A Collection Of Other Adventures
Spell Practice At The Lost Academia
Date: October 29th, 2024
After escaping from the Purple Realm at last, now we were onboard the space station. I want to stay onboard to talk to Torvald The Turd but at the same time, I just really need to focus on improving my spellcasting. The battles just keep getting tougher and I'm falling behind. And I'm not the only one who feels that way. I pull Torvald aside and speak to him: "Hey, I'd like to talk to you about what has even happened to you since you were crushed by us and then absorbed by Gorganan so long ago. But I'm too busy with stuff for the rest of today so could we do that soon?" "Absolutely! In fact, I'd love to talk to as many of you all as possible at the same time! Maybe I could poopresent about it!" "Do you mean present?" "Poopresent! It's slang from my now erased from existence specific species of walking and talking poops. I stunk a lot 4 years ago but now, I have kept my rancid odor completely under control. So I don't constantly reek. My species is far from the only species of walking and talking poops. There's others out there. Odds are that you have been to at least one location with them present." "Sometime ago, yes." "Excellent! I understand you have to do what it is you need to do so I won't keep you for long! Btw, you and your friends as well as those who fought me such a long time ago have seriously grown and changed a lot! Just look at you for example! You became a knight!" "I appreciate the compliment but uhh.. I don't know how to put what I want to say into words without it going wrong. I'm just humble because that's who I am and I try to actively stave off any growth in my ego.
I don't want to be as selfish as I once was years ago again. Being self indulgent all the damn time is kind of really boring. Like I find it seriously dull that some people only look out for themselves and never try to help or care for anyone else." "And that, my former enemy turned comrade is EXACTLY the reason why I stepped away from evil after initially being brought back to join The Plot's group. But due to my form and Gorganan's old contempt for me, I was sort of tossed out. Seen as too weak and all that. I could have sought revenge but things changed. I'll explain more another time. Now then, A-or should I say, Swiftdrawer, you go on ahead to do what you have to do! I'm going to get accustomed to being a member of BRAINS! See you around!" I nod and walk off to find the others going off to do some spell practicing. That didn't long because we all were looking for each other and yeah.. A few minutes later, we were together. Blaze was among our group and for the first time in so long, they were wielding the staff they were given to restore those turned into cyborgs by Freddie the anti wolf in Kohnanix back to normal. Even a knight who protects time has to practice magic sometimes after all. Bray speaks: "Is this everyone? If so, we shall get moving immediately. Onwards to the Lost Academia. But first, we shall go to a location none of us ever really visited near the school, on the opposite side of the Lost Academia Expedition Station from the school, in fact. It's not a location that was open to students of the school until very recently. It was cut off for centuries due to the monsters around it.
The idea for going there as we discussed is to help establish ties to the people of the location. I know we shall impress them and possibly learn something new while we're there. To conserve as much energy as possible now that so much of the power our collective generates is used for space lasers and other high energy things during tight situations, I shall open a portal directly to the Lost Academia Expedition- Lost Academia Station. This won't take long." She pulls out her own staff despite no longer needing it for spell casting at all though it does serve as a melee weapon sometimes with its hidden sword blade and effortlessly creates a portal with a tiny portion of her mana. But before any of us went through, my mighty steed came running towards us with a few other horses in tow. Herbsalvin asks: "What's the meaning of this?! What is it that they desire?" Chocolate gets to us first, nudges me, and then, nudges Herbsalvin. I ask her: "You want us to ride you? Why?" "I just want to go on this adventure with everyone and give you both a ride!" "Aww, that's so sweet of you. *strokes Chocolate's mane gently* You're a good friend and companion." Herbsalvin lets their "cinnamon roll" side show and blushes: "You want both of us to ride you? ..I see.. Very well.. We shall mount you and enjoy the trip together. We have one another's word to protect each other if that's how it must be done to complete our adventure." I playfully ruffle my pegasus knight's hair. We share a kiss before getting onto Chocolate. Meanwhile, Charlie, a horse who is a childhood plushie of mine back on Earth lets Bray and Blaze mount him. And he then says to me: "Swift! We need to spend more time together!" I reply: "I know! I'll have to ride you sometime to somewhere!" "I like that!"
After we're all set, we head through the portal on horseback and come to the train station on the other side. We hear the train conductor yell: "Last call for anyone headed for the Testificate Forest Village! All aboard! And remember, this Expedition does NOT refuse service to anyone regardless of their gender, race, origin, background, sexuality, age, mental health, ability to move easily or not, and so on! We have come a long way since the defeat of Bowling not far from here in the greatest battle that had been fought in a very long time in this world! Even if the server this world is on shuts down, this world will continue on thanks to the vast magic found within it! One more time! All aboard!" We don't hop onboard. Instead, we exit the station. There's plenty of room and clearance to do so on horseback. There's a gentle breeze blowing opposite of the direction we're going. My and Herbsalvin's capes flutter gently due to the breeze. A few minutes later, we enter the dangerous roofed forest by the school. It's among the most dangerous we know of even when factoring in Miitopia's forests when they were filled with hostile monsters. As we do in fact enter the forest, Herbsalvin yells to the others: "Careful! We must tread very carefully here! Even we don't know the full details of what's in here still! Our guards can never lower!" I add: "We can't disintegrate any creature who try to hurt us with our BRAIN Blasters! Not when so many of our comrades are interested in studying the creatures of this forest! Let's strive to capture them alive!
To name some names off the top of my head: Grayedge, Dominic, Dr. Bonesbane, Orochimaru, Biara, Mayuri, Phill Dye, and Jamba have all expressed interest." That's also when a horde of monsters suddenly surrounded us. All of us on horseback are close together because the horses knew that was the best way to go about this adventure. It's so dark in here. It's darker than a normal Minecraft roofed forest by kilometers. Yappa Yappa yells: "They must have sensed our power levels or smelled us!" I reply: "Nothing says delicious like a group of really strong horses and the adventurers they have literally come to themselves to give rides to. They must be as hungry as they damn xenomorphs or something. I swear if we have to deal with another swarm of those disgusting xenomorphs.. Anyway, we better get ready for battle. Chocolate, will you be okay if we dismount for the time being to deal with these monsters? Oh, nevermind. You and the other horses are even bigger nuisances to the enemy than Goat Simulator goats are and have been so I'm not actually worried especially since all of you are wearing such high grade horse armor." All of us on horses dismount and get ready for battle only for Yappa Yappa to demonstrate just how outmatched the monsters are by one shotting one of them. I sigh: "You know, it looks like these monsters are pushovers to us. We might even be at risk of killing them all with just one attack on each one. Damn. What if I just put them all to sleep? I think I can do that with Artist's Eye: Evolution but I'm not entirely sure I can't handle the strain of putting ALL of them to sleep. ..Crap."
Blaze replies: "I have a better idea! Let's go around slapping them all until they lose consciousness! We have more than enough of us who can move really fast to pull that off after all!" No one objects to Blaze's idea. I put my sword back into its scabbard and pat its hilt briefly. Some time later, we are back on horseback, having sent all of the knocked out monsters to either Fluttershy or Rimuru, both of whom are great at dealing with hostile creatures. They are sent to Rimuru if we have determined they can speak verbally like we can while the rest are sent to Fluttershy. Between them and our monster capturing efforts, there's going to be a lot of friendly monster allies in the near future as well as lots of data about the respective species of each one. The reason why this forest really hasn't been fully explored up to now is because it's actually more massive than it's made out to be and there's all kinds of ancient and dark and unknown magicks floating about here. Additionally, the monsters have apparently evolved and mutated a lot over thousands of years, especially due to nearby intense magical battles like the ones fought at Lost Academia grounds. That is why it's forbidden for students to really enter it and few ever dare to traverse it. But due to the rapid adoption of Ki techniques by the BRAINS Collective last year, the long isolated settlement in the forest was discovered because of there being signs of player and NPC life being detected through power level detection. The forest is still too dangerous for most of us to explore much of for very long. Otherwise, our collective in a joint effort with the school would have mapped the whole thing out by now.
Bray speaks as we move further into the forest: "I shall use my magic to put any more monsters we encounter to sleep. It's for the best that that's done. I apologize for not thinking of the fact I can use advanced sleep spells on monsters until now. We will make it to the settlement in no time." And she keeps her promise, allowing us to easily capture all of the monsters who try to get us. They'll be well taken care of by who they're sent to as well as those who choose to help them. So why did we go to the train station first instead of the settlement? Well, how would you feel if you lived in a small forest settlement and one day saw a portal appear with fully armored and/or robed strangers coming through it to see your settlement? That's part of the answer. The rest is that the magic density in the forest makes it very difficult for any portals or teleportation attempts to work if their destinations are the forest. The further away the point of departure is, the harder it gets. As we travel through it to our destination, we just feel all of the magic around us. A lot of the mysterious magic feels warm and friendly but we know the least about it. As for the other magic, we know quite a bit about them. The dark magic has collected in the forest over the years due to those who foolishly enter and die inside of its darkness as well as all of the monsters that have spawned in it, including monsters that are now dead. Additionally, corrupt mages of the past tainted the forest with dark magic to begin with, their actions eventually led to the rise of Bowling in a butterfly effect. It wasn't too long until we reached our destination.
There were gates keeping us from proceeding further. Standing guard were some NPCs wearing worn leather armor. One of them shouts: "Halt! Who goes-" They gasp in shock at our appearances. They shout: "Open the gates! We are in the midst of legends and legends in the making! I can feel it in my bones! Let them in but don't let the monsters in too!" Bray casts a sleep spell on some monsters who crept up behind us: "You shall not need to worry any longer. The monsters will be out for some time." "Excellent news! Come on in!" We are given a tour of the town and its people were awe struck by all of us. We are directed to some stables to dismount and let the horses rest inside of them. Chocolate, Charlie, and the others were delighted to get a break and rest in the stables. We made sure to feed them before leaving the stables for now. And then, it was onto a meeting with the entire town which has the name of Zerblobika apparently. In that meeting, we officially began relations with them thanks to in part my role as Twisted Land's envoy in the BRAINS Collective. We end up recruiting several members of the town, the strongest, most knowledgeable, and fastest they had to eventually join the BRAINS Collective but also offered them our support, resources, and training/education opportunities as well. Minglow Bats, Wonda The Gust, and Daisy Rose from the Lost Academia ended up showing up to joining the meeting as well. And because of that, the school now has connections and relations to Zerblobika as well. We spent some more time there after the meeting for a cultural exchange and more full on introductions. The place had been isolated for centuries, causing it to develop a distinct culture from anywhere else.
For example, most of its residents are skilled in at least one weapon due to regular monster attacks. In many worlds, most people in most societies don't even really know how to punch someone properly to get the best results out of doing so. All of us drink sleep replacement potions and get back on our horse friends, ready to head to the Lost Academia at last. Wonda The Gust and the other 2 instructors who came from the school to Zerblobika walk with us to the stables. Wonda speaks to us once we're mounted and they themselves use flight magic to be able to fly for a short time: "Due to how vigilant this village has been for so many centuries, it's magical density is lower than in the forest. It should be safe to use a portal to the main entrance of the school from here. I will do so now so we do not have to go through the entire journey to get there from here. I cast Return To Domain!" And just like that, she opens a large portal and we all go through it very quickly. We are shocked to see a lot of students and staff waiting at the location we end up. I get a little bit nervous: "I wasn't expecting so many people.. But I'll be okay.. *grabs onto sword hilt for comfort* I WILL be." Daisy smiles: "It appears our student body and faculty couldn't pass up the chance to see the likes of all of you up close and personal at this school. You know, each and every one of you, horses included are seen as heroes. You are all part of a recently released book about heroes of the multiverse. *grins* Our school was fortunate to be a huge part of that book's development. Many of you are renowned for what you did for our school and this magical society as a whole.
The Wisp Trapped In A Ender Chest keeps telling all the students they sort about you. But enough about that!" Herbsalvin and I dismount from Chocolate and stand right beside her. I pet her mane again. Once everyone is fully through the portal, we begin to walk towards the doors into the 3000 year old school. But then, a first year student approaches me nervously: "Ser Knight?" I stop walking. The others stop too. I lower myself to be able to look them straight in the eyes even though it's not the most comfortable position to do. None of us are inferior or superior to anyone else. I will not pretend to be better than other people are when better is such a subjective term and I'm far from perfect. "Kiddo, I highly appreciate you calling me Ser. I'm not one for formalities, I find them quite often a waste of time. However, there's something about being called Ser that's just really cool to me. That being said, I don't want to just automatically earn respect just for being a knight. It shouldn't work like that. Anyone can work hard enough to don armor and the honor of knighthood but that isn't something that means they deserve praise and respect wherever they go. They have to keep working to maintain the respect they've earned. But I'm rambling. What is it, kiddo?" "Umm.. umm.. I've heard so much about you and I find you so cool and strong! Can I.. be your squire? I want to be a strong knight when I grow up too!" "I've heard that sort of thing a lot. I can't promise anything, I'm not taking any personal students right now. I have so much learning to do myself and I'm still so young.
It's been only about 2 years since I became a knight. Send a message to me or have someone send one for you in about 2 years. Let's see how strong, fast, knowledgeable, and magically skilled you get by then. But please don't call me Ser again when you can call me by my chosen name: Swiftdrawer instead. Or Swift for short. Whichever you prefer. Keep learning what you can at this academy and we'll see what we can do about your dreams 2 years from now. Please remember that knights don't always main in swords or lances/spears. Some prefer daggers, bows, giant shields, crossbows, guns, or even laser blasters that can reduce a target to ash in a single blast. But to ensure this promise of ours can be kept.. What's your name?" "My name is.. Tissy." "Alright, Tissy. Let me help you a bit. What is your preferred weapon and do you have one?" "I really like swords but I don't have any.." "That's not a problem. I'll make you a wooden training sword to start you off. You'll have to get leather gloves if you don't have any yet as well as some skin lotion on your own. *uses Artist's Eye to create a wooden training sword with a curved tip to prevent accidental stabbing* I would give you more but I haven't studied enough on the compositions of leather gloves or skin lotion to create some with this ability of mine. I've used them a lot but that just isn't enough. I'm on the crux of being able to just create leather gloves on demand whenever I desire to. Just need to look into what the process of dying them is like. Skin lotion is somehow more complicated but even so, you should always wear gloves after applying lotion to your hands for training. Sword training acquired blisters are very common and not fun to deal with.
Alright then, Tissy. Accept this sword and get ready for your life to change. It may even be up to you and your entire class of fellow 1st years to help defend this school in the very near future so you must be ready to fight without losing your joy, love, passion, hopes, or dreams." They accept the sword and thank me profusely. A couple minutes later, we walk into the Culinary Hall of the school. I remark to Bray: "Ahh, memories. We had a lot of fun in this room. Nothing says metal like a mosh pit in this room of all places while live music is being played." The students and staff have now dispersed to go back to whatever it was they were doing. Madeline speaks: "I'm sad that we can't meet with and talk to all of the students. But between practicing and training for things as well as the conflict, we just can't spare the time.." Bray comforts her: "It shall be okay. Maybe we will get to once this war is finally over." Suddenly, the entire school shakes as the ceiling above us is blown away by explosions with a group of unknown adversaries jumping in and coming after us. Bray summons her staff and plants it firmly onto the floor below us and yells: "YOU SHALL NOT DISTURB THIS SCHOOL!" With passionate anger in her eyes, Bray clobbered them so bad that they were out cold in seconds and sent away to a comfortable location be questioned by Ibiki or someone less harsh. She calms down: "I will not apologize for being angry. In many worlds, wise sages are revered to be kind and incredibly patient. However, that's not the kind of energy that is truly required to create revolutionary change. That energy is best suited for training and conversations with others as well as introspection.
It is not suited to fighting for change. I will continue to be angry when I feel angry and I most express it to make a change and impact." A few minutes later, we reach the school's now greatly expanded and organized library. I remark: "I don't remember spending too much time in here, I can't believe how much bigger it's gotten. Look at all of these books.. SO many books! Twilight would be thrilled to be here if she weren't busy helping finish up Equestria's transition to a democracy while still retaining the Council Of Friendship as a non government entity that plays a social role in Equestrian society and helps advise the democratic government. Someday, perhaps Equestria will be able to support communal societies on the same level as Miitopia or Tomapie. A monarchy in which the monarch is a shining beacon of friendship and kindness sounds like the ideal government but it's a romanticization of monarchism that doesn't address most of the inherent problems that come with monarchy. Such as inequality. Equestrian society is harmonious for the most part but for the longest time, there has been a distinct division between the rich and everyone else. Rarity had to deal with it as a fashion pony from 'simple old Ponyville'. I'd love to see the likes of Disney change their princesses someday into kind revolutionaries that wish to abolish monarchy but I doubt that will ever happen. We have evolved far beyond the need for monarchies. Out with them. Anyway, there are just so many books here! This collection is bound to help us a lot of our respective magical journeys! Just look over there!
A section on fire magic spells! And there's another in radical theory including some books written by Gelina and others if what we've been hearing is true. This school seems to quite literally far exceed some other notable magical schools that are far more well known in my world." We soon get to looking around for whatever we need. Or just set up in the large study room that's been built in the library for some spell casting practice which is what I did alongside some others. Our horse friends have been led safely to the school's massive stables that were built after we left the school back in May 2019. So far, I have fully learned/relearned the following spells over the past couple of years: Heal, Sword Quicken, several restriction spells, wind enhancement to my speed and strength, Repair, basic Purification(enough to prevent food poisoning like in Alva Towne Unamusement Park), about 3 wind spells, summon object(Summon: *object name*), Joy(emotional memory based light spell, blasts creatures connected to darkness or nightmares especially after recent research to enhance it), memory erasure(rarely used, challenging, draining), magical shield, Snap Out Of It(easily relearned), Speed 7(20 seconds, long cooldown, draining), Strength 7, magic enhancements for sword techniques, and shadow magic(Yami No Game, Shadow Travel, Penalty Game, Mind Crush). Almost all of these took a lot of time to master. The worlds of Minecraftia and Miitopia we frequent have sort of by accident or by destiny sort of had their magic systems become very much intertwined so it's not impossible for a Lost Academia student to be able to learn Giga Explosion for example without becoming a mage in Miitopia.
Same with a mage in Miitopia learning how to use the summon object spell. Both situations aren't unheard of. This all began when some of us came to the school to learn magic. We were given access to the Minecraftian system after previously having the Miitopia system by default. And at this point, both systems have gone beyond and become able to mesh in well with other systems such as Ni No Kuni's magic systems. This has led to a huge shift behind the scenes, explaining the massive system learning versatility in our collective. You could say the adoption of Ki techniques across the collective can all be traced back to all of that. Anyway, this library is incredibly reinforced with spells. It is a location designed to be virtually indestructible with not just spells but more recently introduced technologies as well some as nanotechnology and many other precautions to ensure any kind of magical accident doesn't blow it up or burn it all down. This means that extremely powerful spells can be practiced inside of this library but only in this study room. There are other study areas in the library but they're more so for reading and homework. This one is more dedicated to spell casting. And since it's its own separate walled room, the chances of a spell going wrong and destroying the whole place is even less likely. Therefore, I'm about to practice a seriously powerful wind spell. Up to now, I've only practiced simple wind spells for the most part but now, I'm going to see if I can go the next level and the extra mile at the same time. It's a large enough room for several of us to practice at the same time indeed,
Bray is only here to help guide us for the most part while carefully practicing something herself. She already knows so many spells so there's no need for her to go all out and try to get what she's practicing mastered. The likes of me though? We have a lot of work to do to really get better with magic. The irony is that I caught up with 5 years of lessons in a couple of months right around 6 years ago along with Bray before she came out as trans and multiple others like Austin, Julia, Lauren, and Carlos. I pull out my sword in order to channel magic into it. I have found it easier to practice magic by having it channel into my sword before being released. It gives me more time to think about the spell I'm trying to cast. My sword also helps my spells be cast with more stability and precision. Not only that but because I like having magic gather towards the tip of my sword, spells are much more condensed than they would be if I used my old wand or just cast through my hands. And by using my sword, I'm also practicing for when I get to become truly one with my weapon. My sword is already an extension of myself but when I become a knight sage, the plan is to make that quite literal. I keep my verbal chanting of the spell I seek to cast pretty quiet to let the others concentrate better only to realize they're all wearing sound muffling headphones and I do the same. They are enchanted and designed to resist even catastrophic magic casting accidents and a cheap alternative to casting a sound muffling spell. So I stop my chanting and prepare to start all over again.
And then realize: "Crap, where's the spell book with the spell I want to cast? Wait, I forgot it, didn't I? *looks in inventory* Oh, I do have it. Whoops. Okay.. I'm going to study it a few more times before trying again." Minecraftian spell casting isn't that simple in most cases. It often requires an incantation which is then simplified down to a simpler incantation upon learning the original incantation. That means most spells need you to nail the original incantation but you must then nail the simpler one in order to even get close to mastery. That's not all, either. You need to be aware of how much mana your body's stores have as well as an understanding of how much mana the spell's going to take out of you. The more you practice a Minecraftian spell, the less mana draining it will be and the less time it will take to prepare and cast. Once mastery is achieved, you can work on evolving it to a level where several of the same spell or giant versions of it are able to be unleashed. But that takes a while as well for most users of spells. Oh yeah and let's not forget about visualization, that's a key part to a lot of spells. Fortunately, one doesn't need a vivid imagination necessarily. As long as they can describe what they want to unleash in their own hand with enough detail, that's enough as well for a spell. Fail at any of these and either the spell won't work at all or it's going to backfire. But it can still backfire on you even if you do all of the right steps because of the mana exertion as well as tiny mistakes and just not understanding the spell innately enough. I'm trying to cast a spell known as Air Explosion.
It's a defensive technique that allows the caster to send enemies around them away by unleashing an explosion made of air. It begins by forming around point at which it's to be cast whether that be the end of a staff or wand, a sword's tip, one's fingers, the tip of a farming scythe, or something else entirely. And then, it rapidly expands in an instant, unleashing a concentrated burst of wind magic/energy that is precisely like an explosion but with intense artifice air pressure in play. As both a magic user and wind elemental, it is easy for me to create a weak gust of wind and sometimes a breeze. I'm still working on my proficiency despite putting myself through a tornado, hurricane, and so on. Wind magic like any other magic also requires some pretty serious concentration. I look over the spell and what is necessary to cast it several times. I've focused on support and defensive magic to help balance myself out as a knight since I go with a AGI tank/fighter route in battle most of the time. Air Explosion is an excellent spell for stealth because it uses the physics of Earth in that it's an instant explosion like explosions are in our world, dear readers of the same planet, universe, and timeline as I am. Elemental magic is present in multiple main worlds/universe within BRAINS with many of the same rules applying strangely enough. It is best for a spellcaster to employ some trait of the element of the spell they're casting. How they do so is really open ended. For example, I reach beneath my armor with one of my fingers after temporarily taking off my right gauntlet to put a very small amount of pressure in a certain part of the neck in between parts of the collarbone.
This increases my breathing and relieves a tiny amount of pressure. I also take a deep breath. And while I begin to visualize, I swing my sword a few times to create some intense but small gusts of indoor air. I then close my eyes and hold my sword steady until a thrust position and shout, now knowing that the others won't fully hear me and remembering just how much space I currently have to myself: "Inner wind, I call upon you to aid me! Dispense my enemies away from me! Give me some space for which to breathe! Unleash your wrath in a great surge of power! Accept my sword as a place to gather and let your rage be felt by the enemy! And now, I must say this spell for you to understand me completely! I cast Air Explosion!" I keep trying to hold onto my visualization but it's hard to do even though I have spent such a long time visualizing to help me with other spells and upgrade Artist's Eye. I persist though, keeping my thoughts focused on what I'm trying to do as the mana travels from my body and eventually into the very top of my sword to gather there. For incantations, they often require you to pledge a part of yourself from which to be cast, my sword for example. That helps the mana and the nervous system better understand what's going on. And if you mention your profession/adventurer class, spells are more likely to be successful. With the incantation memorization, I'm not there yet, I need to be fully confident in saying it before I add the optional additional line in. Once you simplify down to just the "I cast *spell name*", it remains important for you to recite the full version until it becomes innate for the most complicate spells. This isn't one of those spells.
My first attempt is a huge failure. The spell broke apart because the visualization nor the reciting went the way they were supposed to. I open my eyes and read the book again, which I have placed on a nearby desk for safety. I switch my sword to my left hand so I can turn the page with my right as the spell takes up 2 pages. I end up putting my sword down on the desk for now to make looking over the spell easier even though I didn't want to. After reading the full incantation so many times that I started losing patience, I repeated it in my head a few times and looked it over again to see if I remembered it right. And eventually, I moved to alternating between those and speaking it out loud. It ate at my patience but I've gotten a lot better with this kind of annoying repetition from so much spell practicing. After some time, for safe measure, I speak it to myself outloud several times and hoped I didn't get anything wrong. Bray came to me as I was doing this and spoke as soon as I was done: "You have done well, Swift. You have fully memorized the incantation. Try again when you're ready and let me know when you need help. I learned Air Explosion myself but don't find myself using it often as my elemental nature is vastly different from yours." "Thank you. I think I'm ready to try again. If this try fails, I'm using a shadow clone to watch myself cast it from third person to get a better understanding of how I'm messing up. What a vastly different process from sword training, it's no wonder only some mages and sword users are also sword users and mages respectively. Spells are much more about thinking while basic sword techniques are focused more on physical effort. You need a great understanding of your muscles for solid sword training and a grasp on more intellectual things for solid spell practice."
"You are indeed correct, my friend." With that, she walks around the room to monitor everyone's progress patiently. Despite how much sound the headphones block out, they don't actually block out normal conversation level sounds that much, that's an intentional design feature. What's even better is that the headphones can extend to the cartoonishly ridiculous point that they can go over full helmets which is great because my own helmet is not permitted to muffle anything despite covering my ears and most of my hair. For the next few hours, I focus on Air Explosion and get steadily better at it but it was much more difficult than most spells I had practiced before it. So by the time we all stopped to take a proper break, I was sweating from how hard it really was. I have now become proficient in the spell with so much more learning and growing to go. At least I don't have to say the full incantation every single time now. I had to drink multiple mana potions to keep at practicing the spell so that I wasn't reduced to a walking skeleton with armor on. But just as we had stopped to take a break, something awful happened. And I'm not talking about the rancid smell of poop that suddenly radiated throughout the room but that was a part of it. Blaze gagged and shouted: "DISGUSTING! Why does it smell like poop in here?! GROOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSS! I think I'm going to throw up!" Their nose is most sensitive to smells out of all of us present. The smell truly reeked. Bray shouts: "Intense power level and massive malevolent aura! It's in this room! I cast Reveal Thyself!" Suddenly, someone's presence was exposed. Torvald The Turd's. And it was he who reeked of poop and malevolence.
Herbslavin yells to him: "What have you done?! Have you turned against us so quickly and easily? How could we not have seen past your deception?!" Torvald laughs: "So gullible! I only helped you with the Purple Realm incident to gain your trust! Why else do you think I showed up out of nowhere unannounced just a couple hours before we rescued some of you and others as well?! It's good to be back.. FOR REVENGE AND THE RETURN OF MY EMPIRE! Some of you.. SOME OF YOU ARE GOING TO PAY FOR HUMILIATING ME ALL THOSE YEARS AGO! I absorbed my own family for power, how low do you believe I would stoop to get even more?! You have no idea just what I'd do to gain more power! It's true I was kicked out of The Plot's not so little group of so called losers and scumbags. Gorganan and I had more than a few little disagreements and that's what set everything off. But I didn't defect to your side. No, I defected to Nacirema and came to all of you to SPY ON YOU before getting my long awaited revenge! Now that I've defected to Nacirema, it's only a matter of time before even The Plot and pals get exterminated! Nacirema will defy destiny to create a future where everyone except for those with real power suffer equally under impossible living conditions. In which the likes of.. *points at me, Bray, Yappa Yappa, and Blaze one after another* all of you will no longer exist because you'll be dead! And once the economy stabilizes, those left will think that their lives will get better but their lives actually won't get better!"
Now that one of my innate precautions has become to use Artist's Eye: Evolution on the enemy, I prepare to use it on Torvald. Over the past month or so, I have been spending some time getting my brain to immediately think of that technique to use on the enemy in the event something sudden like this happens. I choose to try something different for Torvald: a mix of dreams and nightmares. A dream that is spent partly in a dream with the other part in a nightmare. I've worked out the complications that needed to be taken care of to pull this off. It's now go time. I don't even shout. I just activate my technique as I stare at our foe right as the others begin to attack him. None of us say another word, we just go in. Torvald The Turd laughs: "You can't stop me! I already have learned so much about all of you as well as the BRAINS Collective! Soon, I will have my revenge and report what I've learned straight to the others! Your precious collective is now doomed! Our forces will attack ALL OF YOUR BASES without mercy!" Before he can say anymore, I use Artist's Eye: Evolution to send him into a dream that then becomes a nightmare. One that has the power to attempt to make him see true reason. Cruelty is not truly reasonable unlike what capitalism claims. He is caught off guard and is immediately sent into sleep. The others stop attacking and hold their positions. Bray speaks: "I am sending word to this entire school and BRAINS! I shall do it as quickly as I can! We can't let him get his revenge!" We stand our ground and prepare for anything to happen as if this were Election Day 2024 or January 6th, 2025 in Washington DC.
We haven't won yet. The enemy may seem down and out but none of us actually believe our foe will be so easily taken care of especially after numerous failed attempts to reach out to our enemies over the years. Our foes are clearly getting more emboldened to do bad things. Its not just Torvald the Turd or Katherine Glassgate. Its also the likes of that one party who still uses an elephant as a symbol despite probably liking the idea of elephants being poached as well in the world we share, dear readers. Everyone who could come is able to come and surround Torvald as he sleeps away and we watch him very carefully with as many senses as possible. But then, he wakes up after a couple of minutes and cuts through so many of us. I cough up blood as I bleed out and try to keep myself from falling to the floor. Barla, one of many to respond and arrive quickly yells: "..WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?!" Torvald laughs: "Dreams are just dreams! I dont believe in them! And Ive been working so hard for some time so that I can finally get my revenge! None of you will survive! I told you! I warned you!" I drink poison to heal myself before using Repair to fix my armor. I speak up: "This is far from over, our conflict with you has only started and we plan on pounding you into the very ground if thats what it takes to stop you. I wont ask if youre willing to talk things over. You just tried to kill everyone instantly. But you underestimated us. Just like the so called grand and old party. Maybe we can talk once you're in a position where you want to talk things out. Until then.. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
We attack him strategically at the same time but our attacks do no damage. And then, something suddenly shifted as he suddenly unleashed so much power that we were all seriously injured despite those of us who were left bleeding from earlier getting healed up just fine in seconds before this huge attack. He also got us with immense speed again as well. Every single one of us was now bleeding on the ground. Chris Creeper yells: "Minglow! Gelina! Daisy! Get the rest of the students out of here quickly!" They disappear to get on it right as Torvald starts laughing again only to say: "Youre all so weak compared to me and my new power! Now that I have made virtually all of you unable to move, its time for me to poop on this school and destroy it!" Before the rest of us could do much of anything, our foe started horrifying us by destroying the library we're in. But before he could make the ceiling come down on us, someone punched him really hard, knocking him off his feet and stunning him. Thats when we saw who had just shown up. An enemy known to us. Lex Luthor. He smirks: "Looks like you could use my help. I'll return to getting my revenge against the likes of you anothet time. Right now, Im more concerned about our common enemy here. Torvald, thats your name, correct? Pfft. You aren't as powerful as you believe yourself to be. I'll make a example out of you. Superman, I know you're somewhere around here or will find out I was here without you knowing later but this is my message for you. Im going to get my revenge next time I try to achieve it.
It will be unlike anything seen when you and I have fought for many years in the past. Superman or should I say, Clark Kent? You cant hide anything from me, I really do know all of your little secrets now. And I cant wait to take you apart. Now fools around me, watch as I reduce this pile of poop to nothing. But even I am not as gullible or egotistical as to believe I can beat him by myself. We'll have to work together to defeat our mutual enemy, its the best way for either of our sides to get anything done! We'll settle our differences another time when the likes of Torvald The Turd are put down for good! No, Im not asking to be liked or trusted, this is just an offer for a temporary truce and partnership. Is that so bad?" Reluctantly, we had to accept his help as Torvald was now going on a high speed rampage. My body has healed due to the poison still circulating throughout my body. I scream again as I concentrate with all my might: "I havent mastered this but.. I think Ive recovered enough mana for one last attempt! But still.. None of us can give in here! Even if we win here, this wont be the last we see of the likes of our foe. The fight for a better future continues always to infinity and beyond! ..I CAST AIR EXPLOSION!" My attack manages to form but breaks apart before hitting Torvald. The chaos is everywhere, we're all locked onto Torvald and too into the battle to question how Lex Luthor came back and became so strong out of nowhere. Most of us balance our focus between attacking him as well as other things like protecting the books and keeping an eye out for missing students as the fight eventually is brought down into the underground of the school.
The library floor collapsed below us to make that happen, revealing a massive abandoned and dusty ancient room with old looking beds and skeletons among other things. Is this room from the original iteration of the school before it was forgotten about for several centuries? It feels like it is.. Torvald laughs again: "Go ahead! Keep attacking me! I dare-" He is cut off as he begins to realize just how outmatched he is now especially as other foes arrive to join our fight against him. An emotionless Freddie the anti wolf speaks: "We are allying with you for this battle and may assist in stopping Nacirema. It is clear that Nacirema now wishes to destroy The Plot and their efforts will soon prove to be invalid and null. The optimal protocol is to work with the BRAINS Collective on this conflict but they must still be eliminated as they are a priority enemy force. We know much about you all, BRAINS members. There is nothing you can hide. We will conduct in our conflict between our sides when it is optimal and logical to do so. At this time, it is illogical to engage in it because the common enemies have not been permanently terminated." In a strange twist of fate, Nacirema's forces are the current greater evil while the Annihilation Council led by The Plot and consisting of countless killed off villains are the lesser evil but are actually a greater evil operating in lesser evil territory. We have to work with them for now but that doesnt mean we can excuse what they have as the lesser evil have done. Since they wont listen to our perspectives or try to see the better future we see, we will have to fight them again eventually. If you are seeing that Im suggesting something, you're right. Im suggesting USians vote for Harris instead of anyone else or not voting at all.
As of when Im writing this, only a few hours remain till polls close in some states so Im trying to get this out in a timely manner. Tonald Drump is like Torvald The Turd. He wants to make everything worse for everyone except for those in power who work with him. Harris isn't necessarily great either, its like shes somewhere around the level of Lex Luthor except shes not a supervillain or known sadist and seems actually willing to listen to people instead of insulting them and only working with them if it benefits her more seemingly twisted ambitions. Anyway, we just kept fighting with everything we had to the point of exhaustion. Those of us like me who were practicing spells before Torvald showed up were the first to collapse and not get back up in the battle. I could hardly stay focused on anything that was going on when the exhaustion managed to get to me despite attempts to stave it off here and there. And all the damage from battle still took a toll despite my healing it with poison and being unable to feel any pain. I kept getting hurt as we fought back before I collapsed. And now that I had, my perception of what was going on really wasnt there. I wasnt paying any attention to anything. Too worn out, mentally and physically. This was 45 minutes or so after we ended up continuing to fight while the floor collapsed below us. But next thing I knew, I was sent flying by Torvald and knocked right out of my stupor. He groans: "WHY WONT ANY OF YOU JUST BE FLUSHED DOWN THE TOILET CALLED LIFE?! WHY CANT YOU JUST DIE?! I CANT BELIEVE IM LOSING HERE, THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!
NOT AGAIN, I DONT WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE STING OF DEFEAT AGAIN! I WILL BUILD MY OWN EMPIRE ON THE RUINS OF THIS DUMP OF A SCHOOL! AND IT WILL BE ALLIED WITH NACIREMA!" But alas, his efforts couldnt stand up to our combined forces. A few minutes later, he begins to run with his tail in between his legs. He tries to slip away quietly. But Daisy Rose shouts: "Where do you think youre going?! We aren't finished here!" "Leave me alone! Im leaving because I cant win!" Bray replies: "Im afraid that we cant let you leave. I shall state what Im about to state with my full heart. You are too much of a threat to let escape. We shall stop you, you cant be allowed to do as you wish with all the harm you have inflicted and tried to inflict in mind. If we must freeze you for millions of years, send you to an island that not even you can escape, or even kill you to put a stop to you, we shall do so because we have no other choice. If you are open to talking things over without ulterior motives of using the talk against us, we'll have a talk if you are so inclined as to reconsider fleeing. But dont forget, my blood boils due to what you have done and it shall always will for the time being. I am holding in my anger to speak to you but as you saw in this battle, I was ruthless with my spell casting in order to stop you." Torvald laughs and tries to unleash a final attack before attempting to escape but Dominic yawns and pokes him with the latest version of an old piece of technology from several years ago known as a power nullifier. "You have been defeated. No big deal."
Torvald screams as the power inside of him is immediately shut down. If he had been paying more attention, Dominic wouldn't have been able to nail him. But before we could execute our plan of what to do with him, he sneers at us: "You cant stop me! HEY KATHERINE GLASSGATE, YOU BETTER GET ME OUT OF HERE!" Seconds later, he escapes through multiple villains coming to pick him up and destroy the school around us in the process. But we work together to fix the school in 2 hours flat and managed to do well enough to not lose anyone in the process from evacuation at the start of the battle to now. We dispersed after that for other tasks and missions such as rest for the likes of me. We dont know what's coming next but we have to fight whatever nasty stuff is included in it to the best of our abilities. Thank you so much for reading. If you're in the US, vote Harris. Its no exaggeration shes not our savior or hero but shes the only option we have electorally for president besides the man who dressed up in a garbage man outfit in a twist of irony. Lets get her in so we can have time to fight the Nazis as well as push for a better candidate and ranked choice voting for 2028. If the other guy wins, that will be 200 times more difficult. Still possible but like "it will take a miracle and great sacrifices in the 10s of millions of people dead or locked up" difficult. Basically, hardcore virtually nearly impossible difficulty.