Talking to Luna had cleared a fair number of my doubts, but it had left others lingering like shadows in the corners of my mind. Clarity, it seemed, was a double-edged sword—each answer bringing with it a host of new questions.
I now had a better grasp of why the demons largely ignored Earth. Yes, they had to contend with stronger species elsewhere, but there was another layer to the story, one I hadn't fully appreciated until now.
Julius Slatemark had made a deal. With one of the seven Demon Lords, no less.
The thought sent a shiver down my spine. Julius had been humanity's first Radiant-ranker, a titan among mortals, but even he couldn't fight all seven Demon Lords and their armies. The deal, whatever it entailed, had kept Earth from being wiped clean. For now, at least.
In truth, I didn't know much about demons. Their lore was scattered, fragmented across different cultures and interpretations. But one thing was clear: they were powerful. Powerful enough that one Demon Lord could do what an entire army —reduce humanity to ash.
The realization sat heavily in my chest, like a weight pressing down on my ribs. If Julius Slatemark had seen the need to bargain with them, then I would need far more than ambition to face the future.
I'd thought that reaching peak Radiant-rank would be enough. But now? Now it was clear that Divine-rank wasn't just a lofty goal. It was a necessity.
"Tell me more about what Astral Manifestation will do now," I asked, turning my attention back to Luna. She was perched cross-legged on the bed opposite me, her galaxy-like eyes unblinking and inscrutable.
Astral Manifestation had been my trump card, turning my resonating enhanced aura into pseudo astral energy. It had allowed me to skip ranks, to fight opponents far stronger than I should have been able to. But now that I had ascended, now that I could wield true astral energy, the pseudo version felt obsolete. A relic of the past.
Luna tilted her head, considering my question. "You're right," she said finally. "Pseudo astral energy won't serve you anymore. But Astral Manifestation is more than just that."
She leaned forward slightly, her violet eyes narrowing as though she were about to divulge the secrets of the universe. "It doesn't stop at pseudo astral energy, Arthur. That was merely the beginning."
I raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
"Astral Manifestation amplifies," she explained, her tone carrying the maddening patience of someone speaking to a particularly slow pupil. "It adapts to the power you wield. Now that you have true astral energy, it refines and enhances it. Think of it as a lens—one that focuses and intensifies your astral energy beyond its natural limits."
That got my attention. "So it's not redundant?"
She smiled faintly, a glint of amusement lighting her eyes. "Far from it. You're familiar with the differences in astral energy as you ascend through the ranks, aren't you?"
I nodded, recalling the lessons. The astral energy used by Ascendant-rankers, Immortal-rankers, and Radiant-rankers varied not just in strength but in purity and versatility. The higher you climbed, the more potent and complex it became. While the jumps weren't as seismic as those between aura and enhanced aura, or between enhanced aura and astral energy, they were still significant.
"Aura, enhanced aura, astral energy, and finally, divine energy," Luna continued, her voice slipping into a rhythm that made the distinctions feel almost poetic. "Divine energy is exclusive to Divine-ranks, so set that aside for now. What your Astral Manifestation will do is synchronize your astral energy to the level of an Immortal-ranker, even though you're only at Ascendant-rank."
"That's a good jump," I said, nodding thoughtfully. A very good jump, in fact.
I frowned, another thought forming as I spoke. "What about Soul Resonance? Has it evolved too?"
Luna shook her head. "That's for you to discover."
Taking her hint, I closed my eyes and activated Soul Resonance. The instant it flared to life, I felt it—like a floodgate opening, the rush of potential almost overwhelming. My eyes snapped open, wide with disbelief.
"I can now use four of your abilities at once," I said slowly, piecing it together as the flow of energy settled into something more manageable. "And… I can use abilities from another being at the same time?"
"Not bad, is it?" Luna said, her tone light, though her gaze remained sharp.
"And," I continued, the realization dawning fully, "I can save two abilities in my slots now."
Luna inclined her head slightly, her expression unreadable. Gifts often gained significant boosts after scaling the Wall, but this? This was staggering.
"With this kind of flexibility," I mused aloud, "I can keep one ability slot exclusively for qilinification. It's too powerful to leave out."
Luna's lips quirked in approval. "A wise choice."
My mind raced as I listed the abilities I could use now: Soul Vision, Mythic Body, Astral Manifestation. But there was something new in the mix.
"What is this… Mythic Transplant?" I asked, tilting my head in curiosity as I studied the unfamiliar ability.
"It's an evolution of Mythic Body," Luna explained, her tone softening. "It focuses the power of Mythic Body onto a singular point, rather than spreading it throughout your entire being. The concentrated force allows for devastating impact, though it requires more precision."
I let the words sink in, the implications cascading like dominos in my mind. Mythic Body was already formidable, a cornerstone of my arsenal. But Mythic Transplant? The potential for tactical, focused destruction was staggering.
Luna watched me, her gaze steady and knowing. "You're beginning to see, aren't you?" she said. "The pieces are aligning."
"More pieces," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "The puzzle just keeps getting bigger."
Her laugh was light, almost musical, yet it carried an edge of challenge. "That's how it works, Arthur. The higher you climb, the more there is to see. The more there is to do."
I exhaled, letting the weight of her words settle. She wasn't wrong. The summit always seemed farther away, but the view from each new height made the climb worth it.
"Well," I said at last, a grin tugging at my lips despite the weight of it all. "At least I'm getting better toys for the journey."
"Now you'll need some time to adapt to this new strength," Luna said, her voice steady, though her galaxy-like eyes seemed to shimmer with approval. I nodded, lost in thought as I considered my next moves.
The Inter-Academy Festival had been canceled this year, another casualty of the war raging in the Eastern continent. That meant no major events until the mid-years and mid-terms in March, followed by the Sovereign's Tournament.
The Sovereign's Tournament—it loomed on the horizon but I was confident. I would win without much struggle.
The problem was my new abilities. My battle experience was solid, honed over countless fights, but my new abilities were a different story. Strength alone wasn't enough. Mastery was what turned potential into power.
The Tower of Alchemy beckoned, but timing was everything. Rushing there now would leave me unprepared for what came next. No, the Tower could wait—at least until after mid-terms. If I planned carefully, I could finish with the Tower and still return in time for the tournament.
"I'll go to the Creighton family first," I decided aloud, my voice firm with resolve. "Learn the Astareus method."
Luna raised an eyebrow, her expression one of mild curiosity. She didn't question my choice, but her silence carried its own weight.
"After that," I continued, "I'll join the war again. Just for several weeks after mid-years. It'll give me the chance to sharpen my skills in real combat."
Luna tilted her head, her lips curving into a faint smile. "And then?"
"And then," I said, my gaze sharpening, "I'll return for mid-terms. And from there… the Tower of Alchemy and Sovereign's Tournament."
It wasn't a simple plan, but it was achievable. My reduced course load at the academy, courtesy of Valerie's generous adjustments, gave me the breathing room I needed. It was a rare gift—time, precious and fleeting. I wasn't about to squander it.
Luna leaned back, watching me with an inscrutable expression. "You've mapped it out well," she said at last. "But you know as well as I do that plans rarely survive the battlefield."
"True," I admitted, a grin tugging at my lips. "But it's better than charging in blind."
She chuckled softly, the sound like the chiming of distant bells. "Better indeed."
The room fell into a comfortable silence as I turned my thoughts inward once more. The path ahead was as clear as I could make it, though I knew well enough that clarity wouldn't last. The world had a habit of throwing curveballs, and I'd need to be ready to adapt.
Still, for now, I had a plan. And that was more than most could say.