Ch 32 : Newfound Goals

Deep inside the combat tower, Auron sat cross-legged, carefully reading through the heavenly rune sets that Seraphael had provided. Each set was powerful, and their potential was undeniable. Yet, despite their immense appeal, Auron felt a sense of disconnect.

"These sets are good, no doubt," Auron thought to himself. "They can guarantee someone becomes a powerful magus, but… that's not what I'm after. I want something more. I want to blaze my own path, a unique one just for myself."

His thoughts flickered toward the Celestial Codex and the guidance of Xiao Yu. The idea of following Xiao Yu's suggestion about cultivating the Supreme Dao path seemed more fitting for him. He made up his mind quickly, looking at Seraphael with newfound clarity.

"I've decided. I'll follow the path that Xiao Yu laid out for me, the Supreme Daos path. As for these rune sets… I'll give them to my friends," Auron made up his mind decisively.

Seraphael raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Could I take some of them?" Auron asked.

"Why do you want to take so many?" Seraphael responded. "You only need to master one. Focusing on too many things at once will make you lose more than you gain," she advised, her tone serious.

Auron smiled softly. "They're not for me. They're for my friends. I want to travel the world with them, and I need to make sure they have strong heavenly rune sets."

Seraphael's stern expression softened. "It's good to have such a generous heart, but these rune sets are hard to master. Those who carve these sets into their mana cores possess extraordinary comprehension to visualize the runes quickly. If you truly want to help your friends, I suggest you bring them here. I'll assess them myself and provide them with appropriate heavenly rune sets."

"That sounds great," Auron replied. But then, a thought crossed his mind. "Wait, most of them have already carved their first heavenly rune onto their mana cores. Will their foundations become unstable if they follow a rune set now?"

Seraphael's face turned thoughtful. "That could be a problem—but only if they've reached Tier 3 and beyond. For those at Tier 1 and 2, their foundations are still flexible. We can disperse their mana core and start again without destabilizing them. Based on your age, I assume they've just formed their mana cores, right? I can ensure the process is smooth and painless," she assured.

Auron nodded, relieved. Then, Seraphael asked, "So, what heavenly rune set will you choose?"

Auron smiled confidently, his resolve clear. "I won't choose any of them. I'll forge my own path. I'll carve heavenly runes that match the power of my first rune—nothing less. In fact, they might even surpass it."

Seraphael blinked, momentarily speechless. She was used to seeing young magi rush toward power, grabbing whatever advantages they could. But Auron's confidence and determination to walk a unique path impressed her deeply. After all, his first heavenly rune had already displayed terrifying power, and his control over it was remarkable for his level.

She simply nodded, admiration in her eyes. "Very well. Blaze your own trail, Auron. I look forward to seeing just how far you'll go."

Outside the tower, the elder paced anxiously, glancing at the entrance every few minutes. It had been an hour since Auron had gone inside. "Could he really be fighting those guards? No, he's only five. Maybe he fell asleep in there," the elder mused, trying to reassure himself.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Auron calmly stepped out, his expression as composed as ever. Nothing about his demeanor suggested a struggle, injury, or exhaustion.

"He must've been sleeping inside," the elder thought, relieved. "Good thing he didn't hurt himself."

Auron approached the elder, handed back the token, and bowed slightly. "Thank you for the token, but I don't need it anymore." Without another word, he turned and walked away.

The elder watched him, puzzled. "That boy... he doesn't seem like he just spent an hour in the Combat Tower." But Auron was already out of sight, and the elder shrugged it off.

The moon hung high in the dark sky as Auron made his way to the cafeteria. The mental strain from the intense battle inside the tower left him famished. When he entered the cafeteria, he saw his friends just finishing their meals and preparing to head back to their rooms.

Seeing Auron arrive, they paused, curious. Auron wasted no time, piling a plate high with food and sitting down with them.

"So, where'd you sneak off to, Mr. Genius?" Alice teased, her eyes sparkling with playful curiosity.

Auron smirked between bites. "I went to the Combat Tower. That place is incredible. You can fight at your full strength without holding back, and you won't destroy anything. You battle stone guards that get stronger and more numerous over time."

"That sounds tough, but pretty amazing," Walter chimed in. "If there's no real danger, it would let us push ourselves to the limit without worrying about getting hurt. We could squeeze every drop of potential out of ourselves."

Auron nodded, finishing his last bite. "Exactly. But if we want to explore the world together, we need to change how we train. From now on, I'll help you. You need to focus on perfecting your spell structure and mana circulation. Don't worry about visualizing heavenly runes for now."

"What do you mean? Did you find something special in the tower?" Alice asked, now genuinely intrigued.

"I got a small opportunity inside," Auron said, leaving out the specifics of the encounter with Seraphael. "But if you guys want to have a chance at something similar, you'll need to work hard. I can show you the way, but the effort is on you."

Alice leaned forward, her eyes blazing with determination. "Are you serious? Of course, I'll follow you. I want to be a powerful mage—and maybe even take down that arrogant brat Cedric while I'm at it."

"I want to explore the world too," Thyra added, smiling.

Eliot, however, looked uncertain. "I really want to follow you guys, but I haven't even condensed a mana core yet. Is that okay?"

Auron smiled encouragingly. "Of course, it's okay. You've been cultivating diligently since yesterday. If you keep that attitude, you'll catch up faster than you think. I'll help you, so don't worry."

Eliot visibly relaxed, grateful for the support. Then, Walter raised his hand. "What about me, Auron? I'm an augmenter, not a spellcaster. I can't really work on spell structure or heavenly runes."

Auron turned to him, his gaze steady. "You don't need to worry about spellcasting. Your focus should be on refining your body and mastering combat arts. I can help you with the combat arts, but body refinement is something you'll have to push through on your own. It's tough, but if anyone can handle it, it's you."

Walter grinned and gave a determined nod. "I trust you, Auron. I'll follow your instructions."

With newfound determination, the group finished their conversation, each filled with excitement about their future. Together, they left the cafeteria, walking toward their rooms with their goals clearer than ever. Their journey together was just beginning, and each of them was ready to give it their all to grow stronger, side by side.