Chapter 314 - 194: Hand-crafting a Nuke? Undercurrents at White Lake

What is the true nature of Fire Element Particle Energy?

Its nature is rooted in the high-intensity collisions between active particles, which give rise to a multitude of Extraordinary real-world phenomena.

From the very beginning, Fear-Burning Fire, Crimson Heat, and the Fire Elemental Particle Energy Shield already formed the foundation for three distinct paths of development.

Fear-Burning Fire involves the formation of an Energy Flame. Its specific properties relate to combustion. The essence of combustion is the release of energy by consuming a fuel source, creating a unique Extraordinary phenomenon.

An Energy Flame is not a tangible substance like water or other liquids. We are able to perceive an Energy Flame through visual feedback—the process of it emitting its own light and heat.

The Energy Flame generates a corresponding thermal magnetic field, allowing it to enter a plasma state.

Wang Ya’s eyes grew brighter and brighter, as if he had grasped something.

The particle collider before him ramped up from low to medium acceleration. The initially ordinary Particle Energy began to emit a faint crimson glow—the familiar Fire Element Particle Energy.

The Fire Element Particle Energy within his own body was accelerated in a similar fashion, a process he achieved using his Extraordinary Spiritual Power.

An inky stain spread across his pupils as massive streams of data flickered past.

The Fire Element Particle Energy within the instrument had already reached a level equivalent to his own as a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice.

To his surprise, as the acceleration increased, the aura emanating from the crimson light grew more terrifying, even surpassing the current level of his own Fire Element Particle Energy.

Wang Ya’s expression turned grave. ’This must be the Particle Energy level of an Extreme Wizard Apprentice.’

The small particle collider hadn’t reached its limit yet; it still had a high-tier acceleration setting. Hesitation flickered across Wang Ya’s face. ’The Wizard Instruments in a Level 2 Laboratory are meant to be used by Official Wizards. This must be the Particle Energy level of an Official Wizard.’

’Can I even handle it?’

Wang Ya shook his head. ’I have to try, even if I can’t handle it. I, too, have a spirit of dedication.’

’To explore the unknown, some risks are necessary. Besides, this is just the Virtual Laboratory.’

Resolutely, Wang Ya pushed the particle collider to maximum power. In just fifteen seconds, an aura that made his scalp tingle and his blood run cold was born.

The energy supply hit its maximum, and Wang Ya’s Extraordinary Spiritual Power began to drain continuously.

The rate of consumption was staggering.

He could last thirty seconds at most. Wang Ya’s pupils were fixed on the inside of the instrument. The Fire Element Particle Energy had transformed from its original crimson to a calm, restrained, deep red—so red it was almost black.

Wang Ya’s heart trembled. The inky stain in his pupils had spread so much it threatened to blacken his entire eye sockets.

He pushed his scanning and analysis Ability to its absolute limit, to the point that even his research on the Evil God’s Heart had to be put on hold.

He witnessed an unprecedented transformation and came to understand aspects he never had before.

This was a level that only Official Wizards could reach, concepts that only they would contemplate.

The process of truly creating a Special Particle Energy.

Komore, the strongest Level 3 Wizard Apprentice of the Black Tower, took greatest pride in merely mastering the Ten Thousand Tribulations Particle Energy inherited from his clan while he was at the Level 3 Wizard Apprentice stage.

Even an Official Wizard would be left dumbfounded by what Wang Ya was attempting.

No Wizard had ever attempted to alter the properties of Particle Energy to create a new one while still a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice.

Even Extreme Wizard Apprentices generally only mastered the inheritances of others—their Special Particle Energies.

Learning versus creating!

The two are worlds apart.

"So that’s how it is... The properties of Particle Energy evolve this way... I’ve got it! I’ve successfully grasped the right direction!"

Wang Ya’s eyes widened, a joyful smile spreading across his face before breaking into a full-throated laugh.

The next moment, an eerie black light illuminated his fair face, a light that was rapidly expanding... An almost suffocating aura spread swiftly. The extremely restrained, suppressed energy could no longer maintain its fundamental balance. It was like striking a match.

HSSS... The sound was faint, but Wang Ya’s smile instantly froze on his face.

Reflected in his pupils was an exploding, expanding, terrifying black flame of Particle Energy that surged forward, overwhelming everything and turning it all to ash.

....

「In the real laboratory.」

Wang Ya lay on the floor like a dead dog, drenched in sweat. Even his white lab coat was soaked through.

His chest heaved as he gasped for breath.

His face was pale with lingering fear.

He had successfully blown himself up, and in the most spectacular fashion.

If that had happened in the real world, his fate probably wouldn’t have been much better than the Thunderfire Wizard’s.

He’d have earned himself an Ancient Castle for a tomb.

He finally understood why only veteran Extreme Wizard Apprentices would dare to attempt altering the properties of Particle Energy.

Creating a new Particle Energy was an achievement worthy of being recorded in the annals of the Dark Land’s history.

The Power of the White Bone Wizard and the Rhein Wizard was considered top-tier among all Official Wizards.

The difficulty was too high, and the danger was too great.

Most of the time, it was a dance with death. Success, and even survival, came down to luck.

After splashing his face with water in the washroom, Wang Ya pressed his throbbing forehead. The drain on his Extraordinary Spiritual Power had been immense. As a Dream Wizard, his Spiritual Power was among the strongest for his level, but he probably couldn’t continue for the day.

He needed to rest and digest what he had learned from the simulation.

Observing the transformation process of Particle Energy at an Official Wizard’s level was incredibly enlightening for Wang Ya. This was especially true for the step-by-step progression he witnessed: from a basic, non-attributed state to Fire Element Particle Energy, and then to the level of an Official Wizard.

He had also confirmed the direction he wanted to take for his own Special Particle Energy.

The simulation had even sparked several terrifying ideas for Witchcraft related to his new Special Particle Energy.

’In my past life, a high-temperature plasma state could be used to separate neutrons and protons at the atomic level. It was also possible to separate the neutrons from two atoms and have the remaining microscopic particles fuse and collide.’

’If I can completely control all the active transformations within a plasma state, could I perhaps extend that toward... that direction?!’

The light of a nuclear explosion flared in Wang Ya’s pupils, his face filled with unconcealable excitement. He took a deep breath, reining in his emotions. ’Everything is still unknown. Creating a Special Particle Energy isn’t that simple.’

’It requires time, the right environment, and a profound foundation of Extraordinary Knowledge.’

Fortunately, Wang Ya had all of these. Especially after becoming a member of the Dark Hand, he was free from the constraints of mission quotas, leaving him feeling unburdened.

His research progress on Wizard Experiments would now definitely surpass anything he had achieved before.

.....

「White Lake Wizard City.」

A massive Wizard Ship navigated the city’s canals and entered the main waterway. Its wake drenched a few figures on the bank who couldn’t dodge in time.

Upon seeing the massive vessel and sensing the Extraordinary Fluctuations it emanated, the members of the small merchant caravans—composed of both mortals and Wizards—could only hold their tongues and curse inwardly.

It belonged to a minor Wizard Clan that had transitioned into a trading company, transporting goods.

There were many such small trading companies, plying the routes between the major Wizard Cities to profit from regional price differences. The margins were decent, but they also faced the risk of being robbed by Wild Wizards.

Of course, the claim of ’traveling between major Wizard Cities’ was something of an embellishment.

Thanks to the Wizard Inheritance Arrays, most resource transport didn’t require their services.

However, some outlying Wizard Camps lacked such conveniences and had to rely on these traveling Wizard merchants.

Rilis stood on the deck, gazing down at the monotonous scenery. No matter how lively or prosperous it was, it all became the same after a while. Her brow was furrowed; her expression had been grim ever since she arrived at White Lake Wizard City.

’It’s been three years, and my Power is still recovering so slowly.’ White Lake Wizard City was heavily guarded and strictly ordered, making it impossible for her to acquire the many Extraordinary souls she needed to recover.

Mortal souls, on the other hand, were of little use.

As for accumulating them—killing more to make up for their lack of quality—that was also a problem. Mortals were like wheat; they grew back after being harvested. But this particular crop of wheat had an owner.

Rilis had no desire to expose herself over something so trivial.

She was out of second chances.

The plan for White Lake Wizard City was her last hope.

Her current identity was that of a steward on this massive Wizard Ship, responsible for managing internal affairs, inspecting cargo, and checking for any discrepancies. She had obtained this position through connections developed by the Berkeley Clan.

The massive Wizard Ship belonged to a minor Wizard faction known as the Zeta Trading Company.

It wasn’t an official part of the Dark Land but worked closely with it. This arrangement was perfect for both her cover and her mission—killing two birds with one stone.

Beta Berkeley was certainly a talented individual. He could probably even make a name for himself at the Natural Ring Tower.

The only problem was, there had been little progress in locating the resonance point of the Witch Array Core in White Lake Wizard City.

He had barely sent her any news in the past three years. If he hadn’t arranged this identity for her, she would have started to suspect the Berkeley Clan was abandoning the mission.

’The Dark Bat Wizard has high hopes for me, but I lost the Shadow Robe and was killed by the same enemy for a second time. If the Dark Bat Wizard knew the truth, he would absolutely kill me. I must prove I’m still a worthy investment.’

’This White Lake Wizard City plan must succeed. It absolutely cannot fail.’

Determination flashed in Rilis’s eyes.

’Even if it means turning all of White Lake Wizard City into a land of the dead, I won’t hesitate.’

’I hope the Berkeley Clan comes through. It would be best not to have to resort to *that* method.’

Unless she had no other choice, she didn’t want to end up on the Dark Land’s most-wanted list.

....

PS: What do you think of "Lord of Cinder" for the protagonist’s title? What do you all think, my dear readers?