The loop resets just a few days later. It seems like it happened because Sophie got close to locating the Candidate by taking over dozens of students and creating some sort of quasi-hive mind, and going through their memories while she was at it.

Just the fact that she was able to do it here in the Academy, under the noses of a number of decently powerful Professors, is scary. I would have expected at least the Vice Director to notice, but even she didn’t seem to have figured it out. The speed at which Sophie has progressed in making her abilities more difficult to detect is impressive, to say the least.

Sophie said she’s been doing this kind of stuff over the last few loops and comparing the results. Just in the latest one, she noticed inconsistencies, likely caused by someone moving in the background, thinking the Examiners or Candidates wouldn’t notice. So she decided to follow that track. And so the loop reset, likely because of that.

This loop starts with her doing the same, while the rest of our party moves around in groups. Even if it’s risky, I don’t expect anyone to make an attack on us, maybe with the exception of a surprise morning dart. The Candidates should see us as “bugs” and will likely choose to wait it out. Especially after seeing us move this way, they’d come to the conclusion we’re likely working with one of the other Candidates.

With me removing the 10-year-old Kenah from the list, and the one who died not long ago, it’s possible that there are only two Candidates remaining. I think the bit of information I got from Ari regarding the number of Candidates can be trusted, and I already have an image of what’s actually happening after putting together most of what we have found out and my own suspicions.

It all feels like the floor is coming to an end within the next few loops.

So I start this loop by putting a mark on the thermonuclear warhead, even though I think I know who is responsible for stealing it, having analyzed even the tiniest remains of the mana I noticed when it got stolen in the last loop. I place similar marks on the rest of group 4.

These marks are some of my best work so far. Even though there are no Ley lines stretched between the members of our group, it works in a way somewhat reminiscent of my [Tether]. As much as I have been focusing on the lines, creating marks like these is still something I can do. And I’ve been working on these improvements for a while.

A new loop also means a new skill.

This time it’s called [Conduction], and it uses [Mana Manipulation] as the base skill, with [Mana Domain] and [Ley Line] to act as support. Its function is simple: it just makes me more conductive. Simple as that.

Losing [Ley Line] makes some things difficult, but I’m someone who tries to properly master the skills, so even though it’s gone, there are still things I can do. Just like the marks I’ve created and placed on the warheads and group 4.

As for [Conduction], it is good. Crazy good. Goddamn good. Like holy fuck.

Still, I’m a gambler. I’m a little shit. If someone were to come to me, give me 10 million dollars, and ask me double or nothing, and the result relied on a coin flip, I’d likely flip that coin myself, and then complain for years that the result wasn’t what I wanted it to be.

Probably.

Or maybe that’s just when it comes to the system? I don’t know anymore. I’m just sure that even though it’s possible the next loop might be the last, I’ll still try to cycle through all the combinations I’ve been thinking of.

Even after seeing [Conduction] in action.

I tested it in the Sweatbox, in the challenge known as Current.

This one is the second longest after the Run, which can take over thirty minutes. Current takes 10, and you’re put into a room shaped like a sphere. That sphere gets filled with mana that bounces, changes frequencies, and increases in density to the point where the later stages build up enough mana radiation to wipe out most of Hell difficulty.

The objective of this Challenge is to stay in the room as long as possible. You get points for endurance and for how well you can channel the mana around you.

You can make it easier by grabbing that weird neutral mana, channeling it, swirling it around you, and fighting against all the currents clashing with each other. You can also add your own mana to the mix and make it even more difficult. In the later stages, even the slightest mistake can kill you.

There are safety measures, of course. But after reading through a long text written in that odd lawyer speak that causes brain damage on sight, you can sign it, and lower those safety measures to allow yourself to continue longer. A ten-minute challenge can turn into a much longer one then.

Once again inside that sphere, I move my mana around me. I synchronize it with the waves. I watch it swirl, bounce off the walls. I radiate it to defend myself from the mana surrounding me.

After some time, just using my own mana isn’t enough. The idea behind the Challenge is to use the mana filling the sphere. It’s made for that.

I continue even as the amount grows, and the whole experience begins to feel like I’ve been thrown into a huge whirlpool in the middle of the sea. The pressure continues to increase. Waves of raw mana crash against me, the air crackles, thick with ozone, and the constant hum of mana. Colors I cannot name flash at the periphery of my vision as the mana density climbs to absurd levels.

Even then, I stay calm. I spin it around me. My mind splits into as many parts as needed. Sometimes upwards of twenty times, just to help manage the smaller currents, sometimes just one powerful, focused will is all I need, a singular vortex of intent to counter a particularly massive surge. Most of the time, there’s a powerful main mind with two supportive ones, interweaving and working together, one predicting the incoming waves, another smoothing the transitions as I absorb and redirect, all as the main one focuses on maintaining the overall integrity.

My body endures it all with practiced ease. All that experience with Mana Cycling transfers over as if this is what it was made for. The sheer radiation pressing in would probably kill me if I were to slip up, yet here I am, weaving it all around me.

The ten minute mark passes, then fifteen.

The sphere's output intensifies again. Now it’s not just currents, it’s like spears of solidified mana searching for any weakness. The drain on my mana is immense, but I continue to take and channel everything in my reach and force it under my control. Something like this just can’t compare to the trouble black mana gives me every time I use it.

It's a very fine balancing act I'm doing, it’s exhilarating and utterly terrifying. The slightest miscalculation, the smallest lapse in focus, and the raging mana I am currently dancing with will consume me instantly.

But for now, I hold and continue to channel it for as long as I'm able, pushing my body and mind to their limits.

I don’t leave the room until one of the walls cracks and the Challenge shuts off while wildly flashing red lights fill the room, along with the sounds of an alarm, and the pressure of the Academy´s defensive arrays increase in the area around me.

Outside of the room, I find dozens of people. Professors, students, and assistants.

There is a defensive array placed around the door I just exited through, and there are more further out, encompassing the entire sphere I took the Challenge in. All around the place, an intense mana radiation lingers.

Like some of them, I glance at the screen.

My score is still in Tier 4, though, given that this is my first challenge of the loop.

1st, 9783 pts - Loop Loop Loopity Loop

First place in Tier 5 sits at 5500 points.

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Professor Elian is not offering lessons, unfortunately. The longer this goes on, the more I suspect the guy might be a fraud. Could contact lenses mimic someone with Mana Wavelength Iris? Is there a skill that could make a person seem stronger than they really are?

A few days later, my warhead gets stolen, and I track its location, which crops up exactly where I expected. After a quick check, I confirm that we have time and leave it be.

The Champion dies again after his talk, but this time, they find Kenah dead next to his body. It seems like the Candidate came up with a way to kill her, even if only to confirm that Kenah wasn’t another Candidate.

This time, I stand over their bodies as one of the first. Over the loops, we have narrowed the area where the Champion often dies, and I act like I noticed a commotion before making my way over.

Both the Champion and Kenah are very pale, their eyes are burned out. For some reason, that sight hit me harder than I expected. I still remember Kenah and how much she reminded me of Vega. The way she lies there on her master's body almost makes it seem like she died after him, all the while trying to protect him.

Not even a speck of mana remains inside their bodies or the area around them. Even when I send out a bit of mana to probe the spot, my mana refuses to approach.

It is quite terrifying.

----------------------------------------

In the following days, I meet with the Head Crafter. Since I’m not sure when the loop will end, I visit him daily for updates on his design. It clearly annoys him, and lately he’s been growing more suspicious, seeming to notice that parts of the design have begun to resemble his own style.

I also get a lesson from the good old Trait Specialist. He tells me about a number of ways to use my eyes to a higher degree. According to him, Wavelength Irises are one of the best ways to perceive different things. In my case, mana. Also, according to him, even specialized skills rarely match Wavelength Irises.

It’s something I’ve suspected, but it’s good to have confirmation.

In his usual rude manner, he gives me a few more recommendations and some useful information. He knows a lot about combat specialists who’ve gotten close to the rank of Champion or just a step below, and he has a good idea of what they did to gain the traits they received.

As with all the knowledge I’m taught, I just take what’s useful to me. I’m doing things my own way, not following what someone else thinks is best.

Then I ask him if he was one of the people who killed Champion Dion and his disciple.

I ask out of curiosity, not because I actually care whether he did or not. Even though I thought Kenah was cute and, in some ways, innocent in that way kids tend to be, I also know she was native to the tutorial. I also know that Champion Dion, for all he might care about consequences and the lives of the people around him, wouldn't hesitate to kill me in a second if he wanted to.

The sense of danger from the old man in front of me rises to an incredible degree.

All three of his traits activate. He hasn’t told me about them in this loop, but in the previous one, where I spent more time with him, he did.

Hollow Core, Mirrorskin, Still Blood.

An area devoid of mana forms around him, a very similar one to the one that hung around the Champion, just much weaker.

“I could kill you for the things you’ve said.”

"Probably," I agree with him.

He turns to his left and looks toward the tower that stands far away, likely on the edge of the Academy grounds, around one or two miles away.

“I see that blonde loitering over there, and I can already feel that genius brat nearby, the one all the healers won't shut up about.”

"How?"

His eyes slide back to me. "What do you mean, how?"

"How did you know about the blonde? I understand being able to strengthen your sight to see her, but how did you know she was watching you? She isn't even using any attack skills. And I’ve met others like you before, who seemed like they could sense others just from being looked at, so I’m curious."

"You little shit, are you serious?"

I nod.

He looks at me for what feels like a minute. Even though his eyes stay cold, his mouth under that mustache twists into a smile.

"Ah, so you are one of those." His traits deactivate one after another, and that terrifying field around him disappears. "And stop gathering so much mana. The main defensive array will notice it."

As if it's not worth dealing with, he leaves, and I don't try to stop him..

(So?) Sophie sends through our connection. She is also waiting nearby in one of the diners between a lot of students and is the only one the monstrous man hasn't noticed.

(I think he did it, but not alone. They probably put their old gang back together, so likely the Vice Director helped, along with others we don't know about yet.)

(Even then, I don't think they would be able to kill the Champion so cleanly.) Tess says, joining the conversation.

I try to look in her direction and strengthen my sight as much as possible to see her. Even then, she’s barely a blurry figure, I only even find her because I know where to look.

Shaking my head at finding yet another area where I'm lacking, I answer, (It's almost certain one of the Candidates had a hand in it for some reason. I bet that, over 100 loops, you could come up with some method to either help these guys or manipulate them into doing it. It's also possible that they already had plans to start killing Champions back in the real world, and in so doing, start another war, either to replace the Absolute or simply to get revenge. And hell, maybe that weapon the Absolute left behind really does exist, and it played a part?)

(I don't like that old Professor.) Lily says.

(Me neither,) Tess agrees with her. (At least we’ve more or less confirmed it. I know the end of this loop is probably getting close, but let’s just be careful and leave the Academy for now.)

I give up trying to strengthen my sight. (School trip it is. So what do you prefer, an airship or a train?)