Last Wizard King's SSS-Level Magic system in Modern World
Chapter 68: First Step toward Control - Part 1

Chapter 68: 68: First Step toward Control - Part 1

Liam stood amidst the bloodied scene, waiting for the the weight of his actions pressing down on him.

Yet, he felt nothing.

The system’s interference had numbed his emotions, leaving him cold and detached. His mind calculated his next move as if it belonged to someone else, as if he were merely a spectator to his own existence.

"Y-You-! What are you? Are you a monster of some kind? D-Don’t come close to me."

The second man, the last remaining witness, took a cautious step back. His eyes darted around in search of an escape route, but Liam knew there was no way out for him.

With a calculated exhale, Liam moved. His body still ached from exhaustion, but his motions were swift and precise. Before the man could react, Liam struck.

"I did not want to do this either, but I also can’t risk being found out. Sorry, you will have to disappear along with your friend."

A well-placed blow to the man’s temple sent him sprawling onto the ground.

Liam wasted no time, kneeling beside his dazed form and placing a firm hand against his chest. Magic flickered at his fingertips, erratic and unstable.

This time, Liam didn’t try to block his opponent’s magic—he simply overwhelmed him. The man let out a choked gasp before his body went limp, his life force drained away.

It was over.

Liam stood and surveyed the aftermath.

The system still buffered his emotions, leaving him hollow inside. He turned away, dismissing the gruesome sight behind him.

His only concern now was getting home and resting before his body finally gave out.

Liam expected the guilt to hit him hard later, but he felt nothing but a stab of regret. He had already gotten used to the filter and his new mental state.

______

The moment Liam reached home, exhaustion slammed into him like a brick wall. He barely had the strength to remove his shoes before stumbling toward his bed.

His limbs felt impossibly heavy, and the second his head hit the pillow, darkness enveloped him.

Yet, despite his physical fatigue, his mind raced. He knew he couldn’t keep relying on the system like this.

His lack of control over his magic had nearly cost him his life.

If he had been stronger, if he had trained himself instead of blindly depending on the system, the encounter would have gone differently.

’I can’t run away anymore. I need to face my reality.’

Liam forced his eyes open, already regretting what he was about to do. He reached for his phone and set his alarm two hours earlier than usual.

If he wanted to change, he had to start immediately.

The next morning arrived far too soon. The alarm blared in his ears, jarring him awake. Every muscle in his body protested as he dragged himself out of bed.

It would have been easy to hit snooze, to close his eyes and give himself a few more hours of rest. But that wasn’t an option anymore.

His first goal was simple—strengthen his body.

The memories from his past lives painted a clear picture. Strength and endurance were the foundation of every warrior, every mage, every fighter who had survived long enough to master their craft.

If Liam wanted to stand a chance in the future, he needed to build his body from the ground up.

He started with basic exercises—push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and stretches. He wasn’t aiming for perfection, only consistency.

"Shit, I did not realize how bad of a shape I was in...fuck, who am I kidding. Of course I knew about this."

His body protested every movement, and his breath came out ragged by the time he finished. But he pushed through, determined to make this a daily habit.

Once his body was warmed up, he moved on to mana control. This, he quickly realized, was much harder than he had expected.

In his memories, he had seen himself wielding magic with ease, bending mana to his will as if it were second nature.

But now, outside of dreams and recollections, it felt entirely foreign. He tried to recall the sensation, to grasp at something just beyond his reach, but nothing happened.

"Using magic through the system felt so much easier than it actually is. My hands feel numb already and I have not even started yet."

Liam had the knowledge—so why couldn’t he execute it? Was there really that big of a gap between his self controlled by the system and his conscious self?

Finally, after several failed attempts, he conceded.

I need help.

"System, guide me," he muttered between deep breaths.

[Analyzing user’s current ability...]

[Recommended course of action: Study foundational techniques from external sources. Suggested location: Central Library for Magic.]

Liam blinked. "There’s a library for magic?"

[Affirmative. The Central Library for Magic contains numerous texts on mana control, spellcasting theory, and practical applications. Recommended beginner-level books include Introduction to Mana Flow and The Art of Channeling Energy.]

It made sense. If he couldn’t instinctively grasp mana control, he needed to learn it the traditional way—through study and practice.

That must be the case for most of the people in this era as well.

Deciding that there was no point in delaying, he made up his mind to visit the library today. But before he could do that, he needed directions.

After freshening up, Liam headed to work as usual. The moment he arrived, he spotted Lucas behind the counter, sipping his usual cup of coffee. His boss looked up and raised an eyebrow as Liam approached.

"I need to ask you something," Liam began.

Lucas took another sip before responding. "That’s a first. What’s on your mind?"

"Where’s the Central Library for Magic?"

For the first time since Liam had met him, Lucas looked genuinely surprised. He set his cup down and gave Liam a scrutinizing look.

"Why do you want to go there?"

Lucas asked in a curious voice and Liam panicked a little. He had blanked out and forgotten for a minute that he was pretending to be a magic-less warden. There was no need for him to learn magic.

"To learn more about mana control. Doesn’t it make you curious to see what magic is?"

Liam answered, mixing truth with lies. He did not want to sound too suspicious, but he did not want to make a weak excuse either.