Then an annoyingly familiar voice resounded directly in his mind.
“Who have we here? It’s my adored successor!
“Have you advanced to Nexus Temporal rank? Hm? No need to answer; I’ll take your silence as a yes, haha. Sure, I said I’ve always been watching… but it’s not like I can monitor everything in real-time. Or can I? The less you know, the better.
“Now, jokes aside… I must warn you that the more you upgrade the academy, the greater the risk of my past enemies locating you. And trust me, they’re not foes you can handle at the moment. So, you have to be extra careful. I know, I know, I should’ve told you sooner. Sorry. But hey, better late than never, right? Teehee.
“But don’t worry. As long as you keep the existence of the System secret from the natives of this world, then you should be fine. But once you have reached level ten, make sure that you only unleash the academy’s full power if absolutely necessary, or if you’ve surpassed the Nexus Conjurer rank. Otherwise, well… let's just say it won’t end well.
“Oh, and regarding your little trouble figuring out how to send resources to Earth to construct a nexus gate, I have some advice. If you scour through the grand library inside the citadel, there should be clues hidden within. Also, the Nexus Tower can act as an anchor between the two worlds. Just that because of Earth’s time flow being slow due to my grand spell formation, you may have some difficulty making meaningful progress on that world’s side.
“Alas, time’s nearly up. Let’s see, there’s one last thing: The Mystical Dungeons isn’t like your usual System buildings. Never force the construction of a dungeon without enough recollection data. The result of doing that would make an unstable dungeon, and exploring it can be disastrous. Well, you’ll figure out the rest, I’m sure.
“Alright, that’s all from me! Bye now! Toodle-oo!”
And just like that, the transmission was cut off, leaving Victor bewildered and exasperated. He let out a sigh and shook his head.
Even now, after hearing so many of their messages, witnessing their riddles, mischief, and carefully placed warnings, Victor still couldn’t completely decipher what the former headmaster was truly thinking. They had always been so mysterious, offering just enough to never reveal the full picture.
But this hidden enemy aside, what they said in regard to the fact that Earth’s side had delayed progress made complete sense.
With the time ratio between Seraphia and Earth being four-to-one, a hundred years here equated to just twenty-five years over there. While Magus Academy Online was a marvel as a fully-immersive VR game and wouldn’t become obsolete in a traditional sense, twenty-five years was more than enough to invite scrutiny. No online game in history had lasted that long without change, let alone one that remained technologically unmatched. Sooner or later, people on Earth would begin to question its origins, especially when their most advanced technologies still couldn’t reproduce even a fraction of the in-game mechanics.
However, this wasn’t the true issue at hand; it was merely an interesting observation that briefly crossed Victor’s mind. The real problem lay in the kind of power required to take over Earth. First-stage Initiate Attunement acolytes simply wouldn’t suffice. Even with cleverly placed utility magic and support spells, brute force alone wouldn’t achieve lasting control. A much higher tier of power would be necessary.
And that, perhaps, was the reason the construction of the nexus gate had to be accelerated. Waiting wouldn’t yield any meaningful advantage. On the contrary, delays might only widen the gap between what Seraphia could offer and what Earth could.
Perhaps that was why the nexus gate had to be constructed sooner than Victor anticipated. Waiting wouldn’t give him any meaningful progress. Accelerating the gate’s creation would not only smooth the integration process, but it might also be the only way to ensure control. Accelerating the gate’s creation wouldn’t just ease the transition — it might be the only viable strategy to secure dominance when the time came.
Victor narrowed his eyes at the golden inscription in the sky and murmured under his breath, “I guess you’re still pulling strings, huh… old fossil.”
If that was truly the case, then he would simply have to pull harder.
“What was that, Master?” Lizbeth tilted her tiny head in curiosity.
“It’s nothing.” He shook his head and turned to the Mystical Dungeons’ overseer. “Lorelaine, has that writing always been there?”
“It has been present for as long as I can remember,” she replied in her usual soft monotone. “However, I am unable to interpret the message’s contents.”
“Really?” Victor’s gaze returned to the inscription above.
This meant that the former headmaster had either somehow anticipated this exact moment millennia in advance, or the message had always been embedded here, but they changed the content according to his situation. Victor leaned toward the latter explanation, but with someone like them… it was impossible to be certain.
Given their absurd level of foresight, who knew what tricks they’d left behind? It wouldn’t surprise him if they had hidden countless messages across dimensions, ready to activate the moment they became relevant. That kind of manipulation was exactly their style.
Putting that thought aside, Victor returned to the matter at hand and accessed the main page of the Mystical Dungeons through his Master Shadowlink Mark. A holographic screen materialized before him, displaying the building’s current status. However, he quickly noticed something strange. Despite being only at level one, the building was already listed as maxed out.
“The Mystical Dungeons can’t be upgraded?” Victor muttered to himself, brows furrowing. He turned to Lorelaine. “Is the current level of the building the maximum?”
“Affirmative,” she replied with a nod. “The Mystical Dungeons is unlike standard System buildings. It has no need for conventional upgrades, as its growth is not bound by artificial limitations. Instead, the dungeon’s potential expands in direct proportion to the quality and quantity of recollection data gathered.”
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“I see. That’s great!” Victor grinned. “This one’s going to attract a lot of attention, especially the combat-crazed players.”
A building that didn’t cost any AP to upgrade was a rare blessing. Most System buildings required steep investments at higher levels, but this one grew organically, relying entirely on player experience. It was self-sustaining in a way, evolving with the academy's progress. This also meant he could save his precious AP for other upgrades.
Victor quickly scrolled through the screen again, taking mental notes. All these dungeons were nothing less than memories — recollections stored and shaped through the Shadowlink Marks. Every battle, every encounter, every significant moment wasn’t just history anymore; it was content. And that content could now be transformed into playable dungeon scenarios.
Not only would these dungeons serve to train newer players, but they’d also provide a steady, passive stream of valuable loot: mana crystals, magic tools, potions, elixirs, and even rare crafting materials. All of it came without spending a single AP.
Lizbeth, still perched on Victor’s shoulder, tilted her head slightly. “Should we begin drafting the update, Master?”
“I suppose so,” Victor said, nodding with a faint smile. “Since we’ve inspected all the buildings, it’s time to compile everything into one.”
He turned his attention to Lorelaine. “Thank you for the information. We’ll be in touch.”
Lorelaine gave a nod, though there was a strange loneliness hidden in her expression. “Farewell, Headmaster.”
With that, Victor turned on his heel and exited the fog-veiled chamber with Lizbeth on his shoulder while thinking about the best way to present the next system update.
Magus Academy Online Testing Server Beta Version 0.6 Update Announcement
Major Update:
- New Storyline — “The Path Forward”
Even before the occupation of Brightmoon City, the Sanctum of Interdimensional Magi had already drawn the eyes of outside forces. Now that Brightmoon City has returned to its rightful owner, it’s time for players to join hands in managing and expanding the territory. The Brightmoon Territory is more than just the city; there are settlements and strategic locations that must be retaken. Players should seize this chance to gain merits and show the world the strength of the academy. - New In-Game Exploration and Management
With Brightmoon City secured, the wider territory now demands exploration and oversight. Players will have the chance to contribute to this effort, whether by helping to manage settlements, mines, and farmland, or by venturing into unexplored lands within the territory. Don’t miss this opportunity to make your mark.
- New Meditation Paradise
With the growing difficulty of progression players encounter upon reaching the third stage of Initiate Attunement, a meditation paradise known as the Reflective Cavern has been introduced. This location can be accessed through the Teleportation Waypoint. Naturally, entry comes at a cost, which is five hundred merit points per hour, with a strict limit of fifty players allowed inside at any given time. Though the fee is steep, the cavern’s effectiveness is at least ten times greater than using mana crystals in ordinary environments. - Restricted R18 Content Allowed
In response to player feedback and evolving creative freedom standards, players now have access to restricted R18 relationship content, allowing for deeper immersion and narrative variety. Romantic and consensual sexual relationships between players and NPCs are permitted but remain strictly regulated. The following restrictions apply:
- All interactions must be consensual and tied to in-character narrative progression.
- Only one romantic/sexual relationship is allowed at a time per character — no harem mechanics.
- No forced or non-consensual content of any kind is allowed, even in a fictional context.
All such content will remain optional. This feature is designed to enhance story depth and character bonding, not to serve as adult content for its own sake. Violations may result in moderation or restrictions. Please refer to the updated guidelines for full policy details.
- Transition to Open Beta
About half a year has passed since the game’s first version, and with the progress and feedback from our testers, we are finally ready to open the gates to a wider audience. The game will now move into its open beta phase, allowing more players to join in shaping the world of Magus Academy Online. Invite your friends, form new guilds, and prepare for an expanded experience! - Spring Has Arrived
Winter’s chill has finally lifted, and the land is waking from its frozen slumber. Snow and ice have melted away, giving rise to blooming flowers and revitalized fields. With spring’s arrival, magical beasts will become more active and hungrier than ever. Make sure you’re ready to adapt to this fresh yet challenging environment. - Increase in Total Quota for Applicants
The quota for open-beta players has been set to 10,000 or more. - New Building: “Mystical Dungeons”
This is a new building added to the game, which allows players to explore replayable dungeons based on past events recorded through Shadowlink Marks. These dungeons recreate battles, encounters, or scenarios with appropriate difficulty and rewards. As such, new players can experience almost every missed content that veteran players have gone through.
- Teleportation Waypoint Update
The Shadowlink Mark now allows instant teleportation to any registered Teleportation Waypoint across the academy and surrounding territory. Players no longer have to go to a nearby Teleportation Waypoint to initiate teleportation anymore.
Optimization:
- New Landscape, Settlement, and NPC Models
This update introduces a variety of new models to support the expanded content, such as beautiful landscapes and settlements that players can visit, as well as new NPCs to go along with it.
- Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements
Our team has been hard at work, weeding away any pesky bugs and enhancing the overall performance of the game. Your experience in Magus Academy Online will now be smoother and more enjoyable than ever.
Other Changes:
- Update on the Guidelines Regarding This Content Update
In response to the expanded scale of the game, the transition to open beta, and the inclusion of restricted R18 content, the official guidelines have been revised to version 7.0. These revisions include new rules addressing inter-faction conduct, boundaries for player–NPC relationships, and the treatment of sensitive content across in-game interactions. - Easing Requirements for New Players
With the transition from closed beta to open beta, the player selection process for Magus Academy Online has been significantly relaxed. New applicants no longer need to meet the previous strict qualifications, allowing a broader range of players to join and experience the game. - Removal of Forced Logout During Maintenance
The mandatory forced logout during maintenance periods has been removed. Players will now remain logged in during most updates, unless a critical patch requires a system-wide reset. This ensures uninterrupted gameplay and a smoother experience during routine updates. - Adding Monthly Subscription Fee
To enhance gameplay quality and ensure long-term development support, players who have received the gaming capsule and activated their account will now be subject to a monthly subscription fee of ten dollars or equivalent local currency. Please check the official website forum for further information.
Please note that since the update no longer has a mandatory forced logout, you will still be able to log in during the server update, which will occur from 12:00 EST until 15:00 EST. This is a major update that will implement a lot of new, exciting changes and features. We appreciate your patience and feedback as we continue to refine and expand the world of Magus Academy Online. Stay tuned for more exciting updates and announcements in the world of Magus Academy Online!
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