Chapter 14: The Path to Strength
Troy leaned against the window of his room, staring out at the glowing city. His mind buzzed with the final piece of information from the download, and it felt like the missing puzzle piece he needed to understand how to grow stronger in Base 1. Ether—what he had been calling mental energy—was the key to everything. The more ether someone had, the stronger their abilities, the clearer their mind, the more refined their control over the world around them. But it wasn't just about having more ether; it was about refining it, making it more potent, more efficient.
And to do that, there were two paths.
The first method was the one most people in Base 1 used—a combination of meditation and physical training. It was straightforward but grueling. Meditation helped refine the brainwaves, allowing for more precise control of ether, while physical training kept the body in peak condition to handle the increased mental load. Over time, this process strengthened the mind and body, allowing neurosyncers to increase their ether reserves and grow in power. It was the slow, disciplined path—the path of patience and relentless effort.
Troy's mind wandered for a moment, considering what that would mean for him. This method would take time, and time was something he didn't have. He was already far behind the others in this realm, and slow progress wouldn't help him catch up.
The second path was different. Trials of the Greater Spirits.
Troy's breath caught at the thought of it. Greater Spirits lived in Base 2, their power woven into the very fabric of reality. They existed to challenge those in Base 1 seeking to refine their ether, offering trials that pushed neurosyncers to their limits. These trials weren't just about testing strength or mental fortitude; they were designed to increase ether quickly, to break down and rebuild the very structure of a person's brainwaves. Each trial offered rewards—items infused with ether, techniques, or even fragments of power—but they were dangerous. Many failed. Some died.
But for those who survived, the rewards were immense.
Troy could feel his pulse quicken as the realization settled in. That's what I need. He had come too far to rely on slow, gradual growth. He needed something that would push him beyond his limits, something that would help him rise faster than the rest. The Greater Spirits' trials offered exactly that.
From the knowledge he'd absorbed, Troy now understood where he was. Dukanis City. A low-tier city on the outskirts of human civilization, far from the heart of Base 1. It was nothing special—a backwater compared to the powerful cities that housed the elites of Base 1. The only thing this city had going for it was the Realm 1 Greater Spirit Trial hidden within its borders.
The trial was a gateway—an introductory test often given to students of the Base 1 academy, the equivalent of primary school. Most children in the city would take it as part of their training, their first real step into the world of ether refinement. For most, it was an easy trial, something that prepared them for more difficult challenges in the future. For Troy, it was a rare opportunity.
If he could gain access to that trial, he could jumpstart his growth. The trial might be designed for beginners, but it would still help refine his brainwaves and increase his ether far faster than meditation and physical training alone.
But how do I get in?
That was the question. The trial wasn't open to just anyone. Only students or those affiliated with a faction could take part. Troy clenched his fists, the weight of his situation pressing down on him. He was no one here—no faction, no connections, no place in this world. The only reason he had a room and wasn't on the streets was because the guards had mistaken him for a powerful elite. He had to figure out how to gain access to the trial without revealing that mistake.
Troy stood up, pacing the room, his mind working through the possibilities. He couldn't rely on luck forever. If he wanted to survive—if he wanted to grow stronger—he had to find a way to infiltrate the system, to use what little leverage he had to get access to the trial.
There had to be a way.
As he paced, an idea began to form. If the trial was given to students, then that meant it was regulated by the city's academy. If he could find out more about how the academy operated—how they chose who participated in the trial—he could slip in. But that meant he'd have to move carefully, without drawing too much attention. If anyone figured out that he wasn't who they thought he was, he'd be thrown out, or worse.
Troy sat back down on the edge of the bed, his mind buzzing with possibilities. I have to play this right. The city might be low-tier, but it still had its rules, and if he broke those rules, his already precarious position would crumble. He needed information, and he needed it fast.
But the path was clear now. The trials were his way forward. If he could get into that Realm 1 Greater Spirit Trial, it would give him the boost he needed to survive in this world. More than that, it would give him a chance to refine his ether, to strengthen his brainwaves, and to start climbing the realms of Base 1.
Troy closed his eyes, letting the thoughts settle.
This was the start of something bigger. He had no connections, no allies, no faction to back him. But that didn't matter. He would find a way, no matter how difficult. He had come too far to stop now.
The trials awaited, and with them, the path to true power.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone