-1st person-
150 years later,
After that ordeal, I continued to practise magic with the energies, experimenting and learning about them and so on. It took so long to the point that I haven't progressed at all despite having the multiplied efficiency.
So now I'm going to devote every second to ranking up. I've already gotten to the verge of a breakthrough anyways.
I sat down on the grass as always and closed my eyes, focusing on bringing all the energy into me, interweaving them and bringing them in through my abdomen. Once my body was completely filled with energy, I slowly began bringing the ropes into my soul as I took the energy apart to weave them into even smaller and thinner threads. Then I brought them into my soul to create more bonds and connections.
My body floated into the air as more energy was brought in and in and in.
The energies fluctuated before quickly being controlled as they constantly flew into my abdomen and continuously strengthened my soul. The exact same power flowed into my heart at the same time. Causing even my blood to even have power, albeit only slightly.
My hair grew and - somehow - shortened at the same time.
And as I continued with this process for an hour, it eventually came to a stop as I floated back down onto my feet. I clenched my hands for a while.
"How the heck...?"
Well, you see, I broke through not only one rank. I actually broke through to Duke rank. That's a lot for my capacity...
Congrats, Ray! Mana spoke.
Yeah, I thought you were strong and talented but not this much... Aura said, a bit more quiet than usual. Maybe he was just scared.
Ray! You did amazing! I was cheering for you the whole time! Void spoke as she continued to say that she believed in me the whole time.
You did do very well for the stress that you've been placed under. Qi talked this time, probably referring to how I should save humanity and all.
Ugh. Well, he did do well for a weak human. Even Cosmos congratulated me, if that could be called a compliment.
"You are very talented, Ray," Eris spoke as if She'd been standing there the whole time.
"When did you get here?"
She got here around 4 minutes after you began your breakthrough, She looked quite nervous whilst watching you breakthrough. Qi said, guess I didn't need to ask Her.
"I've been here the whole time." She spoke calmly, quite contrary to how Qi said She was.
"Oh, ok then..." I said, thinking before I continued speaking, "I think that if my speed is like this, then I'll see if I can get to at least Prince rank."
"Hmm, I see. I'll leave now."
"Yep!"
I quickly began practising with the same method as earlier, and within a few hours, I broke through to Archduke rank.
A few days later, I broke through to Emperor rank.
...
I was a constellation.
To be honest, it didn't feel like much. There was a big burst of power and I was also able to properly use the daily meditation techniques now.
You see, when I learned them, it was more incomplete than complete. It was inefficient so I stopped using it after seeing the fact that the mental drain was also quite large, however, I could now use the power that used to be so draining and also use all those meditation techniques.
It was a bit underwhelming, to be honest. Like, I feel like I'm supposed to have this moment where a mind-blowing power explodes from me and I have to fight to the death against myself to stop it or I'm supposed to go through this kind of test to actually become a constellation. Like, don't most main characters go through this really big fight that almost kills them after they gain strength? They have to fight against an enemy with double their strength but in a situation against all odds, they survive and the main character gets even stronger. Though, I probably am not a main character. I'm simply the one who will free humanity.
"Hum..."
Don't worry, Ray. You did amazing even with all this help. It was all yourself who did this! Void encouraged me for some reason...
Yeah... It's overwhelming to think that someone can do this in such a short time even with all our help, most of this was all you and your determination. Even Aura...?
Yeah, Ray! Don't bring yourself down! What? Mana, what do you mean?... Ah. I guess I looked sad when I thought of how underwhelming it was.
"No, I'm not sad." I was stuttering whilst saying this because of how surprised I was, I was beyond surprised that they thought I was sad cause I had help in doing this.
Well, even if you weren't sad. You are a very talented human, one of the most talented I've seen in my lifetime. There has never been anyone who's broken through this quickly, you keep breaking through my expectations, Ray. Qi praised me for my talent.
And then my head hit the ground. Like, I fainted, not died.
---
5 years later,
"Well..."
I slept for 5 years.
Right now, I'm practising how to use daily meditation. The thing is, although I already know how to do it, I need to make it a habit to do it so I can multitask for this.
And...
Great job. Raymond.
Now you've got a song stuck in your head. It doesn't even fit the damn occasion. Deep breaths, deep breaths. No songs, no songs. No, no.
Focus. I'm focusing, I'm focusing.
---
5 hours later,
"Finally..."
What do you mean, Ray? Qi asked.
"I've finally got that damn song out of my head..." I muttered in a tired voice as my head hit the bed.
...
...
...
...
What, what happened? Cosmos, who wasn't listening, looked around the room and asked.
Well, I was already asleep then.
---
After I woke up,
Then we decided to sweep that incident under the rug as I lived my life, reading and practising magic and cooking. Yes, there is no training there since I've finished that. However, if I do that, my progress would speed up by a lot.
I almost walked to the garden before quickly realising my mistake and turning towards the library.
My steps were light as I walked down the stairs with a familiar gait. I walked into the library as I gasped at the familiar bookshelves. I mean, although I've been here a lot of times, I haven't been here for over 100 years so... Yeah. It was a bit nostalgic too.
And then, I walked to multiple different bookshelves and picked up multiple different books, then stacked them on the table.
I then proceeded to sit down, open a book, and read, read, read.