Unveiled Potential

After a moment of rest, Akira attempted to push himself upright. As his hand made contact with the crystal, an unexpected sensation rippled through him. The crystal began to shrink, its luminescent energy spiraling around him until it was fully absorbed into his right arm. Confusion spread across his face as he stared at his arm.

Mai's eyes widened in astonishment. "What just happened?"

"I don't know," Akira murmured, his voice peaked with a mix of awe and curiosity.

Akira and Mai turned to a source of knowledge they could trust—their genius friend who had earned a scholarship to Eden at the tender age of 8. Renowned for their expertise in complex magic and solving intricate equations, they held the rank 4 position in Eden without being an actual student.

Upon arriving at their friend's home, nestled within a quiet corner of the city, Akira and Mai were greeted with a warm smile. The room was adorned with magical artifacts, scrolls, and elaborate diagrams—testaments to their friend's brilliance.

"Hey, you two," their friend greeted them. "What brings you here?"

Akira hesitated before speaking. "We need your help, Aiden. Something strange happened."

As they explained the events that had unfolded, Aiden listened intently, his expression a mixture of fascination and curiosity. "So, the crystal fused with your arm?"

Akira nodded, flexing his fingers experimentally. "Yes, and I feel... drained?"

Aiden's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "Let's take a closer look. I can examine your magical resonance and see if there have been any significant changes."

With a few precise gestures and incantations, Aiden reached out his hand towards Akira to analyze Akira's body. A moment later, their eyebrows lifted in surprise.

"I see what happened," Aiden said, their voice tinged with amazement. "Akira, your magical prowess has skyrocketed. You've jumped five tiers—from an Apprentice to a Magus."

(Apprentice is a very low rank while Magus is a decently high rank)

(Ranks and Grade are different, grade is a overall rating for someone while ranks are for prowess with magic or machine synchronization)

Akira's jaw dropped in astonishment. "Five tiers? That's... incredible."

Mai's eyes gleamed with excitement. "So, the crystal really did change him."

Aiden nodded. "Indeed."

"But there's something more," Aiden continued, their tone growing more thoughtful. "Your resonance—it's not just typical magic. It's like... machine synchronization."

Akira and Mai exchanged puzzled glances. "Machine synchronization?" Akira echoed. "But that's an entirely different aspect."

Aiden nodded in agreement. "Exactly. It's almost unheard of for someone to possess both regular magic and machine synchronization abilities, especially at this level."

Akira frowned, his mind racing to grasp the implications. "Does this mean I can synchronize with machines?"

Aiden's expression turned solemn. "It seems so, but the question is why? This isn't a normal occurrence."

As the trio delved into discussions about the crystal's abilities and the unprecedented fusion of magic and technology within Akira.