The days leading up to Mr. Ishtar's confirmation of my admission to Aetherfall Academy were a relentless cycle of trial and error as I explored the intricacies of my Mimic Eye. For four grueling days, I pushed its limits, uncovering both its potential and its many constraints.
The first revelation was a sobering one: I couldn't replicate a UA (Unique Ability) from another person. Perhaps the burden on my body was too immense, or maybe UAs were deeply intertwined with the essence of an individual's soul. They weren't just techniques—they were manifestations of identity, shaped by experience, desire, and an unquantifiable spark that made them unique. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't mimic Mr. Ishtar's UA.
Skills, however, were another matter. Unlike UAs, they could be replicated, but only to a degree. Skills from individuals far beyond my level were inaccessible, and I was restricted to those ranked D or C. Additionally, the process seemed dependent on specific materials, a limitation I only uncovered through repeated failures.
One particular experiment stood out. I attempted to replicate Cú Chulainn's legendary spear, Gae Bolg. With meticulous focus, I activated my Mimic Eye—only for the system to coldly reject my attempt:
[System Notification] [Power of Replication: Failed] [You do not own any materials related to the Origin]
The meaning was clear: replication required a catalyst, an item connected to the original object's existence. If I wanted to recreate a legendary weapon, I needed either a replica or something tied to its history. The Power of Replication, though invaluable, was riddled with conditions—availability of rare materials, alignment with an object's origin, and my own stamina all played crucial roles. Even skills like Clairvoyance, which I managed to mimic, only succeeded because my unique eyes were attuned to perception-based abilities.
Determined to understand the intricacies of my power, I scoured Mr. Ishtar's extensive collection of books. Through them, I learned that skills and abilities were not as simple as I had once assumed. Skills, while teachable and transferable, could also be granted through catalysts. High-ranking weapons often bestowed special skills upon their wielders, something I had experienced firsthand with Erythrotenebrae. However, this bond depended on the weapon's compatibility with its user.
Abilities, in contrast, were lesser forms of skills—innate talents tied to one's stats and species. Elves, for example, naturally excelled in healing and nature-based abilities, while giants possessed abilities that amplified their raw strength.
Skills themselves were categorized into different types:
Elemental Skills, which channeled magic and natural forces.
Beast Skills, tied to the primal instincts of Beastfolk and merfolk.
Abyssm, linked to abyssal entities and malevolent beings.
Blood Arts, the mysterious specialty of vampires, though the books provided little information beyond one assumption: Blood Arts likely consumed the user's blood or life essence.
Each revelation expanded my understanding, yet many mysteries remained unsolved. My Mimic Eye was powerful, but its limitations meant that mastery required not only knowledge but also the right resources.
On the fourth day, as I meticulously recorded my findings, the door creaked open. Mr. Ishtar had returned—unexpectedly.
"Ezekiel, come. Let me teach you something," Mr. Ishtar called, a sly grin playing on his lips.
I blinked, caught off guard. "Ah… sure?" The grin made me uneasy, but curiosity won out.
Without another word, he led me toward the mountains—the same place where he'd previously demonstrated his UA. The air grew thinner as we ascended, the wind howling through jagged cliffs. When we reached a wide clearing, he abruptly raised a hand, signaling me to stop.
"With Aetherfall Academy's orientation approaching, we need to prepare you properly," he said, his grin turning sharper.
A nervous chill ran down my spine. "Does that mean… I've been accepted?" I asked cautiously.
"Yes," he confirmed, his tone almost amused. "And to celebrate, I'll be training you in combat."
"Combat?" The word barely left my mouth before the sinking realization set in. This wasn't going to be a simple lesson.
"Books might level you up quickly, but knowledge alone won't save you in a real fight," he continued, rolling his shoulders. "You need experience. And nothing builds experience better than a proper battle."
Before I could argue, he raised a hand and began chanting:
"Oh, bring forth the forces of nature,One to bring destruction to this accursed land.Might and fear, engrave them in this poor soul.Let them witness the wrath of a saddened mother.Let them witness the drought that brings despair.I call upon the children of the great beings."
The moment his incantation ended, the earth trembled. Fissures snaked across the rocky ground, splitting open as something massive stirred beneath us. Then, with a deep, guttural groan, colossal stone arms burst from the earth, followed by towering figures of rock and ore. Their glowing cores pulsed like molten hearts, radiating an ominous energy.
I instinctively took a step back. "You're joking, right?"
"These are my summons," Mr. Ishtar said, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "The system will recognize them as entities that grant experience. Your task? Defeat them."
My grip on Erythrotenebrae tightened. "That's... quite the spectacle."
The giants began their advance, each step sending tremors through the ground. Their sheer size was overwhelming; they moved like mountains given life, their stone limbs grinding against each other with a deafening scrape.
"This is insane!" I shouted, shifting into a stance. Erythrotenebrae pulsed in my grasp, its crimson-black blade almost eager for the coming battle.
"You'll be fine, Ezekiel," Mr. Ishtar called from a safe distance, arms crossed. "Remember, you don't just fight with strength. Use your mind. Adapt. Strategize."
I barely had time to process his words before the closest giant raised a massive arm and brought it down with the force of a collapsing mountain. I threw myself to the side, rolling just as the impact shattered the ground where I'd stood. A shockwave rippled outward, nearly knocking me off balance.
"Easier said than done!" I snapped, already scanning for openings.
Activating my Mimic Eye, the battlefield sharpened. Patterns emerged—the rhythm of their attacks, the weight behind each movement, the slight pauses before a strike. Every action, no matter how slow or powerful, followed a sequence.
[Eyes of Analysis activated.]
I exhaled. If I could read them, I could counter them.
Now, the real fight began.
The first giant reared back for another swing. This time, I sidestepped at the last moment, closing the distance and slashing at its core. Sparks flew as Erythrotenebrae bit into the stone, carving a deep gash. A tremor ran through the massive creature, but it wasn't enough to bring it down.
The giant roared, shaking the battlefield. Another swung its arm at me, forcing me to roll away. My stamina dwindled rapidly. If I kept evading, I'd run myself into exhaustion before I could even deal meaningful damage. I needed a strategy—something to absorb their relentless attacks. My mind raced, sifting through every lesson I had read in Mr. Ishtar's books.
Then it hit me. The Blood Arts.
Vampires harnessed their life essence to forge powerful defenses. Though I wasn't a vampire, I had blood and life essence. It was a gamble, but one worth taking.
Focusing on Erythrotenebrae, I recalled the text: "Blood is the source of life, a catalyst for power. The ancestors of the vampires forged their arts from the essence of their being, binding vitality with magic to create techniques of unmatched potency. Only through understanding this bond can the art manifest."
Activating my Mimic Eye, I turned its analysis inward.
[Analyzing… Origin recognized: Vampiric Blood Arts.]
A surge of heat coursed through me. My veins burned as if Erythrotenebrae were drawing something from deep within. The blade's crimson glow intensified, wrapping around me like a cocoon of searing heat. The air shimmered with the weapon's energy, and the faint hum of its power was joined by a rising, resonant thrum that synchronized with my racing heartbeat.
The system chimed:
[Skill Replicated: Blood Aegis]
A shimmering red barrier formed around me, pulsating with the rhythm of my heartbeat. It felt alive, as if it were an extension of my very being.
With Blood Aegis protecting me, I stood firm as the first giant's massive fist came crashing down. The barrier flared upon impact, dispersing the energy outward. The second giant hurled a boulder at me, but I dashed forward, the shield glowing as I redirected the projectile. Timing my movements with the patterns revealed by my Eyes of Analysis, I struck their cores one by one, whittling them down with precise, calculated attacks.
By the time the final giant roared in fury, the toll of battle was evident. Blood Aegis flickered, my stamina running dangerously low. Summoning the last of my strength, I activated Clairvoyance, layering it with Eyes of Analysis. Time slowed, each movement unfolding before me like a carefully scripted play. Dodging debris with newfound precision, I lunged at the last giant's core.
[Skill Activated: Rapture.]
Erythrotenebrae pulsed, the force behind my swing amplified as though an invisible tidal wave crashed with my strike. The final blow cleaved through the stone, splitting the giant's core in a dazzling burst of energy. A deafening crack echoed as the massive figure crumbled into rubble. Silence fell over the battlefield.
Panting, I stood amidst the debris, my chest heaving and legs trembling under the strain. A wave of exhaustion coursed through me, yet a strange exhilaration lingered—a reminder of the narrow victory I had clawed from the brink of failure. The crimson glow of Blood Aegis faded, leaving me feeling vulnerable yet accomplished.
From the sidelines, Mr. Ishtar clapped, his expression brimming with satisfaction. "Well done, Ezekiel! Quick thinking and adaptability. You've exceeded my expectations."
I glared at him, half-annoyed, half-amused. "You call this training? I almost died!"
Despite myself, I couldn't help but grin.
"This is just the beginning," he replied, his mischievous smile returning. "The real challenges are yet to come."
As my status window appeared, I couldn't hide my amazement:
Name: Ezekiel Rhea
Age: 17
Level: 25
UA: Mimic Eye
Stamina: 15
Strength: 17
IQ: 26
Mana: 0
Mind: 28
Skills:
Rapture: C Clairvoyance: D Blood Aegis: A [New]
"A vampire's Blood Art, huh?" Mr. Ishtar remarked, eyeing Erythrotenebrae. "It seems your weapon served as a catalyst."
"A catalyst?" I echoed, still processing everything.
A thought struck me. "Mr. Ishtar, did Erythrotenebrae come in contact with a vampire before me?"
"Yes," he said, his tone carrying an unusual softness. "It was blessed by a royal vampire's blood."
"Royal blood?" I asked, astonished.
"She was my fiancée," he admitted, his expression clouding with nostalgia.
I hesitated before asking, "May I know why she…?"
He sighed, gazing at the horizon. "She was a vampire royal of unparalleled grace and power. Her lineage traced to the ancient bloodlines that governed the Midnight Sovereignty. Royals like her were bound by duty to their clan, and our engagement was unconventional—a union born of love rather than politics. But her father had other plans. As the sovereign ruler, he decreed that she marry a duke to secure an alliance and protect their dominion from external threats. Despite her protests, tradition and responsibility overruled her desires. This weapon, imbued with her essence, was her final gift to me before she was wed. It symbolizes our bond and the sacrifice she made for her people."
"That is… quite unfortunate," I said, sheathing Erythrotenebrae.
"She was my first and last love in my aging life," he murmured, his gaze still fixed on the sky.
"Where is she now?" I asked softly.
"Fulfilling her duty as one of the vampire royals. Perhaps nurturing her own family now," he said, his voice tinged with sorrow. Then, his expression shifted, an irritated smirk crossing his face.
Before I could react, the ground rumbled again. Six new stone giants emerged behind him.
"Since I've shared my past, let's see how prepared you are for the future," he said with a wicked grin.
All I could do was pray I'd survive to see tomorrow.
That night, after barely surviving Mr. Ishtar's torturous training, exhaustion finally overtook me. As I lay in bed, every muscle in my body ached, but my mind buzzed with the day's revelations. The Blood Arts, the bond with Erythrotenebrae, and the grueling combat had pushed me beyond my limits. Yet, I felt a sense of growth—a deeper understanding of my abilities and a burning desire to continue improving.
As Aetherfall Academy loomed on the horizon, I vowed to face whatever challenges awaited me with unyielding determination.
The journey had only just begun.