Chapter 61: Elemental Ascension

The more books Ethan read, the more he felt that Mr. Anonymous possessed an incomparable, peerless talent.

Unable to wait any longer, he opened *Elementarism of Fireballs and Ice Arrows (Part Two)*. Lucky was lazily draped beneath the gas lamp, making everything feel as though it had returned to a long-ago time.

Unlike the layout of Part Two from Part One, this volume no longer divided elemental spells into several distinct categories. In the opening chapter, the author first affirmed his accomplishments in elemental evocation magic. Reaching Part Two meant he had already groped his way to this tier—an extraordinary achievement even among all elemental evocators.

Ethan felt a deep sense of affinity; those lines of text read like a conversation across the void. All along, he had regarded Anonymous as a great teacher, and the tutorials in Part One had enlightened him, a small-town youth who had once known nothing about elemental evocation magic.

When this cross-space conversation concluded, the concept introduced next sent a shock through Ethan's heart.

*Elemental Elevation.*

His understanding of the "favorability" system shared the exact same ingenuity as the resonance theory proposed by Mr. Anonymous. Mr. Anonymous mentioned that after he achieved the theory of elemental resonance back then, he had also stagnated for a very long time, even briefly believing that to be the ultimate limit of elemental magic.

From those fragmentary words, Ethan could perceive that Mr. Anonymous had undergone systematic theoretical study in elemental evocation magic and held a quite prestigious reputation within that system.

Until he changed his perspective, shifting his study from himself to the elemental spirits—only then did he finally touch upon that realm beyond resonance.

The elements themselves could also evolve.

This was the embryonic form of the "elevation" theory, and also the reason why Part One emphasized that elements correspond to emotional essences.

Ethan felt he had drawn a little closer to Mr. Anonymous. When reading these words, he finally understood the other party's elemental evocation school—an ice elemental evocator who once stood at the absolute pinnacle of the world.

He unconsciously held his breath, concentrating with all his might, unwilling to miss a single word or symbol that followed.

Even someone as formidable as Mr. Anonymous had only completed the elevation of a single element. Yet he believed that within this single ice element alone, there still remained other directions and possibilities for elevation. He did not wish to stifle those other possibilities; instead, taking himself as an example, he merely presented the essence he had discovered during his studies.

From the "slowdown" caused by the ice element, he evolved toward the concept of complete "stillness."

When the elevated ice element was driven by the caster's magic power, it would create an entirely motionless space, where even the concept of time would be frozen—a solitary world belonging solely to the caster.

Ethan recalled Mr. Anonymous's description of the ice element in Part One, where he posited that ice elemental spirits correspond to pain and low tides.

Therefore, he had created an absolute, solitary world.

Ethan remained immersed in the teachings of the parchment for a long time. The span between these two books felt like a sudden leap from a beginner into the realm of saints.

Mr. Anonymous mentioned "saints"—this supreme, exalted title. When he looked back after completing elemental elevation, no one else could ever catch up to his footsteps again.

He also believed that for elemental evocators, a saint's magic represented a unique, one-of-a-kind spell that only a specific caster could ever accomplish.

This book would guide the path forward for latecomers. If one wished to complete the final ascension, he had to drive the evolution of the elements through the "elevation" theory and brand them with his own exclusive hallmark.

Ethan read the parchment again and again. Just as he said, Mr. Anonymous was a fine teacher, always able to explain profound knowledge that ordinary people could hardly touch in a way that was easy to understand. At the same time, he was deeply dedicated and conscientious, sharing his process and insights in studying elemental magic without reservation.

As far as Ethan knew, throughout the history of elemental evocators, those who could touch this realm were few and far between. Yet having the hint of the "ice element" instantly helped him eliminate all incorrect answers.

He understood why the author of this book chose to use "Anonymous" to refer to himself.

Some books were so ancient that the authors' identities could no longer be verified; other authors were half-baked dabblers who feared leaving their names would invite ridicule.

Yet there were also those whose mere names would summon disaster, making everyone too terrified to even speak of them.

Ethan still remembered how whenever the guild's hunters mentioned that earth-shattering war of corruption, terror would color every single face. No matter how bold a person usually was, they would lower their voices by several notches, as if an invisible chill permeated the air.

Ethan closed the parchment and turned his head sideways.

Lucky was looking at him, too.

"Is she still alive?"

The silent gaze persisted for a long time before the kitty finally nodded slightly. Her eyes were filled with unease and evasion, and her breathing grew hurried.

To nod meant that Lucky knew the existence deemed impure by the empire, and seemed well aware of how people judged her.

Ethan could see Lucky's anxiety.

He had never expected this—truly never expected it.

Although he had long vaguely suspected that Mr. Anonymous was an outstanding elemental evocator, he never imagined that the one who taught him elemental evocation magic was such an extraordinary, monumental figure.

Ethan raised his hand, and Lucky instinctively shrank back into the shadows behind her.

"That's wonderful."

A warm palm rested gently on Lucky's head. "Thanks to her care, if I ever have the chance in the future, I must be introduced to meet her. I've always wanted to thank her in person..."

Lucky was stunned for a long time.

"Meow?"

She let out a tentative squeak, as if questioning Ethan.

"Hmm? You're asking why I don't hate her? Rather than hearsay rumors, I believe more in what I see with my own eyes. So if the chance arises, I'd like to judge for myself what kind of person she is... Wait? What kind of look is that?"

Lucky suddenly straightened her body, her pink tongue licking her lips. She stared unblinkingly at Ethan, a scene that felt somewhat familiar.

Those crimson eyes seemed to shimmer with rippling water.

Then, just like last time.

The kitty arched her back.

The kitty braced herself.

The kitty sprang from the ground, crashing into his embrace like a cannonball.

The white ball of fur slammed into his arms, its sheer momentum knocking him and his chair over onto the floor.

Miss Chloe was startled by the commotion in the study, yelping as she nudged the door open with her head. Then, she caught sight of Miss Lucky making a ruckus in Ethan's arms.

The little hen was utterly bewildered.

Hearing the commotion, Miss Lucky turned her head and glared at her.

*Get out!*

Her eyes conveyed precisely that message.

"Cluck."

Miss Chloe retreated from the study in utter confusion, not forgetting to clasp the doorknob in her beak and help pull the door shut behind her.

Though Miss Lucky's gaze remained somewhat fierce, she seemed happy.

It appeared Miss Lucky had never been as happy as she was right now.