Wace granted Tristan''s request for checking out the new product at the store.


    ''Hmm... Senior''s product was still a hot item, huh.''


    Wace thought after seeing the zing Thunder Ring as the most popr product of the store.


    It can''t be helped, Mana Artifact that contains a magic structure rted to thunder and lightning was very rare. Lacus Minerva''s creation was a great way to get used to such magic.


    This time, Wace utilized his Silver Membership card as he went to the 3rd floor. It was the floor that was only allowed to Silver and Gold Members. As for Bronze members, they were only allowed up to the 2nd floor.


    There, Tristan introduced him to several interesting Mana Artifacts. But in the end, only two Mana Artifacts caught his attention.


    [ ck Phantom Automaton


    Humanoid automaton specializing in assassination jobs. The automaton has 12 Hidden Weapons and all of them were smeared with a potent poison.


    Origin: Unknown


    Creator: Unknown


    Price: 8,000,000 Credits ]


    This automaton wasn''t new to Wace as he had seen this before.*


    This is definitely the automaton they''ve looted within that ruins!


    Looking at the other Artifact, it was also the same thing. It also came from their looted treasures.


    ''So they ended up selling these things here.'' Wace thought after he saw the two familiar Artifacts. Well, it wasn''t so surprising as this shop has a wide range ofworks and could identify the value of the treasures that others can''t.


    The second Artifact was actually the previously "Sealed Book" they identified since it was carefully covered by ss cases and wrapped by a chain lock.*


    Wace read the description and he was astonished by the discovery.


    [ Records of Unknown


    Records that were written in an unknownnguage. It contains blueprints of many machines and weapons but due to unreadable content, it was unusable.


    Origin: Unknown


    Creator: Unknown


    Price: 2,500,000 Credits ]


    "Oh, are you interested in this book?"


    "Mhmm... You can say so..."


    "You have good eyes... As expected of a Grand Arcanist''s Apprentice. Well, many researchers were also interested in this. So if you want to purchase it, it will only be a certified copy of the book. If it is not, the book would probably reach a price of 20 million credits. The value isn''t just because of its content but its historical value... Just where did thise from anyway? Are you sure to purchase this, even the current schrs were unable to decipher this..."


    "Don''t worry... I would like to purchase one for my collections." Wace said nonchntly as he even tried checking out the other artifacts when he said this.


    Soon, he left the Magic Shop while carrying a copy of that book. As he went inside his car, he quickly gave instructions to Avalon.


    "Avalon, analyze this book."


    [ Affirmative. ]


    Avalon quickly transformed into a floating metal ball as it quickly scanned the whole book. It didn''t take long before the results came in.


    Ding!


    [ The book was written in Aerathi Language. It is the officialnguage of Lonar Alliance before it was invaded by the Meredith Empire.


    The Lonar Alliance wasposed of three different races including a small part of the Human race ]


    "Only a small part of the Human race?"


    [ Correct. The Humans in the Alliance were from a defeated faction of a Prince in the Meredith Empire. The Lonar Alliance was also recognized as an ally of the Gctic Federation due to the identity of the Prince.


    The Alliancested for only 15 years before it was routed by the Meredith Empire. This all happened 50 years ago before you were born. ]


    Wace had limited knowledge about the many events in the vast universe but he was aware of the most important things.


    The Gctic Civilizations were divided by Major Races and Minor Races. The 8 Major Races were also divided into two alliances.


    The two powers were being led by humans. The Gctic Federation wasposed of Humans and 4 other races and the Meredith Empire that was gically enhanced Humans who allied with two other races.


    It was said that all the people of the Empire were all born from test tubes and that they could be called superhumans at times. Although the humans in Gctic Federations were also using enhancements, it was not to the point of making transformation to human body unlike the Meredith Empire who put it to the extreme in order to achieve their so-called "Peak Evolution".


    There were many asions that their experiments were leading them away from being called a human.


    Anyway, it was not important for now as Wace wanted to first have a read on the book.


    "Create a tranted book for me..."


    [ Affirmative. ]


    Wace then proceeded to the Cloud Hawk manor to meet his senior sister. Tranting the thick book might take 15-20 minutes for Avalon since a lot of its processing speed was being taken by productions of VR Pods.


    As soon as Wace arrived, he was greeted by the butler, Clyne Troyard, and lead him to the living room where Lacus was already waiting.


    "I heard that you already learned the Lightning Break?"


    "Yes, Senior Lacus..."


    "Show me..." She quickly stood up and lead him to the practice area where multiple targets can be seen.


    As expected of the first apprentice. Herposure was different. There was also this aura suffocating him a little.


    ''I''m sure that she''s an Arcane Artificer now. But thest time we''ve met, she wasn''t this intimidating. Did she gets promoted? Arcanist?''


    Wace wasn''t sure so he kept his words with himself. She didn''t wait for thedy to speak as he prepared himself in showing the second stage of Awakening of Thunder and Lightning... the Lightning Break!


    He closed his eyes and remembered all his practices. His breathing method was perfect as he controlled the new energy umting within his body to his right fist...


    "Eh?"


    The lightning wasn''t forming. It was not doing what he wanted which surprised him for a moment.


    ''This...''


    He quickly used his suppressed Divine Sense and noticed that the area he was at had a formation that puts the mana around to be unstable.


    ''Perhaps, another test?''


    Wace wasn''t sure so he just restarted his formation. As long as he was aware of what was disrupting him, he can easily do something about it.


    Wace strengthened his lightning formation and to ensure that he will achieve the best result. He added his recently learned Soul Arts. Thanks to Miss Chamber who didn''t hold back on teaching him the Art.


    By utilizing his Soul Arts together with the technique, he can easily create multiple Lightning Breaks!


    "Haa!"


    It wasn''t just one target dummy. All twelve targets were hit!


    Even Lacus was frozen for a moment seeing the disy of his strength.


    "You... you said that you''re still a third-year student, right?"


    "Yes, Senior."


    "And you''re studying Artifact Forging? Not a Combat Magician?"


    "Yes."


    "Mhmm... Very well. Keep it up. I believe that you can do better than that."


    "Yes. Thank you, Senior!"


    "Let''s go take a look at your Iron Knight."


    "Ooohh! I''m looking forward to this..."


    Wace didn''t hide his joy after hearing this. Ever since the first time that he saw such a version of Mech Frame, he had been so interested in dismantling it and seeing what was inside. He was curious about how it was made and its source of power.


    He had heard about the Molten Core used by Steel Knights since they can''t copy the cores of the Iron Knights. It was a core made by thebined intelligence of the country''s Arcanists. It was a huge breakthrough that had increased the military might of Zairus.


    Although the blueprint for the core was leaked in the end, their country was still the one that benefitted the most since the government has already acquired most of the cores from the Fire Mana Beast, making the other powers unable to mass-produced them.


    Wace then had a good look at his new asset.


    "I heard that you have a very high synchronization rate... It was higher than mine..."


    Lacus said smilingly.


    Wace remembered that he achieved a 90% sync rate while his senior... He couldn''t remember.


    [ Lacus Minerva achieved an 89% sync rate as per Grand Arcanist''s ine Allusia''s words. ]


    ''Oh... Thank you, Avalon.''


    "Well, I just got lucky... I guess." Wace replied as he scratches his head not knowing where this conversation will lead to.


    "Haha... Is that so? You don''t even have any recorded modifications or any enhancements in your body but you still reached that rate. How intriguing..."


    "Me too... I''m also curious about that. So anyway, can I take this home already?"


    "Of course. Since you already have an Iron Knight and you also have a higher sync rate than mine... Then, how about we test it inbat?"


    "Eh?"


    "I have never fought someone who can equal me in the battle of Iron Knights... As you are aware, your other seniors have below sync rate than mine. So, can you grant my request?" Wace almost saw a pleading face of the beautiful senior apprentice. It may have been his imagination but as she requested like this, he couldn''t just refuse.