First Day of Classes, Pt 2: Conflict Part I
[Corven Umbrovante]:
Corven next had Combat Strategies with Instructor Lathaniel —- a stocky, battle hardened guy with the build of a bear and the eyes of a hawk. His mere presence seemed to intimidate most of the class upon first meeting, though Corven, Jabari and only a few handful of nobles were able to resist his aura enough to still stand in his presence.
Corven found the actions of the instructor petty. Still, though, his first lesson was informative. After introductions, he revealed he;s descended from Athena herself, making him excellent for teaching Combat Strategies. One of his first lessons was about how introducing strategies in one's fighting style can help one maintain control of a given fight.
"No matter how strong one is, brains trumps brawns any day of the week," Instructor Lathaniel stated proudly. "In a battle of attrition, strategies can save your life."
He went on to explain the different uses and applications of strategies in the field of battle and how one can utilize trap and sabotage techniques to achieve victory. To Lathaniel, it did not matter how one won, so long as they did — That was the big lesson he wanted the students to understand.
"In a battle where the stakes are against you, your opponent won't be nice, so why should you? Honor means nothing in times of war," Instructor Lathaniel explained. "Remember that. Victory is all that matters. When one's life is on the line and your life is only guaranteed through victory, there is no such thing as "cheating" or "going low" — Only in victory, can one thrive, no matter how one achieves it."
He started talking about how different forms of magic can help in battle that go hand-in-hand with strategies. Some of these forms of magic he stated he wanted them to research, such as Trap Magic and Stealth Encantations. Corven made a mental note to research them later.
Corven eventually split his attention between writing what he was learning and thinking of ways to implement these strategies in his own combat style — He eventually wasn't paying much attention to what the instructor was speaking, preferring to automatically write what he was hearing, not necessarily comprehending it. He was lost in thought, as he had already knew most, if not all, that was being taught from the instructor as the instructor moved onto the book lesson. With his Details Insight ability that led him to learn the details of anything he touches he had already learned about everything in the textbook days prior. Plus, he had already read many strategy books growing up, including 'The Art of War' and 'The Iliad'. And, with his near perfect memory, he's retained everything he's ever read, so Corven was confident in his ability to pass this class.
Though that did not mean the professor thought the same way. Professor Lathaniel had already noticed Corven's obvious disattention to his teachings. And, to test Corven, he'd give him a question completely randomly picked from the book or from unrelated sources.
Surprisingly, Corven answered correctly, every time. This made the professor take a liking to Corven. He just couldn't let it show through, so he'd scorn Corven by saying "Knowing the answers to a question and utilizing said answers in real world instances are two completely separate things. It requires a strong will and a determined mind to do both. Study hard, work harder and you, too, will be able to utilize strategies and combat tactics in everyday life, on and off the field of battle."
Corven nodded his acknowledgement.
"Dude," Jabari said, looking to Corven with wide eyes, to which Corven just looked back, curious. "Instructor Lathaniel is one of the most strict, by-the-book teachers in the academy and he just acknowledged you."
"What?" Corven was even more confused.
"When he questions students, they always seem to get their answers wrong," jabari said. "When that happens, he puts "F" in the grade book for the entire week, sometimes two! He didn't do that with you; he acknowledged you and continued onward. I thought he'd have failed you for the week."
Corven just shrugged. He wasn't going to trouble himself by putting himself in others' shoes. There was no way he was going to get his easy questions wrong. They were basic, even the ones he's gotten that weren't part of the book.
What Corven did not know was that since awakening his bloodline, what he would consider basic was what others around him would consider on the level of geniuses.
Eventually, it was time to go to the next course — "Cultivation Studies".
Corven was just getting his supplies back into his own shadow when a group of highborn nobles circled him and Jabari. Corven calmly watched as they blocked the exit. They were surrounded. Corven wasn't even tense, though.
"Look what we have here, boys," the leader of the group, Ashton, said, giving a downright devious grin Corven's way, his hands outstretched in faux shock. "The Primordial Spawn that 's wormed his way into our goddess's clique. You must be the reason she didn't choose our faction to join yesterday. For that you'll pay!"
A few of the boys surrounding him began to snicker. Corven was unimpressed. He knew who they were referring to — Celeste. He knew Celeste had both enemies who hated her for being a Primordial Spawn and admirers who were big fans of her beauty and grace. Judging from their uniforms, they were from the Heavenly Faction.
"What do you want? I don't have the patience to deal with you airhead nobles right now," Corven said, locking eyes with Ashton for a brief second.
In that brief second, Ashton felt a shiver run down his spine as he looked into Corven's pale white eyes, that glowed, briefly, shadowy purple. During that second, Ashton felt like he was staring at Death himself, though he couldn't have been sure why. He ignored it, though, and maintained outward appearances afterwards.
"We want to punish you for influencing our goddess," one of the nobles in the circle said, unashamed.
"Yeah," another echoed.
"It's true! Celeste would have joined our faction if you hadn't convinced her of joining Shadow Faction beforehand," chimed in another student.
Corven could only sigh internally. He honestly could stand the hypocrisy of these people, nor the audacity. He was considering unleashing his High level Legacy rank aura when he heard Jabari speak, his tone dangerously low, but loud enough to be heard by every noble present.
"You dare to ambush me…," Jabari said, his fist clenched at his side, as he released the aura of a mid-level Legacy rank, startling the nobles around him, who were, at most, at beginner level Legacy rank. It suddenly became too suffocating to breathe for them as Jabari pressed down his aura onto them. "I am Jabari Ausar, prince and heir of House Ausar. To surround and ambush me is to court death. To mess with my friends… is to suffer greatly even beyond death."
Then, as if teleporting through the darkness itself, Jabari disappeared, reappearing behind one of the surrounding nobles before the sound of a fist connecting with flesh was followed by a loud crash. One of the nobles went flying, startling the other other nobles from their own shock.
Then, just as the nobles realized one of their own had been injured, Jbari disappeared again, appearing directly behind another noble. The noble couldn't even register the threat before he was slammed head first into the hard wooden table.
Just as the other nobles realized that Jabari was not just a hyperactive spaz, it was too late. They were all beaten, battered, in a state where they would heal, eventually, but unable to currently walk. Jabari had given them hands they weren't prepared for.
Corven watched on with a hint of surprise. He had not realized Jabari was this strong when they had first met. Sure, he knew Jabari was a royal and a fighter, but to be this gifted in hand-to-hand combat and teleportation through darkness itself at the age of 15? Corven would never have guessed it.
Eventually, Corven met up with Celeste and Marxes for their third period: Cultivation Studies. It was led by an Instructor Kenji Dai — a lean athletic tall guy with brown hair and a cultivation level of peak level Demigod rank.
The class took place in a college-like auditorium classroom, however, there were matts and low-legged coffee tables just big enough to take notes on. Many of the students were already sitting on their knees atop their matts when Corven and his crew had arrived. By the time they found their spaces near the middle of the auditorium, most of the class had already arrived.
Eventually, though, the class started.
"In the world of cultivation, there are five things that dictate our fate," Instructor Kenji Dai began his lesson. "The first is Innate Potential, or the natural potential one is born with. This can be the most important decider of fate and destiny, especially for a cultivator in a world that values strength and power over all else. It can decide how many Impurities one expels when breaking through to the next rank as well as which level of cultivation one will cap at. Innate Potential can also pre-determine the natural quality of mana coursing through your mana veins, which can be boosted using rare and unique resources should one actually manage to get their hands on some somehow.
"The second decider of fate is, you guessed it, Resources. You can have all the potential in the world and still go nowhere because you lack the resources and wealth to progress past certain bottlenecks that we, as cultivators, naturally face at certain instances and levels while cultivating. Resources like beast cores from beasts and soul cores from deceased cultivators can boost the natural amount of mana found in the bodies and help thrust one into the next cultivation stage! Other resources like rare beast meat, enchanted plantlife and special artifacts can be used to increase one's powers and cultivations as well.
"And remember this; it is important. Being in the right place at the right time can gift fourth treasures and fortunes that can also be used to bypass these bottlenecks. Luck is important in the world of cultivation. But be tenacious, because there are no rewards without risks.
"Which brings us to the fourth decider of fate, risks and rewards. You cannot acquire excellence without taking risks, and where there are risks, there is usually rewards not too far away. Oftentimes, you will find the greatest rewards are associated with the greatest of risks. In the cultivation world, it is vital to take risks, because rewards tend to be behind most, and these rewards strengthen those who acquire them, which, in a world where the strong is supreme, if one doesn't take risks then someone else will. But, also, be diligent for risks can also lead to death, so never forget to analyse a situation wisely when taking a risk in a given situation.
"The final dictator of fate and destiny is one not all know about — It is known as the 'Hereditary Advantage' and it goes hand-in-hand with Innate Potential. The Hereditary Advantage can range from bloodline skills or traits inherited by one's family to having a literal god as one's parent or ancestor, which gives one a higher cap threshold the more powerful said god would be."
Corven wasn't sure why, but he could swear Kenji Kai was looking at him while he said that last part before looking away and continuing on with his lesson. Corven shrugged it off and continued to listen into what the instructor was saying. He took notes, careful to jolt down anything that might prove to be important information.
"Hereditary Advantage gives one an advantage in life as a cultivator. From the fabled ethereal wings that royalties of House Caelus are known for to the healing abilities and moonlight powers that those of House Luminaris possess — Bloodline and genetics play a crucial role in cultivating. Those of divine descent are often more gifted, talented and blessed than those who aren't. That's why demigods and most royals are so revered in our society —- they are typically blessed with power from birth.
"That's not to say Hereditary Advantage and Bloodline Gifts are always inherent. Some bloodline gifts and powers need external conditions to be met to awaken fully or at all, while some are more geared towards practical uses, like flight or breathing underwater. It all depends on genetics and heredity."
"A vital element in cultivation is the concept of mana," Kenji Dai continued. "Mana is the life energy that lives both around us and comes from within us. The mana that comes from within is called Inner Mana, while the mana that comes from outside in nature and the air and life around us, is called 'Natural Mana.' Mana, in essence, is life energy experienced and generated naturally by all living things. We are — each of us — born with a mana pool, each containing different levels of mana that varies per person, increasing even as one cultivates through different cultivation stages.
"Nobles and royalties tend to have naturally higher levels of mana than the average person, and, of course, bloodline cheats, special treasures, rare artifacts and access to resources that allows them to progress faster. This means that average born commoners and regular cultivators tend to have to work much harder than nobles when it comes to cultivating, just to try to keep up.
"When one reaches Chaotic Rank, one begins to become able to sense and use World Essence — Or, essentially, a higher quality of mana produced by the Ascended Realm that slowly bleeds into our Lesser Realms, allowing Transcendent Stagers to begin tapping into powerful concepts and Daos as well as Sins and Virtues later on down the line.
"As Chaotic Rankers, one is at the pinnacle of the Ascendant Stages, the very peak. It is only then one can only begin practicing one's Mortal Dao and Lesser Concepts. Mortal Dao is one's path they choose to walk, be it benevolence, malevolence, empress or emperor — They can draw power from external means, and transfigure it into powering their entire beings with, thereby becoming more and more that Dao. Because Chaotic Rank isn't the Transcendent Stages, only when one reaches the rank after, or Legendary Rank, can one fully utilize this type of mana properly.
"Meanwhile, Lesser Concepts are elemental energies that mortal cultivators can use to empower their skills and techniques — This is something one can begin to do as at Legendary Rank. At Legendary rank, one can choose to channel either Sins or Virtues, which are Cardinal Sins and Virtues that embody the primal emotions and behaviors one draws power from most. Sins are concepts that are followed by followers of the demons and the devils, while Virtues are followed by followers of the gods.
"It is at Cosmic rank that one becomes able to channel Immortal Dao and Cosmic Concepts. Immortal Dao is the immortalization and perminentization of one's Dao, allowing one to draw on its power from within instead of from just outside sources. Cosmic Concepts are the usage of cosmic energy to use cosmic elements one chooses in addition to their Lesser Concepts. This usage of cosmic energy often allows one to use the Sins/Virtues in conjunction with their Lesser Concepts and Mortal/Immortal Dao."
Instructor Kenjei paused to let his students take in what he said before continuing. "Now all that is known of Divine Concepts in the Public Database is that they are only attainable at the rank of Lesser God, though you'll have to achieve said rank to get more information on that topic."
As the professor spoke, he stayed on his matt at the front of the room. Corven, however, was listening intently to every word he said. Je wanted to absorb whatever he could from this lesson, as it felt very important.
"Now, there are also ranks of activations, but, considering you all are, I am certain you know about them. What some of you may not know is that these ranks are broken into stages," said Kenji Dai. "From the beginning levels of Poor rank to the Peak of Special rank, this stage is known as the Awakened Stages.
"From the early or low levels of Legacy Rank to the Peak levels of Chaotic rank, this is the stage known as the Ascendant Stages. In these ranks, the body is solidifying its inherent power, making one much, much more like an immortal than mortal. When one reaches this stage, they are already guaranteed over 100+ more years of life at Legacy rank and over 2,500 at Demigod rank, with 5,000+ more years acquired at Chaotic rank.
"Next is the Transcendent Stages, which is from the early or low levels of Legendary rank to Faux God rank. At this stage, one would be considered a lesser immortal; not necessarily immortal, but very difficult to kill. At the Legendary Rank, one has over 6,000+ more years of life on top of what they had before. At Cosmic Rank, one has over 10,000+ more years, while at Celestial Rank, one has over 35,000+ more years added to their lifespan. It is at this level that one achieves, essentially, Higher immortality that also carries over 50,000+ more years when one achieves Faux God rank. It is also at this rank that one can acquire believers to help increase one's foundation for divinity.
"After the Transcendent Stages, there are the Lower Echelon Gods, which are essentially gods. Not much is known of this stage, as one needs to actually achieve this rank and not all are capable of achieving that, but we do know that it isn't the end of cultivated power. Merely a stage that we mortals are blind to.
"These are the stages of cultivation. I—er, yes, Mr. Corven?"
Many of the students turned to where Corven had his hand lifted, curious as to who would be daring enough to interrupt the Instructor.
"What about the Primordials? And Monarchs? What cultivation stage do they belong to?" Corven asked, curious.
"The Primordials are in a class of their own; even the weakest of Primordials have a power unachievable to obtain even to the most talented of beings," Kenji explained. "Primordials are born into their power — They embody it. Their mere existence defines it. To be a primordial is to be the absolute element of the universe itself. They transcend time and space, and are second only to the Almighties.
"The only level of power that we cultivators possess that could hope to stand on near equal ground on is the level of Progenitor or the status of Monarchs, but, considering you have to be a lucky, rare individual to possess a monarch's core much less the potential as one, I would say being a Progenitor is considered much more achievable That said, that still requires resources that are so inconceivable rare and unattainable and circumstances that are so unbelievably unique and special that it is considered an impossible feat to achieve that level of power on one's own, most especially without divine favor.
"Besides, like Primordial, Progenitors and Monarchs aren't just a level of power, but a status, an occupation; a position as well as a role that typically plays a certain role in the universe itself. It is why I had not mentioned either much during my explanation. That answers your question?"
"I see," Corven nodded, deep in thought. "Yes, it does. Thanks."
'So my Progenitor Seed truly is more rarer than I had initially given it credit for,' Corven thought to himself, in realization. 'Perhaps I was too dismissive about it before. I should do research on Progenitor Seeds. Maybe I'll learn something important or interesting about mines…
'Additionally, I've noticed that I not only possess mana, but also shadow energy. My core has alway felt a bit different than what cultivation texts claim its supposed to feel like — More purer, more potent, more powerful. I wonder if its a Monarch Core…?'
"My next lesson is Impurities," Kenji Dai said when he noticed no one else had anymore questions/ "When you reach the rank of Demigod, your body will start expelling everything impure and mortal from your body after every breakthrough, major and, sometimes, minor, depending on the the situation — This is to get you prepared for the higher stages and beyond. It will continue to do so until you reach Peak Legendary rank, and then you will start needing to prepare for Divine Tribulations per breakthrough. Divine Tribulations, if not properly prepared for, can end up giving you a fate far worse than death before actually killing you, so, my advice? Properly prepare for your Tribulations should you ever make it that far."
The rest of Cultivation Studies went by in a blur. Corven cultivated for an hour in his meditation during Cultivation Hour, and it was eventually time for his fourth class, Combat Training course. He wasn't entirely sure what this class would be like, but he was ready…