The framework for his permanent Witchcraft was complete, but Allen didn’t stop to rest.

His core combat system was just the foundation; he also needed a comprehensive library of Magic to handle any unexpected situations.

Wizards of the Alchemy school relied heavily on Magic Items and Mechanical Bodies for combat. They were a class that hit its power spike in the late game, unlike other schools whose combat power formed much more quickly.

To get through the awkward early stages, he needed to learn some conventional Witchcraft during his apprenticeship to handle combat missions.

’Since I’m here, I might as well solve this all at once.’

Allen’s gaze returned to the catalog of Low-level Witchcraft.

He no longer paid any attention to the flashy offensive Witchcraft. With his permanent slots already full, they offered poor value for him, and an apprentice-level Magic Power reserve couldn’t sustain a prolonged battle anyway.

Constructing Witchcraft on the fly was time-consuming, a fatal weakness in a rapidly changing battle.

What he needed was functional Witchcraft that could turn the tide, create opportunities, and increase his chances of survival.

He sifted through hundreds, even thousands, of Low-level Witchcraft, with DSeek running a simultaneous analysis.

Offense, defense, movement, control, blessings, summoning... the selection was dazzling.

But DSeek tagged the vast majority as "inefficient," "redundant," or "replaceable."

Allen’s selection logic was crystal clear: build a tactical system that would serve him completely in the upcoming compulsory mission.

First priority: intelligence and stealth.

In any mission, information asymmetry was the greatest advantage, and avoiding unnecessary combat was the most cost-effective survival strategy.

His eyes locked onto the first target. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

[Detect Magic Power]: Senses the flow and concentration of Magic Power in the surrounding environment. Continuous casting leads to mental fatigue.

This Magic was like a brand-new sense. With it, he could perceive an area’s network of Magic Power as clearly as if he were seeing the wiring inside a wall.

The locations of Magic Traps, precious materials rich in Magic Power, and powerful hidden Demonized Creatures would all be exposed, provided they weren’t concealed.

In the treacherous wilderness, this was the key to switching from a reactive to a proactive stance.

Next, a combination entered his field of view.

[Invisibility Magic] (Low-level): Distorts light to achieve a visual invisibility effect. Fails upon moving or casting Magic. Ineffective against special or magical vision.

[Scent Masking]: Forms an invisible energy membrane around the body to prevent one’s own scent from escaping. Can be broken by strong winds or currents. Not recommended for long-term use by individuals with strong body odor.

[Shapeshifting Disguise]: Slightly adjusts facial muscles and bones to alter one’s appearance.

"The perfect three-piece stealth kit." On DSeek’s analysis interface, sight, smell, and identity were the three dimensions most likely to give away one’s position.

Although [Invisibility Magic] had many limitations, it was remarkably effective for reconnaissance while stationary or for bypassing Magical Beasts that hunted by scent when combined with [Scent Masking].

And [Shapeshifting Disguise] was an insurance policy for entering human towns or interacting with other Wizard Apprentices.

A strange face meant less trouble.

Second priority: environmental adaptability and special situation management.

The compulsory mission could involve unknown terrain, from gloomy underground caverns to vast swamplands.

[Underwater Breathing]: Extracts oxygen from water, forming a bubble around the mouth and nose that allows for underwater breathing for about 10 minutes. Fails in waters with chaotic or polluted Magic Power, leading to drowning.

Ten minutes of activity was enough to handle most underwater situations. It was an option that could turn a dead end into a viable path.

[Flying Magic] (Basic): Allows one to hover several meters off the ground and move at a walking pace. The consumption is enormous, making it impossible to sustain for long.

The cost-effectiveness of this Magic was not high in DSeek’s assessment, as he already owned the "Nightwing Type-3" skateboard. But Allen had a deeper consideration.

The skateboard was an Alchemy Creation. It required startup time and produced a noticeable energy fluctuation, making it a liability in environments that demanded absolute silence.

But [Flying Magic], despite being slow and costly, was a pure application of Magic Power and thus far more covert.

Using it to silently cross a bottomless chasm or float up a cliff without alerting guards on the ground were things the skateboard couldn’t do. With this Magic, Allen also wouldn’t have to worry about falling off his skateboard anymore.

Third priority: utility and support.

These were the all-purpose tools that filled the gaps in his toolbox. They might not be used often, but they could work wonders at critical moments.

[Comprehend Languages]: Allows one to understand and speak the surface meaning of any language. Short duration; cannot comprehend cultural metaphors or deep knowledge.

Knowledge is power, and language is the key to acquiring knowledge and intelligence.

This Witchcraft would allow him to have basic communication with some non-human intelligent beings. Its value was incalculable.

[Minor Illusion]: Creates a stationary, silent, phantom image no taller than a person, used for misdirection or as a marker. Possesses no physical substance and disperses on contact.

A cheap tactical tool.

Creating a phantom of himself to attract an enemy’s attention, buying a precious second to escape or cast a spell;

Leaving a glowing arrow as a trail marker in a complex cave system; or creating a false wall to temporarily confuse pursuers.

Its usefulness was limited only by the user’s imagination. Allen finally understood how the professors could draw Runes out of thin air.

[Repair Magic] (Minor): Repairs minor damage to a non-magical item, such as mending ceramics. Ineffective on complex structures or Magic Items.

This Magic seemed insignificant, but it hit the bullseye for Allen’s needs.

As a future Alchemy Master, the attrition of experimental equipment was a huge expense.

With this, minor cracks in non-essential glassware and ceramic crucibles could be repaired, and every single Magic Stone saved was precious capital that could be invested in core research and development.

In the wild, it also had practical value for repairing a broken waterskin or tools.

Allen hesitated over his last choice.

[Daze Ray]: Fires a beam of energy that causes a target to become briefly dazed. Easily dodged or resisted by magic resistance.

It was a pure Control Magic with no damage.

But in the end, Allen still chose it.

The core of his current combat system was "Craftsman’s Hand," which required continuous control.

If he was caught in close quarters, even the lowest-level Demonized Creature could pose a fatal threat with its claws and fangs.

A [Daze Ray] could potentially create a window of opportunity for him to create distance or for "Craftsman’s Hand" to complete a grapple or bind.

These ten Low-level Witchcrafts had each undergone DSeek’s rigorous evaluation and Allen’s careful consideration.

Together, they formed a survival system centered on intelligence, stealth, and evasion, supplemented by environmental adaptation and tactical control.

This system complemented his permanent Combat Witchcraft, forming a well-rounded and highly adaptable closed loop of abilities for offense and defense, at range and up close, that would be enough to get him through his current predicament.

He would soon begin learning how to create Mechanical Bodies. In the next mission, he would never let himself fall into such a state again.

’That’s everything.’

Allen walked to the administration desk and read out a long string of serial numbers.

The Advanced Apprentice behind the desk took the list Allen handed him and glanced over it.

"[Detect Magic Power], [Invisibility Magic], [Scent Masking]... twelve general Low-level Witchcrafts, plus one exclusive to the Alchemy school, [Craftsman’s Hand]."

"[Craftsman’s Hand] is one hundred fifty. The other twelve are one hundred each. You can borrow them for three days. The total is one thousand three hundred fifty Low-Level Magic Stones."

That figure was enough to support two months of high-intensity training, but it was a necessary expense right now.

Allen took out the black Crystal Card Eleanor had given him. "Pay with this card."

"Confirm payment of one thousand three hundred fifty Low-Level Magic Stones using your credit line?" the Advanced Apprentice asked.

"Confirmed."

"Alright, payment successful. Active credit line usage is 1350/50,000."

"Follow me." The apprentice stood up and personally led the way, his attitude much more courteous than before.

He led Allen to a private Quiet Chamber.

The room wasn’t large, containing only a stone bench. The four walls were inscribed with Runes that blocked mental probing.

A moment later, a ghostly blue Crystal Ball, several sizes larger than the one from his first visit, was brought in and placed before Allen.

Allen placed his palm on the cool surface of the Crystal Ball.

[Compound magic model database detected. Commencing batch recording and data analysis...]

DSeek’s command was issued the instant his skin touched the Crystal Ball.

His consciousness sank into a sea of stars composed of countless Runes.

Under DSeek’s computational power, the vast and complex magic models were transformed into a set of executable "program code."

What would have been a tough nut to crack for an ordinary apprentice, taking weeks or even months, was just an appetizer for Allen.

[Magic model found: Detect Magic Power. Analysis complete.]

[Magic model found: Invisibility Magic. Analysis complete.]

[Magic model found: Scent Masking. Analysis complete.]

...

The entire process took less than half an hour.

When Allen opened his eyes again, the light from the ghostly blue Crystal Ball had dimmed considerably.

In DSeek’s database, thirteen new magic models were waiting for him to learn.

He stood up, pushed the door open, and walked out of the Quiet Chamber.

When the Advanced Apprentice behind the desk saw him come out, he subconsciously glanced at the timer, and the expression on his face froze.

’Half an hour? He’s out already? Did the sheer volume of knowledge overwhelm his mind, or...’

Allen paid no mind to the other’s astonishment. He simply gave a slight nod of acknowledgment before turning and leaving the Witchcraft Zone.