NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 7: It was time
It was time for his performance.
The Systrom family's outdoor training ground had, in a way, been chosen specifically to display both his and Iel's strength to the onlookers passing by.
"Iel, stand further away. Over there—see the line I drew? That's the safety line."
"Oh, okay, okay..."
Iel pouted, wagging his tail as he reluctantly stepped back, one small step at a time.
On the deserted grass, Will noticed the faint chalk line he had drawn earlier. It seemed Iel hadn't even realized when it was done.
"Master, is this far enough?"
"Yeah, that's fine."
Will picked up the staff lying next to the table, positioning the coin just a few centimeters above a clip held in place by an alcohol lamp. The catalyst had already been ignited, though it hadn't exploded yet.
"What we want is the ultimate fireworks. What we're waiting for is a meteor in the night sky. What we wish for is a pseudo-relic of God."
Taking a deep breath, Will began to channel his magic into the staff. With every word he chanted, he could feel the air around him grow warmer, moving in sync with his breath.
The radius of the magic was small, just about one meter, but it behaved as described in ancient texts. The air, essential for combustion, flowed with his chant and concentrated around the coin.
What started as a small burning coin, barely visible over the alcohol lamp, began to grow. Fueled by the catalyst, it expanded into a blazing fireball that grew larger and larger with every passing second.
Will felt the spell's power building, like a snowball rolling down a mountain. What began as a coin-sized spark swelled rapidly, gaining both speed and volume. It grew so fast that Will could sense his control slipping, the magic threatening to spiral out of hand.
"Brand our fate, burn our souls, and scorch our lives. This is the Extreme Flame Meteor!"
The air around him surged, and with a final chant, Will tapped the staff lightly.
The blazing coin shot forward like a meteor, speeding toward its target.
In the clear daylight, under the blue sky, the abandoned training ground of the Systrom family lit up brighter than the sun.
The Extreme Flame Meteor slammed into the thick, one-meter ice crystal slab at the marked target. It left a long, molten trail as it burrowed deep into the slab before finally coming to a stop near the edge.
Will inspected the aftermath. By his estimation, it had stopped about two centimeters short of completely penetrating the slab.
"Good!" he exclaimed. "That's about 8,000 Szech!"
The onlookers were stunned, their jaws slack as they stared at the glowing crater left by the impact. For several moments, no one even dared to breathe.
Will, too, was still recovering.
"Huff... Huff... Huff..." He gasped for air, his body trembling from the exertion.
He hadn't expected the spell to be so taxing. At the moment the Extreme Flame Meteor struck, it felt as though half his soul had been drained away.
"This is insane," Will muttered under his breath. "How did the witch in the original text use this as her normal attack?"
He shook his head. Somehow, he had managed to replicate the spell, but it was clear to him now: this kind of strength was overwhelming. Players using this would struggle to maintain control.
Whispers broke out among the spectators.
"What was that just now?!"
"Did it hit? It looked like it stopped just short!"
"8,000 Szech magic? From a kid who hasn't even started school yet?!"
"Wait, how strong is a tenth-floor dragon's breath again?"
"I read it's only 1,000 Szech..."
Will tuned out their chatter. He was more focused on the numbers running through his head.
"Extreme Flame Meteor... If I remember correctly, its multiplier is 1600." He frowned. "There's no way my attack power is just 5, right?"
That didn't make sense. Even a basic slime had a base attack of 20.
The only logical explanation was that he hadn't fully mastered the spell yet. Perhaps this wasn't even a true Extreme Flame Meteor, just a pseudo-version.
Still, the witch he'd face later in the story would undoubtedly be far stronger.
"The boy is extraordinary."
"But why waste such power on an experiment? This should be tested in real combat!"
"Maybe he's doing this to show off..."
Will ignored the remarks, focusing instead on his real concern: Iel.
"Master! Master! Are you okay?"
Amidst the growing discussions, only Iel ran to his side, concerned as Will leaned against the table, still breathing heavily.
"I'm fine," Will assured him, wiping the sweat from his brow. "This is just for data collection."
His strength didn't matter—what mattered was Iel's growth. Someday, Iel would need to stand strong against the flames of the dragon Al. She couldn't afford to falter against the ordinary attacks of a mere witch.
This was just the first step.
But it was a critical step in her journey to becoming the powerful protector who would dominate their foes.
"Iel, it's your turn now," Will said, pulling out another coin and pouring the last drops of the catalyst into the bottle.
"Me?" Iel blinked. "It's my turn already?"
"Yes. I want to test your progress. Watch the trajectory of the meteor carefully—it moves fast and burns bright. You'll need both skill and courage to stop it. But don't worry. If the power is under 8,000 Szech, you'll be fine."
Will's voice faltered slightly. He was still tired, taking deep breaths between his words.
"But first," he added, "I'll shoot it at the calibration slab to ensure it's safe."
Though his tone was casual, Will's true intent was clear. If the spell's power exceeded Iel's capacity, he'd cancel her training immediately. Deep down, he genuinely wanted Iel to grow strong and healthy.
"Okay, Master!" Iel wagged her tail and ears as she eagerly stepped onto the chalk line Will had drawn.
The onlookers gasped.
"Is he seriously going to fire that spell at his own maid?!"
"The Systrom family really is full of lunatics."
"Maybe he's just putting on a show."
Will paid no attention to their comments. He was focused entirely on the experiment.
This was only 8,000 Szech. Iel could handle it. And when the day came for her to face a real witch, her strength would leave no doubt.
Taking another deep breath, Will raised his staff again.
"What we want is the ultimate fireworks..."
As the staff ignited once more, Iel prepared herself, spreading a layer of ice armor across her arms and hands.
She could hear the murmurs of the crowd with her sensitive wolf ears, but she ignored them. She wasn't here to prove their strength—only to prove herself to Will.
If she could block the Extreme Flame Meteor, it would prove that she was strong.
And more importantly, it would prove that she could protect her young master.
The blazing meteor shot forward, faster and hotter than before.
From ten meters away, Iel could barely see it—a streak of white light burning through the air.
She reached out toward the light, trusting her instincts.
The moment the meteor touched her fingertip, it vanished.
No explosion, no impact—just a burst of sparks and the faint scent of burnt grass.
The crowd fell silent, stunned by the display.
"Master, did...did I succeed?"
Will rushed over, grabbing her hand and inspecting it closely.
"Yes... Huff... Yes, you succeeded. Just a minor scratch on the ice armor, that's all. Incredible, Iel!"
Iel beamed with pride, her tail wagging.
"You're amazing, Iel. This data is invaluable," Will said, leaning against her shoulder for support. "Now, one last favor..."
"Yes, Master?"
"Remember these numbers... Radius: 2.38 cm. Depth: 3 mm. And..." He exhaled heavily. "Carry me back with the calibration board...please..."
After saying this, Will completely ran out of energy and collapsed, losing consciousness in Iel's arms.
"Wait, wait?! Master… Eh?!???"