His curiosity drifted to the next tab, [Points], its soft glow beckoning like the next piece of a greater mystery.
The panel adjusted with a fluid shimmer, revealing a clean interface.
[Points]
These are baseline rewards granted to the User upon the successful completion of quests or tasks. In certain cases, additional bonuses classified as [Extra Rewards] —may be awarded based on the nature, difficulty, or method of completion.
Jacob raised an eyebrow as he read.
'So the System doesn't just reward success—it values how you succeed.'
The concept wasn't foreign to him. In a noble house obsessed with prestige and achievement, effort meant little if it didn't impress.
He exhaled slowly, letting the information settle.
That was the final tab in the System Tutorial.
Jacob lingered, eyes fixed on the fading glow of the interface. The flood of information, the structure behind every stat, trait, and blessing, all pointed to one truth.
His purpose was far greater than anything he'd ever imagined.
Not just a cursed heir. Not just an outcast.
Something more.
His chest rose with a slow, steady breath. The air felt different now—heavier, like it carried expectation. The silence of the Hall of Blessings seemed to respond, waiting with bated breath for his next move.
Tap.
The sound of a footstep echoed across the white expanse, followed by a familiar voice cutting through the stillness.
"Are you done? Come here, it's Lythera's turn to train you," shouted Zhao Yun from across the vast space.
Jacob blinked, the moment of reflection giving way to urgency.
"Come quick. Before that, I need to teach you some basic principles for using your Black Aura."
Jacob nodded, his footsteps quickening as he crossed the polished void to where Zhao Yun stood.
As Jacob came to a halt before him, Zhao Yun's expression turned serious, his posture straightening, gaze sharpened like a drawn blade.
"Your first task," he began, his voice low and commanding,
"is to master the projection of your aura. wrap it around your entire body like a second skin. No gaps, no weaknesses. Then, hold it. Not for seconds, but for hours. Until it becomes as natural as breathing air."
He stepped forward, the weight of his presence pressing down like a silent storm.
"Your aura must not only protect, but it must also conceal, intimidate, and obey. Make it instinct. Only then will you be ready to wield it's true power."
As soon as Zhao Yun's words settled into the void, a faint chime echoed through the air.
Ding!
The System Screen materialized before Jacob once again, hovering like a specter of fate. A small notification pulsed softly in the corner.
Message (4).
It glowed with a quiet urgency.
Jacob blinked. 'Four messages?'
He hesitated only a moment before tapping the icon.
Click.
The panel unfolded smoothly, revealing the message log in soft, bluish glyphs etched across a translucent backdrop.
[Message]
• You have been invited to the Hall of Blessings.
• Hephaestus has gifted you with 'System', an artificial growth booster companion.
• WELCOME USER, THE SYSTEM WELCOMES YOU!
• Zhao Yun has tasked you with Advanced Aura Release (NEW).
Jacob's eyes lingered on the last entry. The words Advanced Aura Release shimmered faintly, almost vibrating with intensity. It felt as if the task itself pulsed with power.
His lips parted slightly, exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
'So... the training isn't over yet.'
"I understand," Jacob replied, his voice calm as his eyes shifted away from the glowing System screen.
"Very well, then," Zhao Yun said, inclining his head. "Follow this path and you will reach Lythera's domain. She has specially prepared that area for your next lesson."
He swept his arm toward a swirling, dark‑purplish wormhole hovering a few paces away. Its chaotic hum filled the void, yet the portal's edges glowed with a steady light, promising safe passage.
Jacob bowed deeply, a silent token of gratitude for Zhao Yun's guidance. Then, steeling his resolve, he stepped forward and crossed the threshold into the vortex's embrace.
Meanwhile, on Planet Mun-Yul, inside the isolated mansion of Jacob.
The room stood quiet, undisturbed, though it was expected to be occupied by the young master himself. In truth, Jacob was far from the mortal plane, his body and spirit engaged in training within the Hall of Blessings.
Suddenly, a subtle shift filled the air. Reality seemed to ripple.
Loki appeared in the chamber, his mismatched eyes glinting with mischief. With a sly grin, he invoked one of his divine abilities.
Alter Ego.
In a flash, his form shimmered and changed. Where the trickster god had stood, now stood Jacob's perfect likeness, his posture, voice, even aura indistinguishable from the real thing.
With casual air, the false Jacob walked toward the door and called out, his voice firm and commanding.
"Remvar. You are hereby ordered to stand guard outside this door until I say otherwise."
He paused, then added with theatrical gravity, "You are also instructed not to let anyone, and I mean anyone, enter this room. Including yourself. If I need anything, slide it under the door and do not look inside. Is that understood?"
A moment of stunned silence followed.
Then came the soft but alarmed voice of the elderly butler from the other side.
"Y‑yes, Young Master. I will remain here on guard and won't allow anyone, not even myself, to step into your room without your permission."
"Very good," Loki replied, grinning behind the closed door. "Now, could you bring me something to eat. A Blueberry pie will do. Also, fetch a bottle of ale and two glasses, of course. One for you. Slide them under the door when they're ready."
"Understood, Young Master!" Remvar responded with renewed purpose.
"I shall head to the kitchen at once and have the chefs prepare the finest blueberry pie in the estate. And I will bring our best bottle of ale."
Loki waited until he heard the echoing footsteps retreat down the hallway.
Then, finally alone, he let out a long breath and dropped his act for a moment.
"Hopefully... he didn't notice that it really wasn't Jacob," he muttered under his breath, loosening his shoulders in relief.
"If I had been even a minute late, someone might have come knocking."
He looked around the room, ensuring no magical surveillance lingered. Satisfied, he tilted his head upward slightly.
"Hephaestus, what is the current status of Jacob's training?" he asked aloud, speaking into the silence.
Moments later, a resonant voice echoed as if from the heavens.
"He is en route to Lythera's domain. You should remain here for now."
"Very well," Loki said, pacing the polished floor. "Accelerate his progress."
Somewhere within the swirling vortex, Jacob pressed forward, his pace steady and focused. A brilliant light pulsed ahead of him, distant yet growing stronger with every step.
Woong!
A sudden surge of radiance engulfed him.
"Arrgh, what is this light... too bright!" Jacob cried out, shielding his eyes as he stumbled forward. The blinding brilliance struck him the moment he emerged from the dark corridor of the vortex and stepped into Lythera's domain.
As the light dimmed, another sensation washed over him.
His stomach twisted.
The world tilted beneath his feet.
A wave of nausea surged through him, the aftershock of traversing a space vortex for the first time. Jacob staggered to the side and vomited, the remnants of interdimensional disorientation purging from his body beside the still-spinning gateway behind him.
He groaned softly and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. After a moment, he straightened, his breath shaky but steady.
Then, slowly, his gaze lifted.
What he saw stole the words from his lips.
A vast, emerald-green field stretched endlessly in all directions. The sky above was a perfect ocean of blue, with soft clouds lazily drifting by. No buildings. No walls. No paths. Just unbroken, living land.
"The blue sky... this endless greenery..." Jacob whispered, trying to take it all in. His eyes scanned the horizon, seeking some hint of where he was or what came next.
And then he saw it.
There, standing tall in the distance like a sentinel of time itself, was a tree.
Not just any tree.
A single, massive tree, its trunk thick and ancient, bark etched with shimmering violet runes. It stood alone in the vastness, its branches sprawling wide, each leaf glinting like it held stardust.
"...What is that?" Jacob murmured, awe creeping into his voice.
His feet began to move before his mind could catch up.
That tree was not just part of the scenery.
It was the heart of this place.
Suddenly, a voice filled the field—soft, elegant, and resonant with timeless grace.
"Welcome, Child of ◼️◼️◼️."
The sound seemed to come from everywhere at once, carried by the wind, woven into the very fabric of the land.
"This is my domain. The Domain of Life," the voice continued.
Jacob's eyes widened. He recognized her immediately—this was Lythera, the Goddess of Mana.
Drawn by an invisible force, Jacob began walking toward the great tree. But with each step, the air around him thickened. It wasn't just pressure—it was as if the very space surrounding the tree rejected him. The weight pressed down on his body, sinking into his bones. Breathing became harder. Even lifting a foot took effort.
The pressure grew unbearable as he neared the tree. His legs trembled. His vision blurred.
Then, her voice came again—still calm, but now tinged with finality.
"You are not yet ready to approach this place."
Jacob staggered, sweat beading on his brow. "Why, Lady Lythera?" he asked, forcing the words out as he strained to take one last step.
Swoosh!
Thud!
"Ugh!" Jacob cried out as the force launched him backward, hurling him across the field.
He landed hard, skidding through the grass until he came to a stop at the very edge where he had first arrived. His body ached, the imprint of invisible power lingering in every limb.
Panting, he looked up at the distant silhouette of the tree—unchanged, unmoving, yet impossibly commanding.
A serene voice drifted across the breeze once more, layered with both warmth and unfathomable depth.
"That is the Tree of Mana, the Tree of Life. Some may know it as Yggdrasil."
Jacob, still on the ground and catching his breath, felt his heart jolt.
"Yggdrasil...?" he echoed in disbelief. "The same Yggdrasil that the Elves of Ygg worship as their god?"
He recalled the northern kingdom of Ygg, nestled in the wilds of the Grand Relios Empire's northwest frontier. Its people were said to guard the tree's secrets with fanatical devotion.
"That's just a replica," Lythera's voice clarified, gentle yet firm. "A seedling at best. What stands before you is a branch of the true Yggdrasil, grown directly from its essence."
Jacob slowly pushed himself to his feet, brushing the dust and grass from his clothes. His body still ached from the rejection, but the pain only sharpened his focus.
"Lady Lythera, are you still here?" he called out, scanning the vibrant landscape. "What am I meant to learn in this place?"
The answer came swiftly, as if the land itself responded.
"Mana Accumulation. Pure Mana Accumulation."
Jacob frowned, repeating the words under his breath. "Mana Accumulation?"
He tilted his head slightly, thinking.
'Isn't everyone born with a fixed amount of mana? Sure, cultivation raises the quality, and some might grow a bit more in quantity, but the total amount remains mostly the same throughout life... doesn't it?'
"Can we truly acquire more mana?" he asked aloud, the skepticism in his voice barely concealed.
"Yes," Lythera replied without hesitation. "But only under special circumstances."
"What are those circumstances?" Jacob asked respectfully, his voice calm but eager.
"Firstly," Lythera began, her tone patient and instructive, "the environment must contain mana that resonates with the user's natural affinity. If the surrounding mana is incompatible, the body will reject it."
"Secondly, the person must have a body capable of holding more mana than they already possess. That means-"
"...if the person doesn't have the capacity to hold more, they can't accumulate it," Jacob interrupted, finishing her speech with quiet realization.
"Correct," Lythera acknowledged. "And third, they must understand the pathways, how mana travels through the body, how much should be guided through each route, and how to control its intake. Without this knowledge, reckless absorption could cause internal damage."
Jacob nodded slowly, absorbing every word. But Lythera wasn't finished.
"This method, however, is focused purely on accumulation. What you will do is something more refined."
Her voice grew gentler yet carried weight.
"You will include a minor fourth step. Before absorbing the next batch of mana, you must purify the current amount within your body. This way, what you accumulate will not only increase in quantity, but surpass in quality."
Just as Lythera's explanation concluded, a soft ding resonated in the air.
Ding!
The System Screen flashed open with a new notification.
[Tutorial Quest – 02]
Quest Title: Accumulate Mana
Quest Description: Lady Lythera has instructed you to accumulate mana. Follow her guidance and attempt to absorb and refine your mana pool.
Quest Reward: New Trait, 1000p
[Accept / Decline]
Jacob read the message carefully, eyes narrowing with focused determination.
"Let's get this started," he said with quiet resolve.
"Accept."
The quest locked in with a gentle glow. A wave of anticipation surged through him.
His training had just begun, but something about this moment felt different.
A subtle shift in the air. A stillness in the grass. Even the mighty tree ahead seemed to acknowledge what was to come.
Jacob's expression hardened, but his eyes shone with purpose.
What would unfold here would become legend.
A moment etched into time.
The First Ascension of the Heavenly Demon—had begun.