Elden Ring: With God Chapter 338: Thops's Force

Bai Shi stood at the entrance to Sorcerer Thops’s residence and knocked on the great door.

This place in Stormveil had once been prepared as living quarters for sorcerers.

However, with the complete recovery of the Academy of Raya Lucaria, all those sorcerers had already returned.

Now, only Thops remained, diligently exploring his theory.

Not long after he knocked, a sound ca from within the house.

The door swung open, and a gleaming bald head appeared before Bai Shi.

Thops looked up, surprised to see his visitor.

"Ah, Bai Shi!"

"You're finally here! My research was a success!"

Seeing Bai Shi after so long made Thops very happy.

Especially now, at a ti when his theory had finally been proven.

Although Bai Shi was nominally his student, Thops knew that aside from the very beginning, he really had nothing left to teach him.

The one who had truly fulfilled the duties of a teacher was Sellen, the prodigy of the academy.

On the contrary, he was the one who had been conducting research with Bai Shi's constant support.

Whether it was a stable environnt, the important books from the converted tower, or the blessing bestowed upon him...

For these reasons, Thops had devoted himself to his research with unwavering focus and a serious attitude.

If he didn't produce so results, he would feel deeply ashad.

And just recently, his research had finally achieved a major breakthrough.

His theory had been perfected, and he had discovered a unified field for sorcery and incantations.

Moreover, in its application, a force field with exceptionally low requirents had been born.

All of this finally freed Thops from the awkward feeling of living off another’s charity.

After all, he himself hadn’t known if he would succeed. In his eyes, Bai Shi's investnt was a complete act of philanthropy.

Seeing his incredibly excited teacher sharing his success, a smile spread across Bai Shi’s face.

He was genuinely happy for him.

A stone once overlooked by all had finally completed a study significant enough to be recorded in the history of sorcery.

And unlike in the ga, this ti, Thops’s theory had the potential for further developnt.

The golden blessing Bai Shi had personally bestowed upon him would prevent physical exhaustion and burnout.

The reclaid academy could provide a much better environnt for discussion, allowing more sorcerers to participate.

If Thops wished, Bai Shi could establish a new school within the academy right away.

A school that belonged solely to Sorcerer Thops.

One could say the future of this theory was limitless.

Bai Shi, still smiling, began to applaud.

"Congratulations, truly."

"I've witnessed all your hard work, Teacher."

"If even you couldn't succeed, I can't imagine who else in the Lands Between could have done it."

Thops rubbed his bald head and shook his head gently.

"Success..."

"I know my own limits. If I don't work hard, there's no other way."

"I can only do my absolute best."

"Haha, thankfully, my talent was just enough to deduce this theory."

"The sa 'just enough' talent that once made

despair now brings

so much relief."

Bai Shi gently shook his head at his teacher's self-deprecation.

He praised Thops with genuine sincerity.

"There are certainly many sorcerers whose talent far exceeds yours, each with their own achievents in various fields."

"But this one-of-a-kind theory... only you were able to deduce it."

"This is sothing only you could have accomplished, Teacher."

It was true. Thops’s intelligence attribute was quite average, so much so that he struggled to beco a high-ranking sorcerer.

Compared to the great masters who could build their own sorcerer's towers, the difference was like that between the heavens and the earth.

And yet, in the end, he was the only one to deduce this theory.

It was a miracle that only a "cast-off stone" could achieve.

Of course, if one had to be pedantic, there was perhaps one other person in the Lands Between who could have done it.

That person was Radagon.

As the husband of Rennala of Caria, he studied sorcery; as the husband of Queen Marika, he studied incantations.

And in the end, he reached a level where he could casually parry both sorceries and incantations.

But comparing Radagon to Thops was simply too cruel.

Faced with Bai Shi’s praise, Thops rubbed his head, a little embarrassed.

Then, as if rembering sothing, he slapped his thigh.

"Oh, my goodness, I got too excited."

"Leaving you standing at the door like this is simply inexcusable."

"Please, co in and sit down. It will also give

a chance to properly share my findings with you."

With that, Thops stepped aside, gesturing for Bai Shi to enter the room.

Bai Shi nodded and walked to the table to take a seat.

The table was still covered with a dense array of books and research materials.

Drafts and discarded theories from his research had been casually crumpled into balls, overflowing the wastebasket and even scattering across the floor.

Thops had formally completed his theory just a day or two ago, so he hadn't had a chance to tidy up.

Fortunately, the room was rely cluttered, not filthy.

Thops felt a little awkward, regretting not having cleaned up beforehand.

But now was not the ti to worry about such things.

Thops picked up a thick manuscript bound from many sheets of paper and handed it to Bai Shi.

"It's still in manuscript form. A more concise and accurate version will probably take so ti..."

"But everything is in here."

At this point, Bai Shi had no ti for trivialities and began to ticulously flip through the manuscript.

Bai Shi hadn't studied much sorcerous theory.

Though under the tutelage of both Sellen and Thops, he was fully capable of studying the theories within magic texts on his own.

But his training had been more of a crash course, with the ultimate goal being practical application in combat.

Besides, Bai Shi himself preferred to learn applications—like how to use glintstone sorcery to blast his enemies to pieces.

Still, understanding the theory was no problem, especially with the man who derived it sitting right next to him.

However, Bai Shi soon discovered that wouldn't be necessary.

The pages were alive with Thops's hastily jotted-down monts of inspiration and carefully worded annotations.

These little notes filled the spaces between the lines, revealing to Bai Shi the entire trail of his teacher's ceaseless contemplation.

And so, they gradually guided Bai Shi to an understanding of the theory.

After carefully reading through the theory on the unified field of sorcery and incantations once, Bai Shi didn't stop. He started over from the beginning for a second read.

This ti, he no longer needed the notes to guide him. Bai Shi could now independently comprehend its mastery and grasp its subtleties.

Closing the manuscript, Bai Shi let out a long breath.

The theory of a unified field for sorcery and incantations was a crucial study that touched directly upon the essence of both.

It had to be said, Thops was truly a genius.

Bai Shi rose to his feet and attempted to manifest the force field according to the thods in the manuscript.

Although the theory was abstruse and complex, its application was much simpler.

Because his intelligence attribute was already quite high, Bai Shi quickly mastered the use of Thops's Force.

A unique, pale-green force field materialized in front of him.

Bai Shi reached out and touched the pale-green field, feeling it quietly.

Unlike the in-ga version which required constant recasting, this force field could be continuously generated under his control.

Once manifested, he could sustain the field with a steady consumption of focus.

While the field was maintained, any sorcery or incantation that touched it would be deflected and sent astray.

With future mastery, Bai Shi could cast the force field at will, parrying all sorceries and incantations just like Radagon.

Watching Bai Shi successfully conjure the field so quickly, Thops was very pleased. Bai Shi's magical prowess had grown even more profound, far surpassing his own.

As a teacher, this was a joyous occasion.

Looking at Bai Shi, Thops spoke again.

"How does it feel?"

Bai Shi maintained the field, carefully experiencing it.

"It's fantastic."

"The theory is incredibly subtle and complex, yet the requirents to use it are extrely low. Almost anyone could master it."

"I knew it. I still prefer practical application."

Sorcerer Thops laughed and continued.

"In that case, I'd like you to na it."

Bai Shi was a little puzzled.

"Na it? Na what?"

Thops scratched his cheek, slightly embarrassed.

"Without you, I don't think I would have achieved this success today."

"Even if I could have deduced it, it probably wouldn't have gone as smoothly as this..."

"No, it's more likely I wouldn't have even had the chance before dying sowhere."

"Since you've taken care of

for so long, I feel that this sorcery should be nad by you."

Bai Shi shook his head and smiled.

"Teacher, there's no need for that."

"There may have been external factors, but this is your achievent, your success."

But Thops didn't see it that way and remained quite insistent.

"No, no, you should be the one to na it."

"For once, let

exercise my authority as a teacher."

Bai Shi thought for a mont, then said:

"If you insist, then I will na it."

"In that case, I will use your na, Teacher. Thops's Force."

Bai Shi had briefly considered naming it the A.T. Field, but he decided it was better to respect his teacher's work.

Thops was taken aback.

"Isn't... isn't that no different from

naming it myself?"

Bai Shi laughed.

"Haha, you're the one who asked

to na it."

"Now that I've given it a na, you should just accept it."

Thops also laughed a little and didn't protest any further.

To have t a student like Bai Shi, Thops felt, was the luckiest thing that had happened in his entire life.

Bai Shi thought for a mont and asked Thops:

"Teacher Thops, what are your plans now?"

"Are you preparing to return to the academy?"

Ever since the academy had been retaken, the doors to the great hall of knowledge had been opened once more.

Anyone, regardless of who they were, could now go there to study.

This was especially true for those who were already sorcerers.

The other sorcerers who once lived here with Thops had long since returned.

Thops was naturally aware of this, but he had been so focused on deriving his theory that he hadn't left.

"Return...?"

"I do have that thought."

"But let's wait a little longer. This new theory still needs constant study."

Now that the theory had truly been derived, Thops suddenly found he wasn't so fixated on the academy anymore.

The thing he wanted, the thing he yearned for, he had already found.

Right now, Thops just wanted to properly refine his theory and continue his research into its depths.

The academy he had once longed for was now just another place for him to conduct his studies.

Bai Shi smiled and added:

"If you wish to go back, Teacher, just let

know."

"I can have a new classroom established for you there."

Thops was flabbergasted and shook his head, lacking confidence.

"? Establish a classroom?"

"No, no, no! That's far too much!"

Bai Shi shook his head.

"It's not an exaggeration at all. You are a true genius."

"I am a high-ranking sorcerer myself, so I understand exactly what this represents."

"I hope you can spread this theory far and wide, advancing the developnt of both sorcery and incantations."

Future generations would surely understand that the once-mocked theory was a discovery worthy of establishing a new school of thought.

Thops thought for a mont but still refused.

"Let's talk about the classroom later."

"If I have to say... I'd first like to find a quiet place, preferably one with a large collection of books."

Bai Shi nodded slightly, understanding his needs.

Stormveil's collection of books was indeed not very large.

It seed returning to the academy would be a good choice for Thops.

Suddenly, Bai Shi thought of an even better place.

Wouldn't the Carian Study Hall be perfect?

Not only did it have a vast collection of books, but it also held many rare and unique volus from the Carian royal family that weren't even in the academy.

And if he had Professor Mirian provide one-on-one instruction, wouldn't that be even better than the academy?

"In that case, after so ti has passed, I will take you to a new place."

"It will absolutely et your requirents."

——

After leaving Thops's residence, Bai Shi thought of his other magic teacher.

Once he dealt with the matter of the Nun, he would also have to return to the academy to see Sellen.

The Astel near Nokstella had been taken care of by the Dragonkin Soldier, and its remains were in remarkably good condition.

Within the stellar structure that composed Astel's body, Bai Shi had found many valuable things.

Among them was a complete Golden Amber, sothing the sorcerers of the Lands Between had never seen before.

The Golden Amber contained the power held within the fragnts of ancient life.

A long ti ago, Bai Shi had thought of bringing a Golden Amber from an Astel to Sellen.

Unfortunately, the first Astel he encountered had been blown to smithereens, leaving nothing useful behind.

But this ti, the abundance of materials could finally be put to good use.

Rather than using sorcerer-orbs and glintstone scraps to approach the cosmos and the Prival Current, it was far better to directly study materials from a cosmic lifeform.

Besides, those parts were essentially the purest essence of life and shouldn't pose too great a danger.

But that was a matter for another ti. For now, there were other people Bai Shi needed to see.

Sitting on his throne, Bai Shi waited in silence.

Soon, a ripple appeared in the space before him.

Slude, clad in a black dancing dress, slowly erged from her invisibility and knelt on one knee before Bai Shi.

Beside her, four fully armored Black Knife Assassins stepped out as well, performing the sa gesture.

Slude had found them in various locations, and from now on, they would obey Bai Shi's commands.

However, they were all furtively sizing up their new master.

They were very curious about this new lord, whom they had only heard of by na but had never seen.

Just what kind of person could have such a close and profound connection with Lady Ranni?

Regardless, since Lady Ranni had given the command, the Black Knife Assassins would now follow Bai Shi's orders completely.

Bai Shi looked at the Black Knife Assassins and nodded in satisfaction.

Lab reports are killing ...