When Ciel stepped into the dense, writhing electric serpents within the Room of Requirement, blue-white bolts coiled around him like living things. Almost instantly, he was swallowed by the lightning. Even his pores crackled with electric arcs.
What followed was pain far more intense than when he had endured a single bolt before. The agony of electrocution was unlike any suffering he had previously experienced, like countless fine needles piercing flesh and racing along nerves. The stabbing pain of steel needles through nerves was particularly unbearable.
Even he, who had endured countless unimaginable torments, couldn't help but clench his fists and let out a low roar.
But simultaneously, the much stronger electric shock seemed to let him sense that so-called natural will. As this surged into his body through the electric current, wild, powerful, primal, the shocking sensation flooded through his heart.
It felt like touching another realm, opening the door to a new world. His mind immersed itself, even forgetting the raging agony in his flesh. His consciousness wandered within the lightning, as if he too had become a bolt of electricity.
Gathering and scattering. Surging through storm clouds. Splitting the sky. Shaking the earth.
"So this is natural will. Truly wondrous."
He didn't know how much time passed until a warning flashed through his heart, snapping him from this marvellous sensation. At that moment, surging tidal pain crashed over him, nearly causing his Occlumency to collapse under the agony.
Only then did he discover his body barely had a patch of undamaged flesh left. Under the surging current, his epidermis had almost turned to charcoal. The slightest movement revealed bright red flesh beneath. Even his pores were shooting blood-tinged electric arcs!
Without his Legendary Life ability, anyone else would have suffered instant organ failure from such injuries. Death would be a matter of seconds. His heart chilled, increasingly understanding the risks of practising ancient magic or deeply studying runic script.
"Natural will is too vast and profound. When human spirit touches natural will, it inevitably gets drawn in, as I just experienced. Yet fragile flesh must endure nature's might while abandoning all defences. No wonder even Professor Flitwick strongly advised against such madness. Without superhuman vitality, I'd truly suffer serious harm."
Then he grunted and stepped forward, walking step by step toward the Room's exit under the lightning coiling around him. During this process, as his heartbeat accelerated, streams of life-force-rich blood flowed through his vessels. The black charcoal layer on his surface cracked open. New skin grew over the bright red flesh beneath at visible speed.
By the time he reached the door, he no longer looked as miserable as before. If not for the occasional electric arcs shooting from his body, he would have appeared completely unharmed.
One step out, he left the Room of Requirement, its lighting now somewhat dimmed. But countless steel needle-like pains continued within his body for some time before gradually dissipating. He exhaled deeply. His taut nerves could finally relax slightly.
The recent experience, even he felt lingering fear recalling it. No wonder electric chairs were considered extremely cruel torture in films from his previous life. Being electrocuted was indeed agonising.
But when his gaze fell on the system panel, his expression first showed shock, then wild joy. Suddenly, all the previous suffering felt worthwhile. What caused him such feelings was the massive changes on his system panel.
[Ancient Weather Magic (Iron, natural will 40% absorbed)]
Ancient Weather Magic's progress needn't be mentioned. The earlier experience of seeming to become lightning itself was certainly dangerous, but the rewards were extremely generous. The natural will he had sensed was much denser than before. This made Ancient Weather Magic's iron black lustre visibly more intense than previously.
At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he met the natural will requirements for mastering Ancient Weather Magic. He could also clearly sense that his body truly retained traces of the wild, primal natural will he had contacted.
He had a feeling that if he cast last night's magic now, that lightning bolt's power would be completely transformed. If he could also remedy his magical perception shortfall and fully bring Ancient Weather Magic to the Iron level, its might could even surpass his currently strongest magic, the Platinum level Sectumsempra!
But this time, his gains weren't limited to Ancient Weather Magic progress. On the system panel, another ability had improved dramatically. Namely, Occlumency.
[Occlumency (Bronze to Silver threshold)]
Originally the Bronze level Occlumency now flickered with silver threads. It had reached the Bronze to Silver threshold. One more time and Occlumency might directly advance to the Silver level!
His eyes flashed with surprise. He had never expected that coming to the Room of Requirement to suffer electrocution for runic script and ancient magic mastery would advance Occlumency so much. This was even more efficient than sparring with Snape, the magical world's strongest Occlumency practitioner.
What was happening?
After pondering briefly, he formed a hypothesis. "Could it be, the influence of natural will?"
Natural will had left traces on him. This might also affect Occlumency. After all, Occlumency's clashes with mental magic largely involved will confrontations. If someone used mental magic to assault his Occlumency, the traces of natural will on him would be like pulling a gun in a bare-knuckle brawl. Too unfair!
At this rate, if he could truly master natural will someday, casually creating lightning filled skies, his Occlumency might surpass even Snape's. The magical world might not contain mental magic capable of shaking his Occlumency!
Taking a deep breath, his gaze finally fell on a blurred text at the end of his ability column. This text hadn't fully formed yet; it was extremely ethereal. But he was certain this ability hadn't existed in his column before.
[Lightning Resistance (Forming)]
"I've never cultivated plants providing such rewards." His eyes flashed. "Could it be that my ascended Legendary Life ability gained spontaneous resistance to certain damage? Or because my body contains traces of natural will, I've developed lightning resistance?"
Either way, this was good news for him. After all, his current goal was just mastering Ancient Weather Magic. The required natural will wasn't intense. The Room of Requirement's electric bolts could meet his needs.
But later, to truly advance Ancient Weather Magic to a certain level, he would probably need to face real lightning. Without lightning resistance, he wouldn't dare attempt such danger. How could flesh and blood withstand such power? Even his Legendary Life probably couldn't handle it.
If it were that easy, why did only the God King wield lightning's power in the Olympian era? Only by stacking lightning resistance to a certain degree, combined with Legendary Life, could one possibly survive under lightning. Lightning resistance was something he would eventually need to accumulate. Getting it early was naturally excellent.
Looking at the system panel changes, he exhaled softly. His gaze burnt bright. He had originally planned to take a break. But now...
"The effects are this good. Shouldn't I hurry and do this several more times?"
The next moment, he, who had just left the Room of Requirement, turned and walked back in. Inside the room, the previously dimmed current seemed refreshed, becoming intense and brilliant again.
This time, he strode directly to the room's centre, letting countless electric bolts coil around him. The tender new skin that had just grown turned to charcoal again under crackling lightning. His relaxed nerves tensed sharply again, meeting the brutal stabbing pain of countless steel needles.
All he did was maintain Occlumency's operation. His spirit became more concentrated than before, fully entering a flow state. Comprehending the natural will pouring into his body with the lightning.
The Room's electric bolts eroded his flesh while gradually dimming. On his system panel, abilities like Ancient Weather Magic, Occlumency, and Lightning Resistance slowly blazed with brighter light.
Only when the lightning dimmed to a certain degree did he exit flow state. Accumulated pain crashed over him like a tide, making him stagger. His charcoal like skin tore again. Amid sensations both painful and itchy, new skin regrew.
But before long, after he left the Room and caught his breath briefly, he turned and entered again. Continuously repeating this process. Time flew by rapidly.
Meanwhile, throughout the castle, professors and students in class frowned at the classroom's flickering lights. Since morning, the lighting had intermittently malfunctioned, becoming unsteady at intervals.
Even professors who had taught here their entire lives didn't understand what was happening. After all, classroom lighting was provided by Hogwarts Castle's magic. Unstable lighting meant the castle's magic was consuming vast magical power, unable even to maintain steady illumination?
But what could make Hogwarts castle's magical consumption so enormous? "This year's strange occurrences are truly numerous."
Fortunately, by lunchtime, this situation stopped recurring. Both professors and students sighed with relief.
At this moment, he also exhaled deeply, sitting exhaustedly in the sixth-floor corridor. Repeatedly enduring electrocution, even he had truly reached his limit. He had to rest.
But the effects of repeated electrocution were extremely gratifying. On his system panel, Ancient Weather Magic's iron black lustre had clarified significantly. It wasn't far from completely covering the text.
Occlumency's text was completely covered by silver lustre.
[Occlumency (Silver Level)] — Advanced!
Probably even Snape hadn't progressed this quickly when learning Occlumency. Thinking this, his lips curved into a smile.
Moments later, somewhat recovered, he supported himself and walked toward the Great Hall, planning to relax his spirit slightly there.
Just as he sat down, an owl delivered another letter, again from Tonks. But unlike the grim atmosphere he had seen at breakfast, this contained joyful handwriting. She brought "good news".
"Things have taken a turn. Hogwarts' Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor Quirrell has joined our team. Merlin's beard, he's truly a genius; immediately upon joining, he proposed several highly constructive suggestions. Following his advice, though we still haven't caught that monster, we saved a survivor for the first time in today's latest disappearance incident. Now we all feel this matter should end soon. The Minister has impatiently called a press conference to announce this good news."
Indeed, shortly after he received Tonks's letter, freshly printed Daily Prophet copies descended on Hogwarts like snowflakes. This special edition was extremely brief, reporting only the morning's uplifting rescue news and Professor Quirrell's important role.
After classes, seeing the Daily Prophet news, the atmosphere immediately became buoyant. Harry and his friends were enthusiastic:
"I said Professor Quirrell was hiding his capabilities! We know so much about him, he's quietly guarded Hogwarts for so long, doing many great things in private. Even when unwell and on sick leave, seeing the magical world ravaged by monsters, he still stood up resolutely. Professor Quirrell truly stands with justice!"
The little Ravenclaw eagles now held their heads high. After all, Quirrell was from their house. When everyone lived in fear, Professor Quirrell stepped forward and found key clues. Quirinus Quirrell, Ravenclaw's saviour!
At this moment, the little eagles felt honoured.
But at the Hufflepuff table, seeing this news, his heart sank bit by bit. Quirrell had infiltrated the team investigating the disappearances? How had he managed it? What exactly did he want to do?
Thoughts in his mind gradually became chaotic. But soon, he shook his head. The Silver level Occlumency cut through all distracting thoughts like a cold blade. His thoughts immediately calmed.
Even knowing Quirrell was behind everything, he couldn't write to warn Tonks. After all, Quirrell had gained partial Legilimency abilities from Voldemort. Now transformed into a Quintaped, these abilities might be even stronger.
Once he wrote to Tonks about Quirrell, if she became emotionally agitated with Quirrell nearby, he could easily read her thoughts. That might instead endanger Tonks. Besides, he had no evidence. Rashly exposing Quirrell would only expose himself.
His expression grew grave. He had planned to catch his breath and rest during lunch. Now it seemed impossible. Since he couldn't change the external situation, he could only strengthen himself. This way, whatever happened, he would have more options.
Then he headed for the sixth floor again, coming before the troll tapestry. This time, his mind held only one thought:
"Room of Requirement, increase the intensity!"