"Now, the Path of Essence is perhaps the most straightforward and practical Path one could choose. Its effect is uncomplicated: an increase in Essence regeneration and a larger Essence reserve. It's no surprise that eight out of ten Binate Path Battlesoul masters choose to walk the Path of Essence along with another of the four Paths. However, its benefits come with their own, quite apparent drawbacks.
"The first drawback is that your body must be resilient enough to withstand the turbulent surge of Essence coursing through your Essence Veins. The second is that your mind must be strong enough to effectively command the vast reserves of Essence at your disposal. After all, if you can't control it, possessing a large amount of Essence would be as useless as giving a sword to a child. Even with ample reserves, you can't afford to unleash it recklessly; otherwise, your insides would collapse under the pressure of uncontrolled power."
Liam's words hung in the air, and several students shifted uncomfortably, clearly aware of the risks involved with the Path of Essence.
"The first limitation," he continued, "can be countered by possessing a powerful Beast-type Battlesoul at the Duke grade or higher, which grants the ability to use Blood Essence, further reinforced by the Path of Body. As for the second, walking the Path of Soul can strengthen your mental resilience to wield Essence effectively. Most Battlesoul masters carefully weigh which drawbacks they can handle before deciding on countermeasures for those they're uncertain about. Of course," Liam paused here, his gaze subtly shifting towards Noah, "there are some who are unaffected by these limitations…"
Some of the students glanced Noah's way, intrigued or even envious, but he accepted their scrutiny with his usual composure, giving no indication of discomfort or satisfaction.
"Moving on," Liam resumed, "let's revisit Pseudo-Intents. I'll be explaining some detailed examples and classifications of known Pseudo-Intents and their Tiers. As I mentioned previously, the first Tier involves basic effects. Typically, a student with a first-tier Pseudo-Intent would draw scrutiny, as such a low-tier Intent is deemed unfit for a Starlight Academy student.
"The next Tier, however, is where Pseudo-Intents reveal their true strength. At Tier 2, these effects evolve into what are known as Aspects. However, not all Aspects are created equal; their strengths can vary greatly. Rather than equalizing their power, it's more accurate to say that a Tier 2 Pseudo-Intent's strength depends on both its inherent volatility and its user's skill in wielding it. Listing all known Aspects would take hours, so instead, I'll focus on some of the most potent and volatile."
He took a moment to let the significance of his words sink in before elaborating.
"One notable example is the Weapon Aspect. This Aspect enhances any offensive techniques the user employs. For a swordsman, it could sharpen their blade, while for a hand-to-hand fighter, it would amplify the force behind each punch.
"Another notable Aspect is Destruction, which provides a highly efficient power that excels in penetrating enemy defenses, allowing the user to dismantle both attacks and defenses with sufficient Essence. Then we have the Suppressive Aspect, which dampens the strength of opponents, weakening their attacks and restricting their movements. Similarly, the Dominion Aspect grants the user enhanced control over their elemental powers, allowing them to alter and guide their attacks beyond the usual constraints of Battle skills. For instance, a Fireball skill could be transformed mid-flight into a flaming spear. Lastly, the Infinite Aspect lets the user divide their attacks, at the cost of reduced power, into multiple strikes. This list is far from exhaustive, as the diversity of Aspects is immense."
After a pause, Liam's gaze became more serious. "And now we arrive at Intents. The distinction between Pseudo-Intents and true Intents is both simple and profound. It lies in their Names.
"The Name of an Intent is what makes it unique. Names imprint the Intent onto the world, weaving it into your essence. For example, two different masters could each wield an Intent containing both the Weapon and Destruction Aspects, yet the two would be distinct because each person's existence imbues a unique character. The Names themselves may not be inherently extraordinary, but discovering them is no easy task. Attaining the insight needed to Name your Intent can take months, if not years. It's not merely about forming an Intent but defining it as an inseparable part of yourself. This makes the realization of one's Intent no easy feat—especially as one pursues the Exalt Stage Ascension, a challenge in itself.
"So I sincerely wish you all the best of luck on your respective Paths," he finished, giving the class a faint smile before turning and stepping out of the room.
As the students around him began to gather their belongings and chatter amongst themselves, Noah remained seated, his expression thoughtful as he replayed Liam's words. 'Based on his explanation, my Pseudo-Intent would contain the Aspects of Destruction, Weapon, and Dominion. But as for the Naming… that may take far longer to reach. Well, no point in worrying now,' he concluded, glancing briefly at his student Credit. 'I'm still at the first level, after all. I'll face that challenge when the time comes. For now, my focus is on reaching the peak of the Adept Stage.'
With a final glance around the classroom, Noah gathered his belongings and headed out, already planning his next steps in the rigorous journey ahead.