Editing Unlimited Fafnir:Volume 1 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 5===

"Next week's test will involve attacking a block of diamond placed at a range of 100m. You will be mainly assessed on accuracy and destructive power. The main objective is to test whether you are capable of causing damage to Basilisk, because its body is covered by slightly red-tinted scales of diamond."

After we lined up properly, Shinomiya-sensei explained the training.

In the direction indicated by Shinomiya-sensei, a block of diamond with a diameter of ten meters was placed there. Most likely, Mitsuki had made it using transmutation while we were doing warm-up exercises. How terrifying, a D's power—I felt impressed from the bottom of my heart as though it did not apply to me.

"This test requires carrying out unstable transmutation under high-energy conditions, hence the risk of failure is very high. Hence, to accommodate students whose forte is not transmutation control, I have also prepared an auxiliary test. This test assumes that you will work as part of the defense team in the battle against Basilisk. You must create a giant protective barrier at a distance of 50m, as large as you can. Apart from size, thickness and hardness of your shield, you will also be assessed on transmutation speed. Please bear that in mind, everyone."

Despite saying "everyone," Shinomiya-sensei had her gaze directed towards Iris and me.

A newcomer like me and Iris, a student not good at transmutation, should choose this test, right?

"I hope you will pass at least one of the two tests. If anyone fails both, they will not be able to take part in combat operations against Basilisk."

"Eh..."

I was the only one next to Iris currently and noticed her exclaiming in alarm.

She was gnashing her teeth with an extremely serious look on her face. I could not feel any of her earlier levity.

"So we will start one by one. Volunteers, present yourself."

"Yes!"

Iris was the first to raise her hand

Everyone showed a worried look. Apparently, the whole class knew how bad Iris' transmutation control was.

"How worrying. Nothing good ever happens when the last-ranked Iris-san gets all fired up."

I could hear Lisa whispering to Firill.

"Very well, Iris Freyja, I would advise you to take the auxiliary test. Do you agree?"

"I don't mind doing the auxiliary test, but in that case, I'm going to use mithril to make a shield!"

Mithril huh... Indeed, it would be full marks if one could use that to make a shield.

Mithril was the hardest alloy in theory, only possible to create through the transmutation of dark matter. New technology and weapons developed in recent years were mostly based on the mithril provided by the Ds. I had seen many weapons like that at NIFL.

"Oh, I look forward to it. Please begin. Everyone, step back to the wall."

We followed Shinomiya-sensei's instruction and left Iris. The emergency shelter's entrance was nearby so evacuation could take place any time if anything happened.

"Yes! I will do my best!!"

Iris clenched her fist and nodded, then moved over to a marked location. A marker with the same color was also present at a spot 50m away. Looking from here, 50m felt like quite a far distance. Simply getting a grasp on the sense of distance would be hard enough already, but in addition to that, the required transmuted substance was even mithril.

Mithril's transmutation difficulty was quite high. Due to it being an alloy, it required transmuting multiple metals in fixed proportions, which necessitated quite precise control.

"I will make.... I will definitely succeed in transmuting..."

Iris was so nervous that her entire body was tense. The way she looked, she would fail even if she were originally capable of the task.

"Iris! You said yourself that relaxing is important, right? Relax yourself more!"

I yelled at her because I could not bear the sight. Iris turned towards me.

"I-I know without needing you to tell me that, Mononobe! But still... thank you."

Iris smiled with a gentle look on her face. Then taking a deep breath, she extended her arms forward.

"Caduceus!"

Like the first time we met, Iris materialized a silver-white staff. The staff's outline fluctuated unstably, giving off bright light.

"Mitsuki, why does Iris need to summon a staff?"

This test was clearly to create a shield—Perplexed, I asked as a result.

"Huh...? Nii-san, you do not know about fictional armaments?"

"Fictional armaments?"

I was hearing this term for the first time. Seeing my reaction, Mitsuki sighed.

"...Speaking of which, Nii-san, you transmuted dark matter directly into a gun last time. However, that method is unorthodox to begin with."

"Unorthodox... Why?"

"When transmuting dark matter suddenly, it is easy to produce unexpected matter due to the uncertainty in mental image, which is why one should first maintain the dark matter in the shape of a weapon like her, then filtering out the direction of transmutation."

Mitsuki pointed at Iris who was holding the staff in full concentration.

"Maintaining dark matter in the shape of a weapon... Meaning that the staff hasn't materialized?"

"Indeed. Although altering the form causes the surface to materialize slightly, that staff is still 99% composed of dark matter."

"No wonder I feel that the outline is unstable. But by changing the appearance to a weapon's shape, does it really make things easier to imagine...?"

Because I have always transmuted dark matter directly, it was impossible to understand that feeling without experiencing it.

"Yes, this is quite an effective method. A sword slices, a spear pierces, a bow shoots. When performing transmutation while picturing the respective weapon being used, that type of weapon will automatically attack."

"I see, then it eliminates the need to imagine the resulting scene when attacking. But how does a staff attack? It feels like it can only be used to smack things at most, right?"

I could not think of other ways of using, so I asked. Mitsuki smiled, the corners of her lips rising slightly.

"You are too lacking in imagination, Nii-san. Speaking of staves, of course one would associate them with magic."

"Magic...?"

Although I suspected her of joking, Mitsuki continued to speak with a serious face:

"There are certain students who specialize in this method, imagining magic to perform transmutation. Unlike you, Nii-san, girls have very rich imaginations."

"Really...?"

"Really."

I did not quite agree and turned my gaze back to Iris. Imagining something so intangible like magic was definitely beyond me, but to Iris, perhaps that was the method she was best at.

Maybe building the picture in her mind, Iris did not move for a while.

"So Mitsuki, what does this name of Caduceus mean?"

"I remember it was the staff carried by the god Hermes."

"Oh... So even Iris would choose such a flashy name?"

"When altering the shape of dark matter, it is advisable to imitate mythical weapons and tools because transmutation might sometimes occur directly and subconsciously if objects that actually existed were used for reference."

"So that's why you need something fictional? I get it now, it's not Iris trying to act cool."

I listened intently and heard her murmuring quietly. Since Iris was imagining magic to perform transmutation, perhaps this would be an incantation. Just as a sword needed a swinging motion, a staff would need a corresponding action.

"Come, come, fragments of the Far Beyond..."

Iris raised her staff and recited, instantly producing numerous small black spheres near the marker—Dark matter. She looked like she was going to perform transmutation directly at the 50m location.

"That's amazing..."

I honestly felt impressed. Without high-level spatial awareness, this would not be possible.

If I were doing it, I would probably generate dark matter in the wrong place because I failed to grasp the distance accurately. Although I revised my opinion on Iris, if she actually succeeded this time, it would raise the question why she caused an explosion under her own feet the first time we met.

"O holy silver, transform!"

The dark matter created by Iris gathered to one point and started to transmute.

The dark matter twisted in shape, gradually turning silver in color, but—

Pish!

An ominous sound echoed throughout the entire training site.

In the next instant, the manifesting mithril glowed brightly then exploded.

The training site shook.

"Kya—"

Iris was blown into the air by the blast.

"Iris!"

I reflexively rushed forward. Although the intense wind opposed me, I lowered my posture and broke through the strong wind.

Let me make it!

Sliding like a baserunner, I inserted myself between Iris and the concrete floor.

"Guha!?"

Unable to catch her precisely, all I could manage was serve as her meat cushion to soften the impact.

Iris' head struck me hard in the chest, making me cough nonstop for a moment.

"Cough, cough... H-Hey Iris, are you okay?"

"Ooh..."

I called her name but Iris simply whimpered then fainted immediately—

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