The room was silent. Outside the window, the residential district lay wrapped in night. Soft magical lamps traced the roads below, while far in the distance, the towering spires of White Ring Saint Academy pierced the darkness like ancient giants watching over the land.
Ivan lay cross-legged on the bed, an open book resting in his hands. Paths and Legacies of the White Ring Saint Academy. The pages were thick and ancient, like layered parchment, with faintly shimmering symbols lining the margins, preserving the text from decay. Even a simple guidebook carried traces of magic.
He lowered his gaze and continued reading. The section beneath the introduction briefly covered the academy's history, its division of schools, and the development of wizard civilization. Ivan skimmed through it quickly. Soon, the real content began—different paths, different legacies, different roads that countless wizards had once walked in pursuit of truth.
Ivan's expression sharpened.
The first path belonged to the Elemental School—the Flame Wizard Path. According to the text, it required fire affinity and consumed a moderate level of resources, focusing on direct combat, destructive spellcasting, and strengthening the caster's own body and spirit. Flame Wizards absorbed fire particles to temper themselves, their spells violent and overwhelming, capable of turning battlefields into blazing seas. At lower and middle levels, their combat strength stood among the finest of all common paths. Straightforward, powerful, fast in results, and simple in structure—Ivan could immediately understand its appeal.
He turned the page.
The next few paths were also elemental branches. Water Wizards specialized in adaptability, capable of healing wounds, controlling terrain, binding enemies, and maintaining extreme endurance in prolonged battles—their main focus lay in water wizardry. Wind Wizards emphasized speed and momentum, their attacks sharp, swift, and unpredictable, making them a favorite among assassins and scouts. Earth Wizards valued defense and stability, excelling in sieges, frontal warfare, and drawn-out battles where endurance outweighed explosive power. Lightning Wizards pursued extreme speed and devastating bursts of destruction, while Ice Wizards excelled in suppression, freezing terrain, and limiting enemy movement.
Ivan read without pause. Each elemental branch possessed its own strengths and weaknesses. None were truly perfect.
After several more pages, the tone of the book shifted. The next school fell into a far darker category. Ivan's eyes narrowed slightly.
The Necromancer Path from the Necromancy and Curse School.
This branch required darkness affinity and consumed a large amount of resources. Its strengths lay in undead creation, soul manifestation, and legion warfare. The summary was brief but heavy—those who walked this path ruled death itself. They refined corpses, commanded souls, and built armies that neither feared pain nor required rest. Though their individual combat power was not considered supreme, in war, the number of the undead would only increase while the enemy's forces dwindled. Such a battle was far more terrifying than any direct confrontation.
Ivan's fingers tapped lightly against the page. An ever-expanding army. Endless soldiers that did not fear death. On any plane, facing such a force—tireless, obedient, and free from logistical constraints—was enough to instill deep fear in even the strongest opponents.
He continued reading.
Several more paths of the Necromancer School were introduced, each with its own variations and refinements. Ivan skimmed through them before the next section caught his full attention.
The Alchemy Wizard Path of the Alchemy School.
Unlike the elemental branches, this path did not strictly require a specific affinity, though fire affinity provided significant advantages in forging, smelting, and material refinement. Its resource consumption, however, was marked in bold—
Extremely High. Must choose with caution.
Ivan's gaze moved downward. Alchemy Wizards specialized in magical tools, enchanted weapons, puppetry, golems, workshops, floating wizard towers, floating cities, and massive war constructs. Their personal combat strength was considered mediocre, but once properly prepared, their battlefield power became monstrous. A single powerful Alchemy Wizard, given sufficient resources, could fortify entire regions, arm armies, and transform battlefields into mechanical death grinders.
Ivan's eyes lingered on the page.
This path was expensive and slow in its early stages, demanding enormous resources just to stand firm. Yet its ceiling was terrifying. At its peak, a single wizard could fight multiple opponents of the same level, even conquer an entire plane alone. For comparison, any other organization seeking to conquer a plane would require vast numbers of wizards, supported by slave legions ten or twenty times larger.
Ivan quietly exhaled and turned the page again.
He continued flipping through the book, his gaze steady as the contents grew increasingly strange. Some paths were no longer about direct combat, but about methods far more obscure and unsettling, each one reflecting a different extreme of wizarding pursuit.
Curse Wizards of the Necromancy and Curse School preferred not to fight head-on. They planted marks, spread plagues, and weakened their enemies from afar, often killing only after the battlefield had seemingly fallen silent. Their true peculiarity, however, lay in their method of growth. They engraved curses directly onto their bodies, layering one upon another. The more curse tattoos they carried, the greater their strength became. At higher levels, some even carved curses into their very souls, exchanging safety for terrifying power.
Bio-Wizards, also belonging to the Necromancy and Curse School, walked an even more grotesque road. They researched flesh and life itself, modifying bodies, cultivating monstrous organisms, and creating warped biological weapons. By stitching together parts of powerful creatures and refining them through biomodification, they created aberrations that inherited fragments of the original beings' strength. Different parts carried different abilities, forming terrifying constructs on the battlefield. Yet precisely because of this, most orthodox wizards rejected them, viewing their creations as unnatural and disturbing.
The next entries shifted slightly in nature. Druids were affiliated with both the Potionology School and the Elemental School, acting as a variant of Wood Wizards. They controlled forests, plants, vitality, and natural toxins, making them highly valued wherever magical herbs and rare resources existed. In battle, they could summon treants—giant humanoid beings formed from living trees—whose strength was formidable. While not all druids were masters of potion-making, every one of them possessed a solid foundation in it, blending natural control with alchemical knowledge.
Puppetry Wizards, a specialized branch of the Alchemy School, focused on elite constructs rather than mass legions. Their puppets were forged from rare materials and, at times, even living flesh, resulting in creations that were both powerful and costly. Because of this, they rarely produced large numbers, instead relying on a few highly refined constructs. These puppets served as guardians, assassins, or shields on the battlefield, standing at the front lines while their masters attacked safely from behind, turning precision into lethality.
Fate Wizards belonged to the elusive Destiny School and were among the rarest existences in the wizarding plane. They studied destiny, stars, and probabilities, capable of glimpsing fragments of possible futures. Though their direct combat ability was limited, their importance could not be overstated. However, such insight came at a steep cost. Even peering into a single thread of fate demanded a heavy price, forcing them to act with restraint. In great wars, they became silent pillars, guiding decisions and safeguarding entire planes from unseen threats.
Further into the book, Ivan encountered a newer path—Constitution Wizards. This group had yet to form a complete school, but their approach was extreme. They focused entirely on refining the physical body, abandoning the traditional balance between body and soul. Their strength in close combat was monstrous, allowing them to tear apart magical beasts with their bare hands. Few could match them at close range. Yet this imbalance carried a fatal flaw—their lack of soul refinement left them dangerously vulnerable to spiritual and soul-based attacks.
The final section introduced Bloodline Wizards, a controversial group tied to the School of Bloodline, often regarded by many as a dark faction. They did not cultivate power through traditional means, but instead implanted the bloodlines of powerful creatures into themselves. This granted rapid growth and immense strength, and such power could even be inherited by future generations. However, the limitation was absolute. A wizard who implanted the bloodline of a fourth-tier creature could never surpass that level. Because of this, the path was often chosen by those with poor talent. Even so, their strength was undeniable. Magical creatures were inherently stronger than wizards, and when combined with human intelligence and spellcraft, the result was a force few could ignore.
One path after another passed before Ivan's eyes. Thousands of years of research, millions of experiments, and the efforts of countless geniuses had all been condensed into these structured roads. These were not merely paths to power, but accumulated truths left behind for future generations. Compared to Earth's civilization, the depth of this world's foundation was overwhelming.
At last, Ivan closed the book. He leaned back slightly, his eyes shutting as if he were resting, but within his mind, a clear command had already been issued.
"Nova," he said inwardly, his thoughts calm and precise. "Analyze the entire book and determine the most suitable wizarding paths for me."
"Yes, Master."
A soft mechanical hum echoed through his consciousness as several transparent panels unfolded before him. Streams of data flowed across them—every diagram, every symbol, every line of text reconstructed with perfect clarity. After a few seconds, Nova's calm voice sounded again.
"Master. Analysis complete."
Ivan focused on the panels, his attention sharpening.
"Report."
"Your current qualifications are as follows: Wizard Aptitude: Class Four. Elemental Affinities: High Fire Affinity, Medium Darkness Affinity, Low Space Affinity." The results matched the academy's earlier assessment without deviation.
"Based on compatibility, growth efficiency, and available academy inheritance, the following paths are most suitable." The first panel brightened as Nova continued. "Flame Wizard Path. With your high fire affinity, meditation speed and spell growth will exceed most peers. Resource consumption is moderate, and your personal strength will increase rapidly, allowing you to reach higher levels faster than others at the same stage."
Ivan gave a faint nod. The path was direct, efficient, and reliable.
The second panel shifted forward. "Necromancer Path. Your darkness affinity is sufficient, and growth will remain stable. This path excels in legion warfare and expendable force multiplication, with combat patterns partially resembling Orin Civilization doctrines. However, early-stage requirements are demanding. Corpse materials, soul mediums, experimental processes, and specialized environments are necessary, creating a heavy burden for a newly initiated wizard."
Ivan remained silent, weighing the cost.
The third panel glowed brighter than the others. "Alchemy Wizard Path. This path has the highest overall compatibility with your greatest advantage. It does not strictly require elemental affinity, but your high fire affinity will greatly enhance material refinement and construct creation. Alchemy Wizards specialize in building magical tools, war constructs, golems, and large-scale combat platforms, focusing on preparation, production, and battlefield control."
Nova's tone remained steady as it continued. "The Orin Civilization's strength lay in its industrial foundation—hundreds of millions of mechanical legions, mass-produced and capable of coordinated combat. Losses could be replenished rapidly, allowing continuous warfare. With this system, Orin defeated multiple advanced civilizations and rose to dominance. In comparison, wizard towers resemble mobile fortresses, floating cities resemble strategic war platforms, and war puppets resemble mechanical combat units. With inherited Orion knowledge, Master will not begin from zero. Your progress on this path will far exceed ordinary alchemists."
Ivan slowly opened his eyes, that realization striking deep within him.
The final panel appeared. "Spatial Wizard Path. A rare branch specializing in teleportation, storage, dimensional cutting, and battlefield movement. Combat potential is extremely high. However, your space affinity is low. If selected as a primary path, growth will be significantly slower."
Ivan exhaled softly. It was a pity. He liked the concept, but liking something and surviving with it were entirely different matters.
The room fell silent once more as Ivan lowered his gaze, thinking carefully. The Flame Path offered speed and certainty, the Spatial Path offered potential but demanded time, and the Necromancer Path offered armies but required resources and knowledge he did not yet possess.
Then there was Alchemy.
Ivan's fingers tightened slightly.
In this world, his greatest asset was not his talent.
It was Nova.
It was the inheritance of the ancient Orin Civilization. A civilization that once stood at the peak through vast mechanical legions and warship fleets, dominating battlefields with precision, coordination, and overwhelming industrial power. Their legacy was not just strength, but systems—perfectly structured methods of creation, engineering, logistics, and large-scale warfare.
That inheritance aligned flawlessly with the core of the Alchemy School. If Ivan chose this path, he would not be blindly exploring an unfamiliar road like others. Instead, he would begin with an unimaginable advantage, as if a silent mentor guided him from the very first step, leading him steadily toward the peak.
As for the weakness of alchemists in personal combat, Ivan did not dwell on it for long. Strength could be compensated, methods could be learned, and flaws could be covered with time. Compared to the foundation he would gain, such shortcomings were temporary and acceptable.
Ivan understood something clearly. In true plane warfare, victory was never decided by a handful of powerful individuals clashing in isolation. Every plane contained millions of transcendents, and to conquer it, one had to face them all. Even something as mighty as an elephant could be brought down by countless ants.
In such a battlefield, where numbers reached terrifying scales, personal bravery meant little unless one had already reached the absolute peak. A lone genius could still fall under endless pressure, surrounded and exhausted. But a commander protected behind fortresses, war constructs, and vast mechanical legions would always have a far greater chance of survival.
And Ivan feared death.
He feared it deeply, more than anything else. Yet it was precisely this fear that kept his thoughts clear and his decisions rational. He did not seek glory or recklessness—he sought control, survival, and certainty.
After a long silence, his choice finally settled.
"I choose the Alchemy Wizard Path."
"Yes, Master," Nova replied calmly, its voice steady as ever. After a brief pause, it continued, "Recommendation: select secondary paths."
Ivan's brows furrowed slightly, "Secondary paths?" he asked inwardly, his tone calm as he waited for an explanation.
Nova responded in an even, measured manner. Master, In the lower ranks, wizards were forced to specialize because their lifespan was limited and their time for growth was precious. Dividing attention too early would only slow progress and weaken foundations.
However, after reaching the Fourth Rank, the situation changed completely. Lifespan became theoretically endless unless one was slain, and time was no longer a limiting factor. At that stage, many high-level wizards began studying multiple schools to compensate for their weaknesses and expand their versatility.
An Alchemy Wizard might learn powerful battle spells to make up for personal combat limitations. A Necromancer could study movement techniques to evade danger. An Elemental Wizard might learn curses to eliminate enemies silently. In such environments, those who remained rigid and refused to adapt were often the first to fall.
Ivan's eyes sharpened slightly as he listened. The logic was simple, but it carried undeniable weight. A single path might define the foundation, but adaptability determined survival in the long run.
Nova continued without pause. Since Ivan had selected Alchemy as his main path, his early-stage combat ability would be weaker compared to those who specialized purely in battle. Additionally, with limited time at the beginning, it was impossible to fully cultivate multiple complete paths simultaneously.
Therefore, Nova recommended the Flame Wizard Path as a secondary core. With Ivan's high fire affinity, training efficiency would be excellent, allowing him to rapidly build sufficient combat strength to cover early weaknesses. At the same time, it suggested selecting a limited number of spells from the Necromancy and Spatial Schools to enhance mobility, utility, storage, and survival.
Although Ivan could not fully master those paths at this stage, partial learning was entirely feasible given his affinities. Once he reached the Fourth Rank, he could gradually deepen his understanding and integrate them more completely into his system.
Ivan considered everything carefully before giving a slow nod. The structure was clear, efficient, and balanced. A stable core, a reliable secondary path, and flexible supplementary abilities—this combination minimized risk while maximizing long-term potential.
With his decision finalized, Ivan placed the thick legacy tome aside and picked up the thinner volume resting nearby. The Basic Meditation Method lay quietly in his hands, simple in appearance yet fundamental to everything that would follow.
Just as he was about to open it, Nova's voice sounded again, calm but firm. "Master, one more matter requires attention."
Ivan paused, his fingers resting lightly on the cover. "What is it?" he asked, already sensing that it would not be something trivial.
"The Alchemy Path is extremely expensive."
Ivan raised an eyebrow slightly, though his expression remained composed. "How expensive?" he asked, expecting a large number—but not yet realizing the scale.
"At minimum," Nova replied evenly, "one hundred times more expensive than the Flame Wizard Path."
Ivan froze.
Nova continued without mercy. A Flame Wizard primarily strengthened the self and learned spells, keeping resource consumption relatively controlled. In contrast, an Alchemy Wizard required constant materials—metals for forging, resources for experiments, replacements for failures, personal workshops, enchantment mediums, energy cores, and ongoing maintenance for constructed units.
Even with Nova's simulation capabilities reducing waste and inefficiency, real materials could never be replaced entirely. Every construct, every upgrade, every experiment required tangible investment, and the cost would only increase as his ambitions grew.
Before Ivan could process it, Nova added another bombshell. If he intended to establish his own force in the future, the required resources would surpass even the already massive cost of his current path. Armies, production systems, infrastructure—all of it demanded an even greater foundation.
This time, Ivan fell completely silent.
He had expected difficulty, but this… was on an entirely different scale. It was not just expensive—it was a path that demanded constant, relentless accumulation of resources just to continue moving forward.
Nova's tone remained unchanged as it delivered the conclusion. Therefore, Ivan needed to begin planning immediately—magic stones, rare metals, core materials, trade connections, and stable sources of income. Without these, his progress would inevitably stall, no matter how great his talent or knowledge might be.
Then, after a brief pause, Nova added one final statement.
Despite the immense early burden, advanced Alchemy Wizards were among the wealthiest beings in the entire wizarding world. Their creations commanded extraordinary value, and once they reached a certain level, wealth would flow naturally toward them.
Ivan stared at the meditation manual for a long moment, his thoughts settling into place.
Then, slowly, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Expensive?" he muttered to himself. "So what?"
The path to reaching the top was always filled with obstacles and barriers. He didn't fear high barriers. If anything, they removed competition and cleared the path ahead. What others feared was simply the price of standing above them.
With that thought firmly rooted in his mind, Ivan opened the Basic Meditation Method.
Tonight, his journey towards supremacy and truth began.