"The third requirent is not to have any talent unlocked before developing mana affinity. The reason is simple. Magic beasts also have elental affinities. By unlocking a talent, you take the risk of tainting yourself with part of those affinities."
"The last requirent is, of course, to have my guidance! This discovery is my life achievent. I detailed every step that must be taken, from the materials to the ritual you need to perform."
"I'll finally explain why mana affinity is the ultimate power anyone can hold."
"As the fundantal source of energy of the world, it is extrely versatile and has the potential to allow you mastery over all forms of magic! Moreover, no limitation applies to a mana affinity holder. Be it illusion, enchantnt or elental magic, everything becos accessible."
Adam exhaled as he reached the end of the page, his emotions in turmoil. How did such an incredible book end up forgotten in the college's library, and why did Vikram give it to Julius?
Little did he know that Vikram only grabbed the first book he saw about mana manipulation, as what he could read from it was different from the real content. It was a pure coincidence.
He took so ti to calm his raging excitent before checking every requirent needed to unlock mana affinities.
Ironically, he could check the first requirent because of his weird condition.
Ironically again, he could check the second requirent thanks to the soul damage taken in the tower and his adventures to brew the ghostly elixir of ethereal energy.
As for the third, he was good for now. However, he was unsure if the talent he would unlock next year could ruin things.
'Hahaha, I didn't suffer all those misadventures for nothing!' He couldn't help but laugh, elated by the prospect of holding the ultimate affinity.
After all, he knew there were only a few archmages in the world, probably less than five. For one of them to describe it as the ultimate power, ant that it really was sothing out of this world.
Subsequently, he proceeded to read the next pages, where he found a list of ingredients, complex drawings filled with arcane symbols and, at the end of the book, a mana-gathering technique.
"Traditional mages progress through the tiers by guiding mana through their mana circuits into the heart. Then, they shape this mass of mana into a circle around it. However, this thod is flawed!"
"Instead of shaping a circle using brute force and quantity, I developed a thod to draw the ambient mana more effectively. I also improved the dull and standard circle thod by replacing them with strings of arcane symbols imbued with deep esoteric aning."
"This thod requires high mana control but yields extre improvents that grow more pronounced the higher tiered you reach."
Then, Adam contemplated the strings of symbols drawn. They were arranged in circles with detailed descriptions of how to form them for each tier.
'So, I still need to shape them like circles. But this thod is much more intricate. Seems like I'll have to form a circle for each tier.' He summarized Kwa's thod, deep in thought.
He couldn't help but be grateful to this man. No, he was more than a man. He was an unrivaled genius of his ti in his eyes.
Without wasting more ti, he closed his eyes to go back to the dream place to experint with the symbol circle.
*****
Adam woke up in his apartnt and imdiately went to work. He sat on his bed, his face exuding concentration and started to guide mana through his mana circuits to his heart.
Then, with the precision of a master sculptor, he slowly shaped it into intricate symbols filled with natural anings.
He took his ti to shape them perfectly, restarting from scratch at the slight mistake or inconsistency in shape, texture or thickness.
He would not accept anything less than perfection for his tier advancent. After all, the promotion process was what differentiated powerful from average mages in the sa tier.
Sweat matted his forehead as his concentration started to waver after hours in the process. Despite his tier-three mana control standard, Kwa's thod was extrely challenging.
'I'm almost there.' He gritted his teeth with bloodshot eyes as he shaped the last symbols around his heart.
'Co on! It's the last one, don't lose focus!' He encouraged himself as the last run took place and connected the two extremities of the circle.
CRACK
A loud cracking sound shook his body and soul after the symbols harmoniously floated around his heart.
He felt as if a mirror reflecting a realm of lies had just been broken, allowing him to see the world from a different perspective.
He stood up, exhausted by his efforts, a wide grin plastered on his face as mana danced with his every move as if welcoming a long-lost friend.
He felt invigorated as his depleted mana reserves replenished themselves quicker than ever. He was better attuned to mana and could draw a part from the surroundings to boost his spell's potency.
As he reveled in his new sensations and feelings, the system's interface suddenly popped before his eyes.
[Congratulations on being the first to be promoted to tier two]
[Reviewing process and standard achieved...]
[Error, thod and process unknown]
[Assessing results...]
[Error, Error, standard limit broken.]
"Humph, you're not making fun of anymore now?" Adam snarkily remarked, pleased to see the system bug after all the negative comnts it made.
[Standard evaluated as exceptional. Upgrade to 1 per stat point invested instead of the classic 0.6 for promotion quest takers and 0.75 for perfect promotion through mana-gathering techniques.]
Adam raised his brow at the ssage, his eyes bulging from their sockets. Wouldn't that an he would get fifty per cent stronger than anyone, thanks to Kwa's thod?
After thinking in shock for a bit, he found the outco normal, as even his stupid system had trouble assessing the results.
[Experience point limit lifted.]
"Status!" Adam instantly called for his interface panel, impatient to confirm that he truly beca an acolyte and that he could finally resu leveling up.
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