Chapter 1213: Adamant Thunder Annihilation Campaign (4)

The time neared noon. Bright sunlight poured in from outside the window.

Lennok sat by the window, stacked with books, lost in thought.

“……”

The Black Consumer Project. A plan to edit and set human destiny and talent, adjusting them as desired.

The moment he heard the truth from Ethan Bajour, Lennok understood far more than that.

Kaiser Bajour’s talent and curse that he had faced throughout his life.

The countless failures and frustrations accumulated through him. The apostasy and conclusion gained at the end of it all.

Even why the project was called the Black Consumer Project.

Was it said that they were stubbornly trying to grasp qualifications and futures that weren’t given?

The name of the project, decided by Kaiser and Olivera, had accurately pointed to its essence from the very beginning.

Only after hearing and realizing everything, Lennok looked back at the memories he had faced until now, re-evaluating their meaning.

‘Directly interfering with human talent or aptitude….’

Ironically, Lennok had heard a similar story before.

The selective breeding that the Central Nobles had conducted, aligning bloodlines and roles. Through this, they obtained refined bloodline abilities.

Filtering and selecting human talents and genetic traits, leaving only superior talents in the noble blood.

Lennok already knew that a similar attempt to the project had taken place in Ars Nova.

“……”

Surely, the project’s failure leading to Ars Nova’s demise wouldn’t be unrelated to that fact.

Even if Ars Nova’s ‘breeding’ differed in method from the project’s ‘editing’, their ultimate direction was similar.

Therefore, it might not be impossible if the failures existing between the two cities influenced each other.

Just sitting and pondering the project’s truth, he was newly realizing many things.

He recalled the true meaning of secrets he hadn’t understood even after hearing them before.

Yet, if there was still an unresolved question—

“Lennok.”

Aris, who had been holding a pen at the desk in the back of the room, watched him with a strange expression.

“Are you alright?”

“…Yes. I’m fine.”

Lennok, roused from his thoughts, replied and turned his gaze.

“It’s been a while since I returned to school, so my thoughts wandered. I’m almost done.”

Rebatenon Magic University. Top floor of the Elemental Studies research building.

Lennok was in Aris’s lab, catching up on overdue work with her.

With Aris reinstated as a professor at Rebatenon, Lennok was also using the same research building as her.

Though no longer professor and assistant professor, their work hadn’t changed much.

In fact, there was a certain sentimentality in handling faculty matters with Aris like this again.

However, Aris seemed to be thinking something a little different from Lennok.

“Because the lab’s ‘preparations’ will need a little more time.”

Aris cleared her throat and subtly glanced at Lennok, asking,

“You don’t necessarily have to stay at school with me during that time… I mean, if Lennok is alright with it, I don’t mind.”

“……”

“The Annihilation Campaign. You must be busy preparing for it in many ways.”

As Aris had also participated in the Tower’s meeting, she would understand the gravity of the current situation.

She seemed to have tried to broach the subject without offending Lennok, but that only made her voice sound awkward.

“It’s fine.”

Lennok smiled as he finished signing the remaining documents.

“I’ve been gathering information about the Annihilation Campaign for a while now, so I had some time.”

“Does that mean… Deadrise has been targeting Lennok for a long time?”

“It would be more accurate to say it’s an obsession with this city.”

Lennok raised his gaze.

“Even after advancing to the Central Front, The Legion has made it their long-cherished desire to reclaim Vulcan. It’s not hard to guess what they want from me now.”

“That is…”

“Most of the necessary preparations are complete. Of course, what I intend to do is far from a thorough or perfect plan, but…”

Lennok, propping his chin and looking out the window, murmured.

“That’s precisely why I needed some time to organize my thoughts before addressing the ‘purpose’ of coming to school today.”

“……”

Ethan Bajour’s return to Vulcan to retrieve the ‘success’ of the Black Consumer Project.

Thus, before starting, Lennok was confirming precisely how much he understood about the project’s truth.

Only after understanding how the project’s success or failure influenced this world could he properly confront Ethan.

Only by understanding what he desired and why he returned to stand here could Lennok maintain his center without being swept away by him.

Not to chase after the project out of lingering attachment, but to no longer be swayed by its truth.

Because he vaguely felt he knew ‘who’ the project’s success, mentioned by Ethan, was.

“I think I understand what you mean. There’s nothing quite like administrative work to sort out complicated thoughts.”

Aris, also understanding Lennok’s words, tapped her pen with a wry smile.

“When I read and sign documents for tasks I have no interest in, my mind tends to wander without me realizing it.”

“I didn’t know you felt that way about school work, Professor.”

“It’s not like I enjoy every single task I do.”

Aris said with a pout, at Lennok’s teasing remark.

“What I find valuable at school is teaching undergraduates or researching magic theory. Of course, I don’t intend to neglect other necessary tasks for that…”

“Even so, I hear inquiries for your courses have been pouring in since your reinstatement, Professor. Won’t you open new lectures?”

Aris Richellen was one of the most popular professors at Rebatenon even before her sabbatical.

Not only had she achieved remarkable success as both a wizard and a researcher, but she was also fundamentally an excellent educator.

Kind and gentle to everyone, she also empathized with and considered the difficulties undergraduates faced, making her lectures exceptionally high-quality.

Enrollments overflowed not only from the Elemental Studies department but also from other departments, leading to several clashes between departments over student allocation.

Lennok, having previously assisted with related tasks as an assistant professor, knew well how much Aris was welcomed by students.

However, Aris herself didn’t seem particularly interested despite hearing such words.

“I’ll probably stand on the podium again next quarter… but I’m not sure yet.”

Aris twisted a strand of her hair with one hand and said in a faint voice.

“Right now, this work is too important, so it’s hard to focus on school. I’ll think about it later.”

“From my perspective, Professor, I hope you don’t dedicate yourself solely to the Tower’s affairs…”

“Lennok.”

Aris’s voice sharpened slightly.

Her blue eyes momentarily held a strong light.

“Surely, you’re not thinking of saying I shouldn’t help Lennok with this, are you?”

“…If I thought that, I wouldn’t have come to find Aris like this.”

Lennok gave a wry smile, put down his pen, and stood up.

“It seems the time has come. May I ask you to prepare right away?”

“Alright!”

Aris, her mood seemingly lifting in an instant, stood up and led the way.

Lennok followed her, bathed in the sunlight pouring through the research building’s corridor.

The reason Lennok was spending time at Rebatenon Magic University now, before the Annihilation Campaign.

It was partly to organize his thoughts about the project before the full-scale war, but coming to Aris wasn’t solely for that reason.

The research Aris had seriously begun upon returning to Vulcan and entering Lennok’s Magic Tower.

It was a result she had obtained from the Sinclair Magic Tower, a consumable that was rapidly dominating the Elixir market across the continent.

“This is the Elixir manufacturing facility I temporarily set up.”

Clunk!!

As the locked door opened, a clear golden light filled their eyes.

Dozens of test tubes, aligned neatly at regular intervals on the wall.

A golden radiance slowly dripping drop by drop through the rising steam.

Golden droplets tapped down, reacting upon contact with the prepared catalysts.

The droplets flowing through various catalysts changed color in real-time, transforming into brilliant rainbow hues.

After passing through dozens of types of filters and catalysts, the droplets finally returned to golden and collected in a flask.

The moment a new drop was added to the concentrated golden liquid in the flask, a faint ripple spread throughout the entire lab.

Flash!!

A golden breeze gently swept over Lennok and Aris’s faces and disappeared.

It held a faint warmth, containing a strangely familiar yet nostalgic will-thought.

“For now, I’m using the equipment brought from the Sinclair Magic Tower.”

Aris said, walking through the spacious lab.

“Originally, this equipment was brought to run the process in Lennok’s Magic Tower, but for now, I’m borrowing the research building’s lab, so the efficiency is a bit lower.”

“I’ll arrange a place for you as soon as the Tower is stable.”

The Elixir, a panacea manufactured by Aris Richellen. It’s a panacea with an effect virtually nonexistent on the continent until now, dramatically reducing mana consumption for several seconds immediately after ingestion.

Its value is astronomical, with the potential for useful application in all fields, including combat, tasks requiring large amounts of mana, and research.

It not only elevated the status of the Sinclair Magic Tower but was also the core item that expanded the Tower’s item business to an enormous scale.

Originally, as soon as he entered Lennok’s Magic Tower, the plan was to install related equipment and entrust Aris with the research and tasks.

However, with Lennok’s Magic Tower undergoing reconstruction, Aris had temporarily set up in the Rebatenon research building lab.

This was Lennok’s true reason for coming here before the Annihilation Campaign.

“No, I didn’t mean it that way… I haven’t made any significant progress on my fourth thesis yet either.”

Aris replied, a little embarrassed, and turned around.

“Anyway, the important thing was the item I needed to show Lennok.”

Clunk!

A massive workbench located in the deepest part of the lab.

Behind stacks of papers densely covered with numbers estimating component ratios, density, and quantities.

A small vial sat in the middle of the workbench, surrounded by various test tubes and droppers.

Unlike other Elixirs that shone with a clear golden light, this golden liquid held a subtle blue hue.

A panacea, clearly different from other Elixirs at a glance, emitting a distinct saturation and light.

“This is…”

“The first improved version of the Elixir. This is the raw fluid of Elixir Prestige. It’s been fully refined, and now the ‘preparations’ are finally complete.”

Aris slowly lifted it and said.

“Compared to the existing Elixir, this item has an extended duration, a reduced dosage, and significantly improved effects.”

“Improved effects, you say…”

“The ability to preserve the user’s state at the moment of consumption. I focused on expanding the scope of its application for that part.”

Aris explained.

“It doesn’t just stop at reducing mana consumption; it aims to maintain the state of will-thought, mental strength, metabolism, and energy efficiency at the moment of consumption.”

“……”

“If Lennok were to take it, he might be able to control his will-thought, and perhaps even his Mind Imprint, once without consumption. It was made for that very purpose from the beginning, but…”

Aris trailed off, shaking her head slightly.

“I only have this one bottle right now, so I don’t know how much Lennok needs to take. Perhaps he needs to drink the whole bottle for the effects to fully manifest.”

“‘Fixing’ the reserves of will-thought or mental strength at the moment of consumption…”

Unlike the existing Elixir that supplements mana consumption, does this mean it might preserve will-thought, and even a Mind Imprint, once?

If he could use a Domain or territory, which usually requires immense Mind Imprint consumption, once without cost.

That would be practically another ‘opportunity’ that could completely change the premise or grand strategy of the Annihilation Campaign itself.

A new option that might be even more valuable than life itself for a top-tier spellcaster like Lennok.

The moment he realized that, Lennok understood why Aris was delivering this new Elixir at this time.

If she had prepared this to create even one more opportunity for Lennok, now, before the Annihilation Campaign.

That he was, in fact, discussing the Elixir’s effects and purpose in detail with Aris for the first time.

Because Lennok also understood that she was trying to convey secrets and reasons beyond that.

“You knew that I receive the Elixir’s effects much more strongly than others.”

“The Elixir was made for Lennok from the very beginning.”

Aris replied quietly.

“After returning to the Sinclair Magic Tower, I didn’t have the luxury to care for others. My research always had many shortcomings, and I feared I wouldn’t even achieve the goal I left Vulcan for.”

“……”

“Ever since then, I wished nothing would change, that something would remain constant… I thought that every day while searching for a way…”

Aris closed her eyes and whispered in a voice barely audible to Lennok.

“Only at the very end did I realize that the way was within me.”

“…Aris.”

“The reason I completed my hierarchy only after meeting Lennok. The reason I hadn’t realized that fact. The reason I only use this ability for Lennok.”

Aris looked at the Elixir in Lennok’s hand.

“All those reasons are here.”

The reason why only Aris could create the peerless Elixir.

The reason she created the Elixir after repeatedly researching to treat Lennok.

The reason she always wished for something to remain unchanged.

The reasons that constitute her as a wizard are contained within this place.

Aris’s awakened Root Mindscape, and the ‘ability’ she gained through it.

If the Elixir was, literally, the materialized result of her wish—

“Understood.”

Lennok, placing the Elixir Prestige into his pocket, nodded.

“If it embodies the wish for things to remain unchanged… it’s natural that I would receive that power in a different way than others.”

“……”

“I will ensure this meaning is not used in vain.”

Ethan, who claimed nothing was constant and even changed himself.

Aris, clinging to her heart, wishing for nothing to change.

It was unclear which was right. Lennok didn’t truly know which he desired either.

But it was clear that what Aris had given him could be significant for the upcoming Annihilation Campaign.

An essential means of mana preservation for Lennok, who was plotting a war with The Legion.

An item that absolutely had to be prepared at this point, considering the mana that would be consumed in the process of ‘using’ the new Magic Tower in the Annihilation Campaign.

It was Aris’s secret wish, one that would surely be needed at some point to hone Lennok’s lightning to its extreme.

For Lennok, that alone was enough.

Aris, too, smiled at Lennok and then began bustling around the laboratory.

“I’ll also give you the leftover Elixirs that have been manufactured. Considering the recoil immediately after consumption, you won’t be able to drink them consecutively during battle, but…”

“I’ll gladly accept them.”

Having consumed and used many Elixir raw fluids and diluted solutions while traveling the continent.

At this point, if Aris manufactured and replenished the Elixirs, it would certainly be helpful.

As he was finalizing preparations for the Annihilation Campaign, Lennok also had no intention of refusing help or cooperation from those around him for this matter.

“However, it’s all good, but let’s change just one thing.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t the name Elixir Prestige a bit too grand? Wouldn’t something like King Elixir, or Super Elixir, be more intuitive…”

“……”

[….]

Along with Davi’s cold reaction, Lennok got to witness an expression from Aris he had never seen before that day.