New Formula

The practical exams were upon us once more, and the energy in the academy's grand hall was palpable. This time, there was a familiar presence among the examiners: Magnus Draykar, my mentor and a legendary figure in his own right. As my Master, he had insisted on overseeing my exam personally, and I had no illusions about what that entailed. 

The setup remained as daunting as ever. A wide, open stage flanked by shimmering wards meant to contain the sheer intensity of our spells and strikes. The other Class A students had taken their turns, performing as anticipated, with rankings unshaken.

At last, Nero's voice boomed across the hall. "Rank 4: Rachel Creighton, Rank 3: Ren Kagu, Rank 2: Arthur Nightingale, and Rank 1: Lucifer Windward—step onto the stage!"

I moved forward, joining Rachel, Ren, and Lucifer. Standing side by side with them, the unspoken rivalry hung between us like a blade, sharp and expectant. At the center of it all stood Magnus, his gaze fixed on me with a mixture of stern expectation and quiet amusement. He knew exactly what this moment represented for me.

Magnus wasn't just here to evaluate. He was here to test me, to push me. And I knew full well there was no possibility of defeating him—not yet. Even if he limited himself to the strength of Integration-rank, the gulf between us was vast, the experience and mastery he wielded like a second skin.

But just because I couldn't win didn't mean I'd give anything less than my all.

I took a steadying breath, feeling the weight of the other three beside me and the watchful eyes of everyone around us. The academy had become a stage, and Magnus was both my audience and my opponent, a towering reminder of how far I still had to climb.

Magnus took a step forward, his presence a wave that settled over us like a cloak. "Arthur," he began, his voice carrying a subtle edge, "show me how much you've grown." 

I nodded, drawing my weapon as mana surged through my veins, igniting with purpose. Today, there would be no holding back.

Last time, I had relied on Heaven Descent Walk against him—a technique honed but not perfected. Today, I aimed to push further, to show Magnus my true potential. Mythic Body and Soul Vision activated in tandem, heightening my senses and awareness, bringing every subtle shift of air and every pulse of energy into sharp focus.

With the rules forbidding personal artifacts, my Ancient-grade treasures—Eclipse Blade, Seraphim's Embrace, and Mind's Aegis—remained untouched. This was to be my raw strength, pure and unadorned.

Lucent Harmony ignited within me, its intricate threads weaving the eleven elements into a singular, balanced current of mana. Each element resonated, binding in layers around my sword as I focused them into enhanced aura, a convergence of elemental force thrumming at the blade's edge.

I chose Tempest Dance Technique, a Grade 5 art gifted by the Academy, one I'd initially struggled to control. But time and perseverance had sharpened my skill, and now, it danced at my command. The world narrowed to the weight of my weapon, the measured breathing, the silence before a storm.

Sword Intent burned, focusing the enhanced aura onto the very tip of my blade. Every fragment of will, of mana, of energy in my body funneled into that single point. With a breath, I moved.

I launched forward, thrusting with precision and intent at the Martial King. The tip of my sword, charged with all that I could muster, cut through the air, a strike balanced between ambition and control.

Magnus's eyes gleamed with approval, a flicker of challenge in the depths.

Magnus raised his blade high above his head, the gleam of astral energy encasing it like a second skin. The sword pulsed rhythmically, each beat echoing the steady pump of a heart, pouring power into the strike.

BOOM!

My own attack shattered beneath his descending blade, sending a jolt through my entire frame. I forced wind and gravity magic into a vacuum beneath my feet, propelling myself backward just in time to dodge the blow.

"Astral energy, Master?" I said, a hint of a grin tugging at my lips. "That's hardly a fair match."

Magnus only shrugged, a slight smile playing at the edges of his stoic expression. "Fairness isn't the concern, Arthur. This is your limit, and you'll break it."

He wasn't wrong. I could feel the strain in every fiber, my Mythic Body pushed near its breaking point as I summoned more mana, more force, more of everything. The question was—could I keep control?

I remembered the lesson Valen had imparted: Resonance, true Resonance, was still beyond me. But instead of resignation, that knowledge sparked a new kind of resolve. Working alongside Luna, I'd devised a way to push the abilities I did possess to their very peak.

With Lucent Harmony, I had mastery over all eleven elements. Yet, I wasn't drawing out the full potential of each. If I could harness every aspect of those elements in tandem, the outcome could be something close to the power I craved. The problem lay in the complexity; the sheer mental calculations needed would be overwhelming without the aid of Mind's Aegis—a tool I was barred from using here.

But Luna had helped me forge a workaround. We'd crafted a magical formula, a self-sustaining structure embedded in the spell's core, designed to channel the elements automatically. Rather than relying on conscious thought to manage the details, the formula acted as a framework, allowing the elements to flow together in harmony, amplifying each other in cascading layers.

The spell ignited, the formula sparking to life as it took hold of the mana flowing through me. I could feel the elements aligning—fire crackling with latent heat, water stabilizing, ice cooling, earth lending weight and grounding, wind sharpening the edge, and lightning sparking through, adding a deadly charge. Light and dark balanced each other, time slowed perception, gravity lent force, and space guided the shape of each strike.

I braced, feeling the elements converge, synchronized by the spell, creating a weapon honed to the utmost of my current potential.

The spell wasn't perfect yet—not until I could reach 7-circle as a mage, something achievable only after surpassing the Wall and undergoing my first body metamorphosis. But even as it was, Celestial Convergence granted me an advantage my previous self would have marveled at.

Magnus raised an eyebrow, a glint of appreciation flickering in his gaze. I didn't wait for further approval; I charged, bending space slightly in front of me with spatial magic. My sword, layered with enhanced aura from each element, cut through the air like a comet, Tempest Dance Technique guiding each strike.

The Tempest Dance Technique was not just a flurry of attacks; it was an intricate web of seamlessly connected strikes, each one enhancing the flow of the next. The blade seemed to move with a life of its own, weaving and swirling as if part of an otherworldly choreography, strikes layering over one another in perfect synergy, each one building on the last to amplify the force.

As my blade neared Magnus, I felt the raw power resonate down my arm, the combined auras of fire, ice, and lightning clashing against his own formidable astral energy.

Enhanced aura was leagues beneath astral energy, undeniably so. In broad terms, enhanced aura came in three tiers: standard enhanced aura, Intent-infused enhanced aura, and resonating enhanced aura. Lucifer Windward, after reaching the Wall, had even managed to shatter an astral blade wielded by a low-level Ascendant-ranker with resonant enhanced aura.

I knew, of course, that I was nowhere near that level. Without Sword Resonance, it was utterly impossible to break Magnus's astral blade, regardless of how much he might be holding back.

But just because I couldn't destroy it didn't mean I couldn't hold my ground. I wove in and out around Magnus, exploiting every ounce of agility Mythic Body could offer, my footwork carrying me across the stage in rapid, unpredictable arcs. I struck at Magnus from shifting angles, using every advantage to close the gap in our strength.

He met each strike effortlessly, his blade humming with controlled power, yet I could sense the faintest flickers of approval as he parried and countered. Without Heaven's Descent Walk, I had to rely on raw speed and precision instead, pushing Mythic Body to its limits. My Soul Vision, combined with the instincts honed through countless battles, sharpened my focus, allowing me to anticipate his moves with uncanny accuracy.

Each clash was a calculated risk, a step closer to fully bridging the gap between enhanced aura and astral energy. I couldn't shatter his blade, but for now, I could stand against it.