NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1181: All About Perspective
"Rank…0?" Anna couldn't help but frown.
The Magi of Tron endured countless hardships, braving trial after trial, climbing rank after rank in pursuit of the mysteries of arcana.
And yet… a proud and mighty Mana Vortex Magus, a powerful existence in her world, was considered nothing more than an Apprentice in the higher realms?
What Tron revered as Rank 3 was dismissed as Rank 0 in the Greater Universe?
For a moment, Anna didn't know what to feel about it…
"Yes," The Joker replied with a wide grin, his eyes gleaming with schadenfreude.
Anna remained silent for a long time, her heart churning with tumultuous waves. At last, she gazed at the Joker and asked in a low voice, "Then what about the Mana Core Rank? Surely, that can't also be Rank 0 in the higher realms."
With a carefree smile on his face, the Joker replied, "Oh, of course not! Out there in the Greater Universe, a spellcaster is only acknowledged as a true Magus after forming their Mana Core. Until then, you're nothing but an Apprentice. What you call Rank 4 here… is merely Rank 1 out there."
The crimson-haired princess fell into deep silence, her scarlet eyes gleaming with myriad emotions. There were traces of shock and disbelief etched on her face.
She spent her whole life chasing after the arcane ranks, enduring trials, thinking she had climbed high, only to learn that she was still at the bottom of the ladder.
Despite the Song of Immortal Flame detailing the names of the various arcane stages, she couldn't help but feel slightly frustrated. It felt insulting even. Her blood, sweat, and sacrifice now seemed diminished by this new perspective.
However, even though she felt like a child playing with arcane spells compared to the 'real' Magi, she did not feel that all her struggles were meaningless.
Instead, it ignited a deep ambition in her heart.
Perhaps, she might have felt inferior had Adam not revealed to her the secrets of the higher arcane ranks. But she knew now… even if the Mana Core marked the beginning in the Greater Universe, the path stretched far beyond, higher and greater than anything she had once imagined.
Once she steadied her emotions, her thoughts turned to the way Magi labeled the arcane ranks, and how they differed between the worlds of the Greater Universe and the Outer Universe.
"It's all about perspective," she murmured.
The Joker noticed that she wasn't as affected by his words as he had hoped, and couldn't help but admire—even if a little—her way of thinking.
He set aside his usual teasing, slipping instead into the role of a seasoned elder as he explained:
"In the worlds of the Outer Universe, spellcasters label the stages as Rank 1 through Rank 4 because to them, Rank 4 - Mana Core Magus is the highest visible ceiling. They see no path beyond it, so everything is scaled upwards from the bottom, giving them the illusion of progress towards the peak."
He paused for a moment, allowing Anna to digest this knowledge. Then, he continued:
"But in the higher realms, where the path of arcana stretches far beyond Rank 4, the perspective shifts. From their point of view, what you call Ranks 1 to 3—Mana Foundation, Mana Liquefaction, Mana Vortex—are seen as nothing more than the groundwork for true magic.
"That is why those three ranks are grouped as Rank 0. They are merely the foundation, like crawling before one learns to walk. As an Apprentice, you are still only learning to wield mana properly.
"In other words, it is all about perspective and arcane ceilings. What seems like the mountain peak in the lower worlds is nothing but the mountain base in higher worlds. You might be a big fish in this small pond, but out there… it is an ocean!"
Anna sank into deep thought. In her heart, a tiny ember was lit, one that would go on to grow into a blazing fire. Without realizing it, her lips had already curled into an eager smile.
Noticing this, the Joker snorted in annoyance. "You're strange. You and your brother!"
Anna raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What did Adam do now?"
"Hmph! That little twat!" The Joker scoffed. "His ambitions are far too grand, I tell you! Most would be content settling at the Mana Core Rank or even the Mana Seed Rank, but Adam…"
Anna finished for him, her lips curling into a faint smile, "The peak of magic... that is his dream."
"Even my Master never dreamed that big!" The Joker sneered.
"Your Master?" Anna asked curiously. "Do you mean the Magus who created this secret plane?"
The Joker silently nodded, his eyes flashing with slight grief.
"…Is that how you know so much about the Greater Universe?" Anna asked.
"Yes," said the eccentric spirit, "I have inherited all of my Master's dreams and memories…"
Anna remained silent for a long time before finally asking, "What about your dreams?"
"What about it?" The Joker raised an eyebrow, his tone inquisitive.
"Don't you have anything you would like to do?" Anna shrugged. "Or do you plan to stay inside this secret plane for eternity?"
The Joker's eye twitched a little.
"Anna dearest," he said with a strained voice. "Is that mockery I hear in your voice?"
"…No, just curiosity." Anna looked away.
The Joker deeply looked at the princess, his eyes narrowing. Anna coughed awkwardly and said, "Forget about it, you don't have to answer—"
But the Joker interrupted her.
"I do have a dream," he said, his gaze drifting towards the sky.
"I wish to one day return home… to the spirit world. Though I suppose 'return' isn't the right word, since I've never actually been there. But yes… once someone inherits my master's true legacy, that's where I want to go."
"Your master's legacy," Anna murmured softly, "is this secret place, isn't it?"
The Joker simply responded with a smile.
"And Adam is your top candidate to inherit your master's legacy?" Anna asked, her curiosity evident. "That's why you gave him your calling card, didn't you?"
The Joker shrugged. "Well, he still has one final trial to pass if he wants to inherit this secret plane."
In the next instant, the spirit's expression darkened.
"Though… considering his greedy nature, I do wonder if he'll pass the final trial."
The next moment, his expression shifted, and he clapped twice.
"That's enough about me," he said, his lips curling into an exaggerated smile.
He turned to Anna, his tone sharp and teasing.
"The next planetary alignment is less than a hundred years away. If you haven't formed a Mana Core by then… you can forget about leaving this world!"