The Heart Of Chaos

"Remember this, brat. Your heart is your Soul-Ore, the source of your primordial power. Before anything else, you must take control of it—feel every beat, know it as intimately as your own mind. This is the foundation of all training. Focus on your heartbeat, and let your awareness extend outward. Sense the energy around you—the trees, the grass, the air. All of it pulses with mantra, the essence of life itself. To master this, you must understand that life and mantra are inseparable, and your heart is the host."

"Similar to Rankers, they stimulate their soul-ores to absorb energy, enabling them to sense its presence, in your case it will be your chaotic heart."

Sitting on a rock a few meters from the cottage, Abaddon, with his legs crossed and eyes shut, continued to meditate.

Recalling No'el's teachings, he devoted himself entirely to his training without pause.

"I'm worried about him"

Jane murmured, glancing at Abaddon with concern.

"It's been two days, and he hasn't moved from that rock. He just recovered. Why is the Elder pushing him so hard?"

"I agree"

Fatty replied with a shrug.

"But the boss isn't complaining, so maybe we should relax."

At the mention of "relax," Jane shot Fatty a deadly glare that made him flinch and step back nervously. Their bickering carried on until No'el, observing them from a distance, suddenly narrowed his eyes in surprise.

"These two youngsters... why do I sense mantra energy concentrated in their chests at levels higher than ordinary humans? Could it be...?"

Stepping down from his perch, he approached Jane and Fatty, cutting their argument short.

"Hmm, you two come with me"

Exchanging confused glances, Jane and Fatty reluctantly followed him to where Abaddon continued meditating. No'el gestured for them to sit in a similar posture. Alarmed, they protested.

"Elder, I really don't need any training"

Jane said quickly.

"Yeah, Old Man"

Fatty added.

"Boss might be able to handle this, but I'm not cut out for starving myself for days on end—"

Their protests were cut short by No'el's stern voice.

"Have either of you undergone an awakening before?"

The question left them momentarily speechless, before Jane hesitantly replied

"Awakening? You mean what Rankers go through to unveil their Soul-Ores? Why would we need that?"

"Wait"

Fatty chuckled nervously.

"You think we're Rankers? Come on, old man, we're just poor, ordinary humans. Becoming Rankers is like dreaming of being kings on our deathbeds."

But No'el's piercing gaze didn't waver.

'I can't be wrong'

'I see two dormant soul-ores within them, unawakened. But as commoners, crushed by this world's harsh reality, they've likely never even considered the possibility. What a waste of their potential.'

Hearing the two continued to yap about how they were never qualified for such blessings pushed an edge in No'el.

"Enough"

"Both of you are Rankers, whether you believe it or not. Just because you were born into hardship doesn't mean you're unqualified. All you need is trust. I'll awaken you right here and now."

Jane and Fatty stared at him in stunned silence. Fatty, unusually serious, finally responded.

"Elder, I understand what you mean, but becoming a Ranker isn't as simple as wishing for it. Boss is royalty, and you're a steward from the Regent Estate. But us? We're from a world where we can't even dream that big."

He hesitated, looking down.

"We're not like you or Boss."

Before No'el could respond, a calm yet commanding voice interrupted.

"Dreams aren't limited to nobles, Fatty. It's fine to be a commoner with dreams, You don't have to be noble to have dreams and aspirations, Fatty"

He rose from the rock, steam wafting faintly from his body as his red eyes glowed with determination.

"The greatest tragedy is a slave who, even after gaining freedom, remains imprisoned by the chains of his own mind—enslaved by the fear of pursuing ambitions and dreams. So just shut up and trust him."

Abaddon carried on with a faint smile, catching both Jane and Fatty off guard. It was the first time they had seen him smile, despite all the time they had spent together.

"Honestly, I never imagined either of you had the potential to become what I once aspired to be. You've always carried yourselves in a way that left no doubt you were just ordinary humans. But fate has a way of surprising us. So, give it a try. If it doesn't work, nothing will change. But if it does, it might just be the greatest fortune of your entire lives."

No'el watched Abaddon in silence. He was bewildered and shocked at the same time.

'Two days...'

No'el thought.

'He mastered "Energy sensing" in just two days. Even prodigies with higher compatibility with mantra energy need at least a month. It took me three weeks, even as the world-renowned Dragon God of my era.'

"Abaddon"

No'el called out.

"What do you see around you?"

Abaddon stepped down from the rock, his crimson eyes glimmering with the subtle flow of energy swirling around him—an invisible yet vivid world, perceptible only to those attuned to sensing its presence.

"It's like an entirely different world"

he replied.

"I see colors of energy flowing everywhere—from the grass to the trees. Even the wind carries mantra throughout this place."

No'el nodded. "Indeed, welcome to a brand new world only visible to those you pursue life and see it as energy "

No'el was certain, Abaddon had successfully mastered energy sensing in just two days.

Meanwhile, Jane and Fatty exchanged confused glances.

"What are these nobles talking about?"

Abaddon turned to No'el, bowing his head in respect before he asked.

"You said they're Rankers, but doesn't that require another Ranker of the Oracle Class to perform an awakening?"

No'el nodded.

"Indeed, but that wasn't the only way to awaken. Rune Masters also have techniques that can trigger an awakening, and I just so happen to possess one of them. It's called the Primordial Scriptures."

At the mention of "Rune Master" and "Primordial scripture", Abaddon remembered something.

'The Rune Master was an exceptionally rare and highly coveted specialty within the Mage Class, believed to be lost to ancient times. Renowned for their mastery of the powerful and mysterious Primordial Scriptures, they were considered an overwhelming force in the mortal realm. And yet, the ancestor knows their techniques—unbelievable.'

No'el turned to Fatty and Jane and instructed them to sit down in a meditative posture. Though hesitant, Abaddon's earlier words sparked a glimmer of hope in them.

"It wouldn't hurt to dream big, would it?"

Jane said with a faint smile as she glanced at Abaddon.

No'el materialized two brushes in his hands, making Abaddon, Fatty and Jane surprised. Though not at the same reason.

'Even in this borrowed body, he can manipulate mantra energy?'

Abaddon watched closely, carefully observing what was about to unfold. No'el requested for drops of blood from both Jane and Fatty, who complied despite the pain.

He dipped the brush into the donated blood, coating its bristles before gently pressing it onto the bare backs of Fatty and Jane.

"I'm about to inscribe a Primordial Scripture on your backs. It will hurt, but don't focus on the pain. Focus your mind and imagine yourselves as vessels. When the energy begins to surge through your bodies, let it flow freely without resistance. Let it nourish your Soul-Ores. The pain will be intense due to how long they've been dormant, but don't give up. Endure the suffering—it is the price for growth."

No'el's words echoed in their ears, resonating with the serene authority of a saint.

As he finished drawing the intricate scriptures, a purple energy began to envelop the two, radiating immense heat. Fatty and Jane writhed as the searing energy burned through their flesh bit by bit.

The agony was evident on their faces as currents of energy surged through their veins, infusing their muscles. Jane gritted her teeth, her body trembling with the strain, while Fatty struggled to keep from collapsing, sweat pouring from his brow.

Abaddon observed silently, watching them endure the torment. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pain subsided, Jane and Fatty's bodies began to levitate. A blinding radiant light burst from their chests, forcing Abaddon to shield his face.

"They've truly awakened…incredible"

When the light dimmed, both Fatty and Jane descended gently on the ground, stunned by their transformation.

"I can't believe it…"

Jane's voice shook with emotion.

"We… we're Rankers."

Tears streamed down her face as Fatty, overwhelmed with joy, dropped to his knees and bowed deeply to No'el.

"Thank you, old man. I don't know how you did it, but you made me a Ranker."

"Still calling me an old man?"

No'el chuckled, placing a hand on his bald head with a grin. Jane followed suit, bowing to express her gratitude.

"Stand up"

No'el said, gesturing for them to rise.

"Now let me assess your compatibility with mantra energy. That will determine how quickly you can progress in your training."

Jane and Fatty straightened as No'el began his evaluation.

"You"

He said, looking at Jane.

"You possess a blue Soul-Ore. It cannot store much energy, but it will gradually release what it absorbs into your body, strengthening you internally and physically. You're likely to awaken a physical combat class in the future. Your compatibility with mantra energy is fifty-two percent—that's in the realms of the talented."

Abaddon's jaw dropped.

'Fifty-two percent compatibility?! That's enough to rival noble children. What other surprises await today?'

Turning to Fatty, No'el continued.

"And you… You possess a green Soul-Ore. It can store large amounts of mantra energy, making you suited for energy-casting professions. Your compatibility is forty-eight percent—not bad."

Fatty exhaled in relief. Though unsure of the implications, he was satisfied that his results were "not bad."

"You both have great potential"

No'el declared.

"From this moment forward, I'll be your teacher, alongside that brat over there."

He pointed to Abaddon.

"Me?" Abaddon asked, incredulous.

Time passed, and Fatty and Jane were seated in meditative postures at the mountain's edge while Abaddon stood nearby, lost in thought.

'Ancestor must have chosen this secluded place to avoid distractions from the village. But why am I just standing here idly?'

No'el observed them critically, adjusting Fatty's posture.

"Straighten your back and focus."

Turning to Abaddon, he said.

"Brat, you're done with energy sensing. Now it's time for Body Conditioning. Before you can manipulate energy, your body must be prepared to handle its chaotic force. Now start by lifting that tree log fifty times a day."

He pointed to a tree log beside the mountain entrance.

"Fifty times?"

Abaddon exclaimed.

Smack! No'el's hand connected with the back of Abaddon's head.

"Go. Starting now, you're doing fifty."

"But—"

"Sixty!"

"You can't just—"

"Seventy!"

"That's too—"

"Ninety!"

"You skipped eighty!"

With a smirk, No'el pointed at the log in a terrifying gaze.

"You'll do a hundred now. Complain again, and I'll triple it."

Abaddon wisely held his tongue, trudging over to the log to begin. At first, even five lifts felt impossible, but as the days passed, his determination pushed him to exceed his limits.

Two weeks passed like the wind, Abaddon reflected.

Meanwhile, Jane and Fatty continued to struggle but made progress sensing mantra energy. Abaddon on the hand was growing stronger, now capable of lifting the log with ease. His lean figure had begun to transform, muscles becoming defined from relentless training.

By the end of a month, Abaddon was lifting boulders instead of logs with steam escaping his body from exertion.

"Hey, brat!"

No'el barked.

"I said two boulders, not one! If you leave one, I'll add another!"

Fatty and Jane gawked, their jaws dropping at Abaddon's feat. They were quickly snapped out of it as No'el called them over, grinning evily.

"I know you're wondering about food, but as Rankers, you can go a month or two without it. Your bodies will absorb faint energy from the air to sustain you."

Fatty and Jane shared a resigned look but knew they had no choice.

"Now."

"Your next training will focus on Energy Control. Normally, it would require endless Soul-Ore tempering with the traditional path for ranking, but I'll teach you a secret technique to bypass that."

Materializing a brush, No'el drew green Primordial Scriptures on their foreheads with a drop of his blood.

"This is the Dragon Energy Gathering technique. It will enhance your absorption rate. Now, back to training!"

Reluctantly, they complied, while Abaddon watched in awe.

'A lost technique of the Drakon House... used so casually.'

No'el addressed Jane and Fatty, who were now also releasing faint streams of heat from their bodies, signifying their progress.

"Feel the mantra energy around you"

No'el instructed.

"Command it. Make it bow to your will."

Pain contorted their faces as they continued to absorb energy into their soul-ores, yet despite the bitter feeling, their resolve never faltered.

Two months passed. Fatty and Jane had finally mastered energy control, reaching the cusp of their first ranking stage. Abaddon, now lifting boulders effortlessly, had grown even stronger.

No'el observed proudly at how fast Abaddon was growing.

'His strength rivals a Bronze Stage early Ranker. If he keeps this up, he'll reach Silver stage soon. These three are progressing beautifully.'

Abaddon, veins bulging from strain, reflected inwardly.

'It's incredible, it's been three months, all I've been doing was lifting boulders whiles Fatty and Jane were under strict training, I was beginning to think maybe Ancestor was more interested in guiding Fatty and Jane, but now I can feel my progress. It seems Body Conditioning is really necessary for me before I learn energy control."

Abaddon's thoughts were interrupted again when No'el bellowed.

"Tomorrow, I'll take you to the deeper forest to hunt your first myths on your own as individuals."