The personal chip became an instant sensation, spreading fast across the Mage World.


    Few people—only the researchers or those in on the details of the n—really knew what it was. But that didn’t stop everyone else from talking about it.


    The announcement from the Seven Towers marked a historic event, the first joint statement in thousands of years.


    Not even the recent discovery of ancient enemies had warranted such a wide broadcast. The onlyparable moment in scale was when thest eighth-level mage ascended to a Great Archmage.


    The hype skyrocketed, fueled by the mysterious slogan, "Cheat Code On The Way." It quickly became the hottest topic among apprentices, who were abuzz with anticipation and questions.


    Based on the hints in the ads, people knew the personal chip was an advanced version of the poprmunicator. Its built-in learning assistance promised to support apprentices in their growth.


    But… what did "cheat code" mean? No one had a clear answer, which sparked endless debates—and even a few scuffles.


    “‘Cheat code’ obviously means it’s something external, like an upgrade you use from outside,” one apprentice confidently dered.*


    “Ridiculous,” another apprentice shot back.


    “Oh yeah? Then you exin it!”


    “Well…” the second apprentice faltered. “I don’t know exactly, but I’m sure it’s not just an external gadget.* The Mage Council wouldn’t design something so basic.”


    These debates sometimes led to apprentices challenging each other on the dueling tform. Of course, no matter who won, no one got any closer to solving the mystery of the "cheat code."


    *****


    “So, what DOES ‘cheat code’ mean?” Prisci asked, setting a report on Adam’s desk.


    The report detailed thetest “conflicts” that had erupted over the term. Chuckling but slightly annoyed, she added, “If you don’t rify soon, it won’t just be apprentices—mages will start going at each other.”


    Adam was deep into programming the electromaic version of the personal chip, which would be the rarest of all the types.


    Few mages practiced electromaic magic, but he hoped that would change once he reached the transcendent level.


    If it gained poprity, he could finally stop doing all the experiments alone and let the new practitioners contribute to the research.


    But the "cheat code" misunderstanding was bing a headache. He’d used the term casually, and now everyone seemed obsessed with figuring out what it meant.


    “Cheat code means…” Adam paused, trying toe up with an answer.


    Prisci raised an eyebrow. “Wait—don’t tell me even YOU don’t know?”


    “Cheat code means… an external core that ‘hangs’ in the soul!* Yes, that’s it!” Adam dered, sounding overly confident.


    Prisci gave him a suspicious look. “That exnation sounds… questionable. You just made that up, didn’t you?”


    “Of course not. It’s totally legit.”


    “Alright, whatever you say.” She sighed. “I came to tell you something important, though. The Origin server for themon-use chip is fully set up. When do you want tounch officially?”


    Adam asked her to hold on for a moment and then called out internally, “Lyle,e to my office, please.”


    In the researchb, mages who had already bonded with the chip could nowmunicate easily within the internal messagingwork.


    When Adam’s order came through, a mage named Lyle promptly arrived.


    “How much longer will it take the manufacturers across the Towers to finish production?” Adam asked.


    Lyle greeted them both, then essed the data directly through his chip and replied, “The final batch of nk mes from the New Titania’s first phase will be ready in three days. That means we’re set for full distribution in about ten days.”


    Adam nodded and turned to them both. “Let’s schedule the official release for fifteen days from now. Think of it as a New Year’s gift for every apprentice.”


    *****


    In the Mage World, the concept of a “New Year” wasn’tmonly celebrated. To these long-lived beings, a single year was almost trivial, hardly something to mark with a big celebration.


    But this New Year was different, holding special significance for every apprentice. Whether out on missions or studying in academies, apprentices paused their tasks and gathered beneath the high towers.


    The mysterious personal chip everyone had spected about was finally going to be distributed today, for free.


    Groups of apprentices gathered below the towers, buzzing with excitement and swapping ideas.


    For apprentices like Tom, it was a long-awaited chance to change their lives—a rare gift from the Mage Council.


    As the magical clock struck the start of the new year, beams of transport light red, and mages appeared before them, raising their hands to scatter showers of tiny mes.


    The same scene yed out at mage academies across all Seven Towers. At that moment, every apprentice heard the same words:


    “Your cheat code has arrived. Pleasee forward to im it.”


    The crowd erupted in excitement as apprentices surged forward, and tower mages had to bring in enforcers to organize the lines and keep order.


    Tom joined the end of the line, his heart pounding as he inched closer to the tower. Fifteen minutester, as he finally reached the front, he was shaking so much that he nearly dropped the crystal sphere holding the sealed me.


    “Careful with that,” the mage said with a smile. “It’s not easy to break, but if it does, you’ll need to buy another with your own ether crystals.”


    Tom bowed deeply. “Thank you! Thank you to the Mage Council!”


    The mage nodded. “Once you have it, you’re free to go. Just use your mental power to unseal it, and be sure toplete the registration after your first activation.”


    Holding the crystal sphere in both hands, Tom stepped back, then dashed to his dorm room. He couldn’t wait to open this gift that might just change his destiny.


    He carefully extended a sliver of mental power to wrap around the crystal sphere. A secondter, it dissolved into a mist of light, and the me floated before his forehead, slowly merging with him.


    At that moment, he heard a calm, mechanical voice:


    “Common chip, version 1.0, initializing. This product is created by the Mage Council in partnership with Mage Adam’s Personal Chip Research Institute. Its purpose is to assist apprentice growth. Please review the contract terms and confirm to continue.”


    “Activation sessful. Please sign the contract toplete registration.”


    A standard contract appeared within Tom’s mind. He took a few deep breaths to steady himself, barely ncing at the terms before signing his name.


    The contract faded, and the me ignited, circling his soul with a warm, reassuring glow.


    Tom whispered, “Do you have a name?”


    “Factory designation: 45789.”


    “I’ll give you a name... How about ‘Hope’?”


    “As you wish,” the chip responded.


    Trantor’s Note: The term “cheat code” in Chinese is represented as “外挂,” which literally trantes to “external add-on.” This led mages to interpret the new technology as something external, or “something you use on the outside.”


    Originally, “外挂” in Chinese was defined as an “additional program that operates alongside the main program to extend its functions,” simr to “add-ins” or “plug-ins” in English. However, over time, it came to refer specifically to cheat programs in games.