Chapter 7: Meditation
Leon Grant meticulously read through the meditation technique, slowly committing it to memory. He not only reviewed the original method but also absorbed the meditation tips and notes left by Alrik at the end. With these insights, it would be easier for him to master the technique.
After dedicating half a day to careful study, Leon decided it was time to begin his first meditation session.
Recalling the steps outlined in the meditation technique, Leon sat in the most comfortable position he could find and began the process.
As time passed, Leon opened his eyes after more than half an hour, astonished by what he had just experienced. Could it be that he was truly gifted?
He had successfully entered the beginning stage of the Breath of Darkness Meditation on his first try. He could feel the magic energy that had been absorbed into his body during the meditation. A small smile appeared on Leon's face as he considered the possibilities.
Excited, he pulled up his status panel to check if anything had changed after his meditation session.
Name: Leon Grant
Bloodline: Human
Rank: 0th Rank Apprentice
Strength: 1.3
Constitution: 1.1
Agility: 1.1
Mental Power: 2.1
Magic: 1.7
Skill: Breath of Darkness (Beginner)
Potential Points: 0
Several changes appeared on his status panel. His rank was listed as 0th Rank Apprentice, indicating that his entry into meditation had marked the true start of his journey into the extraordinary. His magic stat had increased, although it was still relatively low. Based on how he felt, Leon knew that the magic stat could improve further—after all, this was only his first attempt at meditation.
The skill section now displayed Breath of Darkness at the beginner level, which was the result of his successful meditation.
Seeing these results, Leon couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. The status panel allowed him to track his progress in real-time and get immediate feedback. This made his meditation practice much more rewarding. Many people struggle to continue their training when they don't see immediate results, but Leon now had tangible proof of his growth.
With his heart racing from the success, Leon stood up and stretched lazily. He glanced out the window, noticing that the sky had darkened considerably. It wouldn't be long before nightfall.
Not sensing any immediate danger, Leon sat back down to meditate once more. His excitement was akin to that of a child with a new toy; he wanted to meditate every moment he could.
…
Leon finished another round of meditation, feeling the magical energy flowing powerfully through his body. He was satisfied with his progress.
He pulled up his status panel again to check the changes. There were no updates in most of his attributes, but his magic stat had increased to 21 points. It seemed that magic was closely tied to mental power.
Unfortunately, although he now had plenty of magic energy, he hadn't yet learned any spells, so he had no way of using it effectively.
Leon clicked his tongue in mild frustration, but his attention was suddenly drawn to a growing noise from downstairs.
The sound grew louder, and Leon's heart skipped a beat. He quickly stood, his face pale with concern. Grabbing his fire axe, he cautiously made his way to the window.
Through the cracked window, Leon saw a disturbing sight. A large group of shambling corpses was making its way along the street. His heart pounded in his chest as he gripped the axe tightly, trying to steady his nerves.
These were the undead, creatures from the Arcane Realm that were devoid of intelligence.
Undead were simple to understand in nature: when a world falls into the Arcane Realm, the native creatures that cannot withstand the realm's arcane energy become mindless undead. These creatures are dangerous but can absorb magic energy to sustain themselves. As long as they aren't killed, they can survive for hundreds of years.
The types of undead vary depending on the world they come from. Some grow larger, reaching sizes rivaling giants. Others are bloodthirsty, attacking any living being they encounter.
Leon recalled reading about these creatures in an Arcane Realm encyclopedia, and he now regretted not studying the undead entries more closely. Of course, even if he had memorized the information, each undead species differs based on its origin. Their habits are unpredictable.
Now, Leon understood what had happened to the skeleton in the neighboring room—it had likely been discovered by these undead. While the undead could absorb magic, they were also instinctively bloodthirsty. Any living creature that entered their territory would be seen as prey.
The skeleton was probably the result of a hapless individual who crossed paths with them. It made sense now, especially with the bite marks on the bones.
The group of undead outside was massive—over a thousand of them—slowly staggering down the road. Leon's mind raced, his anxiety mounting.
Though they lacked intelligence, the undead had heightened senses, particularly hearing and smell. They could detect even distant sounds, though they were usually blind. The undead were sensitive to light and tended to avoid it, remaining in shadowed areas during the day. But once nightfall came, they would emerge, drawn by various noises.
Leon was on the fourth floor. As long as he didn't make any noise, he was relatively safe.
The horde of undead moved at a slow pace, but Leon knew better than to relax. In the records, it was noted that the undead were capable of moving with startling speed when they were hunting. They could match the speed of an adult human sprinting, making them incredibly dangerous when they targeted something.
Moreover, some of these undead had become powerful after absorbing years of magic energy. Over time, some had advanced to higher ranks. Leon remembered a story from a mage who had encountered an undead horde that contained creatures of Silver Rank and even a few Golden Rank undead. These were terrifying creatures, yet they still retained no intelligence.
After what felt like an eternity, the horde slowly moved on, and Leon's tense heart began to relax.
When the undead were nearby, his nerves had been on edge, a constant, exhausting strain. But now that the danger had passed, he slumped down, still unwilling to make a sound.
He didn't dare meditate again just yet. During meditation, his guard would be down, and he couldn't afford to be unaware of his surroundings. If he had meditated earlier and made a sound, the outcome could have been far worse.
He remained on edge, knowing that while the undead had moved away for now, danger could return at any moment.