Episode 848 Summoning (2)
The consciousness isolation described by Theodore is fundamentally different from the mindset of modern wizards who process multiple spells simultaneously.It is closer to a form of ‘independent thinking’ that literally divides a single consciousness into two.
In Theodore’s case, since he is still controlling only one consciousness, it is not quite independent thought… but it is no less significant in that he creates a new consciousness that is temporarily uncontrollable.
Verden was skilled at parallel thinking, but he had never attempted mental separation. At most, all he had done was transfer his consciousness to a magical clone by borrowing magical items or Ignacia’s power.
I think I know why he is called a genius at the Academy.
To achieve partial independent thinking like Theodore, a level of concentration sufficient to forget half of oneself is indispensable.Genius.This is likely in the realm of talent rather than something acquired later in life.
Since his speed of immersion in reality is extraordinary, a significant gap between him and the other students is inevitable. Furthermore, Theodore possesses a magical understanding of his own.
‘Essentially a unique trait, or magic.’
If summoning magic is revealed to the magical world, it will cause a significant stir, but it is highly likely that it will eventually become Theodore’s exclusive property.
Consciousness isolation is something most intelligent beings would not be able to master. To register this as official magic and popularize it, a substitute consciousness capable of replacing independent thought would be necessary.
For example, creating a magical receptor that can be separately injected into a summoned creature and responds mechanically to simple commands… …That is the idea, but the details are a matter to be considered separately later.
Today is just to test out summoning magic.
Whoosh.
As Verden infused a faint amount of magic power, a blue light flickered in the dispenser. It had a special structure, resembling a capsule cut in half.High-density magic power moved moment by moment inside the transparent membrane, and the brass-colored metal plate supporting it gradually trembled.
“Yes…! Right there, you recall the characteristics of the creature you want to materialize, one by one. Clearly. Ah, since I’ll explain the mechanisms and habits of Wolfred, whom I summoned in the Ark….”“Wait.”
As Verden suddenly withdrew his magic, Theodore’s eyes widened.
“Is there, is there a problem?”
Verden pointed at the dispenser.The question was resolved.
“ah.”
If Theodor’s magical power is a small puddle, Verden’s is comparable to the ocean. The gap in their fundamental capabilities was far too great.It is not just magical power.Verden has also ascended to a transcendent dimension in the concentration, thinking ability, and comprehension that Theodor excels at at the Academy.
Even if you consider just one, while it may look similar on the surface, the amount of magical information contained within is incomparably different.
Therefore, even if they both summon the same Wolfred—a subspecies of the Lore Wolf—Verden and Theodor’s summoned entities are bound to be completely different.To put it simply, the shape and size are identical, but there is a significant difference in mass.
“It looks like this won’t work.”
The dispenser was designed strictly to fit Theodore’s capabilities. The same goes for its durability. To Verden, it is no different from a sheet of paper.
Even if you control the force as much as possible, you cannot avoid the dispenser breaking in the middle.
Since isolating consciousness is something even Verden is attempting for the first time, it requires extreme concentration. Consequently, it is natural for his power to be concentrated.However, if he lets his guard down for the sake of the dispenser, he cannot achieve isolating consciousness.
Isabella asked.
“Then summoning magic won’t work?”“I, I hadn’t anticipated a situation like this either. Since Professor Dale went to great lengths to secure the Mithril using the budget, I never imagined it wouldn’t be able to withstand the magical power…”“Hmm.”
Verden examined the dispenser closely for a moment and returned it to Theodore.
“I’ll try replacing it with a magic circle.”“Huh… what??”“It’s not like the structure is complicated.”
The distinguishing feature of summoning magic places weight on Theodore’s concept.
The dispenser itself cannot compare to any artificial artifact. If you have expertise in crafting magical items, reverse engineering it is no problem.
Of course, mimicking the function of a dispenser with a magic circle is a completely different story.
Paaaat!
Through the concept of infinity, which expanded possibilities in the silent desert, I instantly manifested multiple magic circles constructed in my mind.
Spatial separation.A passage through which only magical power travels.The tuning of spatial density.… … .
Magic circles that Theodore had never even seen in books overlapped and connected with each other, forming a huge dispenser large enough for an ogre to enter.
I learned that magic circles are a discipline famous for being rarely used in actual combat because they take too long to create.
Are all Transcendents like this? Or is Lord Verden special? I heard that the all-powerful Balrok Besias, who was killed by the Darkmoon, was the foremost expert on magic circles; who would be superior if compared to Lord Verden?
Wow.
Thoughts fueling a burgeoning thirst for knowledge stimulated Theodore’s head and heart. Meanwhile, the magic circle dispenser was completed.
“It is much larger in scale compared to the original, but functionally it is identical to a dispenser. It has also become slightly more convenient in some parts. Since I just made it, a trial run will be necessary, though.”“……May I test it out?”“Sure.”
As Verden gestured, the temporary dispenser transformed, and a magic circle responsible for recognition functions appeared. Theodore placed his hand on it.
“……!”
He could feel the connection of magical power.Very clearly.Would it look like this if magical technology advanced a few steps further than the present, which is called the Age of Magic? Theodore felt as though he had traveled to the future.
“Teeth and claws sharper than a steel sword…… Ground-shattering power…… Soft yet tough gray hide…… A low, menacing howl…… Eyes staring intently at prey…….”
Theodore, who isolates consciousness and materializes mental images through language. His magical power took the form of a beast within the magic circle dispenser.
As the wolf leaped into the gap in the space created inside the dispenser, a massive wolf beast appeared from the other side.Theodore opened his mouth.It was three times larger than when he had summoned it during the exchange battle with the Ark.
“Huh…?”“I configured it so that the density of the space is organized a little more efficiently. It’s essentially an enhancement of the summoning magic. It’s working out just as I expected.”
[Grrr.]
Giant Wolfred crouched down and rubbed his face against Theodore. As Theodore stroked him, his tail wagged vigorously.
“Pets… So even though they are like that, their essential consciousness is the same? That’s really fascinating.”
[Isolation of consciousness. Acknowledged.]
It is worth researching.
“Ahaha…….”
Isabella, Alpha, and Beta gave their personal assessments one after another. They were full of praise. Theodore scratched the back of his head, feeling shy.
“This should be fine as a substitute for a dispenser,right?” “Of course! In fact, I think we should build a new dispenser using the magic circle structure you envisioned, Verden!”“Let’s discuss that later. Then.”
Verden placed his hand on the magic circle and let out magical power.
“Hmm, if I were to explain the habits and instincts of the Lore Wolf to be instilled in the isolated consciousness…”“Never mind that. Right now, the goal is simply to verify the success of the consciousness isolation.”“Ah, that is true! If the isolation is successful, the rest is simple. Considering the Lore Wolf consciousness right now is inefficient in many ways.”
Theodoro nodded as if he fully understood and stepped back. As of this year, Theodoro was 17 and Verden was 29.Regardless of their level, it was a suitable age difference for giving and receiving instruction.
Your attitude toward learning couldn’t be better.
Verden constructed a form using magic. Its appearance was identical to Wolfred, whom Theodor had summoned, but the speed of its formation was overwhelming.
The blue light spread out.
A Lore Wolf subspecies, created in the blink of an eye, is sitting inside the magic circle dispenser with its eyes closed.
Next is the isolation of consciousness.
Verden immersed himself in his inner self, imagining a fine blade. It closes down. He violently sliced through a part of his mind, as if cutting through space.
It is different from the way Theodore opens and closes windows.
The consciousness of a transcendent being is too strong to be separated so easily. However, because tangible power resides within this abstract consciousness, it was possible to exert influence in this manner.However… the layer of the mind touched by the blade did not break but merely stretched out long.
As expected, it is not easy.
I immersed myself a little more in the psychology.
Verden’s level was opened to some extent, and at the limit where the seal of
Come this way.
Isabella immediately pulled Theodore’s body in with
Kugugugu!
The sky is stirring.
Gray clouds gathered and covered the sky, blocking out the sunlight. A cold gust of wind arose. It looked as if a storm were about to break out at any moment.
Theodore quickly looked around.
“W-what on earth is going on?”
[The world reacts in part to His Majesty Verden’s presence. Shock.]
“case…….”
Since Verden was controlling his power, the unfortunate incident of Theodor losing his mind did not occur.Theodor realized that the level of the Transcendent was something of a higher dimension, qualitatively different from the
The sound of thunder is heard.
Verden cautiously lifted his eyelids in a world that had gone dark on all sides. He stood at a crossroads, on the verge of losing consciousness at any moment.
“For now, I can only maintain consciousness isolation for a few seconds. In that case, I will proceed with isolation and consciousness restoration almost simultaneously.”
The imposed consciousness was left with only the habit of responding to simple commands. True to the theme of an experiment.
Next, Verden took Theodor’s advice into consideration.
“It feels like calling out to a being essentially identical to myself.”
It was unfamiliar, but I put it into practice.
sudden.
Separating the consciousness with an inner blade, I pushed the separated consciousness away with all my might. In doing so, I strongly summoned the other consciousness bestowed upon the summoned entity within my mind.Immediately afterward, an indescribable mental gravitational pull began to arise.
Is it a success?
But that was the moment.
The consciousness I had bestowed upon the summoned being began to return in reverse.What is this?Upon contemplating my inner self again, I realized that the blade had failed to completely sever the consciousness. The point where it should have been severed remained intact, stretched out long along the flow of power.
‘… … !’
The taut consciousness returned at tremendous speed and passed Verden. At the same time, a sensation as if Verden’s original consciousness was being pulled somewhere overwhelmed him.
Swoosh.
The Lore Wolf subspecies waiting at the magic circle dispenser slowly opened its eyes. Its gaze met Verden’s. It was something other than a wolf’s eyes.
and.
Consciousness bounced back.
* * *
The surroundings passed by like rays of light and stopped in the darkness.
“…….”
Verden moved his blue eyes. The vast nature vanished without a trace, and a massive cave, unlike anything he had ever seen, stood before his eyes.
‘Alpha, Beta, Isabella, Theodore. I don’t sense a trace of anyone.’
Did only my mind transfer, just like when I met the host through the Gring Arcanum before? It was certainly similar, but… there was a fundamental difference.
My physical senses were intact.It was reality itself.Everything—the mysterious smell of the cave, the darkness, the emptiness—was felt vividly. I could even activate the artifact.
Whoosh.
Verden activated his magic circuit while summoning [Interis] from the subspace.Although he had no idea exactly what was going on, he was not shaken in the slightest, as he was somewhat accustomed to such unexpected situations.
There must be something over there.
Verden advanced, his vigilance heightened to the extreme. Although he could not see far, perhaps because it was no ordinary darkness, such a disadvantage did not pose a problem to Verden’s strength.
Passed through the passageway.Crossed the massive cavity.
Eventually, the moment he reached the dead end of a cave of unfathomable size… … Verden couldn’t help but be stunned.
‘… … Dragon?’
He concentrated his magical power and forcibly lit up the light.
The sight of a sealed dragon, at least several times—no, more than a dozen times—larger than the Bone Dragon of the Beldirn Republic came into view.
A bizarre transcendent being that had fallen into a deadly sleep with its body and scales pierced here and there by countless wedges and chains, and its wing membranes brutally tattered… … Among them, what caught Verden’s eyes was the dragon’s ‘color’.
Verden stood still for a moment before taking a step toward the vast being. The crouching head of the dragon lay just a few steps ahead.
[I heard it from the World Tree.]
“……!!!”
The dragon, which hadn’t moved a muscle until just moments before, suddenly twitched its nose.
[Asher, or Verden.]
Unrealistically large gray pupils.Verden’s reflection in them.
[So that is you.]
A ‘gray’ dragon, perfectly identical to Verden’s hair, recognized him clearly.
