The translucent board shimmered faintly as I stood in the quiet corner of my dormitory.
My pulse quickened as I reached out to the words that seemed to glow with a faint blue hue.
[Do you wish to open God's Gifts?]
The prompt hovered in my vision, waiting.
I had never seen magic like that and still…
There was no hesitation.
"Yes."
The air around me stilled, as if the world itself held its breath.
The faint hum of the academy outside, the distant chatter of students—it all faded into silence.
The frame dissolved into a cascade of azure particles, which swirled around me before forming into something tangible in my hands: a small, silver orb etched with intricate, glowing runes.
As I touched it, information flooded my mind like a tidal wave.
[Battle Technique Unlocked: Master of Learning]
[Description: Through the essence of adaptation, your mastery over skills grows exponentially with observation. Witness, analyze, and surpass. Failure fuels strength, and repetition becomes dominance.]
[Special Ability: Skill Copy - Adapt and replicate techniques you witness within your physical and magical limits.]
My breath caught. It wasn't just a Battle Technique; it was a pathway to ultimate growth.
This… this was what I needed to reshape the future. To become stronger than the Qoran of the past.
After consuming the silver orb, It slowly started to disappear. A few seconds later and the orb had already vanished from reality.
"Thank you."
I whispered under my breath, though whether to the so-called 'God' or my newfound determination, I wasn't sure.
The next morning, the long-awaited event arrived: the Room of Discovery.
Students gathered in droves, the air electric with anticipation.
This was the moment where futures were determined—where your Battle Technique would decide your social standing, potential allies, and even your survival.
This was the way of Reach.
Erynn found me as we entered the enormous hall, her green eyes bright with curiosity.
"Are you nervous, Qoran?"
She asked, bouncing on her toes.
"No."
I said, my voice steady.
She tilted her head, examining me.
"You're acting like you've been through this before."
I smiled faintly.
"Let's just say I know what to expect."
The hall itself was breathtaking—a vast chamber adorned with towering columns, glowing with ancient inscriptions. Students were ushered into individual chambers to face their tests.
"May the Gods bless all of you."
I heard the headmaster.
When my turn came, I stepped into the room, the heavy stone doors sliding shut behind me just as I was seeing Kioran, Siobhan and Erynn entering their own columns.
Inside, a shimmering figure appeared—a humanoid form crafted from light and magic.
It spoke in a voice that seemed to echo through my very soul.
"Qoran Lark,"
It intoned.
"Reveal your potential."
The test to achieve a battle technique was simple: Fight.
Thankfully they let you take a weapon of choice before entering the chambers. I've chosen only a fight glove.
I wanted to see what my skill could do.
The glowing figure in front of me will decide what kind of technique suits me better based on our fight.
I shall give my all with what I currently have.
This is an opportunity to gain another battle technique.
A double ascension.
This way, when the academy director and teachers analyze our battle techniques, they won't find it strange that a newly accepted student, without power and without any connections, already has a battle technique without even taking the test.
I wonder if they noticed a slight tension of mana leaving my body before I entered the chamber.
The thought of it made my body shiver.
The headmaster could think I was an Evil Marked, people who make contracts with demons to gather power.
In other words, they gain access to battle techniques without needing to access any chambers.
While I was lost in my thoughts, suddenly, a surge of magic enveloped me, testing every fiber of my being.
My mind instinctively pulled knowledge and instincts from my previous life.
I controlled my breathing, focusing on the swirling energy around me.
Suddenly, the glowing figure lunged.
It wielded a blade of pure light, its strikes swift and unrelenting.
But for me, the battle was a dance I had already memorized.
I dodged and parried, mimicking movements I had studied long ago.
Still, this younger body of mine is not in its best shape yet.
I shall start training after ending things around here.
Skill Copy Activated: [Light Blade Combat: Beginner].
The skill activated itself with the blink of an eye.
On my hands I had a blade made of pure light almost identical to the glowing figure.
Although it was definitely weaker.
With each strike, my movements became more fluid, the light sword's techniques imprinting themselves into my body.
"Amazing!"
I shouted with fierce eyes following my opponent.
The glowing figure hesitated, its head tilting as if analyzing my progress. Then it shifted tactics, unleashing a barrage of magical projectiles.
Skill Copy Activated: [Arcane Volley: Novice].
I twisted through the onslaught, my body already adapting to the rhythm of its attacks.
Energy surged within me, a sensation I had never felt so vividly in my previous life.
Finally, the glowing figure halted, lowering its blade.
"Well done, Qoran Lark,"
It said, its tone laced with approval.
"Or should I say, Master of Learning?"
I trembled in confusion.
"How…? Oh, that's right. I've just used my technique…"
The figure came closer and closer.
"II see your future, Qoran Lark. If I leave you the way you are, they might think you're marked for evil."
It stopped speaking as fast as it came face to face with me.
"I will bestow upon you the same technique that you acquired in your previous life. However, I will imbue a condition that will prevent your first battle technique from being detected with magic."
I was confused for a moment. Wouldn't it be more suspicious that I can use skills that are not from this new battle technique?
As if it was reading my thoughts the glowing figure smiled through the darkness in the chamber.
"Don't worry about that. You will still have a double ascension, I will make it seem like it was not two battle techniques, but rather one battle technique imbued with characteristics of other battle techniques."
I see.
I remember reading about this once in my life.
People who would have a double ascension or even more, but instead of having more than one battle technique, they acquired only one with several abilities from other battle techniques.
This would actually be useful during my time here in the academy.
After that, the room trembled, and a mark appeared on the back of my hand—a silver sigil that radiated power.
The test was over.
When I stepped out, the hall was abuzz with whispers.
Students who had already completed their trials huddled together, comparing marks and techniques.
Erynn waved me over, practically bouncing with excitement.
"Qoran!"
She exclaimed.
"What did you get?"
I raised my hand, showing her the sigil.
Her eyes widened.
What mattered was what this technique represented—unlimited potential.
As the day unfolded, the academy's ranking system began to take shape.
Students with high-tier techniques were quickly identified and courted by influential nobles and factions.
It was a delicate social game, one I had no intention of playing… yet.
So I avoided everyone as much as I could.
For now, my priority was simple: to grow stronger, gather my allies, and ensure that the horrors of the future never came to pass.
But even as I walked through the buzzing crowd, a pair of piercing eyes watched me from the shadows.
Someone had noticed my display during the test—someone who maybe already saw me as a threat?
The first pieces of the future were moving, and I needed to be ready.