In the midst of his work, Victor decided to revamp the registration form for new players and raise the qualifications for closed-alpha testing. He had to ensure that future applicants were capable of making valuable contributions to his endeavors, particularly during this critical early phase. Queries such as “How much free time can you commit?”; “What’s your experience with similar games?”; “What’s your profession?”; and “Do you possess any special skills?” were added to gauge potential recruits and aid in the development of the academy.
With plans to grant more game qualifications soon, the number of applicants had already surged to 142. This was quite a large number for a medium-sized Discord server with just over one thousand members, meaning that he had convinced more than 10 percent of them! Unfortunately, more than half of them lived outside the US mainland.
Having achieved a favorable outcome with the initial batch of players, Victor hoped that from this point onward he would be able to summon players nonstop. So, for every twenty-four-hour cycle, ten new players would be brought into this game — or world — to ensure a steady influx.
However, two key issues needed addressing.
The first one would be that in order for the incubation to start, participants had to first lie down inside the gaming capsule so their bodies could be scanned. Without this step, starting the process would be impossible. Victor’s solution was to inform players to try the consoles in advance while specifying a time based on their time zone. He could also send them private reminders to ensure they met this requirement, and further warn that failing this step could lead to confiscation of the gaming capsule and permanent disqualification.
As for the other problem…
“Hmm…” Victor touched his chin thoughtfully. “The incubation process itself takes exactly twenty-four hours. Won’t a slight delay gradually push back the start time of subsequent cycles?”
“You need not worry about that, Master. Based on the data from the initial incubation process, fine-tuning the efficiency won’t pose any challenges,” assured Lizbeth.
“Is that so? That’s good then.” This resolution would resolve the dilemma at hand; he could proceed with distributing the gaming capsules in advance and create a queue system, though he would need to set the limit accordingly.
Suddenly, a thought struck him. Turning to Lizbeth, he asked, “Liz.”
“Yeah?”
“Since the people from Earth can use the gaming capsules to control their bodies in this world, does that mean I can do the same?”
If he could replicate the players’ ability to control bodies remotely he would have a life-saving measure hidden up his sleeve. Even if confronted by an unbeatable adversary, death wouldn’t necessarily mark the end for him. This might also provide an escape route from having his fate tied to the academy.
A glint appeared in her eyes as she answered, “Yes, you can.” Victor was on the verge of raising his hands in jubilation, but her next words quickly deflated his excitement. “However, consider how you plan to acquire a gaming capsule. The previous headmaster only left those devices on Earth, after all.”
“Darn it, you should have finished that sentence before giving me false hope!” He groaned, slapping his forehead and releasing a weary sigh.
That aside, Victor realized he’d never posted anything on the update page. Starting with “Alpha Patch 0.1” seemed like a rational choice, a way to list and briefly introduce the game’s fundamental mechanics to new players. For the more intricate lore details, he intended to leave that to Lizbeth to work on the game’s wiki.
After he finished making the necessary adjustments, Victor stretched out on his bed. Physically, he might not be exhausted, but the accumulative mental strain since this morning had taken its toll. However, the night was still young… Sleeping now felt like a waste, but it was a bad habit that appeared after the merger with his past-life memory.
Then, a particular item he had obtained from the System’s gacha suddenly came to mind. He retrieved a vial of shimmering elixir from his interspatial ring, its otherworldly hue and luminous colors shifted between subtle blues and greens that stubbornly refused to blend. Victor hadn’t read the description of the item previously, and he had thought that it was some kind of strange magic potion or poison, but the truth was far from it.
Ashen Shriek Elixir
This potent concoction is a rare and coveted elixir said to be forged from the distilled essence of otherworldly energy and the chaotic convergence of elemental forces. Once taken, the user will experience the pain of being ripped into a thousand pieces from the inside and may leave a mental scar if they’re not mentally strong, but it will increase their constitution, magical power, and mana aptitude considerably.
Please use it with caution!
He cradled the vial cautiously in his hand, holding it up to the illumination of the bright lantern on the bedside table. The players all have high aptitude… If I don’t take advantage of every resource at my disposal to increase my mana aptitude, I will be left behind. Then, how can I have the courage to call myself headmaster?
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If the situation didn’t call for it, using such a dangerous elixir would be out of the question. In addition, there were safer alternative elixirs that could still elevate someone’s mana aptitude. However, each one of them had a sky-high price and were produced in limited quantities, with most ending up in the possession of high-ranking Magi.
“Are you seriously considering drinking that?” Lizbeth’s voice was laced with concern as she floated towards the elixir, casting an apprehensive glance at Victor. “I have a feeling this won’t end well.”
“Mm. Please don’t try to dissuade me. Just keep an eye out for any unusual developments.”
“Well, I did warn you.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s your choice, after all, though I’ll be watching closely, just in case.”
Victor nodded. That was all the support he needed. Without another word, he uncorked the elixir and braced himself for what was to come.
As soon as the vial’s seal was broken, an ethereal energy began to seep out as if yearning for freedom. However, Victor quickly used his magic to block any from escaping. Holding the vial steady, his hand trembled slightly as he guided its contents towards his lips. With steely resolve, he swallowed the elixir in a single, determined gulp, suppressing its unnatural, otherworldly flavor as best he could.
Yet, the instant the liquid entered his stomach, an agony beyond anything he had ever endured before ignited within him. The pain was like a blazing inferno that seemed to tear through his very core. A screeching groan erupted from his throat as the sheer intensity of the suffering forced him into uncontrollable convulsions.
“Aaghh! Fuck! IT HURTS!!” The anguished cry echoed through the room as his body writhed on the floor like a leaf caught in a maelstrom. The sensation was as if legions of razor-sharp insects were rending him apart from within.
Lizbeth, watching the scene unfold, furrowed her tiny brows. She pointed her delicate finger at him, and a beam of light emerged from her touch and flowed into Victor’s sorry state. Though Victor barely registered her intervention, some of the pain abated, leaving him in a state of dazed agony, teetering on the edge of consciousness.
Moments stretched into an eternity, the world around him a tumultuous sea of torment and unending pain. Slowly, agonizingly, the intensity began to disappear, the pain gradually losing its vice-like grip on his senses. As the ordeal subsided, Victor found himself lying prone on the ground, his vision blurred and fading into the endless abyss.
***
“…ter… ster! Master! Wake up!”
A persistent shaking at his right wrist, coupled with a high-pitched, urgent voice, managed to cut through the haze.
Blinking his eyes open, Victor found himself lying on a cold, hard surface. There was none of the anticipated blinding light that often accompanied late awakenings. Confusion gnawed at him — he distinctly remembered beginning his daily meditation in the comfort of his bed, so how had he ended up here?
“…What happened…?” His voice was feeble, his mind sluggish and groggy.
His body felt like a jumble of sensations — discomfort, lightness, and an odd tingling in his limbs.
Attempting to sit up, a wave of lingering pain shot through his insides, causing his stomach to roil in response. “Ugh…” But amidst the discomfort, there was a curious sensation of lightness, as if a weight had been lifted from his very being.
With an effort, he managed to push himself onto his feet, pain lingered like a reminder of some intense ordeal. As he stood, he glanced at a nearby mirror. His reflection, that of a handsome late teenager with striking blue hair and a surprisingly muscular physique, stared back at him. Wow, a single elixir changes my body so much?! I was already rather muscular before!
“You drank the elixir that could improve your mana aptitude, remember? How can you forget?” Lizbeth’s voice sounded both amused and chiding, but there was a slight relief hidden.
“Right, the elixir,” he mumbled, his memory slowly piecing the events together. Despite that, Victor continued to look at his reflection, flexing as he examined his newly acquired muscles. He felt the remnants of the elixir’s impact coursing through him.
“And can you stop posing in front of the mirror?” Lizbeth’s tone carried a note of exasperation.
“Why not? I mean, look at this amazing transformation!” Victor exclaimed, gesturing to himself. In spite of his wonder, he followed Lizbeth’s advice and activated his Master Shadowlink Mark, summoning his status screen for an objective assessment.
Victor Asteriscus
HP: 91%
MP: 172/172
Power Rank: Third-stage Initiate Attunement
Elemental Affinity: Cosmo (95%) | Anemo (82%) | Pyro (57%)
Mana Aptitude: Inferior bright grade
Meditation Technique: Myriad Elements Method (third level, 29%)
Status: Slightly injured (internally)
Strength: (22 → 24)
Agility: (23 → 24)
Vitality: (22 → 24)
Magical Power: (29 → 31)
Infused Mana (total): (148 → 172)
Victor’s eyes lit up with excitement as he stared at the newly improved status screen. Inferior bright-grade aptitude! It might sound like a slight improvement, but an upgrade from a superior glimmering grade to an inferior bright grade brought itself a qualitative change — there was no longer any lingering uncertainty over his ability to achieve the ranks of an official Magus.
There’s still a faint residue of the elixir coursing through my body that I can further refine… Still, if I continue improving at this rate, couldn’t I be promoted to an official Magus in a week? Victor wondered inside his heart but soon trashed this thought into the firepit. The excruciating pain, though… I can’t put myself through that again…
Whatever the case, the updated status screen now fulfilled not only the players’ requests but also included additional information that Victor deemed crucial. It even showcased the progression of his stats, giving him an invaluable tool to gauge his growth.
“Now that you’re finally awake, I see that you’re fine.”
“Of course I am! By the way, what time is it—? No, wait…” Victor’s eyes landed on the digital clock displayed prominently on the main tab of the System. The numbers read 05:20 A.M. “It’s twenty past five, huh… Can’t believe I was out for more than eight hours.”
“Your sense of time isn’t the issue here. Okay? I was worried sick about you! Geez!” Lizbeth huffed, folding her arms and turning away. “But let’s move on from that. Something peculiar has been going on with the unconscious bodies of the five players; it’s as though they’re moving on their own, even without any trace of consciousness within.”
“They’re doing what now?” For a moment, Victor doubted his own ears. Are they becoming zombies?
“Uh, well, it’s hard to explain. Maybe you should see it for yourself.” Lizbeth presented a holographic screen that displayed a framed recording, and with a tap, the scene began to play out before them.