Chương 481: Chapter 479 – Set In Motion

"It is hard to believe you have managed to reach S Rank so quickly," Mage Fletcher said to Damion.

"I'm sure what Mage Harris passed onto us was, at least in part, responsible for your rise," Mage Veers added.

"But I am surprised as well."

"I feel I am going to continue to grow stronger over the next week," Damion told them. It was easy to say, but hard to actually explain.

"It would be best if you don't share this with anyone else. My Conceal Aura spell will prevent most people from noticing, but I thought it best if I informed you of this before you started suspecting something was off."

"Magic Power does not just continue to rise on its own," Mage Levine said.

"You mentioned before that you had an artifact that boosts your magic power. Is this related to it?"

"No. That is a temporary boost. If I remove the artifact that boost would vanish. What is happening now is truly an increase to my magic power."

"How high will your magic power go?" Mage Veers asked.

"I'm not sure," Damion lied.

"The process should be done in a week. But I think I will reach SS Rank." Ding [Spell Silver Tongue mastery increased to A Rank] Ding {Quest Completed} [Quest: Increase a Magic Spell in Rank – Status: Complete – Reward: 100 Experience, 500 Store Credit.] As the notification flashed in front of him, Damion did his best to ignore it.

"That is most impressive," Mage Levine said.

"And good to hear. As odd as this increase is, if you can truly reach SS Rank in a week, then I believe we have a strong chance of completing this mission of yours."

"That was my thinking as well. In the meantime, could you perhaps tell me what changes to expect at SS Rank?"

"SS Rank provides a more combat oriented boost than an overall ability increases like S Rank doubling your physical abilities or A Rank boosting your mana capacity. It is more of a magic penetration, I guess you could say. Having only been at SS Rank for a few weeks, I'm not quite sure how to describe it myself."

"Magic penetration is an apt description," Visneer said.

"SS Rank allows your magic to directly bypass the magical protections of those below your Rank."

"You are saying my magic will just cut through weaker mage's magic?" Damion questioned. To him this sounded like nothing more than what already happened when he fought someone weaker, his magic overpowering theirs.

"Not cut through or breakthrough, bypass. To cut through or overcome, implies your magic will weaken when it contacts another's and overpowers it. This is not the case. If you were to strike your teacher, Mage Teft with an Ice Shard, and she were to block with a magical shield, your magic would simply pass through her shield and strike her." You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"What about when I defend? Will her magic just pass through my Ice Shield now?"

"Of course not. Those with less magic power than you will have difficulty overcoming your defense, just as before. It is your attacks that will be able bypass the magical protections of others."

"What about when SS Rankers fight each other?"

"It largely depends on the strength of their affinity and the overall difference in magic power."

"I guess in a few days I will have a better understanding of it," Damion said as he turned the conversation to their next steps.

"When should we begin to head to the ruins?"

"Visault has already led your Mage Parivar to an entrance to the ruins. Mage Fletcher also went through the Portal and returned with him so that she can now open a Portal to the location. We expect a report from Mage Parivar in the next day or so. Once we have an idea of what may be waiting for us, we will begin planning."

"I guess we just have to wait then," Damion said.

"I'll continue to work on upgrading the artifacts brought to me. Any chance you know what changes a person goes through when reaching SSS Rank?"

"Getting a bit ahead of yourself, aren't you?" Mage Levine teased.

"Similar to how when you advanced to C Rank, physical harm to you from those of lower Rank became nearly impossible, at SSS Rank magical harm to those of a lesser Rank will become nearly impossible as well," Visneer answered.

"Isn't that already the case?" Damion asked, feeling confused. Anyone with less magic power than him had a hard time overcoming his magical defenses. He failed to see how reaching SSS Rank would change that.

"It is not the same. Currently, you use magic to counter the magic of others. A shield spell to block an attack or absorb enough of it that it cannot pass through your magically empowered armor. SSS Rank will allow you to simple be there, unarmored, with no defenses and those of a lower Rank will not be able to harm you with spell or blade."

"I guess it is a good thing we never encountered an SSS Rank Demonic Beast then," Damion said, thanking their luck that the Avalon labyrinth had not Reached SSS Rank.

"And it serves as an important warning for us."

"Indeed," Mage Teft agreed.

"If any Demonic Beasts in the ruins have risen to SSS Rank we will find it difficult to reach our goal."

"I doubt there are any. Your greatest threat will come from SS Rank beasts, if there are any, there should only be a few, perhaps as many as a half-dozen, no more," Visneer told them.

"You are certain of this?" questioned Mage Levine.

"As certain as we can be until your Transformation mage returns. Beasts can enhance their magic power by consuming other beasts and their cores, but to push them to a higher Rank than they are requires them to consume things of a higher Rank. Consuming lower Rank beasts will only advance them slightly and with diminishing results as time goes on."

"So, there is a chance of SSS Rank, but it is unlikely because of the requirements beasts face to advance," Damion summarized.

"And since there are tons of beasts down there, you think it unlikely that any SSS Rank beasts have emerged."

"Correct. However, I would not apply that same logic to SS Rank beasts. We know many of the Realm Breaches opened in the ruins are S Rank, there is a high chance that many of the beasts from those Breaches have advanced at least one Rank over the years."

"I already had the feeling we would be facing multiple S Rank and SS Rank Demonic Beasts. My worry was the place would be filled with SSS Rank beasts. Speaking of Realm Breaches," Damion suddenly changed the subject.

"Have your artificers had any luck in replicating the Breach Collapsers?"

"We have. With the supply of Magic Absorbing Crystal you have provided we have diverted most of our artificers to crafting more of the artifacts. We should have a few hundred for your group once a plan is settled on."

"Then I just have one last request," Damion said looking to Visneer and Visault.

"I need somewhere, that is protected from spies, to practice my spells."

"Yes, keeping your growing abilities hidden will prove to be advantageous. I have an underground training facility at my compound. I will lower the Spatial Portal blocking field and open a Portal directly there for you." A moment later Visneer did just that, letting Damion go through alone. The others left the workshop as if he was still inside working on artifacts.

If there were any spies among the people of Ardnet, or some hidden surveillance in place, it would appear that the human true mage, the real threat to the Alfar plan, was still in isolation.