The Dark Mage Of The Magus World-Chapter 110 - 111 – Half a Year

Hutson’s meditation lasted for eight hours—an intense session that yielded results equivalent to an entire week of cultivating under the effects of the Starry Sky Elixir.

The eighth star, which had once seemed distant, requiring over a month to fully form, now stood on the verge of completion in nearly half the time.

By the time he opened his eyes, the sun had already begun its descent.

Elusha had noticed his deep meditation and refrained from disturbing him. Instead, she had dressed and left the room, arranging for food to be prepared.

At first, she had assumed he would awaken by midday, even going as far as placing an exquisite meal in the chamber. But as time stretched on and evening arrived, the food had long since gone cold and was taken away—now, dinner was being prepared instead.

"You truly are relentless," Elusha remarked as she sat at the edge of the bed, watching Hutson stir from his trance.

She was clad in a revealing dress, the hemline barely skimming the curves of her hips.

Hutson’s pulse quickened slightly at the sight, but he exhaled and smirked.

"If I hadn’t looked at you one extra time last night, I would have completed my meditation routine already."

Elusha scoffed. "Oh? Did I force you to look?"

Hutson thought for a moment before nodding with a straight face. "You did."

Caught off guard, Elusha blinked—then, understanding his teasing, she playfully struck him with a light punch.

That evening, after dining at the lord’s manor, Hutson declined Elusha’s invitation to stay.

Instinctively, the temptation was there.

Nights spent indulging in pleasure held their own appeal. But Hutson was not one to squander time recklessly—he had more pressing matters to attend to.

With the Moonstone Herb in hand, his mission for Larry was complete.

All that remained was to await further word from Moonlight Woodland. Once the situation stabilized, he could return.

Being out in the open carried too many risks. The sanctuary of Moonlight Woodland offered safety, immediate access to knowledge, and an abundance of resources—so long as he possessed enough magic stones.

For a sorcerer’s apprentice, an established order of mages provided the best possible environment for growth.

Upon returning to his estate, Hutson pushed open the gates and found Ed diligently tending the lawn, trimming the overgrowth with remarkable dedication.

Hearing the creak of the door, Ed turned, eyes lighting up as he rushed forward.

"My lord, you’ve returned!"

Hutson gave a small nod and continued toward his quarters.

Judy appeared next, hands still wet—she had been doing laundry. She, too, brightened at the sight of him.

Surveying his surroundings, Hutson noted the estate’s pristine condition. It was clear that both Ed and Judy had been maintaining the place with care.

Upon entering his study, he began assessing the spoils of his journey—

A bundle of Moonstone Herb, an ice-sealed Stone Giant’s Heart, and a spell model for Ice Spike.

Each was invaluable, but the Stone Giant’s Heart held particular significance.

Now, all that remained was for him to steadily meditate, honing his spirit until he reached the threshold for a third-rank sorcerer’s apprentice. Once he met the requirement, he could begin brewing the Dusk Elixir.

Compared to the Dawn Elixir, its formulation was not significantly more complex. Furthermore, his spirit had grown far beyond what it had been when he first crafted the Dawn Elixir. This time, he was confident.

As for Ice Spike—learning an additional spell was always beneficial.

The battle with the masked man had been a stark reminder: versatility in magic provided an overwhelming advantage.

His trio of defensive spells alone had forced his opponent into a desperate struggle. Most sorcerer apprentices simply lacked the time and mental capacity to master three defensive techniques.

Still, another matter weighed on his mind—the ancient stone tablet.

And, of course, the true nature of the Starry Sky Elixir.

Hutson had not anticipated that such a... method... was required to fully activate its dormant properties.

A new plan formed in his mind. He would accumulate the elixir’s energy for at least seven days, then visit Elusha to release its effects.

She was, after all, a first-rank sorcerer apprentice—her body was stronger than that of ordinary humans. She could withstand his boundless stamina.

Yet Hutson, ever the strategist, took precautions. He shrouded certain things in magic, ensuring that no unintended consequences arose from their encounters.

His instincts told him that Elusha’s motives were not purely indulgent. She likely sought something more—a child.

Hutson’s magical talent was above average. Elusha, though lacking in potential, still possessed some affinity for sorcery. Any offspring born of their union would have a significant likelihood of inheriting magical abilities.

But she would be disappointed. Hutson was no fool. Whatever plans she harbored, they were doomed to fail.

With his inventory accounted for, he returned to his daily regimen.

Each day, he consumed the Starry Sky Elixir and meditated. Every seven days, he sought out Elusha.

He continued deciphering the ancient stone tablet, and at the same time, he tasked Ai chip with constructing a spell model for Ice Spike. Before long, he had another offensive spell at his disposal.

Twenty days later.

"AI chip, analyze my current stats."

"Hutson Merlin – Strength: 4.8, Agility: 4.9, Constitution: 6.1, Spirit: 13.5, Mana: 100%."

The eighth star had been fully cultivated. Once again, his abilities had advanced.

His spirit was now on the verge of reaching the third-rank apprentice threshold.

But Hutson did not rush.

With the Starry Meditation Method, he could refine two more stars before ascending to the next rank. And he intended to seize every advantage before taking that final step.

By then, his spiritual power would undoubtedly surpass 15 points, making his advancement far more secure. The success rate would rise significantly.

Hutson’s days in Ryan City passed in tranquil discipline. His routine remained unchanged—meditation, cultivation, and the brewing of elixirs. At regular intervals, he would visit Elusha, releasing the accumulated effects of the Starry Sky Elixir.

There was no longer a need to rent his dwelling—Elusha had simply given it to him.

It was only later that Hutson discovered the truth—this entire district belonged to her.

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Hutson had turned sixteen—marking his third year in this world.

"Hutson Merlin – Strength: 6.7, Agility: 6.3, Constitution: 7.8, Spirit: 16.8, Mana: 100%."

The tenth star had been fully cultivated.

Within his mind’s eye, the dot matrix diagram had fully ignited—ten points, shining brilliantly.

It was only now that he finally understood its true purpose.

With the dot matrix fully activated, it became a reservoir, capable of storing 50% of his total mana.

It was akin to an arcane energy vault, granting him access to 150% of his original mana reserves.

For Hutson, this was a monumental breakthrough. Whether in combat, elixir crafting, or Ai chip’s advanced simulations and calculations, the demand for mana was ceaseless.

The storage capacity of the dot matrix was not static—it expanded in tandem with his power. The mana reserves of a sorcerer with 16 Spirit would pale in comparison to one with 20 Spirit, and yet, as his strength grew, so too would the dot matrix’s capacity.

And this was merely one diagram.

Hutson could already envision the future—if he constructed ten, or even a hundred of these diagrams, his mana supply would become nearly limitless—a bottomless well of arcane energy.

A quiet smile played on his lips.

His mind was already crafting new strategies, refining battle tactics to exploit the power of the dot matrix to its fullest potential