Upon activating his Mana and knowing his Elemental affinity, Aiden proceeded to use a month to experiment as best he could before reaching a conclusion.
The method of Magic used was amazing, but it lacked in many aspects.
Aiden had spent his time in the library looking for other ways to apply magic, and while there were ways magic were being applied unconventionally, there was no all rounded Class of Magic.
It was as though everyone was satisfied with what they were born with because while they could learn other disciplines like artifacts refining despite being an Earth elemental mage, they would forever be limited in comparison to a fire based mage.
Aiden was born with a major wind and a minor light affinity and didn't have any problems in creating various Wind and Light based techniques on the fly after understanding the principles of magic.
He was qualified to become a Mage but didn't even care to be promoted to adept since he didn't want the attention.
He felt there could be another way for him to tap into other Elements and ventured into the realms of Spirit summoning.
In theory, Elemental spirits could grant him their specific elements upon summoning and establishing a pact with them.
Aiden didn't know whether it was his childish impulse of wanting to be the Avatar that made him go down that hole, but upon reaching the depth, he found that it was impossible.
The reason behind it being simple.
Elemental spirits were quite picky when it came to establishing contracts.
No two spirits would want to be in a contract with one magician.
So while regretful, he looked into another Theory.
...
A Harmonic Convergence.
The Mixture of two seemingly opposite Energy to form a new Type of Energy.
In science, it went by various names such is Fusion or Synthesis.
Aiden consumed a substantial amount of scientific knowledge during his time on earth and understood the principles behind it.
In his situation however, he was attempting to combine his Aura and Mana to create a new Form of Energy.
This was basically Suicide and if his calculations were right, both his body and mind would collapse should there be a backlash.
Mira only knew about the Heart but didn't know about the Brain.
It was either he became brain-dead or…he actually died.
One could ask…Why was Aiden this desperate?
It was quite simple.
After 17 years in this World, he finally realized the Universe he was born in.
It was the DC Universe.
As for the timeframe, he had no idea, but after putting things together, he came to a realization that he was on the Soon to be Lost Kingdom of Atlantis.
This also meant that the Attack from Darkside had yet to take place, signifying that it was coming.
If the comics and movies did any justice, there would be a world ending battle soon and magic alone wouldn't cut it.
This was what led Aiden to branch his focus into other Fields.
Enchantments. Spell Crafting. Spell Writing. Energy Manipulation.
Unlike the first and last, Spell Crafting and Spell Writing were two different things.
One had to do with creation of new spells for a new technique while the other had to do with writing out a spell, either on the air, water, cloud, paper, clothes, walls…anything…to incur a desired effect.
It was during this period that he had a thought.
What if he could use those skills from Games?
Strength Enhancement
Speed/Agility Enhancement
Defense Enhancement
Stamina Enhancement
Vitality Enhancement
Magic Enhancement
Attack Boost
Resistances. Elemental, Mental, Physical.
These were just a few of the skills he could think up, but what if he could make them a reality?
Instead of just plain old Magic, he could enhance any one of his abilities to perform at a higher level.
As a mage, he wouldn't be scared of a Melee combat.
Aiden didn't know exactly, but he could reckon that with the right enhancements, he could rival the Knight Commander in physical strength.
And that was a lot, considering that he was the strongest person Aiden knew.
…
Aiden closed his eyes, focusing his mind and centering his energy within the three pools he had meticulously trained over the years.
The magic circles around him began to hum with a soft, resonant vibration, reacting to the gathering of his mana.
With a deep breath, he began his chant, his voice low, resonating with the magic in the air
"From the depths of thought, where reason reigns,
I summon the Mind's wellspring, clear and true."
"By the light of wisdom and the fire of will,
I call forth the power of divine insight,
To guide my hand and steady my resolve."
The circles all lit up and shot up, forming a dome around him with various magic circles latched on various parts of his body.
The one nearest to his head began to glow, its symbols pulsing in tune with his heartbeat, reflecting the mental energy he was channeling.
"From the heart's core, where passion burns,
I draw upon the Well of Magic's force.
By the pulse of life and the rhythm of time,
I summon the arcane flow within,
To fuel the spells and power my craft."
The circle near his chest flared brightly, the runes etched into the ground flickering with the intense energy of his magical reserves, aligning with the rhythm of his heart.
"And from the depths of being, where the two converge,
I awaken the Well of Unity, the Lower Pool.
By the fusion of mind and heart, divine and arcane,
I forge The Force, the energy of harmony,
To wield a power unknown, a strength unchallenged."
The final circle, positioned near his lower abdomen, glowed with a deep, radiant light.
The energy from his Mind-scape and Heart pool flowed into his mana pool, merging into a new, potent force.
"Let the paths align,
Let the energies flow,
In perfect balance and harmony.
Through the circles of power and the channels of will,
I claim the strength of mind and body.
By my command, by my design,
Be the Force."
As Aiden finished the chant, the circles around him blazed with energy, the light so intense it seemed to blur the boundaries between the physical and the mystical.
It was blinding, yet, Mira could still see Aiden clearly. It was obvious the light wasn't harmful.
The ground beneath him thrummed with the power of his energy centers, the respective energies he had nurtured and cultivated over the years.
This was the moment of truth.
With his eyes still closed, Aiden felt the combined energies swirl within him, coalescing into something new...and powerful.
The air around him crackled, and he could sense the enormous potential waiting to be unleashed.
The world seemed to hold its breath, waiting to see what would happen next, and in the next moment, Aiden began the fusion of his mental and magical energies.
The pain that surged through him was a harrowing ordeal that It felt as if every nerve in his body was being stretched and compressed simultaneously, each fiber of his being pulled to its limits.
His muscles, strained by an intense pressure, seemed to burn as though they were on fire, tightening into rigid knots with every thump of his heart.
The sensation was akin to thousands of needles piercing his flesh, each jab driving deeper as the burning spread from his core to his extremities, making his skin feel as if it were being seared away.
Simultaneously, his mind was not spared from the torment. The mental strain was brutal, as if his thoughts and consciousness were being torn apart and reassembled with savage force.
His head pounded with an intensity that threatened to split it open, each heartbeat echoing with a deep, throbbing ache.
The fusion of energies unleashed a mix of sensations causing his brain to feel as though it was being fried by an invisible heat.
Thoughts became jumbled and chaotic, a whirlwind of fragmented ideas and overwhelming pressure that warped his perception of reality.
His mind struggled to maintain clarity amidst the assault of disorienting energy, but Aiden knew that this was the tipping point.
If he could withstand this, his mind would be at the level of most Archmages and Aiden wasn't exactly a kid.
He had the Soul of a man well over fifty before being reborn as Aiden so his mental capability wasn't weak.
Reality itself seemed to warp and shift around him, time stretching and contracting unpredictably as his sense seemed self fragmented.
If Aiden's soul was any weaker he wouldn't have been able to maintain his consciousness through this ordeal.
However, that didn't mean he had it easy.
In the moment he steeled himself to withstand the pain coming from the body, his consciousness would be attacked, and when he went to protect it, his body would then be attacked.
It was a repetitive cycle of torment between his mind and body.
Each moment of the process brought a fresh wave of agony, a brutal battle of will to control the newfound power without succumbing to the crushing pain.
The fusion was not just physically excruciating but also disorienting, leaving Aiden teetering on the edge of collapse as he fought to focus and channel the new energy forming within him.
"AIDEN! AIDEN! ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?" For a moment, Aiden could hear Mira's worried scream from outside the barrier created by the magic circle.
And just as he was about to use her voice as her tether, it disappeared as a crushing pain assaulted him once again.
"HNG*" Aiden let out a suppressed grunt as the pain tore through him.
Despite the grunts, Mira who was outside could not hear anything, and were it not for the sight of Aiden thrashing around in a smaller dome within the bigger dome, she'd never have known that he was under any form of pain.
"AIDEN! TALK TO ME!"
'SHUT UP!!' Aiden screamed internally, but that single action caused all his defense to crumble leading to his senses facing the full assault of the clash between the two Energies.
It was unknown how much time passed, but when the formation of the energy finally subsided, Aiden's body couldn't stop trembling violently and exhaustedly from the monumental strain.
The magic circles around him dimmed, the intensity of their light fading as he was left to grapple with the aftermath of his effort. He was overwhelmed by fatigue, his body and mind battered from the extreme exertion.
Carefully, he lowered himself to the ground, sitting cross-legged on the smooth stone floor. His muscles ached, and his mind, though still sharp, was clouded by the lingering pain and disorientation.
Aiden closed his eyes, focusing on calming his mind and soothing his aching body. "Heal." He muttered as a warm, soothing energy enveloped him.
He felt the tension in his muscles ease and the sharp edges of his mental fatigue dull.
His breathing slowed, his heartbeat returning to a steady rhythm, and the world around him softened as if wrapped in a comforting blanket.
In this state of deep, restorative rest, Aiden allowed himself to drift, his body and mind slowly healing from the intense strain.
Opening his eyes, he regarded Mira who was still banging at the translucent dome to prevent her entry. With a thought, he deactivated the barrier and said. "See..? I told you…It worked."
But as soon as he finished, he immediately went unconscious.
***
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