Rhaenor’s heart thumped steadily as he ventured beyond the gates of Eldham, the evening air cool against his skin. He moved with purpose, his mind buzzing with anticipation. The knowledge gleaned from the library still swirled in his head, the intricate details of Midgard’s weather patterns and elemental forces fueling his excitement. Tonight would be the night he would test his Magus abilities—his true powers.
His destination was a small clearing in the forest just outside the city. The sky, painted in hues of purple and indigo, was dotted with stars that twinkled like scattered gemstones. The world around him felt alive, brimming with potential, and he was about to tap into it.
Upon reaching a secluded spot, far from the eyes of any curious bystanders, Rhaenor came to a halt. He opened his character sheet, readying himself for the trial.
Character Sheet
Class: Magus
Level: 2
Experience: 1500/3000
Character Stats
Health: 150/150 (HP Regen: 5 HP/min)
Mana: 600/600 (Mp Regen: 25 Mana/min)
Strength: 10
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 60
Endurance: 10
Luck: 8
Skills
- Gaseous Transmutation (Active): Converts specific elements into metals. Currently able to transmute oxygen into bronze.
- Vaporous Transformation (Subskill): Allows the user to become vapor. No cooldown, but re-solidifying takes 24 hours.
- Basic Elemental Manipulation (Passive): Enhances control over natural elements like wind and rain.
The crisp digital interface blinked away as Rhaenor focused on the task ahead. He concentrated, feeling the power surge through him, like an electric current vibrating just beneath his skin. The magical energy was intoxicating, and his mind focused on one goal: transforming the very air around him.
With a mental command, he activated Gaseous Transmutation. The air shimmered before him, the familiar oxygen molecules dancing in his mind’s eye. He channeled his mana, pushing it outward like a conduit, bending the elements to his will. It was a strange sensation—feeling the intangible air morph into something solid and tangible.
A swirl of bronze dust gathered at his feet, spiraling into a small pile. In moments, 250 bronze coins clinked into existence. The process had been seamless, yet taxing.
[Notification]
50 Mana spent.
250 Bronze Coins created.
Rhaenor took a deep breath, his mana slightly drained, but the sense of accomplishment was undeniable. He glanced at the pile of bronze coins before him. It wasn’t much, but it was proof that his abilities worked in the real world. He took a moment to consider the sheer value of this ability—being able to literally create wealth from the air.
But that wasn’t enough. He needed more. His mind drifted back to the challenge of the library’s arcane text, which hinted at greater potential. His skill needed honing, and he had plenty of mana to burn.
He activated Gaseous Transmutation again. This time, he increased his focus, working faster, more efficiently. The bronze coins formed in waves now, the oxygen in the air around him continuously drawn into the process. Hours passed in this focused trance, the only sound being the faint hum of magic and the occasional clink of coins hitting the ground.
[Notification]
+25 Mana spent.
125 Bronze Coins created.
[Notification]
+50 Mana spent.
250 Bronze Coins created.
[Notification]
Skill Up! Gaseous Transmutation is now Level 2.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Unlocked: Carbon Dioxide Transmutation (Bronze)
Mana cost scales with rarity of metal.
After four hours of tireless transmutation, the soft glow of the notifications caught his attention. Rhaenor stopped, wiping the sweat from his brow, though his body wasn’t truly exhausted. His skill had leveled up, and with it, a new element unlocked—carbon dioxide. His mind swirled with possibilities. His excitement surged.
He opened his character sheet again, eager to see the progress.
Character Sheet
Class: Magus
Level: 3
Experience: 1000/5000
Money : 16500 bronze, 1000 silver, 10 gold
Character Stats
Health: 150/150 (HP Regen: 5 HP/min)
Mana: 250/600 (Mana Regen: 25 Mana/min)
Strength: 10
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 60
Endurance: 10
Luck: 8
Skills
- Gaseous Transmutation (Active, Beginner 2): Can transmute oxygen into bronze or carbon dioxide into precious metals. No cooldown. Mana cost varies based on the metal's rarity. (5 bronze is to 1 mana)
- Vaporous Transformation (Subskill): Allows the user to become vapor. No cooldown, but re-solidifying takes 24 hours.
- Basic Elemental Manipulation (Passive): Enhances control over natural elements like wind and rain.
His mana reserves were low, but with the regeneration rate, he could rest and refill in no time. He gathered the bronze coins—hundreds of them now—and stacked them neatly. This amount of wealth would surely help him in the days to come.
Suddenly, a rustle in the bushes nearby made him freeze. His senses heightened as he scanned the area. The forest was still, too still. Then he saw them—dark shapes slinking between the trees. Forest wolves.
Their low growls echoed in the clearing as they encircled him. Rhaenor counted three of them, their eyes gleaming in the moonlight. He cursed under his breath. He hadn’t brought a weapon. His mind raced. He could use his magic, but his mana was already low. The wolves stepped closer, their snarls deepening.
Rhaenor acted fast. He summoned the last vestiges of his mana and unleashed Basic Elemental Manipulation, sending a blast of wind toward the closest wolf. The creature yelped in surprise but recovered quickly, its companions closing in.
[Notification]
Skill acquired!
Wind Blast - The caster channels the surrounding air into a concentrated force of wind, releasing it in a powerful blast for 5 seconds. The gust pushes enemies back, dealing damage and momentarily disorienting them. The force of the wind can knock lighter foes off their feet.
Damage - 10 wind damage per second
Mana - 10
Cooldown - 30 seconds
The wolves attacked, their sharp claws aimed at Rhaenor’s exposed body. He barely dodged the first strike, but the second wolf managed to catch his arm, leaving a painful gash.
[Notification]
Health: 130/150.
They were too fast, and without a weapon or substantial mana reserves, the fight was rapidly slipping out of his control. One wolf lunged at him, its teeth bared, but Rhaenor knew he had a trump card left. Just as the wolf’s claws were about to dig into his side, he activated Vaporous Transformation.
His body dissolved into mist in an instant, the vapor swirling away from the wolves’ snapping jaws. The creatures stopped, confused, their prey suddenly disappearing into thin air.
[Notification]
Vaporous Transformation Activated. No cooldown.
You are now in vapor form. Equipment is lost!
Rhaenor floated above the scene, now invisible to the wolves below. The predators sniffed the air, puzzled, before eventually retreating into the dark woods, their hunger unsatisfied. He watched them vanish, his mist-like form drifting on the night breeze.
Relief washed over him. He had escaped. The Vaporous Transformation had saved his life, but there was still the issue of waiting 24 hours before he could return to his solid form. As the hours ticked by, he began to experiment with his vapor state, testing his new mobility and control. It was liberating, in a way. Without a physical body, he could drift freely through the forest, undisturbed.
Time passed, and he hovered over the treetops, watching the world from a higher vantage. The sky above seemed to stretch endlessly, the wind carrying him across the land. As the night wore on, his mind wandered back to his earlier thoughts about the forces of nature and magic that governed Midgard. His abilities were powerful, but he had only scratched the surface of their potential.
When the 24 hours finally elapsed, Rhaenor felt a shift in his form. His body solidified, the vapor coalescing into flesh and bone once more. He landed softly in the clearing, fully fully naked.
[Notification]
Title Acquired: "Master of the Mist"
+10 Intelligence, +5 Agility.
[Notification]
Skill Unlocked: Levitate (Active, Beginner 0).
Skill Unlocked: Jump (Active, Beginner 0).
Skill Unlocked: Hide (Active, Beginner 0).
Rhaenor couldn’t help but smile. He had not only survived the night but had come out of it stronger and with new abilities. His Levitate skill, in particular, would come in handy for future exploration and combat.
He quickly opened his character sheet, eager to see the full extent of his newfound powers.
Character Sheet
Rhaenor "Master of the Mist"
Class: Magus II
Level: 3
Experience: 3000/5000
Money : 0 bronze, 0 silver, 0 gold
Character Stats
Health: 150/150 (HP Regen: 5 HP/min)
Mana: 700/700 (Mana Regen: 30 Mana/min)
Strength: 10
Agility: 17
Intelligence: 70
Endurance: 10
Luck: 8
Skills
- Gaseous Transmutation (Active, Beginner 2): Can transmute oxygen into bronze or carbon dioxide into precious metals. No cooldown. Mana cost varies based on the metal's rarity. (5 bronze is to 1 mana)
- Vaporous Transformation (Subskill): Allows the user to become vapor. No cooldown, but re-solidifying takes 24 hours.
- Basic Elemental Manipulation (Passive): Enhances control over natural elements like wind and rain.
-Wind Blast - The caster channels the surrounding air into a concentrated force of wind, releasing it in a powerful blast for 5 seconds. The gust pushes enemies back, dealing damage and momentarily disorienting them. The force of the wind can knock lighter foes off their feet.
- Levitate (Active, Beginner 0): Allows the user to hover a few feet off the ground for up to 10 minutes. Costs 20 Mana.
- Jump (Active, Beginner 0): Grants enhanced jumping ability. Costs 5 Mana per jump.
- Hide (Active, Beginner 0): Temporarily conceals the user from enemies. Costs 10 Mana.
Rhaenor's steps now becoming heavier as the weight of his loss settled in. The realization that his entire wealth had vanished, scattered into the wind during his last transformation, gnawed at him. Every hard-earned coin, every piece of valuable loot he had painstakingly collected, was gone. He had underestimated the cost of his vaporous state, focusing solely on the skill's utility in combat and exploration. Now, the recklessness of not securing his earnings hit him hard. It was a mistake he would not repeat. The thrill of invulnerability had come at too steep a price—his entire fortune lost to a gust of wind.
Determined not to let history repeat itself, Rhaenor resolved to take precautions. His first priority would be to find a bank, a place where he could deposit his earnings and safeguard them from the unpredictable nature of his abilities. He realized now that carrying large sums of money or valuable items outside the safety of a city or safe zone was a risk he could no longer afford to take. From now on, he would always keep enough funds for emergencies while stashing the rest securely. It was a hard lesson, but one that would ensure his future wealth remained intact, even if he found himself in the vaporous state again.
But first, he need clothes, as his shlong hung freely in the air...