Magus Supremacy-Chapter 232: First Step!

"So!" Magnus's voice thundered through the room, cutting through the students' thoughts like a blade and yanking them back to reality.

"Are we ready for this? There's no turning back once you begin. Know this: you might break through on your first attempt, or it might take months, even years. Or worse—this might be the end of you. You could be crippled forever."

He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle before continuing.

"If you're ready, let's begin."

"I'm ready!" Grey announced, his hands clenched into fists, his expression hardening with determination as he stepped forward, eyes fixed ahead.

"Same here," Scarlet and Greg echoed simultaneously, their resolve as firm as his.

"I mean, it's worth a shot," Raze shrugged nonchalantly, his eyes flickering with intrigue.

"Who doesn't want more power? I certainly do," Jay added, smirking as he confidently strode forward, his usual cocky demeanor on full display.

"Will the breakthrough make my healing magic stronger?" Vanica's voice rang with curiosity as she walked toward Grey, a radiant smile lighting up her face. "If so, then I'm in."

'Why is this witch standing so close to Grey? Wait, why do I care?!' Scarlet's thoughts seethed, her irritation simmering beneath the surface.

'Dave...' Vince's hands were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, nails digging deep into his palm. 'Every damn time… You always look down on me because I'm weak.

You treated me like dirt—almost killed my friends, hurt me so much. I've let it happen for too long. I've watched everyone surpass me, even though I'm supposed to be the Captain's son.

I'm still just a scared little boy, a weakling… Not anymore. This is it. No more fear. I will take the risk, even if it means crippling my core.'

"I'll take the chance. It's worth the risk. I don't care what it takes. Just… please… teach us!" Vince's shout rang out, his voice raw with emotion, his hands still trembling from the weight of his thoughts and the ghosts of past abuses.

"We'll take our chances too, Instructor Magnus! No matter the cost!" the entire class shouted in unison, their voices ringing out with a unified defiance.

Magnus's eyes widened in surprise, and an almost wolfish grin spread across his face.

His smile stretched so wide it seemed like his lips might touch his ears.

"Beautiful. Marvelous. Wonderful!" Magnus exclaimed, clapping his hands together in an exaggerated show of applause.

The students stood frozen in confusion, surprised by the unexpected display of enthusiasm.

"Congratulations! You've all passed my second test—the test of willpower!" Magnus announced, his grin almost comical as he looked at their stunned expressions.

"Wait, what?!" the entire class shouted, their disbelief palpable as they glared at the instructor.

"What? You thought your cores would just crumble if you didn't learn it?" Magnus laughed, his voice light.

"While it can happen in some rare cases, the reality is that your total mana capacity will only be halved, nothing more. Your spells will be slightly weaker, and you might drop a level—only rarely will someone be truly crippled."

Magnus shrugged, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

"Wait, then why scare us like that?" Grey demanded, his eyes narrowing sharply as he glared at the instructor, his fists crackling with tiny bolts of lightning, the air around him humming with static.

"Didn't you hear what I said?" Magnus chuckled. "It was a test of willpower. To see if you had the strength to even face the risks of gaining such power.

Don't blame me—blame yourselves for believing my words so easily. You either break through or you don't. And if you fail, you'll watch your friends grow stronger while you stagnate."

"Tsk!"

Grey scoffed in frustration, shaking his head as he turned away, stalking to the back of the class. His thoughts whirled with conflicting emotions, but one thing was clear.

'This instructor is insane.'

"So, let's begin, shall we?" Magnus's voice was light, filled with a mischievous energy as he smiled, watching the students gather in front of him, eager to begin the process.

The class stood in silence, awaiting the next step. There was a collective buzz in the air—a shared anticipation, as though the students could already feel the weight of the moment. They were ready.

"Know this: Breakthrough is a complex and delicate process," Magnus began, his tone now more serious. "It's not something I expect any of you to achieve on your first try.

It's a step-by-step journey, one that takes time, patience, and understanding. Some of you may not succeed at all, while others may take years to master it. But all of you will have the chance to try."

The students hung on his every word, their focus unwavering.

"Breakthrough allows a mage to release a tremendous burst of mana," Magnus explained, pacing in front of them. "It taps into a hidden pool of power—your true potential.

After breaking through, you'll be able to use mana in ways you never thought possible. Your spells may be faster, your movements quicker, your constructs more numerous, your healing abilities stronger."

His voice dropped into a more personal tone. "I'll give you an example. As an ice mage, if I were to break through, I could encase this entire room in ice. Freeze everything. That's the kind of power we're talking about here."

The students remained strangely unfazed, their faces neutral.

'Hmm… Have they encountered someone using the breakthrough before? Hold on, that reminds me of the rumour that a first year managed to beat a second year who even broke through. Is that why they are nonchalant?' Magnus thought, studying the students carefully. Could it be that's why they're so nonchalant?

"Anyway," Magnus continued, brushing off his musings. "Let's move on. Time to begin the first step toward learning breakthrough." He paused, and the room was filled with a palpable sense of tension as the students prepared for whatever came next.

"You will now enter the preparation phase," Magnus announced, his voice firm. "This phase requires absolute stillness and silence."

As his words sank in, a hush fell over the entire hall, a thick silence enveloping the room.

'These students really are eager, aren't they?' Magnus thought with an inward chuckle. 'I almost forgot how much energy they have at the beginning of their training.'

"The first step is silence," Magnus continued, his tone reverent, as if the very idea held deep meaning. "Not just around you, but within you."

---

{A/N}

I hope you're all enjoying the book so far! Please don't let your support for the book slip. Power stones, Golden Tickets, Gifts… send them all my way. Thank you! 😊 ✌️