Chương 356: Location, Location, Location

While wondering how long it would take his body to grow strong enough to not worry about mana exhaustion at all, his eyes wandered towards the Increase Magic Power and Increase Mana Capacity options. While those increases did not have the issue of mana exhaustion if he purchased them, they did run the risk of something he had not faced since birth, too much mana in a body that was too weak for it.

He could probably purchase a number of the upgrades without worry, since he trained his body every day and had higher than average strength for a mage of his level. The problem he had was, how much was too much? He had decided long ago that it was best to keep training his body and increasing his magic power and capacity as naturally as possible, that way he would never have to worry about blowing himself up.

Still, if push came to shove and he needed that extra magic power in a pinch, he still had the option to purchase it.

'System, status.'

[Magic System] [System Level: 3] [User: Damion Wells] [Age: 19] [Magic Talent: EX] [Magic Affinity: Ice EX, Water E, Poison D, Spatial A, Fire A, Earth A, Shadow A, Holy C] [Mana: 6, 320/5, 122] (10%) - 6, 320 [Magic Power: 10, 853] (10%) - 11, 938 [Mana Recovery: 382 P/S] (10%) - 420 [Strength: 121] [Dexterity: 126] (10%) - 138 [Vitality: 299] [Intelligence: 148] [Experience: 13, 400/20, 000] [Store Credits: 3, 686, 394] As each day passed and he saw the small amount of growth he had, Damion understood why so few mages were able to push forward as high Rankers.

Growth outside of Breaches was difficult. Part of him wanted to open up the containment unit with the labyrinth and head inside and start training. Unfortunately, if he did that, he would not be able to move the labyrinth afterwards. Right now, the labyrinth was in a B Rank containment unit, which was fine, since the labyrinth was now considered only F Rank. After stabilizing it by clearing the floor he was sent to, the labyrinth reset, meaning only the lowest Ranked floor was open.

Once the first floor was cleared, another floor would open, that floor was likely to also be at F Rank. But even multiple F Rank floors added up and then when adding in the E Rank or even D or C Rank floors, the magical weight of the labyrinth would be more than a single B Rank dungeon. He had to be patient. Mage Teft was sure to find a safe place for them to set up their base and at that point, it would only be a matter of time before he could go into the labyrinth at will and train as much as he wanted.

With that thought in mind, Damion cast Portal with the destination in the direction of Phil and started his afternoon practice while waiting for the Demonic Beast to come find him. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Why have you brought us here Helga?" The S Rank Earth mage Victor Bishop demanded.

"Yes, do tell. I appreciate that Ingrid teleported us here, but I don't know where here is, other than having the feeling that I am in a Black Zone," Gregory Forlani added. Outside of meeting for the Assembly, it was unusual for four S Rank mages to gather, but now there was Teft, Fletcher, Bishop and Gregory all in the middle of nowhere for what the Earth and Stone mage suspected was some sort of clandestine meeting.

"I told you when I sent you my message, that I was calling in a favor from the two of you," Mage Teft started to explain.

"Favors don't generally involve tricking people into going to Black Zones," Mage Bishop huffed.

"Don't you realize there could be Demonic Beasts above S Rank lurking in the area?"

"Ingrid and I have fully scouted the area. The highest Ranked creatures around, aside from the four of us, are only B Rank."

"Still, make it fast. I suppose you brought us here to make sure no one would be able to overhear, but I would prefer not to linger."

"I brought you here to put you to work."

"Put us to work?" Mage Forlani questioned, sounding resentful.

"You just said there were no strong creatures around. What would you need our assistance with aside from that?"

"Building something."

"Building?" the two S Rank mages questioned in unison.

"Yes. The two of you were responsible for creating the wilderness survival examination area that all three academies make use of. I want you to create a similar area."

"Why?" Mage Bishop asked.

"Because I want one for myself. Don't worry yourself with why's. Just worry about getting the job done."

"It took us two months to build the mountain range that surrounds the training area, and that is in a Yellow Zone. This place may be free of S Rank Demonic Beasts now, but that doesn't mean it will stay that way. There is a strong possibility that just by being here we will attract stronger Demonic Beasts."

"Don't worry about that," Mage Fletcher told the pair.

"I'll exile any S Rank Demonic Beasts that come around. Think of it this way, the sooner you get to work, the sooner you can be finished."

"Are you saying we are stuck here until we finish the work?"

"No. As long as you promise to return, I will open a portal back to your homes when you need a rest." The Earth mage and Stone mage looked at each other. Neither one of them ever believed Mage Teft would call in the favor they owed her in such a manner. Her favor to them was simply inside knowledge of what the Sorin, Caplan, Thorn and Moretti families were up to in Argentum. But in return, she wanted them to spend months creating a ringed mountain range in a Black Zone.

"Don't worry so much you two. I've cleared out the worst of the Demonic Beasts and Ferocious Beasts from the area. The most you'll have to worry about is missing dinner a couple of times," Mage Teft told the pair of mages.

"I'll do this on one condition," Mage Forlani told her.

"Alright, what is your condition?"

"Tell me honestly, where you were for those years you were away."

"Is that all?" Mage Teft asked in disbelief. Despite the number of years that passed, everyone was still curious where she had gone after Silver Spire and how she had come back as an A Rank mage.

"I would like to know too," Mage Bishop added.

"Very well, you have your lie detection artifacts on?" Mage Teft asked, looking to both of them for confirmation before continuing.

"After I left Silver Spire, I came to places like this. I trained in the wilderness, clearing whatever Breaches I found and fighting whatever I had to in order to survive. That is what propelled me to A Rank. And I returned to Argentum and Silver Spire for access to S Rank dungeons to be able to achieve S Rank." Neither of the mages felt a pulse of magic from their artifacts leaving them feeling rather disappointed. How long had people been wondering where she had been, what she had been doing?

The answer, she survived in the Black Zones. Outside of the realms of humanity.

"You didn't find the exile community or start a family in some small Yellow Zone town?" Mage Forlani asked.

"No. If there is an exile community, I have never seen it. As for the Yellow Zones, don't you think the Caplan family would have searched all of them thoroughly?"

"Fair enough. I guess it is time we get to work. Do you want us to manicure the lawn too?" the disdain in Mage Bishops voice seeped through, telling Mage Teft he was agreeing to do the work, but he was not happy with it.

"No need. Just raise a nice high mountain range all around. I'll handle everything else."