Ch. 11 Paths to Power

Alfred's gaze settled firmly on Alex as he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, emanating a serious, almost commanding presence. "Now, young master," Alfred began, "where do you want to start?"

Alex hesitated, glancing briefly at the ground as he collected his thoughts. "Mana cultivation," he replied, raising his eyes to meet Alfred's. He added silently to Nova, I need to know how my cultivation differs from others in this world. And if my speed so far is normal… or something else entirely.

Nova's amused chuckle echoed in his mind. [Curiosity will only get you so far, Host. But let's see what Alfred has to say.]

Alfred nodded approvingly. "Very well. Mana cultivation is often split into distinct paths: the path of mana, or 'mage' cultivation, and the path of the body, commonly known as the swordsman path. Each has its own method and purpose, but both follow the same fundamental structure."

Alex leaned forward, intrigued as Alfred continued. "In Astria, we classify cultivation stages by the number of mana circles a cultivator has formed, ranging from H to SSS rank. This goes for both paths. Each stage involves forming a new mana circle, which increases one's power and mana capacity."

Alfred paused, watching Alex closely. "The mage path involves condensing and storing mana within the core itself. As one progresses, a circle is created inside the core. This condenses the mana into a powerful pool and strengthens the core. When you reach SSS rank, you have eleven circles—your core brims with vast, nearly boundless mana."

Alex absorbed the information, trying to picture the idea of forming circles inside a core. It sounded straightforward, yet completely unlike his experience so far.

Alfred continued, shifting to the second path.

"The swordsman path follows a similar progression, but it diverges in one critical way. Swordsmen form their mana circles outside the core, spreading the mana throughout their entire body. With each new circle, their bodies strengthen exponentially, granting them resilience and physical prowess."

Alfred's expression hardened, and his voice held a tone of reverence. "This external approach allows their bodies to adapt to incredible levels of physical strain and damage, making them nearly indestructible in combat."

Alex's head was spinning. He was trying to make sense of how these methods compared to his own cultivation when Nova's voice chimed in his mind, [That manual you have was randomly assigned. It figures it would be different from these standard paths.]

Before Alex could respond, Alfred's voice cut through his thoughts. "And there's a secret, third path," he said, his eyes glinting. "This path is rarely discussed, known only to elite students and high-ranking cultivators. It combines both mana and body cultivation and is sometimes referred to as True Cultivation."

Alex's mind snapped to attention. The way Alfred described this path sounded strikingly similar to his own. "True Cultivation?"

Alfred nodded, a note of pride in his voice. "Yes. Instead of forming circles in or around the core, a cultivator tempers both body and mana simultaneously. This method is arduous, but it strengthens every aspect of the cultivator, from their mana reserves to their physical body. It's a path few can handle, and it demands immense discipline."

Alex felt a thrill run through him. This so-called True Cultivation sounded almost identical to what he was doing with the Origin Creation Manual.

"Why isn't it more common?" he asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

"Most don't know of its existence," Alfred explained. "The Astral Academy keeps it hidden from all but their highest-ranking students. It's known as the Astral-Body Path."

Alex glanced at Nova, sensing her curiosity. [Well, that's convenient. Your 'random' cultivation method might actually be the rarest one here.]

Seems like it, Alex replied silently. He turned his attention back to Alfred. "So, cultivation manuals are specific to these paths?"

"Exactly," Alfred confirmed. "Each manual is designed to fit a particular path and attribute. Some cultivate fire, others water or earth. The attribute you have dictates what type of cultivation you should pursue."

Alfred walked forward, resting a firm hand on Alex's back. "Now, let's check your attribute. I'll infuse some mana to see what's compatible with you."

Alex felt a strange, tingling sensation as Alfred's mana began to enter his body. But suddenly, Alfred's energy was cut off, and his hand jerked back as if he'd touched something hot.

Alfred's brow furrowed, and he gave Alex a confused look. "Young master… have you already started cultivating?"

Alex's mind scrambled for an answer. He knew that telling Alfred the truth would only raise more questions, so he settled on a half-truth. "I… had this dream while I was in a coma," he said slowly. "An old man appeared and taught me the basics. He gave me a manual, told me how to start."

Alfred's eyes narrowed in suspicion, his thoughts unreadable. But then he seemed to relax, muttering something under his breath. Alex only caught a snippet, but it sounded like, Could it be her plan after all…

Recovering himself, Alfred nodded. "I see. If you already have a path, I won't interfere. I'll focus on helping you understand the different cultivation methods in Astria."

Alex let out a silent sigh of relief, grateful Alfred had accepted his story. "So… can you tell me more about how others cultivate?"

"Certainly," Alfred replied, stepping back. "When people awaken, they form their first core, usually in their lower dantian. This core is essentially their connection to mana and the foundation of their path."

He paused, studying Alex carefully. "Each core has a specific attribute—fire, water, lightning, light, darkness, and so on. Some are rare, and a few, like the space attribute, are even rarer. So, young master, what attribute did the old man tell you that you had?"

Alex hesitated, but Nova's voice came through loud and clear. [Tell him space. Humans don't know about the space-time element yet, and it's better to keep it that way.]

"Space," Alex replied confidently. "He said my attribute was space."

A flicker of surprise passed over Alfred's face, but he nodded. "Just like your mother," he murmured softly, almost to himself. His gaze held a distant fondness, a warmth that seemed to belong to another time.

Alex felt a jolt of interest. He wanted to press Alfred for more details, but before he could ask, Alfred continued his lesson. "In the mage and swordsman paths, a core with an attribute helps shape a person's strengths and weaknesses. Fire attributes bring destructive force, water users have adaptability, and so forth."

He gestured toward Alex, his expression solemn. "The space attribute is unique. It gives you control over space itself, enabling you to move objects, alter spatial dimensions, and even teleport. But this kind of power requires rigorous control. Training will be essential."

Alex nodded, his excitement growing. He could only imagine the potential his abilities held.

Alfred watched Alex closely as he absorbed everything he had just explained, a look of intense concentration on his face. "Now that you understand the basics of cultivation, it's important to recognize the unique strengths—and limitations—of each path."

He gestured for Alex to follow him to a low stone bench set beneath an arching tree, where they both sat. "Each path—mage and swordsman—comes with its own philosophy and purpose, which shapes not only the cultivator's abilities but also their strengths in battle."

Alfred turned his gaze to the garden, as if searching for the right words. "The mage path is focused on versatility and sheer magical power. Mages use their cores like reservoirs, drawing on their mana to form spells or unleash attacks that can be devastating at higher stages. Because they condense their mana internally, they cultivate a formidable control over their energy, shaping it into complex spells or explosive attacks. Mages tend to stay at a distance, where they can safely cast their spells without endangering themselves."

Alex imagined this, picturing powerful mages with swirling energy, casting spells from afar.

Alfred's gaze turned sharp as he continued. "But it isn't all about raw power. The mage path requires intense focus and precision. Many mages fail not because of a lack of mana, but because they lose control in the heat of battle. Even the most powerful mage is vulnerable if they can't control their energy under pressure."

Alex nodded, absorbing the lesson. He hadn't considered the challenges of mana control. His own cultivation felt different, almost more physical, and he couldn't help but wonder how it compared to what Alfred described.

"Then there's the swordsman path," Alfred said, his tone filled with reverence.

"Swordsmen cultivate their mana in the body itself. Instead of storing it within the core, they let the energy flow through every muscle, every cell, strengthening their physical forms. With each mana circle formed, a swordsman's body becomes more resistant, more powerful, until they reach the level of nearly indestructible warriors. They're the ones who charge head-on into battle, where the force of their bodies alone can turn the tide."

Alex tried to imagine the experience of having one's body filled with mana like that. It seemed more visceral and suited to direct combat—where brute strength and resilience were as crucial as technique.

"So mages focus on internal mana control, and swordsmen focus on external body strengthening," Alex summarized, his brows furrowed.

Alfred nodded. "Precisely. The mage path is for those who can handle the complexities of control and refinement, while the swordsman path is for those who value endurance and raw strength. Each has its unique strengths, and each requires different training."

Alex looked thoughtful. "And the True Cultivation path, or the Astral-Body Path, combines both?"

Alfred's face grew solemn as he answered. "Yes. True Cultivators hone both their bodies and their mana reservoirs. They fortify their bodies like swordsmen while deepening their mana pool like mages. This path provides unparalleled balance but is more difficult and time-consuming than either of the other two."

As Alex processed this, Nova's voice chimed in his mind, [Sounds like you've got the best of both worlds, Host. Lucky for you, right?]

I guess so, Alex thought back, a smirk forming on his lips.

Alfred, mistaking Alex's silence for hesitation, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Whatever path you take, just remember that each cultivator's journey is unique. The foundation you build will determine your success, so take the time to learn and grow."

Alex nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude. Alfred's words and guidance had helped him gain insight not only into the world of Astria but also into the cultivation process itself. This newfound knowledge filled him with determination to advance on his own path, no matter how uncharted it might be.

"Now that we've discussed mana cultivation," Alfred said, standing up straight,

"let's move on to lesson two: weapon mastery."