A spell model & new body stats

"Eehh!"

"The small pool of red liquid has been fully consumed!"

[This is likely a 'small' benefit of having advanced my soul prior to my transformation into a mystic. This liquid's effects on the mind feel truly divine.]

"Could this be the condensed energy from the astral-plane mentioned in the Kratos manual?" Hugo wondered as he recalled the contents of the Kratos manual in his mind.

In the process of activating a chakra, a mystic would benefit by getting nourishment directly from the cosmic energy of the astral plane.

This astral-energy would be invaluable in refining and polishing both the mystic's soul and the activated chakra of their esoteric body.

But this was only possible at the instant of the breakthrough. If a mystic delayed too long, he would lose this chance and the energy would become scattered throughout the material universe.

Astral energy wasn't capable of existing without a container in the material world. The only vessels in the physical world capable of containing it were the chakras at the point of their activation.

Only at that instant, would the mysterious chakras in a mystic's esoteric body have a direct link to the physical body in the material universe.

Thus, Hugo was pleasantly surprised to find the liquid still present in his spiritual world.

[Should be an abnormality caused by the pyramid and the Owl.] Hugo mused; turning his attention back to his base chakra.

[My soul appears to be sturdier than before, and I can feel a much clearer connection with the serpent and crystal.]Hugo mused as he once again tried to visualize the serpent and crystal in his base-chakra.

Although the two enigmatic entities did not directly manifest in his spiritual world, they were vivid within the perception of his mind's eye.

[The crystal should be the mana core mentioned in the later phases of the Kratos manual. Together with the vortex, they comprise the mana well.]

[Which leads to the question… What exactly is the serpent?]

[Despite similarities, it is distinct from the 'Ouroboros' symbol that signified infinity and the cycle of birth and death back on Earth.] Hugo wondered as he closely observed the mysterious coiled serpent.

"I better wrap up things here and go ask Tracy about it," Hugo mumbled as he moved towards the Grimoire.

Hugo could feel Infinitus calling out to him through their special connection. Instinct was telling him that he should now be able to activate some of the spells that he had seen inscribed on its pages.

[I will just take a quick look. Tracy will be back anytime.] Hugo mused as he pried open the Grimoire.

The contents of the first page had changed completely. Hugo was filled with exhilaration as he perused through his body stats.

Hugo (Human Race, 6 years…)

Mystic Realm ~ Apprentice

(Aorta and Vena-cava mana channels opened)

** Mana ~ 4.0/10 (Infrared-Tier)

**Strength ~ 3.62

** Vitality ~ 3.46

** Agility ~ 0.80

** Intelligence ~ 3.90

** Willpower ~ 3.10

** Charisma ~ 1.20

** Luck ~ 1.10

Physique awakened: Innate Kundalini-Divine-Physique (1st Awakening).

Spells mastered: Magnifying-sight (Low-level mind's eye).

Other mystic-professions: None.

Mystic Artifacts: Infinitus – The Grimoire of All Beginnings (activated), Orange-level Space – ring (not-activated)

Mystic-star power-rating: ZERO stars

[Mana has been added to my stats. It is also infrared-tier matching the contents of the manual. My full mana capacity should be 10 units now, however, my body at present only has 4 units.]

[I need to investigate this later.] Hugo mused as he moved on to the other stats.

[The change in my vitality and strength is remarkable. Is it because of my newly awakened physique?] Hugo was confused.

"Innate Kundalini-Divine-Physique," Hugo mumbled.

"That should be the cause of the oddity in my base chakra. Will check this with Tracy later. She must know something about this." Hugo mumbled as he turned to the next page.

As his mind had just been baptized by the liquid from the red pool, his thoughts and priorities were clear.

The familiar dark skeleton in a hooded black cloak appeared before his sight.

Hugo felt that he could now connect with it in some mysterious way. He extended and touched the page with his actualized hands…

"BAM"

Another explosion of information appeared in his mind as mysterious runes arranged into complex ciphers were imprinted into it.

He calmed himself and steadied his heart as he accepted the information being engraved into his mind. The process wasn't nearly as mind-numbing as receiving information from Bundi's golden scrolls.

Thus, Hugo wasn't feeling any pain he couldn't handle.

"Spell Model?'' Hugo mumbled as he contemplated the new information.

Simple runes that made up complex ciphers were arranged in a mysterious way to form the "Cloak of Thanatos" model directly in his mind.

Through Infinitus, the model seemed to have imprinted its activation mechanism within the confines of his consciousness. Hugo had a feeling that he could just activate the spell by touching the model with a slight trace of his consciousness.

"Hahaha… Just as I thought; I can now cast some of the spells in the Grimoire. I'm finally a mystic." Hugo laughed like a maniac as he turned his sight to the phrase below the hooded cloak.

'Cloak of Thanatos (1st Activation)' were the words written below the image.

"So, this is just the first activation?" Hugo was confused but also filled with expectation. He touched the hooded image on the page once again, but alas, the skeleton was as still as a statue.

"The two most powerful weapons that one can use as he treads on the path of mysticism should be patience and time," he resolved.

[I shouldn't rush to find out everything at once. I have already taken the first step.] Hugo pondered as he turned to the other page.

The Scythe of Thanatos was as still and dull as before. Hugo did not feel any sort of connection with the scythe as he had with the cloak.

"I still gotta try." He voiced out loud as he touched the image.

The Grimoire page remained lifeless. There was no sensation from the scythe printed on the page.

[Like I thought; There should be a limit above which I can't activate more spells. But I have to experiment a lot more to make concrete deductions.] Hugo deliberated as he turned to the next page.