I CHOSE to be a VILLAIN, not a THIRD-RATE EXTRA!!

The Head Butler's voice, heavy with resignation, echoed across the chamber. "Like every form of Elemental Magic, the Space Element includes offensive, defensive, movement, and support types of spells.

But unlike other elements, every single space mage is strictly prohibited by the Magic Tower from using offensive spatial spells."

He paused, his weary gaze turning distant, as though recalling a time when such spells were commonplace. "For the past thirty years," he continued, his voice tinged with bitterness, "the Magic Tower has ceased teaching offensive space magic altogether.

Those who had the privilege—or burden—of learning such spells before that time have been compelled to swear an oath upon their mana core. An oath that binds them, forbidding the use of any offensive spatial magic unless expressly authorized by the Tower."

The weight of his admission seemed to press down upon him as he let out a tired sigh. "I," he confessed, "am one of those mages. I have taken that oath, bound by my own mana, to never wield offensive spatial magic."

Cassius furrowed his brows, his curiosity urging him to push further. "But why is it prohibited?" he asked, his voice steady yet demanding clarity.

The Head Butler let out a deep breath, his gaze distant as he began recounting the tale. "Everything began about forty years ago," he started, his tone heavy with the weight of memory.

"It was during a simple duel between two mages in the Magic Tower—a normal duel intended to test their practical skills while also evaluating each other's understanding of Space Affinity."

The scene seemed to unfold vividly in the Head Butler's mind as he spoke.

The duel progressed as expected, with each mage showcasing its techniques and abilities. It was meant to be a friendly competition, a means to measure their growth. But as the duel approached its conclusion, it became clear that neither was willing to accept a draw.

Their competitive nature got the better of them, and in a bid to outdo one another, they both decided to unleash the strongest offensive spell in their respective arsenals.

As fate would have it, both mages resorted to the exact same spell—a direct result of their shared teachings at the Magic Tower rather than the development of their own unique techniques.

Research on Spatial Magic has always lagged due to its inherent complexities and limitations. This slow progression meant that the development of offensive spells was restricted, resulting in a limited repertoire available to spatial mages.

Even during those times, new offensive spells were exceedingly rare, leaving mages reliant on existing spells taught by the Magic Tower.

Ashok thoughts surged, his smirk subtly betraying his disdain. He knew the Head Butler's explanation skirted the real issue. It wasn't the slow progression of research that hindered the development of Spatial Magic;

It was the selfishness of mages themselves—their inflated egos and unquenchable greed. Each mage clung fiercely to their discoveries, unwilling to share them with others, hoarding their breakthroughs as secret weapons to gain an edge.

This secrecy, this refusal to collaborate, was what stifled progress, leaving research stagnant.

But Ashok knew that pointing out such truths wouldn't change the nature of mages which was the same from the time the Tower was created, so he held his tongue and allowed the Head Butler to continue his tale.

The Head Butler, oblivious to Ashok's thoughts, pressed on.

But having the same type of spell was not necessarily a problem. In fact, it only fueled their competitiveness.

The duel, which had been a test of skill, quickly turned into a contest of superiority. Both mages wanted to see whose execution of the spell would triumph and prove superior to the other.

Space Eater

Space Eater

Both the Mages unleashed their spell at the same time.

The spell in question, Space Eater, was an offensive masterpiece of Spatial Magic—designed to erase the very fabric of space in a targeted area, leaving nothingness in its wake.

Both mages, confident in their mastery of the spell, made a critical decision in the heat of their duel. Instead of using the spell in its full radius, they refined it, narrowing the area of effect to a single, precise line while simultaneously extending its range to ensure their attacks reached the other.

Their spellcasting culminated in a dangerous scenario. One mage's Space Eater wave surged forward vertically, while the other's cut through the air horizontally. The two waves hurtled towards each other, colliding at a midpoint between the combatants with devastating precision.

The immediate aftermath might have been catastrophic had it not been for the swift intervention of the Tower Master. Recognizing the danger, the Tower Master acted quickly, summoning a formidable barrier around the dueling mages to contain the clash.

The unimaginable unfolded as the two Space Eater spells collided. Instead of canceling each other out, as one might expect from spells of the same kind, their interaction spiraled out of control. Due to the unique mana signatures of the two mages, the spells reacted unpredictably.

Rather than erasing each other, they began to expand, hungrily consuming the surrounding spatial elemental mana in the environment. This catastrophic interaction led to the creation of a fissure—a deep fracture in space itself.

At first glance, the formation of a spatial fissure might not have seemed alarming. After all, the foundational principles of Spatial Magic, like Teleportation, involve creating temporary tears in space.

Even Warp Portals, crafted from an advanced understanding of spatial tears, are relatively commonplace. However, this fissure was unlike anything seen before.

Ordinary fissures created during Spatial Magic are fleeting by nature. The Space Elemental Mana in the environment works tirelessly to restore equilibrium, healing such rifts within seconds of their creation.

Yet, this fissure was different. Minutes passed, then hours, and still, the rift in space showed no sign of closing. Its persistence defied the natural order, an ominous anomaly that hinted at dangers beyond their understanding.

The discovery of the fissure marked a groundbreaking moment for the Magic Tower and its researchers.

As the mages delved deeper into their studies, they realized that this fissure was not merely a tear in space but a gateway of sorts—connected not to a conventional dimension, but to something even more intriguing.

It led to a space that existed within a dimension, essentially a dimension nested inside an already existing one. This phenomenon could only be described as a "gap," a realm within the folds of another realm.

Previously, the concept of such a space was only associated with the temporary creations of Ascended beings, known as Domains.

Domains, while formidable, were inherently ephemeral, vanishing once their creator's power dissipated. This fissure, however, defied that transient nature. It was a permanent rift—a stable and unchanging anomaly in the fabric of existence.

This revelation sent ripples through the world of magic. The mages had stumbled upon something entirely new, expanding the boundaries of their understanding of dimensions.

At the time, only a handful of dimensions were well-documented, such as the Spirit Realm and the Astral Realm, both of which were relatively understood yet still veiled in mystery. Most other dimensions remained unexplored, their coordinates and access points unknown.

Against this backdrop, the fissure stood as a tantalizing gateway to uncharted territory—a discovery that could, quite literally, change the world.

Faced with the enigma of the fissure and its unknown depths, the mages at the Tower resolved to take decisive action. It was impossible to glean much from observation alone, and so they decided to send expedition teams to explore the anomaly firsthand.

Naturally, space mages were the logical choice for such a perilous endeavor. Their unparalleled ability to manipulate space made them ideal candidates, as their spells could enable them to escape even the most treacherous situations.

Furthermore, the fissure led to a realm not quite a dimension but rather an unknown space within a dimension—a gap whose mysteries demanded the expertise of spatial magic practitioners.

Two expedition teams were formed, each consisting of only three mages. Despite their small size, these teams were formidable—space mages were notoriously powerful, their skills often capable of turning the tide of battle or exploring otherwise inaccessible places.

To prepare for the unpredictable conditions within the fissure, the teams were provided with an extraordinary precaution: a ten-year stockpile of food. Though high-rankers typically did not require sustenance to survive, as they could draw energy directly from mana, this provision served as a safety measure.

The mages knew that the flow of time within the fissure could differ significantly from the outside world, and they dared not underestimate the risks.

The First Team embarked on their mission under strict orders and meticulous planning. The Magic Tower had made it clear—due to the rarity and importance of space mages, they could not risk sending six of them into the unknown simultaneously.

Instead, the second team would follow ten days later, depending on the outcome of the first expedition. Even with careful preparation, there was an unspoken tension in the air, a fear of the unpredictable dangers lurking behind the fissure.

As the team crossed into the rift, those who remained outside could do little but wait and maintain their vigilance. Communication with dimensions, especially an anomaly such as this, was impossible.

Every mage present outside the fissure knew that their only choice was to hold their ground and pray for the success of their comrades.

Yet, their anxious waiting came to an abrupt and horrifying end far sooner than anyone could have imagined. Just a single day after the expedition had begun, the silence of the fissure was shattered.

From its depths, three human skeletons were violently expelled, their lifeless forms landing near the barrier erected by the Tower.