The Weight of Will

Will.

In this world, it was the one force that stood above all others even the strongest elemental affinities none of them could compare to the power of will.

It was also the reason mortis was far stronger than any other character simply his will far surpassed everyone else's.

It begins with Protection the first function of will. It's the ability to defend your mind from external threats, to hold onto who you are when chaos tries to tear it apart. Corruption, despair, manipulation none of it matters if your will is strong enough to shield you.

Then there's the Weight of Will, the second function. This is where will transcends the mind and becomes a weapon. The sheer presence of a powerful will can crush those weaker.

Next comes the Words of Power, the third function. At this level, will doesn't just defend or oppress it commands. A strong will doesn't just command men it commands the world to change as he pleases.

There are plenty of other uses for will but all of these pale in comparison to the Truth.

And then, there's Individuality, also known as Truth.

Individuality is the pinnacle of willpower, the highest expression of one's existence. Individuality is the truth of who you are, projected outward. It bends the world, defies logic, and carves out a reality dictated by the strength of your will alone.

It is the strongest power any being can hope to reach before becoming divine that is.

I wonder what my Truth will be or if I will ever even be able to unlock it.

"Step forward," Professor Arnold commanded, his voice sharp and unyielding.

The class moved reluctantly, filing onto the raised platform at the center of the room. It was large enough to accommodate all of us, the smooth stone surface faintly glowing with engraved runes.

Arnold stood before us, his presence imposing. His scarred face was a mask of indifference as he surveyed the students.

"What you are about to experience," he began, "is the Weight of Will. It is the projection of my presence, the force of my will bearing down on you. This is not physical. It is not magical. It is entirely mental. A test of your resolve."

He stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "The weak will falter. The unprepared will kneel. Only those with a strong will can stand."

The air grew heavier. Slowly at first, like an invisible pressure pushing down on us.

"Good," Arnold said, his tone almost approving. "This is the lowest level. Endure it, and you may learn something about yourselves."

I struggled to remain upright, my legs trembling under the invisible weight. Around me, the other students fared no better. Amani gritted her teeth, her usual smirk replaced with a grimace of effort. Noah Balavan however stood firm a testament to his strong wil.

But I… I was already losing.

It wasn't just heavy it was suffocating. The pressure wrapped around me like chains, dragging me down. My legs buckled, and I sank to one knee.

I'm weak.

The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. I wasn't a prodigy. I wasn't a noble heir with a grand legacy. I was just a normal man, thrown into a world I barely understood.

How could I stand against this?

Mortis Pov

Mortis stood near the edge of the group, his arms crossed as he watched the unfolding scene with disinterest. It was as if there was no will pressing down on him.

Pathetic.

His mirrored eyes scanned the students, noting their reactions with a detached curiosity. Most were crumbling under the pressure, their faces twisted with effort and fear.

When his gaze fell on Kai, his disappointment deepened.

So, this is the one who managed to slip past my eyes? He's nothing but trash.

Mortis had expected more. He had hoped for a challenge, a spark of something… exceptional. But all he saw was another weakling, crushed under the weight of Arnold's will.

Another failure.

Celeste Astrea's POV

Celeste Astrea watched the scene unfold from her spot on the platform, her crystal blue eyes narrowed in thought.

She had been observing Kai for some time now, curious about the rank 42 who seemed so out of place. There had been nothing remarkable about him so far his mana, his techniques, even his demeanor had been average at best.

Maybe his will would reveal something more.

But as she watched him struggle, her hopes dwindled. His earlier calm, the faint confidence she had noticed during other moments it was gone.

Disappointing.

Kai's pov

The crushing weight bore down on me, my body trembling as if it would shatter under the strain. My legs, already buckled, threatened to give out completely. My chest heaved, each breath a struggle against the invisible force pinning me down.

I can't do this.

The thought echoed in my mind, loud and relentless. I was weak, and this world, with all its overwhelming forces and impossible expectations, was a reminder of that fact.

"Are you truly this pathetic?"

The voice cut through the chaos in my mind. It was cold and sharp, devoid of emotion, but unmistakably familiar.

The Book.

"You're trembling before the will of a fictional character?" the voice continued, disdain dripping from every word. "Are you so easily undone by something that doesn't even exist?"

I froze.

"What?" I muttered, barely audible over the pounding of my heart.

"Fiction," the voice repeated, calm but insistent. "This world, these people… they are not real. So why do you kneel before them?"

The words resonated, sinking into the deepest recesses of my mind.

Fiction.

It was absurd, wasn't it? This world felt real the pain, the fear, the suffocating weight—but it wasn't. These people, their stories, their struggles… they were all part of a narrative I already knew.

And yet, I was letting it crush me.

My breath steadied. Slowly, I straightened my back, lifting my gaze from the ground.

"It's just a story," I whispered to myself, the words a mantra. "This isn't real. None of this is real."

And even if it was why shouldn't I believe it to be fiction if that helps out.

The weight pressed harder, as if responding to my defiance. My legs wobbled, my arms quaked, but I refused to let them falter.

The voice in my head spoke again, quieter this time but no less firm. "You're not afraid of the weight. You're afraid of your own weakness. Stand up."

I closed my eyes, shutting out the sight of the platform, the oppressive presence of Arnold, the judgmental stares of my classmates.

"It's fiction," I repeated.

The suffocating pressure began to fade not because it lessened, but because I stopped caring.

When I opened my eyes again, the room seemed sharper, clearer. The invisible weight that had threatened to crush me moments ago felt distant, almost inconsequential.

I pushed myself to my feet, my movements slow but deliberate.

Gasps rippled through the room.

Amani's wide-eyed stare caught my attention first, her usual confidence replaced by something that almost resembled fear.

"What…?" she muttered, her voice barely audible.

Even Noah Balavan, who had been holding his ground with relative ease, glanced at me with something between surprise and respect.

But it was Celeste Astrea and Mortis whose reactions truly stood out.

Celeste's crystal blue eyes narrowed, confusion and intrigue flickering across her face. He was struggling moments ago… What changed?

Mortis, on the other hand, no longer looked disinterested. His mirrored eyes locked onto mine, and for the first time, I saw something in them.

Curiosity.

Arnold's gaze settled on me, his sharp eyes glinting with amusement.

"Interesting," he murmured.

I didn't say anything. I didn't need to.

I simply stood, my breathing steady, my expression indifferent.

Because for the first time, I understood.

This wasn't about strength or power. It wasn't about skill or legacy.

It was about will.

And mine wasn't bound by this world.