"Because you can't form an Elemental Vortex, it doesn't matter how high your HP (Stamina) or MP (Spirit) is. If you can't build a functional magic circle, you have zero DPS (Damage Per Second). You're just a punching bag."
Inside the Red Leaf Academy training hall, Karion held his notebook, lecturing Mia with brutal honesty.
"Even with the Azure Wind Sword Elder Allison lent you, you still have a massive cooldown. You need to channel mana for ages to activate the runes. In a real PvP match, your opponent would have combo-ed you to death three times over before you finished casting."
Mia, the blonde ponytailed girl, lowered her head.
"I know, Teacher. I've been trying to grind other elements and form a vortex, but... Connection Failed. I just can't do it."
Karion smiled gently.
"Don't tilt. It's not a skill issue; it's a server issue. The mana density at Red Leaf is too low.
"Today's special training is about fixing that latency."
As he spoke, Karion fished a round object out of his pocket and placed it in her palm.
Mia looked down, confused. "What is this?"
She had never seen it. She hadn't even heard of it.
Forget an apprentice like Mia—even some real Magisters wouldn't recognize an Elemental Coin.
Why? Because one coin is worth 100+ Gold Coins.
This is Whale-tier loot. Only mid-to-high-level Magisters use these.
It's not just money; it's a portable mana battery.
Unlock it with Spirit, and pure, concentrated mana floods out. We're talking 100x the normal density.
Normal high-level mages use these to recharge during boss fights.
Using it to train a level 1 rookie?
That is absolute, unadulterated flex.
It's like using a diamond to crack a walnut. Only super-rich families would dare burn money like this.
Karion didn't explain the price tag. He just shrugged.
"It's just a basic magic tool. It buffs the local Dark Element density a bit. Makes it easier to sense."
Just a bit.
He said it casually, like he was talking about a cabbage. Gaslighting level: Master.
He taught Mia how to activate it. She sat down, gripped the coin, and triggered it.
BOOM.
Dark Element surged out like a tsunami. Even without meditating, Mia felt the mana slapping her in the face.
"Hold it tight. Start meditating. Try to open a Dark Element Channel now."
Karion guided her.
"Remember the rule for Dark Magic: Embrace the Shadows, Keep your Mind."
"Yes!"
Mia closed her eyes, locked in, and used her massive Spirit pool to guide the Dark Element into her left hand.
She needed quiet, so Karion moved about ten meters away and sat down.
Even at this distance, he could feel the mana density spiking.
He hesitated, then extended his left hand.
Let's try one more time.
He tried to absorb the Dark Element.
But no matter how hard he tried, the mana refused to listen. It just bounced off his palm chaotically.
Eventually, his hand started hurting.
Access Denied.
Karion stopped, frustrated.
Even with Pay-to-Win buffs, he couldn't cultivate magic.
His Elemental Affinity was practically zero.
This was why people called him a "Teacher worse than a student."
Zero Talent.
Karion knew this since he was a kid.
But growing up in Palos Magic School, he was obsessed. He had the passion of a pro gamer but the mechanics of a potato.
He never gave up.
If he couldn't cast, he would study.
Over time, his understanding of Magic Theory became God-tier.
While everyone mocked him, Old Dean Fines supported him.
The turning point was when he was 15. He signed up for the Magister Exam amidst all the ridicule.
Result? Combat: F. Theory: SSS+.
The theory test that year was notoriously hard—the "Dark Souls" of exams. Karion got a perfect score.
A Professor from the Royal Galon Institute saw his paper and recruited him as a research assistant.
Drafted to the Major Leagues.
At the Institute, with its massive mana arrays (10x density), Karion thought, "This is it. I can finally level up."
Nope.
Even when the Professor gave him Elemental Coins, nothing worked.
RNGesus truly hated him.
Although he couldn't become a mage, he helped the Professor crunch numbers and publish major papers. He didn't waste the opportunity.
But then, the Professor had an accident. The theoretical research was halted, and the lab switched to high-level magic experiments.
Requirement: Assistant must be at least Mid-Tier Magister.
Karion, who couldn't even cast a cantrip, was laid off.
He returned to his "starter village," Red Leaf Academy, to help the Old Dean.
"Such a waste..." Karion sighed.
He wanted to climb the ranks. He wanted to be the main character.
But in this world, Talent is everything. If you don't have the genes, you don't get the scenes.
He felt bitter.
I'm a Transmigrator! I have teleportation powers! How can I be a salty NPC?
"I have the Top-Tier Software (Knowledge/Theory), but my Hardware (Body/Talent) is trash..."
He sighed again.
But as the words left his mouth, he froze.
Wait.
His expression shifted from sadness to shock... and then to pure excitement.
Epiphany Loading... 99%... 100%.
"The hardware..." he whispered, eyes wide.
"The hardware doesn't have to be my own body!"
"I can use Peripherals! I can use External GPUs!"
"I can combine Magic and Technology... to build magic weapons that even normies can use!"
The Industrial Revolution just logged in.