Macrocosmic Mage

The Water Planet

It was Monday, and I was dragging myself to my next class. The heat was relentless, coating my neck in a layer of sweat long before noon. Earlier that morning, the administration had held a faculty meeting regarding the upcoming interschool competition in IPN. Most of my co-teachers were assigned major organizational roles—decorations, logistics, bracket management.

Me? I was assigned to do absolutely nothing.

According to the vice principal, I didn’t know enough about the game to be useful, so they didn't bother giving me a task. I didn’t argue. Honestly, it was a hidden blessing. If I wasn’t stuck on the planning committee, I could actually enter the tournament as a competitor.

The competition was set to take place inside the game’s official arena. Since my public account was still registered as a novice, my thoughts immediately drifted to build preparations and gear upgrades.

When I reached my classroom, I handed out the third-quarter examination papers and gave brief instructions. Sitting at the front desk, I pretended to proctor while my mind drifted back into the digital ether. It had been days since I last logged into IPN, and I had yet to check my notifications or unlock the next main mission.

Lately, the name “Photon-V” had been making global headlines. News outlets, top-tier guild masters, and elite players across continents were desperate to make contact for sponsorships, interviews, and trade deals. The irony was intoxicating: I was Photon-V. I knew it. But to the rest of the world, I was just a substitute teacher sitting in a sweltering classroom.

The moment the bell rang, I went straight home and strapped in.

=================================================== [Welcome back, Photon-V.]

===================================================

The system’s smooth voice echoed as my avatar materialized inside the game world. I spawned back in the Akhoi Forest. Construction noise echoed through the trees; the elven castle renovations were moving quickly under the tireless labor of the locals. The domain had improved dramatically since my last visit.

===================================================

[Rewards pending. Claim now? Y/N]

===================================================

“…Yes.”

===================================================

SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: REWARDS CLAIMED

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• Player Experience: Lv. 102 Reached

• Skill Benchmark: All Active Skills raised to Lv. 30

• Role Advancement: Macrocosm Mage Lv. 81 [Mythical]

• Currency Acquired: +101,570 Ridan

• Inventory Update: Ethereal Shield Armor Added

===================================================

PLAYER PROFILE UPDATED: PHOTON-V

---------------------------------------------------

Name: Photon-V

Class: Macrocosm Mage Lv. 81 [Mythical Grade]

Level: 102 (1,000 EXP to next level)

Active Skills:

• Creation Magic Lv. 30 [Mythical]

• Dimension Magic Lv. 30 [Mythical]

• Astral Magic Lv. 30 [Mythical] • Mental Supremacy Lv. 30 [Mythical] • Stealth Mode Lv. 20 [Epic]

Vitality Status: Body Vitality Lv. 30 (100% Stable)

Mental Status: Mental Activity Lv. 30 (100% Stable)

Current Mana Core Capacity: 11,050 / 11,050

Personal Fund: 101,570 Ridan Universal Time: 16:15:24

Equipped Loadout:

• Celestial Ring [Mythical]

• Leathered Battle Suit [Epic]

• Ethereal Shield Armor [Mythical]

=================================================== ITEM DETAILS: ETHEREAL SHIELD ARMOR

Grade: Mythical Source:

Formed from Invisible Purified Ethereal Matter

Passive Effects:

• Absolute Deflection: Deflects all physical and magical attacks by 100%.

• Invisible Barrier: Forms an undetectable, weightless ethereal shield over the user.

• Supreme Defense: Widely recognized as the absolute strongest defensive barrier in the System.

• Automatic Activation: Effect takes hold instantly upon equipment or use.

===================================================

A low whistle escaped my lips as I reread the passive effects. A total, unconditional 100% deflection rate? Items in IPN were usually bound by strict diminishing returns, soft caps, or complex cooldown formulas, but a Mythical-grade defensive item completely broke those standard mechanical boundaries. Running a quick mental calculation on damage mitigation, I flexed my hand, feeling the subtle, weightless hum of kinetic energy cocooning my avatar. It was invisible, seamless, and mathematically absurd—the ultimate layer of security for a squishy mage build.

I opened my system menu, and a wall of flashing notifications greeted me.

=================================================== [System Notifications]

[Main Quest]: The next mission is ready. View details? [Y/N]

[Direct Message]: The Grandmaster of Tooflan Traders requests a private channel. Accept? [Y/N]

[Direct Message]: The Grandmaster of Lancore Association requests a private channel. Accept? [Y/N]

===================================================

While hundreds of minor guilds had flooded my inbox, those two names immediately stood out.

From the information Shane had gathered, Tooflan Traders was a massive commercial empire that held a virtual monopoly on supply chains across multiple IPN server clusters. Though their guildmaster operated entirely from the shadows, nobody dared cross them; their intelligence network was second to none.

Lancore Association, on the other hand, was the single largest coalition in all of IPN, encompassing nearly half the global player base. Operating as self-appointed peacekeepers, they maintained cross-planetary stability with an army of high-level players. Rumor had it their grandmaster was an enigmatic beauty, though no one had ever posted verified screenshots.

"Hi there, ugly human."

I turned toward that familiar, melodious voice. "Hi, oldie princess," I replied, a sly grin slipping onto my face.

Angelica scoffed, tossing her silver hair back. "At least I'm beautiful. Anyway—where have you been? My preparations are complete. Where are we heading next?" She tilted her head, her sharp eyes scanning me. She clearly suspected something.

Curious about her current stats, I cast an inspection skill.

=================================================== [Creation Magic: Unveiling Identity]

[Creation Magic has leveled up!]

=================================================== [Due to excessive target information, results have been summarized.]

[Name: Angelica Tohmia

Race: Elven

Age: 2,056 years

Skills: (Classified / Partial View)

Mirror Projection (Lv. Max - Legendary)

Mind Reading (Lv. Max - Legendary)

Essence of Beauty (Lv. Max - Legendary)

]

[Note: Target prioritizes aesthetic perfection above all else. Highly proficient in social manipulation and emotional reading. Personality parameters remain volatile.]

===================================================

So she really could read me like an open book.

"Are you reading my mind right now?" I asked cautiously.

"Thank you for asking such a pretty question—and yes," she admitted, giving me a dazzling, innocent smile. "Though it's annoying. I can't read your core layer. I can't hear your true identity or where your soul originally came from. Oh well, it doesn't matter. As long as I remain gorgeous, everything turns out fine."

I rolled my eyes, fighting back a sigh. "Are you absolutely sure you want to tag along?"

"Of course. A party needs a masterpiece, doesn't it? So... when do we leave?"

"Right now. But first, we sign a contract."

"Fine by me."

I brought up the IPN system store, purchased a standard binding scroll, and immediately used my editing abilities to overhaul the clauses. Instead of the default master-servant terms, I restructured the document into a balanced mutual-defense pact. Angelica glanced over the shimmering parchment, smirked at her reflection in the glowing ink, and pressed her bloodied thumb against the seal without hesitation.

"The portal is opening," I said, stepping toward the swirling energy.

"Ready?"

"I was born ready, Oppa."

A towering, deep-blue gateway tore open before us. Side by side, we stepped into the light.

=================================================== [Welcome, Photon-V.]

[Current Location: Planetary System 87 — The Water Planet]

===================================================

We materialized on a microscopic islet—nothing more than a bare mound of white sand surrounded by an endless, glittering ocean. The entire landmass barely offered enough room for the two of us to stand back-to-back. Above the water, shimmering, iridescent bubbles drifted lazily through the air, refracting sunlight into rainbow arcs.

Angelica let out an enchanted gasp, reaching out toward the floating spheres with childlike wonder. While she was distracted, I pulled up the mission interface.

=================================================== [Mission : Save the Kingdom of Viarcan]

Difficulty Rating: ???

Completion Rewards: ???

Time Limit: ???

Failure Penalty: ???

===================================================

My eyebrows knit together. Every single field was masked in question marks. Was this a system glitch, or an intentional high-tier anomaly?

Before I could process it, a wet, choking gasp cut through the air.

I spun around. Angelica was clutching her throat, her face draining of color as she collapsed to her knees.

The bubbles weren't drifting harmlessly anymore. The moment they touched her skin, they didn't pop—they dissolved into translucent, jelly-like parasites that clung tight, fusing into her flesh.

Over her head, her green health bar rapidly plummeted into the red.

My pulse spiked. This wasn't a scenic tropical paradise.

It was an environmental kill zone—and our timer had already started.