Path To Integration

What I feared had come to pass.

Even Alastor couldn't bypass the barrier in my mind.

It was too deep, too powerful—even for him.

Power beyond Radiant-rank.

'Could the Demon Overlord belong to that category?' I wondered.

It was possible.

"Haaa..." I sighed deeply, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over me.

For now, the truth remained out of my reach. I could gather clues, but actually unraveling the barrier in my mind was completely impossible—unless I managed to find a being that exceeded Radiant-rank.

But such a being didn't exist on Earth.

The most powerful individual here was the Martial King, yet even he was still at Radiant-rank. His strength was superior to the others, but he hadn't reached a new realm of power beyond that.

It was merely wishful thinking. I had gotten ahead of myself, imagining there was a way to resolve this so soon. The truth was, I was powerless in this regard, at least for now.

Now that I had decided to accept the girls' feelings and let things develop naturally, my thoughts turned to the second year at Mythos Academy.

There were two major events during this year.

The inter-academy festival and the field trip.

The inter-academy festival was an exchange event held between Mythos Academy and the other five greatest academies in the world, for the second, fourth, and sixth years each year.

As one might expect, this meant that Mythos Academy often found itself being ganged up on, since it was widely considered the best academy in the world.

However, the upcoming festival was significant for a different reason: it would be the first time Mythos Academy actually lost the event, with Slatemark Academy, led by Jack Blazespout, taking first place.

It was during this festival that Jack revealed his true power, completely overwhelming Ren, and also managed to protect his team from being wiped out by Lucifer.

While this event was certainly important, I was much more concerned about the field trip.

The field trip was when the Umbravale Covenant would attack Mythos Academy again, using the power of the Shadow Seekers they worshipped.

Things could easily go south.

During the Freshman Ball, the Shadow Seekers had been stronger than they were in the novel. Not to mention, we were also attacked by demons during the mid-terms.

If the trend continued, they could very well attack during the field trip.

And that would be an even greater problem.

The Order of the Fallen Flame—a cult that worshipped demons, specifically the Heavenly Demon, the contractor of the Demon Overlord from almost two centuries ago—remained a looming threat. They were powerful, and their presence had not diminished over time.

Unlike other cults, however, they hadn't made any direct moves, mostly due to the lack of contact with the black mana species they worshipped.

The other cults were different. The Umbravale Covenant maintained contact with the Shadow Seekers, the Savage Communion with the ogres and orcs, and the Abyssal Kin with the dark beasts. Each cult's influence and power were amplified through these connections.

And then there was the Red Chalice—a cult devoted to the vampires. Unlike the others, they were not making their presence known just yet, choosing instead to remain hidden, biding their time. They were waiting, waiting for the day when the Vampire Monarch regained his full power, ready to strike when the time was right.

'Speaking of the Vampire Monarch, I need to kill that being before he regains his full power,' I thought grimly.

The Vampire Monarch at full strength was an absolute menace, so powerful that even Selene Kagu, one of the strongest warriors of the past era, fell at his hands. If I didn't stop him before he reached his peak, the consequences would be catastrophic.

But to accomplish that? I'd need to reach Immortal-rank myself or secure the help of others at that level. That was a long way off, but it was a goal I couldn't afford to ignore.

For now, though, the most pressing threat was the upcoming field trip. It wasn't just an opportunity for the cults to strike again—it was an opportunity for me to grow stronger, to ensure that I could protect those around me.

After that, I had to focus on preventing the Slatemark Empire from plunging into civil war. There was the Vampire Monarch to deal with, and of course, preparing everyone for the eventual demon onslaught that would engulf the world.

'So, how do I grow stronger?' I pondered, thinking about the steps I needed to take.

Before the winter break, I had envisioned a clear path to reach Ascendant-rank by the end of my fourth year at Mythos Academy. But things had changed—unexpected events and opportunities had shifted my trajectory. I had faced more dangers and gained more power than I initially expected.

'I'm stronger than I thought I'd be,' I admitted to myself.

While that was a good thing, it also meant that my enemies would be stronger too.

But with strength came responsibility. I needed to keep pushing myself, to never be complacent. There were too many lives at stake, too many futures depending on my success. I had to outpace the threats and continue down this path of rapid growth.

Still, the question loomed: How? How could I push myself even further?

There were several options. Magnus's training was already pushing me to my limits, but I needed more. Mastering my Grade 6 art, refining my swordsmanship, and learning more advanced spells were all part of it. But it wasn't enough. I needed to diversify.

'Maybe I need to seek out other forms of power, ways to enhance my body or my mana core,' I considered once more.

But as the thought crossed my mind, my body involuntarily trembled.

'Not that method,' I told myself firmly.

There was one path to power, one method that was so repulsive, so horrifying, that even I, with all my ambitions and the looming threats ahead, could hardly stomach the idea of using it.

It was the same method that had once been used by a being who pushed Lucifer—the destined hero of this world—to his absolute limit, despite them sharing the same Immortal-rank. A method so powerful it bordered on the obscene, bypassing the limits of what should be possible. 

But the price...

No, it wasn't just dangerous. It was grotesque. Unnatural. And it was a line I wasn't willing to cross. At least, not yet.

It would remain my last resort, something I could turn to only if every other path failed. A method to use when there was no other way, when survival or saving the world depended on it. But until that time came, I would find another way.

For now, I had to grow through the more conventional means.

'I should begin the integration process soon,' I thought, settling on a more grounded approach. I could still push my limits without venturing into the extremes. 

The integration process was the next step in evolving my mana core, taking it from its current state and merging it deeper into my body, enhancing my physical abilities and mana capacity at once. It was a key milestone that marked the leap from White-rank to Integration-rank. Normally, this process would take several months at the very least, but I knew of a shortcut—the accelerant method that would be discovered in the future.

That method could shorten the integration process as long as the risks were managed carefully. It was my best option. And it would be a hell of a lot safer than the other alternative.

'Yes, I'll go with that,' I decided, already feeling a weight lift off my shoulders as I set my sights on that path.