Extra's Path To Demon King-Chapter 50: Ancient Magi

What the old librarian saw as he entered the apartment made his jaw drop. He couldn’t believe it. He expected something far beyond the norm, but this was too much even for a powerful runic mage like him who had lived for thousands of years.

The 9-year-old kid’s body now looked like that of a young teenager of 15-16 years old. The boy had become as handsome as a lady killer. His physical body seemed highly attuned with mana and runic energy. As a 6th circle mage, he could see far more than what Axel himself was able to notice.

The old librarian inspected him with narrowed eyes. The boy had advanced to the stage of rank 2 acolyte in by far the shortest time in history. His mana core, which should be filled with gas like translucent mana, was instead filled with liquid mana, an energy source which only mid-level 1st circle mages had.

The mana in the air seemed to be automatically attracted to the boy, he also awakened the runic circuit, something one should only have in the 1st circle. The circuit also seems to be something far abnormal and different. But then, when his eyes saw the runic pattern on Ash’s eye.

The old man almost lost his sanity and became an idiot. The old man slapped himself in the face just to make sure he wasn’t daydreaming about something absurd.

SMACK!

The clear sound of slapping resounded in the apartment, which made Axel sigh in defeat. He knew this old fart is going to do something like this, even the reader’s are probably embarrassed by the antics of this old fart.

Old librarian Leroy felt his mind go blank. He stated in a trembling voice,

"Th-Th, those are The Runic Eyes. How can this be? How is that even possible?"

He began murmuring some incomprehensible words excitedly without stopping. The old man was so excited that he could literally pull out his own hair from his head. Axel shook his head in embarrassment. However, in the next moment, the old man’s expression turned extremely serious as he said, "Brat, just what are you?"

Axel’s expression also turned serious as a tinge of defiance seeped into his being, while all the suffering he went through as Ash resurfaced in his mind, his desperation, his determination, his obsession, his desire to cure his little brother flashed through his eyes,

His runic eyes glowed in an ominous light as he declared,

"I am what I need to be."

The old man looked deep into the boy’s eyes. He sighed and diverted his gaze from Ash.

"You don’t understand the sheer significance of what you have achieved. What it means to have those eyes."

The old man pointed his fingers at Ash and stated in a grim voice, "There has only ever been a single existence in the history of this entire world that ever had those eyes. The single strongest mage that ever existed in this world, Durein Nightcrown." fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

"The pride of all the runic mages, he was the sole existence in ancient times who proved himself as the single most strongest mage to ever exist. An 8th circle magi who could fight against all the other tower masters of other magic branches combined, despite being on the same level as them and still overpowering them."

"He had reached the peak of Rune crafting and also created a new branch of Runic studies, which was the Body Rune Engraving. But that field of studies has been lost in time because of its low success rate and various other reasons. The signature symbol of Durein Nightcrown was his Runic Eyes, which granted him exceptional insight into all runic types, runic studies, and experiments," stated old man Leroy in a wonderous tone.

Even Axel himself felt stumped by that piece of information; his expression also turned serious as he wondered if those eyes of his were really such a big deal. For a moment, he thought back about something his father once said. His father once said that Axel’s grandfather was actually able to engrave permanent runes on living beings, that he was a pioneer in that field.

That’s also how Axel himself trained with the butler using the temporary runic overweights, his grandfather had left behind. It was possible that Damien Nomrad, his grandfather, also faced his trial in this world and managed to study in that rare field.

He asked anxiously, "So, what now?"

"This is a matter far above my authority, the vice tower master should be back by tomorrow. In the meantime, don’t get out. Let’s see what he does when he comes back," stated the old librarian as he left while shaking his head. The librarian was too overwhelmed by the accomplishments of Ash.

He needed a good night’s sleep to get his mind back on track. Axel also forgot to ask the things he wanted to know. With nothing else to do. Axel kept practicing rune engraving again and again, he did not have any good material or weapon with him, with which he could practice the engraving with his own mana.

So, he practiced on simply engraving the 24 symbols with the ink, but making the process shorter and shorter. In the next day, Librarian Leroy took him to the 7th floor of the runic tower through another secret passage, making sure no one would see him.

Even the ever composed Vice Tower master, who was as immovable as a mountain, widened his eyes in disbelief. The old librarian chuckled to himself, seeing that look of disbelief on the vice tower master. But Axel’s master did not pay him even a single glance. It almost looked kind of funny, to be honest. But Axel did not dare laugh, even Old Leroy barely held in his laughter.

Unlike old Leroy, his master Cedric had seen through everything at a mere glance. The old man removed his glasses and slumped down in a chair in defeat. The librarian couldn’t hold in his laughter anymore. But his master did not say anything to him.

Axel also remained there, standing like an idiot, not knowing what to do. Eventually, his master Cedric sat straight in his chair, rubbed his eyelids in frustration, and said harshly, "Leroy."

"Hahahahah, yes, Sir Cedric?" replied the librarian.

"Shut up," ordered his master.

Only then did the old man stop laughing as he wore a serious expression with a tired sigh. The vice tower master glanced towards Ash as he said, "You did well, Ash. I can’t believe you actually awakened those mythological eyes. Even the high mages of our generation know of those wonderous eyes as only myths. Not to mention your core is actually filled with liquid mana."

"Based on the power and control you have over mana and your strong body because of that abnormal mana circuit, the power you contain within you is almost on par with that of a peak 1st circle mage," revealed the vice tower master.

Even Axel himself was shocked, he inadvertently glanced at his side and saw the old librarian’s jaw drop again, ’Sigh, this old fart had become an idiot again.’

Even Axel knew how big the gap was between each circle, not to mention a gap between that of an Acolyte and a proper mage. But he himself contained that much power in him. It would indeed be something phenomenally monstrous to say the least.

"The first thing we need to do is to hide those eyes of yours, and make a new ring that would hide your mana properly, and I suppose you now want to go and see your brother again?" asked Axel’s master.

"Yes, and I have some questions," he stated.

His master signaled the librarian to go as he was no longer needed. The old man looked at him for a moment, begrudgingly, and left without saying anything. The vice tower master stood up from his chair, he signaled Axel to follow him into a different area. Cedric questioned,

"First, tell me everything you did till now. In mere 2 months, you actually became a Rank 2 acolyte, and possibly the second strongest Rank 2 acolyte in existence at that. Only the legendary Durein Nightcrown might be superior to you, at the same level, but the speed of your breakthrough is still faster than that supreme existence."

Axel did not care about any of that, honestly, but being praised like that did feel good. He slowly explained everything as they walked, for the most part the mighty mage did not show any change of expression. Yet, there were often traces of tremendous surprise on his face, which he wasn’t able to hide despite his tremendous experience.

Opening the door of a certain chamber, they entered a vast open field covered with lush green grass stretching for miles and miles.

"Okay, I understand. I can’t believe that stupid fool suggested that, but I suppose it turned out for the better. Your potential might have been wasted otherwise in the normal path."

"Now, ask away all the questions that you have," iterated his master calmly.

Axel nodded as he started speaking about his questions one after the other. The vice tower master calmly explained everything and solved all of his doubts. He also provided Axel with various weapons and materials.

"Because of your liquid mana, Normal weapons will not be able to handle your mana-engraved runes. So, higher quality materials used by 1st circle mages are necessary. You should practice being able to turn your liquid mana into gas. But first, get used to engraving runes with your current liquid mana."

"Runecasters are unable to use spells in the conventional method until they become mid-rank mages. They have to fight with weapons. Ash, you have to eventually create something that allows you to use pre-recorded spells on a weapon that simply activates through inputting your mana," suggested his master.