Understanding Conceptual Power Part 3 Final

After that day, I trained with Uncle Kael almost every single day for a couple of months. During that time, my 9th birthday quietly passed without much fanfare, though I didn't mind. My focus was entirely on improving.

Despite making steady progress with utilizing various concepts, I realized that advancing beyond a certain point was becoming increasingly difficult. I could use conceptual attacks effectively, and their power was undeniable, but they had one glaring limitation—they required a medium, and that medium was mana.

Uncle Kael explained it simply: "Only those who've reached the stage where they can materialize their concepts directly can bypass the need for mana. At that point, mana becomes irrelevant, and the energy shifts to something higher—Aether."

His words made sense, and after thinking about it more, I came up with my own analogy to better understand the difference.

If I think of concepts as machines capable of performing various tasks, mana is the battery or power source that keeps the machine running. However, once someone reaches the stage of materialization, their machine becomes self-sufficient, operating autonomously. At that point, mana is no longer the energy source—Aether takes its place.

Aether isn't just energy. It's the essence of creation itself. It's far more potent than mana and suited for manipulating higher forms of power, like Laws and concepts.

To put it bluntly, mana feels like a machine gun: versatile, fast, and capable of widespread destruction. Aether, on the other hand, is like a sniper rifle firing 50-caliber rounds: precise, devastating, and meant for specialized tasks.

This analogy stuck with me. At first, it felt strange to compare something so sacred to tools of war from my old world, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense.

---

One day, as we stood in the training arena, Kael decided to give me a deeper understanding of what it meant to truly master concepts.

"Alright, Arax, today I'm going to show you some of the higher stages of 'Conceptualization.' Hopefully, this demonstration will help you understand what lies ahead."

He walked to the center of the arena, his expression serious. "But first, let me make one thing clear. Many people confuse conceptual power with the power of Laws. They're not the same. Not even close."

I tilted my head, intrigued. Kael continued, "Laws are universal rules that govern existence. They are ranked: low, high, great, and supreme. Concepts, however, are not ranked in the same way. That doesn't mean all concepts are equal, but they are fundamentally different from Laws."

"For example," he said, summoning a faint glow of energy around his hand, "the concept of shattering can be imbued into any physical or magical attack. It gives the attack the ability to break down anything—whether it's physical or metaphysical. On the other hand, someone with the Law of Fire would have absolute control over fire. But that doesn't mean they automatically know every possible use for fire."

He paused, letting the information sink in.

"It all depends on their ideology and creativity. For instance, a practitioner of the Fire Law could use it to create a massive fire tornado capable of ravaging an entire city. Another could use it to burn away the rust on steel, refining it into something better."

Kael turned to me, his violet eyes glowing with curiosity. "So, Arax, which of these two practitioners would you say is superior?"

I thought about it for a moment before answering. "I'd say the one who used it to clear the rust."

Raising an eyebrow, Kael asked, "And why do you think that is?"

I met his gaze confidently. "Because creating a fire tornado is relatively simple. It's a matter of will and imagination. But using fire to clear rust from steel shows a deeper understanding of the Law. It takes knowledge, ingenuity, and creativity to use it in such a precise and refined manner."

Kael's grin widened. "Absolutely correct. Arax, you truly are a stellar genius, even more so than I expected. Do you know how many people I've asked this question? Most of them answer wrong, thinking raw power is the only thing that matters. But raw power, unrefined and uncontrolled, is the greatest waste of energy. Power is useless if you don't know what it can do. Worse, it can be dangerous to the user."

"I see," I said, nodding. "Thank you for the lesson, Uncle Kael."

"It's no problem. Also," he smirked, "you can just call me Kael. You've earned that privilege."

I chuckled. "Alright, Kael."

---

For the next few weeks, Kael pushed me harder than ever. Each session was more grueling than the last, but I could feel myself improving. My understanding of concepts deepened, and my ability to wield them became sharper. However, there were still limits I couldn't overcome.

One day, Kael called an end to our training session earlier than usual. He stood with his arms crossed, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"You've done more in these few months than most people could in years," he said. "But there's only so much I can teach you right now. You're nearing the age for your application to the Universal Academy, and your focus needs to shift toward preparing for that."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of his words.

"There's one final test I'd like you to attempt," he continued, "but it's not something you'll be able to complete right now. The second Battle Arena is focused on 'Conceptual Merging,' which requires integrating multiple concepts into a seamless whole. It's one of the hardest stages to master among the Five stages, and even with your talents, it could take decades."

He placed a hand on my shoulder, his gaze serious. "For now, you've done enough. Take some time to rest and enjoy yourself. You've earned it."

I thanked him, feeling a strange mix of relief and anticipation. As much as I enjoyed pushing my limits, I knew he was right. My journey was far from over, and the challenges ahead would only grow more difficult.

---

Later that evening, I returned to my quarters to prepare for the dinner feast. The estate was abuzz with activity, servants rushing to and fro as they prepared for the grand event.

I took a moment to reflect on the months I had spent training with Kael. He had taught me more than I could have imagined, not just about concepts and power, but about myself and how much more i can improve myself. I dare say he's most likely the best mentor i would ever get although i Don't have any samples to compare but somehow i was sure of that.

As I dressed for the feast, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. I was begining to step on the realms of the Reverend Beings.

With that thought in mind, I stepped out of my room, ready to partake in the feast.