Supreme Magus novel Chapter 697

"I’m talking about mana, something that only a living being can produce. I think that after thoroughly manipulating their specimens’ bodies with light magic, the Odi found a way to extract, purify, and store mana from other living beings.

"This, let’s call it neutral mana, is something without an energy signature, allowing it to be used without suffering from mana poisoning.

"Hence, a Mana Reactor can only be fueled by living beings, which also explains why the Meat Factories have been moved down here, why the Odi keep breeding them up to this day, and how they were able to craft Flesh Golems.

"Forgemastering those dreadnoughts is otherwise impossible."

Lith had become so used to using true Forgemastery that he had almost forgotten that fake mages only had as long as a magic circle held to craft their works. Grafting flesh to stone, infusing the constructs with so many arrays and spells, it would have required more mana that even Manohar could possibly have.

’Dammit, Quylla is right. I bet that first they completed the Mana Reactor, and only thanks to that did they manage to bring the other projects to fruition.’ Lith thought.

’Yeah, but why?’ Solus asked, her mind sounded dejected.

’Why what?’

’Why did Quylla understand what a Mana Reactor is even though she had way fewer clues than me, whereas I failed? Maybe I’m not as smart as you think.’ She replied.

’First, you’re at least as smart as she is, and even if you weren’t, you would still be leagues above me. Second, you failed because of me.’ Lith said.

’Because of you? Do you think that you make me stupid or what?’ Solus chuckled at Lith’s silly attempt to justify her shortcomings.

’No. It’s just that both you and Quylla are polymath geniuses, but while Quylla has always focused solely on light magic, because of me you also practice all kinds of magic known to us, both fake and true.

’Which means that, compared to her, you didn’t have enough time. Magic is infinite, Solus, whereas we only have a limited amount of time each day. You didn’t fail because you’re not good enough, but simply because you’ve chosen to become a jack of all trades but master of none to help me overcome my problems.’

Lith’s words forced Solus to take a few steps back from her wounded pride and look at the bigger picture. He was right, of course. Quylla knew nothing about other specializations, whereas Solus could outsmart most mages their age in their own field of research.

The realization made her feel better because as any mage worthy of their title, Solus was very competitive. Yet at the same time, it made her worry. Lith was periodically dragged into a big mess, and every time she was his life line.

If it wasn’t for Quylla, this time they might have lost an important clue for his survival until it was too late, which she promptly pointed out to him.

’You’re right, but let’s be honest. If I was here alone, I would have left this accursed place right after fighting the fungal creature. I’m not stupid enough to not understand when I’m outside my field of expertise.’ Lith thought.

He wasn’t the only one worried about Quylla’s words. Yondra and Phloria were racking their brains as well, trying to find a flimsy chance of survival. They were locked inside an unknown place, with nowhere to run, and surrounded by timeless enemies.

Their situation wasn’t dire so much as a death sentence. They all reached the conclusion that their only hope was to find a Warp Rune that would bring them far enough from Kulah to escape the range of the deadly gas.