-8- Rune Formulas

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Yvette’s fleeting glance was evidently no illusion, for in the years that followed, not only did her appearance grow more youthful, but her height also increased from under 1.5 meters to about 1.65 meters—an impressive growth of over ten centimeters.

With a perfectly proportioned figure, pure white skin, resplendent silver hair, and a noble countenance, anyone who saw her would be compelled to marvel at such unparalleled beauty.

Yet this trend did not continue indefinitely.

Four years later, in the eleventh year since her crossing, her development halted. For the ensuing two or three decades, despite no change in her lifestyle, she maintained the appearance of a young maiden of about seventeen or eighteen, showing no signs of aging whatsoever.

She could not fathom why this was happening. It made her feel as though she were a biological machine implanted with a preset program—each function and limit clearly defined, beyond her control.

Could it be that someone had encoded runes at the genetic level?

Whether it was the extraordinary vitality akin to that of the Magiclight Vine or the “frozen age” trait that halted aging at a certain point, was all preordained?

Was this a hidden technology yet to be unveiled by Black Tower Pharmaceuticals?

Contemplating this, and considering the sealed metal door leading to a deeper core area below Level -10, she could not help but entertain certain conjectures.

If one day that door could be opened, perhaps all these mysteries would be solved.

…

Lead-gray clouds blanketed the sky, with scattered droplets of rain sprinkling beneath the heavy overcast, causing ripples to dance upon the volcanic crater lake.

This was the fifty-third year since her crossing. Yvette, whose mana had now surpassed 80 points, sat at a desk in the study on Level -1, dipping the sap of the Magiclight Vine as she bent over her notes. The dried vines smoldered in a fire pit in the corner, while outside the door, the cold dampness prevailed, yet inside the room, warmth enveloped her.

“Ice Spell Pattern C-9, tentatively named ‘Frost Burst.’ I feel I’ve reached a bottleneck—there seems to be no room left for improvement on the runes…”

“Fire Spell Pattern B-5, tentatively named ‘Flame Dance.’ Experiments show that more logical and computational runes can be added for continuous iteration…”

“Wind Spell Pattern A-7, tentatively named ‘Gale Stride.’ The experience is poor; the footing feels as if bouncing on the moon—unsteady and elusive. Optimization is still needed.”

This was her own cultivation journal, recording the rune arrangements she had derived through her personal understanding of magic.

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In truth, she was proficient in only these three spells.

It was not that she couldn’t access the magic formulas left by the Origin Civilization; rather, all those spells invariably required input via a magic-guided terminal for assistance. Without this, remembering tens of thousands of runes was impossible, let alone using them.

So after much thought, she could only draw inspiration and ideas from those rune sets, imitating and adapting them to create the magic she currently needed.

Thus were born the three semi-derivative, semi-original spells: “Frost Burst,” “Flame Dance,” and “Gale Stride.”

“I think it’s time to try them out on the fish monsters in the lake.”

She judged so, her gaze passing over the Level -1 hall where a cluster of objects resembling surfboards lay.

These were “Flying Boards,” magical devices—miniature vehicles allowing one to float and fly at heights of about twenty meters.

At this moment, all the flying boards were out of power; her mana “pressure” was insufficient to recharge them, and she wasn’t sure if they were broken, yet they gave her a glimmer of hope—an inkling of escape from her prison.

She then stepped out of the tunnel onto the waterside platform, greeted by the cool wind and rain. Yvette noticed a massive black silhouette slowly gliding beneath the distant lake surface.

“This mutant’s a bit smaller. I’ll target it…”

The thought flashed through her mind. Yvette raised her right hand, forming a “gun” gesture, pointing her index finger underwater, gently pressing her thumb as if pulling a trigger.

In the next moment, accompanied by the loss of 2 mana points, a semi-transparent beam of light shot from her fingertip, plunging dozens of meters into the water and detonating into a splendid blossom of ice!

—Frost Burst, a spell she had iterated over more than a decade, simple yet potent. With just 2 mana points, it achieved three to four times the single-target damage of similar spells like “Ice Spike,” boasting an overwhelming mana efficiency.

Of course, as an entry-level magical knowledge of the Origin Civilization, “Ice Spike” was not very practical—it was simple and easy to remember, comprising only 20 runes. In contrast, “Frost Burst” contained over 300 runes; no one but Yvette would bother memorizing it all, preferring to copy and paste it into a magic-guided terminal.

However, for a caster with limited resources, using magic did not require reciting the entire rune sequence mentally.

As long as two conditions were met—completely memorizing the rune sequence and massive practice until cross-memories formed among the body, spirit, and memory—this could be transformed into a special kind of “feeling.”

Then, by linking one’s thoughts to that sensation, the spell could be cast instantaneously, as if it were an instinct etched into one’s genes.

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…

Compared to the monstrous creature that had terrified her to the point of losing her soul fifty-three years ago, this mutant was much smaller, measuring only two meters in length.

Enraged by Yvette’s attack, it immediately charged forward. Even before reaching the shore, its head split into four segments, revealing a central, chrysanthemum-shaped mouthpart, betraying its eagerness for the hunt.

Yvette retreated while flicking her thumb, feeding more Frost Bursts into the creature’s deformed maw.

Her aim was somewhat off; most Frost Bursts missed the mark, striking odd places instead.

Hmm, aiming practice must be added to the agenda… she mentally noted.

Soon, amid its roar, the fearsome fish monster crawled onto the metal platform, writhing as it advanced like a mad seal.

Seeing this, Yvette cast the “Gale Stride” spell on herself, stepping back lightly to create a distance of over ten meters.

Immediately, she unleashed the third spell, Flame Dance.

In an instant, about twenty meters ahead, an arcane circle etched with classical patterns appeared on the ground. From it, a scorching vortex of flames spiraled upward, enveloping the fish monster as it crawled over!

The creature’s agonized screams filled the air, followed by the scent of burning flesh. Though the fiery tornado did not instantly incinerate it, the searing damage was severe.

Seeing this, Yvette chose not to press the attack. Instead, she withdrew into the tunnel entrance and skillfully locked the door behind her.

—Over twenty Frost Bursts, each costing 2 mana points, plus one Flame Dance at 20 points, and one Gale Stride at 6 points, had drained her mana bar of over 80 points to less than a quarter, entering a dangerous threshold.

Meanwhile, many grotesque aquatic mutants, attracted by the battle and the scent of meat, hastened toward the lake’s surface.

From all angles, there was no reason to linger in combat.

In any case, the crucial practical feedback had been gained, and her first combat experience secured. There would be plenty of time for hunting in the future; there was no need to rush.