The Archmetamagician: The Weave Collapses Again

Each level of ”Arcane Resonance” grants Anser one evocation spell, but the spell slot tier is tied to the current class. In other words, before the Paladin reaches level 5, he can only choose 1st-level spells.

After pondering for a moment, he chose ”Tasha’s Caustic Brew.”

This spell can spray a stream of acidic liquid in a line 9 meters long and 1.5 meters wide in a chosen direction. Every few seconds it deals 2d4 (2–8) points of strong acid damage, with a base duration of one minute.

After being sprayed out, the acid remains for a period of time, which can be quite useful in certain situations.

[Feat: Elemental Adept, Fighting Style: Protection, Spell: Tasha’s Caustic Brew — confirm?]

”Confirm!”

In the next moment, a dense platinum radiance spread across his body, interweaving with the soft scales.

After a long while, Anser opened his eyes. His Hit Points had not changed, but he had mastered a new ability, giving him more ways to solve problems.

The new spells ”Tasha’s Caustic Brew” and ”Guiding Bolt” function essentially as Sorcerer spells: they do not require preparation and can be cast at any time.

As a result, he now possessed two spell systems—one originating from the Paladin, and the other from the Sorcerer.

Paladin spells require advance ”preparation.” The process consists of using prayer or meditation to focus one’s will, ”attuning” it to the core tenets of the oath, and thereby determining the spell effects of the oath’s power.

At present, aside from Divine Smite, all other spells require this process. A level-2 Paladin can prepare at most three spells.

The mainstream casting method for a Paladin uses spell slots, but casting through Magic Power is also possible—there is simply less of it.

Anser could feel that his Magic Power had changed slightly, and the total amount had also increased.

He opened his character sheet. His total Magic Power had reached 59, an increase of 5 points. In other words, even a level-2 Paladin with peak human Charisma would only possess 5 points of Magic Power.

The advantage was that the Paladin’s Magic Power had fused with his innate Magic Power. The principles of spellcasting were different, but the Magic Power could be shared.

Anser stored the two Dragon Gold Slashing Swords in the Avaricious Dragonhide Pouch, then sat down on the ground and closed his eyes in meditation.

Compared to prayer, he was more accustomed to meditation.

In a hazy trance, he appeared once again in the Elemental Plane, where the Oath of the Noble Genies was anchored.

He concentrated his mind and resonated with the four-colored prismatic sigil formed by the oath. Within his heart, the oath he had once sworn echoed again and again, like a solemn act of introspection.

During the process, through the oath he determined three sacred spell effects: Ceremony, Detect Evil and Good, and Shield of Faith.

”Ceremony” is a 1st-level abjuration spell. It does not require Magic Power, but instead takes the form of a ritual lasting one hour, capable of performing various religious ceremonies.

The ritual has many effects, one of which is ”Bless Holy Water.” By consuming silver powder worth 25 gold pieces, a bottle of water can be transformed into holy water.

Holy water has a wide range of uses. It can serve as a spellcasting material, be used to enchant a weapon or be splashed directly, and it can be used to attack evil creatures, dealing 2d8 (2–16) radiant damage.

Drinking a small amount can also help resist disease, dispel impurity, lift minor curses, or neutralize natural toxins.

Moreover, holy water does not expire or lose its effect. It can be stored and used either for sale or for personal use.

”Shield of Faith” is an abjuration spell. It creates a faintly glowing field of energy that surrounds the target, granting it +2 Armor Class for ten minutes. It requires concentration.

Its casting is very fast—almost instant. When necessary, triggering it together with Shield is effectively like putting on an extra suit of studded leather armor, making it quite practical.

...

After finishing his meditation, Anser quickly went downstairs and arrived at the busy plaza. Looking at the kobold crowd, he focused and cast his first Paladin spell.

Metamagic: Extended Spell + Detect Evil and Good!

A faint platinum radiance flashed through his eyes. Everything around him looked unchanged, yet he could sense all living creatures within a dozen meters. Each one seemed to have a thin layer of pale light and shadow clinging to its body.

Without slowing, he moved back and forth through the plaza.

On the treant, the light was a gentle green. On the kobolds, the light-and-shadow was almost imperceptible—mostly white—though a few also carried red-tinted traces.

He closed his eyes, and that perception, along with the light and shadow, did not vanish.

’It’s like a silent radar.’

Contrary to what many people think, Detect Evil and Good is a sensory spell. The light and shadow are a subjective sensory feedback—outsiders cannot see them.

It mainly targets creatures that innately carry alignment energies, such as aberrations, celestials, fiends, and undead.

As for mundane creatures, alignment is a behavioral tendency rather than an essential attribute, and it will not be detected—unless their evil is extreme.

After the spell had lasted thirty minutes, the effect finally dissipated. The Metamagic worked!

Anser was in excellent spirits. Although the spell principles and preparation process were quite different, in actual use there was almost no difference, and it would not make him feel awkward and affect his performance.

After all that trouble, the sky was growing dark.

He estimated that it would be getting close to night outside as well, so he quickly called Nornoth over, and man and horse teleported out at the same time.

No one was in the alley. He wanted to put on his hood, but then felt that doing so would not be ”elegant” enough—it would seem like he was hiding his face.

So he simply did not wear it, rode straight into the street, and followed the paradise mark to look for Bratt and the others.

The streets today were far noisier than before. Shops were opening one after another, as though the shadow of dragons and war had already dispersed.

But if one looked closely, one could see the grief and bewilderment in people’s eyes.

The wealthy and the adventurers could come and go as they pleased, but for the locals, their homeland was not something they could easily leave. Unless forced by circumstance, how could they possibly depart so readily?

Nornoth walked at a leisurely pace. Wherever he went, passersby stepped aside one after another, and the gazes they cast toward Anser were full of awe.

He clearly remembered that it had not been like this before.

’Looks like I’ve become famous again. This time it’s probably notoriety.’

After advancing several hundred meters, the building of the Stonemasons’ Guild, a structure blending various architectural styles, came into view. The entrance was packed with people standing quietly, all carrying large and small bundles.

Before Anser even approached, the halfling in a small tuxedo with a handlebar mustache whom he had met earlier squeezed out of the crowd. His short legs moved rapidly as he dashed to the front of the horse in a flash.

”Sir, you’ve finally come.”

”Hm?” Anser raised an eyebrow and looked toward the crowd ahead. ”Are these all the people you recruited? Didn’t we agree on tomorrow morning?”

”Today you… well… and then everyone found out, so suddenly a lot of people came.” The halfling laughed awkwardly, speaking in a hesitant manner.

Anser understood instantly. After learning what had happened at noon, the halfling had been afraid that he would fail the task assigned to him and be held accountable, so he had quietly revealed his identity.

”Hmph. How many people did you recruit? Did you explain everything that needed to be explained?” He sounded somewhat dissatisfied, though he also knew the halfling had acted out of necessity. After all, the name Holrewen had previously been unknown.

Seeing that Anser had no intention of pursuing the matter, the halfling finally relaxed, the tension in his heart easing, and his expression softened considerably. ”Two hundred people came. After screening them according to your requirements, a little more than sixty remain. Everything that needed to be said has been said…”

”Mm. I’ll go take a look.” Anser urged the horse forward, slowly approaching the crowd.

The halfling ran a few quick steps and reached the front of the crowd, pointing at Anser and calling out, ”This is Lord Holrewen. If you have any questions, say them now.”

Nornoth stopped in front of the crowd. Anser quietly cast Detect Evil and Good, observing the crowd from above.

Most of them were young and middle-aged humans, along with several half-elves. There were no elderly people, only three or four half-grown children. The old and the weak could not possibly leave their homeland.

A middle-aged man looked at the others, took several deep breaths, and raised his arm. ”Sir, where is Holrewen? Is it safe there? How much land can we receive?”

Anser sized him up. He was an ordinary man—strong-bodied, with dark skin and a face full of wrinkles. The raised right hand had six fingers, something easy to overlook if one did not look carefully.

”What is your name?”

”Rudin, sir. They all call me Six-Finger Rudin.” The middle-aged man lowered his head slightly, not daring to meet his eyes.

”Mm.” After confirming that these were all ordinary people, Anser felt relieved. ”Holrewen is far away and absolutely safe. You won’t need to travel a long distance—I will send you there with magic.”

”There is plenty of land. Thousands, even tens of thousands of acres lie fallow. For the first two years, there will be no taxes. However, you will be my subjects, not hired servants—you will be responsible for your own food and clothing.”

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