Idle Mage: Humanity's Strongest Backer
chapter-111

'So, it turns out that my 'accidental discovery' wasn't entirely accidental at all. The applications were different but the result was the same...'

This is the summary of what he had seen after reading the contents of the White Magic Combat Arts.

Whoever said that White Magic was strictly for healing and re-invigorating the land is most likely unaware of this or just plain stupid. Either way, not that Ashton could blame them...this is kept as a secret for a specific reason.

White Magic Combat Arts should be one of those techniques that could seriously threaten the Hypogeans. After all, its creation was made specifically with them in mind, hence the surprising lethality they possess against demons.

Ashton would know, this is how he's been getting by for nearly a year after all...

No wonder the Revenants did whatever they could to pressure the leaders of humanity to prevent this knowledge from being passed down and refined even further. With Humanity's talents and their terrifying rate of progress, it wouldn't take long for them to create more incredible arts based on this. Once they achieved that stage, what else is there to fear about these horned abominations?

That being said though since the threat of this technique was discovered early on, there weren't many chances for its creator to hone them. Actually, the White Magic Combat Arts that he saw were far inferior compared to the ones he's using now via his sub-artifact; the Mortal Reminder.

Still, he discovered a few things in the technique that he could use as an inspiration to improve his skills even further.

After reading the White Magic Combat Arts, Ashton proceeded to read other books which caught his interest.

The books contained all sorts of things such as information, theories, designs, blueprints, techniques, etc. All of which broadened Ashton's perspective and showed him a whole world of possibilities.

From the information, the most important one he got was the political structure of both Celestials and Hypogeans, as well as information about the Revenants.

He already discovered the Noble Bloodline of Hypogeans, and just as he expected, there were demons stronger than those fully matured ones (6 pairs of horns). There were Noble Demons, Saint Demons, Demon Prince, Demon Kings, Demon Emperor, Ancestral Demons, and at the very top of their food chain, sits the Father of Demons. Or as they would like to call them, Demon Gods.

For the Celestial Race or the Angels, their strength is measured by the number of wings they have and how 'Holy' their Halos were.

At first, they use the same rankings as demons; infant to fully matured. The change comes after those levels.

After the Fully Matured Stage, there are the Low-order, Mid-order, and High-order Celestials. The one that rules them all is the one called Celestial Thearch.

The Revenants are a group of mysterious individuals coming from both the Hypogean and Celestial Race. They are the scourge of Humanity, bandits who worked together for the sake of profit.

Most of the time, it is said that they're hostile to each other due to their innate differences yet they were united due to their insatiable desire to eat human flesh.

The sad part about this is that, even though Ashton wanted to call them bandits, they're far from one. The Revenants are a powerful bunch, the mere fact that they could represent the will of their races to form the pact and supervise it means that their backgrounds aren't so simple. Even the old foxes of Humanity couldn't afford to offend them.

Ashton didn't know that there are a lot of things he still doesn't know about their opponents. The research he got was of great importance of course.

Apart from this, Ashton also saw a book here which contained the complete list of all demon and angel types, they are complete with life-like drawings which allowed a person to see what they actually look like without needing to go out of the bubble.

He read a couple of techniques that caught his interest as well. There weren't many spells here since most of the invented spells are released to the public. The Revenants never took Humanity's magical aptitude seriously out of arrogance.

They believed that their Magical Excellence is naturally superior thanks to their upbringing and that it is something that Humanity could never hope to match with their feeble mind so they didn't restrict it that much.

Plus, considering the fact that the Spell Inventors would soon become their meal anyway...well, there's really not much for them to worry about.

A big blunder in Ashton's own opinion.

What they restricted the most were Humanity's Martial and Technological Excellence. This is something that neither of their kind had, and it's what invoked their greed and something that they're envious of.

Humanity is the dear of this world because it is this very world that gave birth to them. Naturally, they're also the ones that this world deeply cares about, not the invading races. It's only expected for Humanity to receive the greatest gifts because of this, which is why the two races work together to suppress them.

Many things here inspired Ashton. He felt refreshed seeing as how Humanity's collective progress was all here, preserved and waiting for the chance to release their true might.

Ashton left the Grand Archives with a light heart and inspired mind. There are still tons of books there that he hasn't touched yet but time was on his side. He wasn't in any rush for now especially considering the fact that he is now aware of just how much he's lacking currently.

He didn't find a distressed Aria once he got out. She holed herself up in the lab, still immersed in her research. This meant that she doesn't feel anxious about Ashton leaving her behind which is honestly a relief.

He was then reminded of his current situation, which caused him to pay attention to the outside once again after a long while.

Bleeding his senses past the walls of the library, he saw that the Demonic City still looked the same.

What's odd is that he doesn't feel the gaze of the Demon Prince over this direction anymore. Back then, even if he was inside the safety of this place, he still felt anxious because the Demon's Prince was somehow suspicious of the area where he left.

The Demon Prince would even visit the said area at least once each day which was honestly annoying for Ashton.

Now though, the Demon Prince wasn't paying attention to this area anymore. Ashton could feel that stifling gaze and heavy pressure anymore. It made him wonder what happened.

'Well, whatever it was, I just hope that the fucker won't disturb me anymore. I just need some time and more experience and I swear, I'll put him down.'

As he thought about this though, Ashton suddenly had a bold idea...

'I wonder if I can...'

Ashton closed his eyes and blended his senses with the Library. Due to his improved connection with it, this place now feels like his own limbs. He went into a deep meditation all of a sudden and felt like the library became his own body.

Emboldened by this newfound sensation, Ashton attempted to move his body which is the library currently.

And to his surprise, it actually worked! He didn't go very far but he knew that it still happened. If he comes out of this place now, he wouldn't be appearing at the same spot as where he disappeared before.

With this surprising discovery, Ashton suddenly felt like messing with the Demon Prince.

He wasn't planning anything big, just a little prank to annoy the hell out of that thing. After all, it wouldn't be fair if Ashton's the only one aggrieved here.

Moving as slow as ever, he went down and closer to the Demonic City. The pace is similar to his walking speed, additionally, he's spending Mana by doing this but it's going to be worth it in the end he thinks.

Aria got out of her lab at some point and saw him doing this. She wanted to ask how but it was not the right time. So, she just watched what her boyfriend was trying to achieve by doing this.

As he got closer to the Demonic City, Ashton actually felt the sickening aura of the Demon Prince which made him vigilant. To add more anxiety to him, he felt the thing's gaze passing through him which caused him to stop cold in his tracks.

What surprised him is that the Demon Prince's gaze swept past him. It didn't stop where he was as he was expecting. It's as if the Demon Prince hasn't sensed him at all.

'Is it because of my deeper connection with the library?' He mused to himself.

Nevertheless, this made him jubilant. If this turned out to be a fluke, then he can't say much about it, but if this actually works seamlessly? Oh boy.

Ashton was already planning all kinds of pranks he can pull to make this Demon Prince's life absolutely miserable.

He would pay twofold for all the grievances that Ashton suffered.