In those 20 days I did nothing but training. From 7 in the morning until it was time to sleep, because of Alex's hellish training in mana control I sometimes did it even in my sleep.
And after the end of each training session I would go and hunt berserk rodents. That was my schedule for 20 days straight and results? I could now create more than 100 fireballs around the size of a football, compared to the day one when I fainted just after making one.
This was a huge increase in power but because of this I didn't practice much in controlling my power.
' Alex said that controlling mana is more difficult than controlling arcane power, so I should be good'
I was currently inside my room after creating mana core Alex told me to rest since they will be doing different type of training from tomorrow.
--Next morning--
When I entered the training room. I noticed that Alex was already there, but this time he was in formal dress. Black shoes, Black pants and white shirt. Eric also noticed a bag some distance away.
'looks like he is leaving today'
"It looks like you are leaving today Alex."
"That's true today will be our last session."
"Hmm.."
"So let's finish with our lesson. What I'm going to teach you today is how to control your aura."
"Aura?"
"It's something like your mana leaking outside.
Try to sense mana around your body."
I tried to sense mana around me and then I noticed tendrils of mana were coming from my body.'
"Did you see it?"
"yes, But I don't feel any mana consumption from them."
"That's because your mana is not actually leaking. It's just actually a reaction to mana in the atmosphere.
it's nothing right now but when you become more powerful it will be annoying so you need to train yourself to keep that mana inside."
"What happens if I don't keep it inside?"
"Ok brace yourself."
"Huh?"
I didn't know what Alex meant. But then suddenly I felt a pressure on my body. it was like gravity wanted me on the ground and that's what happened I was barely able to keep my head away from the ground. I started sweating all over, my instincts were screaming for me to run.
And all of a sudden, the weight I was feeling on my shoulder disappeared like it was never there in the first place.
I looked toward Alex he was still standing in the same spot with a smile on his face.
"This is what happens when I release the mana tendrils around me. I'm actually surprised that you are still awake, others would have fainted long ago."
I ignored his words because I was busy panting.
"Well that was fucking scary. I have never been this scared in my whole life."
I remember those moments where I was forced to kneel. it left a bitter taste in my mouth.
But this reality check also helped me to not be overconfident in my strength.
'I really felt like I could take down the whole world with how fast I was improving.'
"Don't feel too bad. Most people won't even be able to stay awake when the S rank awakeners release their aura."
'So he is S Rank'
I knew that someone teaching me would not be a normal person.
"are you in the rankings?"
Rankings, it was the list of powerful people ranked according to their power.
There were 3 main types of lists. Support rankings, hunters rankings and contribution rankings. And they were only for S rank And above.
As the name suggests support rankings were for the people who had support ability.
Hunters rankings were for awakeners who hunted monsters inside and outside Midgard.
And contribution ranking was for your contribution toward Midgard.
Apart from them there was another ranking.
It was called a power ranking.
It listed all the powerful people even those who are dead and ranked them according to their strength.
Currently the first place of power ranking was occupied by Aldrian Alastair my grandfather. Who was one of the 4 great Heroes who made and protected Midgard in its early days. He was the strongest of all four of them. my father was around 6 th in power ranking.
I just wanted to know how powerful alex was.
Seeing the curious look on Eric face Alex sighed and answered.
"You can say I'm in the top 30 of power ranking."
'He is powerful!'
It can be said that all twenty in power ranking were all -SS rank or above. So being in the top 30 means you are one of the top ten S rank awakeners.
To understand the rarity of S rankers you need to know this.
Midgard's was a big territory (around the size of Russia) its population was around 20 billion.
And every one of them was awakened with a few exceptions of course.
from these 20 billion only 10% of them were D rank and above, only 5% were B rank and above, only 1% were A rank and above, only 0.001% were S rank and above. As for the SS rank and above awakeners. they were only 17 of them.
Why the huge disparity between A rank and S rank?
Because the rank difference was already so huge that even if 100 of B rank fought against a single A rank they wouldn't be able to put a scratch on him. And this power difference was way bigger in front of S rank who have absorbed mana in every cell of their body, so much that no amount of A rank awakeners could fight against S rank awakeners, The same rule applied to SS rank awakeners. To fight against an S ranker you need an S ranker.
"So what's the method to control mana tendrils?"
I decided to change the topic.
It can't be helped. He was so powerful that the words he said before were so true that if anyone outside heard them they would just laugh it off as the most iconic joke of the century.
after all who would believe that E rank awakener would be able to withstand a S rank aura.
Alex clearly noticed how Eric was trying to change the topic but didn't point out to him.
"Just do mana control again and again and you should be able to control them."
I nodded
'if it's like this then it will take some time.'
"Now that everything is over let's get down to business."
"Business?" I asked, if anyone was watching us right now they would be able to see the question mark hovering over my head.
"I'll explain it to you but let's first move to a place with a table and chair."
**
I and Alex were sitting opposite each other in a luxurious room filled with portraits and painting on the wall.
"So you are saying that you want to recruit me into your academy?"
"Yes, as I said earlier academy is a place where heirs of different families and guilds will train together, and we will train you in ever aspects of wether it is assassination, escaping, dueling, dungeon raids ,monster hunting and etc."
"Hmm…"
Eric closed his eyes as he thought about the matter.
"And didn't I help you with your mana control in the past? How about you join in exchange for my past help."
Alex said as a cunning smile was plastered on his face.
"If I'm not wrong you had an ulterior motive in helping me. and that was either to use that on me and make me feel like I owe you a favor , or you were simply testing me if I was qualified to enter your academy. Am I right?"
Eric opened his eyes and looked at Alex whose smile was nowhere to be seen by now.
"You knew?"
Eric ignored his question and continued.
"But I'm more inclined to believe the second option since you always contacted someone at the same time everyday and further to hide your conversation you used a communication orb."
"You were keeping an eye on me?"
Alex asked as his eyes narrowed.
"Please don't take it the wrong way and since I've been kidnapped previously this much caution was necessary. And didn't you already know that we were keeping tabs on you?"
Alex stayed silent but Eric didn't stop.
"You probably didn't say anything about it because you knew if you made a fuss about it my father would have kicked you out for hiding something."
Alex's face was expressionless.
'What a frightening kid, he was able to deduce that much with just me contacting someone everyday at the same time.'
"Since you already know everything, what are your thoughts about joining the academy?"
"I don't want to and there is also my father-"
"You don't need to worry about your father, we already explained everything to him and he agreed."
Seeing that Eric was worried about his father confirmation Alex hurriedly explained.
"But that still doesn't change the fact that I'm not interested in joining your academy."
"We can provide you with anything you just name it."
"If I want something I can just ask my father I don't need you or your academy for that. Well then ,good bye."
I replied in snarky tone. who were they trying to bribe huh? with my one word I could have anything I wanted. Even S rank who could destroy cities with there power have to give me face if they encounter me.
I stood up from my seat and moved toward the door.
"What if we provide information about your brother?"
I stopped in my track as I heard Alex mentioning my brother.