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Chapter 82
Chapter 82: A Check? Understanding Faith-Based Magic
Swoosh!
The bright yellow, armor-clad wings on the Flame Archangel’s back fully unfurled. The flame sword in its hand radiated a scorching aura, causing the temperature in the room to rise slightly.
"Whimper..."
The lesser soulhound seemed to sense the powerful aura emanating from the Flame Archangel and immediately shrank back, hiding behind Tang Zheng's legs.
Looking at the newly summoned Third-Tier Angel, Tang Zheng couldn't help but size it up.
"Faith-based magic is rather interesting."
Recalling the spellcasting process, he realized he didn't need to have faith in any fixed entity.
During his meditation just now, Tang Zheng had imagined himself. If the spellcasters of this world could believe in the Six Great Gods, why couldn't he believe in himself? After all, he was also a Player.
Then, he had inexplicably sensed an intangible mass of magic power.
To be certain, Tang Zheng imagined the various depictions of angels from the works of his previous life. As a result, he once again sensed the presence of that intangible mass of magic power.
As for what this mass of magic power was?
Tang Zheng felt it was more like a form of magical energy that already existed in this world. And so, he summoned the Flame Archangel.
The process in between was somewhat ineffable.
If he had to describe it...
Tang Zheng lowered his head in thought.
It was like transmitting his thoughts into it, which then created a reaction with this mass of magic power.
No!
It was a bit like a "check."
What exactly was being checked, Tang Zheng couldn't be sure; the process must have been completed in an instant.
He looked at the Flame Archangel hovering in mid-air.
Tang Zheng focused his senses slightly and realized he could easily control it with a single thought. When no commands were given, the summoned creature would prioritize protecting the caster.
Such a summoned creature was perfectly suited for him, who intended to disguise himself as a magic caster and not reveal his melee combat abilities.
"My cumulative faith-based spellcasting level has now reached Level 40. I should be able to master Sixth-Tier (36-42) magic."
This thought flashed through Tang Zheng's mind. He closed his eyes and began to meditate once more.
He could currently convert into four faith-based jobs—Genius 10Lv (Priest, Priestess, Forest Priest, Cleric)!
With the experience from before, Tang Zheng quickly entered the state this time, and a fluctuation of magic power emerged from the surface of his body.
But the next moment, this fluctuation of magic power suddenly dissipated!
Tang Zheng opened his eyes in confusion, a look of surprise and astonishment on his face. "How could this be? It failed?"
He closed his eyes again.
The result was the same!
After several consecutive attempts, Tang Zheng found that he was completely unable to summon a Fourth-Tier Angel.
"So that's how it is!"
"I understand now." Tang Zheng reopened his eyes, a glimmer of realization within them.
When he summoned the Third-Tier Angel, the feeling of a "check" wasn't strong. But now, with the successive failures in summoning a Fourth-Tier Angel, Tang Zheng clearly felt this "check"!
To summon an angel, one first had to master the spell "Summon Angel." This was the first check—passed.
Next was the caster's level.
His faith-based caster level was naturally sufficient—the second check was passed!
The problem lay with the third check!
Tang Zheng was trying to summon a Fourth-Tier Angel, which was between Level 22 and Level 28.
But the problem was, Tang Zheng's own level was only 21. It was impossible to summon a monster of a higher level than himself. In other words, his player level was insufficient.
"Fourth Tier · Summon Angel" failed!
This so-called "check" was actually just Tang Zheng's way of understanding it better, using terminology from the game.
People from the Otherworld wouldn't encounter this situation, as a scenario where a caster's spellcasting level was higher than their player level simply didn't exist for them.
"For the people of the Otherworld, mastering higher-level magic is a learning process, which is the process of raising their own job level."
"And I was able to cast 'Third Tier · Summon Angel' because I already possessed 'Second Tier · Summon Angel,' and I activated it with a higher caster level, thus succeeding in the summoning."
"Heh."
A strange chuckle escaped Tang Zheng's lips. "Is this the faith-based magic system of this world?"
The mass of magic power he had sensed was likely the natural energy of the world.
The foundation of a faith-based magic caster's power should be combining their own magic power with the energy of the natural world to cast spells.
Was "faith" a way for the caster to better align themselves with a certain aspect of that natural energy?
Tang Zheng guessed as much in his heart.
But he wasn't entirely sure. After all, in the game, this was just lore from the background setting, and in the Otherworld, he had never communicated with a magic caster of this system.
However, through this personal experience, Tang Zheng had gained a much clearer understanding of the faith-based magic system.
Bang—
Suddenly, a faint tremor of magic power sounded, pulling Tang Zheng back to his senses.
He saw the Guardian Angel summoned from the magic scroll begin to dissipate into motes of light.
Tang Zheng paused, quickly picking up the pocket watch from the table to check the time.
"A little over 29 minutes, so about half an hour."
"This should be enough time to last through a normal combat encounter."
Tang Zheng mentally calculated the time, then looked up at the Flame Archangel he had created himself.
So far, it showed no signs of dissipating.
As long as it wasn't destroyed, an angel he summoned himself should last much longer.
"Time to test its strength."
Tang Zheng reached out and grasped at the air, taking out the Silence Short Staff.
He activated the magic.
A magical barrier, invisible to the naked eye, swiftly spread out, enveloping the entire room.
The rooms in the inn were designed for Adventurer teams. Aside from beds and a small wooden table, there wasn't much furniture, so it was naturally quite spacious.
"Attack me."
Tang Zheng issued a command to the Flame Archangel.
Swoosh!
The previously motionless Flame Archangel's red eye-slits on its helmet flashed with a crimson light, and with a flap of the bright yellow wings on its back, it shot forward.
Whoosh!
The Flame Archangel charged over at extremely high speed, its flaming sword blade slashing down swiftly.
Tang Zheng ducked, dodging the fierce sword strike. At the same time, he kicked off the ground with his back foot, rapidly creating distance.
"Average speed, about the same as an adult soulhound."
Tang Zheng evaluated with a deadpan expression. With a flick of his wrist, an iron sword appeared in his hand, which he raised to block in front of him.
Almost at the same instant!
Clang!
The Flame Archangel closed the distance, and its flame sword clashed with the iron sword, erupting in a shower of brilliant sparks.
Screech!
A harsh, grating sound came from the point of impact between his iron sword and the flame sword.
Tang Zheng pulled his arm closer to his chest and slightly bent his knees, but his eyes lit up. "Not bad power."
He glanced at the opponent's flame sword.
It should contain magic power with dual attributes of flame and holy, giving it an advantage against the undead. However, against non-undead, the flame attribute would likely deal more damage.
"Well then, my turn."
Tang Zheng's grip on the iron sword tightened slightly. He suddenly kicked out, aiming a powerful blow at the Flame Archangel's chest.
(end of chapter)
Swoosh!
The bright yellow, armor-clad wings on the Flame Archangel’s back fully unfurled. The flame sword in its hand radiated a scorching aura, causing the temperature in the room to rise slightly.
"Whimper..."
The lesser soulhound seemed to sense the powerful aura emanating from the Flame Archangel and immediately shrank back, hiding behind Tang Zheng's legs.
Looking at the newly summoned Third-Tier Angel, Tang Zheng couldn't help but size it up.
"Faith-based magic is rather interesting."
Recalling the spellcasting process, he realized he didn't need to have faith in any fixed entity.
During his meditation just now, Tang Zheng had imagined himself. If the spellcasters of this world could believe in the Six Great Gods, why couldn't he believe in himself? After all, he was also a Player.
Then, he had inexplicably sensed an intangible mass of magic power.
To be certain, Tang Zheng imagined the various depictions of angels from the works of his previous life. As a result, he once again sensed the presence of that intangible mass of magic power.
As for what this mass of magic power was?
Tang Zheng felt it was more like a form of magical energy that already existed in this world. And so, he summoned the Flame Archangel.
The process in between was somewhat ineffable.
If he had to describe it...
Tang Zheng lowered his head in thought.
It was like transmitting his thoughts into it, which then created a reaction with this mass of magic power.
No!
It was a bit like a "check."
What exactly was being checked, Tang Zheng couldn't be sure; the process must have been completed in an instant.
He looked at the Flame Archangel hovering in mid-air.
Tang Zheng focused his senses slightly and realized he could easily control it with a single thought. When no commands were given, the summoned creature would prioritize protecting the caster.
Such a summoned creature was perfectly suited for him, who intended to disguise himself as a magic caster and not reveal his melee combat abilities.
"My cumulative faith-based spellcasting level has now reached Level 40. I should be able to master Sixth-Tier (36-42) magic."
This thought flashed through Tang Zheng's mind. He closed his eyes and began to meditate once more.
He could currently convert into four faith-based jobs—Genius 10Lv (Priest, Priestess, Forest Priest, Cleric)!
With the experience from before, Tang Zheng quickly entered the state this time, and a fluctuation of magic power emerged from the surface of his body.
But the next moment, this fluctuation of magic power suddenly dissipated!
Tang Zheng opened his eyes in confusion, a look of surprise and astonishment on his face. "How could this be? It failed?"
He closed his eyes again.
The result was the same!
After several consecutive attempts, Tang Zheng found that he was completely unable to summon a Fourth-Tier Angel.
"So that's how it is!"
"I understand now." Tang Zheng reopened his eyes, a glimmer of realization within them.
When he summoned the Third-Tier Angel, the feeling of a "check" wasn't strong. But now, with the successive failures in summoning a Fourth-Tier Angel, Tang Zheng clearly felt this "check"!
To summon an angel, one first had to master the spell "Summon Angel." This was the first check—passed.
Next was the caster's level.
His faith-based caster level was naturally sufficient—the second check was passed!
The problem lay with the third check!
Tang Zheng was trying to summon a Fourth-Tier Angel, which was between Level 22 and Level 28.
But the problem was, Tang Zheng's own level was only 21. It was impossible to summon a monster of a higher level than himself. In other words, his player level was insufficient.
"Fourth Tier · Summon Angel" failed!
This so-called "check" was actually just Tang Zheng's way of understanding it better, using terminology from the game.
People from the Otherworld wouldn't encounter this situation, as a scenario where a caster's spellcasting level was higher than their player level simply didn't exist for them.
"For the people of the Otherworld, mastering higher-level magic is a learning process, which is the process of raising their own job level."
"And I was able to cast 'Third Tier · Summon Angel' because I already possessed 'Second Tier · Summon Angel,' and I activated it with a higher caster level, thus succeeding in the summoning."
"Heh."
A strange chuckle escaped Tang Zheng's lips. "Is this the faith-based magic system of this world?"
The mass of magic power he had sensed was likely the natural energy of the world.
The foundation of a faith-based magic caster's power should be combining their own magic power with the energy of the natural world to cast spells.
Was "faith" a way for the caster to better align themselves with a certain aspect of that natural energy?
Tang Zheng guessed as much in his heart.
But he wasn't entirely sure. After all, in the game, this was just lore from the background setting, and in the Otherworld, he had never communicated with a magic caster of this system.
However, through this personal experience, Tang Zheng had gained a much clearer understanding of the faith-based magic system.
Bang—
Suddenly, a faint tremor of magic power sounded, pulling Tang Zheng back to his senses.
He saw the Guardian Angel summoned from the magic scroll begin to dissipate into motes of light.
Tang Zheng paused, quickly picking up the pocket watch from the table to check the time.
"A little over 29 minutes, so about half an hour."
"This should be enough time to last through a normal combat encounter."
Tang Zheng mentally calculated the time, then looked up at the Flame Archangel he had created himself.
So far, it showed no signs of dissipating.
As long as it wasn't destroyed, an angel he summoned himself should last much longer.
"Time to test its strength."
Tang Zheng reached out and grasped at the air, taking out the Silence Short Staff.
He activated the magic.
A magical barrier, invisible to the naked eye, swiftly spread out, enveloping the entire room.
The rooms in the inn were designed for Adventurer teams. Aside from beds and a small wooden table, there wasn't much furniture, so it was naturally quite spacious.
"Attack me."
Tang Zheng issued a command to the Flame Archangel.
Swoosh!
The previously motionless Flame Archangel's red eye-slits on its helmet flashed with a crimson light, and with a flap of the bright yellow wings on its back, it shot forward.
Whoosh!
The Flame Archangel charged over at extremely high speed, its flaming sword blade slashing down swiftly.
Tang Zheng ducked, dodging the fierce sword strike. At the same time, he kicked off the ground with his back foot, rapidly creating distance.
"Average speed, about the same as an adult soulhound."
Tang Zheng evaluated with a deadpan expression. With a flick of his wrist, an iron sword appeared in his hand, which he raised to block in front of him.
Almost at the same instant!
Clang!
The Flame Archangel closed the distance, and its flame sword clashed with the iron sword, erupting in a shower of brilliant sparks.
Screech!
A harsh, grating sound came from the point of impact between his iron sword and the flame sword.
Tang Zheng pulled his arm closer to his chest and slightly bent his knees, but his eyes lit up. "Not bad power."
He glanced at the opponent's flame sword.
It should contain magic power with dual attributes of flame and holy, giving it an advantage against the undead. However, against non-undead, the flame attribute would likely deal more damage.
"Well then, my turn."
Tang Zheng's grip on the iron sword tightened slightly. He suddenly kicked out, aiming a powerful blow at the Flame Archangel's chest.
(end of chapter)
