"Refine Inner Star, huh…" Astra murmured, rolling the thought over in his mind. "I'll deal with that later. First, I need to see what Shadow Magic I can wield now!"
His excitement crackled in the air as he closed his eyes, steadying his breath. Shadows coiled around him, slithering like living tendrils, whispering secrets only he could hear. He reached deep into the abyss of his newfound power, letting its knowledge surge through him.
Astra smirked. "Now… let's see what I can truly do."
[Shadow]
[Rank One]
Out of all the minor spells he found a couple he deemed useful.
Astra took a deep breath, steadying himself as he prepared to acquaint himself with his newfound power. Shadows stirred around him, flickering like whispers in the night, waiting to be commanded.
He extended his hand, calling forth his first spell.
Stalking Shade (Rank One Shadow Magic – Utility)
A wisp of darkness slithered from his palm, taking shape into a small, elusive figure. It darted forward, latching onto an unseen target. Astra could feel its presence—a silent spy, a whisper in the dark, unseen yet ever-watchful.
"A scout of shadows… useful."
Flickering Gloom (Rank One Shadow Magic – Illusion)
A dim, wavering darkness spread in front of him, shifting like candlelight caught in a phantom wind. It barely obscured the ground beneath, but Astra knew its purpose—a tool of deception, a moment's cover in the right hands.
"It won't hide me completely, but in battle… even a second of uncertainty can be fatal."
Leeching Touch (Rank One Shadow Magic – Minor Curse)
Astra clenched his fist, letting mana surge through his fingertips. He reached forward, brushing his own arm. A chill pulsed through his skin, draining warmth and a faint trace of mana. His body shuddered involuntarily at the sensation. More than that—he felt something deeper, a subtle, lingering pain.
Soul damage. It was weak, almost imperceptible… but it was there.
"A blade that does not cut flesh, but the essence itself."
Shadow Pin (Rank One Shadow Magic – Binding)
Astra turned, focusing on his own shadow. He willed the magic forth, and a portion of it locked in place. When he tried to move, he felt the resistance—a barely noticeable pull. Weak, but real.
"Enough to stall an opponent's step, to create an opening. It may be Rank One… but even the smallest stumble can mean death."
Shadow's Embrace (Rank One Shadow Magic – Enhancement/Concealment)
Astra exhaled, pulling the darkness inward. The shadows around him clung to his form, deepening, shifting—merging with him. He felt lighter, quieter… as if the night itself had taken him into its arms. His magic pulsed stronger, his spells lingering just a moment longer.
"An amplifier… and a veil. If used well, this could turn me into something unseen, untouchable."
Hidden Blade (Rank One Shadow Magic – Utility)
Astra drew his longsword, its dark iron gleam catching the dim light—only for that light to vanish as darkness coiled around the blade. The steel disappeared into the void, shrouded in shadow. A weapon hidden in plain sight.
He swung. The air whispered, the blade cutting without a trace—silent, deadly. The shadow did not dull the strike; it sharpened it, honed it into something beyond mere metal. And as he held the sword, he could feel it—the soul damage affinity creeping into its edge.
"A blade that strikes both body and soul… and my enemies won't see it coming."
Astra let out a slow breath, lowering his sword.
Shadow Magic. Weak, yet insidious. Subtle, yet lethal. It was not power meant for raw strength—it was for those who could think, deceive, control the flow of battle.
"And if I learn to wield it properly…"
A smirk played on Astra's lips.
"I won't need strength. Only opportunity."
"Fascinating… Rank One Shadow Magic truly embodies cunning and deception," Astra mused, a smirk curling at the corner of his lips. "Trickery, misdirection… yes, this art is steeped in the nefarious." With a low, amused chuckle, he let the shadows flicker around his fingertips.
His gaze darkened as realization dawned. "It seems I have been wielding the shadows improperly," he murmured, the weight of newfound knowledge settling upon him. "Shadow's Embrace… that, I understood. But Hidden Blade, Shadow Pin, and the others… their true potential is far more elusive." His voice dropped to a whisper, as if speaking directly to the darkness itself.
Astra closed his eyes as the regal coin's power surged once more, unraveling the secrets of his spells, flooding his mind with revelations. Shadows did not obey strength alone—they demanded finesse, patience… and the will to deceive.
....
Astra in his inner-domain, his soul sea found himself gazing upon the galaxies that littered the sky, he was in quiet contemplation, the weight of his newfound strength pressing down on him—not as a burden, but as a realization of just how much he had gained… and how much he still lacked.
Star Magic. The celestial spells he had uncovered were vast and powerful, yet frustratingly out of reach, their brilliance just beyond his grasp. The stars called to him, but he could not yet answer.
Shadow Magic. These, at least, were his to wield. Trickery, deception, control—each spell slithered through his mind like whispers in the dark, urging him to explore their true potential.
Equipment. His new longsword, forged from Odinson Steel, a material of legend, pulsed with quiet strength in his grasp. A Rank One blade—of high quality far beyond what he had wielded before. And his armor, Night Shroud, wrapped around him like living dusk, its presence both protective and eerily weightless. He was now well-equipped, a warrior in form… but not yet in truth.
Because what he lacked was experience. True experience, not those little bar fights or scuffles he had in the outskirts.
No matter how many books he had read on battle styles, formations, or spell applications… no matter how deeply he understood them in theory… he knew the truth.
A single battle is worth a hundred lessons.
Astra exhaled sharply, gripping his temple as a headache pulsed through him.
At best, he was a novice—he knew the fundamentals, how to hold his ground, how to parry and strike without making a fool of himself. But could he win? Unlikely. And he knew it.
The style he had learned was a basic sword form, one freely available on the mana network. It had served as a foundation, a means to ensure he wouldn't die instantly in a fight. Yet, it was far from enough. In a world where warriors seamlessly wove mana into their sword arts, where weapons were conduits for spells, an ordinary, non-magical style was little more than a relic of the past.
Weapon Masters walked the realms, each with their own unique styles honed over years, spanning all ranks. Some wielded blades that sang with elemental fury, some Great War hammers, spears and weapons of all kinds, others moved like ghosts, their swords unseen until it was too late. Their power was vast, their presence legendary.
Even noble houses, bound by blood and mana affinity, passed down generational sword arts—styles refined over centuries, imbued with family magic. But these alone did not make one a master. They merely ensured their wielders were trained soldiers, not true warriors.
"Shadows and Stars…" he muttered. The thought was instinctual, as if something within him was stirring, waiting to be shaped. Could they be connected?
A sword style… elusive yet bright. Hidden, yet there.
His vision blurred for a moment, the sheer depth of possibility overwhelming him. Was this intuition or a path waiting to be carved?....his intuition never has failed him after all. Yet he didn't know.
But he intended to find out.
...........
Astra found himself in front of a single, radiant star that burned brighter and larger than the galaxies around it. It was not just a source of light, but a presence unto itself—alive, vibrant with the energy of a thousand lifetimes.
Its light pierced through the darkness, cutting across the ocean's glassy surface, casting long, dark shadows that flickered and twisted like unseen things in the corners of his vision. The glow was otherworldly, a pure, blinding white-blue, so intense that it seemed to fracture the very fabric of reality around it, sending ripples through the cosmos.
The star hummed with a power that resonated through his very bones, a heartbeat that mirrored his own—a rhythm he had no choice but to follow.
"Now, how does one refine his own inner star huh....."
"Now, how does one refine his own inner star, huh?" he muttered, voice trailing off into the vastness of his domain.
The star was his, yet it felt distant—separate from the shadows that whispered his name or the waters that embraced him like an old friend. S-Rank affinity to the stars was something he had yet to comprehend, a power that remained dormant, just beyond his reach. How could he refine it, bring it to life the way he had learned to manipulate the other elements?
His gaze never left the shining orb. It pulsed steadily, each beat of light rippling out across the infinite expanse, yet it remained a mystery to him. Astra's hand instinctively hovered over his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his mana core, the source of his power. It was the same rhythm as the star—almost like they were one, yet not quite.
The deeper he focused, the clearer the realization came: his inner star was a reflection of his soul, his essence. It was something that couldn't be molded or shaped through simple effort—it needed to be understood, nurtured, and coaxed from within.
Astra closed his eyes, focusing on the rhythm of his breath. The constant pulse of the star seemed to echo in time with his heartbeat, a gentle thrum that resonated deep within his chest. It wasn't just a source of magic—it was an extension of his very being, a core that bound him to the fabric of the universe itself.
He could feel the warmth radiating from it, the gentle pressure against his mind, as if the star was waiting for him to reach out, to connect with it. He had always been drawn to the shadows, to the water, to the light—but the star? It had remained silent, indifferent to his efforts.
"Is it a matter of trust?" Astra thought, his mind grappling with the idea. Could it be that the star didn't respond to him because he had never trusted it?
Or perhaps, it was his lack of understanding—the star was not something that could be controlled, like the other elements. It was not a force to dominate, but something to align with, something to unite with.
Astra took a deep breath, extending his senses outward, reaching not just for the star, but for the heart of his own soul. He could feel his inner star's presence, pulsing with a quiet intensity, waiting for him to connect.
He focused on the sensation of warmth, of light, of the very essence of creation itself. The star was not just a part of him—it was him, as much a reflection of his nature as the shadows or the waters. His mana core shimmered in resonance, a soft glow that rippled like waves in the ocean.
"Perhaps this is it," Astra mused. "Not to control the star, but to become one with it."
He reached out mentally, letting his consciousness meld with the pulsing light. It was a strange feeling, as though the very fabric of his being was folding into the light and heat of the star. The sensation was overwhelming, yet it felt natural, as if he were returning to something he had always known but had forgotten.
The light grew brighter, warmer, almost unbearable. The pulse quickened, each beat of the star resonating with a deeper, more profound power.
Astra's mind felt as though it were unraveling, like threads of consciousness stretching and merging with the light itself. His essence became one with the light, and for a brief moment, he could feel the infinite possibilities of the universe swirling around him—limitless power, untapped potential.
His inner star was not just a source of power—it was his connection to the cosmos, to the very fabric of existence. It was his true nature, his purpose, waiting to be awakened.
The process of refining it was not about effort or will, but about alignment, about allowing himself to accept the light, to embrace it fully without fear. To become a Star himself
To become a Star wasn't just about the magic—it was about presence. It was about acting with the authority of something eternal, something that could not be ignored. It was not enough to cast spells or wield power.
A Star exists not only in its brightness, but in the way it moves the heavens, in the way it shifts the course of the world around it. Astra had to embody that.
His very existence would now be a statement. His actions, his thoughts, his will would ripple through the world like the movement of galaxies, small yet profound in their effect.
To be a Star was to become a symbol, an unmovable force, and yet, paradoxically, a beacon for others to look up to, lighting the way.
With a deep breath, Astra stepped forward, his movements now more deliberate, more weighted. The ocean in his domain reflected the change in him, the water's surface now shimmering with a new intensity, mirroring the pulsing light of his inner star.
The shadows at his feet stretched upward, as though reaching for his newfound power, and the air itself seemed to hold its breath, as though waiting for him to act, to become what he now realized he was meant to be.
His hands crackled with the power of the star, light flickering at his fingertips. The water, the shadows, the fire, the light—they all felt within his grasp, as natural as his breath.
But this was not enough. To become a Star was to move with intention. It was to decide, to shift the very forces of reality with each step, each thought, each action.
Astra closed his eyes, the pulse of his inner star growing in sync with the rhythm of the cosmos itself. He could feel the immense power, the boundless potential that lay within him. Now, he understood.
The essence of a Star was not in isolation—it was in action, in change. The world didn't simply revolve around stars; it responded to them.
He could feel the air thicken, the shadowy tendrils curling around him like the arms of the cosmos itself, waiting to be commanded. The water around his feet surged, eager to obey his call. Light danced along his fingers like fireflies drawn to the call of his soul.
In that moment, Astra knew. He was more than magic. He was more than a mere wielder of forces. He was the manifestation of the very elements themselves.
To become a Star was to act as one. His presence would reshape the world in his wake, and every movement would echo through the heavens, just as the stars had done for eternity.
Astra raised his hands slowly, the brilliant pulse of his inner star flowing outward. The shadows around him twisted in obedience, the water swirling as though caught in an unseen current. The very light seemed to bend, reflecting his intentions.
"I will become," Astra whispered, his voice carrying the weight of something ancient. "I will become a Star, not just in light, but in the way I move this world."
The world around him seemed to shudder as the transformation began, as Astra's will, his essence, burned brightly like a newly-born star, poised to reshape everything in its path.
The moment passed, and Astra opened his eyes. The star now burned brighter, but it was no longer distant. It was with him, a part of him—just as the shadows and the waters were.
It was no longer an untapped force but a living presence, one that was connected to him, ready to be called upon when needed.
......
Deep within Astra's being, where the physical world could not intrude, his Soul Sea churned.
It had once been an expanse of dark waters, vast and fathomless, an ocean of shadow and depth. The tides of his existence ebbed and flowed, bound to the mysteries of the unseen. The waters whispered, ancient and knowing, holding the secrets of his being. But now—
Something new had emerged.
A single star floated above the dark ocean, small, fragile, yet pulsing with an undeniable light. It was not like the shadows that obeyed him, nor like the waters that bowed to his will. This was different. This was celestial.
Astra, drifting in the endless abyss of his Soul Sea, reached toward it.
The moment his fingers brushed the light, a pulse erupted outward.
The entire ocean beneath him quaked. Ripples of gold, silver, and violet danced across the black waters, and for the first time, the darkness that had always ruled this place was challenged.
The star flickered—then flared.
Astra gasped as his body, his very soul, became engulfed in the new power. The celestial mana rushed through him, wild and unbridled, like trying to grasp the fire of a sun with bare hands. It burned, not painfully, but with an intensity so vast it threatened to overwhelm him.
His breath steadied. Control it. Don't let it control you.
He closed his eyes, feeling the celestial current weave through him, molding to his will. Then—he called upon it.
A single thought shaped the energy.
"Nova Flash."
The star above him pulsed.
From its core, a blinding flare erupted, swallowing the entire sky of his Soul Sea in brilliant radiance. The dark ocean beneath him recoiled, the shadows pulling away instinctively. For an instant, Astra was surrounded by nothing but searing white light.
The radiance faded as quickly as it came. The waters settled. Astra exhaled.
Too powerful. The raw celestial energy was still unrefined, slipping through his grasp like stardust in the wind. He needed to hone it, to shape it into something more controlled.
He tried again.
"Stardust Veil."
This time, the reaction was softer. The star pulsed, and from it, a gentle mist of shimmering particles drifted down, curling around his form. The veil bent the light, his own reflection in the dark waters below wavering, shifting, like a mirage caught in the astral winds.
Astra let the magic settle before dispelling it with a wave of his hand. He could feel it now—his connection to the celestial mana strengthening, weaving itself into his very existence.
He was not done.
"Celestial Bolt."
The star above him cracked with energy. From its core, a single, concentrated bolt of pure stellar light shot downward, striking the surface of his Soul Sea. The water hissed and rippled, a faint glow lingering at the impact site.
Astra gritted his teeth. The spell was unstable, erratic—just like before. He could feel the inconsistency, the wild flickers in the mana. He needed refinement, precision.
But he was learning.
Slowly, surely, the celestial mana was becoming his.
He looked toward the star, its glow unchanged, unyielding. The magic he had gained was merely the beginning—the first step into an ocean of power far greater than anything he had known.
A slow smile curled at Astra's lips.
This was only the start.