Two platinum lights flared up in quick succession, and Char felt a rush of exhilaration. In the implant system, every level-up wasn't just a step—it was a leap. Each new tier brought a transformation, and the higher you climbed, the more dramatic the change became. Moving from gold to platinum wasn't just an upgrade; it was a turning point. The powers gained from this leap could easily surpass all previous improvements combined.
Char gripped his wand, anticipation buzzing through him. He was eager to test his first platinum-level spell: Lumos. He'd practiced this spell countless times, but never had it felt so alive, so intimately connected to him. It was as if the magic itself pulsed with a heartbeat, each vibration echoing through his senses.
He could sense every subtle shift in the spell, as if the magic was under a microscope. With a flick of his wrist, he pushed the Lumos spell to new heights—far beyond anything he'd achieved before. The light shifted, its frequency sliding into the invisible spectrum, doubling the previous limits of the spell.
Char directed the intensified light toward a tank of piranha algae. Instantly, the algae inside went wild, thrashing as if presented with the most tantalizing treat. Even the jagged leaves scraped eagerly against the glass, and the reward light ball above the tank grew at a visible rate. Char's excitement soared. This meant he could harvest the piranha algae sooner than expected—maybe even before Christmas. The cycle would be shorter, the rewards greater. And this was just one benefit of the platinum-level upgrade.
But there was more. Char could now sense the "breath" of magic at the tip of his wand. The Lumos spell wasn't just a single beam of light; it was a symphony of countless magical particles, each with its own frequency. Together, they created the spell's visible effect. Char wondered: could he manipulate these microscopic particles further? What if he synchronized their frequencies, just like tuning an orchestra?
He concentrated, sweat beading on his forehead. For a brief moment, he managed to align a handful of light particles. The result was astonishing—the glowing tip of his wand shrank, but its brightness intensified, focusing into a sharp beam that pierced the air. It was like a laser, concentrated and powerful. The effect faded quickly, but the idea lingered. If he could master this, perhaps one day his Lumos spell would rival a true laser—blindingly bright and potentially dangerous to dark creatures.
Char's mind raced with possibilities. The Lumos spell already had a minor effect on dark creatures, but what if he could amplify it? The thought filled him with anticipation, though he knew he wasn't ready yet. This level of control would require even greater magical perception.
Shifting focus, Char tested his newly enhanced night vision. He stepped into a pitch-black room in the greenhouse and was stunned by the clarity. His vision in the dark now surpassed what he could see in daylight. Every detail was crisp, every shadow distinct—like having the eyes of a hawk.
With this gift, the mysteries of the Forbidden Forest beckoned. There were rare plants out there, some even Professor Sprout hadn't collected. If Char ever ventured into the forest, his night vision would keep him safe from lurking threats.
Then, something strange caught his eye: tiny colored lights appeared in his vision—spots of magic, scattered throughout the greenhouse. Some glowed from the soil, others from the walls, and most from the magical plants themselves. Char realized he could now see traces of magical energy in the dark.
He focused on a blood plant. The denser the lights, the healthier the plant; sparse lights meant poor health, and no lights at all meant the plant was dead. This new ability let him judge the state of magical plants at a glance—a disguised boost to his magical perception.
Char's heart pounded with excitement. With platinum-level night vision and improved magical perception, he was close to reaching the gold standard in his skills. The Soil Loosening Spell had already reached gold level. Was he finally ready to plant the guardian tree?
Carefully, he retrieved the guardian tree seed, preserved in a potion and ready for planting. The thrill of possibility surged within him.
"Today!" he declared, determination blazing in his eyes. The next chapter of his magical journey was about to begin.