities.

In fact, more than two months ago, the knights who had participated in the king selection ceremony had already spread the events in Tintagel.

People were naturally furious at the Prince of Ganna's actions and deeply inspired by the Black Knight, who had become the new king and declared war on Ganna. However, they still felt somewhat uncertain, fearing that this war might not end well.

Little did they know that the new king's actions would be so swift. Just two months had passed, and he had already fulfilled his initial promise, defeating Ganna in a single decisive battle.

Especially when they heard that the new king had only mobilized three hundred knights to scatter Ganna's twenty-thousand-strong army, they trembled with excitement.

"This is the true king that Camelot needs!"

"The prophecy of the Great Mage Merlin has come true. The Chosen King of Camelot has indeed appeared!"

"With such a king to lead this country, we no longer have to worry about the invasion of the Angle-Saxons into our homeland!"

As the news of his deeds spread rapidly, Arkhan's popularity among the commoners skyrocketed, even some nobles put aside their initial disdain and began to feel a deep reverence for the new king.

In just half a month, the entire country was in a frenzy, and almost everyone was praising the great achievements of the Chosen King!

===

Somewhere in Camelot.

In an elegant and refined study, an elderly man with white hair and a face full of wrinkles stood by a massive floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the magnificent city.

"So, he has truly defeated Ganna?" The old man's tone was calm, showing no emotional fluctuations.

"According to the intelligence we've received, it is indeed the case."

A knight clad in armor knelt on the ground, speaking respectfully toward the old man.

"Three hundred knights against eight thousand soldiers." The old man sighed softly. "This new king is truly beyond ordinary."

The old man turned around and returned to his desk, opening a letter sent secretly from Lucanmont. As he read the contents, his brow furrowed even more.

"Dead Apostles, Chimeras, a deep valley that seems to have been created by a tremendous force..."

The complexities of this war were even more complex than he had imagined.

In fact, ever since Ganna accepted the challenge, he had this vague sense that the war could take an unexpected twist, and it turned out to be true. It seemed that he had been too conservative.

"This world has truly descended into chaos."

The old man muttered solemnly while gazing at the sky through the window.