Density Pillar.
The Third Pillar of Art of Ascendance.
It was said that this Pillar was the key for any Ascendant to get strong for real, while the Fourth and last Pillar was the final door. After all of the Pillars were completed, the Ascendant would have an increase in power that was far beyond the strength that they had while still giving their first steps and training day after day. It was just like walking half of a path, but then the rest you go running at the max speed.
That's why it was so important for an Ascendant to get all the four Pillars into, at least, rank one.
Dean knew it as well. He had been studying nonstop about Art of Ascendance as if he was addicted to it. The boy was a monster regarding determination. Or some may call it just as stubbornness. Either way, nobody could assume that the boy didn't have what it takes to walk a hard path without lowering his head.
His greed for power was built over a long time of being mistreated by people that he trusted before, without the possibility to defend himself nor fight back. Also, each month that he passed away from his family was a pain for Dean. He loved his parents more than anything in that world and, although he wanted to get out of there as fast as possible, he was fond of his refuge and the people that resided there.
He couldn't bear that distance. It was even more hurtful when he thought about that raid and how many died back then because of him.
Just some months passed, but Dean was getting more mature and eager to get powerful.
Power was what based everything on that world. Whether your power is money, influence, or mystic energy, it doesn't matter as long as you can obtain whatever you want from it.
Dean wasn't just power leveling to get famous or rich or influential. He just wanted to find his family, and to do it he needed to travel through dangerous lands. He wanted to save his refuge if the Dreads were still threatening his folk, but he needed to be strong enough for this. The boy wanted to become free from those chains again, but he needed to beat powerful Ascendants to do so.
These were some of the things that always passed through the mind of that boy and were enough reason for him to train every day until he got extremely exhausted.
That was the reason why he got so adamant about going for the shortest, but more dangerous path to start training the Third Pillar.
After a whole night of lecturing with Paul, Dean got finally ready to begin his training.
The next night, when everyone was asleep, he took the opportunity to sneak out of the encampment and run through the Black fields to a place that he heard Clay talking about.
It was near the zone where Dreads called Scythes settled.
'The Third Pillar is the only pillar that requires more action than concentration. This technique is meant to be utilized after I reach the second rank on Control and Nourishment, but one can anticipate this matter by... fighting!'
Dean hid in bushes once he spot the enemy.
It was at night, so the Dreads would be able to smell his "Willpower" if he let even if a bit of it slip out. He needed to hide his presence completely.
"Third Pillar. Density. Condense your "Willpower" until all the energy gets compressed in half of its previous volume, making its raw power raise exponentially, also as the density of your energy. It's the same as making a liquid denser, like turning water into petroleum." He remembered about the superficial resume that Paul gave to him.
Density was basically that. Strengthen your "Willpower" by making its density raise. It would result in a more massive attack prowess.
"This stage can be trained in two different manners, contrary from the previous ones..." Paul explained. "The most recommended one is to condense your "Willpower", then hold it for the longest time you can, until the energy gets forcefully released. Repeat the process several times. You need to condense and release until this energy get naturally shaped into its new compressed and dense form. After some months, you shall be able to break through rank 1.
"The second way is just to... to fight. Just as you open micro-fissures on your muscles in order to develop them, which is called hypertrophy, you can also utilize your "Willpower" in a battle to its peak strength, always depleting its reserves and fighting at full force. This explosive and rapid use of "Willpower" will make it get denser and concentrated.
"As you can see, the two last Pillars were about your control over the "Willpower". The next ones will be about the natural shape of your "Willpower". You will train to transform this energy into its perfect and most powerful form."
Dean repeated all the paragraphs that Paul told him. It was very resumed, but the most important parts were there.
He understood the concept behind that technique and was confident that he should be able to do it.
While trying not to make any noise by shaking the bush's leaves, Dean unsheathed his sword slowly, looking to the lonely Dread in front of him.
Scythes were the only type of Dread that he could fight on those lands. That was because their nature was to be lonesome hunters.
They didn't know how to cooperate as a group very well. They just did so when their territory was getting invaded. However, when out to hunt, they wanted their prey only for them, so they preferred to be alone at times like that.
Differently from wolves, snakes, and other animals, Dean could have a fair one versus one fight against them.
'That's the only information that I got about them. The rest I will need to discover by myself... There is this problem with using all my available energy since it can attract many other Dreads to come after me. Anyway, it will be a good test. This is the first time that I am hunting alone. It will increase my experience by several levels!'