Black String of Fate

Xavier looked at his barrier in shock as he saw it easily block the shadow tentacles. He expected it to break and only give him a few moments of respite, but never did he imagine his magic being so strong.

'Since he can't penetrate my barrier, now seems like a good time to grasp my abilities.

Status.'

*************

[Name]: Xavier

[Rank]: Rank 1, Initiate Novice

[Physical Age]: 9

…

[Skills]:-

Basic Magic:

Basic magic learned from the theories of Salazar. Uses elemental-less mana.

Rating: Rare

Mastery: Novice

Sub-skills: Barrier (Novice)

Limitless Ascension Foundational Arts:

The foundational arts created by a regressed genius who had achieved the greatest mastery of his old arts. Combines the Foundational Sword Techniques of the First Swordsman, The Four Basic Sword Stances, Guide to Heavy Swords, Basic Light Sword Arts, and Sixth Sword Sense.

This art encompasses and balances all the basic stars of the warrior, making it the sole art that specializes in all the stars of the warrior path.

Only practicable by those who have achieved the harmony state.

Rating: Epic

Mastery: Perfect Adept → Half-Step Expert

Note: The art has been fully mastered. For further progress, this art must be evolved beyond the foundational state.

…

[Warrior Stars]:

Strength: Intermediate

Agility: Intermediate

Dexterity: Intermediate

Precision: Intermediate

Endurance: Intermediate

Deflection: Intermediate

Intuition: Intermediate

(Harmony State)

[Elemental Affinities]:-

Basic:-

Fire: Very High

Water: Very High

Earth: Very High

Wind: Very High

Light: Very High

Dark: Very High

Space: Very High

Advanced:-

Primal Mana: Extreme

[Traits]:-

Blessed of the Pure Nature → Blessed of the Primal Nature (Innate Gift evolution): The one beloved by the Pure Nature Spirits, the user has been given the highest blessing by the Origin Bloodline of the race, obtaining their core that even the dragons can only dream of.

The Innate gift, Primordial Celestial Devourer, has enhanced the Pure Nature to the Primal Nature, a quality non-existent in today's times.

[Current Status]: Brink of enlightenment. Side effects from wielding Aether.

***************

Xavier was quite satisfied with his stats right now, but there was one thing that confused him

'Aether? What is that?'

***********

[Error, existence state too low for required information.] Experience tales with m v|l e'm,p y r

***********

'...How odd. I don't even know what this existence state is.'

Xavier waited for a response screen to pop up in front of him, but nothing happened. He figured that he was asking stuff out of his league, so he gave up and concentrated on the present.

Reno, meanwhile, hadn't stopped attacking the barrier. Seeing that Xavier was just standing in place, he kept barraging the barrier in one spot, greatly weakening it. The cracks on the barrier now looked as if someone had punched a sheet of glass.

Xavier coldly smiled at Reno and playfully said,

"My turn once again."

He dispelled the barrier and quickly dodged the incoming strikes by circling around. He then pointed his hand toward Reno and cast another spell.

"Mana Bullet."

A sharp, crystalline bullet formed in Xavier's hands as he manipulated the mana to aim at Reno. Reno also started circling around to make it more difficult for him to aim, and the battle turned into a long-distance fight.

*Woosh*

The mana bullets launched one after another, but they kept missing. A trail of explosions was left all around Reno, who effectively dodged all the attacks. Meanwhile, Xavier, who was dodging the shadow tentacles, had to create barriers multiple times because Reno was better at aiming than him.

It made sense, considering Reno was objectively still stronger. He was a rank 4 expert, and he hadn't even used his main weapons. He did not want to use it due to the cost it carried, but he wouldn't hesitate if the situation called for it.

'I need to close the distance, I'm not used to using magic in real battles yet…

Let's try that.'

Xavier suddenly changed directions and started heading directly towards Reno. He was surprised, but it was a pleasant one. Reno did not know what Xavier was now up to, but there was no way he was going to miss the opportunity of such an easy shot.

He launched several shadow tentacles at him, expecting some to get blocked by that barrier, and some actually connecting.

But what Xavier did was completely different. He created a small barrier on the side and jumped on it, making the spell his footing. He then proceeded to make several barrier platforms for him to have a clear path toward Reno, jumping around, flawlessly dodging, and landing on every single platform.

Reno stared wide-eyed as Xavier was in front of him in the blink of an eye, his battle-crazed red eyes staring deep into his.

'He… mastered the barrier to this extent within a few seconds? This guy… He's not a genius, he's a monster!'

Xavier pulled back his sword as he prepared to finish him off. He wanted to end this battle with this strike, as a longer battle would soon prove to be his disadvantage.

'Let's evolve the foundational arts. This art that I wish to create has to be the greatest.

And what better way to do that than taking a path unlike any taken? Recall that feeling, me, I have manifested it once, I can do it again.'

In the moment where it felt as if time slowed down, Xavier closed his eyes and drew out both his qi and mana. He directed them both to his sword, trying to combine them once again, just like when he awakened.

A white-gold ethereal light started emitting from Xavier's sword as he felt the burden on his body vividly this time. He knew that he only had this one chance to manifest this power, as he was in his flow and his mind felt freer than ever.

'I'm enlightened right now, what better time than now to create the battle art?'

Xavier said aloud the name of his new art, proclaiming its existence to the world.

'Limitless Ascension Battle Arts:

Aether Strike.'

*BZZT*

The blade shined with a light that blinded the whole room…