<h4>Chapter 489 Chapter490-Awakening </h4>


    "Arger structure?" Howard blinked in surprise.


    "What kind of structure? Arger-scale runematrix? Or something meant to condense mana?"


    "If only it were that simple," N shook her head.


    "Though the fundamentalposition of a spell involves only a few runes, spells are a prime example of the principle ''more equalsplex.'' The more runes that make up a matrix, the more functions this matrix can potentially perform!"


    "Even two matrices with simr structures can achieve drastically different effects with just a slight alteration in part of their configuration!"


    "Without sufficient information, I''m simply unable to make any judgment right now."


    N turned, locking eyes with Howard, "We may need to alter our n."


    Howard''s brow furrowed, a faint unease swirling in his heart, "What kind of change? Can''t we just destroy these rune signages? Even if they form apleterge structure, destroying them all would break it apart, right?"


    "That won''t work," N shook her head, dismissing Howard''s suggestion.


    "Such action would only lead to more uncontroble oues. The unknown,plete structure would automatically seek topensate for itspromised formation after being damaged. The inherent ease of runebination could result in the deficient structure acquiring more unpredictable functions."


    "In other words, this vast structure might be safe now, but if we start to destroy it, it could turn into a bomb."


    "Unless we obliterate these signages instantaneously. But in doing so, not only us but the entire city of Rodel would be annihted by a mana tempest."


    Although N''s exnation was brief, Howard grasped the essence of it.


    He picked up a piece of rune signage, examining theplex rune configurations on it, his brow knitted in thought.


    "So, what should we do? If we can''t destroy them, our original n ispletely unfeasible."


    "That''s why we need to change the n," N paused, her expression calming, her eyes reflective like beautiful ss beads.


    "Drain all the mana from the signages! Without mana as a power source, no matter what the function of that colossal structure might be, it won''t activate!"


    "Moreover, due to the characteristics of this dispersed form of structure, we can draw all the mana from the entire structure just from one corner!"


    Watching N''s eyes ignite with a fiery determination, Howard fell silent once again.


    It was another n so mad it could not possibly be madder.


    Howard had no idea exactly how many rune signages were in this hall, but judging by the volume of mana leaking out, the amount contained within the signages was unfathomably immense.


    Not to mention a level 2 magus, even a level 1 magus might not be able to absorb all this mana.


    Moreover, an excess of mana is harmful rather than beneficial to a magus.


    Therefore, more individuals would need to share the burden.


    However, with only N and Howard present, they were unmistakably insufficient.


    "Your n isn''t just crazy; it''s suicidal!" Howard stepped back, shaking his head at N, "I can''t join this n. I''m going back to the surface to evacuate the people of Rodel. By abandoning the city, more lives will be saved!"


    "That''s impossible; there''s not enough time," N said with a determined resignation.


    "Even if you went up now, even if you had notified them earlier, it would be toote! Mana isn''t a shockwave; no matter how wide it spreads, it''s lethal to ordinary people."


    "Without passing through a living being, the natural conversion of mana takes a very long time."


    "Now, this is the only option we have! Besides, this n might not be doomed to failure. Perhaps neither of us can absorb such a vast amount of mana, but there is someone who can!"


    "Another person?" Howard asked.


    "You have an ally?"


    "Correct, but not my ally, yours!" N looked into Howard''s eyes.


    "The unknown entity that resides within you, it lies dormant because itcks sufficient energy. And for non-biological entities, mana is as much a source of energy as anything else!"


    "If you can find a way to let that entity absorb mana, this method is not a road to death but a tremendous opportunity for you."


    "But I have no idea how to do that; thest time it emerged wasn''t under my control."


    Howard was puzzled about how N knew of the mysterious presence within him.


    However, recalling that N and Dorek were observers during the battle between Lorinda and Amriel, noticing such a detail might not have been too challenging.


    Yet, throughout that fight, Howard had been utterly unable to exert any control from beginning to end.


    The actions had been entirely initiated by the unknown presence within.


    Perhaps that entity had intervened to protect him, but it seemed unlikely to emerge unless in the most extreme circumstances.


    Even if N were to take direct action now, she might not be able to force that presence out.


    "Think back, think again! Could you have overlooked some detail?"


    N''s gaze was calm as she looked into Howard''s eyes, but beneath the tranquility lurked a blend of madness and resolution.


    After holding her gaze for two seconds, Howard suddenly smiled.


    A possibility had dawned on him.


    "What did you think of?"


    "Exactly. I''ve remembered some very interesting details."


    Howard caressed the rune signage in his hands, lifting it to his eyes as the spirit invasionmenced.


    The rune signage itself was unencrypted, and it didn''t need to be.


    Anyone with a modicum of spell knowledge would understand the implications of such a design.


    The mana within the signage began to stir, and N''s expression suddenly shifted.


    A brilliant golden light ignited in the depths of Howard''s eyes as mana erupted in its entirety, pushing his hyperawareness to the limits of his brain''s capacity.


    He had only recalled a possibility—that perhaps, from the very beginning, he was not human.


    The world in Howard''s eyes lost its color, all movements seemingly frozen in an endlessly stretched perception of time, except for the rune signage in his hand, which remained unchanged.


    The mana within, like an eager tide, began to surge, emitting a faint, luminous green glow.


    The feeble barrier of the rune signage ultimately failed to contain the mana''s frenzy.


    The moment it broke through, the mana transformed into a luminous green deluge, rushing towards Howard''s mind as if mana itself was the greatest attractant to living beings.


    The spirit of a living being would naturally draw mana closer, a pull so strong it could disregard the passage of time.


    However, Howard''s activation of hyperawareness was not meant to slow down mana but to afford himself the time to react.


    Even if the speed of mana always adjusted rtive to human reaction speed, hyperawareness still managed to secure Howard enough time to react.


    To push himself to the brink of death.


    All defenses were dropped, allowing the mana tide to surge through unfettered, coating everything it touched in a faintyer of green.


    This green hue, seemingly harmless in itself, could induce mutations in the body, bringing the already stretched limits of a magus''s body to the brink of copse.


    This is where the true danger of manay!


    Wild beasts might resist such mutations and even evolve, but a magus already at their limit isn''t as fortunate.


    Mutations only lead to endless despair.


    With no impediment, the speed of mana expansion was rmingly rapid, closing in on Howard''s brain in just a breath''s time, his defenses opening up even slower than the mana''s invasion.


    In the final moment before the mana invaded his brain, Howard''s consciousness closed its eyes.


    Sess or failure hinged on this instant.


    Should he seed, not only would Rodel City be saved, but his own power would experience an extraordinary boost.


    Although Howard was unclear about the specific capabilities of the unknown presence within him, recalling the moment with Lorinda when he could fight against Amriel—a nearly level 1 magus— with the strength of a level 3 magus, it wasn''t hard to imagine the terrifying extent of that unknown presence''s power.


    This was no mere stepping across a tier inbat; it was breaking through the barriers between two worlds!


    But what if he failed?


    The answer to this question was simple: Howard might disappear, his bodypletely assimted by mana, ultimately bing a mana bomb primed to explode upon the slightest touch—a kind capable of erasing Rodel from existence.


    That would be the worst-case scenario, with Howard''s consciousnesspletely vanishing before that, untraceable anywhere.


    Would a new "Howard" then emerge?


    What exactly am I to that unknown entity?


    Why would it act to protect me?


    Such actions seemed counterproductive.


    But Howard sought an answer.


    Perhaps this time, he might find one?


    Howard''s consciousness sank endlessly in a pitch-ck sea, when suddenly, a pure white light appeared at the edge of his vision.


    It was peculiar; white light is inherently a single color, yet Howard felt as though the white light he now saw was the purest form of white imaginable.


    The thought was illogical, but the moment it surfaced, Howard believed it unquestioningly.