Reborn With A Technology System In A Fantasy World-Chapter 56: Ascension (1)

The knowledge from the book flowed into Adrian’s head like a river breaking through a dam, every concept slotting into place with a clarity that felt almost unnatural.

Enchanting runes, mana infusion, the properties of magic metals — it all became familiar, as if he’d spent months studying the craft.

He clutched his head, his fingers pressing against his temples, a dizzying rush making his vision blur for a moment.

"Wow," he muttered, his voice low in the quiet library. ’I feel like trying this now. I think I’m good to start already.’

The urge to rush back to the Forge Mastering hall and hammer out an enchanted blade was strong, but he pushed it down.

’One step at a time,’ he told himself, steadying his breath. With that task ticked off, he stood up and headed for the History section.

It wasn’t a surprise that the History section dwarfed the others, its shelves packed with several books of every size.

Rows stretched on, each one a testament to the Academy’s obsession with the past.

Adrian sighed, his gaze sweeping over the titles. ’Tech Core, remind me once my head can’t handle more books,’ he thought, a flicker of caution cutting through his excitement.

’I wouldn’t want to collapse here.’

The System’s mechanical voice chimed in his mind:

[Affirmative.]

He nodded to himself, reaching for the first book that caught his eye. The notification appeared as his fingers brushed the leather cover:

[Assimilate ’The Four Continents’?]

[Yes/No]

He accepted without hesitation, and the information began to flow.

***

Twenty minutes later, Adrian had torn through 40% of the History books in the library, his mind a whirlwind of dates, treaties, and ancient wars.

The Four Continents unfolded in his memory like a map, their histories now as clear as if he’d lived through them.

The Treaty of the Continents, that assignment from class, was no longer a mystery to him. Signed almost a hundred years ago after the Great Mana War, it bound the four lands in an uneasy peace, with Thanad as the mediator.

’No wonder the Instructor wants us to study it,’ he thought, his fingers lingering on the spine of another book.

He hesitated as he reached for *he Lands of Thanad, its cover a deep green with gold lettering.

The usual prompt didn’t appear. Instead, Tech Core’s voice cut through.

[Cognitive capacity nearing limit. Further assimilation not advised.]

Adrian nodded, stepping back. His head felt packed, the weight of so much knowledge pressing against his skull.

’I don’t need anyone to tell me twice,’ he thought, though a part of him itched to keep going.

He could probably handle one more, but the System’s caution was clear, and he wasn’t about to risk a blackout in the middle of the library.

’Better safe than sorry.’ He placed the book back on the shelf, muttering to himself, "I guess I’ll return here again."

As Adrian left the library, the heavy doors closing behind him with a thud, he listed his goals in his mind, his steps steady on the stone path back to the dorms.

’For now, I’ll keep going through my normal Academy routine,’ he thought, the evening air cool against his skin.

’Tomorrow, I’ll see if I can start enchanting. I’ll get that test done and move forward. By the end of the week, I’ll push to Ascend.’

Ascending was the next big step and he really wanted to know whether he’s dantian was strong enough to do so. But he could only wait till Saturday to find out.

After that, he’d need to leave the Academy for a short while.

’I’ve got other business to take care of.’

His Communicators were very much in demand, and he had received a call from the Association earlier in the morning.

He had many more coming up in his System Factory and they were just waiting to be sold. ’They’re multiplying quicker than I expected,’ he thought, a flicker of pride warming his chest. But that meant more work.

’I’ll need to pay the Adventurer’s Association a visit,’ he decided with resolve.

’The more I spread my inventions, the more TP I get and the more goals I can achieve.’

Tech Points were his lifeline, the fuel for his growth, and every invention in use brought him closer to his next level. But none of it would matter if he couldn’t leave the Academy.

’All this hinges on Contribution Points,’ he thought, his pace slowing as the reality sank in.

’I need enough to get a pass, and that means I can’t miss any classes just yet.’ The rule book’s system flashed in his mind; points awarded weekly by instructors, a reward for attendance and performance.

’I’ll have to keep impressing them,’ he told himself and muttered under his breath, "I’ll have to step up."

Adrian’s mind was a storm of plans and strategies, each goal a stepping stone to something greater as he unlocked his door.

’Enchanting, Ascending, spreading my inventions... it’s a long road,’ he thought. He’d make it work, one way or another.

***

"Fifty-eight... fifty-nine..."

The hum from the mana fans along with Karl’s voice were the only sounds that broke the silence or the early morning.

Adrian, freshly bathed and dressed in clean clothes, sat on the edge of his bed, watching his roommate with a blank expression.

’Why’s he so hell-bent on exercising even after a bath?’ Karl’s habit of frequently exercising was okay, but Adrian felt it was just too much. He shrugged it off, muttering to himself, "Why am I even bothering?"

A glance at his System panel revealed the time —5:00 AM.

They had woken up this early because Master Von had laid down the law yesterday. No breakfast bell today. The first bell would signal a mandatory rush to the Dojo, and being late wasn’t an option.

"Don’t miss it," Von had warned. "Your Ascension’s on the line."

The stress that there was no fixed time made a thought creep into his mind:

’Why haven’t I introduced a clock to this place yet?’ The Academy’s reliance on bells with no definite was archaic, but he’d been too busy to fix it. Maybe later.

He shook his head, letting the worries fade, because after five packed days, the most important day had arrived.