The next two people did no better than the first two, their Spells are peeled like a perfectly smooth potato before a very sharp peeler. Meanwhile, I have decided that if all I need to do is win this challenge somehow; procuring a helper by proxy would suffice for now. Just because I will receive Rascarna's assistance, does not mean I cannot look for more. Never put your eggs in one basket.

The current participant—the fifth—created a burning bubble of sorts that adheres, very persistent, to a target and will continue to burn by consuming the target's mana. Physically all you can do is wait for death by burning, but Castor pointed out that the bubble would burst the moment any kind of mana manages to give it a slight prick. She steps down the stage with an obvious drop in self esteem.

While waiting for more challengers, I cannot help but whisper at the god standing beside me, "are there a lot of people who can make their own original Spell?"

"Nope~."

"But there being Five is quite a lot right?" I ask again.

"Well, remember that the people, or creatures, that may attend this event are amongst the most talented individuals in the Multiverse. And even then between these few billions, only a percentage have not touched upon divinity, and an even smaller percentage have both the magical brains and brawns too." He explains.

"Is that so…" I reply with a slight absentmindedness. "But even then, after so long, so many different Spells must have been made that originality is no longer a thing."

"... Well, this should be beyond you still, but since you're asking…" He speaks slowly, for once I witness him pondering upon what words to say. "The System, it may feel rigid… like, speaking with an artificial mind. But, it actually has traces of being an organic mind, just something that is way beyond us. You get me so far?"

"Not really… But, please continue anyways." I say to Raskarna. Sometimes, you need to first know the whole thing before you can understand the tiny little details.

"It's like, the way it is reporting our progress is an automated part of its function, just like how most creature's minds automate their bodily functions. But there is also a conscious thought behind it."

Ohh~, "like how we do not consciously think about breathing, but our body just does it for us. But we need to consciously chew our food or walk." I decided not to mention how The System can talk back. The god onstage is once again announcing his challenge and challenging anyone to step up.

"Hmm, it's been years since I needed to breathe, but yes!"

"And what's that got to do with the number of original Spells?" I feel we have gone off topic.

"Well, since it has a subconscious mind, and theoretically it has a conscious one; it is only expected that The System has its own memories, therefore, it may forget useless stuff. And a lot of these original Spells are nothing but useless, even their creators will stop using them in favor of a better option." He finalizes with disdain.

"... So it forgets any that are unused. You could've just said so in the first place!" I complain.

"Stop whining! It's a privilege to know the reason behind some things." He replies seriously. "Besides, most of these are simply combinations, or more complicated ways of utilizing basic Spells. The reason they get recognized as a different entry is because they simplify a complicated process."

"Hmm, I think I get it."

"Good, now get up there and show 'em who's boss!" He shoved me, but did not manage to move me from my spot. After a barely audible 'eh,' he shoved me again. Much harder this time, finally managing to push me a step forward.

As I decided to continue to approach the stage, I reposition my Blink's exit above the spot marked by X. And stepped over… If I'm to win this, there is no reason to start the wows a little early. Even if Blink is as common as it gets. Unexpectedly, Castor opened his mouth to speak. "What's this now?"

There is a distant look in his eyes as he gives me a glance before following a winding part of sorts around me. The audience may assume he is looking at them, while I know for sure that he is somehow tracing the tunnel my Blink occupies in Subspace. "Is that Blink I see? At Peak Mastery… utilized by a new kid no less. Hmm~, very sturdy---I'll assume it has above a hundred uses, at least… What's your name kid?"

"Nice to meet you, Castor. My name is Zane." I reply with a friendly human-toothed smile.

"Zane, I might remember you. Now please present your Spell." His voice is set to a neutral tone.

Time for the second wow factor. While the previous participants have been using pre-made original Spells, I'll be making a new one right now. "Will it be alright if I make mine right now?"

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

After a moment of stunned silence, the audience included. Castor whispers very easily reached my ears, "please."

I have been feeling as though I lack a Spell whose main function is to deliver as much damage as possible in as little time as possible. I have something like that with a Skill; Slash Smash Stab. But, as a self proclaimed spellcaster, I also want such an option in my Spells list. Well, when it rains, it pours! Positively in this case, as Zane's weather report did not predict the rain of inspiration it is currently experiencing.

I'm gonna have to play by stretching the rules, not that there are written rules around here. Which is even more reason to make use of the unpatched bugs, metaphorically. I start by forming the usual sphere of mana, the Latent kind this time, there is no difference to me what kind I use, but I know the fact matters a lot for others who use the Spell. The spherical mass of mana is about a hundred centimeters or so in diameter before being compressing it into a sphere the size of a marble. Compressing is good in this case. Even as small as it is, I made sure the mass of mana is continuously attempting to influence the ambient mana around it, coaxing the wild energies to follow, to improve, to be more! The longer it is maintained in this state, the more powerful it grows to be… Up to a certain point.

And this is it, give it at least one element and some effects of your choosing. Throw it, shove it up your enemy's bottom, whatever, really. Then BOOM! The Spell shall be called Latent eruption; simple and to the point. And very painful in the way I have intended every single point of mana to cause as much destruction as possible. In the case of this particular one, I want to somehow misdirect how my spectators perceive its effects. Thus, this particular one is designed to mimic the effects of a backdraft; the mana mass is separated into two, firstly upon impact about 25% of the total will explode, rapidly igniting the surrounding mana and oxygen, while the rest creates a vacuum and pulls in all nearby fuel and keep them away from the center. A few seconds after, the vacuum breaks, thus; it's becomes an all you can eat buffet for the flames within.

Next, I exercise a fraction of my Will and Mana Manipulation Skill to keep it steady. Without pause and using the same hand; I cast my second original Spell. This time, a burst of Latent mana spouts forth in a small cone to engulf the Latent Eruption with a spherical sheathe, forming its own isolated pocket of space. It could have taken up any shape, but for now, spherical. While the outer perimeter hardens to allow physical touch, the time within is significantly slowed down to preserve the spell within. Conditioned so as to; upon impact approximately stronger than the force of a pre-integration Human's punch, unravel and release as well as further boost the explosion within. Haven't decided upon a name for this one yet; Mana Sheathe or just Sheathing? Latemination? Laminatention? Nothing sounds right. Maybe Temporal Framed?

I had to stop myself from sinking down to far down thinking of the best name lane and focus on the timebomb I am currently grasping within my palm. Looking up, I decided to give the patient god a polite warning as if we are sparring, "please be careful!" Before being far from careful in tossing said bomb straight at his solar plexus, with every ounce of my over 1000 points of strength assisted by the accuracy of 1600 points of Dexterity. I grin wide at the resulting sonicboom—even before my mouth form the grin, the two combined Spells strikes a mana barrier that had instantly zapped into existence, at the speed of light! Or I assume so anyways.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the sheathe breaks, an explosion occurred while the mana that formed said sheathe further bolstered both the explosion and the follow up backdraft effect—ah, I stand corrected, now that my Mana Sense have caught up. There are three mana barriers; one around Castor, another around me, and the last encompass the whole stage to keep the explosion contained.

Hot-damn! I admit that's cool!

"Peculiar," Castor says calmly through the noise, more to himself than anyone in particular. As the flame clears out, I notice him looking at me but also not, both at the same time.

"Hey! No looking at the past!" Someone yells, "cheater! Cheater! Cheater!" I know very well who that is and chuckled knowing how dejected he will be that the chant did not pick up.

"There is no consensus as to whether or not I may do so, just like there is no consensus stating a participant may only present no more than one Spell." He replies, still very calmly. Yet his voice may still be easily heard from all around the spherical square. He's on to me! "From what I have had the chance to observe so far; this one attack consists of two Spells, the first being what causes the double layered explosion which was fueled by your mana, the ambient mana and the air. And the second being the sphere of strange mana you used to encase it within. You utilized some very advanced scientific concept with the first Spell, causing one very potent explosion. For something made by an individual who has only been exposed to mana within the half year prior; I am impressed."

"Had you pulled mana from the planar realm of flames or at the very least, attune your mana to better match the spell; an even more powerful eruption would have occurred." Well, it is true that attuning my mana had not crossed my mind. I may have subconsciously assumed my Latent mana would do the trick. Even as I am amazed by the fact that a fire plane exists, and reflecting on my mistake while learning from the more experienced spellcaster, he continues to speak. "As for the second Spell, again, as a young mana user; you aptly utilized the concept of time and space. But may I suggest that should you have the opportunity somewhere in the future, hopefully sooner rather than later… to explore and map the various Subspace that exists deeper within our reality. The effort will be worth your time spent."

"May I know why?"

"You may, from another, as it is not our fate… unfortunately." He answers, "do you agree your Spell is aptly identified?"

"No."

"Thank you f---you do not?"

"Nope," I grin. "The previous Latent Eruption may have had the effect you described, but the next one might not."

"Please, kindly demonstrate."

Verbally agreeing to his request, I utilize 4 parallel thoughts to conjure 4 identical, much smaller masses of Latent mana. "Ah yes, I can confirm these are all one single Spell." He blurted for the benefit of our audience. Under my command, one turns a faint shade of red before bursting into a smaller version of the previous backdraft effect, another had a hint of blue as it absorbed the ambient atmosphere and caused a brief harmless rain, the third brown tinted mass coalesce into an earthen barrier, while the last neutral attune mana forms a larger than average Magico Disk; which I send flying off into the distant sky.

"You're breaking the rules somehow." Castor stated.