Idle Mage: Humanity's Strongest Backer

He didn't even see what happened.

Whatever that was, it happened too fast that he didn't even see what happened. Not even a smear of the Imp was left.

That shocked him to the core, yet it also thrilled him. If he could do something like that, then there's no stopping him from going anywhere he pleases.

Still, there are things he needs to check if he wants to make this work.

'System, kindly tell me what exactly the level of that Basic Staff Technique.'

[5-Star Ascended]

'Huh...never heard about that ranking before.'

[Martial Skills, compared to Spells, works differently. Past the first 10 Levels will be the 'Unity Stage' - where the wielder becomes one with their chosen weapon. The Unity Stage and beyond uses the 'Star' rankings. 1-star is the lowest and 5-star being the highest.]

[After the Unity Stage comes the Phenomenon Stage - where every action you perform using your weapon causes a phenomenon that changes your surroundings. i.e. toppling mountains, overturning seas, ending a calamity, bending space, etc.]

[And the final stage is the Ascendant Stage - where even the simplest motion of yours could potentially destroy the world, ignoring the very laws that determines it.]

'Huh...'

Ashton was rightfully speechless. Time and time again, he was surprised by how ridiculous this world can get and he had a feeling that it'll never get old.

Seriously, the words that the system just uttered right now where something that he used to read in the novels of his past life, he could distinctly remember cringing at them but now, he couldn't bring himself to do so.

After all, it's just much different when it's actually demonstrated right in front of him.

'Okay. That's a lot.' He murmured to himself. 'I should probably shelve that information first since that would just distract me.'

'Okay, moving on to the next test.' Ashton cleared his throat and said: 'System, is it possible for me to use the simulated clone to act as my teacher?'

[Negative, Host.]

'Okay, worth a shot.' Ashton shrugged. 'But I can fight it, right?'

[Yes.]

'Good. Now, is it possible to warp my perception of time whenever I'm in here?'

This is something that he's looking forward to know because this is going to be the core of his development. That's why it is natural for him to feel nervous as he awaited the reply of the System.

[It is indeed possible Host.]

Ashton breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but celebrate. Yep, the Simulation Zone is indeed useful. It falls just under the Grinding Slots at this point.

'Can you tell me how much? And would there be any drawbacks?'

[The longest would be 3:1 ration in hours. It is possible to extend it the more you get used to it and as you grow stronger. As for the drawbacks, it ranges from a headache to a coma. Please be careful.]

'I will. Thank you.' Ashton replied. Of course he'd be careful with this especially since he's within enemy territory.

The limitations didn't really bother him that much, he knows that there'd be some drawbacks since, frankly speaking, the benefits he's receiving from this one function alone is already astonishing.
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[Another reminder, Host. You've unlocked something new with your Cursed Legendary Artifact. Do check it out.]

Ashton raised a brow. Then he finally remembered.

'Ah that's right. If forgot that Legendary Magical Artifacts, even Cursed Ones, work in a special way.'

Legendary Magical Artifacts unlocks a unique 'thing' every time their users cross a major boundary in cultivation - i.e. going from Lv.9 Apprentice to Lv.1 Practitioner and so on.

This is what makes the users of these Legendary Artifacts, a cut above the rest. At this point, Ashton would take anything that will help his situation really.

Due to the this, he withdrew from the Simulation Zone and returned to reality. He took a deep breath and summoned the cursed magical artifact of his.

Most of the time, the Cursed Book of Infinity is closed and sealed, covered in chains and a lock at the very middle. However, there are times when it will mysteriously open on it's own accord.

Ashton rarely saw this happening. Up until now, he still didn't know why it does that and he never really had a clue. None of his experiment proved useful so far so he just kind of let it do its thing since most of the times, it doesn't really hurt him.

Seconds after he summoned the book, Ashton saw it unsealing before his eyes.

The lock mysteriously detached without his consent and the chains that bound it slowly unwrapped themselves.

The Book of Infinity then opened by itself. The pages began shuffling and seemed never-ending until it stopped. Initially, it displayed a blank page but a few seconds later, crimson letters began appearing.

Ashton doesn't know what language this was. On top of that, he also didn't know what were the diagrams being displayed there. He kept watching though, up until the pages were filled with words he didn't understand along with the unknown diagrams as well.

Then, it occurred...

The book flashed a white light which then converged into something more...material.

Under his stunned gaze, the book produced something that he never thought he'd have, especially considering where he is.

"...guns?"

Yes, indeed. What the book materialized in front of him, as a reward for crossing a major boundary in his cultivation, was a pair of guns. Something truly unexpected.

In his mystified state, he raised his hands and held the guns for the first time. The moment he did, the System suddenly came through with several alerts...

[Mortal Reminder - Unlocked!]

[Mortal Reminder (1st Form)]

? A sub-artifact unsealed from the Book of Infinity.

? Uses Mana to form Bullets

? Can be used as a Medium to cast Spells.

? Indestructible

? 1st Form - Handcannon

? 2nd Form - Sniper Rifle

? 3rd Form - ???

[Due to the unique circumstances of the Host, Specialization Function gets an upgrade!]
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[Sub-Class are now added.]

[Host's Main Class is White Mage. Sub-Class automatically filled to 'Gunslinger'. Rewards distributed.]

[Basic Firearm Proficiency - Unlocked]

[Basic Firearm Proficiency - Lv. 1]

? Increased familiarity when wielding firearms

? 10% attack potency when wielding firearms

? 5% increase to Dexterity

[Gunslinger Skill Tree - Unlocked!]

[You now have access to the Gunslinger Skill Tree. You may use Federation Dollars/Mana Crystals/Natural Resources to unlock skills in this tree.]

Ashton was once again, speechless.

What's up with today? How come a lot's happening? It seems like his week long inactivity caused by slumber is now making up for the lost time.

'Ash, what the hell!? Are those even going to work out here?' He heard Aria asking he shrugged and took a look at the guns.

Frankly, they don't look like much. It's like someone took a chunk of Mana Crystal, trimmed it a bit and attached some things here and there then called it a day.

It looks like a gun at least, minus the fact that it doesn't have trigger nor a magazine slot. Then again, the description says that this thing uses mana as bullets so maybe it works differently?

'...I mean, there's only one way to find out right?' He replied.

He then raised the one on his right hand, aimed at the wall and shoot it. He gasped as he felt the gun siphoning mana from his hands, and was startled when he heard a loud 'Peng!'.

'...I mean, I'd say that it works.' He said. Aria remained silent.

He surprised, don't get it wrong, he really is. After all, firearms weren't supposed to work outside of the Last Bastion.

Then again, it isn't just gun. All types of humanity's technology will have difficulties working in the outside world.

That being said, this doesn't count. These pair of guns were a sub-artifact of the Book of Infinity. They're not man-made, at least Ashton doesn't think so, which made sense since they worked just as he expected.

"Interesting." He murmured as he inspected the guns again.

He truly wasn't expecting something like this. Out of all the things he's expecting the Book of Infinity to produce, this was far from what he anticipating.

'Supposedly, this sub-artifact has more than one form. This one is Handcannon.' Ashton mused to himself, 'It sounds impressive but the effect just now is lackluster.'

'...I wonder though...' He continued.

Inspecting his new toys a bit more, he tried to keep them away and summon them again. He noted that he didn't need to actually take out the Book of Infinity first before summoning the sub-artifact, which is nice.

Summoning and banishing the sub-artifact comes instinctively to him as well. The weight and size of the guns will take some time getting used to but not impossible.

He checked the notifications again before dismissing them. He kept the sub-artifact away and immersed himself in the Simulation Zone once more.

There, he summoned the guns, which responded to him just like expected. He then raised them and shot both at the same time.

What followed was a solid sound of impact that caused Ashton to feel like he just got hit by a truck. He groaned and muttered to himself:

"So that's why they're called Handcannons."