Chaos Cube

What shocked Robb even more was that when he tried to concentrate and listen, some of the stars seemed to sense his attention, and began slowly drifting toward him.

For a brief moment, he seemed to glimpse the eye of a colossal being, staring at him from the depths of the universe.

"Damn it!"

He abruptly broke free from the meditative state, drenched in cold sweat.

His breathing was rapid, his heart pounding like a drum. He felt like he'd just escaped from a nightmare.

"Mental corruption... has it already reached this level?"

He shakily grabbed his pocket watch and quickly checked his current state.

Sure enough, his accumulated mental corruption had reached a moderate level, a dangerous sign.

According to the research he'd studied earlier, moderate mental corruption could lead to hallucinations, disrupted sleep, and even impaired judgment.

If left unchecked, once it reached the severe stage, it could spiral into madness and irreversible mutation.

Robb immediately activated the pocket watch's reset function. A refreshing coolness spread through his body from the point of contact, and the mental corruption buried deep in his psyche was gradually cleansed.

[Negative Status Reset: Moderate Mental Corruption – Energy -6]

Six energy points… the highest cost he'd ever spent using the watch.

Robb felt a sinking unease settle in his heart.

By rights, this level of corruption should only affect High Apprentices.

In fact, many High Apprentices served as teaching assistants precisely to earn "Favors" that helped cleanse their mental corruption.

"Is it because I've progressed too quickly?" Robb wondered. "Or are the lingering effects of those two 'moments of inspiration' finally surfacing?"

A more terrifying possibility began to surface in his mind, but it was too dreadful to fully consider, and he forced himself to push the thought aside.

"No matter what, I need a better solution." Robb looked at the pocket watch, now more eager than ever to upgrade it.

While the current watch was powerful, its energy was limited. At the rate his mental corruption was increasing, it would eventually surpass what the watch could cleanse.

"Once Andrey and I both become Bloodline Knights, and with the aid of various spells, we'll have enough strength to challenge even High Apprentices. Then I must explore Lizard Alley again."

Robb made up his mind.

"Maybe through that goblin and beastkin mercenary team, or the mysterious old woman behind them, I can uncover clues about the origin of this watch."

Shaking off those thoughts, Robb began preparing for today's weekly evaluation.

It was something he had promised Erik and Lia, and the key to advancing to the next phase of his curriculum.

He washed up briefly, changed into a clean and proper robe, and strapped a pouch of magic stone fragments to his waist, making sure he looked sharp and confident.

Before stepping out, he glanced back at the Whispers of the Star-Eater's grimoire on his workbench, a flicker of conflicted emotion in his eyes.

Despite all the trouble the meditation technique had caused him, it had undeniably accelerated the growth of his Spiritforce.

This contradiction left him torn. But for now, his top priority was passing the evaluation and climbing higher.

"Valenwood, I'm off to the evaluation. Take care of the workshop while I'm gone."

Robb called to the dryad, who was quietly organizing herbs in the corner.

Valenwood's leaves rustled gently as it formed the message: "Good luck, Master!"

Robb smiled and nodded, stepping out of the workshop and heading toward the teaching area.

The morning air in the Black Mist Forest was humid and crisp. Robb inhaled deeply, letting it calm his mind.

Today was important. He had to give it his all. He couldn't let the shadow of mental corruption affect his performance.

After passing through a shadowy grove, the outline of the teaching tower gradually emerged.

The ancient stone spire looked solemn in the morning light. Countless wizards had begun their extraordinary journeys there, and just as many had fallen before reaching the end.

Inside the central hall of the teaching area, the place bustled with activity. Apprentices of all levels rushed past with scrolls and books in hand.

Following the signs, Robb found the evaluation room, a spacious classroom on the third floor.

When he pushed open the door, he saw Erik already there, organizing documents at the desk.

A few other students were seated inside, likely others here for the test.

"Oh, Robb." Erik looked up and smiled. "You're early. Looks like you're taking this test seriously."

"Of course, Lord Erik," Robb replied respectfully. "This is an important step toward the next phase of my studies. I've prepared thoroughly."

Erik nodded and gestured for him to find a seat at the front.

Robb scanned the room and recognized a few classmates from previous lessons. Some looked confident; others were visibly nervous.

"Today's evaluation covers Magic Circuit Optimization and Mental Stability Techniques," Erik began once the scheduled time arrived.

"These two subjects are foundational for apprentices and closely linked, so we've combined the tests into one session to save everyone the hassle of going back and forth."

He continued: "First is the written test, then the practical. Each part counts for half of the final grade. You must pass both to advance."

Lia entered the room from a side door, carrying a stack of test papers.

She gave the students a polite nod and began handing out the sheets.

"Please remain silent and focus. You have one hour to complete the exam."

Robb accepted his paper and skimmed it quickly.

The questions covered basic magic circuit theory, key techniques for maintaining mental stability, and the interrelation between the two.

For most apprentices, this would be a challenging test. But for Robb, who had already advanced both related skills to the adept level, it felt quite magicgeable.

He picked up his pen and began writing. His strokes were fluid and decisive.

Concepts that once required deep contemplation now flowed as instinct. They were part of how he thought.

The final question in the theory section was especially complex: It asked the examinee to explain how to maintain circuit stability under high-pressure conditions.

It required a full synthesis of the course material, plus insights from practical experience.

Robb pondered briefly and then began writing:

"Magic circuits tend to destabilize under high pressure, mainly due to mental fluctuation causing energy outflow. The solution lies in constructing a 'buffer ring', a secondary flow outside the main circuit…"

He elaborated on techniques he had developed during his spell construction practice, ones not found in standard textbooks but honed through real trial and error.

One hour later, Robb finished the entire exam, first among the group.

Lia accepted his paper, skimming a few pages. A flicker of surprise crossed her face before she returned to a neutral expression.

After the theory test came the practical portion.

The students were led to a specialized lab filled with various testing instruments.

"The practical test has three parts," Erik announced: "Magic circuit construction, stability maintenance, and the combined application of both. Students will take the test one by one. Please wait in the lounge until your name is called."

When it was Robb's turn, he stepped up to the testing station, a complex crystal apparatus designed to measure magic circuit construction ability.

"Please construct a triple-loop magic circuit inside the crystal and maintain stability for at least thirty seconds," Erik instructed.

For many apprentices, this was extremely difficult.

The triple-ring structure required precisely managing three energy flows of differing frequencies, any error would cause it to collapse.

But Robb had already succeeded at more complex constructs earlier that morning.

He calmly raised his hands and channeled his spiritforce into the crystal.

With the help of the Stabilized Mode trait, his magic control was sharper than ever.

Soon, three perfectly shaped energy rings appeared inside the crystal, interwoven at exact angles into a stable, unified structure.

The energy flowed smoothly, with virtually no fluctuation.

Erik and Lia exchanged glances, clearly impressed.

Thirty seconds passed, and Robb's construct remained rock solid.

"That's enough. Excellent work," Erik said. "Now for the mental stability test."

Lia placed a black cube in front of Robb.

"This is an alchemical item, the Chaos Cube. It emits disruptive pulses that interfere with your mental state. Your task is to guide that floating ball along a designated path under its influence."

She pointed to a hovering metallic ball nearby.

"The path is marked. Duration is also thirty seconds."

Robb nodded, focusing his mind.

The cube activated, sending out chaotic energy waves, like a thousand voices whispering in his head at once.

In the past, this might have overwhelmed his focus.

But now, with his enhanced trait, he had reached a new level of control within specific spiritual fields.

He didn't resist the interference, he integrated it into his mental flow, filtering out the noise and isolating what was useful.

The metal ball began to move along the designated path, its motion smooth and precise.

Even under peak interference, its trajectory never wavered.

Thirty seconds passed. The test ended.

Lia deactivated the Chaos Cube, unable to hide her surprise.

"Truly impressive, Robb. Your control over spiritforce is already on par with Intermediate Apprentices, possibly even surpassing many in the Enforcer Squad."

"Final test," Erik said. "Combined application. Please construct a magic circuit and perform a basic elemental operation while maintaining resistance to external interference."

This was the most challenging test, requiring complete mastery of both disciplines.

Robb took a deep breath and began building his internal magic circuit.

At the same time, the Chaos Cube activated again, this time with even stronger pulses.

Despite the pressure, Robb remained calm.

Internally, the circuit spun like finely tuned gears. Externally, he erected a spiritforce barrier to block most of the disruption.

Once ready, he raised his hand, and a faint light flickered at his fingertips.

A simple light element spell, but in this setting, it was a test of full-body coordination.

The glow was steady and bright, with no flicker or instability, a testament to near-perfect magical control.

After the test, Erik and Lia exchanged a long look and led Robb to the side.

"Robb, your performance exceeded all our expectations," Erik said in a low voice.

"To be honest, with your current level, you could skip the second-phase curriculum entirely and move straight to the third."

Lia nodded.

"Agreed. Your mental control and circuit construction are already beyond the basics. It would be a waste of time to keep you in lower-level courses."

Robb looked surprised.

"Does that… align with academy regulations?"

"Normally, students follow the standard phase progression," Erik explained. "But we're authorized to make exceptions for outstanding individuals."

He smiled.

"And the private tutoring we've been giving you? That was part of our evaluation. Clearly, we made the right call."

Lia added, "After completing the third phase, top performers are eligible to learn directly under official mages. With your talent and speed, this is a rare opportunity."

Robb was genuinely excited. Skipping ahead meant reaching higher knowledge even faster, exactly what he wanted.

"Thank you both for your guidance and trust," he said sincerely. "I'll make the most of this chance. I won't let you down."

"No need for thanks," Erik said, patting him on the shoulder. "Students like you, gifted across multiple fields, are incredibly rare. We look forward to seeing what you'll achieve."

As Robb left the testing room, his heart felt lighter than ever.

"Phase three… then formal wizard mentorship…"

He whispered to himself, eyes blazing with determination.

"One step closer to becoming a true wizard."

Sunlight streamed through the sparse canopy of the Black Mist Forest, casting dappled shadows across the path ahead.