Golden Mage - Chapter 17
Volume 1, Episode 17
Six months had passed.
El, who had already completed the framework of the golem, called Serena to teach her magic after a long time.
Now a 3rd Class Master, Serena was delighted to hear that El wanted to teach her magic. She wore a joyful smile as she followed his gesture and took a seat.
“Ah, Serena. Sit here.”
El greeted Serena with a smile and guided her to her seat. Once she sat down in front of him, El looked at Serena and began to speak.
“You’re currently a 3rd Class Master, right?”
“Well… not exactly. I’m studying to become a 4th Class Expert after reaching the 3rd Class Master.”
Upon hearing Serena’s response, El was slightly surprised and smiled.
“Oh? Our Serena is amazing! So, what do you think the 4th Class realm entails?”
“Hmm…”
Serena pondered the question. El was guiding her to find her own path by asking her questions.
Every person’s chosen path was different. Although they might diverge, they ultimately converged at the 7th Class realm – the absolute peak of advancement. It was a stage where people chose their own paths, yet those paths eventually led to a common destination.
Serena contemplated the question for a while, as this was an important issue she had thought about a lot while striving to reach the 4th Class threshold.
After a considerable amount of time, Serena finally gave her answer.
“I believe it’s about understanding mana. If reaching the 3rd Class realm means grasping and feeling the essence of mana, then the 4th Class realm would be about delving deeper into the nature of mana itself.”
“The nature of mana? Mana’s nature…”
El mulled over Serena’s words.
A person couldn’t just look ahead and walk. They had to observe their surroundings and look behind to ensure a safe and certain path.
By teaching Serena and asking her questions, El was helping her discover the path on her own. He was providing her with an opportunity to realize things she hadn’t considered and to reclaim what she had overlooked.
El felt that something was gnawing at his mind due to Serena’s words. He had a strong sense that he had missed something all this time.
And indeed, that was true.
Understanding the nature of mana.
That thought was entirely different from how El had been practicing magic, focusing only on the arrangement of formulas and the response of mana.
El had reached the 6th Class Master without ever contemplating this aspect of mana.
He had overlooked something so simple.
Contemplating the nature of mana, El kept thinking and thinking without pause.
How much time had passed?
Bang!
El felt a shock as if a hammer had struck his head.
It was the key to enlightenment. It was an enlightenment that could only be captured in a moment, and if missed, it might never be grasped again.
El quickly stood up from his seat. He left Serena behind, who was surprised by his sudden reaction, and rushed out of the room.
It was an overwhelming realization that had come to him.
The realization of entering the profound realm of the 7th Class, seeking enlightenment.
With every second that passed, an immense amount of mana surged around El.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
The overwhelming flow of mana resembled the appearance of a young, aspiring transcendent entering the realm of the 7th Class, discarding the shell of their former self, and folding into the absolute peak.
Absorbing the mana from his surroundings through the art of Single Breath.
Exactly as he had practiced, the densely flowing mana from his surroundings was drawn into El’s body, filling his mana hole to the brim. However, El continued to engage in Single Breath, refusing to halt despite the tremendous impact on his body.
A lifetime opportunity, an instant that came only once.
El, despite experiencing an enormous shock that shook his body, remained dedicated to the Single Breath, fully absorbed in the process.
The mana within El’s mana hole began to move again. Tremendous amounts of mana formed a new mana hole to accommodate the vast amount pouring in.
That was the beginning.
Mana, sweeping through El’s body, expelled any foreign substances.
And then, his skin split.
Bang! Bang!
His split skin fell, revealing a pristine, jade-like layer underneath.
With a sense of comfort slowly settling in, El’s face transformed. The mana hole re-formed, now able to accommodate the immense mana.
El didn’t know how much time had passed, but he felt that his body had become significantly stronger than before.
This phenomenon was entirely different from that of other magicians. It might have been an effect unique to El, who had mastered the Single Breath.
In an instant, El’s eyes opened. The faint mana filled his azure eyes, emitting a radiant glow.
El muttered with excitement, “Have I finally broken through the 7th Class barrier and gained enlightenment?”
A deep joy and thrill filled him as he had entered the realm of seeking enlightenment by reaching the profound realm.
El stood up and examined his body. His skin had completely regenerated and was now flawless, without a speck of dust.
Realizing that his skin had regenerated, El smiled.
“Is this something like reincarnation, as described in martial arts novels? It’s somewhat similar, but different. Anyway, it’s undoubtedly a good thing.”
With that thought in mind, El returned to his room to change into new clothes.
As he stepped outside, he found Serena waiting for him.
Serena confirmed El’s changed appearance and smiled gently. It was a serene and soft smile.
“Congratulations on gaining enlightenment.”
A smile appeared on El’s face as well. He realized that he had gained enlightenment thanks to Serena’s response.
“Thank you, Serena. I could achieve enlightenment because of you.”
El’s words made Serena lower her head slightly, a sign of her modesty.
“I don’t think anyone’s help is necessary to gain enlightenment. You achieved enlightenment because you worked hard.”
She didn’t boast about her contribution but humbly acknowledged El’s efforts.
“Since that’s how I feel, there’s nothing I can do. Thank you, though. I’ll try to treat you even better from now on.”
El’s words, which sounded like a husband praising his wife, made Serena blush. Seeing her like that, El chuckled and headed towards the Golem Workshop.
He had remembered something important. It was about enhancing the golem’s power.
Currently, the golem only had the basic framework. No magic stones or magic arrays were inscribed in its skeleton.
“Hehe! This is it!”
El smiled as he looked at the golem’s blueprint.
Now that he had reached the 7th Class realm, he could use even more potent magic arrays.
Naturally, he could now inscribe more and stronger magic arrays than before.
For three whole days, El worked tirelessly, modifying the golem’s blueprint.
“Hehehe! This is it! This is the true ultimate golem.”
El whispered excitedly. The blueprint had become much more perfect after his advancement to the 7th Class.
“With this, even a Grand Master won’t be able to defeat my Knight Golem.”
His eyes sparkled with delight.
And one year later, El finally completed the golem.
He used the legendary Magic Metal to inscribe countless magic arrays, overlapped them using the metal’s unique method, and coated the surface with gold.
Thus, he named the first golem he completed “Golden Knight,” as it far surpassed the power of any ordinary golem.