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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 12
1.
The vision the world had shown me faded away. I found myself back in the cave, and Equinox had reverted to his black spirit form.
Following Equinox's guidance, I bound the serpent's spirit as my guardian spirit.
This guardian spirit, an ethereal entity, serves to protect me and grants me access to its power whenever needed.
"The serpent's strength isn't limited to its venomous fangs, its true essence lies in its cunning and intelligence. By harnessing that power, you can deceive the very laws that govern the world."
Equinox continued to speak in his characteristically cryptic manner.
Though I had lived over thirty years and learned much, his words were not easy to grasp.
Sensing my confusion, Equinox let out a raspy chuckle.
"Heh heh heh. Master, while you're wiser than most humans, you still pale in comparison to me. Our lifespans are worlds apart."
Equinox claimed to be around 4000 years old, born at the dawn of the continent alongside the Primordial Deity.
If that’s true, then it’s no surprise that someone like me, with barely thirty years under my belt, would find it hard to grasp the full scope of his words.
Approaching me as I sat cross-legged, Equinox placed a hand on my back.
"Close your eyes and feel the serpent's power."
Following his instruction, I visualized the white serpent coiled above my heart. It met my gaze with its gleaming red eyes.
- Hiss—
At first, the sound seemed meaningless, but as I focused, I began to understand its intent.
- I am ready.
Realizing this, Equinox's voice resonated once more.
"Serpents are master deceivers among spirits. This one, in particular, possesses the cunning to deceive the very fabric of reality. From now on, we'll use its power to defy the laws that govern your body."
[Defy the laws that govern me?]
I questioned through my soul's voice, and Equinox responded succinctly.
"Follow the power I've just infused into you. Soon, you'll understand what I mean."
I refocused my mind. Equinox's cold yet gentle dark mana seeped into my chest. I followed its flow.
The energy slowly enveloped the serpent coiled within my guardian spirit, eventually wrapping around its head. Within, I discovered a glowing, dark crimson orb.
'What is this?'
As I observed the orb, two lights flickered within it—one pitch black, the other red. Though distinct, they constantly interacted and intertwined.
Equinox's voice echoed once more.
"To deceive the world with falsehoods, you need half-truths. The serpent's spirit core is designed in this way—half truth, half lie. By using it, you can double the power of your mana ring."
After saying this, Equinox immediately infused energy into the serpent's spirit core.
As he did, the red and black energies of the pill intertwined, spiraling out and flowing into my mana ring.
The moment the energy completely entered,
Thuwak—
With a strong backlash, another mana ring suddenly appeared, firmly attached to my heart.
‘This is impossible.’
So this is what it meant to deceive the laws of the world?
Could other abilities be amplified in the same way?
Before I could fully ponder the thought, Equinox immediately answered my unspoken question.
"Yes. It is possible. However, you can only enhance one ability at a time. For now, it’s best to focus on your mana ring. This is crucial for the success of your training ahead."
[Understood. I’ll do that.]
I quickly agreed with Equinox’s suggestion.
During these early stages of training, I needed to focus all my energy on the mana ring.
That would allow me to achieve quicker results.
This was the fundamental principle of magical training.
As I refocused and began rotating the second mana ring, Equinox explained the next step in the training.
"From now on, breathe using the basic breathing techniques of mages. At the same time, take in mana through your third eye and channel it into your heart’s mana ring."
[The third eye? Not the crown of the head?]
"Necromancers must absorb mana through their third eye in order to purify it in the proper way. As you continue this purification process, your mana rings will stabilize and become more refined."
Now that I understood the explanation, it all made sense.
Most mages take in mana through the top of their head, the crown, where a form of purification occurs naturally. This purified mana can be used for any purpose.
However, specialist mages, those focused on a particular type of magic, absorb mana through areas such as the chest, the dantian, or even the soles of the feet, wherever the purification process can best occur.
‘So necromancers purify mana through their third eye.’
Once my thoughts were clear, the purification process became much easier.
With the mental barrier gone, mana began circulating rapidly within me.
"Hoo—"
I took a deep breath, recalling my training from my previous life.
Once the flow stabilized, Equinox helped with the purification using his dark mana.
He stimulated both my third eye and the mana rings at once, accelerating the purification process to three times its normal speed.
And just like that, I slipped into a trance.
The mana ring spun within my chest, sending out deep, rhythmic pulses. At the same time, a strange current of mana poured in through my third eye—sharp, focused, unfamiliar.
Inside me, the two flows met, merged, and began to circulate as one.
It was a completely new sensation—foreign, yet exhilarating. Almost intoxicating.
I continued to purify the mana ring.
I had no idea how much time had passed, but I could tell how exhausted my body was through the life energy imbued in the mana ring.
Once the life energy was fully depleted, Equinox woke me up and took me to the mountains.
There, I captured the animals drawn to me and absorbed their life force.
Though I didn’t encounter any beings as sacred as the white serpent from before, there were no issues in absorbing the life force.
Most of the animals were small creatures like rabbits, and occasionally, I took in young wild boar.
Mana purification and life force absorption.
I spent my time focusing on just these two things.
I didn’t know how many days had passed, but one thing was clear.
The mana ring in my heart had changed drastically.
Before, it had a mix of green and red hues, but now it glowed with a bright green light.
As I meditated on this with my mind, Equinox's voice reached me.
“Complete purification is not far off. Once this task is finished, your mana ring will multiply.”
[Multiply... Does that mean another one will appear on its own?]
“That’s correct. Every time a necromancer completely purifies their mana ring, it will multiply.”
It was an astonishing revelation.
After pondering his words for a moment, I asked again.
[Are you saying I can reach the 10th circle just through purification training?]
I asked eagerly, but Equinox shook his head.
“That’s not the case. You can only multiply up to the 4th circle through purification. To reach the 5th circle, special materials are required.”
[Special materials... for that?]
“You don’t need to worry about that yet. You will learn in due time. For now, focus on your training.”
Equinox was right.
It was pointless to worry about the distant future.
My teacher had once said something similar…
- This world is only made up of the present. The past is merely a trace of the present, and the future is but an illusion. Don’t lose sight of the present while dwelling on the past or future.
I repeated those words in my mind and continued my training.
As I did, the mana ring gradually became purer. Then, the moment the bright green light started to flow from the ring,
Thwack!
With intense pain, the mana ring grew larger.
Normally, it would go from one to two, but since I was using the serpent’s protective powers, it went from two to four.
As the mana ring quickly multiplied to four, a tremendous pain surged through me, and the mana in my body began to flow backward.
Kchik—
Black blood spilled from my mouth.
Equinox channeled his dark mana and instructed me.
“Focus. This phenomenon is caused by the instability of the new mana ring. Once it stabilizes, the pain will cease.”
There was no time to respond to him.
I continued with the purification, and Equinox’s dark mana assisted me in the process.
After some time, when the pain finally subsided, I lost consciousness.
Equinox said something, but it didn’t reach my ears.
＊ ＊ ＊
Upon awakening, I noticed the cave was bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun.
Since the cave's entrance faced west, sunlight only streamed in during dusk. The golden rays were unusually dazzling.
As I rose, Nocturne, who had been previously unseen, greeted me with a crimson glow.
- Master, you're awake.
[You're awake too?]
- I've been conscious for quite some time.
Nocturne explained that he had been observing me during my trance-like purification state.
Equinox had forbidden him from approaching, so he refrained from speaking.
After detailing his experiences, Nocturne hesitated before cautiously asking,
- Master, did I make a mistake?
Was he aware of his error? As I silently gazed at his crimson gem, he continued in a subdued tone.
“Master Equinox advised me to avoid your presence. We even had a dispute over it.”
At that moment, a sinister aura emanated from Nocturne's red glow, tinged with deep purple. He spoke with a hint of menace,
- Equinox is suspicious. He knows too much and offers you many things without asking for anything in return. Such individuals should be approached with caution. They always expect something in return.
[In return?]
Though the ominous energy from Nocturne was unsettling, his point was valid.
In this world, there's no such thing as a free favor.
Demons demand sacrifices and souls in exchange for granting wishes, and even deities like Calios require faith and offerings for their divine power and blessings. If even demons and gods operate this way, humans are no exception. Throughout both my past and present lives, I've never received a favor without a price—except from Equinox.
Still exuding a ominous aura, Nocturne responded to my query.
- I suspect Equinox desires your body, Master. Otherwise, why would he accelerate the growth of your mana rings so rapidly?
‘Desires my body?’
I recalled Equinox's words when he acknowledged me as his master.
- I was born 4000 years ago, at the dawn of this continent's history. Since then, I've sought someone worthy to inherit my knowledge. That long wait has finally borne fruit.
- To the one who has traversed time, I've been awaiting you. From this moment, I shall serve you as my master. Accept my allegiance.
‘He claimed he had been waiting for me and wished to pass on his knowledge, but he never explained why.’
Why is Equinox doing all this for me? The question lingered without an answer.
Just then, a dark spirit appeared at the cave's entrance—it was Equinox. He approached me leisurely and inquired.
“So, Nocturne has awakened. What did he say, Master?”
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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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