'Manakai', is regarded as the most useless path a cultivator can choose, mainly because of how inefficient the path can be.
Mages choose magic and master it to the best of it, while Martial Artists push their bodies to the limit. Whereas Manakai, who does martial arts with mana ends up mastering neither magic nor martial arts.
"Telekinesis Zone," a small grey sphere manifests, the force pulling around Jack seemingly disappearing, as he laid the axe down.
"Telekinesis Zone? What's that?" Gabriel asked, puzzled.
"It is when a mage pushes out their mental power to the max, enclosing themselves in a one-meter zone," Wyge explained, her voice light.
"But Telekinesis Zone isn't supposed to be used like that, it's rarely used by anyone because its application choices aren't that great," muttered Shia who had been silent for some time.
"You are pretty creative, Mr. Jonathan, I think I underestimated you quite a lot. Maybe if it's against you, I think I can go all out." Thomas replied, his stance changing, gripping the sword with both hands and pulling it back, "Release guard," the barrier around Thomas disappearing. "Sword Qi: Force blade."
Thomas then swings his blade once, and the prison cells and the moon both shatter, leaving mana particles, floating in the air.
'Force blade? He must be at the Master stage, and I am only at the intermediate stage, maybe if I use this chance to breakthrough I might have a chance,' Jack thought, his face strained under maintaining the Telekinesis Zone.
"Does that mean you've been holding back? And here I thought I was giving it my best." Jack replied.
"Maintaining that zone seems quite difficult, why don't I slice it up," Thomas said as he walked towards Jack.
"Oh! It's not that hard, since I got Moonless, but maintaining Moonless sure is breathtaking, I haven't shown you any attack spells yet, right?
Jack started weaving hand signs, along with the incantation, "Spear of Heavens, descend Gungir, Kirk Xenwu Original." A series of circles formed behind Jack, glowing bright with a grey hue, all joining up to form a single circle and a black spear with a large head manifesting from it.
"Xenwu? Sage of the North? Don't you have any original spells?"
"It seems not. Gungir, Max Output, ready, align and fire."
The spear shot straight at Thomas, tearing through the air and threatening to shoot through Thomas. Thomas dodges at the last second, twisting his body, the spear completely missing its mark.
"Deflection, re-align, changing target," Jack spoke his voice muffled, the spear changing direction, not towards Thomas but at the moons that threatened to tear apart Jack.
The spear smashed through the first four moons before crashing into the fifth moon completely disappearing, leaving behind a trail as the moons exploded at their destruction.
The aura the moons released disappeared, finally letting Jack breathe, as he undid the Telekinesis Zone.
"Ooooh", 'Controlling the path of a spell, purely through mana control, such mastery I've never seen someone do that, and I thought that replication of Wave Crash was impressive, he should be at Nexarion, what's he doing here wasting his talent.' Han Shia thought.
'This is why everyone calls her creepy, despite her good looks Han Shia can be quite... What's that word, Ah! Yes, unsightly at times, this is why I didn't try to take her, Jonathan is better.' Daniela mused.
"Wyge, have you ever seen anyone use magic like that? I don't think even my father can do that." Gabriel asked Wyge who looked equally surprised.
"No, it's my first time, I had no idea magic could be used like that, even with Reflux, the best I can do is control the mana flow in certain ways without breaking the source code, but that... I don't think so."
"Daniela, you win, I'll take him in, even if he can't open the Sealix I don't care, I want him at Nexarion, I want him close, Aaaahh, the ecstasy, no one has ever been able to show me anything new, but I'm sure that man can do it," Han Shia shaking Daniela, her voice cracking apart as she spoke.
"Haha, Yes didn't I tell you this trip was going to be worth it", 'Now let go of me, you creepy old woman.' "Why don't you conclude the duel, principal."
"Oops, I can't do that now, can I? I want to see him use more of that odd magic, the duel was established under the warrior's oath, it won't end until one side is down."
"Shit", 'That's going to be a problem, someone will get hurt, and that too because of my selfishness.'
'I'm close, I can feel it, I can breakthrough, it's within my grasp, almost as if I can grab it, I need to leap, I need to...'
"Mr Radagar, I'll show you an original, I bet you've never seen this in your life, this is my best, my everything."
Jack stands up straight, taking in a few deep breaths, extending his index and middle finger while folding his thumb and other fingers inwards. Mana flows out of Jack seemingly solidifying around Jack, his pupils glowing deep yellow and the sclera turning black.
The space beneath Jack's feet begins distorting, the air growing thick enough that if an ordinary person were around they would have suffocated.
"Fortress between the realms, codex of void calls—Sepulcher: Echoes of War, bind to reali—"
THUMP
Jack faints, falling to the green scarred ground, with a deep thud. The air around him went back to its normal state as if nothing ever happened.
'What was that? That was terrifying, I felt as if he was about to rip me apart, at first I was just pushing him around but if he were to successfully activate that spell...'
Thomas sheaths his blade as he walks towards Jack's unconscious body. "Shia, end the duel."
"Ahh, Yes, The victor—Thomas Radagar," Shia spoke almost zoning out. 'What was that, I didn't see that spell but it felt like the space itself was bending and merging.'
Finn rushes towards Jack, kneeling beside him and pushing him, positioning Jack's body as his face is facing upwards. Finn then checks Jack's pulse. 'Oh, he just ran out of mana, he must have broken through to the next stage.'
"Uhh, Mister, can you help me take him inside?" Finn asks Thomas, kindly.
"Sure, here let me help you and you are, his?" Thomas replied in kind, taking Jack's unconscious body and piggybacking him back into Jack's cabin.
"Oh, I'm just an errand boy," Finn said as he trudged beside Thomas.
----
Jack pushed open his eyes, only to be greeted by four stares and a dark blurry silhouette atop him.
"Aargh!" Jack screamed upon seeing that the principal was sitting on his belly.
"Oh, just calm down Mr Jonathan, it's comfortable sitting here."
"Not that comfortable when someone is sitting on your stomach," Jack whispered, his voice strained. "Why are you people still here, didn't I fail your little test?"
"Ah, No Mr Jonathan, you got it all wrong, because of your outstanding and unique way around magic it seems I have no choice but to acknowledge your acceptance into Nexarion," Shia spoke her voice laced with excitement as her eyes gleamed. "You can start next week, uniform shall be delivered, I took your size while you were unconscious, hope you don't mind an—"
Jack interjects, "Accepted? And you did what to me while I was knocked out?"
"Oh, please stop brewing a storm in a teacup. Besides you shouldn't have to do anything, professor."
"Professor?" Jack shot back, his eyes blinking in confusion.
'Brewing a storm in a what? What is that?' Daniela thought to herself.
"In simple words, you are officially a professor at Nexarion. Consider it an honour, besides, you have what it takes to be one. Now for the privileges, your salary starts at four hundred ryū, which is quite low, I know but you also get free access to the teleportation gate, a research lab and personal quarters. So are you excited?"
"No... Like I said, I'm not looking to teach anyone, you guys came to me, and I didn't even get some time to think."
"What's there to think? You have both the power and skill. Is there any other requirement?" Gabriel interjects.
"Yes, there is Your Highness, first of all, I don't think it's fair for other faculty who had to get in through fair means, and second of all, the other professors are going to burn the principal at the stake if she just randomly hired someone."
"You don't need to worry about it, I can take care of the backlash, you just need to make up your mind. Shia spoke her voice turning serious. "So what's it gonna be, Jonathan Thorne, turn down this opportunity of a lifetime and stay here or join Nexarion and open up a new realm of possibilities?"
****