Time, Space and Gravity II

Time magic was often regarded as having the greatest potential—on paper, it sounded like the most powerful form of magic imaginable. But in reality, it was far more limited than people thought. The idea of rewinding time, going back to fix mistakes, or even creating alternate futures? None of that was possible. 

The practical applications were much more modest. You could freeze someone in time for a brief moment, slow things down, or speed them up slightly—but nothing drastic, nothing that would drastically alter the course of events. Time magic had its uses, especially in the hands of someone with God's Eyes, which made its application easier and more precise. But true manipulation of time, the kind that could reshape reality? That was a fantasy.

Space magic was similar. It was undeniably powerful—the ability to teleport, create warp gates, or bend space to defend against attacks was invaluable in the right hands. But like time magic, its real-world limitations became apparent when you tried to push its boundaries. It wasn't nearly as versatile as people imagined, and mastering it took immense concentration. Still, it was crucial for interstellar exploration, making travel between distant planets feasible—but even that wasn't a reality just yet.

Of the three, gravity magic was arguably the most practical and versatile. It had a direct impact, something you could see and feel immediately. Ren, with his mastery over gravity, demonstrated its potential constantly through his family's Grade 6 art, Void Fist.

Eventually, Ren would go on to create his own signature spells, solidifying his reputation as a top-tier combat mage. Some of those spells were so ridiculously overpowered that even if I wanted to, I couldn't replicate them. One in particular stood out—utterly broken in its design, impossible for me to copy perfectly. The best I could hope for was a much weaker version, and even that would require mastery over both space and gravity magic to pull off effectively.

For now, though, I was sticking to the basics—working through the intricacies of space and gravity manipulation.

My training partner? Kali Luna.

Since reaching Integration-rank, the gap between us had widened significantly. Even if I pushed myself to my absolute limit, I wouldn't be able to defeat her in a straight fight. And we both knew it.

'I really hate White-rank sometimes,' I thought, as Kali let out a sigh, clearly feeling the same exhaustion from my attempts at catching up.

Her brown eyes locked onto mine, and she flicked her black hair over her shoulder. "Let's get started already, Arthur," she said, her tone light but with a trace of impatience.

"Right," I responded with a smile, trying to stay relaxed despite knowing what I was up against.

As soon as I spoke, the sigils of Lucent Harmony ignited on my skin, shining softly as I activated Luna's will. The immediate rush of calm, the serenity that filled my mana core, spread through me like a soothing wave. I could see the flow of mana around me, each particle sharp and distinct, and more than that, I could feel elements I had no direct control over—time, space, and gravity.

It was a truly overpowered ability, the kind that anyone else would kill to have.

But since it was mine, I certainly wasn't complaining.

The air between us rippled as Kali activated her own mana, dark waves of energy flowing around her. She was using dark magic, blending it with her natural elemental affinities. Even at Integration-rank, she was a force to be reckoned with. Her power felt suffocating, but I welcomed the challenge.

"Don't hold back," I said, my stance shifting slightly as I prepared myself for the oncoming clash. I had to be sharp, focused. Kali didn't mess around.

"You know I won't," she replied with a smirk, her mana intensifying around her. 

The ground beneath us seemed to tremble under the sheer pressure of our combined forces, but I knew I had to remain calm—Lucent Harmony was my advantage. It granted me a clarity that few could match.

Her attack came swiftly, shadows bursting from her like tendrils aiming to ensnare me. I countered by bending space, creating a slight warp around myself to throw off the trajectory of her attack. Her shadows twisted awkwardly, missing me by inches.

But that was just a warm-up.

Without missing a beat, Kali followed up with a barrage of mana-infused strikes, each one coming faster and harder than the last. I activated gravity magic, increasing the density around her, hoping to slow her down. For a moment, it worked—her movements stuttered, her attacks losing some of their speed.

But then, she adapted.

With a sharp exhale, she shattered my gravity field, the force of her mana breaking through my spell as if it were nothing. Shadows surged toward me once more, and this time, I had no choice but to freeze time—just for a fraction of a second—giving me enough space to dodge.

I blinked, appearing behind her, but she had already anticipated it. A wave of darkness slammed into me, and I barely managed to raise a shield in time.

'She's getting faster,' I thought, gritting my teeth as the shield cracked under the pressure of her attacks.

"Don't get too comfortable," Kali warned, her voice laced with amusement. "I'm just getting started."

I exhaled, feeling the strain of holding my defenses, but I couldn't help but smile.

"Good," I replied, tightening my grip on my mana. "Neither am I."

Of course, if Kali went all out, the match would end pretty quickly. The difference in our pure power levels was undeniable, especially since I was limiting myself to just three elements for the sake of this training. But that wasn't the point. I wasn't trying to win today—I was trying to push my boundaries, to test the limits of the new techniques I had developed.

I had to surpass even the greatest of what I knew from the novel. Valen Ashbluff, the man who became the strongest human by reaching the pinnacle of both magic and martial arts as a Radiant-ranker—he wasn't my end goal. I needed more than that. I needed to ascend beyond even the Radiant rank, to break through the barriers that held humanity back.

The Wall that stood between Integration and Ascendant rank—it wasn't something I just wanted to climb. I needed to shatter it completely, to forge a path beyond what anyone else had achieved. And for that, I had to master these new spells.

My gaze sharpened as I focused on Kali. Shadows danced around her, her presence like an endless abyss, but I couldn't afford to be intimidated. This was my opportunity to truly test myself.

"Let's have some fun," I said, a grin spreading across my face. Despite the overwhelming odds, the thrill of combat was intoxicating. If I couldn't push myself here, with someone like Kali, then when would I?

She smirked in response, her aura intensifying, dark waves of energy swirling around her like a storm ready to engulf anything in its path.

I steadied myself, feeling the hum of Lucent Harmony through my veins, my connection to time, space, and gravity sharpening with each passing second. My heart raced, but my mind was calm. I could feel the mana surging, waiting for the perfect moment.

Kali moved first, her shadows flickering around her like living beings. I didn't hesitate, using space magic to warp the area around me, bending the space just enough to misdirect her attack. Her shadows recoiled slightly, thrown off by the sudden shift, but I could tell she wasn't fazed.

"Not bad," she muttered, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "But you'll need more than that, Arthur."

I smirked. "Oh, don't worry. I'm just getting warmed up."

Without warning, I activated my new spell—Gravity Collapse It was a hybrid technique, combining both space and gravity magic, designed to compress the area around Kali, increasing the gravitational force to the point where it distorted the very fabric of space. It wasn't perfect yet, a far cry from Void Fist's Gravity Collapse, but it was powerful.

Kali's eyes widened slightly as the pressure around her intensified, her movements slowing as she struggled to push through the invisible weight. For a brief moment, I felt a flicker of triumph—maybe I had finally created something strong enough to hold her back.

But then she laughed.

"Impressive, Arthur," she said, her voice strained but confident. "But you'll need more than this."

With a surge of mana, Kali shattered the gravitational field, breaking free from the collapsing space with sheer force. Her shadows lashed out again, faster this time, catching me off guard.

I barely had time to react, using time magic to slow down the attack just enough to dodge. The shadows grazed my side, leaving a burning sensation in their wake, but I managed to stay on my feet.

'Damn, she's strong,' I thought, wiping the sweat from my brow. But I wasn't about to back down.

I quickly adjusted my stance, preparing to unleash another new spell. This one combined time and space magic—*Temporal Rift*. It was a risky move, but if it worked, it would momentarily displace Kali in time, freezing her for just long enough for me to land a critical blow.

As I cast the spell, the air around us seemed to ripple, time itself bending to my will. Kali's form wavered, her movements slowing as she struggled against the pull of the rift.

But once again, she adapted.

With a grimace, Kali broke free of the temporal distortion, her mana surging like a tidal wave. I braced myself, but before I could react, her shadows struck again, this time enveloping me in a suffocating darkness.

For a moment, I felt the weight of her power bearing down on me, crushing my mana defenses.

But then, I smiled.

"Got you."

Using space magic, I blinked behind her in an instant, my sword raised high and infused with light mana. This was one of the most basic elements I had, but in my hands, it was still potent.

Kali turned, her eyes wide in surprise, but it was too late. I brought my sword down, the light-infused blade slicing through her shadows and grazing her shoulder.

Kali staggered back, her expression unreadable for a moment.

Then she laughed, the sound rich and full of excitement. "You've improved, Arthur," she said, wiping the sweat from her brow. "But don't think for a second that you've beaten me."

I grinned. "I wouldn't dream of it."

We continued the spar, each of us pushing the other further, testing the limits of our power. It wasn't just a battle—it was a lesson, a reminder of how much stronger we still had to become.

But as I fought, I couldn't shake the feeling that no matter how far I pushed myself, it wouldn't be enough.

I needed more. And I would find a way to get it.