I felt my Sword Heart pulse within me, a steady rhythm that seemed to resonate with the mana coursing through my body. With just a thought, I could feel the new potential it held—to gather and compress mana, transforming it into astral energy effortlessly. It was a symphony of power waiting to be conducted.
But that wasn't all.
The conceptualization of seven-circle magic had finally bridged the gap in my spellcasting, giving me the boost I desperately needed. While my swordsmanship was still ahead, the progress was undeniable. The two disciplines now felt less like separate paths and more like complementary forces—threads of the same tapestry.
And then there was the first body metamorphosis.
There were no words for it, really. My body felt… evolved. Every fiber of muscle, every ligament, every nerve hummed with vitality, as if I'd shed the frailty of my old self and stepped into something new. I knew about the advantages Ascendant-rankers held over Integration-rankers—their superior endurance, regeneration, and sheer physicality—but experiencing it firsthand for myself was staggering.
The realization hit me like a cold wind: I wasn't just stronger. I was fundamentally different.
"...You're a monster," Lilith said, breaking the silence. Her emerald eyes were wide, her expression a rare mix of astonishment and grudging respect.
I blinked, turning to her. "Ah," I said, realizing what she meant.
It was my mana signature. The way it radiated power, uncontained and untamed. By using both Sword Heart and seven-circle magic to scale the Wall, I had done something unusual—no, extraordinary. Most people chose one discipline as their cornerstone. I had chosen both.
The result? I wasn't just a newly-minted Ascendant-ranker. I was somewhere between low and mid Ascendant-rank.
The realization settled over me like a weight—an exhilarating, slightly overwhelming weight. This was good. Better than good. In terms of even just mana rank, this saved me months.
Lilith studied me for a moment longer, her surprise giving way to something sharper. "I take it this was deliberate?" she asked, though her tone suggested she already knew the answer.
I nodded. "It would have been faster if I'd focused solely on reaching Ascendant-rank," I admitted. "But I'd have lagged behind in spellcasting. Spending those five months immersed in the Fuller method wasn't just worth it—it was necessary."
Lilith crossed her arms, her lips curling into a small smirk. "And now you're reaping the rewards. A walking contradiction—someone who makes impossible choices and still comes out ahead."
Her words weren't entirely a compliment, but I took them as one. She wasn't wrong.
I flexed my fingers, feeling the strength in them, the new precision and power. "It'll take me about four months to stabilize at mid Ascendant-rank," I said, mostly to myself.
Lilith's smirk deepened. "Four months? You really don't know how to slow down, do you?"
I shrugged. "Why would I?"
For a moment, there was silence, broken only by the faint hum of the mana around us. Then Lilith shook her head, the smirk fading into something softer.
"Keep that pace, Arthur," she said quietly. "The world's going to need it."
The Windward family was unlike most and like the other superpowers. Their laws, steeped in ancient tradition and unyielding pragmatism, set them apart from the rest of the world. Despite being Lucifer's cousin and the niece of the reigning King of the Windwards, Lilith was still considered a princess. The man who married her would marry into the Windwards, not the other way around.
In their family, all children—whether born of the King or not—were considered potential heirs. It was a system designed to foster strength and eliminate weakness, but it also meant that those like Lilith understood the dangers of the world far better than most.
And those dangers were growing.
The vampire uprising in the East raged on, a conflict that had stretched into months with no end in sight. The Martial King and the Vampire Monarch's battle was the stuff of nightmares, a cataclysmic clash that neither side could seem to win. Both had retreated for now, licking their wounds, but their intermittent strikes wreaked havoc on cities and annihilated anyone foolish enough to intervene.
Radiant-rankers could have stepped in, but they were entangled in their own wars, each vying to protect their territories from the rising chaos. The world felt stretched thin, its defenders fewer than ever.
Lilith's voice broke me from my thoughts. "So, you're heading to the Tower of Alchemy now?" she asked, leaning casually against the doorway of the training hall.
I nodded. Lilith had been instrumental in the formation of my Sword Heart, guiding me with the kind of precision and insight that only someone of her caliber could provide. Without her help, it wouldn't have been as strong or refined.
"Yes," I replied simply. The Tower of Alchemy was my next destination, a stepping stone to securing the aid of Archmage Charlotte. Her support was critical to strengthening Noctalis, and resolving the brewing tensions within the Tower was the first step.
As I left the training hall, the crisp air hit me, carrying with it a faint buzz of mana that seemed to echo my own heightened state. Walking through the campus, I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer exhilaration of it all.
This was what it meant to scale the Wall.
The power coursing through me wasn't just an abstract concept anymore—it was tangible, alive. Every step I took felt lighter, yet each one left a weightier impression. I had become more than I was before, and the world around me seemed smaller somehow.
I took out my phone, its sleek black surface lighting up with a tap. My fingers danced across the screen as I sent a message to Rachel, Cecilia, and Seraphina. Simple, direct, but enough to let them know I wanted to see them.
The café wasn't far, its warm glow a welcome reprieve from the bustling energy of the academy. Sliding into a seat near the window, I ordered a coffee and let the scent of roasted beans calm my racing thoughts.
As I sipped the rich, bitter brew, my gaze drifted outside, watching students hurry by, their laughter and chatter blending into the hum of life.
It wasn't long before they arrived. One by one, Rachel, Cecilia, and Seraphina stepped into the café, their gazes falling on me as if they could sense the difference before a word was spoken.
For a moment, they stood there, their expressions a mix of surprise and understanding. Rachel's sapphire eyes sparkled with curiosity, Cecilia's lips curved into her signature teasing smirk, and Seraphina's composed demeanor softened just enough to reveal a flicker of approval.
"You broke through," Cecilia was the first to speak, breaking the silence with a dramatic sigh. "Well done, you monster."
I chuckled, waving them to the table. "Sit down, you three."
They slid into their seats, each one congratulating me in their own way. Rachel's bubbly warmth, Cecilia's playful mockery, and Seraphina's quiet acknowledgment all blended into a harmonious reminder of why they mattered so much to me.
"So, Arthur," Rachel began, her voice as bright as ever, "how strong are you now? You even defeated a peak Ascendant-ranker before, right? Does that mean you can fight Immortal-rankers now?"
Her question hung in the air, and I caught the glint of anticipation in Cecilia's crimson eyes as she leaned forward slightly. Even Seraphina, ever composed, tilted her head in quiet interest.
"Fight against them? Yes," I replied, pausing to take a sip of my coffee. "Win against them? No."
Rachel frowned slightly, her brows knitting in confusion. "But you've fought people above your rank before and won."
"True," I admitted, setting the cup down. "But Immortal-rankers are different. Their bodies regenerate faster than I can deal damage, and that regeneration is best countered by Domains—the ability they unlock at Immortal-rank."
Cecilia's smirk deepened. "So you're saying you could smack one around but not finish the job?"
I raised an eyebrow. "That's… one way to put it. The current me could overpower some weaker low Immortal-rankers, but defeating them outright? Not yet."
Seraphina nodded, her quiet voice cutting through the playful tone of the conversation. "Regeneration is their strength, but also their crutch. Your growth has already brought you close. It's only a matter of time."
Her words carried weight, a quiet confidence that mirrored my own thoughts. I wasn't far—just a step away from reaching that next level, from standing toe-to-toe with the legends of this world.
Cecilia leaned back, her eyes glittering with amusement. "Well, don't get cocky. I don't want to explain to your fanbase why their hero got pummeled trying to take on an Immortal-ranker before he was ready."
Rachel giggled, leaning closer. "Besides, Arthur, you've got us to keep you grounded. And if you try something stupid, we'll just gang up on you."
"I'd like to see you try," I said with a grin, though the warmth in their words wasn't lost on me.
The banter continued, light and familiar, but beneath it was a shared understanding. I had crossed a threshold, but the road ahead was long, and the challenges waiting for me would demand everything I had—and more.
For now, though, I allowed myself this moment, surrounded by the people who mattered most.