Chapter 159: Control Beyond Motion
Chapter 159: Control Beyond Motion
Inside the chamber Arthur didn’t hear most of that.
His focus remained on the flames hovering around him.
The idea had been simple in his head.
Vector Sovereignty controlled motion.
Fire magic created something that could move.
So what would happen if he combined them?
Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Let’s see."
The machine fired again.
Three stones shot toward him at different angles.
Arthur lifted his hand.
The fireballs moved.
One streaked forward and struck the first projectile midair.
A burst of sparks filled the room as the stone shattered and fell.
The second fireball curved sideways and collided with another stone.
The third projectile was caught by Vector Sovereignty and dropped harmlessly to the floor.
Arthur blinked once.
Then he breathed out slowly.
"It worked."
A grin spread across his face.
Outside the chamber the watchers reacted instantly.
"Did you see that?!"
"He shot it down!"
"That wasn’t luck."
The flames continued moving around Arthur like small burning stars.
Another volley came.
Arthur didn’t even think about it this time.
He simply let the skill flow.
The fireballs darted forward.
One exploded against a projectile.
Another smashed into two stones in quick succession.
The last one curved through the air before returning to hover beside him.
Arthur chuckled.
"Well that’s fun."
The real surprise wasn’t that it worked.
The surprise was how smoothly it worked.
Vector Sovereignty didn’t resist the fire.
It treated the flames the same way it treated the stones.
Like moving objects within his range.
Arthur rolled his shoulders slightly as the machine increased its pace.
More projectiles flew toward him.
The flames answered immediately.
They moved faster and more precise now.
Arthur began shaping them differently.
Instead of simple spheres, the flames stretched into longer forms.
One became a sharp streak of fire.
Another flattened into something like a burning shield.
A third split again into smaller spears.
The crowd outside stared in disbelief.
"How many spells is he using?"
"No idea."
"He’s changing shapes too."
The older explorer shook his head slowly.
"He shouldn’t be able to control that many constructs."
Yet Arthur did it effortlessly.
The projectiles barely had time to leave the machine before they were destroyed.
Some were burned apart.
Others were deflected by invisible force.
A few never even reached halfway across the room before Arthur redirected them straight into the floor.
Inside the chamber the rhythm grew faster.
Arthur didn’t need to move much as his flames did the work.
Vector Sovereignty guided them with quiet precision.
Arthur’s grin widened.
This is better than I thought.
The excitement returned fully now.
That familiar feeling when a new idea actually worked.
The flames danced around him while the machine kept firing.
Stones shattered.
Sparks burst.
Heat rippled through the chamber.
From the outside it looked almost unreal.
Someone whispered quietly.
"This isn’t bronze training anymore."
Another nodded slowly.
"It looks like something seen in the silver hall."
Yet Arthur remained relaxed with calm focus and the occasional quiet laugh when the control felt better than he expected.
Eventually the machine fired another heavy volley.
Arthur reacted instantly.
Two flames shot forward and destroyed the first stones.
Another curved upward and smashed into a projectile descending from above.
The last one hovered for a moment before darting forward again.
The chamber fell quiet for half a second.
Then the next volley started.
Arthur continued controlling everything with ease.
At this point nothing could reach him.
The projectiles never completed their path.
They were destroyed before they could even become a threat.
Outside the chamber the crowd had grown large.
Bronze explorers from across the hall had gathered to watch.
Some of them felt envy. Others disbelief.
But beneath all of that there was something stronger.
Admiration.
Real strength had a way of forcing people to acknowledge it.
One explorer spoke quietly.
"If he grows any stronger..."
Another finished the thought.
"...the whole stronghold will know his name."
Arthur was still experimenting when a familiar voice reached him from behind the glass.
"Putting on a show, huh?"
Arthur blinked.
He turned his head slightly.
Through the viewing panel he saw a familiar face.
Ryn.
Arthur chuckled softly.
"I got carried away."
He said as he walked over to the switch at the far end of the room and deactivated the machine.
The chamber fell silent immediately.
The flames faded one by one.
Arthur stepped out of the training room.
The crowd quickly stepped aside to give him space.
Some pretended to return to their training.
Others whispered quietly as he passed.
Arthur ignored most of them.
Ryn leaned casually against the wall with his arms crossed.
The moment Arthur approached, Ryn smirked.
"Little training, huh?"
Arthur laughed.
"Something like that."
Ryn gestured toward the chamber.
"I wouldn’t call that little."
Arthur shrugged.
"It helps keep fit."
Ryn shook his head but smiled.
The two of them stood there for a moment while the explorers around them slowly returned to their activities.
Though the whispers continued.
Arthur finally asked,
"What are you doing here anyway? Aren’t captains supposed to be drowning in missions?"
Ryn rubbed the back of his neck.
"I was passing through."
He jerked his thumb toward the hall behind him.
"Then I heard half the stronghold talking about chaos in the bronze training hall."
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"And you thought of me?"
Ryn grinned.
"You’re the only troublemaker I know who could cause that much noise."
Arthur laughed.
"Fair enough."
Ryn pushed himself off the wall.
"Well, I didn’t come to stay long."
He waved once.
"Just wanted to see if the rumors were true."
Arthur tilted his head.
"And?"
Ryn smirked.
"Looks like they’re not exaggerated after all."
Arthur didn’t respond to that as Ryn turned to leave.
But before walking away, he glanced back once more.
"Try to get some rest."
Arthur waved lazily.
"I’m about done anyway."
Ryn walked a few steps before stopping again.
He looked back over his shoulder.
"Good luck tomorrow."
Arthur blinked.
But before he could answer, Ryn had already walked away.
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