Descent of a God

Date

(A/N: Wanted a nice wholesome chapter. Edited the chapter a bit to fit by the new Nine Heaven's Nine Doors.)

|Jude|

As I emerged from the dungeon crafted by the legendary mages, I found myself standing in the vast wilderness of the Beast Glades. My heart swelled with anticipation as I made my way to Etistin, eager to reunite with Kathy. Upon reaching the royal palace, however, an unexpected sensation began to ripple through my mana core. It was akin to the feeling I experienced when I first broke through to the white mana core stage from the silver, yet far more intense.

Without delay, I made my way to the private training room Master Galahad had granted me. Once inside, I discovered Kathy and Curtis hard at work practicing their skills. Ignoring their surprise at my sudden appearance, I promptly assumed the lotus position and began purifying the mana around my core.

As I focused, the aether layer from beyond my mana core began to merge with it, the purples and whites intermingling in a fascinating dance. I quickly realized that aether and mana were not so different, but instead intrinsically connected. To break through to the next stage was to comprehend this connection.

With this understanding, the shell casing encasing my white core began to splinter and crack. The aether layer infused with the mana core, creating a brilliant cyan glow that grew brighter with each passing moment. The shell shattered, and a dazzling light blue hybrid core of both aether and mana was revealed.

A tremendous wave of mana and aether surged forth from my body, hurling both Kathy and Curtis away from me. My mana channels and veins began to shift and adapt to the flow of aether, bending to my will with incredible fluidity.

But the greatest revelation was yet to come. As I reached out to touch the Sixth Door in the world of Nine Heavens and Nine Doors, I felt my muscles, ligaments, and tendons contract and strengthen themselves through a seemingly endless cycle of breakdown and regeneration. My understanding of swordsmanship expanded, and I moved closer to the horizon of the sword.

After an indeterminate amount of time, it was over. I took deep breaths to steady myself, my mind racing with newfound knowledge and power. I had ascended to a higher realm of strength, one in which even lances held no sway over me.

Standing up, I felt every fiber of my being surge with energy, my mana channels and veins melding seamlessly into my skin. I could cast even the most powerful of spells with the lightest touch of my fingertips, and my awareness extended beyond my muscles to every cell of my body.

As I gazed upon the stunned faces of Kathy and Curtis, I recounted my adventure to them, careful to omit the details shared with me by the ancient mage. I didn't want to put them in danger, but I knew that I had become a force to be reckoned with, and I was eager to explore this newfound strength.

As I recounted my adventures to Curtis and Kathy, Curtis collapsed to the ground in shock. "You surpassed the pinnacle of all mages at the age of 14?" he stammered, his inferiority complex evident.

Feeling a twinge of sympathy, I handed him several fire beast cores I had found, knowing they would help him break through to the next core stage. Turning to Kathy, I gave her a hug, feeling the warmth of her embrace and her blush against my chest.

"I'm going on a date with Kathyln," I announced to Curtis, before lifting her up and flying out of the palace. With my new blue core, I could now make myself and others fly without using any magic, making transportation a breeze. I used Illusion magic to change our faces and clothing, disguising ourselves as young nobles to avoid any unwanted attention.

As we explored the noble section of the city, I noticed how luxurious and grand the shops were. We eventually arrived at The Green Gate, a famous restaurant known for its excellent food, even better than the royal chefs.

As we ate, I couldn't help but notice how little Kathyln ate. It seemed impossible for someone who once ate as much as possible to survive on such a meager diet. Nonetheless, I was happy to be on our second date and in the company of someone so special.

|Kathyln|

I was deep in training with my Brother when suddenly, the door burst open, and Jude strode in. Two long years had passed since we last saw each other, and I missed him dearly. However, I could sense something off about him; a raging mana surrounded him, and I couldn't help but worry about what was happening.

But then, the mana shifted, and it felt like he was breaking through to a new level. That couldn't be right. He was already at the white core stage. Suddenly, a burst of blue-colored mana pulsed from his body, and my Brother and I were sent flying back. I quickly used Ice mana to create a cushion of soft ice to soften our fall.

As I picked myself up and looked at Jude, I couldn't help but gasp. He felt...otherworldly. Even before, Jude always had an air of superiority around him, but now, it was as if he was truly above the world itself. The mana around him seemed to bow down to his every whim, as if he were a god.

My heightened senses, courtesy of my beast will, allowed me to see microscopic muscle contractions expanding and contracting rapidly on Jude's body. I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't just seeing things. It was clear that no Lance could touch him now.

Finally, Jude opened his eyes, and he came up behind me, embracing me tightly. I could feel my face flush as he declared to my Brother that we were going on a date.

I couldn't help but feel excited as Jude and I made our way out of the training room. 

As we took off from the palace, I expected Jude to hold me while flying or use Wind magic to carry me, but to my surprise, he did neither. Instead, I was flying on my own, but my movements were restricted as he controlled my flight. Was this what it felt like to fly with a white core mage? I had never heard of a white core being able to make others fly before.

We flew out of the palace and ended up in the city of Etistin. Jude waved his hand, and I could feel him casting magic. I looked at him and was surprised to see his clothes and face change. He had used Illusion magic, and he had always struggled with it before. To now be able to cast it without any trouble showed how much he had improved.

We went to a restaurant called The Green Gate for dinner, and I couldn't help but notice how much food Jude ate. I wasn't a big eater, so I only ordered one dish for myself, while he ordered three. As soon as my food came, he jumped on it and ate half, causing me to pout and look at him.

He said, "Eat mine if you want to," and I turned my head away in anger. I did end up eating some of his food, but not much. After we were done, Jude camouflaged us using Illusion magic and made us fly again. This time, we headed to Crystal Lake. The lack of light made the lake shine like a crystal, illuminating the entire area around us.

I was mesmerized by the sight in front of me, and when I turned to look at Jude, he was staring at me. "Did you like the lake as well?" he asked.

I nodded, "Yes, it's beautiful."

"How could I be mesmerized by the lake when you are by my side?" he said with a sly smile, and I couldn't help but blush.

I playfully punched him in the side, and he raised his hands in surrender. His sly smile changed to a warm one, and his face lit up with happiness.

I couldn't help but be distracted from the lake by his handsome face. As I stared at him in longing, he put his arm around my waist and pulled me closer, even though he didn't need to. "We should get engaged soon," he whispered into my ear, and I felt his hot breath on my skin, making smoke come out of my ears.

I intended to berate him, but when I looked at him, I saw the look of genuine longing and happiness on his face instead of his usual sly expression. My heart thumped, and I fidgeted in embarrassment.