Next Steps

With the mock war concluded, my focus shifted to one primary objective – getting stronger.

As I've mentioned earlier, the early stages of the <<Saga of the Divine Swordsman>> were a breeze to clear. This provided me with a unique advantage – more time for dedicated training.

While there was still a significant portion of the academic year ahead, the next major event loomed large – the field trip following the mid-year exams. My agenda leading up to this trip, the winter break, was packed with plans, including acquiring a Beast Will and visiting my family in this novel world. Hence, my current time would predominantly be dedicated to honing my weapon art and advancing my mana core.

The gap in our mana cores was a glaring disadvantage when compared to Lucifer. While he already boasted a <White >-rank, I lingered at <Low Silver>.

Frankly, I might not have been Rank 8 at the beginning of the year. The Academy preemptively assigned me this rank, anticipating potential changes with the acquisition of an art. The hassle of adjusting rankings later was something they preferred to avoid.

Oh, speaking of rankings, changes typically occurred during the mid-year evaluation and at the end of the year.

Realistically, my target was to reach Rank 4 by the mid-year evaluation. The pathway to achieving this goal was straightforward – a significant advancement in my mana core rank.

And for that, I needed Kali's broken pill.

Which brings me back to my current situation.

Seated in the cafe with Jin and Kali, we drew discreet stares from our fellow first-year students. Mythos Academy had lumped all lower-years together, granting second and third-year students access to our building.

Still, the sight of Kali, the once-reigning champion among lower-years, and the enigmatic Jin, both known as lone wolves, sitting together with a third person was enough to spark curiosity.

"Alright," I cleared my throat, "As I mentioned earlier, I want both of you to be my shadows. This means following my commands without much resistance. I won't ask for anything extreme, and everything I do will be for the greater good. To reassure you, we'll seal the deal with a mana oath."

Jin and Kali exchanged glances before nodding. Odd, considering they didn't know each other. I filed the question away for later, focusing on the task at hand.

"Kali, distort the light around us to keep others from noticing our mana oath."

I aimed to keep rumors to a minimum, especially given the current gossip circulating around us. While dark magic differed from light magic, each elemental affinity could, at a certain level, manipulate various aspects of reality. For instance, a fire mage might use their skills to teleport by distorting space—a process much simpler for spatial mages or those adept with gravity.

Elemental affinity played a crucial role in our learning, ensuring a balanced world where no single element granted an unfair advantage. Of course, exceptions existed, like the broken triple affinity for space, time, and gravity.

The process of signing a mana oath was deceptively simple. Once a mage reached the level of casting 4-circle magic, their intent became potent enough to create such an oath.

Mana oaths, however, carried significant risks. Unusually, the oath's conditions weren't determined by the cognitive processes of those involved but by the mana itself. This unique aspect made it difficult to manipulate and understand. Despite various attempts, no researcher had successfully explained the phenomenon. Among fans of <<Saga of the Divine Swordsman>>, a theory circulated that a god-like entity, likely a massive lump of sentient mana, was behind it all.

Mana oaths were both exceedingly fair and perilous, their absoluteness only ending with the death of the contractors.

I initiated the process by activating my intent, creating a 4-circle magic in the air. Jin and Kali followed suit, using their respective elements to blend their intent with mine. The resulting display was magical—a rectangle formed by the cyan lightning of mana, representing the three of us and containing the details of the oath.

These details were conveyed through our intent, eliminating the need for actual text. The three of us could effortlessly read and understand the oath.

The terms were straightforward: Kali and Jin would both serve me as their master under all conditions. In return, I committed to acting solely for the good of the world and refraining from using them for any selfish purposes. Additionally, Kali was to provide me with the pill her family had given her, unbeknownst to her of its true value. Of course, I needed to recover Kali's Grade 6 art and keep information about Rin to myself as well.

This pill held the key to elevating my mana rank to match Lucifer's by the end of the first year.

After taking the pill, I returned to my room, where Count Chase's elixir awaited by my bedside.

Seated in a lotus position, I consumed both the elixir and the pill. The rumbling sensation in my mana core indicated that my body was absorbing the effects.

Suddenly, it felt as if all the ambient mana around me was within my control. Each particle became distinct, dancing around me with newfound clarity.

'So, this is the overpowered four times effect the author hinted at with the pill,' I mused.

Indeed, the pill could quadruple a person's mana absorption and purification rate. However, it proved useless on those of <White >-rank and above, as they no longer purified mana.

Based on my calculations, this meant I could reach <High Silver>-rank by the time the effect waned in four to five months. If luck favoured me, I might even approach <White >-rank, a milestone I could then potentially achieve before the end-of-year festival.

As I relished the effects of Kali's pill, darkness suddenly invaded my mind.

"It's too soon," a heavy voice resonated. "His body is still too weak."

And just like that, I fell asleep.

I relish situations under control, and I prefer predictability. When I entered this world, armed with knowledge from the novel upon which it was based, I believed nearly everything would be within my grasp. Even if I made changes to the plot's flow, my intellect would enable me to predict any butterfly effect and avert major consequences.

Massive butterfly changes were necessary for my survival in this harsh world, and saving Kali was a significant plot alteration. However, it wasn't until the next day that I realized the extent of the plot changes I had wrought.

After Nero's mana theory classes concluded, and the lunch break released us from the shackles of academia, the usual Class A rendezvous occurred in the cafeteria, sans Jin.

"You seem to have changed," Ren remarked, his amethyst eyes narrowing at me. I chuckled in response.

'He must have noticed the significant rise in mana absorption rate thanks to his Gift,' I thought, 'But he's too savvy to spill it all here.'

"Yeah, you appear to get stronger every day," Lucifer added, resting his face on his left hand.

Seraphina observed me with curiosity, her blue crystalline eyes attempting to discern the cryptic conversation between Ren and Lucifer.

'And Lucifer is just a monster,' I sighed.

"Don't mind these battle-hungry idiots," Rachel laughed, twirling her golden locks.

"Isn't Arthur the most battle-hungry?" Ren retorted before taking a bite of his hamburger.

"Don't say anything to Arthur," Sera warned as her eyes narrowed. However, her demeanor shifted at the sound of a foreign voice.

"Oh~ is little Sera getting worked up over some boy?" a playful voice teased.

Seraphina's body froze momentarily, her stoic expression betraying a hint of fear. Yet, she swiftly regained control of her facial features. Naturally, everyone at the table picked up on the subtle change.

A man soon approached our table, clad in a uniform similar to ours but adorned with golden trims. Instead of the Roman numeral 'I,' his uniform bore a 'V.'

He was a fifth-year.

The strongest of the fifth-years.

The ace of Mythos Academy.

The genius of Mount Hua Sect.

The Divine Dragon, considered the world's greatest talent, the youngest <Ascendent >-rank in history, and the one blessed by the heavens.

Sun Zenith.

There's not a soul unfamiliar with that name.

In the early days, when Ren Kagu emerged with both [God's Eyes] and the triple affinity for space, gravity, and time magic, the world anticipated him to lead this generation to greatness, destined to be the unrivaled prodigy.

However, the mantle of the greatest genius swiftly shifted to Sun Zenith. The Mount Hua wunderkind, gifted with the <Unbreakable Vajra Body>, a martial physique considered on par with Lucifer's <Yin-Yang Body>, and an awe-inspiring prowess in both mana and martial arts, seized the world's attention with his unparalleled talent.

Sun shattered all speed records for ascending ranks, achieving the <Ascendent >-rank at the tender age of 19, a remarkable feat given that the average age for such an accomplishment is 24.

Even Seraphina, with her own remarkable talents, found herself eclipsed by Sun's brilliance. While she was exceptional, she simply wasn't Sun.

His name itself reflected his radiant brilliance, akin to the sun. His talent was a blazing force, overwhelming all in its path.

Although Lucifer was destined to surpass him eventually, the current gap between them was substantial. Understandable, given that Sun was over four years older.

Yet, the question lingered—why would a fifth-year find himself in the first-year domain? Mythos Academy maintained a strict separation between lower and upper years.

He seemed to sense the unspoken question hanging in the air as he casually remarked, "I came to check up on my little sister, nothing wrong with that, right?"

Check-up? Seraphina trembled beside me like a soaked kitten.

It was evident; he was here not merely to inquire about her well-being, but to exert control. Everyone at the table could see the power dynamic at play.

"So, you're Arthur Nightingale," Sun remarked, his intense gaze shifting toward me. His long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and his eyes gleamed with sharpness. A well-built physique, a testament to his martial prowess, was evident.

"Yes," I nodded, "You must be Sun Zenith. I am honored to meet the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua."

Sun's lips curved into a smile at my compliment. Since attaining the <Ascendent >-rank, he had earned an 'official' epithet from the public.

"I've heard you've been looking out for my sister as a friend," he continued, "I'd like to thank you on behalf of her brother."

To the average person, his words sounded gracious and fitting for a brother. However, I could discern the hidden layers beneath. 'Looking out' equated to 'coddling her.' Essentially, he wanted me to soften her up so that he could later marry her off to the Wudang Sect. Adding 'as a friend' was his way of dismissing any potential romantic feelings that might have developed between us over the past five weeks.

I had to tread carefully around this man. He was far too powerful for me to contend with, and I knew it would be years, if not decades, before I could face him on equal terms. His status as the heir of Mount Hua further bolstered his influence, making it daunting for most individuals to oppose him.

However, I had my own set of allies, including heirs to three influential families comparable to Mount Hua, and the princess of the Slatemark Empire, a global superpower boasting three <Radiant >-rank individuals.

"I appreciate your gratitude," I replied with a slight bow, "Seraphina holds great significance to me, and I genuinely care for her well-being."

Translation: Cross any lines with her, and you'll have to deal with me.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Cecilia's lips forming a subtle grin, relishing the unspoken tension.

Sun's smile remained unchanged as he extended his hand, "It's reassuring to know that my sister has a good friend like you. Please continue supporting her; she has some areas where she could use improvement."

Translation: Coddle her and act as her friend so she can become more suitable for my future plans.

Shaking Sun's hand, I maintained a friendly smile. Suddenly, an overwhelming pressure hit me, forcing the air out of my lungs. Lucifer reacted swiftly, but even he hesitated to confront Sun head-on, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.

'Even Lucifer is wary of this guy!' I thought to myself.

The pressure was stifling, and as I lifted my gaze, I was met with a sly grin from Sun. He was enjoying toying with me.

Despite gritting my teeth, I felt powerless in the face of this force. Yet, a glimmer of hope emerged as a hand intervened, resting on Sun's pressure and causing his body to quiver.

"Enough," a commanding voice declared, instantly lifting the oppressive weight. I turned to find Nero, the one exerting pressure on Sun.

"Know your limits, child," Nero warned, his eyes shimmering with a dangerous gleam. Although Sun's body remained unfazed, it was clear that Nero's pressure had its impact.

"Understood," Sun said, smiling, "I'll take my leave. Farewell, Seraphina."

His scrutinizing gaze lingered on Seraphina for a moment before he departed.

What a bastard.