Chapter 335: Risks and Rewards

Chapter 335: Risks and Rewards

Body tempering was far from straightforward, a sentiment true for many pursuits in this world.

Sein had previously thought that the knights of the Magus World led easy lives, at least on the surface.

However, the process of body tempering had revealed to Sein the unseen struggles that knights faced, which go unnoticed by most mages.

Sweat was not the only thing the knights shed, but also blood.

Sein realized that the knights must have dedicated immense effort and time to tempering their bodies, far more than himself.

While on his journey of body tempering through elemental power, Sein admitted to taking numerous shortcuts.

Firstly, he could not afford to spend a huge amount of time in extensive physical training like knights.

Secondly, Sein did not have to strengthen his body as much as knights of equivalent rank.

After all, his main source of strength was his intellect, not physical prowess.

Compared to the body tempering processes of ordinary knights in the Magus World, the body tempering experiments designed and conducted by Sein incorporated a great deal more specialized knowledge exclusive to spellcasters.

This was also made possible by Sein’s understanding of human anatomy.

This specialized approach would likely be beyond the grasp of his peers in the Verdant Flame Faction, despite their own mastery of certain Verdant Flame Body Tempering techniques.

Subjecting oneself to experimental procedures in the laboratory was no small ordeal, often bordering on torturous.

Self-experimentation was generally approached with extreme caution by mages, given the inherent risks. Mages were generally rational beings, few would recklessly endanger themselves under normal circumstances.

It took a young mage with Sein’s resolution and courage to conduct experiments directly on their own body.

Of course, Sein had already evaluated the risks and determined them manageable within his thresholds before placing himself on the experiment table.

High risks were always linked with high rewards.

Eager to venture to the Western Archipelago and navigate the perilous Blackhaven, populated with black mages, Sein recognized the necessity of formidable strength.

Although Sein was still naked, he was not embarrassed since he was comfortable around Eileen.

The experiment left special marks on his skin—reminiscent of scars yet distinct in nature.

Sein’s physique and elemental affinity had seen marked improvements from his recent series of experiments.

As the immediate discomfort subsided, Sein took a deep breath and rose from the experiment table. He put on his loose black magic robe again, reflecting momentarily on Eileen’s question.

His approach deviated far from the norms of conventional mages, bordering on a level of audacity that even madmen rarely ventured into.

Indeed, mages of the Magus World were sometimes deemed mad by beings from other planes for their unorthodox practices and hobby of dissecting other creatures for research.

Sein was merely a madman among the madmen.

“I’m used to doing things that way. Besides, the outcomes speak for themselves. This is a viable approach for body tempering,” he replied.

“Viable? By sacrificing decades, even centuries, of lifespan for incremental strength gains?” Eileen furrowed her brow in disapproval, clearly not in agreement with Sein’s perspective.

“No one is immortal. Although Rank One mages could theoretically live for a thousand years, many don’t survive to their final day,” Sein remarked nonchalantly and momentarily silenced Eileen.

She was reminded of her friends and the other Rank One mages who perished during the Viridian Venom Flame World war.

Many were freshly promoted Rank One mages, presumably with an abundance of years ahead of them.

Yet, they met their ends in the Viridian Venom Flame World. Some returned to the Magus World only as lifeless bodies or ashes, while others perished without leaving a trace behind.

Their demise, apart from misfortune, stemmed from a deficiency in strength.

The war in the Viridian Venom Flame World was not particularly brutal by conventional standards.

With the might of the Magus Civilization Army, the campaign was largely a pushover, save for unexpected hitches.

The casualties primarily comprised war mages who were participating in an interplanar war for their very first time, lacking in both prowess and experience.

In stark contrast, the casualty rate among seasoned full-fledged mages was below five percent, which spoke volumes about the situation.