The Dark Mage Of The Magus World-Chapter 120 - 121: The Hunt for Spells

As Hutson stepped out of the library, the cool night air brushed against his skin, yet his mind burned with purpose. The time had come to take the next step in his plan.

With an ample supply of magic stones now in his possession, he intended to purchase an arsenal of zero-level spells. These spells, though elementary, held immense strategic value—especially for those wise enough to wield them in combination.

Most apprentice sorcerers struggled to amass a wide repertoire of spells due to limitations in time, resources, and financial means.

But Hutson was different. With the assistance of AI chip, he could bypass the arduous learning process, acquiring and mastering spells at a pace that would be unthinkable for others. And now, unburdened by the usual constraints, he was free to buy as many as he pleased.

The greater the variety of spells he commanded, the more options he would have in battle.

There were three main avenues for acquiring spells. The most cost-effective was the Flea Market, where apprentice sorcerers resold spells they had already learned—hoping to recover a fraction of their investment. The second option was the official spell shop in Moonlight Grove. This store had a much broader selection but came at a steeper price—one Hutson couldn’t afford in the past. Lastly, spells could be obtained through direct deals with other sorcerers, much like the transactions he had made with Leo and Larry.

Tonight, he would begin his search at the Flea Market. Fewer people frequented it these days, but a bargain was a bargain.

By the time Hutson left the library, midnight had already draped its cloak over the city. He returned home, sinking into deep meditation until dawn, allowing his mind and energy to refine themselves in preparation for the day ahead.

Morning sunlight streamed through the narrow alleyways as Hutson arrived at the Flea Market.

Once a bustling haven of trade, the market now lay eerily quiet. The number of vendors had dwindled, and the few remaining customers browsed with cautious deliberation.

He moved between the scattered stalls, eyes scanning for anything of value. Before long, he found what he was looking for—a modest spread of zero-level spell models laid out on a worn cloth.

Crouching down, he carefully sifted through the offerings, eliminating those he had already mastered. Three spellbooks stood out:

Lesser Fireball – A spell with devastating potential. If cast from his own mana rather than through enchanted items, its speed and intensity would be significantly greater.Flame Shield – A rare and versatile defensive spell. Unlike ordinary barriers, this fiery shield didn’t just protect—it burned. Wrapped in its scorching aura, the wielder could charge straight into enemy formations, setting them ablaze. It was especially prized among fire-specialized sorcerers. Hutson wasn’t one of them, but shields were always useful.Magic Missile – A dark-aligned attack spell. Until now, Hutson lacked a direct offensive spell attuned to his shadow energy. Magic Missile was perfect—efficient in mana usage yet formidable in combat.

"How much for these three?" Hutson asked, his voice steady.

The vendor, a frail second-class apprentice, glanced at him before responding, "Two magic stones per book."

"I’ll take them all."

Without hesitation, Hutson handed over six stones, securing the spells in a single, decisive exchange. The price was fair—exactly what he expected.

As the vendor collected the stones, relief flickered across his face. Hutson understood why. To an ordinary apprentice, six magic stones could mean the difference between hardship and survival.

Still, his search wasn’t over. He continued browsing, but the selection was sparse. In the end, he found only one more spell—Frostbolt.

"A useful addition," he muttered, securing it in his satchel.

The Flea Market had yielded all it could. If he wanted more, he would have to visit the spell shop in Moonlight Grove.

The official spell shop loomed across from the Lion’s Coffeehouse, a grand five-story structure that once bustled with customers. Now, its doors saw little traffic.

Unlike the Flea Market, the shop carried an extensive selection of zero-level and first-level spells, along with a vast array of casting materials. Many spells required rare components to function—volatile, consumable resources that had to be replenished regularly.

However, Hutson had little need for such items. The spells he had learned so far required no material components, allowing him to avoid the burden of constant resupply.

Inside, the store resembled a grand library of arcane knowledge. Tall bookshelves stretched into the distance, each lined with spell tomes—each book containing a meticulously crafted spell model. Beneath each tome, a small plaque displayed its price.

On the first floor, zero-level spells ranged from three to five magic stones—typically one stone higher than Flea Market prices.

One spell immediately caught his eye:

"Hand of Fatigue."

A spell of subtle yet profound effectiveness. With a mere touch, it could drain the enemy’s stamina, forcing them into exhaustion.

At first glance, it seemed unimpressive. But in the chaos of battle, even a momentary lapse in concentration could spell doom. A fatigued opponent was a vulnerable one.

The only drawback? It required close-range contact. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

But for Hutson, that was no problem. He had plans.

Reaching for the book, he continued browsing—and soon spotted another spell that intrigued him.

Mana Armor.

Among the many defensive spells in the shop, one in particular caught Hutson’s attention.

Unlike conventional barrier spells, which created external shields to block incoming attacks, Mana Armor was fundamentally different. Instead of forming an external barrier, it reinforced the body itself, strengthening the caster’s resistance to physical strikes as though they were clad in a suit of arcane armor.

It was precisely this effect that gave the spell its name—Mana Armor.

Hutson had never been one to turn away from a good defensive spell. Without hesitation, he plucked the tome from the shelf and added it to his growing collection.

But he wasn’t finished yet.

Moving swiftly through the shop, he acquired five additional barrier-type spells, effectively completing his set of every shield spell available at the zero-level tier.

Of course, a well-rounded arsenal required more than just defense. Next, Hutson turned his attention to augmentation spells—those designed to enhance his own abilities in ways that could turn the tide of battle.

The first to catch his eye was "Swift Stride."

Instantly amplifies the caster’s movement speed for one second.

A short burst of speed—perhaps brief, but potentially game-changing.

Hutson had yet to study the spell in detail, so its exact limitations remained unknown. But he had a strong intuition about such magic. It might just prove invaluable in the right situation.

The next spell was "Wrath of the Bloodhorn Bull."

Imbues the caster with the raw physical power of the legendary Bloodhorn Bull, significantly enhancing strength and endurance.

Unlike the previous spells, this one required a material component—a drop of the Bloodhorn Bull’s blood, applied anywhere on the caster’s body to activate the effect.

Hutson committed the details to memory. A spell like this could mean the difference between victory and defeat in a battle of brute force.

His gaze then landed on "Unyielding Will."

Fortifies the mind, increasing resistance against charm, fear, and other forms of mental manipulation.

A countermeasure against insidious magics, this spell was a necessity for any sorcerer who dared tread the treacherous path of power.

Finally, he came across "Blessing of the Mountain Elves."

For a short duration, the caster receives the blessing of the Mountain Elves, their body temporarily imbued with the immense strength of a stone giant.

It was a rare spell, and an exceptionally potent one at that.

Zero-level enhancement spells were few and far between. Out of the available options, Hutson carefully selected three—each chosen for its strategic potential.

But there was still one domain in which he was severely lacking.

Dark energy spells.

As an apprentice specializing in the dark energy arts, Hutson had long recognized a glaring weakness in his repertoire. His grasp of shadow magic was far too shallow.

Unfortunately, dark spells were rare—far less common than their elemental or light-based counterparts.

Still, he would not leave empty-handed.

After combing through the available selections, his fingers finally closed around a tome that called to him:

"Zero-Level Spell: Shadow Nook."

A spell woven from the very essence of darkness.

Meld your form into the shadows, veiling yourself from sight.

Hutson’s pulse quickened as he absorbed its description.

This wasn’t some ordinary concealment technique—it was a true shadow-cloaking spell. It surpassed the rudimentary stealth abilities of rogues and assassins, offering a far more sophisticated means of vanishing from sight.

To a seasoned killer, it was a perfect tool—a spell that could turn assassinations and ambushes into an art form.

Yet, it was not without limitations.

Once an enemy activated mana perception—a technique that allowed sorcerers to detect magical fluctuations—Shadow Nook would be rendered useless.

Hutson considered this drawback carefully, but it did not dissuade him. He had no intention of relying on it blindly.

Used at the right moment, it would be lethal.

With his selections made, Hutson closed the tome, securing it among his growing collection of arcane knowledge.

Tonight, he had taken another step forward.

The path of sorcery was one of endless preparation, and soon, his efforts would bear fruit.