Chương 68: The Arcane Path

"Hey, Red, I appreciate a hot dude like anybody else, but can you please cover up the goods?" Jane cracked a smile as she turned her head away. Tereza, on the other hand, stared, eyes wide open and face as red as a tomato. Maximus chuckled and summoned a fresh set of clothing: a black pair of cargo pants, a yellow hoodie, and his black sneakers. He then strapped on his greaves, pauldrons, cowl, and chest armor.

"Apologies, I forgot myself." He bowed lightly.

"Boss, is that really you?!" Vesper gasped.

"Holy shit, Max, you are certainly not smelly anymore. You smell like a delightful meal!" Silex drooled shamelessly. Sprout and Embi lunged at him, clinging to him even more affectionately than before.

"It's really me, Vesper. Do I look that different?" he asked, only now noticing that his hair had grown to the same length it once had when he was still Aurelius.

"Different?" Lennox burst into laughter.

"I don't mind spending tokens for this." He laughed as he purchased a mirror. He handed it to Maximus, who took a glance and froze for a moment. His face was mostly the same as before, still unmistakably Maximus, but now carried a subtle, unmistakable elven refinement. His eyes had deepened into a richer shade of blue, identical to his elven form. Above all, his ears, now pointed, elegant, and identical to his old ones, stood as proof that he had somehow carried over a piece of his mother's legacy through his soul.

He smiled brightly and winked.

"Aren't I handsome now?" Something about him had undeniably changed. He felt more alive, more attuned to the world around him. He could sense the spirit realm calling faintly to him, feel the pulse of nature itself, and recognize the long-forgotten rhythm of universal laws that only those deeply connected to mana could perceive.

Above all else, he felt the numina, the way the three primal energies intertwined, and he smiled knowingly, realizing that he was finally standing at the true beginning of his path, the first step toward godhood and the answers behind his previous end.

"Handsome? Holy shit, man, you are beautiful." Lennox shook his head.

"No misunderstandings, though: I like women, okay?"

"I'm not judging you, Lenny boy. Red is a proper snack now. He wasn't bad before, but holy shit…" Jane muttered, clearly impressed. Tereza pulled out her whiteboard and drew herself with hearts instead of eyes, aggressively sending kisses in his direction.

"Hahaha, alright, everyone, calm down. Let's not exaggerate. It is only me, same old Maximus, just… not dying anymore." He knew very well how ordinary people would react to his old elven form, and he could only hope it wouldn't become a constant problem again. The natural energies currently swirling around me and the sweet smells should also fade in a few days; these should be the aftereffects of the elixir and the Heavenly Body Method. Hopefully I should look more normal after that, h e thought.

He hoped that he would not attract prying eyes when they returned to civilization.

"Uhm, let's go check on the barricades. Leave him to inspect his status." Lennox cleared his throat and quickly dragged the two women away.

"Boss, you might start procreating earlier than expected now," Vesper teased.

"Shut it, Vesper." Maximus cracked a small smile and opened up his status.

Name: Maximus Reid | True Name: Maximus Aurelius Sovitus Reid (Concealed) Race: Animus | Age: 0 (Former 23) Level: 30 Talent Points: 95 BT: 33, 000 Class: Druid – First Awakening Arcane Path: Second Class Selection Available Health: 2500 (+250) | Spirit: 2650 | Mana: 550 Physical Condition: Reforged Primordial Heavenly Body (Stage III – Elemental Containment) Spirit Core Stage: Elemental Spirit Sapling – Elemental Numina Leaves (Stage II) Unbelievable, I am no longer human, nor even an elf, but something entirely new?

I have never seen any records of such a race. Could more exist somewhere, or am I truly the first? He thought as he went down the status line by line, and the moment he noticed his mana appearing, his expression brightened immediately. I can pick an arcane class next?! Haha… finally, finally back to step one. Once I adjust to this new body, I will begin creating my first circle in this life! My health and spirit have more than doubled, as well. Excellent! He then observed his bodily status and nodded slowly.

In the end, I actually managed to reach the Primordial stage, though it seems there are more stages beyond even this. Good… That means there is still more room for growth. His smile widened slightly as he opened a brand-new, shining notification, ignoring his skills for now. [Animus] A race of ancient humans who sought perfection through a literal merger with the primordial forces of creation.

It remains unknown what terrifying heights they once reached, but their obsession led them to wage a catastrophic war against the divinities, a clash so absolute that the gods erased them from the very records of history itself. Today, almost nothing remains recorded of their existence. Yet, a singular truth survives within the oldest myths: To be human is to be born to the world, but to be Animus is to be born by the world. So… I was not the first to walk this path? And they even waged war against the gods…

and lost? Will they come after me now… or is there more to this story than what remains? We shall see, I suppose. What are a few more gods to add to the list? He smiled coldly and proceeded to inspect the rest of his status. Note: Due to acquiring too many skills and with no end in sight, the forced categorization by a possible Path had been implemented for easier browsing. Druid Class: Warden's Path: Cinder-Seed (E) LV. 17, Vine Tendril (E) LV. 7, Oaken Husk (E) LV. 1, Nature's Blight (D) LV.

2, Warden's Swordsmanship (D) LV. 3, Nurturing Grasp (E) LV. 5, Entangle (F) LV. 15, Healing Flow (C) LV. 10, Cure Poison (E) LV. 15, Grow! (D) LV. 11, Static Vine Whip (D) LV. 8, Spore Cloud (E) LV. 8, Sanctuary (C) LV. 5, Dread Hollow (C) LV. 3, Spirit Sense (D) LV. 4 Shapeshifter's Path: Shapeshift (D) LV. 11, Cat Form (F) LV. 17, One of Us (E) LV. 19, Tank Form (D) LV. 8, Shoot Web (E) LV. 4, Channel Centipede (B) LV. 4 Verdant Astral Path: Lunar Flare (D) LV. 11, Solar Pyre (C) LV. 7, Starlight Shower (B) LV.

3, Verdant Starstream (B) LV. 2 Elemental Guardian's Path: Static Strike (E) LV. 16, Wind Spear (E) LV. 10, Storm Javelin (C) LV. 8, Gale Step (E) LV. 6, Cyclone Shell (E) LV. 19, Stoneguard (E) LV. 12, Iron Body (C) LV. 2 Spiritborn Path: Greater Plant Spirit (D) LV. 17, Spectral Wolves (D) LV. 11, Blessed Spirit Anchor (D) LV. 1 Crafter's Path: Alchemy (A) LV. 1, Artificer (D) LV. 1 Blessings: Blessing of the Centipede, Dryad's Blessing Class Traits: Nature's Elemental Spirit Seedling (C) LV.

15, Call of the Wild (C) LV. 11, Grove's Embrace (B) LV. 1 Body Traits: Spiritborn (SS) – Body that was brought back to life. Blessed by the rules of the creation, making it oddly attractive to the elemental spirits. Spirit spells cost less to learn. Ruling Spirits have taken a liking to you. Reforged Primordial Heavenly Body (S) – Body reforged through the process of being eroded by the forces of the realm itself and then remade through them.

Such a being is flawless in the eyes of the realm and carries the direct blessing of the realm itself.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Physical strength increased by 30%, and shapeshifting multipliers will apply on top of it once shifted. Health regenerates at 0. 5% of max health per second, steadily restoring the body even in the midst of battle. Spirit and mana regeneration increased by 1% per second. Resistance to the four elements granted, and existing ones are further strengthened and refined. Note: Further evolution will unlock higher stat tiers.

World Sense (A) – Allows the user to perceive the three primary energies of the world and grants limited control over the elusive numina. Poison Resistance (B) – Grants 49% to 79% resistance against B- to D-rank poisons (scaling +15% per lower rank). Poisons and venoms under E rarity deal no damage. Effectiveness against higher rarity toxins decreases by 15% per rank. It can evolve further through surviving stronger poisons or venoms.

Fire Resistance (C) – Grants 35% to 80% resistance against C- to F-rank flames and heat sources (scaling +15% per lower rank). Flames and heat sources under E rarity deal no damage. Effectiveness against higher rarity flames decreases by 15% per rank. It can evolve further through enduring intense heat and fire damage. Cold Resistance (C) – Grants 35% to 80% resistance against C- to F-rank freezing temperatures and frost (scaling +15% per lower rank). Freezing temperatures and frost under E rarity deal no damage.

Effectiveness against higher rarity cold decreases by 15% per rank. It can evolve further through enduring freezing environments and frost damage. Lightning Resistance (C) – Grants 35% to 80% resistance against C- to F-rank electricity (scaling +15% per lower rank). Static and minor electrical currents under E rarity deal no damage. Effectiveness against higher rarity lightning decreases by 15% per rank. It can evolve further through enduring electrical shocks and lightning strikes.

By the stars, would you look at that! All that suffering was worth it! He exhaled in relief and tapped on a blinking notification in the top left corner. Congratulations, you are the first in the system's history to craft an elixir of S rarity in the First Plane. Heavenly Primordial Elixir (S) Crafted. Skill Evolved Alchemy (C) to Alchemy (A) Battle Tokens earned: 6000 Congratulations, you are the first participant ever to unlock the second class while still on the First Plane.

Rewards Earned: 10 Talent Points, Living Paradox Soul Trait. Battle Tokens earned: 5000 Congratulations, you are the first participant ever to gather 100 Talent Points while still on the First Plane. Battle Tokens earned: 6000 [Talent Points: 105] [BT: 50, 000] Soul Traits: Living Paradox – You, who have surpassed the limits of a druidic body and tapped into the three primal energies of the world, have unlocked the ability to wield the powers of nature alongside a secondary school of power.

From now on, skills belonging to different classes can be merged and shaped into new and never-before-seen arts. The power and tier of these skills will depend entirely on the user's creativity and mastery in their creation.

However, such a creation is unlikely to happen before reaching Level 100 due to the immense difficulty of merging the two. New classification unlocked: Skill Arts – Skills that draw upon both mana and spirit to cast. The cost and cooldown of such abilities will be greatly increased and must be carefully managed and observed.

Wonderful, this will be perfect for my research! But first things first, I need a proper second class and a few circles created before I go and start experimenting with the unknown! Warning: Due to changing the host body three times within a short period of time, your soul has been greatly weakened. Circle creation and further body modification will be put on hold for at least 50 days to allow for a period of adjustment and healing. Somehow, through all of this, I did not think about any side effects to the soul…

I am getting complacent… He sighed and steadied himself as he opened the class selection screen. Note: The second class is locked to the Arcane Path due to the user's past life. Please pick an Arcane Class from the list. [Illusionist], [Warlock], [Wizard], [Necromancer], [Spellblade] [Illusionist] – Use the mana to weave illusions into life, tricking your enemies into striking their own allies while subtly bolstering the minds of your companions.

[Warlock] – Sign a contract with an otherworldly being and wield its borrowed might to summon strange creatures while gaining access to forbidden spells and insidious hexes. [Wizard] – A mage who has studied mana and its countless applications, becoming a deliberate weaver of arcane arts and tapping into the hidden laws of the world. A jack of all trades, master of none, at least according to those with little imagination. [Necromancer] – A ruler of the dead, a leader of those who walked the world long before.

Command lethal forces and raise an army of silent, obedient beings. [Spellblade] – One who has walked the path of mana and steel, learning to fuse the two. Enhance your blade with arcane force while fighting at close range and cutting down foes face‑to‑face. Capable of learning a few long‑range techniques. Maximus let out a long, controlled breath and crossed his arms, his eyes glistening with a familiar spark, as he ordered Astrae, I choose Wizard, as if there had ever been a question about what he would take.

'Master of none,' hah, ridiculous. I'll show you what a blank slate can become with thousands of years of knowledge. Gods, watch closely and prepare yourselves, for old Aurelius is back. The class selection shimmered over the Wizard icon, and everything else dimmed as the link to the arcane re‑anchored itself in his soul. The old sensation returned, the thrill of shaping mana directly, of weaving something out of nothing, rising like a long‑forgotten melody through his being.

Warning: Due to your Archmage and Circle Breaker soul traits, you can only acquire Arcane skills that are synchronized with your current Circle progression. Alert: Due to a lack of Circles. Only beginner-level Arcane skills may be obtained from skill selection. Note: Going forward, the Skill Shop will alternate between two classes every 5 levels. Allowing for equal opportunity. Makes complete sense. My magic always depended on my circles. Why would it be any different this time…

He nodded and opened the flashing screen as new options materialized before him. [Fireball (F) 1 TP], [Barrier (F) 2 TP], [Ice Shard (F) 1 TP], [Magic Missile (F) 2 TP], [Spark (F) 1 TP] Well, that's underwhelming. I suppose I'll take them all. I have points to spare anyway. More tools to play with later. He selected every skill without even glancing at their descriptions. He knew them all far too well.

Fireball, he thought, and a crimson magic circle spun into existence, its formula identical to the one etched into his memory. A small sphere of flame blossomed in his palm. He held it for a heartbeat, watching it flicker, before dismissing it with a grin. I am back! But this time around I'm not repeating the same mistakes. In this life I am a Druid first and a Mage second. The potential of strengthening the power of creation with the structure of my old magic is too large to discard.

Hmm, let's call it Arcane Druid… He chuckled at his silly naming, his gaze growing fiercer, ecstatic even.

Before joining the others, he opened one last notification. Quest Completed: Collect all ingredients of a Rare Body refining elixir, successfully prepare it, and reforge your weak body. Rewards: 10 Talent Points You have achieved a Legendary feat and reforged your body into a completely new race and adapted to a body tempering method of another realm. Due to the extremity of your deed, the Heavenly Asura has sent you a Weapon Loot Box!

Battle Tokens earned: 6000 A crimson square box appeared within his grasp with golden lines flowing over the sides. [Weapon Loot Box] Open? [Yes.] [No.] Maximus chose to open it, and the box unfolded on all sides, shining a bright crimson light that slowly faded to reveal a long, blood‑red scabbard with a handle of the same shade. Maximus grabbed the meter‑long weapon and unsheathed it.

The blade was dark red, almost black, with a faint bloody sheen, while the handle was woven from some unknown leather, making the blade fit within Maximus's grip perfectly, clinging to his palm like a magnet so it wouldn't slip during battle. What an amazing weapon. I've never even seen this sword type before. He stared at it, then appraised it. [The Sanguine Siphon (C)] The blade forged from Starmetal and Hematite Ichor, quenched in the blood of a Rose Demon.

The weapon contains the lingering thirst for blood of a Rose Demon, swallowing the blood of enemies it cuts. Once it has fed enough, the blade will shine with crimson light, and the skill Thirsty Thorns can be released. A surge of blood‑red thorns will slash alongside your blade; if landing on a living target, they will envelop it and trigger the bleed debuff. For each 1% blood siphoned, you will recover the same amount in vitality.

If your health is full, the blade will instead store the blood as Life Crystals, which you can shatter to heal 15% of your health instantly when needed. Maximum crystals: 2. Physical damage increased by 25% when wielding. The weapon must rest for 72 Hours once the skill Thirsty Thorns has been used. Hmmm, it's quite dark and ominous. I'll keep it for dangerous situations. I prefer the falchion for now, he decided, storing the weapon. I have a lot of tokens now, so I should buy a better staff.

Though that can wait for now. His homemade staff had endured heavy strain when he used the Starstream skill, and the emerald crystal and runes had cracked all over, meaning he could probably cast only a few more spells before it broke completely.

"Boss, that weapon felt unbelievable. If only I could wield it, I feel like I'd be much stronger!" Vesper said.

"Oh, that's an interesting idea. I'll try to find a way." Maximus nodded.

"New Max, are we leaving this hole? I want to see the sun," Silex complained.

"We are. I was just about to go talk with the group." Maximus nodded.

"So, we're sticking together?" Vesper asked.

"They're dependable and honest, well, except their leader, but we understand each other. Let's work together for now." Maximus nodded. Maximus stored his equipment and walked over to the trio.

"I'm ready. Should we go?" Maximus asked.

"Ah, yes. We should. I don't see a reason to stay here any longer. And I'm quite intrigued to see your reaction when we reach the City of Beginnings." Lennox smiled.

"Oh, you mean that? That will be interesting indeed." Jane chuckled.

"Keeping secrets from poor old Maximus when he's helped you numerous times," Maximus feigned heartbreak.

"You seem a bit more relaxed. Suits you." Jane smiled.

"Alright, move away. Let me clear the barricades, and we go!" Lennox said, drawing his greatsword. With one forceful downward slash, he cleared the path easily, and they finally left the queen's chamber.