Atticus claimed he only wanted to meditate, but it was clear this was more than that.
During his battle with Blackgate, when he had been trapped in the labyrinth, he had learned something fascinating about spiritual energy.
There were two talent categories when it came to spiritual energy. The first was what most of the Starhaven family possessed, including Seraphina, their paragon. They could manipulate and shape spiritual energy, using it to empower themselves, form constructs, and perform various other feats. However, these were all surface-level abilities.
The second category delved deeper into what spiritual energy truly was. Unlike mana, spiritual energy was never tied to the body, even though the Starhaven family used it to enhance their physical power.
In its natural form, spiritual energy was tied to the soul.
Ever since he discovered that spiritual energy was a form of energy different from mana, Atticus had been curious about its properties.
In Eldoralth, mana was life. It coursed through nearly everything on the planet and was the source of strength and power. To Atticus, mana could be summed up in one word: power. It was like fuel, an energy source that boosted its wielder's strength.
But spiritual energy was different, especially for those in the second talent category. Atticus was only beginning to understand this now, and Ozeroth's memories confirmed it.
Spiritual energy was a truth revealing force, capable of rewriting reality by understanding and harmonizing with the world's essence. Here, "world" didn't mean the planet Eldoralth but the entire universe.
Mastering it required clarity of purpose, self, and emotion. It demanded the absence of inner conflict, emotional turmoil, and self-deception.
Ozeroth didn't say a word as he watched Atticus train. Even his thoughts were silent, avoiding any potential distractions.
He didn't try to guide Atticus. In his mind, he had already done enough by granting Atticus access to his memories, which contained centuries of knowledge not easily found anywhere else. Still, Ozeroth struggled to hide the bit of shock he felt.
The speed at which Atticus was grasping the complexities of spiritual energy was astounding.
While much of it could be attributed to having access to Ozeroth's memories, it didn't diminish the feat. Ozeroth, who had risen through the ranks of the spirit world faster than anyone else, had still taken much longer to reach this level.
As Ozeroth silently observed, Atticus immersed himself in his own world.
'According to Ozeroth's memories, there are three stages,' Atticus thought.
These stages were called folds, and each represented a deeper mastery of spiritual energy.
The first fold was awareness.
To reach this stage, one had to achieve basic clarity and focus by overcoming inner conflicts and aligning their actions with their true purpose.
In this stage, one would unlock the ability to see truths, such as detecting lies, weaknesses, and intent. They could also sense vulnerabilities in arts and techniques.
But that wasn't all. As the user aligned with their soul, their overall physical and mental capabilities would increase. They would gain resistance to external manipulations like illusions and emotional influences.
The second fold, integration, deepened the user's ability to perceive truths. It allowed them to repair and stabilize the world around them, such as fixing broken objects or calming chaotic environments.
The third fold, manifestation, was the pinnacle. At this level, one could temporarily alter the rules of reality in a localized area and even manifest their soul in the real world. However, this came with immense risk. If the manifested soul was destroyed, the individual's entire existence would end.
As Atticus trained, he entered a state of absolute focus. He had briefly tapped into the power of the second fold during his fight with Blackgate, but he knew it had been due to his heightened state at the time.
From the beginning, spiritual energy had always calmed him. Now, for the first time, he reveled in this feeling of serenity.
His entire being was focused on reaching the first fold: awareness.
To do this, Atticus needed basic inner clarity. He had to discover his true purpose.
He could have spent time debating what his purpose was, but deep down, he already knew the answer.
The peak.
This had been his goal ever since his reincarnation into this world.
It was his true purpose: to stand above all, to gain overwhelming power that could counter anything. To reach the peak where nothing could challenge him.
That was peace.
And so, Atticus let go.
He released every unnecessary thought, every lingering doubt. The frustration, the fear, the fleeting moments of weakness, all of it dissolved.
He surrendered himself completely to the spiritual energy around him, allowing it to fill him without resistance.
Atticus could feel it instantly the flow of spiritual energy coursing through the air like an unseen current, wrapping around him, filling him, pulling him deeper into its embrace.
The calmness was overwhelming, sharper than any blade and more solid than the ground beneath his feet.
As the realization settled over him, the spiritual energy surged. It aligned with his soul, intertwining with his very being. His thoughts sharpened, his focus narrowed. And then, it happened.
The shift.
A sudden stillness fell over him, the beating of his heart rippling through the air. His perception changed. His eyes snapped open, and the world was no longer the same.
His eyes glowed a vivid, otherworldly purple. And through them, Atticus could see them.
The threads.
They stretched across reality, connecting everything in sight. He could see through the walls of his room, observing Ravenstein family members moving through the estate.
Faintly glowing purple strands wove through the air, binding objects, people, and the environment in ways he had never imagined. Each thread pulsed with energy, some bright and vibrant, others weak and frayed.
Intrigued, Atticus looked around. A tree not far from the mansion swayed lightly, its thread bending but remaining strong.
A bird flew over the mansion, its threads moving in harmony with its wings. Closer, warriors trained nearby, their threads frayed at the shoulders and knees, revealing weak points in their techniques.
It wasn't just vision; it was instinct. The threads weren't just visible; they spoke to him, revealing truths no amount of mana could uncover.
"So this is the first fold," he muttered to himself, his voice low. "Awareness. The truth of all things."
Turning his focus inward, Atticus saw his own thread. It was incredibly bright, outshining every thread he had seen so far. But it wasn't perfect.
He frowned slightly. "It must be because I still have a long way to go," he concluded.
With that thought, he decided to test something. His body flickered, and in an instant, he appeared before the tree he had observed earlier.
Standing close, Atticus gazed at the tree's thread in amazement. "It looks even more incredible up close," he thought.
He could see the weak points in the tree's threads, spots visible only to him. Reaching out with a trembling hand, he focused on one of the weak spots.
Spiritual energy surged through him, and with a light pull, the tree shifted. Another tug, and the thread snapped cleanly in two.
The tree shattered.
Atticus's glowing eyes narrowed. "The threads aren't just visible, I can influence them."
The revelation was mind-blowing. Atticus's thoughts raced as he considered the possibilities. He could spot weak points in an opponent's techniques and exploit them. Since spiritual energy was tied to the soul, seeing a thread was akin to peering into a person's soul.
It was incredible.
Turning his attention to another tree, Atticus observed its thread pulsing steadily, unbroken and strong. This time, he didn't pull. Instead, he pushed, infusing the thread with a small amount of spiritual energy.
The tree glowed faintly, its leaves shimmering as though touched by light.
'I can strengthen them too,' he thought, intrigued. By infusing spiritual energy, he had amplified the tree's soul.
"But what are the limits?" he wondered, turning his gaze toward the direction where Magnus was likely to be.
Closing his eyes, he reached out. The moment he did, a blinding purple light assaulted him.
It wasn't just blinding, it was overwhelming, like staring directly into the sun.
Before he could process what was happening, a loud, booming laugh erupted in his mind, shaking him to his core.
"HA! You fool!" Ozeroth's voice bellowed, his laughter echoing endlessly. "You thought you could see his thread? Oh, this is rich!"
Atticus frowned, opening his eyes, which had dimmed slightly but still glowed faintly purple. "What's so funny about that?" he muttered.
"Everything!" Ozeroth said, still chuckling. "You just stepped into the first fold, and you already think you can see through paragons? Someone so far beyond you? Arrogance or ignorance, either way, it's hilarious!"
Atticus's expression hardened as he realized the truth. 'I can't see the threads of people stronger than me,' he thought.
"Now you're using your head," Ozeroth said. "Let me make this clear, bond. The threads of spiritual energy are tied to the soul, yes, but you cannot see what you cannot comprehend. A paragon's soul, his existence, is beyond your current ability to perceive."
Atticus narrowed his eyes, absorbing Ozeroth's words.
Ozeroth snorted. "Your awareness, your spiritual energy, is still shallow. You've got a long way to go before you can proudly call yourself my bond."
Ignoring Ozeroth's taunts, Atticus was more intrigued by his new discovery.
'This just unlocked a new path to power. Interesting,' he thought.
Making his way back to his room, Atticus was met by Dario and Niall standing at the door, waiting for him.