Bab 178: Rivalry II
"You've grown even stronger than before, Arthur," Lucifer said, his eyes gleaming as they met mine.
I nodded, acknowledging his words. The battle against Drake Namgung had forced me to improve rapidly, pushing me far beyond my limits. But I knew the truth—without my second Gift, I wouldn't have stood a chance. It was the only reason I managed to win.
Unlocking that second Gift had lifted a massive weight off my shoulders. It was as if a door had opened, giving me a glimpse of my true potential. And now, standing here, I could see it more clearly than ever.
'I can beat him,' I thought, my gaze lingering on Lucifer. Not yet. But soon.
By the end of this year.
"I'll be the Sovereign this time," I said, my voice steady, meeting his gaze with resolve.
He nodded, a flicker of approval crossing his face. "Good. I expect nothing less but the best from you."
The tension between us hung in the air, not as rivals, but as two forces pushing each other to greater heights. The unspoken understanding was clear: this wasn't just a competition—it was a race to see who would reach the pinnacle first.
As Lucifer turned to leave, I stayed rooted in place, my mind focused. The Inter-Academy Festival was fast approaching, but that was only one step. The real goal lay at the end of the year, when the Sovereign's title would be up for grabs once again.
I clenched my fists, feeling the energy surging within me. I wasn't going to let anything stand in my way this time. The road ahead was steep, but I had already begun the climb.
And I had no intention of stopping until I reached the top.
Rivals—they're essential in every aspect of life. They push you, drive you to surpass your limits, to become better than you ever thought possible.
Lucifer had been unrivaled for so long. Jack might have been the only one whose talent matched, or even surpassed, Lucifer's after he unlocked his second Gift. But Jack was more of an enemy than a rival, someone whose ambitions lay in destruction.
In this world, I was the only true rival Lucifer had left.
Ren was strong, but he only had one Gift. And while that Gift was powerful, Lucifer had both the same Gift and the Yin-Yang Body—another overwhelming ability.
But I had my own cards to play. My two Gifts, Lucent Harmony and Soul Resonance, were equally powerful, giving me an edge no one expected.
My original plan to reach Ascendant-rank, which I crafted a year ago, needed serious revisions now. Ascendant-rank wasn't something that could be achieved by simply accumulating mana anymore.
To reach Ascendant-rank was to truly break your limits, to transcend what was possible for ordinary mana users. There was a reason only a fraction of Integration-rankers ever made it past the Wall.
The Wall—the invisible barrier that separated us from transcendence. It wasn't just about absorbing more mana or forcing it into the body. Ascending required more than that.
It required metamorphosis.
The entire body had to evolve, to become something capable of handling not just mana but astral energy. For aura users, this meant concentrating mana into clusters, forming something far stronger than before. For mages using the Fuller Method, it was about mastering seven-circle magic, tapping into a higher understanding of mana itself.
Beyond that lay Immortal-rank, a jump so extreme it seemed impossible from this side of the Wall. But I wasn't focused on that just yet. My current goal was Ascendant-rank, and I had set myself a timeline of three years to reach it.
I wasn't afraid of facing the Wall. I was confident I could break through it. But I wanted more than just to pass—I wanted to achieve enlightenment that would set me apart, make my ascent a defining moment. A step toward my ultimate goal: surpassing Radiant-rank itself.
But time wasn't on my side. The world was moving faster than ever, and enemies, both known and unknown, were making their own plans.
As I stood there, thinking of everything ahead, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the journey I had chosen. The stakes had never been higher, and every decision I made from here on out would determine my future.
But one thing was clear: I would not just reach Ascendant-rank. I would ascend on my own terms—greater and stronger than anyone who had come before.
And Lucifer would no longer be unrivaled.
But first, I needed to reach Integration-rank quickly. With *Astral Convergence* and the guidance of Master Valerie, that goal wasn't far off. Once I achieved that, the gap between Lucifer and me would shrink even more.
Then there was Jin. I had to help him reach White-rank. His potential was clear, and with a little more push, he'd be back in fighting form, ready to take on the challenges ahead.
And, of course, I needed to spend time with the three princesses—Rachel, Cecilia, and Seraphina. Each of them played a vital role in this story, and as our bonds deepened, so did their power and influence.
I still had another task looming: helping Seraphina unlock the true potential of her Gift. It was more complex than it seemed. Her power was there, just beneath the surface, but it needed careful guidance to reach its full form.
'So much to do and not enough time,' I mused, shaking my head slightly. The path ahead was daunting, filled with countless responsibilities, battles, and challenges. But I thrived on it.
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Jack Blazespout glanced at the report on his tablet, his eyes narrowing with interest as he rested his head on his palm.
"I thought I told you not to come here like this," he said aloud, though no one else seemed to be in the room.
A moment later, a figure slipped from the shadows, her presence barely perceptible until she willed it. She had dark grey hair and unnaturally pale skin, giving her an eerie, doll-like appearance.
It was Evelyn Blackthorn, the head of the Order of the Fallen Flame.
"I greet the Heavenly Demon's successor," she said, bowing her head to Jack. It was a strange sight, given the vast difference in their power. But it made sense—Jack had absorbed the soul of the Demon Overlord's contractor, the Heavenly Demon, elevating him to a status that demanded reverence, even from someone as powerful as Evelyn.
"What are you doing here?" Jack asked, not even bothering to look up from his tablet, his tone cold and dismissive.
Evelyn straightened but kept her composure, unfazed by his indifference. "I bring news," she said, her voice low and measured. "Things are moving faster than we anticipated. Your rivals are gaining strength."
Jack lowered the tablet just enough to cast an irritated glance at Evelyn, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. "I already know that," he said, voice sharp. "Do you really have nothing better to do than spy on teenagers?"
Evelyn remained unfazed, her tone calm and unwavering. "Do you think you can win without using Abyssal Flames?"
Jack's lips curved into a thin, knowing smile. "Do you think I'll lose?"
She didn't bother answering his question, her expression as stoic as ever. "Don't be so arrogant, Jack Blazespout," she warned. "You haven't yet reached the level you need to."
Jack said nothing, his smile never wavering. "But I will," he replied smoothly. "And that's why you bow to me, isn't it?"
Evelyn's gaze hardened for a moment, but she offered no rebuttal. Jack's confidence was unshaken, but the unspoken tension in the room hung heavy, a reminder of the delicate balance of power that was still shifting.
"Anyway, you did well dealing with that annoyance," Jack said with a smirk, his tone dismissive.
Evelyn's eyes narrowed slightly. Did well? Killing a Radiant-ranker was a monumental task, but to Jack, it seemed trivial.
"Don't look at me like that," Jack added, his voice cool. "He was one of the old ones, wasn't he? Weaker than Quinn, even. I wonder how long it will take before they announce that the headmaster of the prestigious Mythos Academy is dead."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone