Adrian slowly opened his eyes, the residual pain from acquiring the new knowledge still echoing faintly in his mind.
He rubbed his temples softly, processing the vast influx of complex magical theories now swirling clearly within his consciousness.
It was like someone had opened a gate, pouring all the information directly into his mind. After a few deep breaths, he gathered himself and focused.
"Tech Core, do you now possess knowledge on Magic Theory?" Adrian asked tentatively, eyes bright with anticipation.
[Affirmative. Magic Theory 1 has been successfully integrated. To an extent; I am now capable of guiding you in harnessing and implementing mana from Magic Crystals into various practical inventions.]
A broad smile spread across Adrian's face. This was the breakthrough he'd been desperately waiting for.
Without hesitation, he reached into his Inventory, mentally commanding several Magic Crystals to appear.
In an instant, they shimmered into existence in his palms, radiating softly with contained mana.
The process to harness a Magic Crystal's mana was complicated, requiring meticulous preparation.
He now understood clearly that simply having the crystals wasn't enough. Adrian needed to purify each crystal carefully, carving intricate, precise channels and runes into their surface to safely guide the mana outward.
This delicate work demanded absolute concentration and remarkable skill in both craftsmanship and mana manipulation. Any slight mistake could render the crystal useless or, worse, unstable.
With Tech Core's assistance, Adrian spent the next few hours carefully refining three of the crystals, painstakingly engraving each rune according to the detailed instructions now perfectly ingrained in his memory.
"Tech Core, considering my current knowledge, what inventions can I feasibly pursue?" Adrian asked during a short pause in his work.
[You currently have the ability to develop several practical tools, including mana detectors, low-grade mana batteries, mana-powered lighting systems, and basic defensive artifacts.
Given your intent to monetize swiftly, I suggest prioritizing the mana detector for its immediate marketability and high demand among adventurers.]
Adrian nodded thoughtfully, his mind rapidly evaluating possibilities. "A mana detector… Yes, I've always wanted that. It's practical, highly useful, and easy to demonstrate."
[Very well. I shall generate the detailed blueprint now.]
Before Adrian could respond, a bright flash briefly illuminated the workspace. To his astonishment, a meticulously detailed blueprint appeared out of thin air, drifting gently onto the worktable.
Adrian stared at it in awe, noticing immediately that it wasn't printed on the rough parchment he was accustomed to since he was reborn — it was laid out on sleek, semi-transparent drafting paper similar to the high-quality blueprints from his previous world.
The blueprint outlined every step in precise detail, from the internal rune pathways and delicate crystal alignments to the external casing design, allowing easy handling by adventurers.
Adrian marveled at the complexity and professionalism of the design.
"Incredible…"
With newfound enthusiasm, Adrian gathered all the necessary materials outlined clearly on the blueprint: finely processed iron for the casing, silver threading for rune conduction, a single refined and precisely engraved Magic Crystal, and a lens crafted from crystal-clear quartz to visualize mana signatures.
More hours passed swiftly as Adrian immersed himself fully in his work, carefully assembling each delicate part according to the blueprint's detailed specifications.
Tech Core's guidance proved invaluable, constantly assisting him with precise rune alignment and mana regulation.
Finally, after painstaking effort, Adrian completed his first mana detector. He carefully activated it, heart pounding in excitement.
The detector immediately hummed softly, the lens glowing gently as it clearly revealed faint traces of ambient mana in the surrounding air.
[Analyzing invention: Mana Detector]
[Type: Magical Tool]
[Functionality: A]
[Practicality: A-]
[Complexity: C-]
[Integrity: C-]
[?? - F-]
[Overall Grade: C]
[Remark: An exceptional magical instrument, highly desirable for practical use in dangerous environments.]
[Reward: +50 EXP | +100 TP]
Adrian's eyes widened at the changed analysis. Clearly, the system was applying much more rigorous and detailed criteria now, likely due to the complexity and magical nature of his latest creation.
"What's with the last parameter, Tech Core?"
[...]
Adrian was slightly annoyed at the System's silence, but didn't mind much. He was only confused what deserved an F- — a grade he didn't even know existed — on this design of his.
'I guess that's for me to figure out next time,' he made a mental note before picking up the detector.
He had confidence in its construction, yet he couldn't stop his heart from racing at the thought of testing this entirely new invention.
"Time to see if you really work," Adrian whispered, pointing the device around the room.
At first, the detector remained quiet, its softly glowing quartz lens offering only a faint and steady hum, signaling a low ambient mana presence.
It seemed the regular air around him lacked significant magical density, which wasn't particularly surprising. After all, normal environments outside magical forests rarely held concentrated mana.
"Alright, let's see how you react with something a bit more potent."
Adrian retrieved a Magic Crystal from his inventory, feeling its energy pulse faintly in his palm. As soon as the crystal was brought closer, the detector vibrated gently.
Its lens brightened visibly, emitting a more pronounced humming noise. Tiny sparks of mana illuminated from the crystal's core and gently floated toward the detector, outlining a faint but visible path connecting the two items.
Fascinated, Adrian moved the crystal around, observing the detector carefully. It responded instantly, the brightness of the lens shifting subtly according to the distance and direction of the crystal, effectively pointing directly toward the mana source.
"Perfect," Adrian muttered with a satisfied smile. "Not just detection, but even a directional indicator."
This was exactly what adventurers would need. With such a device, finding magical beasts or even hidden mana sources would become far easier, significantly increasing their efficiency.
Putting the crystal away, Adrian watched the detector slowly return to its baseline state, lens dimming again until it matched the gentle ambient mana signature of his workshop.
His mind immediately began calculating. If he was to sell these detectors, he would need far more than one. Adventurers would quickly see their value, and demand could spike overnight. He set a lofty but achievable goal.
"At least fifty. I need to make fifty mana detectors to start."
Glancing out the workshop window, Adrian noticed the afternoon sunlight had dimmed considerably. He stretched, only now becoming aware of the tension in his shoulders and neck. He'd spent countless hours focused intensely on the invention.
"I should head home first," he said to himself, carefully placing the detector into his Inventory. "Tomorrow, I'll streamline the process. With the blueprint and Tech Core's guidance, the next detectors won't take nearly as long."