บท 606: Harsh Training (III)
Edward led Loki to an empty room. "First, you need to choose a path or expertise."
"What do you mean?"
"You have a long lifespan, enough time to study many subjects. However, picking a subject as your primary focus is still in your best interest."
"What's your expertise?"
"Space-time, Death, and Elemental Magic."
"Can I choose those?"
"Yes, but I recommend you don't," Edward replied. "The best-suited path for you is Illusion and Ice Magic."
"Can I choose thunder magic?"
"If you wish."
"Alright, I choose thunder." Loki saw Edward's face and quickly said: "Alright, I'm just joking. I choose illusion."
"Are you sure?" Edward's face was calm, almost deadpan. "As I said, denying a fundamental part of yourself is not the answer."
"I made it my choice."
"It seems you need to start your therapy sessions as soon as possible," Edward commented before putting on a wristwatch on Loki before the latter could react.
"What's this?"
"It will connect you to the virtual therapist I mentioned. And before you do something stupid, it is programmed to punish you if you try removing it or miss any sessions."
"Punishment? What kind of punishment?" Loki instantly felt a sense of regret after those words instinctively came out of his mouth, and he was correct to feel that way. The watch released a potent electrical current that had him convulsing on the ground.
"Damn it, that was terrible," Loki gasped. The process only lasted ten seconds, and he was used to electricity because of his brother, but this one was especially terrible.
"You didn't have to do that."
"But I did. Otherwise, how would you learn?" Edward calmly waved his hand to summon the Gate of Truth.
"What is this?" Loki felt a natural awe at this door for some reason.
"You'll know later." The gate activated, which in turn changed the environment. They found themselves in a large library that seemed endless. Edward led the shocked Loki to one section:
"This is the Beginner Illusion Section. You have three days. Read as much as you can."
Edward walked away, leaving a puzzled Loki. After hesitating momentarily, the Trickster God picked a book and started reading. He was immediately lost in the content.
Edward was about to continue his work since he was about to be busy with personal research once Loki was settled, but he changed direction after sensing something.
"You're back."
"Yes. The Sanctorium in Antarctica is finished, and I'm heading to Lagos. However, I thought of checking things before leaving," the Ancient One replied.
"No problem?"
"So far." the Ancient One nodded. "What about you? How was your trip?"
"Odin is fully on board."
"That would explain why he sent his sons to Earth." The Ancient One did not doubt Edward's ability to convince Odin, but he thought the old man would have more reservations.
"What about the other realms?"
"I've made friends with the dwarves, but they don't completely trust me. So, it is still a work in progress. I didn't visit the other realms since I didn't want Odin to mistrust me, thinking I was trying to take his allies from him."
"That's a good choice." The Ancient One understood how easily it is for people in power to become suspicious of others.
"What about the other factions in the universe? Have you decided what to do with them?"
"Not yet. I know I'll use the Nova Empire in some ways, but my plan still needs some fine-tuning. Plus, I'll focus on Earth first before spreading out."
"Well, if you need my help, don't hesitate to ask." The two talked for a while over tea before separating. Three days later, Edward walked to the room where Loki was reading a book surrounded by a small pile. Obviously, he had not slept for the past three days, but this was nothing for someone of his physique.
"Time's up." The library disappeared, and they returned to the previously empty room.
"No, no, I'm almost done reading that."
"The three days are up."
"I just need another hour to finish that book. Just give me three months, and I'll finish this section."
"I said three days, so you only get three days."
Loki gritted his teeth as he realized the man wouldn't budge.
"Don't be like this. The Kamar Taj Sorcerer must pay to access my library. On account of your status, I gave you three days free."
"Pay? How much do you want? I'll pay you as much gold as you want to let me finish."
"Do you think I'm someone who is lacking in wealth?" Edward casually raised his hand to transmute a piece of gold ball before dissipating it.
"Then, how do I continue my reading?"
"Law of Equivalent Exchange. You want my knowledge, exchange it for yours," Edward explained. "Unfortunately for you, your mother already exchanged Asgard's main library and her personal knowledge for access, so you can't use that."
Loki wanted to curse.
"So, you'll have to act like the other Sorcerers and go on dangerous missions to acquire points, which can be exchanged for books or reading time."
Loki secretly sighed as he realized how bad his life in Midgard was about to become.
"Now, let's focus on the task at hand. What did you think of your three days of reading? Summarize it succinctly."
"Organize, clear, and systemic," Loki replied without hesitation.
"Elaborate."
"I've read sorcery books from different cultures and regions, but I despise them because most saw magic as a mysterious force instead of science with clear and logical rules — like Asgard. However, your books are even more systematic than ours.
"It's obvious this is not the work of one person, but countless Ilusion Sorcerers who spent years studying and organizing their findings. There is even a book that details a person's level of Illusion Magic."
The content of the books did not fundamentally change Loki's views and understanding of illusion magic. However, they made him realize his foundational understanding of this field was not as robust as he believed. There were things he knew instinctively but did not understand or understand, but not enough to teach to someone else.
The first book made him realize that, and because it was easily digestible—with practice exercises and such—he was immediately enthralled. As such, he became a little confident after reading a few books — until he read one titled [A Road Map to Illusion Magic].
The book explained how illusion magic was divided into five skill levels: beginner, intermediary, advanced, expert, and mastery. The book contained a test to determine a person's skill level, and Loki was shocked to realize he was only at the intermediate level — not even advanced. Another shocker was the implications that some fields of magic had developed to the point that there levels above mastery.
He did not believe this information and checked the requirements for higher skill levels, and they made sense to him — especially since the book contained a recording of someone using Advanced Illusion Magic, and that person reminded him of his mother. Sadly, he could only watch recordings one level above his skills.
"You're correct about that," Edward acknowledged. He only dabbled in Illusion Magic, and the only time he spent studying was when building Skynet or the Empire's Virtual Reality World.
"What skill level are you?"
Loki immediately became embarrassed: "Intermediate."
"That's about right, and you're probably still in the middle stages of that skill level," Edward nodded.
Loki almost blushed, but he quickly asked, "Can you tell me what skill level is beyond mastery?"
"There is the limit level and the conceptual afterward. However, I was the only Conceptual Level Skills in my homeworld."
"I can kind of understand the idea of a skill that reaches the limit, but what are conceptual-level skills?"
"It's when you can control your field from their source or the very rules that make Reality."
"Is that possible?"
"Yes."
Loki was silent momentarily before muttering, "Could I ever reach such a level?"
"You can, and it's not as impossible as you think. If your knowledge and skill can reach mastery, you can jump to a conceptual level if you meet the Willpower requirements. However, if you don't, you can only continue on your craft to reach the Limit Level since you cannot observe or control the laws of the universe.
"Well, unless you become a Faith God, but I'll kill you myself if you choose this path."
'Wow, that's with this sudden hostility,' Loki thought as he shivered. He quickly removed this sensation from his body. "What do you mean by Willpower?"
"That's not something of your skill level to worry about. Now, follow me for the next part of your training."
บท 607: Harsh Training (Finale)
Loki looked at the sorcerer before him. "What's the meaning of this?"
"This is Sorcerer Badook, a master of hand-to-hand combat," Edward explained calmly. "He is your opponent."
"Do you think I'm so weak that a mortal sorcerer can defeat me?" Loki felt truly insulted. Yes, he was nowhere near Edward's level, but compared to the rest of Midgard, he was a true god.
"The rules are no magic or spell. You can choose a weapon over there," Edward continued calmly, pointing at the weapon rack.
"Is that supposed to make a difference?" The difference in the physiology between an Asgardian and a human was so vast that it did not matter what skill that sorcerer learned; it wouldn't make a difference.
"Begin."
Badook rushed toward his opponent with great speed, which surprised Loki. However, his battle instinct still kicked in, allowing him to evade the first punch. The fight officially started, but the Asgardian Prince fell on the floor less than three minutes later due to a sweeping kick.
"Damn it, that doesn't count. I was caught off guard."
"Is that so? Then, prepare yourself for a second round," Edward replied calmly. "Read, set, start."
Loki was super focused and noticed a white aura floating around his opponent's body. His senses also noticed an unknown energy that resembled the utilization of Life Force to strengthen the body for combat. He was determined not to be humiliated again, so Loki decided to take this sight seriously.
As such, he was prepared when his opponent rushed toward him. He responded, using all his skills and fighting experience. Sadly, he was defeated in about ten minutes.
"Impossible!" Loki was questioning his life. "Did you help him? Are you secretly helping him?"
"Don't use me as an excuse for your weakness," Edward responded calmly. Did he help? Yes, but only technically. A month was not enough for the most skilled sorcerers to catch up to an Asgardian, let alone someone from the royal family. So, during the three days Loki spent in the library, Edward found one of the most promising sorcerers in the Kamar Taj and put him in a Time Acceleration Room to train until he surpassed the Trickster God's skill level.
"Do you want a third round?"
"Yes," Loki replied with gritted teeth. "And this time, I'll use a weapon." He walked to the rack and picked up two daggers. Badook picked an akrafena, a blade-type weapon from West Africa. The result was the same; even worse, he lost in less than five minutes. Loki lay on the floor, feeling more humiliated than ever.
"Pride is not necessarily a bad thing, but only a fool will let it get in their way," Edward taught patiently. "Master Badook will be your daily sparring partner. Now, follow me."
Loki slowly stood up and quietly followed through the portal. He found himself in what felt like a volcano; the intense heat in the room made someone of his physique sweat, indicating the heat level they were dealing with. He looked at the instruments with puzzlement. Everything looked at a smithery he once visited in Nidavellir.
"Come, follow my lead." Edward changed clothes, leaving only pants and boots with no shirt on. He started to play around with a few ores, teaching Loki a basic hammer technique. After an hour of nonstop hammering, the Asgardian had enough and was about to ask questions.
"You should have acclimated to the heat by now," Edward suddenly said. "Now, use this technique." A rune appeared before him, and Loki felt a vast amount of information interesting in his mind. He instinctively used the method, swallowing a swirl of red and yellow energy into his body.
He immediately winced in pain as he felt his soul burning and thousands of knives cutting every part of his body. Loki fell to the ground as the pain was too much.
"What…is…this?" he asked with a heavy breath.
"Mind, soul, and body are the three main elements to make a great sorcerer. Your mind is flawed, but that can be corrected with proper mental care. Your soul and body are inherently better than humans, but still not good enough. So, I gave you a special meditation technique to purify your soul with flame energy and temper your body with metal energy."
"Does… the process…need to be…this difficult?"
"As I said before, you have no respect for power despite your unquenchable thirst for it. So, I will ensure you work hard for every ounce of power you gain under my tutelage."
"Do you really think…that will teach me…respect?"
"It should."
"And if it doesn't?"
"I'll try a more extreme way."
"And if that doesn't…work?"
"I'll stop teaching you and return you home," Edward explained calmly. He needs people to stand with him, not people that will cause more trouble. So, if Loki disappoints him, he'll just choose another person. And if he turns on him and becomes a problem, he'll kill him, even if that means becoming Odin's foe.
"Alright, enough rest. Continue training."
Loki groaned," Couldn't you make the pain lesser? At least give me some time to adapt?"
"Hmm."
Loki was surprised he did not get an immediate no, so he was excited. He did not mind the harsh training as long as he could get power, but he did not want to start at such a high intensity.
"You have the highest affinity with the ice element, so that's why the flame technique has such a harsh effect on you. So, if you learn another Ice Meditation Technique, you should be able to reduce the pain."
"I'm fine," Loki immediately said with gritted teeth. He closed his eyes to inhale this room's fire and metal energy. He held on despite the pain, but after five minutes, he had to stop.
"Don't lay on the floor. Use the hammer technique along with the breathing method I taught you. It will accelerate your body's natural healing."
Loki followed the direction with great difficulty but was surprised after a few swings. He felt a cool feeling rushing from his toes to every part of his body; he felt invigorated and back to his prime in a very short period.
"Back to meditation."
Loki's mouth twitched as he repeated the process of torturing his body and soul, recuperating before starting again. The entire process lasted two hours before stopping. The good news is by the end of this training session, he could meditate for ten minutes straight without having to stop and recuperate.
"Try to condense your [Aura]?"
"Aura?"
"It's in the information I sent you."
Loki focused on his mind before a light blue aura condensed on his fist. He followed the knowledge to control this power before making a few punches, leaving air waves boom.
"How do you feel?"
"Strong."
"That's it?"
"I feel like I can better utilize my physical strength. It's now easier to condense and weaponize."
"That's one of the main aspects of [Aura]. However, you have barely tapped into the potential of this power," Edward explained.
"From now on, your schedule will be Meditation in the room for two hours in the morning, followed by a one-hour break. Then, two hours of sparring with Master Badook, another hour of break, and another two hours of meditation sessions. Then, three-hour therapy sessions in the afternoon, and you'll be free the rest of the day.
"I'll check on your progress every two weeks."
"Wait, what about sorcery training? You didn't say anything about that?"
"You can read the regular books in Kamar Taj, but you won't have access to my library until six months later. If you meet my expectations, you can start taking missions to earn reading time."
"And what are these expectations?"
"You don't need to know the exact details. However, know I will fail you if you don't put all your efforts for the next six months."
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