In the outside world, the old man observed the boy intently. He watched as a palpable change came over the boy’s body.
The mana that covered him pulsed with a new vigor, the air around him shimmering with energy. The old man’s eyes widened in realization.
‘He has entered the state of Perfect Selflessness,’ the old man thought, marveling at the sight before him. It was a state where one forgets themselves for a moment and enters an enlightenment.
A state that almost no Awakened could attain in their lives, yet this boy was doing it the first moment he came into contact with mana.
The boy’s body glowed with an ethereal light, his expression serene and detached from the physical world.
The old man could see the mana flowing effortlessly through his meridians, intertwining with the boy’s own energy in perfect harmony.
This was not a simple achievement; it was a testament to the boy’s incredible potential.
The old man watched, feeling a mixture of awe and pride. He knew the boy was undergoing a profound transformation, one that would set the course for his future.
The Perfect Selflessness state was fleeting, but the enlightenment gained from it could last a lifetime.
He himself had attained this state only once, and that made him become one of the strongest in his own generation.
Then, what would happen to this boy?
The one who had the physique of the stars.
Maybe because of his reversed meridians, things would become harder with his path being different. But did it matter?
It did not. At the end of the day, this boy had only one path to take to move forward.
‘What a peculiar kid indeed.’
It seemed this kid deserved the right to bear the title of his disciple, and he made the right choice to teach him his own [Mana Accumulation Art].
*******
“That is… peculiar. You have already formed your first star. Congratulations on becoming a 1-stage awakened. You are a proper awakened from now on.”
The moment I found my new memories, a weird feeling enveloped me. A feeling of energy right inside my chest. And then with some other questions.
“Master,” I began, my voice steady but filled with curiosity. “What does it mean that I formed the first star? What is that supposed to mean?”
The old man smiled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Why do you think I pushed my mana into your core?”
“To make me feel the mana?” I replied, unsure if that was the entire answer.
Master nodded. “That was partially the case, but there is something more to it. Tell me, what mana accumulation art were you using when you were trying to accumulate mana?”
The moment he asked this question to me, my eyes widened. I always felt like something was missing when my master told me to imagine a river flowing, even after I had cleared the blockage in my head.
Why would he request me to do the same thing? After all, wasn’t that for the sake of teaching me? If that was the case, why did I not do what I was doing, as mana accumulation is different from simple meditation?
I hesitated, realizing the truth. “None,” I admitted. “I wasn’t using any type of mana accumulation art. I was just imagining things in my mind.”
Master’s smile widened. “Exactly. You weren’t using any formal technique. You were relying purely on your imagination and willpower. Do you know why?”
As Master asked, I stopped thinking. I realized that the moment my master pushed his mana into my body, I felt a peculiar feeling.
It was as if the starlight was entering my body. I was not able to think about it too much since it was not something that I understood, but now that I had formed a star, maybe it was because….
“It is because that was how the mana accumulation art that you are teaching me works.”
Master smiled at this. “That is correct but also incorrect at the same time.”
I looked at him, confused. “What do you mean, Master?”
He sat down, motioning for me to do the same. “What do you know about the cultivation of the mana core or mana accumulation arts?”
I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. “From what I’ve read and been told, mana accumulation arts are techniques used to gather and refine mana into a core within the body. This core acts as a reservoir of mana, which can be used to enhance physical abilities, cast spells, or perform other feats.
The process involves specific breathing techniques, visualization methods, and sometimes even physical exercises to help gather and control the mana.”
Master nodded, listening intently. “That is the general understanding, yes. But there is more to it than just following a technique. For instance, how do you think all those techniques were formed? The ones that are passed down as legacies. As the bloodlines?”
I paused, thinking about his question. “It’s not clearly known where these accumulation arts came from. Many say our ancestors were blessed by the gods, and the gods sent these techniques to them for the sake of their survival. After all, humanity was a servant to other races at that time.”
Master laughed heartily at the mention of “gods.” “Out of all the answers, the one you gave is one of the most cliched ones.”
I looked at him, puzzled. “What do you mean, Master?”
He shook his head, still smiling. “Even if there were gods, do you think they would give humanity such a clear indication of their existence? The idea that gods bestowed these techniques is a comforting story, one that has been told for generations to give people hope and a sense of divine purpose.”
I furrowed my brow, trying to understand. “So, if not the gods, then who or what created these techniques?”
“Humans,” Master replied simply. “Our ancestors were not handed these techniques on a silver platter. They discovered and developed them through trial and error, through observation and understanding of the natural world and the flow of mana. The techniques evolved over time, passed down and refined through generations.
The true origin of these arts lies in the resilience and ingenuity of humanity itself.”
Hearing this made sense. If it was the previous me, I may not have been able to understand what he meant. But now, I knew what he implied.
Just like how evolution worked, the same could be said for the humans of this world. The ones that are stronger than others will live, and the weaker ones will die. In this case, slowly, by clipping the weaker links, humanity would most likely be able to evolve their mana arts at the same time as well.
“So, the techniques are a result of human effort and understanding, not divine intervention.”
“Precisely,” Master said. “And that is why the mind is so important. Our ancestors had to use their minds to understand and harness the power of mana. The techniques they developed were born from their experiences, their observations, and their relentless pursuit of mastery.”
He paused, his gaze intense. “So, why do you think we would not be able to do the same thing?”
The moment he said this, I started to understand what he was trying to come at.
“The Mana Accumulation Art that you have taught me. Was it something that you have developed on your own?”
I stared at him, a mix of admiration and curiosity in my eyes. “You developed it yourself?”
“Indeed,” he replied. “Just like you, I was also someone who had a hard time fitting into the world. In this world where the nobles control mana arts and legacies, I myself was someone without any special origins. But, I improved myself without relying on anyone.”
He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. “I was not born into a noble family, nor was I given access to powerful techniques. I had to rely on my own ingenuity and perseverance. Everyone looked down on me all the time, always stepping on me. Yet, at the end of the day, I surpassed every one of them on my own.”
At the end of his words, there was a weird expression in his eyes. Something that looked childish, the eyes of a prideful.
“…” I could not say anything for a while, but then I managed to ask.
“What is the name of the technique that you have taught me then?”
The moment I asked him, his smirk widened.
“Devourer of Stars.”
“That is the name of the [Mana Accumulation Art] you are going to be using from now on.”
———————–
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