Chapter 35: Second Eye Technique.
"The second pupil ring is reacting… Just as I expected!"
Kurogai's eyes lit up with excitement. Since unlocking the first pupil ring of the Ultimate Eye, nothing had happened for a long time—until now. Triggering another pupil ring meant gaining a new ability, and to Kurogai, that meant power.
And power was exactly what he desired.
Without hesitation, Kurogai closed his eyes and focused his spirit entirely on the Ultimate Eye embedded in his forehead, eager to discover the conditions and nature of the second ring's ability.
"First… what triggered it?"
As he concentrated, a stream of mental data surged into his mind from the Ultimate Eye. Kurogai blinked, briefly stunned.
The activation requirement… was knowledge.
Not energy. Not combat. Magic knowledge.
It was unexpected, but strangely fitting.
Magic was, after all, not just energy—it was structure, logic, symbols, intention, and immense understanding. To awaken the second ring, he needed to absorb enough magical theory and spiritual comprehension. Not power. Not battle.
"So I just need to read? That's it?"
Kurogai chuckled to himself, the corner of his lips twitching upward. "Looks like I'll be spending a lot more time in the library."
Compared to risking his life in duels, this condition was almost laughably easy. Just studying in a safe, sacred place like Kamar-Taj, sipping tea while absorbing knowledge?
That was paradise.
In fact, this condition couldn't have suited him better. He was already in a sanctuary of magical learning, surrounded by books and tomes that stretched back millennia. Here, unlocking the second pupil ring wasn't just possible—it was inevitable.
"Ultimate Eye, maybe you do have a heart," Kurogai muttered, amused.
He set a small but clear goal for himself: read every book in Kamar-Taj at least once.
---
Over the following hours, Kurogai immersed himself in study. Time passed quickly, and soon the orange glow of twilight stretched through the windows. He eventually gathered a few basic tomes and returned to his quarters. The librarian didn't object—he had been instructed by the Ancient One herself that Kurogai was free to study as he pleased.
The first book had taken him longer than expected, given his lack of magical foundation. But on the second day, everything changed.
As soon as he finished the last page of the introductory text, a clear, ringing message echoed in his mind:
"You have acquired sufficient magical knowledge to unlock the second pupil ring.
Do you wish to activate it?"
Kurogai didn't hesitate for a second.
"Yes!"
The response triggered an immediate transformation.
Warm energy surged from the Ultimate Eye, flowing like liquid heat into his body and coalescing behind his eyes. He gasped as a sensation of power bloomed across his vision—warm, precise, overwhelming.
A faint crimson glow radiated from his pupils, complex magical runes forming like stardust within his irises. Alone in his room, Kurogai opened his eyes—and saw the change.
His eyes now burned with five-pointed vermilion stars layered with intricate arcane circuits.
The second pupil ring had awakened.
"This is… the Magic Eye?"
The Ultimate Eye fed him detailed knowledge as it adapted to the new ability.
This wasn't just any eye. It was part of a legendary set known in mystic history as the Magic Eyes—also referred to in some traditions as Demon Eyes. These ocular techniques were revered for their uncanny ability to manipulate and analyze magic itself.
There were five legendary types:
Replicate Eye
Annihilation Eye
Dreambind Eye
Grudge Eye
Future Eye
And the one Kurogai had awakened first… was the Replicate Eye.
---
Replicate Eye – Ability: Perfect Analysis and Copy.
Upon visual contact with a spell, the user can instantly deconstruct the arcane structure of the magic—including energy type, intent, runes, and delivery pattern.
Even if a spell is only partially cast, the eye records and analyzes it, allowing replication later.
At mastery, the user can transform, enhance, or fuse magic, effectively crafting new spells based on observed components.
---
"This is perfect."
Kurogai's mind flooded with potential.
He didn't just have access to magic anymore—he had a tool to absorb it, refine it, and even surpass it. In battle, it meant that even the most complex spells held no mystery. In theory, he could see a spell once—and make it his.
At its peak, the Replicate Eye allowed users to complete a spell faster than the original caster.
A delay of even a fraction of a second was enough for Kurogai to intervene, counter, or overwhelm.
No magic was safe from him anymore.
In a world where spells were weapons, and sorcery meant survival, the Replicate Eye wasn't just useful.
It was terrifying.
And for Kurogai… it was only the beginning.
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Don't be shy, unleash those Powerstones! (⊙_◎)