Chapter 14 - Measuring Talent (2)

"Teacher, what is the second test about?" Theodore asked curiously.

In his previous life, he only took the mana sensitivity test at the Roxarth Academy. He did not know about the other tests that could measure a person's aptitude.

"The second test is the willpower test," Nathan replied and began his explanation about the test.

"Willpower is a person's consciousness that remains after receiving pain."

"Someone with low willpower may lose their consciousness with little injuries while people with high willpower can remain calm and think clearly despite being greatly hurt."

"High willpower is one critical factor in becoming a powerful mana user."

"During the practice, to contain more mana, it is important to have a strong enough body. If a person has too much mana beyond the tolerance limit of the body, that person can have injuries or even end up dying when using their power."

"Many exercises focus on refining the mana user's body to be robust enough and breakthrough the limit of the body to retain more mana. To complete this kind of training successfully, enduring the pain to rebuild the body is necessary."

"Some higher body exercises have a requirement on willpower. If a person's willpower is insufficient, it is best not to practice them."

"Willpower is also essential in combat. Maintaining sufficient consciousness to make a steady decision when having injuries on the battlefield is important."

"Willpower is the perseverance in suffering hardship and determination to go forward; mana users will not be able to proceed far in their path without enough willpower." Nathan described to Theodore the importance of willpower to mana users.

'It makes sense.' Theodore thought.

In his previous life, he encountered many exercises for strengthening and refining the body that required the learner to endure pain during the training.

He knew many people who died or had hidden injuries from practicing certain body exercises; they believed they could tolerate the described physical sufferings when they could not.

He also faced many battles and wars; remaining conscious despite the wounds and pain he received helped him survive until the end.

Although testing a person's willpower was new to him, Theodore felt he could comprehend its purposes.

Perceiving that Theodore understood the importance of willpower, Nathan then explained the test process. "The method for testing is simple; you need to continue supporting yourself and standing under the increasing pressure."

"This is the coercion altar used for measuring the willpower of people who have not yet started cultivating mana; it will apply the rising pressure and oppression to the person standing on it until the charging mana run out," Nathan said as he took out a large circular stone board from inside his cloak.

"The longer you can persist, the higher your willpower."

"There are five grades to the result of measuring willpower similar to the mana sensitivity test: the poor level, the lower level, the middle level, the upper level, and the top level." After Nathan finished his description, he looked at his disciple to see if he had any questions.

Although Theodore listened attentively to the explanation, he secretly peeked at his teacher's cloak when Nathan took out the coercion altar.

'Teacher must have space equipment.' Theodore privately assumed. He doubted this because Nathan took out too many things from inside his cloak; the previous ones were small, but the altar was too big to carry.

He did not linger long on this thought but was more curious about his Teacher's identity.

Theodore blinked to snap himself from his idle opinion. Even if he had a suspicion, he would not inquire about them.

'It is already a good beginning that the teacher revealed this much,' Theodore thought. Nathan's behavior showed that although he did not intend to disclose it, he did not intend to hide seriously either.

Theodore instead asked a question that he doubted about the test, "Teacher, is there a limit to a person's willpower? What if the charging mana of the coercion altar runs out, but the person can continue standing?"

"No, a person's willpower is not static; there are ways to improve it by receiving relevant practices," Nathan answered the first question.

He continued, "As for the test, it is a basic examination; if a person can persist until the mana run out, then that person has top-level willpower."

"I understand," Theodore replied. He did not ask any other questions.

Nathan then set up the coercion altar in an open space in the shade of a big tree.

The altar was full of complicated characters written in a circular pattern, leaving only the middle center, big enough for a person to stand, clear.

Nathan arranged the bronze coins he brought out at the designated location on the altar.

After finishing the arrangement, he said, "Come here and stand in the middle of the altar when you are ready for the willpower test."

With a pause, Nathan added, "If you cannot endure anymore, signal me with your eye."

Theodore nodded in understanding as he followed Nathan's guidance; he walked toward the altar and stepped on it to position himself in the middle of the altar.

He closed his eyes to soothe his breath to calm himself. Shortly after, he opened his eyes and nodded to Nathan, indicating he was ready.

Seeing Theodore prepared, Nathan started running the altar.

The altar then started draining the mana from the bronze coins and applying pressure to the altar's core.

Standing on the altar, Theodore began to feel a force pressing on him.

As the pressure applied to him rose, Thoredore sensed the increasing pain in his body with his increased injuries.

When the altar consumed half of the bronze coins' mana, the rising pressure instantly doubled.

Theodore's body trembled as he endured the pain; He bit his lip tightly to stop his voice from coming out, and he clenched his fist tightly with his nail pinching his hand.

Nathan frowned as he looked at Theodore's injuries and pain and admired his disciple slightly. He knew how difficult it was to endure such pressure with a normal human body.

Nathan started taking out healing potions as he hoped to see where Theodore's limit was.

At this moment, Theodore completely lost sense of the surroundings; his only thought was to persist. His current body was too weak even compared to ordinary people, as he was previously locked up in his room without receiving decent resources.

Despite shaking hard, Theodore continued to endure. He thought, 'This was nothing compared to what he had gone through in his previous life.'

His persistence came from his determination to change the future.

Time went by slowly.

Theodore did not know how long he had withstood the pressure, and his vision blurred, but he dared not lose consciousness.

'I can do it.' Theodore hypnotized himself over and over.

When he sensed the force suppressing him gone, his leg lost its strength, and he fell. Before he reached the ground, a hand held him from falling.

He then felt a cool liquid come into his mouth and fall through his throat. Shortly after, he was relaxed all over his body as his pain eased.

Before completely losing consciousness, Theodore heard a voice, "You have done well and endured to the end; your willpower result is the top level."