Translator: SumTLMan
After observing for a while, Angel discovered that the energy core was undergoing a slow transformation.
This transformation was peculiar, as if it were a phase transition from intangible to tangible. In other words, in his perception, that distinctive energy appeared to be erecting something.
With an expressionless face, Angel observed the changes occurring before him: it seems it wasn’t as aimless as he had initially assumed. It had led him here with a purpose.
As such, the Heavenly Eye might also contain a related will. Even though it was an inanimate object itself, it likely harbored residual intent that could influence actions.
And the activation switch—could it be the unique energy within the planar fusion?
Although this question emerged in Angel’s mind, he currently didn’t have a strong curiosity to explore it deeply; he was merely allowing his thoughts to wander according to the transformations in the energy core.
Many queries rose and fell with his thoughts, not demanding exhaustive answers.
In this state, when Angel simulated his thinking process as if he had emotions, he felt a certain discomfort. After all, curiosity is a prime motivator — even if he chose not to investigate, the frontiers of thought alone were enough for Angel to gallop freely.
However, given Angel’s present circumstances, he didn’t find this state distasteful. Discarding all emotions and purpose, the speed of his revolving thoughts and the degree of receptiveness were astoundingly high.
If he truly wished to research something, his efficiency would be much greater than when he was emotional.
Just like now, when the energy core transformed into the first “corner,” Angel instantly discerned its objective.
The energy core’s transformation from intangible to tangible, the first “corner” that emerged, represented the base of a gateway frame.
It was constructed right before Angel’s eyes.
Moreover, the method of its construction, although somewhat obscure with all sorts of extraordinary runes interweaving, each step — from beginning to end — was clearly imprinted into Angel’s thought process.
——Its purpose seemed to be the construction of a gate. And more so, to let Angel see it clearly.
“So, is this a lesson?” Angel pondered in secret. Even if it was indeed teaching, Angel didn’t quite understand its intent, and he had never come across the energy structure of building a “gateway.”
Furthermore, even if he managed to construct the gateway, would the next step be to open this “gateway”?
Every profound “gateway” often hides the unknown behind it, typically carrying considerable risks.
Angel started to balance certain risks. At this point, while he was disinterested in everything external, he didn’t want to meet an inexplicable death due to unforeseen hazards. Thus, he pondered if it would be a better decision to depart without observing further.
Just as his mental scale began tipping towards “leaving”, the energy core in front of him suddenly surged with intense radiance.
In the blink of an eye, the pedestal of a gateway that had been constructed before him shattered into fragments. Simultaneously, a glimmering dot of light materialized at the point of destruction.
This point of light was eerily identical to the one that had been drawn into the Heavenly Eye during the “galactic backflow” event.
“Did it truly break because I harbored the intention to leave?” Angel silently speculated, observing the bobbing luminescent point before his eyes.
Strangely enough, though this point of light appeared similar to the one previously absorbed by the Heavenly Eye, Angel could only perceive the previous one visually — it had a form but no substance.
But now, Angel inexplicably felt that it had become a tangible entity.
As Angel was contemplating, the light dot suddenly disappeared. When Angel recovered from his surprise, he realized the truth: the light point hadn’t actually vanished, but instead, it had infiltrated his mental space.
Subsequently, the light point gradually transformed into that distinctive energy and within his mind, it started to reconstruct the “gateway”.
Previously, Angel had the option to leave when the gateway was being constructed.
But now that it had burrowed directly into his mental space, even if he wished to avoid it, the process was inescapable.
Angel surmised that if he had an emotional template, he might be at a loss for words or even feel frustrated enough to stomp his foot.
Unfortunately, he was devoid of any emotional fluctuations and, rather promptly, he accepted this development. He began observing the construction of the “gateway” meticulously.
For he no longer had a choice like before. If he couldn’t resist it, he might as well scrutinize what it intended to do.
The construction of the “gateway” wasn’t particularly swift.
Angel had a hunch that its construction speed was entirely dependent on the pace of his memory digestion.
Differently from before, each time a rune was built, a torrent of information would surge into Angel’s consciousness. This torrent directly imprinted the meaning of the rune into Angel’s mind.
It was a unique experience, obtaining new knowledge out of thin air. However, acquiring knowledge and applying it were two different matters.
Just as with solving mathematical problems, knowing the formula and being adept at its application are two distinct concepts.
This method of conveying information is strikingly akin to the impartation of knowledge within the practice of ‘initiation’ used in spellcraft.
After Angel had received the torrent of information, he profoundly felt like he was in a class on building a formation, much akin to playing with building blocks.
Previously, all he needed to do was observe and remember the order in which the blocks were stacked. Now, not only does Angel need to remember the order of construction, but he must also be aware of the material of the blocks and the technique used to carve them.
At first, Angel thought that this rune pattern was a completely new system.
However, as the flood of information flowed, he realized he was mistaken; this still falls under the realm of wizardry.
Moreover, Angel faintly felt that while the construction of this “gateway” seems complex, it is in fact still based on the breadth of knowledge that Angel himself understands.
In other words, this “formation building class” does not exceed his curriculum comprehension.
It is indeed difficult and complicated, but not impossible to comprehend.
“Could it be that it has read my memory and understood my knowledge structure?” Angel had this guess, but he didn’t delve into it, continuing to immerse himself in learning.
How much time has passed? Angel does not know.
In this strange world, there is no concept of hunger, no concept of time scale, somewhat similar to the Nightmare Plane in some ways, yet starkly different.
Occasionally, while multitasking, Angel pondered over an idea: He wondered if this special concept of time here could be integrated into an Alchemy Illusion like the feeling of the Nightmare Plane?
Of course, these multitasking moments are rare, Angel’s majority of energy is still dedicated to learning.
Though there is no time scale here, Angel, in order not to completely lose himself, counts a number in his mind each time he deciphers a concept of a rune. So far, he has counted up to one thousand four hundred and thirty-six.
Even though the speed of his analysis is accelerating, if averaged out, in terms of real time, it should still be counted in “years”.
Three years, or perhaps four.
Angel is uncertain, but he now feels somewhat relieved. This kind of pure learning and research is rather dull. If he had brought his emotional model into this, he estimates that it would have been hard for him to persist until now.
Of course, this kind of “relief” is actually a thought that Angel has when he is idle, simulating having an emotional model.
Returning to his studies, Angel realized there was more than meets the eye when he deciphered the hundredth rune. The rune that formed the “gateway” could encapsulate various forms of energy.
Yet, one element remained inevitable — the property of space.
Angel was familiar with the concept of space, but his knowledge was largely derived from descriptions in alchemy related to space, such as the construction and stabilization of spatial energy through material combinations.
However, he had not yet touched upon the actual magic system of space.
Despite this, the education offered by the “gateway” had a large part concerning spatial systems. At first, Angel doubted himself, thinking that understanding the fundamentals of spatial systems would be challenging.
But after truly delving into it, he did not find it as difficult as he had imagined. Although it was not as intuitive as learning illusion spells, neither was it an insurmountable task.
As Angel deciphered a new rune, he silently counted: one thousand, three hundred and forty-seven.
At this point, half of the model of the “gateway” had been constructed.
As Angel prepared to commence his new learning journey, he realized the runes on the “gateway” stopped updating.
A half-formed model of the gateway hovered in the dusky mental realm, motionless.
Angel was not surprised by the halt in the gateway’s runes. He had anticipated it, as the gateway was symmetric, with both sides nearly identical.
Hence, teaching him half was more than enough.
The rest was up to Angel.
Though there were no instructions on what to do next, Angel intuitively knew he needed to complete the half-formed gateway.
The method to do this was what Angel had been studying all this while. However, the half-gateway built earlier was constructed from a strange form of energy, which Angel didn’t possess. But it didn’t matter; the energy properties contained within the gateway could be diverse.
Being in the mental space, he could also construct it using magic from his magic source.
However, while Angel had been merely studying previously, his actual involvement proved to be significantly more challenging than he had envisioned.
The hardest step is always the first, particularly when it comes to constructing the inaugural rune.
Numerous times Angel had managed to mobilize the magic from his magic source, yet ultimately, it failed to attach successfully, instead continuing its simulation within his mind.
This painstaking caution is due to his newly-formed understanding of the “gateway’s” function during this period.
In truth, the model of this gateway is akin to a model for a trick or spell.
Yet it deviates from conventional spell models in that, once constructed, other spell models would quickly dissipate if not activated.
However, this spell model, being built from a special kind of energy, can maintain its overall formation for a prolonged period.
Yet, once Angel begins to interface with this model, all is well if the interfacing is successful, but if it fails, the spell model would completely collapse.
In this world, the collapse is inconsequential. Angel has spent a long time studying, and he could simply reconstruct from scratch if necessary.
However, Angel always had the intuition that the special energy used to construct the “half-gateway” was precious, implying that the “gateway” built might be quite unique.
If his failed interfacing led to the collapse of the Gateway Model, he would find it to be a regrettable loss.