Discharged

Magnus Draykar regarded me with his usual intense gaze, his arms folded across his chest as he leaned against the wall of my infirmary room. "You seem to be doing better now," he said, his deep voice carrying an air of authority.

"Yes, Master," I nodded, feeling a little more at ease. "They said I can be discharged this evening."

It had been a few days since I woke up from my coma, and while I was still sore in places, I could finally feel my strength returning. Being confined to the infirmary, however, had tested my patience.

Magnus chuckled softly, his eyes softening slightly as he spoke. "Valerie and Li wanted to visit you, but their duties kept them away. It's even more difficult for Valerie—being in the same academy and still unable to visit her own disciple because of how busy things have gotten."

I listened, observing him closely. Magnus Draykar, the Martial King, was a living legend. The most powerful man in the world—capable of feats others could only dream of. And yet, here he was, standing in my room with that strange warmth in his eyes. It was a side of him I rarely saw.

"Why did you do it, Master?" I finally asked, unable to hold back the question any longer.

He tilted his head, studying me with a curious expression. "You mean why I executed Drake, or why I joined this academy?"

"Both," I replied, my voice firm but curious.

Magnus let out a low chuckle, the sound surprisingly light given the weight of the conversation. "Because of you, my disciple."

That caught me off guard. He had always been cryptic, never one to share his motives easily, but this was unexpected. He looked at me with a warmth that wasn't characteristic of his usual cold, calculating demeanor.

"You've shown potential, Arthur," he said, his gaze intense yet somehow comforting. "Potential that goes beyond the limitations of this world. You're not like the others. I executed Drake because he betrayed his own strength, his own honor. He allowed himself to be corrupted by the demons, and that's a fate worse than death for any warrior. But as for joining this academy…" He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "That was for you. To make sure you reach your full potential."

I absorbed his words, feeling the weight behind them. Magnus Draykar didn't make decisions lightly, and the fact that he had done all this for me—it was both humbling and terrifying.

As we spoke, I decided to use my Gift—Soul Resonance—on him. Instantly, I felt the connection. His abilities, his immense power, unfolded before me like a map, each one more monstrous than the last. It was overwhelming.

Just standing in his presence felt like standing before a mountain. His mana was controlled, yet it radiated from him like a force of nature, like something that could bend the world to his will with just a thought. And now, I had access to some of that power—at least for a short while.

The choices laid before me were staggering. His mastery of martial arts, his profound control over mana, and his sheer physical prowess—it was almost too much to process. Each ability was honed to a razor-sharp edge, a testament to why Magnus was the strongest being in Earth.

It didn't seem like Magnus could sense me using my Gift, and I let out a silent breath of relief.

As I absorbed the information flooding my mind, I couldn't help but gulp. His abilities were just as monstrous as I had expected.

Among all his overwhelming techniques, one stood out as the most useful for me right now: Heaven's Descent Walk.

It was the transcendental footwork he had demonstrated once before, a technique that made him seem like he was untouchable—drifting across the battlefield with elegance and crushing force.

I saved the ability with Soul Resonance, knowing I could now use it once in battle. That alone was a game-changer. Even a weak imitation of that footwork would be comparable to the power I had through qilinification.

I pondered for a moment, feeling the surge of potential from within.

'I already have powerful senses and a heightened physique from qilinification... this footwork will be perfect for complementing my skills,' I mused to myself. The synergy was undeniable.

But as awe-inspiring as Soul Resonance was, it also struck me just how terrifying its potential could be.

Learning not just techniques, but even martial arts, through resonance with others—temporary though it may be—was a power far beyond anything I'd dreamed of.

A terrifying, yet fleeting, power.

For now, though, I couldn't deny the excitement bubbling inside me.

After Magnus left, I decided to use the rest of my time wisely, focusing on understanding my powers as deeply as possible by communicating with Luna.

'Do I even need Lucent Harmony anymore?' I asked her mentally, the question lingering in my mind.

'Of course, Arthur,' she replied swiftly. 'In fact, it's probably even more important now than ever before.'

I hummed in acknowledgment. I knew what she was getting at. Lucent Harmony didn't just amplify my magical abilities; it was a harmonizer. It balanced everything, allowing me to maintain control over my mana, magic, and even my body when using qilinification. Without it, wielding so much power could easily become unstable or dangerous.

As I processed this, Luna's voice piped up again. 'Also, since you've grown so much, I can do this now.'

Before I could ask what she meant, Luna materialized in front of me—except not in her usual form. She appeared as a chibi version of herself, a miniature figure standing on the edge of my bed, her human form condensed into something that looked almost... cute.

I blinked in surprise. 'Why couldn't you do this when I reached White-rank?' I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Luna huffed, crossing her tiny arms. 'Because, Arthur, you weren't ready. You had to reach a certain point in both power and trust before I could manifest outside of our bond. Besides,' she added, smirking playfully, 'I didn't want to overwhelm you too soon.'

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. Gently, I reached out and patted Luna on the head with my finger. Her eyes, shimmering with the depth of the universe, widened in confusion as she looked up at me. Her hair, a brilliant shade of amethyst, swayed slightly with the movement.

"Well, what can you do in this form?" I asked, a playful tone creeping into my voice.

Luna pouted, crossing her arms. "Nothing much yet," she replied aloud this time, her voice light but carrying an ancient wisdom. "You'll need to break past the Wall before I can assist you properly with my manifestation."

I nodded, understanding. The Wall—Ascendant-rank. That was my next hurdle after Integration-rank, and I had a long way to go before I could shatter it. For now, Luna's presence was more symbolic than practical, but it reminded me of the potential that lay ahead.