Chapter 400: False Maze Core
"...a line is one-dimensional, a plane composed of countless lines is two-dimensional, and the space we live in is a three-dimensional world composed of length, width, and height."
In the magical science class, His Highness Colin's voice was gentle and clear, and his warm smile was like the rising sun on the snowy field, making it impossible to look away.
Behind him, a coordinate axis made of light elements was slowly rotating, visually demonstrating the unfamiliar concept called "dimension" to the students present.
It turns out that people who are too handsome are not suitable to be mentors, even if it is just a guest appearance.
After all, most eyes were focused on his face, not the blackboard behind him.
But despite this, Luo Yan didn't care.
His expectations were low from the beginning.
Even if only 10% of magic apprentices listened to his teachings, it would be enough for the inheritance of knowledge.
"...So what I want to ask you is, does our world have a fourth dimension? And if it does, what would it be like?"
This interesting question made everyone in the audience fall into deep thought, and whispers were heard in the classroom.
"Could it be the time?"
"No... I don't think it's time. Time is something I can clearly feel. I even know where it comes from and where it goes. However, a two-dimensional line segment theoretically cannot touch a coordinate system that doesn't belong to it. Remember that concept that His Highness Colin mentioned when he was teaching algebra?"
"I disagree with your point of view. Whether one can clearly feel something should not be used as a yardstick to measure objective things..."
Amidst the whispers, the light of speculation shone brighter than ever before. In this hall known as the crystallization of knowledge on the continent of Os, such scenes were once extremely rare, with only a few unconventional scholars occasionally guiding their students to engage in similar thinking.
What most mentors unconsciously teach by words and deeds are two other things - when faced with opportunities, they rush forward like monkeys and plunder them by any means necessary, and when they need to take responsibility, they shrink into their shells like turtles and pretend to be dead.
It was not only the young apprentices who were subtly influenced. The teaching assistants and mentors sitting in the back row also listened attentively.
They subconsciously linked this concept with the "void" they were studying, with a glimmer of inquiry in their eyes, and they indeed gained a lot of inspiration from it.
If it were half a year ago, they probably wouldn't have taken His Highness Colin's nonsense seriously, but now things are different after all.
After the significant research breakthroughs in Virtual Realm 440 and Virtual Realm 178, Corinta had practically become the benchmark for Virtual Realm research. They even respectfully addressed His Highness as "Virtual Realm Mentor," which was no exaggeration.
Even though there is filth and corruption beneath the tower, the rules are as strict as the castle of the Kingdom of Rhodes, and the strong act recklessly like in the wild jungle, the concept of learning from the wise still exists here.
Sitting in the corner with the teaching assistants and tutors whose eyes were burning with curiosity, Professor Hector frowned slightly in thought.
His Highness Colin's theory on dimensions was indeed eye-opening, but in comparison, he was more surprised that his Highness seemed to have improved his control over magic.
Only he, who is also at the platinum level, can see such subtle changes. The light particles flying behind Colin are like a part of his body, as free as breathing.
As we all know, mental strength is one of the important attributes to measure the strength of a magician.
This attribute can be reflected on a large scale by the total amount of magic power of a magician, and on a micro scale by the meticulous control of magic.
It's like the Iron-level Fireball spell. The fireball summoned by an Iron-level magic apprentice is constantly shaking and unstable, and there's no guarantee where it will hit when thrown. However, the fireball summoned by a Steel-level assistant not only burns stably and lasts for a long time, but can also accurately hit targets a hundred meters away.
Professor Hector tried to clench his right hand hidden under the table, and then a tiny fire elemental spirit appeared in his palm and moved around his wrist.
He tried to imitate His Highness Colin's control over the light element, but was surprised to find that he could not reach the same level as that prince!
"Strange..." He muttered, his temper rising. He concentrated and tried again several times, but still couldn't do it.
Realizing the essential gap in the mental strength between the two sides, Hector finally snapped his fingers in admiration, dispersing the light from his fingertips.
"Never mind... maybe this guy had some adventure."
People who like to dwell on trivial matters will inevitably get stuck in one extreme case and start to wonder what Colin's adventure was.
He always felt that apart from being good at virtual realm research, the prince didn't seem to do anything special?
Could it be...
Can teaching apprentices improve their abilities?
Hector was shocked by his discovery, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt...it seemed possible.
After all, he had never seen the prince spend time in the meditation room, but spent most of his time in laboratories and classrooms.
He had been to the laboratory, but the classroom... he hadn't been there much recently.
He suddenly felt a little moved.
Not far away, a girl sitting next to Ilana also blushed and quietly shifted her gaze away from Professor Hector who lowered his head.
This disrespectful old thing is quite durable...
Professor Hector and Anjie weren't the only ones deserting.
Sgain, who was sitting under the podium, was also not thinking about that mysterious dimension at the moment, and of course not about the back row of the classroom facing the blackboard.
His Highness Colin acted as if he had not received his letter and continued to teach his students with a smile on his face, as if nothing had happened.
This made Skain, who sent the anonymous letter, feel uneasy.
He was worried that the kind prince would ignore his warning due to lack of evidence, but he also regretted his own rash actions.
Especially when he couldn't produce any solid evidence.
His judgment was entirely based on Professor Alister's recent series of strange actions.
That gentleman had been unusually enthusiastic about guiding low-level apprentices recently. However, at the All Souls' Day maze trial, the moment when he could gain the most prestige, he withdrew and gave the position of general manager to mentor Merck, who was far inferior to him in qualifications and ability.
This is one of them.
As for the second, it was that abnormal instruction.
Stopping Lastina's conspiracy against Ilana was a great favor to be done to Prince Colin and Ilana herself, and this little matter didn't even require the professor to show up in person, he could just do it himself.
However, Professor Alistair's choice was to let him "wait and see" and not do anything unnecessary.
This is almost tantamount to allowing things to slide towards the worst possible situation.
Although Skain couldn't figure out what substantial impact persecuting a promising apprentice would have on His Highness Colin, he couldn't let such a small blow make His Highness lose all hope, give up everything in the academy and leave this snowy plain.
However, what worried him was that all signs indicated that Professor Alister was indeed deliberately pushing this matter behind the scenes.
As for how that adult pushed it forward, that was not something he, an apprentice, could know.
Thinking of this, Skyin sighed helplessly in his heart.
Although he initially played the role of the prince's student only because of Professor Ariste's order, and even did not agree with the prince's doctrines and scholar status, after observing the prince for so long, he was still influenced by the prince to some extent.
Especially after witnessing the series of changes that had taken place in the Great Sage's Tower, deep down in his heart he actually didn't want His Highness Colin to be excluded.
Apart from anything else, Professor Ariste's recent changes alone are enough to prove the "value" of that prince.
Before that prince came here, Professor Alistair would never even look at an apprentice like him, let alone focus his attention on him like before.
Even though that look is a little creepy.
Now, in order to compete with Colin in terms of prestige, the high-ranking professor has to occasionally humble himself and play the role of a kind elder.
Not to mention other things, the teaching assistants and mentors who have the opportunity to participate in virtual realm research will probably feel it even more deeply.
The presence of that prince was like a beam of light from the holy city, shining into the shadow of the tower, and forcing certain beings that were originally entrenched in the shadow to restrain their minions and start paying attention to their eating manners.
After class, Skyein followed the crowded crowd to the apprentice cafeteria.
The air was filled with the aroma of baking bread and stewing meat, but he had no appetite, and his mind was filled with all kinds of chaotic thoughts.
If His Highness Colin hasn't noticed, is there a more direct way?
For example... find Ilana directly and warn her to withdraw from this dangerous trial?
Or, go and hit the apprentice named Anjie and Miss Lastina behind her?
However, he quickly dismissed these thoughts.
If Professor Alistair knew that I was being clever, not only would I not be able to help His Highness, but I would also most likely get myself into trouble.
Especially until now, he still couldn't understand what the professor's plan was, or maybe everything was just his imagination...
Just then, a familiar and unpleasant boasting voice reached his ears.
Skye looked in the direction of the voice and happened to see a mage boasting to the candidate next to him that he was about to participate in the maze trial, with saliva flying everywhere, as if he had already predetermined the final victory.
"...The labyrinth trial isn't actually that scary, especially for experienced magicians like us."
Looking at Finn, whose face was full of admiration, Kurth continued in an experienced tone.
"If you just want to rack up some points, scouting monsters and finding treasure chests on the first floor is your best bet. The rewards are generally pretty good, and most assistant teachers are generous in this regard, since the budget comes from the Mage Tower anyway. Of course, veterans like us usually aim for the championship, which is a bit more challenging. You have to delve into the deepest part of the maze and destroy its core—"
Finn's eyes widened in surprise.
"The core of the maze?! Is the trial in a real maze?!"
"Well, of course not... Where can I find such a large maze in the northern wilderness?"
Coors coughed lightly, a little embarrassed, but soon changed his tone to a proud one.
"That's something the great sages crafted based on the labyrinth of Hell. It's based on divine power, not an evil curse! Therefore, the monsters inside are actually very safe and generally won't cause any deaths."
Finn shrank back a little in fear.
“So there are still risks…”
"That's natural. Any trial has risks, and the labyrinth trial is no exception," Kurth said with the tone of a veteran. "Just like the great exploration we will embark on after graduation, you have to go through this."
Looking at this group of magic apprentices who knew nothing, Skyin curled up a sarcastic smile at the corner of his mouth.
He was too lazy to say anything, but somehow he blurted out a reminder.
"Professor Merck is in charge this time. It won't be that easy."
His original intention was to dissuade this "classmate" from joining in the fun. However, after a moment's pause, Coors retorted with an unhappy look on his face.
"Who are you? Is this related to you?"
Skain realized he had spoken too much.
"Just ignore me."
He shrugged nonchalantly and walked past the two of them, the thought of intervening in his heart extinguished.
And just as Skain turned around, he happened to see Miss Ophelia Castellón at the other end of the cafeteria.
At this moment, the duchess was discussing something with two senior magic apprentices in blue mage robes in an elegant and unquestionable manner.
Judging from the attentive attitude of the two magic apprentices, they probably received a lot of benefits from this lady.
Otherwise, even if there is a huge gap in status, they would not have to be so respectful to a noble from the Holy City in a place like Xuebang.
This is not the Kingdom of Rhodes.
"I asked you to prepare the 'special fireworks'. Is that okay?"
"Of course, Miss Castellón!"
"I can assure you that its power will definitely satisfy you! But... it might be a bit too strong. Are you sure you want to use it in the maze?"
Bane patted his chest excitedly, and Hader beside him nodded excitedly, but there was still a hint of worry on his face.
Without Miss Castellón's sponsorship, their research would never have progressed so rapidly. However, when they learned that she planned to bring that incredibly powerful magic item into the maze, they were still shocked by her crazy idea.
Is this a bit too much?
"It just has to be powerful."
Ophelia nodded with satisfaction, then casually glanced in the direction of Ilana and Anjie not far away.
Especially when she saw the slightly plump girl who was always pestering Ilana, she couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth into a confident smile like a master of plans.
Dear Miss Ilana, you will soon realize who your true confidant is. The person who hangs around you every day may not be your confidant, but may be a poisonous bee carrying poison.
But it doesn't matter——
Like a messenger of justice, she will descend from the sky at the most critical moment and give divine judgment to the complacent evildoers!
She had seen a similar plot in a knight novel before and had long wanted to give it a try!
Hehehe…
Looking at Miss Castellón who suddenly grinned, Bain and Had looked at each other, with a bad feeling in their hearts.
But Miss Castellón did not tell them what she wanted to do, and for the sake of the gold coins, they had no choice but to accompany her.
At this moment, Miss Castellón's confident look was like a bolt of lightning, instantly striking Skain who was wandering in the fog.
All the fragmented clues in his mind suddenly came together at this moment, forming a blurry but complete puzzle!
Professor Ariste's target was not Ilana at all, but a clever duchess who planned to play the hero and save the damsel in distress - Ophelia Castellón!
He calculated that Ophelia would definitely enter the maze to protect her friends!
The "surprise" prepared by Lastina was just an appetizer. The professor had already planned a bigger conspiracy in the maze!
And all this is to make Ophelia reasonably involved in danger!
Skye had heard from Professor Hector's assistant that the Duke of Castellón had personally entrusted his daughter to His Royal Highness the Prince.
If the Duke's daughter encounters an accident during the trial of the Academy, no matter what the truth is, Colin must bear huge political risks!
At that time, His Highness will be forced to leave the academy and return to the Holy City to deal with this huge trouble...
Skyin felt his hands and feet getting slightly cold, and finally understood the deeper meaning behind Professor Ariste's seemingly contradictory behavior.
Somehow, he suddenly thought of his junior Milos who was abandoned in the admissions scandal and eventually died tragically in a foreign country.
He finally understood the real reason why he didn't want His Highness Colin to leave.
It's not because his presence will make people like Ariste restrain themselves, but because he is fundamentally different from the other magicians here.
No matter how Alistair disguised himself, in the eyes of this lord, magic apprentices like him were always ants that could be sacrificed at any time.
Kindness and generosity are only temporary solutions.
Only that gentleman will listen patiently to the cries from the depths of their souls like a father and respond.
No matter how small that voice is, or how unrealistic it sounds...
At least he was willing to listen.
…
At the same time, in the wasteland far away from the Great Sage's Tower, several giant multi-legged monsters as big as hills were quietly crawling in the snow.
They are monsters summoned by Xuebang to transport large materials.
The teaching assistants were busy directing the metal golems and magic apprentices to unload the heavy supply boxes from the backs of the monsters and transport them to the entrance of a deep cave not far away.
The dome of the cave is so high that its top is invisible, and only the light cast by the magic floating lanterns illuminates the huge construction site below.
The teaching assistants split up and placed glittering treasure chests and magic props as rewards in every corner of the maze.
Here, an underground maze constructed by magic is gradually taking shape.
In the center of the cave, Merck was standing with his hands behind his back, staring seriously at the huge crystal in front of him that was emitting a soft holy light.
This is the core of this maze trial—the "artificial maze core" imitated by the sages of the Holy Energy School.
It can simulate some of the functions of the Hell Labyrinth, use divine power to construct an independent domain, and generate energy mirror images of various monsters for apprentices to challenge.
In fact, for nearly a hundred years, Xuebang has been trying to use divine power to imitate the core of the labyrinth of hell, so as to help the empire achieve its occupation of the underground world. However, due to the underlying incompatibility of different magic systems, no effective progress has been made.
In a sense, the labyrinth trial also serves the purpose of assisting the research of the Holy Energy School.
Even though this kind of thing might only be of concern to the magicians of the Holy Energy School themselves.
An assistant teacher stepped forward quickly and reported respectfully, "Teacher, the core energy circuit has stabilized, and the mirror generation module has been debugged. We can fill the maze with monsters at any time!"
"very good."
Merck nodded, his face expressionless, but he was thinking in his mind whether there were any details that needed to be added.
The annual maze trial is one of Xuebang's fixed events. Although it is not as dazzling as the sage trial, it is also an event that is highly valued by senior management.
This was his first time to be in charge of such an important project. He was thinking about how to use this opportunity that Professor Alistair had secured for him to make the All Souls' Day Trial a success, or even surpass previous ones, in order to repay the professor for his kindness!
As luck would have it, it wasn't just him who wanted to show off, but also his assistant coaches.
At this moment, an assistant teacher suddenly spoke up and gave advice to Professor Merck.
"Instructor, to increase the realism and difficulty of the trial, I suggest that this time we innovatively add some undead creatures commonly found in mazes!"
This statement immediately sparked heated discussion among the magicians, and soon a cautious assistant teacher raised doubts.
"But... our school doesn't master those forbidden spells. How can we generate and control them?"
The teaching assistant who made the suggestion immediately excitedly shared the experience he gained from communicating with adventurers at the Artisan Street Tavern last night.
"That's easy. We don't need to create them ourselves! The undead roam the northern border of the Kingdom of Rhodes year-round. We can commission the Adventurer's Guild or the Border Lord to capture a group of the lowest-level skeleton soldiers and transport them directly here using the magic circle at the border! We should have enough time to prepare now!"
There is a teleportation array on the border between the Kingdom of Rhodes and the Kingdom of Xuebang, but it has not been used for many years due to cost and other reasons.
But the maze trial is different.
For the major wizard towers, the budget for this kind of face-saving project has always been unlimited. If just paying a few more magic crystals can add luster to the trial of the All Souls' Festival, why wouldn't the person in charge of the maze trial do it?
As for capturing the undead, that is not a difficult task at all. There are many of those stupid creatures in any mass grave, and adventurers are happy to do it for them.
The nearby villagers even thank them!
Merck was really moved.
Previous trials have used spell mirrors, which, while safe, lacks originality. Introducing real undead would undoubtedly be the biggest highlight of this trial!
The main thing is that it’s real!
What's the point of fighting a bunch of slimes and goblins all day long, especially when those things are mirror images woven by holy spells.
I guess many students are already tired of the boring monster-killing, but are just too embarrassed to report it.
Now, the Tower of the Great Sage will fulfill their wishes and teach them some "real stuff"!
Merck, who acted as he thought, immediately interrupted the assistants' arguments and made the final decision.
"That's possible! Xuebang sends a large number of spellcasting talents to the empire every year. It's impossible that they haven't even seen what the undead look like!"
"But..." An assistant teacher couldn't help but persuade the instructor to think about it carefully, but was interrupted as soon as he opened his mouth.
"Don't worry. If the school's mages can't even deal with the lowest-level skeleton soldiers, then they don't deserve to graduate."
Merck, who had rejected all objections, smiled faintly, glanced at the assistant who had originally proposed it, and made the final decision.
"That's it, Kemidil. You're responsible for getting a batch of undead from the Kingdom of Rhodes, and do it as soon as possible!"
"Yes! Instructor!" The teaching assistant was overjoyed and immediately turned around to carry out the order.
As everyone gathered around the core of the artificial maze, enthusiastically discussing how to "optimize" the trial, no one noticed that in the shadow of a huge stone pillar in the distance of the cave, a figure was quietly watching all this.
Watching their conversation and decision-making unfold before her eyes, Sarah's lips curled up into a barely perceptible smile. Then, she took a light step back, brushing past the magic apprentice carrying the treasure chest, and silently blending into the deeper darkness...
(End of this chapter)
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