The start of school was about to start when the lucky young magicians received the VR Pod to be a beta tester. It means that they only have a few days to play it full-time.

Hilda, one of Wallace's junior in the academy, has luckily become a part of the beta testing. She was very excited about operating the device since this was something that her senior made. The very same senior who originally made the Traceless Oscillation and modified Infrasonic Ray. That two spells had helped her easily win the competition in her bracket.

Now, the current device in front of her was something even more amazing.

This is the second day that she will be playing the game and she couldn't wait for the server to open. Due to some reasons, the game could not be played 24 hours a day as the system had to do maintenance for at 3 hours every day.

'Five minutes more... Why is it so long?'

As she waited for the time, she received a few messages from her friends.

[ Its about time. Are you ready? ] - Shirley

[ Are you done eating? We need to complete the quest this time. We need you... I think. ] - Escanor

[ Hello, Hilda. This is me, Ray Penber. I will be waiting for you at the same spot. Take care. ] - Ray

[ Hey! The server is about to open. I'm just reminding you as you requested. :) ] - Lina

Hilda replied to all of them.

The five of them including Hilda had met in the virtual reality game since they were all sent in the same underground base, one of the last bastions of the Sevens or the natives of the world.

Studying at the same academy, although different academic years and different magician's path taken, they easily got friendly with each other as they are familiar with their faces.

They've all fought and won the TMAC.

On the first day of their game, the five of them had the very first offensive mission against a group of invaders.

A 10-man patrol team from Dorssian Empire equipped with high-tech guns, scanners, and a two Assault Gears ( Designed similar to Meredith Empire's Marauder Gears ) had discovered a group of fleeing Sevens and they were about to kill everyone. The five of them received a mission to rescue the fleeing NPCs.

The mission was quite easy considering the fact that they received assistance from powerful NPCs stationed within their current. underground fortress. It seems that they were just being readied about the fighting method of the invaders.

The enemies doesn't need a long casting time, no unusual phenomena like during their magic invocation, and no mana disturbance or chaotic movement of mana during the enemy's assault. They only possess pure and simple destructive weapons. They only had to trigger their gun and a powerful beam of light almost similar to Wallace's Laser Focus would fire. Only the color was different as they are firing blue light instead of Wallace's red beam of light.

Aside from that, the others also possessed something similar to the guns they're familiar with but their bullets seems to be so strong that their Mana Shell was like a fragile glass in front of it.

Even if they had a chance to return fire at them, these invaders also possess something similar to their Mana Shell, but it was called Energy Armor. There was also the problematic Assault Gear. A floating machine or drone that could carry one person to launch an assault from the sky.

Fortunately, a strong NPC joined in their mission. It was Arthur, the current base commander of their underground fortress, he possess a powerful weapon that disrupts the Energy Armor making it useless whenever he fired his magic spells. He also possesses powerful magic that could petrify the machine making the device useless.

"I want to learn it!" Is what all they said. Unfortunately, within their current group, only Escanor had learned things about the Artifact Forging. The other guy and girls were Combat Magicians. They have a good sense of combat tactics, calm and broad mind during battle, and amazing weapon utilization, but forging this weapon was not their forte.

Unfortunately, during this virtual game, they had to study this in order to battle against the small fries of the Dorssian Empire.

How could they defeat or fight against the large number of humanoid machines, floating castles, high-speed airships, army of full-body armored soldiers if these weak patrol teams were already giving them headaches?

***

Hilda looked at her wristband mana artifact placed on her bed before entering the virtual world.

Her VR Pod was conveniently placed in her bedroom beside her bed as she felt that its better if she have quick access to the device.

"Start Link!"

As she selected the Adventure Mode, she disintegrated to many orbs of lights and reformed in her last location when she ended the link before.

She was in the hallway going to the training hall in the underground fortress. Then, other lights appeared as her friends started their link into the game.

"Hilda... Can you still use that amazing magic spell here?" Lina asked after she suddenly appeared.

"You mean that oscillation?"

"Yes.."

"I can't..." Hilda shakes her head as she continued to explain. "That magic spell was created by Wallace. Although I know how to cast the spell, it's in the premise that I have the artifact in hands."

Hilda said as she showed her empty hands.

After entering this game, they were all surprised about how they can still feel mana and control it in the same level from the real world. It was not something that exists in other simulation games.

This made them sing praises to the creator and easily got addicted to the game. After all, there is also a training ground here where they can borrow some standard Mana Artifacts and they could just release all their power without caring in the surroundings.

Hilda was one of the magician who benefitted a lot in these perks. She was the strongest first-year student in the twelve academies during TMAC's month. Her power could not easily be controlled so she had to be very careful whenever she uses it.

Wallace had noticed this situation before so he created a wristband Mana Artifact for her that can perfectly take advantage of her almost overflowing mana reserves.

"Why did you ask?"

"Nothing... I'm just thinking that since the realism of this game was almost 100%, maybe someone here can make a mana artifact that we desired to have."

"Well..." Hilda looked at Escanor. He was the only man capable of artifact forging in their group.

"We're only on the second day of the game, we can still explore a lot of things here. Who knows, maybe there's something more impressive here than what we know in the real world."

"Haha! That makes sense. This is just game, after all."

The five then went to the base commander.

"Sir Arthur! Please teach us the method to destroy the enemy's Energy Armor..."

"Of course! You bravely joined and fought together with me against those invaders. You all must learn this..."

Ding!

[ You have gained enough recognition from the Base Commander. ]

[ You have received a copy of Energy Armor's blueprint. Thanks to Freya. ]

[ Energy Armor Orb - Grade B

An armor made of pure Vers Energy. It is a source of power unknown to this planet.

Not compatible with Mana Users. ]

[ Learn how it was made to learn how it can be destroyed. ]

"Right... Since you are all trustworthy and hard-working magicians... 5 hours from now, another group of invaders would visit the Lagune Lake to survey the surroundings. It is far from our current base, so I will give all of you three hours of time to study the blueprint. I will send someone to help you fight against the enemy's Assault Gear.

[ 2 : 59 : 58 ]

It is also the start of the five's dream to materialize this Energy Armor Orb in real life as someone suggested to try a different source of energy.

They were planning to use some Mana Beast's Cores instead in exchange to the missing Vers Energy.

***

Wallace was already on his way home. He got the Zen coins, the sack of metal fragments or a destroyed Cube of Paradox with him and his reward, the Celestial Fragment.

He had made a good deal with Drake. The squad seems to be quite humble and trustworthy so he didn't mind having an honest and expensive transaction with them.

After a few more Void Phasing Steps, he quietly arrived in his Workshop.

"What did I miss?" Wallace asked Avalon.

[ The popular rookie idol, Miya Linus, will continue her study while being an idol. ]

[ The most influential Grand Arcanist has revealed to the world that before he went to the northern continent, he accepted an outstanding apprentice that would surpass his achievements. ]

"Eh?! But... I'm not really asking for some news updates... Sigh~ Anyway, I remember that I said to only give news related to me or something that would affect me. So what's with the idol news?"

[ Miya Linus decided to enroll at Leonhearts Academy. ]

"Eh?" Wallace remembered the charming lady he met in the town. He was rightfully accused of peeping on her due to his careless usage of Divine Sense.

'Haa... Soul Arts user, huh.'