R-a - Volume 4 - Chapter 57

R-a - Volume 4 - Chapter 57

(Nearly 3600 words long chapter! Expect the next chapter in 2 days)

(Edit: Corrected typos)

.

What is talent?

‘It’s something I lack.’

Before today, that would have been Micheal’s answer to the deceptively simple question.

Micheal, at least to his allies, appeared like a tremendously talented human being. Shin and Sophia would both agree with this, as would Serena.

‘But that’s far from the truth.’

Micheal knew better than most the reality of his situation.

Micheal possessed incredible skills, from his extraordinary sensory awareness, to his battle prowess and reaction speed, to his supernatural intuition. He had an unbreakable willpower and the willingness to give his all, every minute of every day, no matter how grueling that might be.

Some might argue these could be considered talents, but…

‘The iron wall that is called talent is not so simple.’

These facets of Micheal were skills he had built up over a decade, from day in and day out of immersive practice, study, and training. Micheal put in his utmost effort to grow as much as he possibly could, and these were the results from that.

So… what was talent?

‘Bastien Amiot.’

It was the first thing that came to mind.

The Sundering Swordmaster, one of the strongest humans in existence, and a warrior who reached the 7th Layer as one of the leaders of Humanity’s Last Army.

‘Bastien Amiot is talented. Incredibly so.’

Micheal, after a decade of unceasing trials and effort, had barely managed to achieve Grandmaster Sword Mastery.

This was a huge achievement for Micheal, simply because he knew how brutally difficult it was. It was a level of skill that was beyond his talents to achieve, something he managed through an inordinate amount of training and dedication.

Very few beings achieved Grandmastery in any form of Weapon Energy. It was a tremendously difficult accomplishment that set Micheal apart, allowing him to become a soldier in Humanity’s Last Army.

Bastien Amiot was a World Blademaster, or a World Master as it was commonly known.

A Grandmaster like Micheal could project Sword Energy outside of his weapon, creating powerful slashes of terrifying energy. Achieving this level required a deep understanding of the Concept of the Sword.

A World Master, on the other hand, was a being who had comprehended the Conceptual Power of the Sword to ‘completion.’

To become a World Master, you had to fully comprehend your Sword, on a Conceptual level.

In this state, a World Master achieves Oneness with their Sword, transforming their body and Soul into ‘Swords.’ A World Master’s skin was tougher than steel, their organs harder than iron. A World Master could recover from practically any injury as long as they had time to meditate, ‘sharpening’ their body to heal all scars.

Micheal’s incredible control allowed him to cover his body with Weapon Energy, but a World Master’s body itself was a weapon.

A World Master was a superhuman among superhumans.

Micheal was able to grasp the most basic level of Grandmastery in ten years.

If he wanted to become a World Master, however…

‘Even 50 years wouldn’t be enough.’

Micheal was blocked by the iron wall called talent.

‘I’ve barely achieved Grandmastery.’

The sheer difficulty level in making any forward progress in his Sword Mastery was staggering.

So… how long did it take Bastien, after becoming a Grandmaster, to become a World Master?

‘2 years.’

It was an absurd achievement made possible by Bastien’s overwhelming natural talent, which went hand-in-hand with his Limited Sword God Type Ability.

‘Of course… talent means nothing if you squander it.’

Bastien wasn’t the only Human to achieve Oneness, but he was the only World Master in Humanity’s Last Army.

All of the other World Masters were dead.

Some died to Titled Deities like Navir and Ashroth, while others died in battle against other Races, often indirectly caused by the Titled Deity Bosmond. A few were presumed to have died due to the dangerous nature of the 6th Layer.

Most, however, died to Sion Swordsoul’s Human Hunt.

‘The reason Bastien survived wasn’t due to skill…’

Bastien managed to make it the 7th Layer for a far simpler reason:

He was lucky.

The Sundering Swordmaster was a First Waver. However, instead of scaling the Layers like his comrades, Bastien, after reaching the 3rd Layer, stopped and refused to climb higher.

‘He was suffering from PTSD.’

Bastien was 45 years old when he was transported to the 7 Layers. The Frenchman had been a passionate martial artist on Earth. His father was an Olympic fencing instructor and Bastien inherited that same love for the sword, but with even more talent. He had won numerous tournaments and competitions in the 2000s and early 2010s.

‘The horror of the 7 Layers could traumatize even the most talented humans.’

Bastien couldn’t come to terms with the world around him, with the lives he ended and violence he inflicted. At his core, Bastien was an incredibly competitive swordsman with a kind heart who entered a world of death, mentally unprepared for the challenges ahead.

After becoming a Master, Bastien gave up on improving further and spent the next 8 years on the 3rd Layer.

‘The only reason he left was because he was forced to.’

The 7 Layers were designed and connected in a way that forced beings to ‘climb’ up the Layers.

Each Layer grew more and more dangerous over time to anyone that wasn’t ‘native’ to that Layer. This came in the form of ‘energy rejection’ on the 2nd and 3rd Layers, though symptoms only appeared after spending 5 to 8 years in a Layer.

Children born on the 2nd and 3rd Layers were immune to energy rejection at least until the age of 11, but it was unknown if this period extended longer. Humanity was wiped out before further research could be conducted.

‘Bastien reached the 6th Layer in the final year before Humanity’s Last Army was formed.’

By that point in time, Sion had left for the 7th Layer, allowing Bastien to inadvertently dodge Sion’s Human Hunt.

‘It took Bastien only 2 years to become a World Master.’

That was talent, of the highest caliber.

For every day of work Bastien put in to master the Sword, Micheal had put in dozens of times the effort to match him. Bastien was able to naturally grasp abstract theories about martial arts in an instant, perceiving the flow of Sword Energy as if it was something he had been born with. Micheal, on the other hand, had to struggle, spending countless hours just to match what Bastien did in a couple of seconds.

It was brutally unfair, but that was life.

Micheal had long-since come to terms with his lack of talent.

Or at least…

That was what he had thought.

“Haha… hahahaha…. hahahahahaha…” Micheal laughed out loud as tears streamed down his face, his normally stalwart expression nowhere to be seen. Tightly kept emotions boiled in his heart as his hands shook, overwhelming him.

“Why now?” He spoke aloud as he held up his right hand, staring at a small, unstable orb of blue energy.

Mana.

A formless, cool energy that could only be expressed if one controlled a Mana Circle, or a Stage 2 Mana Heart.

“After all these years… why did I only find out now?!” Micheal struggled to control his emotions as he watched the blue orb of Mana fade away.

The world gave him no answer.

“If I had known… if only I had known…” Micheal stared at his hands before shutting his eyes tight.

After 10 long, grueling years…

Micheal had finally found his first true talent.

Mana Circles were, by definition, complex mechanisms that required huge amounts of effort to create. They were implanted in a creature’s Soul, where even the tiniest of mistakes could have devastating ramifications.

Creating your first Mana Circle was a long, drawn out process that required many steps, practice, and preparation.

Micheal was prepared for it to take weeks, months, or even years if need be, here in the First Gate, where he had all the time in the world.

He would scale the iron wall of talent no matter how long it took.

Or, at least, that was the plan.

“...”

Time seemed to rewind as Micheal’s memories jumped backwards, to the moment he decided on his Mana Breathing Method.

.

—- Echoes of the Eternal Mana Breathing Method —-

Rank: SSS

Effects: A Mana Breathing Method created by Archmage Aoiles after his study of the Well of Eternity, found on the 6th Layer. Specializes in development of Mana Circles, vastly enhances Mana density and capacity, enhances connections to Conceptual Powers related to ‘Infinity’ and ‘Eternity.’ Grants unique properties to one’s Mana.

Note: Practicing this Mana Breathing Method requires an exceptionally strong Soul. High risk of death if the user fails to meet this Method’s requirements. Practicing this Mana Breathing Method will modify one’s Physique over time, relative to the Concepts of ‘Infinity’ and ‘Eternity.’

.

“Let’s get to it, then.”

Micheal stood up and stretched, moving his body around.

The First Gate was a rather unique place. Despite the passage of time inside the First Gate, humans, and any creature that entered, did not age. Time was twisted here, distorted, allowing for one to train continuously.

When it came to accumulating energy, however, it was a different story.

‘My body here is a simulated form, connected to my Soul.’

It was an identical copy in every way.

This body was ‘real’ in here, a real, physical body identical to his own. However…

‘Only the things I buy from the Shop or pull from my Spatial Ring actually exist.’

Everything else was a simulated existence that would vanish the moment he left the First Gate.

In line with that thought, it was impossible to accumulate Ki or Mana or any type of energy in one’s body inside the First Gate. It was possible to practice different methods out, using the body in here as a placeholder, but actually accumulating energy for a permanent change in one’s body was impossible.

‘But if I try to condense Mana in my Soul, if it’s just for the 1st Circle, I should be fine.’ Micheal nodded.

Even if his body here was fake, the only thing that mattered when forming a Mana Circle was his Soul.

“First, let’s lay out the basics.” Micheal returned to his chair and turned to a certain page in his notebook, reviewing what he wrote down.

Mana Circles are formed in the ‘Core’ of a being’s Soul, the central most part. A Mana Circle is composed of extremely dense Mana, with its attributes and typings determined by the Mana Breathing Method used to gather it.

‘Mana can only be condensed along the leylines of a being’s Soul.’

Leylines were small, nigh-indistinguishable lines of energy that permeated a being’s Soul, much like a human’s blood vessels permeated their body. Sensing these leylines required either an extremely deft touch or a vast amount of practice and memorization.

‘Let’s try and sense them now.’ Micheal shut his eyes, turning his focus inward.

Ki didn’t draw upon or require the use of a Soul’s leylines, but that didn’t mean Micheal was ignorant of their existence.

In his first life, Micheal had poured an enormous amount of effort into researching and discovering any method that could potentially let him grow stronger, especially in the final years, when Humanity pooled her resources together as one.

‘Trying to train Mana after already training Ki was far too dangerous for me to attempt in my first life.’

In his first life, he didn’t possess the Life Orb Master Ability. If he died, it simply meant that he was dead and that was it. Training Mana while he already possessed Ki was therefore an extremely risky proposition that he had no choice but to avoid.

‘If I’d gotten ahold of these Mana Breathing Methods earlier, maybe I’d have considered it.’ Micheal shrugged.

‘Now is different. With Kyrui’s Inheritance to back me up, I’ll be able to make great use of a Mana Circle.’

After a few seconds, Micheal’s eyes lit up as he opened them, envisioning hundreds of small blue lines flowing through the essence of his Soul.

‘Excellent!’ Micheal smiled. It had been a long time since he examined his Soul like this.

‘Now, for Mana.’ Micheal took a deep breath and then exhaled, turning to a new page on his notebook.

The first step of utilizing the Echoes of the Eternal Mana Breathing Method came in the form of creating a ‘Manaless Circle.’

“This is going to hurt.” Micheal muttered with a rueful smile.

Normal Mana Breathing Methods focus on sensing Mana and drawing Mana into one’s Soul first, before even attempting to form a Mana Circle.

Micheal’s Mana Breathing Method worked the opposite, by first requiring him to create a ‘Mana Circle’ and only then, later, allowing him to sense and draw in Mana to fill it.

“Damned Elves.”

There was a good reason for the unusual nature of his Mana Breathing Method.

The Echoes of the Eternal was a Mana Breathing Method created by a High Elf named Aoiles on the 6th Layer.

Aoiles was an Archmage, a 6th Circle Wizard of the highest order. He created this Mana Breathing Method after being inspired by his research into the Well of Eternity, and designed it specifically for himself.

‘This is a Mana Breathing Method created to be used by a Wizard who has broken his Mana Circles to start over.’

Aoiles had been stuck on the 6th Circle for more than 500 years, forever unable to progress. This Mana Breathing Method was the accumulation of his research over centuries of effort, a Method designed to finally let him become a 7th Circle Sage.

‘Thankfully, I’m already adept at manipulating energy.’ Micheal thought to himself. While he had never touched on or used Mana, his years of experience moving Ki and using various different Abilities and Artifacts gave him a solid foundation to draw upon.

Micheal focused his attention inward, to the most central Core of his Soul. There, he mentally marked each leyline that passed through his Core. He split his concentration multiple ways, slowly gathering a deep, in-depth picture of the Core of his Soul.

“Woo. Breathe.” Micheal muttered as sweat began to drip down his forehead. Concentrating on so many different things at once was excruciatingly difficult.

‘I don’t have Mana in my Soul to help guide me, so I’m going to have to mark my Soul using Ki.’

He needed to be extra careful here. Ki would only conflict with Mana when manifested physically, but it could still interfere with the formation of his Mana Circle if he wasn’t careful.

Aoiles, after he shattered his Mana Circles, would have a Soul full of free-floating Mana. He wouldn’t have to worry about attracting outside Mana and could instead form his Mana Circles by reusing Mana from his old Circles.

Several tense minutes passed as Micheal memorized the exact position, length, and scale of each leyline running through his Core.

After around 15 minutes of constant focus, Micheal began to smile.

‘That was surprisingly easy.’

His Soul was now in a state similar to Micheal holding his breath. Everything was held still, waiting for Micheal to take action. The Ki he used was now dispersed, no longer at risk of interfering.

‘Let’s go.’

Micheal didn’t hesitate.

Immediately, he began to form his first Mana Circle.

Micheal’s Soul twisted as he gathered all of the branching leylines that connected to his Core and pulled them together. Leyline after leyline was forcibly connected to neighboring leylines, creating a thick, circular pattern.

“Damn.” Micheal’s eyes turned bloodshot as his Soul felt like it was on fire. No matter how delicate and precise his movements were, the act of forming a Mana Circle without Mana was little different than branding one's Soul.

A normal Mana Breathing Method gradually built up a Mana Circle by filling one’s Soul with Mana, but Micheal wasn’t afforded that luxury. The Echoes of the Eternal Method required a full, complete Mana Circle to be constructed before it could be used to absorb Mana.

“It’s set already?!” Micheal winced, his breathing turning ragged as he managed to stabilize the ‘Manaless Circle.’ Without the presence of Mana, however, the only thing holding it together was his sheer force of will.

‘Is it supposed to go this fast?’

The first step wasn’t exactly an easy step to complete… but Micheal had managed to finish it on his first try in less than 20 minutes.

Micheal had been prepared to spend days or even weeks perfecting this first step if need be. The fact that he finished it in 20 minutes felt almost unbelievable.

‘Let’s keep going, then!’ Micheal thought, not wanting to squander this opportunity.

“Step 2.”

The second step of the Echoes of the Eternal Mana Breathing Method was the Magic Imprinting stage.

Every Mana Breathing Method was different and the main reason for that was due to Magic Imprinting.

A Mana Circle was composed of 3 things: a connection of leylines in one’s Soul, a wealth of Mana to empower and fill it, and a Magic Imprint guided and implanted into it.

In order for Micheal to control his Mana Circle, he had to Imprint it with the Mana Breathing Method of the Echoes of the Eternal.

“Aeygio myphor ol lamme eonan shieuo, naguil mino eephren melusik.”

Micheal spoke aloud a line of strange words, words that oddly resonated in the air.

“Morfin melusik ol lamme, partuk nupal caraf bent du reade.”

Every line he spoke caused the Mana Circle he was forming to tremble, sending a sickening sensation through his Soul.

Micheal persevered, however, enunciating each and every word clearly.

“Aeugio ol lamme forstwo, shadoiw coufa belko mon eephron.”

The words he spoke sounded almost understandable, yet at the same time, mysteriously difficult to grasp. It was a language Micheal had learned in his first life, as he studied ways on growing stronger.

In the 7 Layers, there were many different languages from countless different species. Humanity had the luxury of the Shop that automatically translated all spoken languages to something understandable, but other species did not. Human slaves were popular in the upper Layers for this reason.

Throughout all of these disparate languages, however, were 2 extraordinarily languages that stood out from the rest:

The Divine Language, and…

The Language of Magic.

A minute passed as Micheal chanted line after line, searing the Magic Imprint of the Echoes of the Eternal Mana Breathing Method into his Soul. Sweat poured down Micheal’s face as he grunted, feeling the Magic words he spoke burn themselves into his Soul.

“Borten hashisk ay zedin. Lorel ol egoria, sanuth forwen.’

Soon, 15 minutes passed, with no sign of Micheal slowing down.

“Antori nivor, eephon aigo tu monlew. Fallo mon tor aiygo meluski.”

At the 20 minute mark, Micheal saw himself nearing the end of the 2nd step.

The Echoes of the Eternal was an incredibly complex Mana Breathing Method.

Normal Mana Breathing Methods required a Magic Imprint that was between 10 and 20 lines long. Higher level Mana Breathing Methods could last upward of 25 to 40 lines to imprint, requiring a solid understanding of the Language of Magic.

The Echoes of the Eternal’s Magic Imprint was 412 lines long.

‘Just a few more, and then I’ll be able to draw in Mana.’ He thought, his eyes blurring. Micheal had not anticipated how agonizingly painful it would be to sear a Magic Imprint into his Soul without using Mana.

There was a good reason why normal Mana Breathing Methods slowly built up a Mana Circle instead of doing it this way. The vast majority of new Mages would never be able to complete this Method.

A few short moments later…

“Thundra chronos uldon mon vultur ol eterna mu infinit.”

Micheal’s eyes glowed blue as he said the final line.

Immediately, Micheal felt the half-constructed Mana Circle in his Soul seem to solidify. At the same time, the constant, fiery pain lessened, giving him a brief respite as he processed his success.

‘I did it one go?!’

Micheal was genuinely shocked.

‘Imprinting a normal Mana Breathing Method is supposed to take several attempts for the average Wizard.’ Micheal thought, his eyes shining.

‘A genius Mage might complete a normal Mana Breathing Method in one go, but the more lines you add to the Method, the more difficult it becomes.’

Micheal had never directly interacted with Mana before.

He learned how to speak and read the Language of Magic over the course of his first life, but he never attempted to put it into action due to the risk of it clashing with his Ki.

Despite this being the first time utilizing the Language of Magic for a purpose, despite the fact that he didn’t even yet possess Mana when he activated it…

Micheal succeeded, on his very first try, without making a single mistake.

In this process, he felt something he had never felt before.

An intuitive grasp and unconscious understanding that he recognized as soon as he activated it, an ease of movement and comprehension that felt natural...

Talent.

As Micheal’s 1st Mana Circle formed, he felt a cool rush of blue energy serenade his Soul, outside Mana rushing to fill the empty void in his freshly formed Circle. In just a few short seconds, the searing pain vanished as his Soul was filled with Mana, absorbing the latent energy that existed in the background of all creation.

Micheal successfully created his 1st Mana Circle...

And it only took him 43 minutes.

.