Yuuto woke the next morning with the familiar rush of power and energy coursing through his veins, a sign of the Ascendant System's recent rewards still resonating within him. The mastery of the advanced elemental spells had given him new confidence, but it had also left him aware of just how much more he needed to learn. Each battle, each encounter with corrupted creatures, reminded him that power alone wasn't enough. Control, strategy, and precision were just as essential, and now, the System had offered him a new tool: Arcane Bind.
The moment he had received the notification of the skill, Yuuto felt a sense of purpose. Arcane Bind wasn't just another spell—it was a technique that could allow him to control the battlefield, to hold enemies in place, and disrupt the flow of magic. He couldn't afford to waste time; he needed to master this new skill quickly.
[Ascendant System: New Skill Unlocked – Arcane Bind]
Description: Arcane Bind creates an unbreakable magical restraint, immobilizing enemies or binding their mana, preventing spellcasting for a limited time. Effectiveness increases with user's control over mana. Duration and strength of the bind scale with the user's mana reserves and precision.]
**Skill Type: Support/Control]
**Skill Rank: Intermediate]
Mana Cost: Moderate]
The description was clear—Arcane Bind was a skill that would require finesse, not just brute force. It wasn't about raw power but about mastering the intricacies of mana, binding it to restrict movement and magical ability. Yuuto had seen other mages, especially enemies, use similar techniques before. It was often these control spells that turned the tide of battle, making even the strongest opponent helpless. The idea of having such a skill at his disposal made Yuuto eager to begin.
He headed to the grove where Aethir awaited him, as he had done every morning since Yuuto's arrival in Elandrial. Today, however, Yuuto felt a heightened sense of anticipation. Aethir noticed it the moment Yuuto stepped into the clearing.
"You've unlocked something new, haven't you?" Aethir said, his eyes narrowing in curiosity.
"Yes, the Ascendant System granted me a new skill—Arcane Bind," Yuuto replied, gripping his staff. "It's a binding spell, but I don't have a full grasp on how to use it yet. I need to practice."
Aethir nodded, his expression approving. "Arcane Bind… it's a useful skill, one that many mages rely on to control their opponents. But it's also delicate. Binding another's mana requires focus and precision, more so than any offensive spell. Let's see how quickly you can grasp it."
Yuuto followed Aethir to an open area in the grove, where small stones floated lazily, surrounded by shimmering pockets of mana that Aethir had summoned earlier for training purposes. The stones were enchanted, moving unpredictably through the air—perfect targets for Yuuto's practice.
"Try to bind them," Aethir said. "Imagine the mana around them as threads you can weave together. It's not about overwhelming them with force—it's about finding the right connection and holding them still."
Yuuto took a deep breath, raising his staff. He extended his mana, visualizing the threads of energy that surrounded each stone. He could feel the mana swirling around them, faint but present, and focused on linking his own magic with it.
"Arcane Bind!" he called out, pouring mana into the spell.
Thin, glowing strands of energy shot from his staff, latching onto one of the floating stones. The strands wrapped around the stone like a web, binding it in place. For a moment, the stone stopped moving, held tightly by the magical threads.
But then the mana around the stone pulsed, and the strands wavered. The stone broke free, resuming its erratic movements. Yuuto frowned, realizing that his control had been too weak.
"You're relying too much on the spell itself," Aethir observed. "Arcane Bind is only as strong as your connection to the target's mana. You need to focus on their energy, not just your own."
Yuuto nodded, understanding what Aethir meant. He had been thinking of the spell as an attack, something to overpower the target with his own magic. But Arcane Bind wasn't about that—it was about creating a link between his mana and the target's, using that connection to immobilize them.
He tried again, this time focusing on the mana flow around the stone. He didn't force the bind—he let his mana weave through the stone's energy, gently but firmly wrapping it in the arcane threads.
"Arcane Bind!"
The strands shot out again, but this time they didn't waver. They latched onto the stone, and Yuuto could feel the connection solidify. The stone stopped moving completely, held in place by the spell's power. Yuuto held it there for several moments, testing the strength of the bind, before releasing the spell and letting the stone fall to the ground.
"Well done," Aethir said, a note of approval in his voice. "You're starting to understand the true nature of the spell. It's not about raw power—it's about control and finesse."
Yuuto grinned, feeling a surge of confidence. Arcane Bind was more than just a tool—it was a skill that could give him the upper hand in battles against mages and physical opponents alike. The ability to bind someone's movement or mana could change the course of any fight.
But there was still more to learn. Yuuto knew that mastering this spell would take time, and he needed to push its limits.
"Let's take it further," Yuuto said, eager to test the spell's full capabilities. "I want to try binding something stronger—something with its own mana."
Aethir raised an eyebrow but then nodded. "Very well. Let's see how you handle a real opponent."
The Elf raised his hand, and the mana in the grove shifted. From the shadows, an illusionary construct appeared—a large humanoid form made of shimmering magic, its body crackling with raw mana. It was a training tool, but one designed to simulate a real opponent.
"This construct can fight back," Aethir said. "You'll need to bind it, but remember—it will resist your magic. This is where you learn whether you can truly control your opponent's mana."
Yuuto nodded, his heart pounding with anticipation. This was a true test. He raised his staff, channeling mana into his hands, and faced the illusionary construct. The construct moved quickly, lunging toward Yuuto with a powerful swipe.
Yuuto reacted instinctively, dodging to the side and summoning his magic. "Arcane Bind!"
The glowing strands shot from his staff, wrapping around the construct's arm. For a moment, the construct's movement slowed, its arm bound by the magical threads. But the construct's own mana flared, and Yuuto felt the spell begin to unravel as the construct resisted.
"Hold it," Yuuto muttered through gritted teeth, pouring more mana into the bind. He focused on the flow of energy, feeling the construct's mana pushing against his own. He tightened the bind, reinforcing the magical threads and weaving them deeper into the construct's energy.
The construct roared, but its arm was fully immobilized now. It tried to lunge again, but Yuuto quickly extended the bind to its legs, wrapping the arcane strands around its body. The construct's movements became sluggish, and finally, it stopped completely, frozen in place by the spell.
Yuuto let out a breath of relief. The Arcane Bind had held.
"Well done," Aethir said, a hint of pride in his voice. "You've grasped the fundamentals. But remember, the stronger your opponent, the more difficult it will be to maintain control. Practice will make you stronger, but always remember—arcane bindings can be broken if your focus wavers."
Yuuto nodded, feeling the weight of the lesson. He had seen how the construct's mana had pushed against his bind, how even the smallest moment of weakness could let an opponent slip free. But he had also felt the power of the skill when properly controlled.
Arcane Bind would be a game-changer in battle, giving him the ability to immobilize powerful enemies, disrupt their spellcasting, or even turn the tide of an entire fight.
With this new skill, Yuuto knew that he was one step closer to becoming the mage he needed to be to face the darkness spreading across Aetheria.
As he left the training grove that evening, his mind still buzzing with the energy of the day's practice, Yuuto couldn't shake a feeling—a sense that something bigger was on the horizon. His battles with dark magic had only just begun, but he knew that there was more to Aetheria than the threats he had faced so far. The Ascendant System had revealed much to him, but there were still questions that remained unanswered.
The larger world awaited him, with mysteries that stretched beyond the boundaries of what he had experienced. As Yuuto walked back toward the heart of Elandrial, his thoughts turned to what lay beyond.
The Arcane Bind was just the beginning.