<h4>Chapter 8: The Elements of Magic, Light</h4>


    **CW: Graphic Depictions of Violence


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    There was no time to hesitate. Using the blood from his right palm, Pdin drew disintegration and reintegration magic circles that ovepped with each other. Next, he positioned the magnifying ss directly in front of the open window.Sunlight gathered and fell on the table, producing a strong burnt odor and wisps of smoke that rose slowly.


    Pdin gulped. Forcibly suppressing the fear in his heart, he ced the Philosopher''s Stone on top of his right palm and stretched it towards the dazzling beam of light!


    "AAAAHHHHHH!"


    When the gathered light struck the Philosopher''s Stone, the magic circles instantly lit up. Something miraculous happened. The extremely bright sunlight passed through the Philosopher''s Stone and went under his skin!


    At that moment, Pdin felt as if all of the pain in his entire lifetime had condensed into one and coursed through his body. The scorching sunlight felt like countless bugs biting through his skin and moving back and forth between his muscles, blood vessels, and bones. The burning sensation that permeated his bone marrow nearly caused him to lose his mind. His instinct was constantly screaming at him to withdraw his hand.


    "NO!"


    Eyes bloodshot and body drenched by sweat, Pdin was determined. He knew for sure this method could work and indeed, it could be fused. How could he simply withdraw his arm and waste all of his previous efforts?


    "No…. I desire power. I want to acquire what Ick. That which I yearn for! How can this insignificant pain demotivate me?! How can I fall to my knees and beg for mercy?!" Pdin gritted his teeth.


    Pdin''s bloodshot eyes were now actually shedding blood. As he was tempted to withdraw his right hand, his left hand firmly gripped it in ce. For the first time, his body was at odds with his heart.


    "Hehehe…. HEHEHAHAHA! Come on! I, Pdin, won''t ever give up! Power. I''ll get the power!" Pdin became feral. A crazed smile bloomed on his lips while blood and tears streamed down his face. He roared at the Philosopher''s Stone which was gradually shrinking.


    Rather than saying he was venting his pain, it would be more urate to say he was venting his pent-up resentment and desire that had umted over the previous twenty years and more. Just when Pdin''s legs were beginning to weaken and his consciousness began to fade, the Philosopher''s Stone in his palm finally cracked and integrated into his arm.


    When Pdin noticed this, he immediately withdrew his arm. Unfortunately, as he copsed to the ground like a corpse, his left hand identally knocked over the magnifying ss. His eyelids felt as heavy as a mountain and teary as a river. Waves of drowsiness came rushing in.


    "No…. I can''t sleep right now. Absolutely can''t sleep…."


    Pdin was well aware that, should he fall asleep, the guards who were on duty would witness all this. He''d be so dead if that were the case. Pdin, the orphan, forcibly suppressed his drowsiness and sat up weakly. He reflexively checked the condition of his heart that had undergone fusion. It didn''t matter whether he checked or not, the sight that caught his eyes shooed his drowsiness away.


    At present, the blood vessels connecting his right wrist to his heart had glowed a bright golden color, as if golden crystals were embedded in his flesh.


    "Is this…. The light element?"


    Pdin examined his hand, his eyes were filled with uncertainty and anticipation. His expression changed out of nowhere. He then stood up quickly and looked around in surprise. With the expression of someone who just witnessed something unbelievable, he eximed, "What are these...!"


    Right now, Pdin could see more than 50 golden orbs floating around him. Meanwhile, when a certain distance was crossed, the earthy yellow, red, and/or white orbs in the distance were pushed away by the golden orbs'' violent attack. Afterwards, the orbs proceeded to float around him again. Pdin began to understand a little more after seeing this. These orbs were the elements of magic. Natural magic elements that floated in the air! These were the most basic magic elements that all things were made out of.


    If the earthy yellow orbs represent the element of earth, red represent the element of fire, blue represent the element of water, and white represent the element of wind, what about the golden element that floated around him?


    "Sunlight! The sunlight! That''s right, I used sunlight, so these must be the element of light, the purest element!"


    Pdin''s heart was overjoyed. However, there was one fact about these golden bubbles that he couldn''t ignore. That was the light element''s extremely strong aggressiveness and instability. It had nothing inmon with the Holy See''s gentle holy magic. Simply put, Pdin got a magic element that no one had previously owned nor mastered. One of the purest, yet extremely aggressive elements!


    "Wait... I can see magic elements, I can actually see magic elements!"


    When Pdin finally calmed down, this fact shocked him. ording tomon knowledge, the elements of magic were found everywhere. Magicians were all sentient beings, but none were said to be able to see magic elements. His ability to see the elements implied that he himself had also be an element of magic!


    "I... fused with light magic element... Perhaps, I became a magic element as well? Am I still a human? Or, a monster?"


    Pdin felt conflicted. He didn''t know whether this was a good or a bad thing. Would there be any repercussions in the future? What was certain was that he had gained power. The very power he dreamed of.


    The dpidated door was suddenly kicked open. Two fully-armored guards pointed the chain-sickle to Pdin. One then cursed at Pdin and yelled, not even bothered to spare a little nce at ‘them’ behind him.


    "Pdin! You despicable ve! Report to the dean! Call all personnel to gather here! Can’t you hear me?! Hurry up!!" The taller guard shouted. However, before the taller guard finished speaking, he was mistakenly stabbed by the guard behind him. The guard was too shocked when he saw the gloomy room, the skeleton, and the magic circle engraved on the floor.


    "Oh…. My Enos…." The taller guard could only gasp before falling down.


    Pdin''s eyes narrowed as he exuded great murderous intent and madness. He then proceeded to run, quickly approaching the stabbed guard. Pdin, who was running right now, could clearly feel the golden light element surrounding his body vibrating frantically with extreme excitement!


    Pdin chanted something in his heart. When he opened his right hand, the golden elements immediately flocked to his palm. A miracle urred. The fingers of Pdin''s right hand transformed into five golden thunderbolt-like light des! A slight crackling sound could also be heard.


    With an ecstatic smile stered on his face, he stabbed the foolish unconscious guard in the chest with his right hand. The guard’s thick armor felt as brittle as paper to Pdin. One more stab was enough to pierce through the guard''s armor, skin,rge intestine, and tailbone. The stab resulted in a hole that passed through the guard’s body.


    "Enos, bless us!" After the initial shock of the terrifying scene in front of him, the guard who stood behind the stabbed guard regained his senses. In terror, he raised his chain-sickle and attempted to stab Pdin.


    "HAHAHA!" Pdin let out an uncontrobleughter, his face vicious. The right hand that had passed through the guard''s stomach was drawn out to catch the chain-sickle’s sharp de. The sharp de made of steel was cracked deeply in five different ces solely because of the strength of Pdin’s bare hand.


    It was already toote for the guard when Pdin seeded to grab the de of his chain-sickle and proceeded to pull it hard. The guard lost control of his weapon and was pulled right into Pdin''s attack range.


    "DIE!" Pdin grinned and shed the guard’s head with his right hand after letting go of the chain-sickle. The guard''s head, together with the iron helmet he wore, was severed violently from his body. The corpse fell to its knees. It couldn’t be more dead than this.


    "That''s right, that''s right! This is the taste of power! This is the real Pdin!"


    Pdin, who wasughing hysterically while looking at his right hand, didn''t realize that his expression no longer showed half of the hesitation and pity it had before. Instead, there was an insatiable desire to grow stronger.


    Was he still Pdin? Yes, Actually, this was the true Pdin.