The Fusion of Extremes

This was a Level One spell: Water Ball.

Though Ai Ou had only learned three spells from Oreo’s notes, subtracting the basic meditation technique for refining magic power, he truly only knew two: the offensive Level One Fireball and the defensive Magic Shield. For any other mage, even with knowledge of the Fireball spell, it would take considerable time and an innate affinity for water to deduce the Water Ball spell solely from the Fireball’s casting technique, especially without explicit instruction.

Ai Ou, however, was different. His command over water elements was as natural as moving his own limbs. He merely had to conceive of gathering ambient water elements into his palm, and the Water Ball spell manifested instantly, as if an extension of his very being.

He gazed at his hands: fire in his left, water in his right. With these two opposing elemental spells shimmering in his grasp, Ai Ou appeared as a deity descended from the heavens, wielding unparalleled power.

In this world of magic, it wasn’t unheard of for individuals to possess both water and fire elemental affinities. While such a combination of extreme magical attributes was rare, it had surfaced throughout the continent’s millennia-long history. However, those who found themselves with both usually chose one element as their primary focus for cultivation, leaving the other talent dormant. This was because many prodigious mages who attempted to cultivate both fire and water simultaneously had met their demise, their magic sources exploding from the clash of the dual elements.

The two extreme elements were simply too volatile, offering no room for a buffer. Mages merely borrowed elemental power; they didn’t truly command it. Their control over the elements was insufficient, and their physical bodies lacked the resilience to withstand the conflict of two opposing attributes, leading to their catastrophic end.

Yet, as Ai Ou observed the two spells in his hands, he felt them to be extensions of his own limbs, controllable with effortless ease. Suddenly, a thought struck him: he might be able to defy this rule. His intuition told him so, assuring him of absolute mastery over both fire and water elements. He could perfectly control both, thereby preventing any elemental conflict from erupting.

The water ball and the fire ball slowly drew closer. The elements comprising these two spells sensed each other’s presence, reacting as if facing a formidable enemy, growing agitated and restless. Water and fire were inherently incompatible, like sworn adversaries from birth.

At that moment, a gentle force descended between the two elements, beginning to neutralize and soothe their agitation. This was Ai Ou’s mental energy. While Ai Ou possessed absolute control over both fire and water elements, a medium was necessary to allow these two utterly conflicting magical elements to coexist peacefully, or even to merge. The medium would enable a smooth transition and transformation between the two extreme elements.

It was akin to two fiercely hostile nations, locked in generational conflict. For their powers to converge, an external mediator, through persuasion and reconciliation, would be essential to bridge their divides and resolve their animosity. Ai Ou’s mental energy slowly permeated both the water ball and the fire ball, restructuring the elemental genes within them. Gradually, the two spells began to transform into one. The water ball and fire ball seemed to fuse together. The elemental sphere’s color was no longer pure; it had become a new magical orb, swirling with both red and blue hues.

No explosion, no conflict. It was a success! Ai Ou’s heart swelled with elation.

‘Time to test its power.’

Ai Ou scanned his surroundings, found an uncultivated plot of land, and hurled the elemental sphere towards it. Though Ai Ou hadn’t fully uncovered all the mysteries of Dragon Island, he knew it was enveloped by a mystical force. Even if damage occurred, it would invariably restore itself by the next day. Thus, Ai Ou felt completely at ease conducting experiments on Dragon Island.

The red and blue elemental sphere arced through the air, tracing a brilliant trajectory before plummeting into the barren land.

“Boom!”

The explosion was precisely as expected. Once Ai Ou’s neutralizing mental energy was withdrawn, the two extreme elements, lacking an intermediary force to regulate them, naturally clashed and detonated. As the smoke dissipated, Ai Ou’s eyes widened in astonishment. A massive crater marred the ground, with wisps of white steam gently rising from within.

The destructive power was far greater than he had anticipated! This was merely the fusion of two rudimentary Level One spells. Yet, judging by its impact, it seemed to possess the destructive force of a Level Three spell!

Ai Ou had witnessed the ship’s crew use Level Three spells before. The ocean, after all, was fraught with peril, teeming with diverse aquatic magical beasts. Although the magic cruise ship’s protective barrier and the presence of the Level Six mage Provence averted many crises, occasionally some reckless beasts would still attack the vessel. In such instances, Provence, to train his students, would task his six apprentices with subduing the magical beasts. Only when a beast far outmatched his students would Provence intervene.

Consequently, even though Ai Ou had only directly learned three spells, his observations of these battles had given him a good understanding of the power levels from Level One to Level Four magic. This fused Water Ball and Fireball spell boasted multiple additional effects, including scorching, corrosion, explosion, splash damage, high pressure, and high temperature. Even among Level Three spells, it would certainly make a name for itself.

‘Is this the power of extreme elemental conflict and explosion, like a Rasengan?’ Ai Ou mused. He suddenly marveled at his own daring and luck. Had he not controlled this power perfectly, his own body would have suffered such damage. No wonder cultivating two extreme elemental magics simultaneously was forbidden.

‘But I’ve gained another trump card, haven’t I? A trump card only I can wield.’

Ai Ou’s eyes, fixed on the large crater, gleamed. He had discovered a path to significantly enhance his strength. If the fusion of Level One spells was so formidable, what would happen when he learned Level Two, Level Three, Level Four… or even Level Seven, Eight, or Nine spells? The destructive power would only grow more terrifying, potentially rivaling that of forbidden spells! If he could master it to the point of instantaneous casting… that would be even more monstrous! Such power, if used to ambush an enemy instantly, could leave them utterly annihilated, not even a corpse remaining.

****

Leaving Dragon Island and returning to reality, Ai Ou was about to go to sleep when his room suddenly began to shake. Ai Ou frowned, realizing something was amiss. This was a magic cruise ship, enchanted with powerful spells. Ordinarily, simple ocean waves shouldn’t cause the vessel to rock. Something significant must have occurred.

‘Could it be a natural disaster, or… a battle?’

With that thought, Ai Ou hastily rushed to the deck to investigate. Upon reaching the deck, a group of mages had already gathered. The cruise ship was now enveloped in a faint blue magical barrier.