The pride of Alex agniverta

In the midst of the training ground, Alex struggled to conjure magic under Carals' guidance. Nearby, Lars instructed Ronika, the mysterious girl who had interrupted their conversation earlier none other than Alex's little step-sister. She had insisted on having a teacher, although Carals began explaining the fundamentals of magic in this world to Alex. 

magic is derived from nine gods or mysterious entities," Carals said. "Each god bestowed upon us nine major magics and powers. The hues you saw earlier represent the magical affinity granted by the gods."

Alex's eyes widened as he recalled the five colors surrounding him, a phenomenon never seen before. "Ordinarily, a person can only see the color of mana associated with a single god," Carals continued.

"In this world, magic users are categorized into different classes. Ordinary mages and magic swordsmen don't require divinity; they're simply skilled magic users. However, when a person awakens their talents, their power levels are represented by a star rating, from one-star knights to ten-star masters, followed by master mages and grandmasters."

Carals paused, surveying the group. "Some individuals can wield multiple classes, such as an aura knight and a magic swordsman. You've already encountered an example – the assassin knight you fought."

Ronika listened intently, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Alex, meanwhile, struggled to grasp the intricacies of magic in this world.

Ronika's curiosity got the better of her. "Old man, please tell me more about the gods," she asked, her eyes wide with wonder. However, Carals' expression turned cryptic. "You need to awaken first, little one. Then you'll understand more. Be patient."

Alex's confusion deepened. He had never attempted to use mana or undergo awakening. "Old man, how can someone tell if they've awakened?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Carals' eyes twinkled. "To a normal person, awakening seems like a sudden surge in power. But, as I tested your mana, if you hadn't seen any colors, it would mean you hadn't awakened. The colors of your mana, as I mentioned earlier, represent the 9 entities' power. They choose who's worthy of awakening."

Alex's eyes narrowed. "What about those who aren't chosen? Can they still awaken?"

Carals' expression turned somber. "Humans have created artificial awakening methods, known as forced faction. They worship demons, but I'm not at liberty to disclose more. Your father has restricted me from sharing details about the forced factions, but you'll eventually learn about them."

However Alex's smile hinted at a mixture of curiosity and amusement as he heard the word "demon", but he remained silent, his eyes sparkling with unasked questions.

….

Fifteen days passed, and Alex's magical education continued. Today Carals explained the significance of his five-colored mana, revealing the secrets of each hue.

"The golden color represents your ability to harness the divinity of Uxil," Carals said. "The red color, depending on its shade, signifies your affinity with the God of Blood, Ravena. If it's a dark red, you'll be able to wield Ravena's blood martial arts."

Carals paused, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. "You'll learn about the remaining colors in the academy. However, I must admit that even I'm unsure about the black color of mana. It doesn't seem to represent any god's affinity."

Alex, initially, didn't prioritize learning about this world's magic. Instead, he focused on cultivating his qi, just like he did in Murim. However, he soon realized that his body was too weak to breakthrough quickly. Moreover, as a kid in this world, he couldn't dedicate years to cultivation like he did in his past life.

Despite this, Alex discovered that he had already reached the Foundation Realm, a stage where cultivators create a core that serves as a reservoir for spiritual energy, enhancing their refinement of arts. He was awestruck, recalling that in his past life, he was a Transcendence being, and now, he had regressed to the Foundation Realm, a stage achievable by even ordinary people.

With no other options, Alex dedicated himself to mastering magic for the remaining fifteen days. His progress was nothing short of astonishing, leaving Carals stunned. The old man's eyes widened as he witnessed Alex's magical prowess grow exponentially, a testament to his extraordinary abilities.

….

"Carals stood at the main gate of the castle, preparing to leave"

"A month of magical training has come to an end," Carals announced, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "It's time for me to bid you farewell, Alex. We'll meet again at the academy, where two more tests await you. Prepare yourself well, they will be challenging."

Alex's curiosity got the better of him, and he tried to pry more information about the upcoming tests. However, Carals remained tight-lipped, his expression cryptic.

"You'll eventually know, Alex," Carals said with a knowing smile, leaving Alex with more questions than answers.

…..

As Carals left, The day had finally arrived when Alex's father would teach him about the mysterious aura. Although Alex had read about it in fantasy novels, he knew that the real thing would be vastly different.

Alex's father entered the training hall, a hint of pride in his eyes. "I've heard from Sir Carals that you've achieved remarkable progress in the past month, Alex. You've reached five-star in the mage class."

However, his father's expression turned serious. "Don't become arrogant, Alex. The mage class is unique, and magic is not just about intellect. It's true that magicians often rely on their high IQ, but what about swordsmen or knights who rely on their battle experience, determination, and... aura?"

Alex's father paused, studying his son's reaction. "Aura is similar to magic, but it's not the same. It's another aspect of our inner energy. While magic is gentle and calm, aura is reactive and furious. It's the fierce, instinctual part of our being that drives us to act."

"First, you must understand the true meaning of swordsmanship and determination," Alex's father said, his eyes burning with intensity. "I won't teach you aura like Carals taught you magic. Instead, you'll learn through battle. Attack me with every ounce of determination you possess."

"For the next 27 days, we'll fight every day," Alex's father declared. "The day you surpass your current determination, the day you tap into the true power of battle, you'll discover the aura. Only then will you be ready to attend the academy. If you fail to learn, you won't be going."

Alex stood resistant, his eyes flashing with determination. "As you wish, Father. Just don't cry after you lose." He gripped the sword his mother had given him, its familiar weight a comfort in his hand.

With a fierce battle cry, Alex launched himself at his father, attacking from every angle. 

!!shord!! 

He struck from the front, the back, and the sides, unleashing every trick. He augmented his swordsmanship with magic, 

!!Crips!! 

summoning bursts of speed and agility to fuel his assault.

But despite his valiant efforts, Alex's father remained unmoving, a rock against which Alex's attacks crashed and broke. For 10 long days, Alex fought with every ounce of strength he possessed, but the result was always the same: utter defeat.

With only 17 days left before the academy's entrance, Alex knew he had to hurry. The academy was six-day journey from the royal palace, leaving him with a mere 11 days to master the aura.

Determined, Alex trained every day, but he couldn't grasp why he couldn't land a single hit on his father or create the elusive aura. His father corrected him each time, but Alex remained frustrated.

Day 20

Again Today, Alex woke up, fought, but still couldn't land a hit on his father. He stood there, knowing he wasn't weak, but his determination was lacking. In his past life, his ultimate goal had been immortality. He had relentlessly pursued it, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. He had slaughtered enemies, defeated nations, and even killed innocent women and children.

But now, in this new life, Alex felt lost. His past ambitions seemed hollow, and he struggled to find a new sense of purpose. What did he dream of now? What drove him? The questions swirled in his mind, fueling his frustration and determination.

Also, his father's words struck a chord: "Pride where is your pride Alex agniverta." Alex repeated the word pride to himself, realizing that his lack of pride was holding him back. "Have I, a Transcendence being in my past life, become a coward?" he wondered.

Alex's thoughts swirled, and he discovered that his emotions were obstructing his path. He knew he had to abandon them. With a mighty roar, his eyes blazed with black aura, and his body transformed, becoming sturdy and powerful. Alex's black aura erupted around him, a dark vortex of energy that seemed to draw everything towards him. The air rippled with its power.

For the first time, Alex's sword slash connected, but not with his father. 

!Boom!!

The ground where his father stood had vanished, and the entire hall lay in ruins. Trees and everything else had been obliterated.