Chapter 39: Corrosive Arrow

Five days later.

"Star Meditation upgrade complete."

Hutson closed his eyes and entered a deep meditative state.

Something had changed.

Previously, the three and a half stars he had visualized in his mind were scattered randomly. Now, they were connected in an intricate formation.

As AI chip overlaid a new assistance interface, Hutson suddenly understood—it resembled the thousand-point grid diagrams he had deciphered when unlocking the mystical pocket watch. The difference was, this time, the grid had fewer points.

The three stars settled on specific energy nodes within the first formation. Hutson counted. Seven more empty nodes remained.

The connection between the stars accelerated his meditation speed significantly.

Originally, forming the fourth star had been estimated to take a month—but at this new pace, it would be solidified within a week.

Not only had his meditation speed improved, but his mana circulation had also become noticeably faster.

Testing his newfound abilities, he raised his right hand.

"Partial Petrification."

A gray-white hue spread over his fingers, hardening his skin like stone.

"AI chip, time analysis."

"Current casting time: 0.86 seconds."

Hutson's eyes flickered with recognition.

"0.86 seconds… Previously, it took 1.3 seconds. That's a significant improvement."

In real combat, a difference of half a second could determine life or death.

He glanced at the grid diagram in his mind.

"Once I complete the first formation, I suspect even greater changes will occur."

With this in mind, he resolved to enroll in more courses—not just for direct learning, but to feed AI chip with new data.

While waiting for his meditation upgrade, Hutson had written another letter to Lilian.

Since Moonlit Woodland's Rune Stones restricted communication between different wizarding factions, they still had to rely on letters to stay in touch.

Five days passed.

AI chip provided new updates:

"Fundamentals of Spell Model Construction data uploaded. Spell modeling speed increased by 20%.""Herbology database updated. New effects and uses recorded for various alchemical ingredients. Added standard potion crafting procedures. New formulas acquired: Wolfsbane Potion, White Essence Healing Elixir…"

In five days, Hutson had completed his courses on Spell Model Construction and Introductory Herbology.

At the same time, his fourth star had fully formed.

"Hutson Merlin: Strength 2.2, Agility 2.0, Constitution 3.0, Spirit 6.9, Mana 100%."

His overall physical stats had improved slightly as well.

"I still need two more stars before I can attempt the breakthrough to Second-Class Apprentice."

Once his Spirit attribute reached the threshold, he could officially advance.

"Next… I need to learn two new spells."

Currently, Partial Petrification was his only spell. It was useful but severely limited—he needed both offensive and defensive magic for greater versatility.

Low-tier spells, or Zero-Rank Spells, typically came in the form of dedicated spell model books, just like Partial Petrification.

There were two ways to obtain them:

Purchasing from a full-fledged wizard.Trading with fellow apprentices.

Hutson thought of Leo, the bespectacled apprentice from the flea market, and opened his Rune Stone's friend list to send a message.

"Do you have any Zero-Rank Spell Models?"

A short while later, Leo responded.

"I do. What kind are you looking for?"

"One offensive spell, one defensive spell."

Leo replied with options.

"For offense, I have: Ice Spike, Fireball, and Corrosive Arrow.

For defense, I have: Ice Shield."

Leo then projected a set of diagrams, showcasing the basic spell models for each option. Each included key data and effects.

Ice Spike – High mana cost, fast speed, strong attack power, adds freezing effect. Less effective in hot environments.Fireball – High mana cost, moderate speed, strong attack power, adds explosion and burning effects. Cannot be cast underwater.Corrosive Arrow – Moderate mana cost, extremely fast speed, strong attack power, adds corrosion effect.Ice Shield – High mana cost, weak resistance to fire-based spells.

Hutson scanned through the details and asked, "How much?"

"Two mana stones per spell. If paying in gold, 300 coins each."

Hutson's eyebrows raised.

"That expensive?"

Leo replied matter-of-factly:

"That's the standard price. Compared to alchemical ingredients, Zero-Rank Spells are actually cheap. Their pricing is transparent—you can verify it anywhere."

"Most new apprentices can't afford spells right away. They usually take on missions to earn mana stones first."

"If you're looking to make money, prioritize missions that pay in mana stones. Gold-coin missions take too long to build wealth."

Hutson wasn't entirely convinced, so he searched the Rune Stone's Tavern Bulletin under "Zero-Rank Spells."

The market price was indeed consistent with Leo's offer.

Realizing this was a necessary investment, he reopened the chat and typed:

"I'll take Corrosive Arrow. Paying in gold."

"Got it. Where do you live?"

"Room 443."

Ten minutes later, Leo arrived at Hutson's doorstep carrying a thick spellbook and a bundle of handwritten notes.

He lived in the Northern Woodlands as well, so the trip wasn't far.

Handing over the book, Leo adjusted his glasses and smirked. "You're serious about advancing quickly, huh?"

Hutson weighed the heavy tome in his hands.

"I'd rather spend my time studying and growing stronger than running around doing pointless tasks."

Leo chuckled. "Well, welcome to the club."

With that, Hutson handed over 300 gold coins, securing his first offensive spell.

With Corrosive Arrow in his arsenal, Hutson could now properly engage in magical combat.

His next step?

Mastering it—and finding a defensive spell to complete his foundation.

Leo handed over the Corrosive Arrow spell model, along with a stack of dense, handwritten notes filled with calculations.

"These are some of my previous computations," he said, adjusting his glasses. "You might find them useful as a reference."

Hutson took the bundle and skimmed through the meticulous lines of equations and spell matrix diagrams. 

The logic was flawless, the process precise and orderly—clearly the work of a wizard with a researcher's mind.

With a slight sigh, Hutson pulled out his pouch of gold coins and handed over 300 gold.

"Here, count them."

As the weight of his purse lightened drastically, he couldn't help but feel a pang of pain—his gold reserves had been nearly halved in an instant.

Lilian probably hadn't expected him to burn through her loan this quickly.

Leo, unfazed, channeled his mana, making the coins float one by one into his pocket.

"Transaction complete," he said matter-of-factly. "If you run into issues, feel free to ask me. Corrosive Arrow is a bit tricky to master."

Hutson nodded. "Got it. Thanks."

Leo gave a brief nod before turning to leave, his movements as swift and efficient as always.

Hutson walked him to the door, watching him disappear into the night before muttering, "Didn't expect after-sales support… This guy really has the soul of a researcher."

Aside from the academy-issued apprentice robe, everything Leo wore was plain, rough-spun fabric—the simplest kind. His hurried steps, the way he rushed from place to place, suggested a man buried in his studies, always chasing the next breakthrough.

Hutson suspected that Leo's finances were tight, which explained why he had been selling spell models at the flea market.

The path of a wizard was a costly one.

Hutson glanced at his remaining funds:

200 gold coins1 mana stone

Barely enough to afford another Zero-Rank Spell.

But which one?

Defensive spells were scarce, and Ice Shield had too many limitations. He needed something more versatile.

Among the offensive spells, Fireball was immediately ruled out—his enchanted ring already contained a slower version of the spell.

Ice Spike, though powerful, was too mana-intensive for his current level. He lacked the sustained energy to use it effectively in extended combat.

That left only one choice:

Corrosive Arrow.

Fastest casting speedModerate mana consumptionVersatile in multiple environmentsCapable of bypassing armor and defenses through corrosion

It was the most practical option.

Leo's handwritten notes weren't strictly necessary—Hutson had AI chip to handle all calculations, from data analysis to spell model construction.

He didn't even need to manually build the spell framework—AI chip could handle the entire process autonomously.

Still, he read every page carefully.

Leo's precise logic, detailed calculations, and systematic approach were proof of his methodical mind.

Even if Hutson didn't need the notes, he could appreciate the craft behind them.

Taking a deep breath, he placed his hand over his Rune Stone and issued a command.

"AI chip, begin processing Corrosive Arrow data.

 Construct the spell model."

The magic within him stirred.

A new weapon was about to take shape.