As Jack's family read through the ancient book given by Ava, their expressions shifted from curiosity to sheer disbelief. Their eyes widened, breaths hitched, and an overwhelming sense of awe filled the room.
The book contained revelations about the Four Great Ages, the Path of Ascendants, and the intricate power system governing Magic Circles and Aura Force Rings. Each word reshaped their understanding of the world, igniting a burning desire to embark on the journey of an Ascendant.
As they flipped through the pages, another section unveiled itself:
---
The Path of an Ascendant:
To embark on the path of an Ascendant, one must first achieve a state of deep meditation.
1. Sit in a cross-legged position with eyes closed, clearing the mind of all distractions.
2. Focus on the surrounding mana, allowing it to flow naturally. With time, one will begin to sense the presence of elemental particles within the air.
3. If an individual possesses an elemental affinity, the corresponding elements will resonate with them, gathering around their body.
For example, a person with Fire and Water affinity will feel flickering warmth and a cooling embrace, as if fire and water are drawn to their very soul.
Once the affinity is confirmed, the next step is to absorb the elemental mana into the body.
4. Guide the elemental energy toward the heart, condensing it into a Magic Circle, or channel it to the hand, forming an Aura Force Ring around either the right or left wrist.
The Power of Multiple Affinities:
The greater the number of elemental affinities a person possesses, the faster they can form their Magic Circle or Aura Force Ring.
This drastically accelerates their journey on the Ascendant's path, granting them an advantage over others.
For instance:
A person with Three Elemental Affinities will form their Magic Circle faster than someone with only two.
A person with Four Elemental Affinities will have an even greater advantage, surpassing those with fewer elements.
Thus, those born with multiple affinities are destined for greatness, their potential surpassing ordinary cultivators.
---
Jack's family sat in complete silence, their minds overwhelmed by the profound revelations within the book. Every word, every sentence, peeled back the veil of mystery surrounding the world and the Path of Ascendants.
Emma traced her fingers over the aged pages, her voice barely above a whisper. "So, to begin our journey as Ascendants… we must first meditate, sense mana, and absorb it to form either a Magic Circle or an Aura Force Ring."
James nodded, his thoughts racing. "It makes sense. The stronger a person's elemental affinity, the faster they can form their first Magic Circle or Aura Force Ring. Those with multiple affinities would advance at an exponential rate."
Jack clenched his fists, a fire igniting in his eyes. This was it the moment he had been waiting for. His true beginning.
As they turned the page, a new passage emerged before them, its words seemingly pulsing with hidden power.
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The Awakening Ritual of an Ascendant!
The first step on the Path of Ascendants is the Awakening Process, a moment that defines one's journey toward power and mastery.
To awaken, an individual must sit cross-legged, empty their mind, and attune themselves to the mana flowing through the world. With deep concentration, they must sense the elemental particles around them, allowing their natural affinity to reveal itself.
Once their elemental affinity is determined, the next step is to draw mana inward, guiding it toward the heart the core of all energy within.
Those who follow the Magic Circle Mage Path must gather mana into their heart and condense a Magic Circle around it, establishing their foundation for spellcasting.
Those who walk the Aura Force Ring Master Path must channel mana into their heart and form an Aura Force Ring around either their right or left hand, unlocking their potential in physical combat.
This process demands absolute mental focus and discipline. A single mistake can lead to disastrous consequences, including mana deviation, internal injuries, or even elemental backlash, where uncontrolled energy turns against the practitioner.
The Awakening is a test of both willpower and talent only those who succeed can step forward onto the true Path of Ascendants.
---
Jack's heart pounded with anticipation. He couldn't wait any longer.
He turned to his father, James, his eyes burning with determination. "Should we try it now?"
James chuckled, though the flicker of excitement in his own gaze betrayed his composed demeanor. "Eager, aren't you?" He smirked. "Very well. Let's see who awakens first."
The rest of the family exchanged glances before nodding in agreement.
Clearing a space in their home, they sat in a circle, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. The air itself seemed to hum with energy as if responding to their resolve.
James, Emma, and Jack took their positions, sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed, ready to embark on the path of Ascendants.
Sofie, however, remained standing at the side, watching them with a flicker of envy in her eyes. Her hands clenched into small fists as she thought, 'Once I turn sixteen, I'll follow the Path of Ascendants too.'
James exhaled slowly, his voice steady. "Close your eyes. Focus on the mana around you.''
Jack and the others followed his guidance, their breathing slow and even as they sank into deep meditation.
And then—
A strange sensation swept over them.
A pulse. A ripple in the air.
The mana in the room stirred, responding to their call.
Something was about to change forever.
---
Jack was the first to experience it.
It felt as if he had been thrown into a vast, endless ocean not of water, but of pure, untamed mana. Colors swirled around him, shifting and flickering like living flames, rippling waves, crackling lightning.
He felt it.
Elemental mana.
It responded to him.
It welcomed him.
Jack took a steady breath, extending his spiritual sense. He reached out, calling upon the elements closest to his soul.
At first, Fire and Water surged toward him opposites in nature, yet intertwining in a chaotic, mesmerizing dance. Then, Earth and Wind followed, steady and unyielding yet as free as the open sky.
But it didn't stop there.
Thunder roared like a storm.
Wood whispered like the breath of nature.
Ice chilled the air like a crisp winter breeze.
Then Light and Darkness.
Two forces, eternally opposing yet perfectly balanced, circled around him in harmony.
And finally
Time and Space.
Reality itself rippled as they made their presence known. The world around him twisted, distorted, as if bending to acknowledge his existence.
Jack's mind trembled. He could feel all eleven elements resonating with him.
Because of his Supreme Blessing of All Eleven Elements. He has affinity with all 11 elements.
An impossible phenomenon.
Ordinary beings could only sense between one and four elements. Even prodigies, those born with extraordinary talent, rarely had more than six.
But Jack...
Jack was different.
He knew what to do.
Following the guidance from the book, he took control of the surging elemental mana. He focused, drawing it inward, channeling it into his heart and hands simultaneously.
Then
A brilliant light erupted from within him.
A Magic Circle took shape around his heart, layer upon layer of intricate, glowing runes spinning in a divine pattern, radiating with eleven dazzling colors.
At the same time
An Aura Force Ring materialized around his left wrist, pulsating with overwhelming energy. Eleven distinct colors shimmered within it, a phenomenon never before seen.
Jack's body trembled violently as waves of power surged through his veins.
It was excruciating.
It was as if his very existence was being torn apart only to be reborn anew.
But he endured it.
Because he had chosen the path of the Assassin, a profession that allowed him to wield both a Magic Circle and an Aura Force Ring.
Jack clenched his teeth. This was just the beginning.
---
Outside, Emma and James were abruptly pulled from their meditation by a sudden, powerful shockwave.
Their eyes snapped open.
Their breaths caught in their throats.
Jack's body was levitating.
A tremendous aura surged around him, growing stronger by the second. Golden, crimson, and azure flames danced around him like celestial fire, illuminating the dim room with an ethereal glow.
Emma's hands trembled as she stepped back. "W-What's happening to him?!"
James's expression hardened. "This… this isn't normal."
Even the book hadn't described such a phenomenon.
A violent whirlwind of mana exploded outward, rattling the walls and shaking the foundation of their home. Loose objects lifted into the air, swirling chaotically.
Sofia clung to Emma's arm, her small frame trembling. "B-Big brother… is he okay?"
James forced himself forward, placing a firm hand on Jack's shoulder. "Jack! Control it! Don't let the energy overwhelm you!''
Jack's entire body burned with power it was as if he had become a conduit for the very elements themselves. The mana refused to settle, surging wildly within him, threatening to consume him whole.
But he refused to lose control.
This is my power. I will master it.
He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, focusing every ounce of his willpower. He reached deep within himself, commanding the raging elemental forces to submit to his will.
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
And finally
Silence.
The whirlwind of mana dissipated.
Jack's feet gently touched the ground.
His eyes opened, glowing with an otherworldly radiance.
A fully-formed Magic Circle and Aura Force Ring had manifested within him, layered with all eleven elements an impossible feat.
Yet, to the outside world, none of that was visible.
The only thing others could see was a red Magic Circle and Aura Ring, the symbol of Fire
Emma pressed a trembling hand over her mouth. "Jack… what did you just do?"
James' breath came out in a slow, measured exhale. "Jack… what you just did was far beyond simply forming a Magic Circle and Aura Force Ring."
Jack looked down at his hands, feeling the limitless power coursing through him. The energy felt raw, unrefined, but boundless like a dormant storm waiting to be unleashed.
A slow, confident smile formed on his lips.
"I just started my first Ascendant's journey."
Sofia's fear melted into excitement, her eyes shining with admiration. "Big brother is amazing! You're super strong now, right?!"
Jack clenched his fist, testing his newfound strength. "I don't know yet… but I can feel it."
Emma frantically flipped through the book's pages. "There must be something about this… no recorded case of a Magic Circle and Aura Ring like this exists, causing such an overwhelming phenomenon!"
But no such record existed.
Jack was the first of his kind.
James crossed his arms, his mind racing. "This phenomenon… It's overwhelming. We have to hide this from others."
Jack's smile faded as reality sank in. Power like this would bring not just awe but fear and danger.
He nodded. "I understand."
Because power always comes with consequences.
But one thing was certain
His journey as an Ascendant had begun.
And the path ahead was one no one had ever walked before.
---
With Jack's awakening complete, James and Emma followed suit, carefully condensing their Magic Circles and Aura Force Rings according to the book's teachings.
James, having chosen the Beast Tamer class, guided the surrounding mana into his body, allowing it to flow naturally. The power of Light and Darkness intertwined, coalescing into a black-and-white Aura Force Ring around his right hand. At the same time, a Magic Circle formed near his heart, glowing faintly with the same dual hues of two opposing forces in perfect harmony.
Emma, embracing the Mage profession, gathered her mana with graceful precision. The four elements—Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth responded to her call, swirling around her before merging into a radiant Magic Circle around her heart. The intricate patterns of red, blue, green, and brown pulsated gently, proof of her mastery over multiple elements.
The room settled into silence. The air still hummed with lingering energy, a quiet reminder of the momentous event that had just occurred.
Jack, James, and Emma sat together, exhaustion creeping into their bodies, yet their minds were alive with possibilities.
Sofia, still too young to begin her own journey, sat by their side, watching them with eager anticipation. "When I turn sixteen, I'll follow the path of an Ascendant too!"
Jack chuckled, ruffling her hair. "I'll be waiting to see how strong you become."
Outside, the night stretched on, the stars twinkling like distant beacons of fate.
None of them knew it yet, but this was the moment history had changed forever.
The era of a new legend had begun!