The legacy of a Fallen Prodigy

Chris stood before the seated skeleton, the weight of everything he had just learned pressing down on him. The mage's story, his downfall, and his ultimate legacy—Chris had inherited it all. The spellbook, the ring, and the wisdom of a man who had once ruled over the strongest beings in this world.

But before he left, something caught his eye. Behind the throne, partially obscured by shadows, was a narrow passage. The rough stone walls suggested it wasn't part of the dungeon's original design but something carved out later.

Chris hesitated. The dungeon's entrance was behind him, and if he wanted, he could leave right now. It was already nighttime, and he didn't have a place to stay. Sleeping inside the dungeon wasn't ideal, especially if monsters respawned over time like in anime. But if this passage led somewhere…

"Well, I've come this far."

With cautious steps, he followed the tunnel, fingers brushing the cool stone as he moved. The passage wasn't long. Soon, he stepped into a wide chamber, and his breath hitched.

Piles of gold coins, chests overflowing with rare gems, weapons gleaming under the faint magical light—this was a treasure hoard fit for a king.

Chris let out a low whistle. "So the old man was loaded, huh?"

He took a step forward but paused. His Sac Pouch was already full. No matter how much treasure lay before him, he had no way to carry it all.

Frowning, he opened the spellbook. There had to be something useful in here. His eyes scanned the ancient text until one spell stood out.

Spatial Inventory

A personal dimension that allows the user to store items at will. Unlike normal storage artifacts, it has no weight limit and is bound only to the caster. It exists outside of space and time, meaning stored objects will never decay, and items can be retrieved instantly with a thought.

Chris grinned. "Perfect."

He traced the spell's inscription, channeling mana into it. A faint shimmer appeared in the air beside him. Hesitantly, he reached out and imagined storing a single gold coin. It vanished instantly.

He reached into the shimmer, picturing the coin again. It reappeared in his hand.

"Now this is useful."

Without hesitation, he swept his gaze over the treasure and willed it all into the Spatial Inventory. Pile after pile vanished, every last bit of wealth now his.

With the chamber empty, he turned back toward the throne room—but something caught his attention. Another path branched off from the chamber, leading deeper into the rock.

Curious, Chris followed it and soon found himself standing in a space that was entirely different from the dungeon.

A room. No, a house.

Furnished with bookshelves, a study desk, a massive bed, and even a small kitchen, this was clearly a personal living space. The mage hadn't just built a dungeon—he had carved out his own sanctuary.

Chris walked over to the bed and pressed a hand against the mattress. It was soft—far softer than anything he expected in this world. Sitting down, he exhaled.

It reminded him of his bed back in his old world.

For a moment, he let himself relax, staring at the ceiling. But he shook his head. "No point getting sentimental. I wished for this. No going back now."

With a sigh, he sat up and pulled out the spellbook again. If he was going to make the most of this world, he needed more than just hypnosis spells. He needed power.

Flipping through the pages, he took note of the more useful spells.

Affection Manipulation

Subtly increases a target's fondness for the caster, making it seem like natural attraction. The effect develops gradually and requires repeated use to deepen into love or obsession. Works best on those already emotionally receptive to the user, as it enhances existing feelings rather than creating new ones. For stronger effects, physical contact is advised. Less effective on those with no prior attraction or strong negative emotions toward the caster.

Desire Amplification

Intensifies the target's strongest current urge, whether emotional or physical. If attraction exists, it turns into overwhelming desire; if anger is present, it becomes uncontrollable rage. Can also amplify hunger, ambition, greed, or other impulses. Works best on individuals with weak willpower and can be stacked with other spells for a more powerful effect. Does not create desires—only strengthens what already exists. Works best when in physical contact with the target.

"That could be useful…"

Favorability Shift

Alters the way a person perceives the caster, making them view him more favorably. The effect can range from simple trust to admiration, depending on the caster's skill. The spell does not erase memories but alters how they are emotionally processed.

Sensory Enhancement

Heightens all senses, making pleasure more intense. Can also be used to increase pain perception if adjusted accordingly.

"Oh, this is gonna be fun."

Submission Induction

Encourages feelings of joy and satisfaction from submission, making obedience pleasurable.

Mental Conditioning

Gradually reshapes the target's thoughts, beliefs, and even memories to align with the caster's desires. Unlike direct mind control, this spell works subtly over time, making the changes feel natural to the target. With repeated use, the target may begin to see the caster's words as truth, adopt new behaviors willingly, or even rewrite their own past experiences to fit the caster's narrative. The effects become permanent if reinforced consistently, making it possible to completely alter a person's personality, loyalties, or moral compass. Works best on those frequently exposed to the caster's influence. Physical contact or prolonged eye contact enhances the conditioning process.

Chris's eyes gleamed as he read. 'So, this is how Arcanum did it. He didn't just enslave them—he made them want it.'

Love Slave Crest

A binding crest that permanently marks a target, turning them into a devoted love slave. Their loyalty and affection will continuously grow over time. Unlike weaker enslavement magic, this crest forms an unbreakable bond between master and slave, enhancing their connection rather than suppressing free will. However, if the master neglects the slave for too long, it can lead to despair, rebellion, or even self-destruction.

Conditions to Use:

- The target must already have feelings of trust or affection toward the user.

- Works best if the target is willing or emotionally compromised (e.g., deeply grateful, vulnerable, or already manipulated with other hypnosis spells).

- Cannot be forcefully applied to hostile targets; they will resist.

Chris smirked. "Now we're talking."

But then, he turned to another page and found something he was hoping to find, this one doesn't seem as good as other one's but he expected it to be the very first spell to be mentioned in the book

Command Spell

Allows the caster to give direct verbal orders that must be followed. This spell works instantly. Most beings will obey unless they have high magical resistance or mental fortitude. Stronger individuals can resist or break free over time, but weaker targets will obey without hesitation. Perfect for subtle influence or immediate control.

Conditions to Use:

- Commands must be short and simple (e.g., "Sit down" or "Give me that"). Complex orders require additional spells.

- Cannot force someone to act directly against their core beliefs (e.g., a devoted knight won't betray their kingdom from a single command).

- Repeated use on the same target may cause them to develop resistance.

Chris's eyes gleamed. "This one's perfect for quick use."

As Chris flipped the page, his eyes locked onto a spell written in bold, ornate lettering—as if the mage himself had taken extra care to emphasize its importance.

Unlike the previous spells, which focused on increasing affection or obedience, this one was on an entirely different level. Chris's heart pounded as he read its effects, realization hitting him like a bolt of lightning

Corrupted Devotion

A spell not of persuasion, but absolute domination. Corrupted Devotion forcefully overwrites the target's emotions, turning even the deepest hatred into fanatical love and unwavering loyalty. Unlike Mental Conditioning, which requires time and exposure, this spell is immediate and absolute once fully cast. The target does not realize they have been altered—they believe their devotion was always there. The stronger the initial hatred, the more extreme the obsession becomes, making them willing to betray, kill, or sacrifice everything for the caster without hesitation.

At its peak, Corrupted Devotion is irreversible. No amount of logic, magic, or divine intervention can undo its effects. The only way to break the spell is through the caster's death—or their own.

Chris grinned. "So even if someone despises me with all their heart... I can turn them into my most loyal and loving servant?"

The sheer power of the spell sent a chill down his spine. It wasn't just about control anymore—this was rewriting reality for his victims.

But there were conditions.

The spell must latch onto strong emotions—anger, hatred, despair, or fear. If the target's mind is too stable, it will be difficult to alter. Physical contact is required to activate the effect, and mastery determines the depth of control. At its peak, Corrupted Devotion can affect multiple people at once, permanently binding them to the caster's will.

Chris leaned back, exhaling slowly.

"Damn… This might be the strongest thing in this book."

Even the Love Slave Crest relied on building a bond, but this? This forced a connection into existence, making enemies his most obsessed and devoted followers. It was terrifying—and absolutely perfect for his goals.

He took a deep breath and think more about the spell and a devilish grin appears on his face

"Looks like I'll be making good use of this one."

Then, as he flipped further, another spell caught his attention.

Artifact Forging

Allows the user to craft magical artifacts by embedding spells and enchantments into objects. Requires mana and suitable materials. The caster instinctively understands the crafting process, knowing which materials enhance which properties.

Chris frowned. "Wait… so I can make my own artifacts?"

As soon as he read the description, a rush of knowledge flooded his mind. The spell didn't just give him the ability—it came with an instinctive understanding of how to use it. Now, he knew which materials worked best for different enchantments, how to refine them, and even how to shape them into powerful artifacts.

Excited, he opened his Spatial Inventory and examined the treasures he had taken. Magic crystals, rare gemstones, enchanted metals—he had everything needed for artifact crafting.

"So this is why he kept all these materials. He was making his own stuff."

The possibilities were endless. He could create weapons, enchanted armor, or even tools to amplify his hypnosis magic. His mind raced with ideas, but he decided to hold off for now. Experimenting blindly wasn't a good idea, and he had other priorities.

Grinning to himself, he shut the book.

"This world's about to get a whole lot more interesting."

For now, he had a place to stay. Tomorrow, he'd return to town, find an inn, and start planning his next steps. But for tonight, he had a soft bed, a pile of treasure, and a head full of new ideas.

Lying down, he let his eyes close, a smirk still playing on his lips.

Tomorrow, his rise would begin.