The forbidden cultivation skill was complete, perfected through relentless effort in the simulated realm. Every detail had been honed to the point of mastery, yet now, standing on the precipice of reality, doubt whispered in the back of his mind. The simulation had been dangerous, but the real world offered no safety nets, no resets. If he failed now, there would be no reconstruction, no second chances—only the harsh consequences of his gamble.
Uldric clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening. “No time to chicken out,” he muttered under his breath, his voice firm despite the thoughts of doubt.
Lowering himself to the cold stone floor, he crossed his legs and steadied his breathing, the rhythm of his heartbeat slowing with each deliberate inhale and exhale. His mind zeroed in on the pathways etched into his memory, the intricate lattice of mana veins waiting to be awakened. He visualized the flow of energy, the delicate balance required to guide it without disrupting its volatile power.
This was it.
With a deep breath, Uldric reached inward, pulling at the mana that slumbered deep within him. The energy stirred, sluggish at first, like a river long frozen beginning to thaw. Concentrating harder, he directed the flow, feeling it heat up as it coursed through his veins, awakening pathways that had lain dormant until now.
Minor Levels of The User’s Life Force Is Being Siphoned. Skill Successfully Optimized.
The process was nothing like the simulation. In the memories he had reconstructed, and even in the artificial pain of the simulated world, the mana flow had been a battle—violent, unyielding, and fraught with danger. Yet here, in the tangible world, it felt smoother, more responsive, as though his body instinctively recognized the path he had carved into his very essence through countless hours of practice within the simulated world.
Then he heard it.
Vwooom!
The sound reverberated through his body, not just an auditory sensation but a tactile one, a deep hum that vibrated in his core. His abdomen heated up, warmth spreading like a fire that consumed and transformed. A sudden pressure built in the center of his being, and then he felt it—a seed, small but potent, forming within him.
Uldric’s eyes widened in awe as the realization struck. “My mana core,” he whispered. The words felt foreign on his tongue, as though speaking them made the reality of his achievement more profound.
A smile tugged at the corners of his lips, though it was tempered by a cautious relief. “That... felt easier than I expected.”
As he processed the moment, a thought struck him. Of course, it had been smooth. With the grueling hours of training he had endured in the simulated world, there was no reason it shouldn’t have been. Every imperfection had been corrected, every flaw in the technique eradicated. The cultivation skill was as much a part of him now as his own blood.
Once again Uldric was truly awed by the capabilities of the neurolink.
The warmth in his core intensified, and his body shuddered as the next stage of the transformation began. A sharp, acrid smell filled the room, and Uldric’s skin prickled as dark, viscous liquid seeped from his pores. The gunk, a byproduct of the metamorphosis, carried with it the impurities his body had harbored, remnants of weakness that had no place in the new vessel being forged.
He gritted his teeth against the discomfort, resisting the urge to recoil as the waste dripped from his skin. It wasn’t pleasant, but his altered emotions had him be calm, ensuring he did not mess up the process with panic. Pain was a guide, and discomfort was the price of progress. He sat through it, his breathing steadying, his resolve unshaken.
Moments later, the transformation slowed, and Uldric opened his eyes. The room seemed brighter, the faint glow of mana radiating from his skin before fading into the ether. He exhaled deeply, a sense of clarity washing over him. His body felt lighter, stronger, as though every fiber of his being had been renewed. And his mind felt more open and felt like he had reached beyond.
Then, something unexpected happened. He felt something akin to a call from beyond, he knew it sounded crazy but he absolutely felt it, he became focused on that call, listening to it, the call felt like some entity was seeking him, no watching into him, and the moment he felt that gaze a feeling of being stared at by an incomprehensible ‘thing’ occured and a link was formed. Uldric felt his consciousness get sucked into that connection, with only one thought in mind, ‘I’m getting tired of this astral projecting.’
***
Uldric found himself floating in an abyss unlike anything he had ever experienced. It wasn’t just the vastness of the void that unsettled him, but the eerie sense of paradoxical familiarity—like stepping into a forbidden temple only to realize it bore his name. A slow inhale, though he had no lungs here. A quick pulse of his thoughts to whatever brought him here, and yet no answers came.
“What the hell is happening right now?” he muttered, irritation lacing his words. He was getting tired of this—the constant displacement, the sensation of his soul being tossed from one unknown phenomenon to another. From his, transmigration, to his neurolink simulation, to surfing his predecessors’ memories and now this. It’s something different. Something beyond his understanding, but it did not change the fact that it was annoying.
A flicker of movement caught his attention. A single beam of light streaked across the void, moving with a grace that defied explanation. As his gaze followed it, he realized it wasn’t just a beam—it was a comet. Before he could process its significance, another appeared. Then another. And another.
The floodgates had opened.
A dazzling storm of comets rained across the infinite darkness above him, streaks of luminous energy cascading in chaotic beauty. Their motion, while unpredictable, carried an undeniable rhythm—a silent song that Uldric could almost hear but not quite comprehend. It was hypnotic, otherworldly, and breathtaking.
Then, just as suddenly as the spectacle had begun, the call came.
It wasn't a voice, nor was it a thought—it was something deeper, something primal that echoed not just in his mind, but in his very being. It was a command wrapped in a whisper.
“Choose.”
A shiver ran down Uldric’s incorporeal form. The weight of that single word sent ripples through the void. He had no idea what he was choosing, but instinct demanded he obey.
His Neurolink flared to life, responding to his silent confusion.
Analyzing… detected high energy readings.
He felt the urgency pressing against his soul, a sense of dwindling time gnawing at him. He couldn’t hesitate.
“Which ones?” he asked, voice sharp.
The comets swirled and twisted in response, like stars shifting in the cosmos. They were not just random celestial bodies—they were choices. Opportunities. Power waiting to be seized.
His eyes locked onto one, and without fully understanding why, he willed it toward him.
The comet shuddered, breaking free from its companions before hurtling toward him with terrifying speed. A moment of clarity struck—he hadn’t considered what would happen when it reached him.
“Wait, stop—”
The words barely left his lips before the comet slammed into his form, embedding itself into the very essence of his being. There was no pain, no impact—just an overwhelming flood of knowledge.
[Shadow Tendrils]
His mind reeled. The knowledge of the comet was now his. It wasn’t a memory, wasn’t something he had learned—it had been given to him, etched into the foundation of his soul like it had always been there.
“It’s a spell!” Uldric gasped, exhilaration washing over his earlier unease.
But there was no time to marvel at it.
The comet shower had dimmed, and he felt something shift. The unseen force that had brought him here was pulling him back. He didn’t need to be told what it meant—his time was running out.
“No, not yet,” he growled. He couldn’t leave. Not when there was more to take.
His Neurolink pulsed again. Analyzing… detected high energy readings.
A flicker of light caught his attention. Another comet, slightly smaller but just as vibrant. He didn’t hesitate this time.
“Come here,” he barked.
The comet shifted, as if acknowledging his call, before streaking toward him. This time, he braced for the impact, and when it struck, the sensation was different—less of a shock and more of an embrace. A dark veil wrapped around his consciousness, and new understanding flooded in.
[Nightfall Barrier]
A shield spell. Defensive, sturdy, reactive. He could feel the knowledge weaving into his instincts, settling into his arsenal like a blade sliding into its sheath.
The comet storm had thinned even more, and Uldric noticed that the distance between him and the celestial bodies had shortened. The pull of reality was growing stronger, dragging him away from this sacred space.
“I’m getting pulled back. No way.”
His Neurolink chimed again, but this time something was different.
Analyzing… detected unusual energy readings.
Uldric’s mind barely registered the wording change before he forced himself into action. He had time for one more. Just one more.
He reached, locking onto the nearest comet with the desperation of a drowning man grasping for a lifeline. It was smaller than the others, but something about it called to him. He yanked it toward himself.
The comet complied. The moment it collided with him, a surge of foreign energy coursed through his essence, different from the previous spells. It was raw, untamed—almost as if the spell itself was unfinished, waiting for him to shape it.
Before he could even grasp its nature, the force pulling him away became unbearable. His surroundings twisted, the celestial void collapsing in on itself.
“No, no, no—”
A deafening snap echoed through the abyss, and Uldric was wrenched away, his consciousness sling shot back to reality. The space of spells, of choices, of Fate itself—all of it shattered like a dream fading upon waking.
He fell. Plummeted through endless blackness, spiraling back toward the physical world with nothing but the lingering imprint of power still crackling within him.
As his mind realigned with his body, he felt the weight of the spells settle into him, their presence as natural as breathing. He didn’t even know what the last one was. But he had it. He had them all.
And yet, a single thought rang loud and clear in his mind, tinged with regret and insatiable greed:
‘If only I had more time, for another spell.’
***
The Neurolink released a pulse that covered and scrutinized Uldric’s transformed body and a large screen text was revealed before him, he then begun to read the text.
User has experienced a metamorphosis; overall physical attributes have increased.
User has experienced unknown soul changes, Gained soul enhancement.
User has experienced great memory adversity, mental capabilities have evolved,
User has experienced radioactive mana energy intake; minor core has been detected within the user.
“Woah.”
Would the user like to view the results?
“Yes”
Uldric felt a pulse travel within his body followed by…
Ping!
Analyze Complete…
Name: Uldric
Rank 1: Novice Mage
Health: 150/150
Mana: 120/120
Spirit: 100/100
Attributes
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 3
Agility: 4
Perception: 5
Toughness: 8
Intelligence: 14
Endurance: 7
Constitution: 5
(Early)-Unstable Mana Core
Encoded Functions:
Analyze, Simulation, Stabilize
Spells
[Shadow Tendrils]
[Nightfall Barrier]
[Summon Weak Dark Entity]
Uldric speechlessly stared at the status, “I really do have spells, and not only that, am I really that more enhanced in capability? Compared to a normal human being back on earth I could be considered a super soldier with these attributes." Said Uldric staring in disbelief at his new body’s power.
Before his surgery he had been given a specs sheet that had details of what the neurolink would do for him, and he had also seen that it could measure the strengths and weaknesses of its host. If it said that his strength was at Two, it meant that he now had the strength twice of that of other normal human beings, which was amazing.
“No I have to make sure to check everything in detail, considering there is a radioactive core in this body, and spells in my soul, I would not be surprised if there are more mysteries in this body that the neurolink has not been able to pick up, it probably identified some of those mysteries though through the transplanted memories of my predecessor, since he had been raised by the order and had studied about mages before he even became one. Neurolink show me detailed descriptions for each attribute."
Health: A measured representation of the user’s life-force damage intake till the user is likely to die.
Mana: A measure of potent radioactive energy available for magical use until depletion.
Spirit: Strange resource pool heavily linked to the user’s soul and evolved mental state. Enabling feats such as controlling mana within each inch of the body.
Uldric stared at the spirit resource pool. “It appears this is how I was able to perceive my mana veins and explore my body without the need for machinery, but by simply focusing my mind. To be honest out of all three resource pools this one feels more mysterious. Is it also the cause for me to perfectly mimic my body in the simulated world? This spirit pool is very intriguing.”
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Constitution
Description: A representation of your overall health, stamina, and ability to resist physical hardships such as poison, disease, and injury. It determines how robust a body is and how much damage you can take before succumbing to exhaustion or death.
Detailed Impact: A high Constitution has more damage tolerance and vitality, can survive longer in harsh environments, and recover faster from injuries. You can resist harmful effects that would debilitate weaker enemies, such as enduring extreme temperatures or surviving on little food.
—
Strength
Description: Strength measures your physical power, the ability to lift, carry, push, or strike with force. It directly influences a bodies combat effectiveness in melee situations, how much weight they can carry, and their ability to break objects.
Detailed Impact: Those with high Strength excel in physical combat, wielding heavy weapons like Warhammers or great-swords. They can move or destroy obstacles and are more effective at feats of raw physical power, such as bending bars, grappling enemies, or breaking down doors.
—
He gasped at such strength, if his calculations were right, he could now punch a full-grown man to death after maybe seven blows with his bare fists, which was impressive.
Uldric also could not help but internally chuckle at himself, with the mention of wielding Warhammers and great swords. “This goes to show how the transplanted memories have affected the neurolink. Well, it does learn from the data it collects anyway.”
—
Agility
Description: Agility represents a physique’s speed, reflexes, and nimbleness. It governs how quickly you can move, dodge, or react in combat, as well as perform acrobatic maneuvers.
Detailed Impact: Those with high Agility are difficult to hit, as they can evade attacks with ease. They move swiftly, enabling them to close distances or retreat rapidly, and they can perform feats like climbing walls, jumping across gaps, and balancing on narrow ledges.
—
Dexterity
Description: This is the attribute that governs hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and precise movement. It influences actions that require finesse, such as ranged combat, stealth, and delicate tasks like lockpicking or disarming traps.
Detailed Impact: With high Dexterity excel in archery or throwing weapons, as well as in performing precise, delicate actions. Many benefit greatly from high Dexterity, allowing them more accuracy and a steady hand.
—
Perception
Description: Perception relates to the awareness of the body’s surroundings, including sight, hearing, smell, and other senses. It allows it to notice hidden objects, detect danger, or observe minute details.
Detailed Impact: With high Perception you become adept at spotting inconsistencies, or hidden enemies. You are also more attuned to small environmental changes, making you a skilled scout, tracker, and investigator.
—
Uldric thought of how easier it was now to spot and detect things even in the dark, it was not only due to his neurolink but also his ridiculously enhanced senses and mind.
—
Endurance
Description: Endurance reflects the ability to sustain prolonged physical and mental activity without tiring. It combines stamina, determination, and resilience, showing how long you can keep going before the need for rest.
Detailed Impact: With high Endurance you can endure long battles, travel vast distances without fatigue, and resist the effects of exhaustion. You will excel in situations that require staying in power, such as marathon fights, long chases, or surviving in harsh conditions.
—
Uldric appreciated the high endurance, with the adventures and exploration that he planned to have, traveling long distances in this expansive world was considered normal even for non-mages.
—
Intelligence
Description: Intelligence represents your calculative ability and split-second reasoning, learn, and understand of complex topics. It governs logical thinking, memory, and the ability to absorb and apply knowledge.
Detailed Impact: With high Intelligence you can learn faster, memorize vast amounts of information, and solve puzzles or problems requiring analytical thinking. Mages, and military strategists benefit greatly from high Intelligence as they use their knowledge to solve complex problems.
—
Toughness
Description: Toughness is the physical and mental fortitude that allows you to withstand pain, injury, and blunt force strikes. It measures the ability to resist physical damage and remain undamaged after receiving an external attack.
Detailed Impact: With high Toughness you are resilient in battle, taking blows that would incapacitate others and continuing to fight. You have higher resistance to external injury, making you more durable in combat or during physically demanding tasks like labor or exploration.
—
"Ha, then I guess I’ve been reforged into a super human now, having fourteen times the mental intelligence power to pull through is truly amazing, and I do intend to increase such a valuable attribute to its highest point."
The chamber, which had been silent save for his own breathing, began to hum with a low, resonant energy. Uldric glanced around, his brow furrowing in confusion. The walls, which had been dull and unadorned, now glowed faintly, intricate runes etched into their surface coming to life one by one.
“What is this?” he murmured, rising to his feet.
The glow intensified, and the air in the chamber grew charged, the energy palpable. Uldric stepped back instinctively as the runes pulsed in unison, their light converging on the far end of the room. The stone walls then trembled, and with a deep, grinding sound, it began to shift.
A doorway revealed itself, carved from the rock, its edges outlined in radiant blue light. The door swung open slowly, the movement deliberate and almost ceremonial, as though it were responding to his apprehension.
Uldric’s breath caught in his throat as he peered into the passage beyond. The air beyond the doorway shimmered, filled with the same ethereal glow as the runes that had guided its opening. He could feel the mana within, thicken and become more potent, almost suffocating in its intensity.
High level of radiation detected.
“So, this is the next step,” he said softly, his voice tinged with anticipation and a touch of apprehension.
He took a moment to collect himself, brushing the remnants of the now solidified transformation gunk from his skin. His body more powerful, his mind alert from the ordeal, but he couldn’t stop now. The skill he had mastered, the mana core he had awakened, and the spells he had plundered, had all led him to this point.
With a deep breath, Uldric stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the unknown.
The light enveloped him as he exited the chamber behind him fading into darkness. Whatever lay ahead, he knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning.
***
After exiting the chamber, Uldric stepped into a vast, cavernous hall, its sheer size making him feel small in comparison. The space was bathed in a bright, ethereal glow emanating from intricate runes etched into the walls, pulsing rhythmically like the slow breath of some ancient entity. Their gentle hum resonated through the chamber, adding an almost reverent weight to the atmosphere.
His sharp eyes swept across the room, instinctively analyzing his surroundings. His gaze was immediately drawn to the massive platform in the center. It was raised by three steps and bore an air of significance, as if it were an altar to some higher force. Atop this platform stood a clear crystal ball, gleaming with an inner luminescence, mounted upon a slender, polished pillar of silver-veined obsidian. Behind the platform loomed a large metal door, its surface smooth yet imposing, shut tight without any visible means of opening.
Before he could step forward, a deep yet smooth male voice echoed throughout the chamber, reverberating off the rune walls.
“Congratulations, Initiate, on becoming a true mage and embarking on this dangerous path. Please proceed to the evaluation Terminal to receive your merits.”
Uldric took a measured breath and advanced toward the crystal ball, his boots tapping lightly against the polished stone floor. He ascended the three steps leading to the pedestal, pausing just before the sphere. A cool aura radiated from it, almost like a whisper of frost against his skin. Reaching out, he placed his hand against its smooth surface, and the moment his fingers made contact, the sphere began to glow with an eerie, shifting brilliance.
A strange sensation coursed through him—an intangible, foreign energy seeping into his body like tendrils of mist seeking refuge in his hand. His instincts flared, and he instinctively withdrew his hand. Almost immediately, a line of text materialized in his vision, projected by his Neurolink:
Unknown energy has seeped into the user.
His muscles tensed, but before paranoia could set in, another notification followed:
Energy shows no harm to the user.
He exhaled, shaking his head at his momentary alarm. “Ah,” he muttered under his breath, feeling slightly embarrassed. He chastised himself for reacting so abruptly. He had faced far worse, and yet he allowed an unfamiliar sensation to startle him. Perhaps the Neurolink’s programming didn’t account for moments of mild unease—only extreme stress triggers seemed to engage its emotion numbing protocols.
Now that he thought about it, he wasn’t feeling all nervous that he was now probably being watched beyond these walls by some powerful observers.
Refocusing, he extended his hand once more and pressed it firmly against the crystal ball, determined to see the process through.
The strange energy resumed its flow, this time spreading deeper into his core, stirring something within him. It was unlike anything he had experienced before—neither painful nor particularly pleasant, but foreign in a way that made him hyper-aware of its presence. The sphere’s glow intensified, shifting through a spectrum of colors—red, green, purple—each flickering in rapid succession until they blurred into an indistinct, shimmering haze. Uldric held his ground, watching intently as the sphere’s internal movements settled.
Finally, the chaotic swirl of energy stilled, and the sphere rippled outward like a stone disturbing the surface of a still pond. Words appeared, glowing in sharp relief against the crystal’s transparent depths:
Evaluation
Rank: One Mage
Core Quality: Grade E
Affinity: Dark
Spells: 3
Merits: 2500
Emporium Access: First Tier
Uldric’s eyes lingered on the evaluation. His fingers unconsciously curled slightly against the crystal before he pulled his hand away, digesting the information.
E Grade core. According to his transplanted memories that was were ‘most’ mages started out unless it was the heir to some major mage family, that could afford treasures that could improve their core quality to a higher one upon awakening. Few initiates were fortunate enough to have such a background, and Uldric’s predecessor was not such a person, he was more like a foot soldier within the order’s eyes, a spot that Uldric did not mind at all.
Uldric then focused on other things such as the 2,500 funded merits—a substantial reward for any new mage—and his immediate access to the First Tier of the Emporium.
“An ‘E-grade’ core, two thousand five hundred merits, and access to an emporium,” he murmured to himself. “I have a feeling I’m being prepped for something even more dangerous.” He said, with a sigh.
With that, he turned his gaze toward the sealed metal door, already wondering what awaited him beyond it.
‘Who knew that on my second life I would be fighting tooth and nail to keep myself alive. I have to get out of the Order’s clutches and live a life deserving of being a human being. But I’ll have to be patient, I have to learn all I can about this world and what better place to do that than a powerful mage order.’ He thought.
The weight of his situation had settled upon his shoulders, and though he had not asked for it, he knew that from this moment forward, his journey as a mage would be anything but ordinary.
“With all these merits time to check out what this emporium is all about.”
***
It had not taken Uldric long to figure out how to use the crystal sphere, which he now knew was called a ‘Terminal.’ This device was made using a complicated magical process, one so intricate that even his predecessor had no memories of how it came to be. The transplanted knowledge within him provided only fragmented details—a vague understanding that such constructs were beyond the reach of most mages. Only a select few individuals, those who had mastered the most esoteric branches of arcane craftsmanship, could forge something of such unfathomable complexity.
What he did know, however, was that the Terminal served as a gateway—a link to the Emporium controlled by the Evermore Mage Order. Utilizing a fusion of space magic, impossibly intricate runic matrices, and enough wealth to rival the treasuries of entire kingdoms, the Terminal had come into existence. It was a marvel of magical engineering, one that had endured the passage of time, its true origins shrouded in secrecy.
First Tier Emporium
Novice Mage Skills
Type: Mana Accumulation
-Orelion's Rule of Convergence I. (Cost: 899 Merit Points)
-Eldranor's Essence Gatherance I. (Cost: 499 Merit Points)
-Thalorian's Cyclone of Aether I. (Cost: 643 Merit Points)
-Vesperan's Eye of Mana I. (Cost: 505 Merit Points)
Type: Mana Purification
- Vesperan's Essence Renewal I. (Cost: 500 Merit Points)
- Mythandor's Purging Wave I. (Cost: 780 Merit Points)
- Aeloria's Mana Detoxification I. (Cost: 440 Merit Points)
- Drakthar's Exorcism of Corruption I. (Cost: 308 Merit Points)
Type: Mana Compression
- Draconis's Sphere of Sealing I. (Cost: 680 Merit Points)
- Thalorin's Essence Compression I. (Cost: 560 Merit Points)
- Minor Constricting Grasp I. (Cost: 440 Merit Points)
- Celestium's Core Condensation I. (Cost: 500 Merit Points)
Type: Mana Circulation
- Nimrath's Rhythmic Flow. (Cost: 800 Merit Points)
- Arthur’s Current of Synergy. (Cost: 900 Merit Points)
- Mythandor's Life Stream Circulation. (Cost: 700 Merit Points)
- Elunara's Harmonious Flow. (Cost: 500 Merit Points)
- Elysium's Essence Flux. (Cost: 300 Merit Points)
Uldric took a single skill and expanded the details;
Orelion's Basic Rule of Convergence I
Type: Mana Accumulation
Circuit Complexity: Simple
Description: A skill enabling novice ranked magic users with simple spirit proficiency to efficiently accumulate and funnel large amounts of mana into their bodies. Utilizing moderate spiritual resources, it reduces strain on the spirit pool while allowing mana absorption from the environment.
Limitations: The circuitry indiscriminately funnels unrefined ambient mana, including foreign affinities incompatible with the user.
Requirements: Grade E mana cores, Simple Spirit Proficiency.
After reading the requirements Uldric frowned, “Circuitry? The forbidden skill I used did not mention any circuitry to it, or was it just a forbidden skill thing? I will need to read up on some lore.”
***
Common Weapons and Combat Gear
Iron Dagger – A simple yet reliable dagger with a sharp edge. (Cost: 50 Merit Points)
Spiked Mace – A blunt weapon with metal spikes for extra impact. (Cost: 80 Merit Points)
Iron Sword – A versatile sword, ideal for close combat. (Cost: 70 Merit Points)
Wooden Bow – A basic bow with a decent range, perfect for beginners. (Cost: 40 Merit Points)
Leather-Studded Club – A club reinforced with metal studs for extra damage. (Cost: 60 Merit Points)
Basic Crossbow – A sturdy crossbow with a simple loading mechanism. (Cost: 90 Merit Points)
Bronze Spear – A lightweight spear for both throwing and melee combat. (Cost: 10 Merit Points)
Round Iron Shield – A durable shield that provides basic defense. (Cost: 60 Merit Points)
Simple Sling – A ranged weapon for hurling small stones with precision. (Cost: 30 Merit Points)
Basic Throwing Knives (Set of 3) – Lightweight knives for ranged attacks. (Cost: 70 Merit Points)
////
Mana Techniques
Sword Arts
- Elemental Slash – Infuses the blade with mana to release a ranged energy slash. (Cost: 700 Merit Points)
- Phantom Edge – Creates an ethereal duplicate of the sword to confuse opponents. (Cost: 500 Merit Points)
- Mana Parry – Enhances the blade with a mana barrier to deflect magical attacks. (Cost: 800 Merit Points)
- Eclipse Strike – Channels light and shadow mana into a single devastating attack. (Cost: 400 Merit Points)
- Blade Dance – Temporarily increases speed and agility, allowing for rapid slashes. (Cost: 760 Merit Points)
Fist Arts
Mana Strike – Charges a punch with raw mana for an explosive impact. (Cost: 750 Merit Points)
Iron Spirit Fist – Hardens the user’s fists and body using reinforced mana. (Cost: 750 Merit Points)
Shockwave Punch – Releases a concussive blast of energy with a single strike. (Cost: 500 Merit Points)
Flame Barrage – Rapid punches wreathed in flames for sustained damage. (Cost: 700 Merit Points)
Stone breaker Fist – Channels earth mana for a heavy, ground-shattering blow. (Cost: 600 Merit Points)
Phantom Fist – Creates a delayed echo of the user’s punch for a surprise follow-up attack. (Cost: 700 Merit Points)
***
Profession
Rank One Crafts
Alchemy. (Cost: 2800 Merit Points)
Blacksmith. (Cost: 2800 Merit Points)
Enchanter. (Cost: 3000 Merit Points)
Formation. (Cost: 4000 Merit Points)
***
Common Mage apparels
-Gloves. (Cost: 50 Merit Points)
-Cloak. (Cost: 80 Merit Points)
-Storage Belt. (Cost: 60 Merit Points)…
***
Consumables
Health Potion. (Cost: 700 Merit Points)
Spirit Recovery Potion. (Cost: 700 Merit Points)
Cleansing Potion. (Cost: 700 Merit Points)…
“There is so much to choose from, looks like I’m going to be here for a while.” Said Uldric.
***
In a hidden chamber, veiled from the eyes of the initiated, only the faint glow of mana-powered runes etched into the stone walls provided illumination. The air was thick with an unspoken gravity, the kind that settled in places where decisions of immense consequence were made. Shadows danced across the cold surfaces, flickering with the rhythmic pulses of light emitted by the glowing inscriptions, creating an almost hypnotic ambiance.
At the center of the room stood a massive obsidian table, its surface polished to a mirror-like sheen, reflecting the ghostly light of the floating runes. Around it sat three figures, their faces hidden behind numbered masks, their identities known only to each other and those above them. Hooded cloaks draped over their forms, casting them as silent sentinels of the trials that would determine the fate of hundreds.
Hovering in the air before them was a translucent sphere, pulsing with streams of text and arcane symbols that shifted and reformed with every passing moment. The mana-powered screen was a testament to the sophisticated magic at their disposal, its ever-changing contents dictating the harsh realities of those undergoing the Trials.
The figure seated at the head of the table, marked by the numeral ‘One’ upon his mask, tapped a gloved hand against the smooth surface with measured precision. The subtle sound carried through the chamber, commanding attention. His voice, though calm, carried the weight of authority as he read the displayed report aloud.
“A total of five hundred and fifty-four initiates at the start,” he began, his tone devoid of emotion. “We are now down too fewer than two hundred who have survived the Awakening Trials.” He paused, allowing the number to settle before continuing. “Normally, only under a hundred candidates undergoing the forbidden awakening method would succeed, yet we have exceeded those odds.”
The room remained still for a moment, the other two figures digesting the information. Then, the figure to the left, her porcelain mask marked with the number ‘Three,’ leaned slightly forward. The soft glow from the mana screen illuminated the elegant curves of her robed figure, casting sharp shadows. When she spoke, her voice carried a mix of curiosity and barely concealed excitement.
“First Overseer, with results like these, our outer branch will garner significant merit. The cultivation of so many initiates will not go unnoticed.”
Her words hung in the air; her unspoken ambitions clear. This was more than just about survival rates; it was about influence, recognition, and securing a foothold in the hierarchy that governed the mages of their order.
The figure to the right, his mask engraved with the numeral ‘Two,’ inclined his head slightly, his deep voice smooth and measured. “Indeed. Fate has shown favor to our branch,” he acknowledged. “A boon like this is rare.”
But the First Overseer was not so easily swayed by optimism. He tapped the table again, the rhythmic sound acting as a tether, grounding the discussion back to reality. “Let us not grow complacent,” he cautioned, his tone sharp. “The trials are not yet complete. The number of survivors may be higher than expected, but their cores are unstable. We cannot afford to ignore the potential faults in them.”
A quiet tension settled over the table as the weight of his words pressed upon them. The Awakening Trials were brutal by design. A flawed mana core, if left unchecked, could spell disaster—not only for the mage but for those who fought beside them. The process of refinement was necessary, no matter how high the potential of a candidate appeared to be.
The Third Overseer sighed, fingers tracing the edge of the table. “A shame to waste such promising seedlings,” she murmured, her tone carrying the slightest hint of regret.
“It will not be a waste,” the Second Overseer interjected. “So long as they survive the remaining trials, we will have a full understanding of their capabilities. Only then can we properly designate them to their roles.”
The First Overseer leaned forward, his gloved hands clasping together. “With the fall of more towers becoming a daily occurrence, we cannot afford to let incompetence slip through our ranks.” His voice was grim, each word laced with the weight of duty. “The Head Council has made its demands clear—we are to produce battle-ready and competent mages. That is our purpose.”
A silence followed, heavy and unyielding. The flickering mana screen continued its silent dance, casting eerie patterns on the walls.
The Third Overseer exhaled slowly, breaking the quiet. Her voice, devoid of hesitation, cut through the chamber like a blade. “A kill order, then?”
The Second Overseer stiffened. “What? But they have barely begun their journey,” he countered, his voice laced with concern.
The First Overseer remained unmoved. “It is inevitable,” he stated with finality. “Getting them accustomed to killing is a necessity. If they hesitate when faced with a true enemy, they will die.”
A sharp pause filled the room.
Then the Second Overseer sighed, his fingers pressing together in contemplation. “Perhaps. But let us ease them into it,” he suggested. “Forceful baptism by blood will only shatter those who are not yet ready. Before they face true combat, they must be honed. Their mana manipulation must be refined, their spells must be tested.”
A moment passed as they considered his words.
“Agreed,” the First Overseer finally said, his voice carrying no opposition.
“Agreed,” echoed the Third.
The decision was made.
This was the nature of their duty. They were the unseen architects, the silent sentinels who shaped the future of the mage order’s initiates. Each trial they devised was a crucible, designed to temper raw potential into refined brilliance.
Three figures, each with their own methods, their own philosophies, yet bound by a singular purpose—to ensure the creation of competent mages. Through careful trials, they would prevent mass death while forging astounding talents, those capable of standing against these trials had a higher chance of survival against the tides of destruction that threatened this world.