Gavin first examined the Druid inheritance, noting that it included:
Five first-rank spells: Goodberry, Animal Friendship, Beast Bond, Cure Wounds, and Entangle.
Three second-rank spells: Wither and Bloom, Barkskin, and Earthbind.
One third-rank spell: Summon Fey.
According to the inheritance, becoming a Druid required either:
Holding a ceremony to pray to the Will of Nature, which, if successful, would imprint knowledge of nature's will into the mind.
Comprehending the Will of Nature directly through deep study and meditation.
For the ceremony to work, the individual needed sufficient knowledge of the natural world. Once the ceremony succeeded or comprehension was achieved, natural energy would begin to form in the body, marking the first step of the Druidic path.
Advancement from 1st to 6th rank was straightforward—one simply had to deepen their understanding of nature, and their realm would progress accordingly. The provided spells were designed not only for utility but also to aid in understanding the forces of nature.
However, as Gavin analyzed further, he encountered a dilemma.
He wondered whether he should teach the Druid inheritance to the shamans, especially Via.
After much thought, he decided he would, but only after he had mastered all the spells himself and made modifications to remove any direct connection to the original creator of the inheritance.
His cultivation method was already somewhat similar to the Druidic path—comprehending the laws of nature and, through that comprehension, increasing his realm.
Still, he mused, "The Druidic way may seem easy, but it is the hardest."
Comprehending natural laws was among the most difficult tasks of cultivation. A mortal had to dedicate their entire being to understanding the law, and resisting distractions while battling against a short lifespan and the limitations of the human mind.
The inheritance claimed that no talent was required to start the path of a Druid, but Gavin disagreed.
"To truly go far as a Druid, one must possess an innate talent for the natural way. Without it, progression will eventually become impossible."
With that thought, he closed the book, his mind already working on how to adapt the Druidic path for his people—one that would allow them to reach greater heights without being shackled by the limitations of traditional methods.
"Now, the Hunter profession..." Gavin murmured within his spiritual space as knowledge of the Hunter path surfaced in his mind. He carefully examined and sorted through the information, tracing the progression of a Hunter from the first to the sixth rank.
"So, like Druids, becoming a Hunter also requires a ceremony."
To embark on the Hunter's path, an individual had to perform a ceremony using the body of a beast they had personally hunted. The choice of the beast was critical, as the Hunter would inherit one of its abilities through the ritual.
The advancement process was structured as follows:
First Rank: Requires hunting a beast to complete the initiation ceremony.
Second Rank: The hunter must track and hunt a beast on the verge of awakening magic power. A Hunter's Sense, gained from the first ceremony, would allow them to detect such beasts.
Third Rank: The hunter must slay a creature that already possesses magic energy, granting them their magic energy upon advancement.
Fourth Rank: Two beasts must be hunted—one initial magic beast for the breakthrough and an intermediate magic beast to reach the peak of the fourth rank.
Fifth Rank: Requires hunting both a late-stage magic beast to advance and a peak magic beast to reach the limit of the mortal realm.
Sixth Rank: Unlike the previous ranks, no beast is hunted. Instead, the hunter must merge the essence of all the abilities they have acquired, forging them into a new beast body with the power of a Bronze-Rank creature.
At this stage, the transition from mortal to Bronze-Rank marked a fundamental shift in life level. It was nearly impossible for a Fifth-Rank Hunter to kill a Bronze-Rank beast due to the immense power gap.
"This means that every ability a Hunter acquires before the Sixth Rank must be chosen with extreme care. Otherwise, the final fusion will be difficult—or even impossible."
Gavin pondered for a moment, realizing the harsh yet fascinating nature of the Hunter's path. It required a delicate balance of skill, patience, and strategic selection. A single careless choice in selecting a beast's ability could cripple a Hunter's future.
But the most crucial aspect of this profession was that the ceremony was a tribute to the God of Hunting.
With the Hunter profession examined, Gavin shifted his attention to the Alchemist profession, often referred to as "half-mages."
Unlike mages, who require both spiritual sensitivity and the ability to absorb and hold spiritual energy, alchemists possess only spiritual sensitivity. This limitation prevents them from casting spells in the traditional sense, but they compensate by mastering ritual magic—a structured form of magical crafting.
Ritual magic is divided into nine ranks, corresponding to an alchemist's professional advancement. Every two ranks of the alchemist profession align with one rank of ritual magic:
1st & 2nd Rank Alchemists - 1st Rank Ritual Magic
3rd & 4th Rank Alchemists - 2nd Rank Ritual Magic
5th & 6th Rank Alchemists - 3rd Rank Ritual Magic and so on and on.
Becoming a 1st-Rank Alchemist: The initiation requires crafting a low-level magic item or potion using ritual magic.
Advancing to 2nd Rank: The alchemist must successfully create multiple low-level magic items or potions. While the exact number isn't specified, they will instinctively feel their spiritual sensitivity increase, signaling their breakthrough.
Reaching 3rd Rank: The alchemist must create an intermediate-tier magic item or potion using more complex ritual magic.
Advancing to 4th Rank: Similar to the 2nd rank, this requires crafting multiple intermediate magic items or potions, with another increase in spiritual sensitivity marking the advancement.
Becoming a 5th-Rank Alchemist: The final step in the mortal realm requires crafting a high-rank magic item or potion, a feat that demands mastery of ritual magic.
From 1st to 5th rank, alchemists have no combat power, making them the weakest profession in direct conflict. However, given time and preparation, their ritual magic can produce powerful effects.
Everything changes upon reaching the 6th Rank. Unlike previous advancements, which required crafting external objects, this stage demands the refinement of their own body.
By using ritual magic, the alchemist infuses and refines magical materials within their body, either gradually over time or in a single, intense transformation. This process grants immense power, elevating them beyond mere crafters to a bronze-rank lifeform.
Gavin turned his attention to the mage profession, carefully analyzing its structure and requirements.
Advancing as a Mage follows a structured progression, primarily focused on meditation, magic energy cultivation, and spell mastery:
1st Rank Mage - Learn meditation, form magic energy in the body, and master one first-rank spell.
2nd Rank Mage - Master three first-rank spells.
3rd Rank Mage - Learn one second-rank spell.
4th Rank Mage - Master three second-rank spells.
5th Rank Mage - Learn one third-rank spell.
6th Rank Mage - Construct a Mage Tower within their Sea of Consciousness.
Upon reaching the 6th Rank, a mage undergoes a significant transformation by constructing a Mage Tower within their Sea of Consciousness.
This structure is not physical but rather a metaphysical representation of their foundation as a mage. Its construction requires:
Life Source - Forms the skeletal structure of the tower.
Magic Energy - Acts as the power source of the tower.
Spirit Power - Binds and stabilizes the tower within the mage's consciousness.
Benefits of the Mage Tower
Inbuilt Shield Spell: The tower automatically activates a defensive shield to protect the mage from attacks.
Magic Field Expansion: The mage gains a perception field extending three meters around them, ensuring they detect any enemy presence within that range.
Instant Defense: If an enemy enters this radius, the shield triggers automatically before the mage even reacts, preventing sneak attacks.
After examining all four professionals' inheritance, he turns his attention to his clone.