Chapter 302: Without Incantations
"I don’t think it’s a good idea to depend on Runes for things like increasing strength or mana. Depending on them too much will make it harder for us to grow normally. We can get some Runes for emergencies, but we should focus on growing our own power instead."
Gina nodded.
"I guess you’re right. Magic is just so interesting. I would’ve never thought these things were possible a few months ago. How many more worlds are out there? How many more types of magic can we discover? It’s a little scary how limitless it is."
Gina turned to lie on her back and stared up at the ceiling with her hands on her toned stomach. There was a faraway look in her eyes, and Jason could understand what she was trying to say. Jason had also gone through this phase when he first found out how large the world really was, so he understood Gina. There was just something really exciting about the endless possibilities out there.
’I am finished with the Runes, my king. From this moment forward, the activation and incantation shall depend on you. But I should give you a warning before you begin. Remember that this weapon was created by me to be used to connect to the [River of the Afterlife], but I created it while believing that an undead creature would be the one wielding it. Therefore, I didn’t pay much attention to the effects it would have on the living soul. Theoretically, the sword is capable of calling on an infinite amount of power, but doing something that reckless will invite too many souls with negative energy into your body, and it will eventually corrode and corrupt your living soul. Therefore, it would be wise not to draw too much power from the other side.’
Azrael suddenly spoke up through the mental link with a very serious tone, and Jason hummed at the warning. Jason knew that Azrael was only trying to be careful since he didn’t know how things would change now that a living soul was trying to use a weapon like this, so Jason decided that it would be best to listen to the warning. Jason would only use a small amount of power at first, and he would slowly increase the power output of the sword until he got to that point just before he starts feeling any effects. Gina turned around and faced them curiously when she noticed that Azrael was done, and Jason raised his hand and looked at all the black ink around his body. All the Runes made Jason look like some sort of ritual priest, but he had to admit that it looked really cool. The [Death’s Mirage] was lying in a smaller circle directly in front of Jason, and Jason asked Azrael what he had to do. Azrael took a step back while vanishing the brush he had been using before he spoke.
’The sword is to be yours, my king, so only you can activate the Runes and create the bond that will bind you two together. I will guide you through the incantations and also show you how to send mana through your key. It usually takes a young Red Class Rune Crafter at least a week before they can learn how to activate their first Rune, but I have seen your intelligence and ingenuity, and I know you will be capable of doing it immediately, just like most other prodigies. But please, try to remember my warning. Remain vigilant.’
Jason put his hands on his folded knees and spoke.
"Before we try the normal method, I want to try and activate the Rune without any incantation."
Azrael was surprised.
’What? But, my king, I don’t know if that is possible—’
"Just do what I say, Azrael. I have a feeling it’ll work. If I fail, then I’ll accept that it’s not possible and move on."
Azrael calmly dropped his argument and nodded to Jason before he began to explain.
’I have configured the Rune Key to only activate when you send mana through the center of your heart. The normal process of activation would be by reading the incantation and then sending your mana through your heart at the same rhythm as the incantation. Concentrating on the incantation would make finding the key easier, but if you are not using any incantations, then I do not know if you will find it.’
Jason nodded along to Azrael’s words, and he finally closed his eyes and let out a calm breath as he dived into his mana. Jason felt his heart beating at a steady, strong rhythm, and he focused on his heart as he sent his mana towards it. Jason had never tried to feel his mana in this way before, since he never saw any reason to, but the moment Jason touched his mana, he could feel it responding to him with perfect clarity! It was like a child that was eager to meet its father for the first time, and Jason felt a smile spreading on his face as he slowly began to cover the entirety of his heart in mana!
Azrael and Gina were watching Jason with rapt attention, and Azrael had a look of slight surprise on his face as he saw Jason’s chest glowing with a strange blue light. Azrael knew that the light was just pure mana that Jason had sent to his heart, but the mere fact that Jason was able to send mana into his heart so quickly without facing any difficulty was already impressive! Most mages always had to wrestle with their mana before they could send it anywhere, but Jason had done it in seconds!
Gina had her head propped on her hands as she watched Jason with a smile! She was swinging her legs happily, and she enjoyed the sight of Jason focusing so well! Gina could never get enough of Jason when he was so serious! He just looked so handsome!
Jason, meanwhile, was completely focused on his magic, and he let out another calm breath when he felt his mana wrapping his heart in a warm cocoon. Alright, now this was going to be the hard part. The Lich said that the key was in the center of Jason’s heart, so Jason had to prod and prick until he found what he was looking for. What would a key even feel like? Jason had no idea. But from the knowledge Jason gained after absorbing the book on Runes, Jason knew that Keys were similar to straws. A straw was used to transfer liquid in the same way a Key was used to transfer mana from Jason’s body into the Rune. So if Jason looked for something that was trying to take mana from him...
Jason felt his consciousness sinking even deeper into the abyss of his mind as he searched through his heart for the Key, and a ghost of a smile appeared on Jason’s face when he felt something drawing on his mana with an almost unnoticeable force! Jason rushed his mana forward to reach the outlet, and Jason’s body suddenly pulsed with a blue light before the Runes on his skin glowed with a blinding white light! Gina put her hand up to her face to try and block out the bright light, and Azrael’s entire face seemed to glow with pride as he watched Jason’s Rune activating!