Everyone's gaze, including Yuno, who had just been the center of attention, and the dejected Asta, was drawn to this peculiar grimoire.
The silver-white grimoire seemed to sense something, stopping its suspension. Its pages turned without wind, making a rustling sound, as if joyfully welcoming something.
The next second, it transformed into a silver streak of light, ignoring everyone, and shot towards Ryoma.
Swish!
Under the stunned gazes of the entire crowd, the silver-white grimoire gently and precisely landed in Ryoma's outstretched hand.
A cold sensation spread, the runes flowing on the cover instantly lit up, and an unimaginably vast power surged into his body through his arm. That massive torrent of magic power erupted within Ryoma.
The magic power from the Fairy Tail World seemed to find an outlet, completely merging with the magic power system of this world.
The previous sluggishness when casting spells, as if there was a layer of something in between, that powerlessness from lacking a crucial "container," vanished completely at this moment. In its place was an unprecedented sense of power.
Vast magic power surged wildly through his limbs and bones like a rushing river.
Ryoma could clearly feel two different kinds of magic power within him merging, forming a brand new magic power source.
'The second origin... actually awakened in this way.'
In the Fairy Tail World, activating the second origin required external help and immense pain, a transformation with a slim chance of survival. But now, he had achieved it with almost no effort.
A silver-white light burst forth from Ryoma, enveloping his entire body.
Crack!
Ryoma seemed to hear the sound of some shackles breaking within his body.
A fierce surge of magic power erupted around him, and a visible, chilling aura swept outwards from him as its center.
A thin layer of frost instantly condensed on the ground.
"So cold!"
The nearby youths' teeth chattered, feeling as if their blood was about to freeze.
Ryoma felt his magic power had never been so active, surging like powerful waves within him. This feeling made him almost unable to stop himself from laughing aloud.
Finally, the silver-white light gradually receded, and he steadily held the mysterious grimoire.
The entire venue remained in dead silence.
Asta's mouth hung open, completely speechless.
Even without mana, he could sense that the mana fluctuation just now was unusual.
Yuno, holding his four-leaf grimoire, showed an undisguised shock on his face for the first time.
"Wh... what kind of grimoire is that anyway?"
Drouot had lived for many years, presiding over dozens of grimoire acceptance ceremonies, yet this was the first time he had witnessed such a situation.
His question was also the unspoken thought of everyone present.
The three leaves on the cover of a Clover Kingdom grimoire represent faith, hope, and love.
And the legendary fourth leaf is said to house good luck.
But the one in Ryoma's hand had nothing, only some strange, mysterious runes.
The murmurs of the crowd started again, but this time it was no longer ridicule, but filled with awe and confusion.
"That guy's mana... that chill just now was terrifying."
"It doesn't even have a single leaf, is that even a grimoire?"
Just as the outside world was abuzz with discussion, countless profound fragments of information, like a bursting dam, flooded directly into Ryoma's soul without conscious thought. They were not words, nor language, but a more fundamental "cognition."
He perceived the structure of space, an invisible net woven from countless points and lines.
He sensed the flow of time, which was no longer a vague concept. Instead, it was an endlessly rushing river, and he could clearly sense the speed of its current.
Basic spatial perception, temporal flow perception...
These were the most fundamental and core knowledge of Space-Time Magic. Now, they were deeply imprinted in his soul, like an innate instinct.
This grimoire was like a key, opening a door to a whole new world for him.
He lowered his head, looking at the silver-white grimoire in his hand again.
This time, the harvest was a pleasant surprise.
Not only did it resolve the sluggishness of incompatible magic power, awakening the second origin doubled his magic power, and he also gained a new power with infinite potential—Space-Time Magic.
The only slight regret was that he could feel that this grimoire was currently like a blank page, empty inside.
Although basic knowledge had been infused into his mind, to truly cast powerful Space-Time Magic, he still needed to learn, to comprehend, and to fill this blank book with his own magic.
"Hey! Ryoma!"
A characteristic roar interrupted Ryoma's thoughts.
"Your grimoire... it's amazing."
Seeing Asta looking as if nothing had happened, the smile on Ryoma's lips became a bit more genuine.
"It is indeed a bit special." Ryoma simply replied, then put the grimoire into his embrace.
Just then, Yuno also walked over. He didn't speak, just stood there quietly, his golden eyes fixed on Ryoma and the silver-white grimoire in his hand.
In his gaze, the previous indifference was gone, replaced by a burning intensity, like facing an evenly matched opponent, and a hint of undisguised competitive spirit that had been ignited.
"I will become the Wizard King."
Yuno spoke again, but this time his words were directed at Ryoma, a challenge issued to a recognized rival.
Ryoma was taken aback by these words. He had no plans to become the Wizard King.
After all, who knew when he might return to the Fairy Tail World?
Besides, wasn't this a game between you and Asta, you two good buddies?
How did he get inexplicably dragged into this?
"Hey! No..."
Ryoma's words were cut short by a cough.
"Cough!"
Drouot on the high platform finally recovered from his shock, looked at Ryoma with a complex expression, and then announced loudly.
"This year's grimoire acceptance ceremony is hereby concluded!"
As his words fell, this ceremony, full of surprises and twists, finally came to an end.
The crowd slowly began to disperse, but almost everyone, as they left, couldn't help but look back, their gazes falling on the three youths standing in the center.
A freak without a grimoire.
A chosen owner of a four-leaf clover grimoire
And a mysterious person holding an unknown grimoire.
"Tch, a bunch of country bumpkins, who just got lucky." A discordant voice sounded.
It was the same noble youth who had mocked Asta earlier, walking over with an arrogant expression, followed by two retainers.
His gaze swept over Asta, full of disdain, then looked at Ryoma, his eyes becoming full of provocation and contempt. Finally, his gaze fell on Yuno's four-leaf grimoire, consumed by jealousy.
"Especially you."
He pointed at Yuno, chin held high.
"Don't think that just because you got a four-leaf grimoire, you can be on equal footing with us nobles. A bumpkin should know their place."
"What did you say?!" Asta growled, veins bulging in his neck. "Apologize to Yuno!"
Yuno's brows furrowed slightly.
Ryoma, however, reached out and held back Asta, who was about to charge forward. He calmly looked at the noble youth in front of him, a faint smile still on his face.
Ryoma lightly asked, "Are you done talking?"
The young noble was enraged by his calm demeanor:
"What kind of attitude is that? Country bumpkin! I'll let you know right now what true..."
His words were cut short, his voice abruptly stopping.
He discovered with horror that an invisible force had entangled his body, rendering him unable to move.
"You... what did you do?" Cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
Ryoma's smile remained unchanged, he simply raised his hand casually and snapped his fingers.
Snap.
The abnormality on the young noble's body instantly disappeared.
"Let's go."
Ryoma didn't spare him another glance. He patted Asta's shoulder, and turned to walk out of the tower.
The young noble stood there, his face alternating between green and pale, watching the three figures leave, a surge of resentment welling up in his heart.
(End of Chapter)
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