Free Web NovelChapter 46: Domino Trace
Since the academy tournament was taking place, classes that need to be attended have been reduced, and the schedule has been changed to a single homeroom class. They are a team for the entire tournament after all.
Most of the time, Cillian skipped class because he didn’t like mingling with his classmates.
He made his free time to practice his overall combat abilities and to practice his spells, trying to perfect his kit, in hopes of achieving Circle One Sorcerer. To make his spells more potent, deadly, and much more usable in fights is to achieve it.
Circle Formation.
"From what I gathered, every sorcerer and mage possesses a Mana Core. The mana inside it is very chaotic and disorganized. To become a Circle One Sorcerer, the sorcerer must force that mana to move in a perfect orbit around the core. This is where Circle Formation comes in. Though the circle is not entirely a physical shape, but a stable path of circulation."
When mana flows continuously without collapsing, a Mana Circle is born.
And the only way to really achieve it is to train really hard and feel the mana flowing through the mana core.
Use mana as much as possible to the point of exhausting oneself, but not too much where the mana core will break and either experience Mana Overload or Mana Drain.
"Learning new things is absolutely fun."
Feeling rejuvenated and diligent about keeping his progression stable, Cillian continued training to attend the homeroom class later on.
Freya will observe him after all.
...
[Death Flag]
It was afternoon.
Cillian was keeping a close eye on his death flag, which didn’t seem to change at all as he quietly waited for something to happen.
Nothing happened that morning while he was training at the training ground after preparing everything he needed.
He was ready for the attack, but it seemed the Target Organization was appearing to be careful about making a move.
Cillian had predicted this, however. What he had on the training ground earlier was merely preparations in case his prediction of their attack in the morning was wrong.
After all, Jack and the voice he was talking with didn’t exactly specify when the attack was going to commence.
Just today.
Then, assuming the organization was actually thinking using their brains, what would be the optimal time for them to begin their mission without drawing the attention of others?
Tonight.
Cillian was confident that tonight would be the time for an attack.
’Okay, let’s check it now.’
Cillian decided inwardly, now that his prediction is pretty much confirmed due to how rowdy and loud the class is, unaware of what’s about to happen. With Freya watching over him, it was the perfect time to see how it worked. frёewebηovel.cѳm
[Name: Domino Trace
Description: A single domino may seem insignificant. Its importance is only known after it falls.
Active ability: Trace the cause responsible for a flag’s current existence.
Note: Mental load increases with each use.
Warning: Excessive use of the skill will cause mental fatigue and headaches.]
[Name: Death Flag Probe
Description: Death does not appreciate being watched.
Ability: Probes an individual with Death Flag. Exploring possible outcomes, exposing possible deaths, and probing disastrous futures. It considers a lot about what the target knows to determine outcomes.
Note: Mental load increases with each use.
Warning: Excessive use of the skill will cause cognitive overload.]
Cillian couldn’t help but read the two descriptions of these abilities that made him think carefully about using them.
If not for the ridiculous and scary words that these two abilities contained, Cillian would most likely spam the hell out of them to see how these flags or the system entirely worked.
[Mental Load: 0%]
Even the mental load screen, a feature, only appeared when he checked these abilities, which seemed to be the cost of using these two.
’I mean, it would be too overpowered if I could see glimpses of these death flags. But I’m not disheartened at all. Not at all!’
Cillian tried to play it cool inwardly, even though he was pretty irritated by these restrictions. However, thinking rationally, it only made sense.
There’s nothing he could do but only look forward in the future, knowing these are only low functions for the Death Flag Systems.
Who knows what the other functions would be once he became stronger, which is equivalent to his system getting stronger as well?
Or who knows if he’ll receive other abilities in the process as he studies more about his system?
’Life’s so full of mysteries.’
Cillian mused inwardly before he readied himself.
The number of white flags that appeared in the room has increased, but only Clove, Aster, and Cillian showed higher Possibility Flags.
Only Cillian and Aster have death flags.
Cillian will try using both abilities on himself.
"Domino Trace."
Cillian muttered under his breath enough for only him to hear.
[Domino Trace Activated]
[Please choose which flag to trace]
"Me."
[Domino Trace]
[Target: Death Flag]
[Tracing Death Flag...]
Cillian already had suspicions that the Domino Trace would likely give an answer related to either the operation this night or Jack’s existence. That was assuming he completely understood how this ability worked, based only on its description.
He wanted it to confirm now.
[Domino Traced]
[Death Flag: Humored Insanity]
"Huh."
Cillian couldn’t help but be confused.
’The fuck? Why is Aiden’s [Ten] Piece appearing on my screen? It had something to do with my death flag becoming as it is?’
Cillian is almost certain it has something to do with Jack or the organization, but to his surprise, Aiden is somehow involved.
’Come on, now. You’re causing me problems even if I haven’t seen you for days.’
Cillian mused inwardly before a throbbing pain shot through his head, making him wince and touch it.
[Mental Load increased by 10%]
[Mental Load: 10%]
"Hey, you’re okay?"
Seeing Cillian acting weirdly all of a sudden, Freya worriedly got close and asked carefully.
Cillian merely waved his hands to tell her that there was nothing wrong, but he felt like his head had been struck by a stone.
’God damn it! That packs a fucking punch! It’s really taking a toll on my mental health!’
After a few minutes, his mind calmed down the instant the pain completely disappeared. He continued staring at the screen that showed the results of his Domino Trace before having a thought.
’It’s giving me a rather vague answer. I don’t get it at all.’
Cillian puts that aside for now and readies himself to use his other ability, knowing this is the only right time to use it.
If something happens, there are plenty of people who can help him in case things go wrong. After all, Cillian can’t recklessly use dangerous abilities like this during serious situations.
It was okay to do this now when nothing’s risky yet.
"Death Flag Probe."
[Death Flag Probe Activated]
[Using Nearby Flag Presence]
[Detecting Death Flags...]
[Death Flags x2]
[Please choose Death Flag to probe]
Cillian watched the blinking screen in front of him with both nervousness and a faint smile, akin to a crazed man knowing full well what kind of danger he was stepping into.
But he didn’t mind!
’This is for my own sake!’
"Me."
Cillian muttered inwardly before he saw the screen change.
[Death Flag Probing will begin in 3 seconds.]
It was counting down.
’Huh? Are you not giving me a description? What do you mean by "begin"?’
Cillian was beyond flabbergasted at this point before the three seconds were fully finished.
The next thing he knew, everyone from Class 1-A disappeared.
[Death Flag Probe has started]
[Death Flag Probe #1]
[Mental Load increased by 1%]
"The fuck is this?"
Cillian found himself alone in his homeroom class, devoid of any lights, color, and life.
