I underwent rigorous training under the guidance of Mr. Ishtar for five consecutive days before he finally gave me a day off to rest. Known for his stern yet encouraging demeanour, he had a knack for pushing me dent to their limits while maintaining an air of calm confidence that inspired both respect and determination. As I relaxed, reading through a total of 13 books out of sheer boredom, my mind wandered back to the intense sessions I endured. Mr. Ishtar had me face six stone giants, gradually increasing their numbers and intensity as the days passed. The giants not only grew in size but also in agility and coordination, forcing me to adapt to increasingly complex combat scenarios.
The training was gruelling, but it paid off, honing my reflexes, sharpening my tactical thinking, and greatly enhancing my endurance and precision in combat. I gained substantial combat experience, allowing me to level up far more quickly than by spending 12 hours a day reading books. However, I noticed an obstacle when trying to surpass level 25. According to Mr. Ishtar, this was normal natural consequence of the way level growth was structured in this world. He explained that every adventurer or warrior faces a significant plateau at this stage, as their abilities transition from foundational to advanced levels, requiring both physical and metaphysical adjustments to overcome.
"Everyone hits a wall when leveling up," he had explained. "Once you reach the milestone of level 25, your progress slows significantly. Breaking through this barrier takes time, no matter how much effort you put in."
Curious to assess my growth, I decided to check my status for the first time in four days.
"Check Status," I called out.
Name: Ezekiel Rhea
Age: 17
Sex: Male
Race: Human
Level: 25
UA: Mimic Eye
Stamina: 19
Strength: 23
IQ: 30
Mana: 0
Mind: 34
Fatigue: 0
Skills:
Rapture: C
Clairvoyance: C [Rank Evolve]
Blood Aegis: A
My status had improved, even though my level remained unchanged. New attributes had also been added to the interface, such as Fatigue and Race. Interestingly, my Clairvoyance skill had evolved in rank, which was a significant development.
Skill ranks evolve when the user reaches a milestone in mastering a particular ability. For example, an adventurer's Fireball spell might evolve into Flame Surge after consistently demonstrating precise control and achieving a higher intensity in casting. During training, I had combined Clairvoyance with the first trait of my Mimic Eye, the Eye of Analysis, to take down six stone giants. This synergy proved invaluable, though it often left me mentally drained.
Blood Aegis, despite being a high-ranking skill, revealed its limitations during training. This limitation seemed to stem from the inherent nature of the skill, which was designed to protect against a limited number of simultaneous attacks rather than overwhelming force. It became evident that its efficacy was tied to my current level, highlighting the need for further growth to unlock its full potential. It could withstand blows from one or two stone giants but crumbled under the combined force of three. When struck by the power of six giants simultaneously, it shattered completely. These challenges highlighted that all my abilities were still bound by the constraints of my level.
As I reflected on my progress, Mr. Ishtar's voice broke through my thoughts.
"Ezekiel, let's move to the final phase of your training," he called from the field.
"I'm coming," I replied, bracing myself for what lay ahead.
Mr. Ishtar led me to a secluded area surrounded by trees with a small pond at its center.
"Let's increase the difficulty," he said with a mischievous smile.
"Difficulty?" I instinctively stepped back, sensing the danger in his tone.
He began chanting in a deep, resonant voice:
"Through the sorrows and pain,Through the peace and joy,
Let this child bear witness to your cries.
O, bring forth the shield that defends your fear,
O, bring forth the sword that shall slash this accursed world."
The earth beneath me trembled as if in fear. Suddenly, a towering knight of stone emerged, clad in golden armor adorned with red linen. Its glowing white eyes radiated a presence that sent waves of both dread and awe coursing through my body.
"Let us begin," Mr. Ishtar declared.
Before I could react, the knight lunged toward me with blinding speed.
[Clairvoyance: Activated]
I barely managed to evade the knight's sword, its steel edge slicing through the air mere inches from me. Stepping back, I was met with a powerful kick aimed at my side.
"This...!" I grunted, blocking the blow with Erythrotenebrae. The force pushed me back several steps.
The knight pressed forward, its relentless attacks creating a cacophony of clashing metal and a blur of motion, the sound of its blade slicing through the air reverberating like a relentless drumbeat. Clairvoyance allowed me to dodge most of them, but its speed made maintaining foresight increasingly difficult.
[Mimic Eye: Eye of Analysis: Activated]
I tried to counterattack, aiming for its lower limbs to slow it down. While I succeeded briefly, the effect lasted only three seconds. Utilizing the Eye of Analysis, I calculated its movements and traded blows. Yet, every strike I attempted was expertly deflected, as though I were battling a seasoned warrior with centuries of experience.
Desperate, I threw one of my daggers, which the knight dodged. Seizing the moment, I lunged forward behind the trajectory of the thrown weapon.
[Rapture: Activated]
My daggers moved like waves, delivering a devastating slash to the knight's lower abdomen. The thrown dagger returned to me at high speed, guided by the skill's unique mechanics. Rapture created a powerful synergy between my weapons, the pull and push forces amplifying their momentum. The knight staggered but quickly sidestepped to regain its footing. It raised a palm, conjuring a flame that surged toward me.
[Mind: 30 → 27 → 21]
Clairvoyance revealed the incoming attack, allowing me to dodge just in time. However, the mental strain from maintaining the skill was beginning to take its toll. My thoughts grew sluggish, my reactions slower.
[Fatigue: 30%]
The battle dragged on, fatigue steadily mounting. I pressed forward with a combination of slashes and kicks, managing to chip away at its golden armor. The knight retaliated with devastating force, sending me flying with a shockwave from its sword. I activated Blood Aegis in time to shield myself from the brunt of the impact but found myself weaponless as my daggers were knocked away.
With no other options, I resorted to close combat, exchanging punches and kicks with the stone knight. Each strike landed with a resounding thud, sending cracks spidering across its armour. My knuckles throbbed with pain, my breathing grew ragged, and the weight of fatigue settled heavily on my shoulders. Yet, the adrenaline coursing through me pushed aside the agony, heightening the raw intensity of the battle. My fists began to crack its armour, but my body bore the cost bruised and battered from the relentless blows.
[Fatigue: 70%]
Summoning the last of my strength, I grappled the knight and smashed it into the ground. Leaping behind it, I locked my arms around its neck.
"Just give up!" I roared, wrenching its head from its body with one final, desperate effort.
[Congratulations! You have slain the summon: Knight of Fallen Walls.]
I collapsed to my knees, breathing heavily. Mr. Ishtar's voice snapped me back to reality.
"That was... unorthodox but effective," he said with a smirk.
"Is this the last of my training?" I asked, hope flickering in my voice.
Mr. Ishtar laughed, a sound that sent a chill down my spine.
"Not quite." He raised his hand, summoning twelve identical knights, their golden armor gleaming menacingly. "Let's see how you handle this."
"Heaven seems to be angry at me" i whispered.
I retrieved Erythrotenebrae, securing its chains tightly around my wrists to ensure I wouldn't lose my grip again. As the knights formed a battle formation, a system notification appeared.
[New skill available. Would you like to acquire it?]
[Yes] [No]
The system detected a skill i can learn now? I haven't activate power of replication are there any origins or even a skill's origin to be detected for the power of replication to activate? Did my mimic eye pick up a skill independently? Intrigued i accepted.
[New skilled acquired]
[Surya's Authority of Domination]
[Mastery of combats from the art of the sun of the son God]
[A skill acquired through sheer battle against the model of the Son of the Sun God]
Surya? or in translation meaning "Son of the Sun God". i acquired a skill that was from a individual known for such a title? But this are just summons? Wait.
"Mr. Ishtar, are your summon base on myths and legends i presume?" i ask.
"Sharp as always" he replied "Yes they are modelled around certain figures of myths and legends though their power pales in comparison with the original" he then raised one of his index finger "The giants are base on the base on Gigantess, the lesser brothers or sisters of the titans".
The knights lunge closer and i immediately activate the newly acquired skill.
[Surya's Authority of Domination: Activated]
My attacks began to flow with great power and precision as if the gap between me and the knights became apparent. I feel like i could take them on with speed and accuracy.
[Fatigue: 20%]
My fatigue drop drastically low? Is this one of the skill's activation and traits.
Slashing my daggers right and left, dodging attacks with precision in pair with relentless power from my body itself, i was taken back to the sudden increase in my strength.
As Mr. Ishtar watch the battle unfold he couldn't hide his amazement and astonishment to my growth.
It took me exactly 60 seconds to take down the entire twelve knights.
Mr. Ishtar claps in amazement of my accomplishment.
"The knights are model base on Karna, Am i right Mr. Ishtar?" i said as i sat on the top of the piled defeated knights.
"You sure know your origins" he said "Yes although it can't never fully replicate its full power"
"Karna is the only legendary figure i could think of when the title of "Son of the Sun God" comes out" i replied.
Karna is from the Hindu mythology, a skilled warrior in the Mahabharata and a formidable combatant in close combat as well as weapons. He was given the title due to his unparalleled mastery of physical and martial arts. A noble yet tragic nature of a character.
"Mr. Ishtar, why is it called authority?" i ask since i believed authority are only use by royals.
"Well it does seem like one but Authority are prowess that needed detailed chanting and catalyst to work. Your Erythrotenebrae don't seem to be the catalyst." He replied as he stroke his beard "That said in ancient books authority can be gained when one is considered to be the perfect vessel of a legendary or mythical figure" he added.
[Surya's Authority of Domination wishes to be engrave in your body as a passive ability within mimic eye]
The system notification pop out. Mr. Ishtar face grew intrigue to the new feature.
"Oh it seems to be integrated within your UA" he said in excitement
"What does that mean?" i ask intrigued.
"It acts as your secondary UA, that is why its not rank when you acquired it" he replied.
"My mimic eye pick this involuntary though i don't know how?" i said.
"Well the engravements in your mimic eye seems to be clearer than before but i can't still understand its words" he replied.
Now that i think of it, my mimic eye presence indeed grew according to its description its power become strong the more the user uses it. That is the main reason why the engravings also become clearer and how it could pick up certain abilities from my opponents whenever the opponent's ability is tied to legends and myths. This is is a discovery! If my mimic eye grew stronger then the less the conditions needed to achieve right?
I then try to recall the previous battle where the knights would create flames that they would hurled towards me. I know that the knights are modelled after Karna and that the title of "Son of the Sun God" is engrave to me as his vessel. If the conditions are less then maybe i could replicate the flames. In one of the books about spell creation, visualization is the greatest aspect you must have in order to completely create a spell. The system then pop out.
[As vessel of Karna would you like to acquire the flames of the Sun God?]
So those flames are originally from the Sun God? Then maybe i could replicate it.
[Power of Replication: Activated]
[Would you like to replicate Karna's engravings of the Sun God?]
[Yes] [No]
Engravings? My target was only the flames but to ask me if i wish to replicate his engravings then that would be similar right?
[Yes] I accept.
[May Karna wish prosperity to his vessel]
[Karna prays for your growth]
[Power of Replication Progress: 50%]
[Karna's spirit smiles in relief]
[Engravings of the Sun God is completed]
A burst of energy beamed to my body, the engravings take visual appearance on my body, i feel my body burning in flames of blessings.
As Mr. Ishtar witness the entire process he was in awe and shocked that such feat is possible.
The engravings was then carved into me and now has fully resided within me.
[New Skill Acquired: Surya's Blessing]
[Mastery of element: Fire - Surya bestowed upon you the blessing of his flames]
[Skill does not need any resource drain to activate it]
I was in awe of the new skill and its effect also i don't have to worry about its drawbacks.
"Looks like you grown quite well" Mr. Ishtar smiled.
We went home and Mr. Ishtar began to pack some bags that he would leave in the living room. I in the other hand stayed in my room to rest.
"Check Status" i called
Name: Ezekiel Rhea
Age: 17
Sex: Male
Race: Human
Level: 28
UA: Mimic Eye
Passive: Surya's Authority of Domination
Stamina: 20
Strength: 24
IQ: 35
Mana: 0
Mind: 37
Skills:
Surya's Blessing: ?
Rapture: C
Clairvoyance: D
Blood Aegis: A
I broke the level threshold and all my stats blew up thanks to the blessings and training. My mind went up to 37. I should keep watch on my mind stat since it drains the more i use mimic eye although it would return to its original stats after use.
Morning came and i was awoken by Mr. Ishtar's morning greetings.
"Morning Ezekiel let us prepare for your departure" said Mr. Ishtar excited.
"Departure?" i said in confusion.
"Today's afternoon would be your opening ceremony in the Aetherfall Academy" he replied.
I jumped out of the bed and began to wear my shirt to head to the living room. As i entered the living room i then see the huge luggage that Mr. Ishtar prepared last night, Mr. Ishtar followed and hand me the letter of admission.
"I prepared everything you would need when you finally arrive at Aetherfall Academy" he smiled.
"This is quite lot" i chuckled in embarrassment.
"Aetherfall is a prestigious academy so you would need the best resources out there" he laugh. "Now don't sulk get ready since the ride would eventually come here and transport you there" he added as he patted my back.
"I guess so" i faintly smiled.
After a while the transport arrive, it was a horse carriage similar to a traditional ride in my world.
"Take care Ezekiel" Mr. Ishtar said "Oh don't forget this" he hands me bag full of coins that are made of gold, ruby and diamond merge together.
"Are this coins?" i ask.
"There called celestial coins, they have the highest value" he said smiling.
"How much?" i ask intrigued by the value of this coins.
"Well...its 1,000,000,000" he said.
"Your joking?" i said sarcastically.
"Nope" keeping the smiled expression.
"How do have a bunch of these?!" i screamed in terror to the value im holding now in my hands.
"Well i live long enough to accumulate wealth" he said.
He then patted me on the pat and i gave him a warmth hug before fully riding on the horse carriage.
The road trip going to Aetherfall Academy was an experience, i passed villages until we passed in a huge gate guarded by guards of this kingdom likely. After 7 hours i reach the entrance of the academy.
"This looks like the place" i muttered
But this does not feel welcoming at all, as i witness hundred of soon to be students scrambling around the campus interacting and walking around finding the place where the welcoming ceremony would take place.
"Hopefully i won't be involve in any issues that may come later" i muttered and took my first step into the academy.