Waking from his slumber, Elias looked around. He was lying in a small bed inside a simply decorated room—the one he had been given yesterday.
Despite its modest appearance, the room was quite large. The soft bed could comfortably fit two people, and there was a desk and a wardrobe. Sunlight streamed through a small window, casting a warm glow across the room.
"Oh, you're awake. Good morning, I went to get some food!" Yui said as she walked in, carrying a plate of bread.
Elias immediately noticed her change in attire. She was no longer wearing the formal dress from yesterday; she was wearing a simple green robe.
"Good morning, Mother," Elias replied.
Yui placed the plate on the table and sat down on the edge of the bed, gently stroking Elias' hair. "How are you feeling? Does your hand still hurt?" she asked.
"... Yes, it still hurts. But we've had worse, right?" Elias responded with a soft smile.
Yui's smile was tinged with pain. "It's in the past now. Don't think about it anymore. But don't worry. I swear you will never have to suffer like that again," she said with a resolute tone. "Anyway, now, eat your breakfast and prepare. We have a busy day ahead."
Raising an eyebrow, Elias asked, "What will we do?"
"I will finally start my cultivation journey today… while you are going to train your body."
"... Training my body? With who? Where?"
"Uh... I truly don't know either..." Yui said, scratching her head. "Apparently, elder Xiawen wants you to start training as soon as possible. Something about strengthening your body and mind before awakening your talent or learning about manifestations."
"...I see." Elias stood unmoving for a moment, then nodded.
Even Elias does not really know what to think of this. It was obviously a trap, yet training his body could actually be useful. Although he is a bit young for real training, it won't hurt to at least learn the basics.
Elias was extremely experienced with various manifestations and their effects, how to counter them, or even the formula needed to ascend to their numerous forms, but he was actually clueless about the rest.
Knowing all of those was a great accomplishment. Ascending a manifestation was not as easy as it sounds. First, one needed to have an idea of the desired form.
Ascending a manifestation involves more than just "making it stronger" and "raising its rank"; it's actually a complex process of evolution. While increasing a manifestation's rank without changing its form is possible, this approach wastes its potential. Hence, unless absolutely necessary, no one would choose this method.
Taking the previously mentioned rank 2 wolf pack manifestation, which can be used to control rank 1 wolf-type aether beast, as an example.
The typical ascension would be the rank 3 Alpha wolf pack, which allows the control of a group of rank 2 wolf-type aether beasts.
Alternatively, it could evolve into a different form, like the rank 3 Lone wolf, which focuses on controlling a single but significantly more powerful rank 3 wolf-type aether beast.
Another option is to ascend its rank without evolving it. This would result in a rank 3 wolf pack manifestation, allowing the user to control a larger group of rank 1 beasts compared to its previous rank. It means that the original ability to control a group of rank 1 wolf-type beasts will not change; it will only be strengthened.
That was why ranks for manifestation do not actually matter much. While it does influence strength, it is not a good indicator of a manifestation's worth.
Once someone determines the desired form of their manifestation, they must acquire the formula for its ascension. This step is very challenging because ascension formulas are often kept secret.
Formulas are essentially sets of instructions that guide the user on how to evolve their manifestation. These formulas were created by ancient cultivators and have been passed down through generations.
Normally, Elias' knowledge wouldn't compare to those who have studied and practiced ascensions for centuries... That would at least have been the case if he hadn't explored a myriad of worlds and acquired various and numerous formulas.
In some of the worlds he explored through the game, the undiscovered forms of a manifestation in one world were common knowledge in another.
In the worst case, Elias was confident that he could create his own formula by mixing some already existing ones since it was very similar to mathematics... Although he would need a lot of time.
Once the user obtains the formula, they will need to gather the materials. This was obviously one of the most difficult parts. The materials needed could vary greatly, from ranked material looted from a beast to the need for the sacrifice of another manifestation as a catalyst.
After gathering all the materials, the user must perform the actual ascension. This process was usually pretty safe for the cultivator and the concerned manifestation. Yet this part could be considered the most difficult because it relied heavily on luck. It was pure and sheer luck and nothing more or less.
If the cultivator fails, they will have to recollect all the painfully gathered materials from scratch once again. This process could take centuries for higher-ranked manifestation.
Even worse, sometimes formulas expire when the material needed to ascend becomes extinct. This means that the formula would need to change, which would take time, too.
It wasn't uncommon for high-rank cultivators to be stuck with low-rank manifestation simply because they were unlucky. This leads to a situation where even if they have the aether, they cannot use it to its full potential.
No matter their talent, they can only stay stagnant without resources and luck.
Despite comprehending most forms and formulas, Elias knew next to nothing about body training or even real combat. He perhaps knew a bit of theory, thanks to the game, but he was absolutely oblivious to the practical side.
'This could be an opportunity for me,' he thought.
"I understand. I will do as he says and train," Elias said.
"Just don't force yourself. Now, eat your breakfast; it's going to get cold," Yui replied with a smile. She then stood up and walked to the door. "I'll go and prepare myself. I'll come get you when it's time... Be careful. Don't hurt yourself this time, okay?"
Yui left the room, leaving Elias alone. He glanced at the bread plate, picked up a piece, and started eating without enthusiasm.
As he slowly chewed, his mind raced with thoughts 'What would I do in Liandor's shoes? How would I deal with myself? Would I try to assassinate? Or would I try to control me? Since I am still young, it could be a possibility. Then again, I will have to deal with his real grandson. What is his personality? What about Ray's? What does he think? Is he like his dad?' After a moment, he decided to wait and observe. He didn't have enough information to make a decision yet.
To ultimately win, he knew that merely predicting his opponent's moves wasn't enough. In fact, he would say that adaptability was even more important. It is easy to predict but harder to adapt and turn an unfavorable situation into a good one.
Being able to adjust strategies on the fly quickly separates amateurs from master schemers. Relying too heavily on predictions, no matter how accurate, is unwise. After all, nothing in this world is entirely predictable. Even if he could go back in time, he couldn't guarantee that the same outcome would happen again.
After finishing his breakfast, Elias got out of bed and stretched his arms.
Soon, Yui came back, wearing a white robe and carrying a small bag. "Are you ready?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm ready," Elias replied.
"Let's go, then."