Disciple of Madness

While the mundane creatures had grown tired of the never ending bloodshed and destruction, Lady Nature finally awoke from Her deep slumber.

Landforms shifted; land masses merged to form a single landmass, then divided again, lands rose and formed many structures, some of them hills, mountains, plateaus. The potent energy that the planet held deep inside it burst through the grounds spewing molten magma over vast distances which later cooled down. The living creatures at this time underwent massive changes as well.

Demons under the numerous onslaught started growing stronger both physically and mentally,just so that they could cope up with the tortures the humans imposed on them. Soon they had slain all the humans of an insignificant kingdom that had divided from the mainland...now they ruled it in blood and fire.

Humans on the other hand couldn't care less about this slaughter of their own kind for they waged war among themselves over the slightest differences in their opinion, in their skin colour, in their languages...while the demons irrespective of their differences stood united.

It is firmly believed that the first common ruler of the demons was the principle reason behind this success...who later came to be known as Lady Unity herself.

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Adrian pressed the crystals to the ground. Then he muttered, "[Terra Breathing: Shift]"

The change was instantaneous. The ground below his palm moved. The rocky surface cracked slightly, almost as if lamenting him for the pain he delivered. The crystals moved as well, in symphony with the shifting in the ground.

Adrian controlled the way the surface moved. His hand descended into the hollow space that was forming under his palm as the soil shifted to the surrounding surface.

Adrian was a non-elemental. There were five elements just like there were five Breathing techniques. What determined the usage of elements was one's level of innate talent.

And Adrian, he was unfortunate to not being able to use a single element. That was also the reason why he chose to learn and simultaneously increase his mastery in the Breathing Techniques.

The real difference between the elemental magic and the Breathing Techniques lay in the fact that the breathing techniques required a conductor, a medium to channel out the magic.

Just like the dagger stabbed in the ground, its lustrous surface acting as the medium for the fire element. Like the crystals squirming under his palms acting as the conductor for the terra element.

Soon the crystals were embedded in the ground, making a crystal ball which peeked slightly at the top.

"Time for some dessert to end the meal." Adrian grapped the exposed part of the ball as he slowly gathered mana from the surrounding air in it.

What was one's innate raw power?

Was it only your strength? The strength to hurl tons of weight single-handledly, to crush mountains without sweating, to humble rivals with a single punch, to be at the peak where fear dictated your power.

Or was it intelligence? The intellectual quotient capable of letting you solve problems that could otherwise lead you to failure. A high value of it makes oke manueaver situations risky for others, lets one manipulate affairs like your daily routine. Then comes the emotional intelligence letting you form relations, make connections, read people like some interesting biography and evoke empathy among them.

One could have both of it either in excess or in average. Having none would be plain dumb.

Adrian was taught that one's power was the mixture of their physically robust strength and the intelligence that their brain cells had to offer.

Now what if there exists a man. A man at a high position.

Someone having authority and needs to farm respect from his people.

What if a person like him doesn't have adequate strength and an average intelligence?

What if a source of great power promising strength like a fine liquor suddenly falls on their lap?

Would they...in their desperation accept it? Would they claim it for themselves?

...Would they come out of their safety right in this mountain to claim the Node for himself?

"Yes he would." Adrian smiled knowingly. His fingers curled a bit tighter around the ball. "Spending their days, their nights in insecurity, feeling inferior to his own subordinates. A boy who thinks he lives in the shadow of his own father shall be desperate for power.

The prince...he shall come. I am sure of it."

[I want to say 'wow, congratulations on a wonderful plan.' But why? What does the prince have to do with the quest? ]

He didn't reply the intent filled question. 'Be curious. The more curious you are at my actions, the more your focus shall slip from my Soul Node.'

He released the crystal ball. The mana in it was sufficient enough for the main process to start.

He touched the crystal again and with a startling force, sucked in the mana within him.

The mana gushed out of the ball but rather than entering his body, Adrian manoeuvred the mana and coated the crystal ball in a layer of mana.

A suction force was created in the ball as suddenly, mana gushed in the ball from deep inside the earth beneath it.

The Dawn Mountains was no ordinary place. It wasn't a small spot as well. It was huge and vast. The camp he saw earlier was just one of the several hundreds placed around the mountains.

And the Mountains were completely a conduit of mana....meaning the Dawn Mountains was about piece of aetherite. Which the Duke of House Versicos chunked away piece by piece for his own benefits.

And as such, the entirety of the mountains had an immense source of mana, completely stacked in it.

Adrian needed just a tiny portion of the vast mana. And he needed it in the crystal ball, which was already filling up to its brim.

[Mana Manipulation]

Adrian compressed the mana in the crsytal ball as more mana rushed into the small space in it.