Chapter 114: Resonance Colors

’Captain Walker...’

It sounded better inside his head every time.

They reached an office where several military personnel had already prepared the documents related to his promotion. A polished insignia case rested on one side of the desk, which drew Zishan’s attention almost as soon as he entered.

Elinox noticed. "Before you receive it, they need to check and update your military records."

Zishan turned toward her. "Again?"

"Your previous records are outdated." She gestured toward one of the staff members preparing several testing tools. "Your Level changed too much during the battlefield campaign, and several parts of your Mana information were never properly recorded."

One of the staff members nodded. "We also need an updated list of Captain Walker’s Mana Affinities, along with the Resonance Color of each Affinity.

Zishan nodded as though he understood.

In reality, he clearly did not, so while the staff continued preparing the equipment, he lowered his voice inside his head. ’System, what are these Resonance Colors she’s talking about?’

A green panel appeared in front of him.

[Resonance Color is a classification used to measure an individual’s natural synchronization with a Mana Affinity.]

Zishan continued listening.

[Higher synchronization allows Mana of that Affinity to respond with less resistance, improves efficiency during Skill activation, and increases the individual’s potential for developing techniques connected to that Affinity.]

’So it’s basically how compatible I am with an Affinity?’

[Correct.]

’And the colors?’

[The recognized Mana Resonance Colors, from lowest to highest, are Gray, White, Red, Orange, Cyan, Blue, Violet, Silver and Gold.]

[The color produced during a Resonance Test represents the measured degree of synchronization between an individual and a Mana Affinity.]

[Gold is recognized by current Cyrune standards as the highest conventional Resonance Color.]

Zishan’s eyes shifted toward the staff as they continued preparing for the test. ’Oh? How about mine? Will they be good?’

The System paused for a brief moment.

[Yes.]

Zishan waited, but the System did not continue. ’That’s all you’re giving me?’

[Would the Host prefer the precise measurement?]

’Obviously.’

Another line appeared.

[Perfected Glimpse does not apply solely to Skills.]

[When the Host possesses or acquires a Mana Affinity, Perfected Glimpse automatically comprehends its fundamental nature and greatly enhances the Host’s synchronization with that Mana Affinity.]

[As a result, the Host’s probability of acquiring higher Mana Resonance Colors has been greatly increased.]

[Current Resonance Color Acquisition Chances:]

[Gray: 1,000%]

[White: 900%]

[Red: 800%]

[Orange: 700%]

[Cyan: 600%]

[Blue: 500%]

[Violet: 400%]

[Silver: 300%]

[Gold: 200%]

Zishan’s face became blank.

’Wait.’ His eyes went straight to the last number. ’Two hundred percent for Gold?’

[Correct.]

’Isn’t one hundred percent already guaranteed?’

[Also correct.]

Zishan stared at the panel for a few seconds. ’Then what’s the point of giving me two hundred?!’

[It is the Host’s current acquisition probability.]

’That’s not what I asked.’

[Perfected Glimpse has exceeded the probability required to guarantee Gold Resonance.]

Zishan fell silent.

’So whenever I gain a Mana Affinity...’

[Under the Host’s current conditions, Gold Resonance is guaranteed.]

’For every single one?’

[Correct.]

Zishan’s mouth twitched. ’This Resonance thing is getting more ridiculous the more I learn about it.’

A crystalline device had already been prepared on the table. It was different from the Magic Cube Zishan remembered from the battlefield, with several intricate formations running through its transparent surface.

"Place your hand here and release a small amount of Mana," the staff member instructed. "You don’t need to use a Skill. The device will identify the Affinities present in your Mana."

Zishan placed his hand against it and released a small amount as instructed. Almost at once, several portions of the crystalline device began lighting up one after another, each reacting differently as it identified his Mana Affinities.

The staff member beside him recorded the results at first without much reaction, but after the fifth Affinity appeared, his writing slowed. A sixth soon followed, then another, until the people around the table gradually stopped whatever they were doing and looked toward the device.

The room had grown noticeably quieter.

Zishan glanced toward Elinox, expecting at least some reaction from her, but she seemed far less surprised than everyone else. If anything, the way she stood there suggested that seeing someone with more than five Mana Affinities was not particularly shocking to her.

’Right. This woman probably has more than what everyone knows about, too.’

Only a small number of people knew the full extent of Elinox’s Mana Affinities, and Zishan had already suspected that the five publicly associated with her were not the complete picture.

The staff, however, did not possess Elinox’s composure.

One of them checked the device twice. Another looked toward the first staff member as if waiting for him to say that the instrument had malfunctioned.

"Is there a problem?" Zishan asked.

"N-No, Captain."

The man looked at the readings again. "More than five Mana Affinities are simply... extremely rare. Perhaps it wouldn’t be a stretch to call it unique."

"Ah." Zishan nodded like that explained everything.

To him, receiving another Mana Affinity had started to feel disturbingly normal. ’Or is it supposed to be normal?’

Once the affinities were recorded, one staff member carried something from a secured cabinet.

Zishan recognized the shape. "A Magic Cube?"

"Yes, Captain, though this one serves a different purpose from standard appraisal cubes."

The cube was clear, with several thin metallic lines running through its interior. Each side contained formations far more complicated than the one Zishan had seen used to identify Race and Level on the battlefield.

"This model is used specifically for Mana Resonance testing," the staff member explained. "The Kingdom purchased several of them for military use. This is the highest-grade model available to us and can properly identify Resonance Colors up to Gold."

Zishan glanced toward Elinox. "Gold is the highest, right?"

"For this measurement, yes," she answered. "And most people never reach it."

Zishan gulped, quite nervous about their reactions when they’d find out about his Resonance with all his Mana Affinities.

The staff member moved the cube toward him. "We’ll test each Affinity separately. Begin with whichever one you’re most comfortable releasing."

Zishan thought for a moment. ’Well, let’s start with Fire first...’