Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 237 Inspiration and Surprise

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There were no barbarians or legal ignoramuses among those present; they were all experts who understood what had happened and its significance. It was precisely because of their expertise that the shock effect of this scene was all the more pronounced.

This was not a magic trick performed among ordinary people, but a highly sophisticated super-magical technique that even challenged their nascent understanding of arcane magic.

"How can this be?"

"Is this really that level six spell? It can cause an area-of-effect attack?"

"It's somewhat similar to the necromantic sac-borne spores, which can be transmitted from one individual to a neighboring one. But since glass transformation isn't a contagious toxin, how can it infect other life forms?"

Suddenly, there was a commotion and a lot of conflicting opinions; the magic class had turned into a marketplace.

Even the chubby Mograim couldn't contain his curiosity and turned to ask Zhang Yuan, the genius mage in his eyes.

"I don't know the specific transformation process, but since it's been described as a chain reaction, this super magic technique must focus on transformation efficiency and diffusion, using individuals that have already undergone material transformation as relay points to cause subsequent radiation and infection."

Zhang Yuan attempted to explain the spell's effect based on his existing knowledge. He also had some guesses in his mind: this powerful transformation effect must come at a price. Either it would require occupying a higher spell slot, like a spell's ultimate effect, or it would involve sacrifices in other areas.

The female lecturer's next words confirmed his suspicions.

"However, nothing is perfect, and the application of super magic techniques is by no means without a price. When we tried to use it on those threatening creatures, we discovered a very embarrassing fact."

Elonia pulled out her pointer and tapped the three glass rat figurines lightly: "It's fine for ordinary goblins or kobolds, but against slightly stronger targets or those with strong spell immunity, it can't even get the initial conversion done, let alone the subsequent chain reaction."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the crowd below varied. Some suddenly realized, some shook their heads in regret, and some looked enlightened.

Before everyone could react, the female lecturer unleashed a powerful move—a warning to underachievers!
"Although this technique has flaws and is not perfect, it is the result of research by the pioneers of the transformation system. For those who do not have enough foundation and talent in this school, it is more difficult than accessing deeper layers of magic network. I advise you not to waste your time on this."

Then she looked at the crowd: "And those who are talented should not expect to master this skill quickly. Even if they do, its practicality is far from ideal."

This bucket of cold water really dampened the enthusiasm of most of the students present, which had been stirred up by the spell's effects.

Even if I teach you, you won't learn it, and even if you do, it won't be of any use.

What the hell is there to learn?
"I know this is a bit discouraging, but the road ahead for arcane magic is never a bright and smooth one. It may be dark, it may be winding, our efforts may not be rewarded, and our hard work may just be a joke in the end."

Elonia's expression was serious, yet hopeful; her lake-green eyes seemed to glow.
"But the exploration of arcane arts is not a business transaction. We cannot stop because we are afraid of sacrifice or failure. If any of you here can join the exploration team as fellow travelers in the future, I would be very happy."

After a brief and somewhat awkward attempt at comforting her, she began her incomprehensible explanation, which was rather uninformative and went from easy to difficult. After a few notes on the blackboard, she had the effect of leaving the "underachievers" in the audience feeling as if they had been subjected to a spell of confusion.

Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing here? These profound philosophical questions filled their minds, leaving them no time to pay attention to the superficial arcane topics at hand, and they fell into inner questioning and contemplation.

Commonly known as being completely bewildered.

Where there are underachievers, there are also top students. Zhang Yuan, whose grades in his previous life were neither high nor low and who had been hovering in the middle for a long time, also enjoyed the treatment of a top student. It wasn't that he didn't know his own talent, but the key was that he had been taught one-on-one before, and there was no comparison or reference, so the difference was naturally not apparent.

Zhang Yuan truly stood out from the crowd. Only a handful of people in the entire classroom could keep up with Elonia's explanations. While the others were still focused and trying to understand and digest the information, he could even spare some time to examine the other person's thought process.

“Ms. Elonia, please forgive my intrusion.”

Just as the female lecturer finished the lecture, and the rest of the audience were either still deep in thought or simply left to put the unpleasant memory behind, this sudden remark not only startled the students present, but also surprised and made her somewhat hesitant.

Is he scheming to gain recognition? Or is he deliberately spouting off some profound theories that he only knows the names of to embellish his image?

As a high-ranking mage and a senior professor of the Watchers' Order, Elonia had seen this kind of scene countless times. She had seen all sorts of self-praise, flattery, and even young men implying that they were young, energetic, and physically vigorous.

He looked at the other person with a scrutinizing gaze and nodded to signal them to continue speaking.

"In transformation spells, we sometimes add some auxiliary materials in addition to the regular casting materials. These materials, which do not play a direct role in the transformation, can facilitate the process."

"You're talking about potent spellcasting materials, right?" Elonia's expression remained unchanged as she directly stated the concept: "This is indeed an important discovery of the Transformation School. It's good that you know about this."

She praised it verbally, but her expression remained indifferent, and her tone changed: "This method has been tried before, but the effect is not ideal. It is effective on the first target hit, but the auxiliary ingredients are exhausted in the first reaction and are powerless against subsequent targets."

"That makes sense, I've learned something." Zhang Yuan seemed to pause and consider for a moment before thanking him and taking his leave.

"Hey, Chanem, you actually understood all of this in class? No wonder you're such a young genius who advanced to intermediate mage. Unlike me, I was almost completely confused."

"Coincidence, coincidence, I just happened to have seen it before."

Zhang Yuan chuckled, but in his mind he was still pondering the lecture he had just attended, that profound topic.

Elonia talked a lot in class, mainly about the principles and ideas of chain reactions, but rarely mentioned the specific operation process or experimental data.

It's like teaching you relativity in an atomic bomb manufacturing course; you get the general idea, but the specific process is like trying to run a mountain to death.

However, it doesn't matter. Most of the powerful damage spells in the transformation tree, such as petrification, are at the sixth level or higher, and an eighth-level mage like myself still has time to study them.

The reserves he accumulated during his crazy hoarding at the library during this period were enough to satisfy this hoarder. Was he still afraid of not finding a way forward?
Thank you to Beidi Dingxiang, Wanliu Tongyuan, Owen w, and book friend 20201027193620400409869 for your monthly ticket support!

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(End of this chapter)