He set his falchion and satchel down.

Alan approached. A shimmering barrier responded to his presence, oscillating in harmony.

“I’ll be back here okay,” Bobby said, ever so ‘bravely’.

Ignoring Bobby, he focused on the barrier.

“Come on, I shall grace you with my assistance.”

“...thanks,” Alan started. “I mean that would be awesome. I wasn’t expecting…”

There was a moment of silence as Alan and Luméos moved to stand right in front of the node; a rotating three-dimensional polyhedral crystal.

The alien exhaled deeply. “Throughout time, I have witnessed countless lifeforms in their pursuit of power, many meeting failure. From you, I've formed no particular expectations. Yet, there's an inkling within me that wishes to see your endeavors bear fruit. I'm intrigued whether humans will be just another race doomed to self-destruction. It would indeed be disheartening, especially after observing your tireless efforts.”

Alan looked at him confused. “Are you…being nice?”

“Why are humans so fixated on benevolence? Then again, I shouldn't be surprised. Your minds are rather straightforward. But, they can be groomed! 'Nice' is not a term befitting my description. As a deity, guiding you is akin to a master instructing... a pet. Embrace the guidance. This Node of Creation is undeniably a chance for you to amass power. Is that not your aspiration?”

Alan's brain short-circuited as he tried to discern each of Luméos's thoughts. “Did you call me a pet…”

“Truly?” said Luméos. “Of all the sentiments expressed, that's your focus? Case in point. Nonetheless, heed my words. Before you stands a pathway to growth—an aptitude. These are intricate, challenging to master. Should you triumph, it binds eternally to your soul. There is no 'unlearning' such a gift.”

“Okay. That’s what I was suspecting. And that’s probably why I was drawn to it. From what you’re saying it’s like a trail. But what happens if I fail?”

“The chance evaporates. A-tier aptitudes are seldom offered.”

Luméos placed one of his blue hands in front of the shifting crystal. He clenched his fist, and a second later, the polyhedron came to a soft stop.

“Consider boons as raw power, while aptitudes serve as conduits for that force. One cannot exist without the other. A deity might possess a million boons, yet, devoid of aptitudes, they're less than trivial. Mastery over more of both unlocks vast spellwork. But I presume your quaint tutorial guide covered this.”

“Zee didn’t explain any of that.”

Luméos didn’t pay him attention and continued on with his explanation.

“Numerous methods exist to acquire aptitudes—training establishments, scrolls, tomes, the esteemed guidance of a MENTOR, and so forth. As for boons, their procurement differs... encompassing quests, remarkable feats, even sacrifices. But hold a moment... whom, pray tell, has been assigned as your tutorial guide?”

Alan stretched his arm, and his shoulder cracked. “It was this big bug guy in a wizard’s robe. He had wings and said he was from the Zeny…one second, I wrote it down…Zentari Dominion.”

Luméos raised an eyebrow. “It's hardly surprising your Zentari 'guide' was... selective in his teachings. They have a knack for sidestepping the full truth. Always have. Money-hungry insects, always trading true essence for shiny baubles. Why, oh why, must the cosmos be littered with such mediocrity?”

“That’s not reassuring at all. So my tutorial sucks?”

“Let’s just say, now I actually feel a little sorry for you humans. So pay attention. The node will challenge everything that you know. It will test your knowledge, strengths, weakness and compatibility with itself before it allows you to harness its power. Oh this is quite an interesting predilection, I wonder if it is the right one for you.”

“I’m ready, so how do I harness its power?”

“Simply attempt to seize it.”

“Is that it?”

Luméos nostrils flared. “It will seem insurmountable. Initially.”

“That's the type of challenge I've been craving," Alan said eagerly. "But okay, enough talk. I can't wait any longer—let's dive in!”

“Such is the mantra of every ill-prepared deity in history. Should this aptitude elude you, rest assured the ordeal shall render subsequent ones more accessible. Retain composure, draw from the entirety of your accumulated wisdom. Harness, unequivocally, every boon and aptitude at your disposal.”

Then he added, “Particularly 'Identify'—and any associated incantations. One would hope you've had the foresight to permit yourself such foundational instruction.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“I do have that one,” Alan grinned.

“After all, it's an elementary art, fundamental to any deity worth their salt in the cosmic arena.”

When Alan tried to reach the polyhedral crystal his hands seemed to move endlessly in a way that looked like an optical illusion and though no force barred his way he couldn't touch it.

“Holy shit,” he said.

The crystal threw light upon the old engravings.

“It looks as if it is right there,” he said more to himself than to anyone else. “But the distance feels like miles.”

“Ah, you see, the realm encompassing the node is, in fact, boundlessly infinite. As any object dares approach this enigma, the node cunningly extends the expanse, ever increasing the chasm between itself and the encroaching entity.”

“That is…thrillingly interesting.”

His mind ran in overdrive deciphering the fundamental concept behind the node’s baffling conundrum. He moved his hands close to the crystal again, this time using Resonance Reveal.

This time he was able to recognize a series of inscriptions that appeared around the node. The intricate patterns and diagrams appeared in the form of pure mana.

“Oh. Neat. It's like Zeno's Paradox in three dimensions.

They were oddly familiar. He stared at them for a minute. But he ultimately recognized it as a combination of Fibonacci sequences, fractals, and other mathematical phenomena.

And before Alan knew it, the math was disassembling in his head in the form of equations forming and reforming. He started computing the sums in his head, recalling a theorem he'd once known.

“Luméos, I think I’ve got it. They’re equations, there’s a pattern. The closer I get, the further it expands. It’s geometric progression!”

“Riveting. So you've managed a rudimentary understanding of the expansion principle? Bravo. However, dear Alan, knowing and overcoming are disparate matters. Let's see if your little revelation has any real value, shall we?”

“If I can identify the rate and the initial term,” Alan explained. “I can calculate the exact limit.”

“Focus! You have managed to brush the first corner, now finish the canvas. Keep Identify engaged. What do you see? When the torrent of enlightenment floods your being, and believe me, it will be like nothing you've ever felt, just remember to breathe. It might be the most intelligent thing you do. I must admit, reaching the node's third echelon is... slightly above what I expected from you. Perhaps, just perhaps, you're not entirely a lost cause.”

Alan stared at the crystal. Instead of reaching, he visualized himself being at its center. There were countless extensions and he needed to predict the next one. “It means I won’t approach indefinitely. There’s a finite distance I need to bridge.”

“And how does that aid you?”

“It provides an endpoint, a target,” Alan said pensively.

Alan decided to try his Boon of Augmentation. Remembering Luméos's initial remark to use every single skill at his disposal, he used the Boon to expand his reach to match the node’s domain.

The crystal vibrated, syncing with Alan’s heartbeat, and knowledge enveloped his very being.

“You... achieved it,” Luméos whispered. “Perhaps gifting you with my instruction was an undue advantage after all.”

He scanned the system messages that flooded his brain.

The Node of Creation has been unlocked…

The node resonates with your essence, and is now perfectly in sync with the frequencies of your soul.

Pathway to Enlightenment: Dive deep into the uncharted territories of the mind. Strengthen your grasp on intricate details, decipher cryptic challenges, and unlock hidden wisdom.

* Benefits: Boost cognitive abilities, expand memory capacities, and foster unwavering focus.

The Binding Challenge: Engage with the universe's elemental nature. Seize its energy, command its raw power, and wield it with deftness and precision.

* Benefits: Channel elemental forces, bridge the chasm between matter and magic, and orchestrate the symphony of creation.

Really? The choice is between pushing the boundaries of intellect…or commanding the universe's raw power? There’s no doubt about it, I’m officially insane.

Journey of Fusion: Harmonize with the vast dance of the cosmos. Marry the physical and the metaphysical, the tangible and the ethereal.

* Benefits: Achieve balance, fortify resilience, and tap into the timeless equilibrium of existence.

What the hell? Finding harmony between two seemingly opposing realms? How’s that possible?

Which testament of cosmic mastery beckons your spirit?

“Luméos, I have to choose between three equally dumbfounding choices.”

“Luméos?” Alan called again. But only found emptiness. He realized he was alone. Sound, light, matter, appear distorted.

Another realm? Feels like a state of mind. Am I inside the node?

The node pulses, waiting for a decision. Synchronicity unstabilizing. Indecision risks the connection to the node.

No time. So intelligence, power or everything? He quickly reviewed the three options and picked the one that looked more appealing.

Do you earnestly yearn to grasp the ever-evolving magic of the Journey of Fusion?

Yes/No?

"Yes. Yes, I am."

Aptitude acquired! [Spellweaver] - Harness the fundamental principles of magic to craft, modify, and combine spells in innovative ways.

“Welcome back,” Luméos began with a hint of disdain. “How was your odyssey?”

Alan scooted away from the polyhedron, blinked rapidly and shook his head briskly.

“From your physical reactions, it is evident that you were successful,” Luméos grinned proudly.

Alan felt like he had emerged from a deep dive and a mental fog lifted.

A second later, he collapsed to his knees, feeling exhausted, lethargic, and burnt-out all at once. He looked at his status and saw that his health, stamina, and mana were in fact all in the red.

Alan cursed while the world continued coming into focus.

It wasn’t just his resource pools. A massive migraine was also assaulting his skull from every direction at the same time. It felt as though hundreds of wasps were relentlessly stinging him from inside his skull, only these wasps were fragments of mystical information that he simultaneously fully grasped and knew absolutely nothing about: it was Spellweaving.

Right there, at the tip of his forehead, were the formulas to cast magic spells—the very thing he'd been waiting for and had wanted all this time.

He struggled back to his feet, glaring at Luméos.

“Alan, you've surprised me. Acquiring that new aptitude? I always knew—even with your primitive mindset—that there was a glimmer of potential buried deep within you. And, let's not be coy about it, it was my unparalleled mentorship that polished that crude potential into the brilliance you've achieved.” Luméos's smirk became more pronounced, “I’d say you’re perhaps one of the better projects I've undertaken in this filthy dimension. Still, while it's been amusing to observe your growth, let’s remember the true beacon here: me, Luméos, God of Jewelcrafting. After such a feat, it's only fitting you show your appreciation in the most deserving manner—worshiping me. After all, wouldn't you like to be remembered as more than just a mundane tale in the annals of Verdenterra? Or worse, a substandard production?”

Before Alan could respond, he regurgitated a bitter bile, expelling what shouldn't have been there.

For a few seconds, Alan just stared at the ground, unable to move. Then he took a deep breath.

“Luméos, what’s happening? Am I gonna die?”

“Probably not. Though an elixir might be prudent for such fragile constitutions.”