[88 days left until Alvorna's Rite of Ascension]
The next day arrived and Jihoon woke up in what seems like a wooden hut made entirely out of molded wood. A product of Karim's Wood Magic. His body felt like a lot more durably relieved compared to and otherwise. And based on the environment outside, it seems that it was extremely early morning that dawn barely made its appearance.
Though when he turned around to see the surrounding, he saw Karim sitting motionlessly on a wooden chair. Body slumped forward, an unknowable expression, light cast from directly above. All of them combined seemingly point toward a reference that only Jihoon knows. Of someone who reached the finality of their existence, of everything burned so brightly before all reduced to pure white ash.
For a disorienting moment, Jihoon's mind seized with the notion that his sponsor had somehow perished in the night. However, as his senses fully awoke, he realized Karim was merely in an utterly exhausted slumber, the toll of caring for Jihoon's well-being having drained him despite his observed stats.
Evidence of the merchant's dedicated vigil surrounded them both. A fresh set of clothes lay folded neatly beside Jihoon's bedroll, while a variety of medicinal herbs and salves rested on a nearby table - all indicating Karim had personally tended to replacing Jihoon's sweat-soaked garments and applying remedies to his overexerted body.
Jihoon felt an overwhelming surge of gratitude and humility wash over him. While his own night of rest had been blissfully short after his intense training, it was now apparent that Karim had endured a relentless, sleepless night ensuring his full recovery in place for him.
Carefully rising from the bedroll, Jihoon draped a warm blanket over the slumbering merchant. Though the hut shielded them from the elements, he knew Karim's self-neglect had likely left him chilled while ministering to Jihoon's needs throughout the darkest hours.
"You have my deepest thanks, my friend," Jihoon murmured, squeezing Karim's shoulder gently.
Devotion isn't something that he expected to receive ever at all but now that he is clearly a recipient of one, all he can do with his best effort to make said devotion isn't misplaced.
Leaving the merchant to recoup his depleted energies, Jihoon quietly exited the hut. The crisp, dewy air of dawn rejuvenated his lungs as he gazed across the pristine wilderness awaiting their continued sojourn.
The obvious thing to do here is to warm-up. Do some basic exercise to get used to the intensive training that he will soon endure.
Then, from the crack of dawn, a figure in the sky stood out as it approaches closer toward him. He immediately realized it is Alvorna as she took the initiative this time around to find him as her shadow casted from the daybreak barely seen to Jihoon.
Descending in front of him with practiced grace of one born to the sky, emerald eyes sparkling with both relief and concern upon spotting Jihoon hale and hearty.
"It seems that you have completely recovered, my dear songweaver". Alvorna said warmly as her feet fiddling in the dewy grass.
Before Jihoon could respond, Alvorna had already begun carefully examining him. Her deft fingers probing along his arms and shoulders as she channeled her Wind Magic to assess his physical state with ethereal insight and mana control for anything abnormal. Fortunately, there was no lasting consequence and that Jihoon kept on pushing his luck despite believing in none.
Satisfied by whatever she discerned, Alvorna nodded with a tender smile. She was worried that Jihoon may have suffered some damage that is too much for just some basic treatment to fix him. But it seems that the basis of her restless night has ultimately been unfounded after all.
Her gaze then turned towards the hut where Karim still slumbered, unaware of her arrival.
"Your steadfast ally seems to require extended rest after tending to your needs all night," Alvorna mused, seeing how this is their own moment together with no one to interfere.
"So... how about I teach you something about Mana Attunement? It will certainly help you develop your connection to your wellspring a lot more seamlessly than you would think". Alvorna said as she is willing to be of help for his sake, just like the extent he has gone for her that has put him in danger of persecution of her own kind.
Jihoon recognized that Skill within her status and he has yet to reach the point he could read the exact detail of what it can do exactly. But since Alvorna is willing to extend a helping hand, all he needed to do is to accept hers.
Mana Attunement... is like trying to imagine an imaginary flow within your own body, each moving toward the focal points in human body. Thus forming circulation of mystical power that makes one more attuned to the surrounding environment and thus enhancing one's physical capability. A lot of races' biology won't be able to keep up with their own power without Mana Attunement and it is considered the foundational step for any serious combatant. That's even before conjuring any elemental magic with one's own will.
Jihoon's Song Magic in essence can be considered as a form of Mana Attunement but if he needs to keep playing his instrument for such a thing for every fight he is in or make use of his Doppelganger for that purpose, it will soon take only an ill-conceived timing to end in his demise if he can't make use of Song Magic for some reason.
Because of that, Jihoon has to start at square one, and like an old tree can't be easily bent or shape.
Under Alvorna's patient tutelage, Jihoon began learning to sense and guide the flows of mana coalescing within his meridians. The celestial Harpy used her own consummate control to carefully direct and shape the currents she perceived in his body.
"How extraordinary..." Alvorna marveled as she studied the luminous tides ebbing through Jihoon in her attunement vision. "It's as if conduits for your Light affinity have already been forged beforehand, though remaining mostly dormant until now."
Jihoon pondered her words silently, recalling the blazing torrent of power that had erupted when he first manifested his Breaking Dawn technique against Jin's despair bullet. That Judgement of Light's cataclysmic release have imprinted indelible pathways for his Light's essence and not just alter his innate element.
Through her guidance, Jihoon soon managed to take control of his inner flow. Alvorna's melodic voice did help him instill soothing refrain with the luminous flow deep within. An arduous but meditative trance that he goes on, Jihoon soon managed to direct the flow within his body on his own accord. This is his first step with his attunement of the Light within.
"Now, can you conjure it for me?". Alvorna asked as she didn't expect anything spectacular with his first step. Just something like a particle of his conjured element.
Jihoon inhaled deeply, focusing his newly attained attunement towards manifesting his affinity physically. He envisioned bottling the radiant essence burning within, compressing it through sheer force of will as Alvorna guide the process together with him.
However, no matter how he strained, the Light seemed to elude his grasp, slipping through the metaphysical cracks of his imagery like grains of effervescent sand. Sweat beaded on his brow as the strain grew, yet still the illumination within remained stubbornly formless.
Sensing his mounting frustration, Alvorna placed a hand with her softening gesture on his arm. "Don't force it, my dear songweaver. Elemental manifestation comes from an intuitive harmony, not martial effort."
Her words prompted Jihoon to pause and still his turbulent mind. In that tranquil and momentary space, he suddenly remembered the decayed halberd, his Judgment of Light. The conduit through which he had first unveiled his radiant essence against overwhelming despair.
Concentrating his newfound attunement fully upon the ancient weapon, Jihoon willed the Light from deep within his soul to blaze forth. Immediately, brilliant motes of scintillating radiance began shimmering along the halberd's edge, rapidly intensifying until the entire blade burned with blinding incandescence.
'Of course... it is the first conduit that awakened my Light power to begin with. The same thing that gave me power of Light in the first place.' Jihoon thought as he noticed the obvious thing all along. But still, he need to somehow conjure Light without needing his halberd or just a simple disarm shutdown an entire ability of his.
He stood up, his halberd imbued in incandescent light. Even if it is a merely trivial achievement, it was still something important to him that he did to his own effort.
"Wonderfully done, my dear Jihoon! You have taken your first, crucial steps in harmonizing with your innate element's essence." Alvorna beamed at him with pride.
Then an impish smile blossomed on her expression, preluding toward something that Jihoon himself was unsavory toward.
"What better way to reinforce your new skills than through practical application?" She flourished her wings, drifting back several paces. "Spar with me, Jihoon. So that the rhythm of combat forge your harmony with the Light burning within."
Jihoon's eyes widened at her bold proposal. Even though he knew that he would need to fight or spar with someone to improve his skill, Alvorna is definitely amongst those he would wish to not harm whether by deliberate or accident.
"You'd have me trade blows with you? By your celestial grace, I could never risk harming you, Alvorna." Jihoon made his decline but the response only made her laugh.
Beckoning with one hand, her form shimmered as verdant mana coalesced around her in ephemeral zephyr currents.
"That is why I propose we engage in a friendly spar, Jihoon. Nothing too perilous, but enough to immerse you in the rhythms of combat while conjuring your Light's radiance. Magic improves most swiftly when applied under pressure."
Jihoon felt his breath catch as Alvorna's winds whipped her flowing locks of dark vanilla in an emerald aureole.
"Fear not, I shall limit myself to only novice-class wind spells. Even with your newfound power, surely you can tell I could subdue you with mere physical attunement if I wished." Alvorna said in a bit of condescending tone that befits that of a royalty now that her competitive spirit stirred.
That much is unfortunately true. The differences between him and Alvorna right now is staggering enough that his [Observant] registered a lot of her stats as unquantifiable with certainty.
Jihoon could sense the sheer power thrumming through Alvorna's form. She was holding back immensely, with layers of might he could scarcely fathom.
Knowing that there's no decline from this spar if he wished to, might as well embracing it wholeheartedly. Beside, the approaching dawn makes no better thematic backdrop for the match between them. With a mental command toward the System, Jihoon opened his status panel.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Name: Jihoon Hyunwoon
Level: 36
EXP: 355/486
Class: None
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 7.6
-END: 7.8
-AGI: 7.4
-DEX: 7.3
+Non-physical Attributes:
-INT: 10.2
-CHA: 4
-MAG: 30
Attribute Points: 6
+Musical Prowess: Early-Expert
+Active Skill:
-Doppelganger (Expert)
-Mana Attunement (Initiate) (New!)
-Light Magic (Innate) (New!)
+Passive Skill:
None
+Song Magic:
-Forgotten Melody (Intermediate)
-Glint of Cold Steel (Intermediate)
-Belief (Intermediate)
-Exceed! (Intermediate)
-RiET-949 (Intermediate)
-SPIKA (Intermediate)
-Alvorna (Expert)
-Restia. (Expert)
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
"Deploy the Doppelganger in the wooden hut. I want him to play Song Magic in my stead to buff me". Jihoon muttered inside his thought as the System fulfills his command.
The System followed his directive, and a duplicate of Jihoon shimmered into existence within the primitive hut where Karim still slumbered in exhaustion. Upon retrieving Jihoon's electric guitar, the Doppelganger expertly tuned the instrument, strumming a few experimental chords to test its resonance.
The Doppelganger wasted no time, opening strains of "Exceed!" filling the air, the deafening chord resonated within the tiny hut. Despite that, the merchant remained slumped in his seat, utterly insensate to the world around him after his self-sacrificing vigil tending to Jihoon's recovery.
He was clearly more drained than Jihoon had initially realized if even the energetic music didn't stir him.
Outside, Jihoon could feel the familiar thrum of his Song Magic's power rippling through him as the Doppelganger finally launched into the opening refrains of "Exceed!" His body grew energized, nerves sharpening as his attributes received their temporary boost.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Exceed!
Classification: Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect (MAG 30):
+350% to all Physical Attributes
'A music piece composed of unyielding defiance. Even if one’s circumstances have fallen into misfortune and ill-fate, hope only remains if one lives with determination. To surpass the previous self of yesterday, one must overcome challenges of today and tomorrow with confidence in self.’
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
Now here's an INT 10 trivia about this character theme of himself. This Song's key signature is in E minor which represents distress and despite ample of key changes throughout, the core structure of it remains explicitly so. But because of the whole thing is of distress and overcoming of it constantly with persistent no matter how it might be, there was no more suitable representation of him than it after all.
Because after all, it only took one bad day to ruin everything he held dear.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 7.6 (+19)
-END: 7.8 (+19)
-AGI: 7.4 (+19)
-DEX: 7.3 (+19)
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
Gripping the still-blazing Judgment of Light firmly, Jihoon turned to face Alvorna with renewed determination. Though their power disparity remained immense, he refused to back down from her bold challenge.
Alvorna's emerald eyes danced with appreciation for Jihoon's readiness. With a subtle flourish of her wings, the Harpy assumed her combat stance - one flowing with the effortless, windswept grace befitting her celestial heritage.
Jihoon made his advancing charge, the decayed Judgment of Light placed into initial guarding stance. Then once the distance is closed in mere seconds, he swung down the halberd... into the empty space where Alvorna once occupied.
The Harpy flowed around his attack with preternatural grace, her wings effortlessly propelling her out of harm's way. Despite its span supposedly make her a larger target, his reach toward it is as short no matter his attempt.
"You'll have to be swifter than that, my dear songweaver," Alvorna chided playfully, emerald eyes sparkling.
Adjusting his footwork, Jihoon pressed the assault with a series of measured strikes and feints. Yet despite his boosted speed and reflexes, Alvorna seemed to predicting his every move before he could complete it. Her lithe form danced around his halberd in a whirling zephyr, always just out of its reach no matter his attempt.
Refusing to give up his onslaught, Jihoon abruptly reversed his swing in mid-stroke, aiming to catch Alvorna with the halberd's shaft. But-
Unified Aerokinesis Theory - Novice-class Control Spell - Levitate
A concentrated gust erupted beneath the Harpy, launching her up and over his sweeping attack.
As Jihoon reoriented, he found Alvorna hovering mid-air directly above with hands raised toward him. Verdant mana swirling around her fingers. A sly grin creased her lips as she unleashed her opening strikes.
Unified Aerokinesis Theory - Novice-class Attack Spell - Wind Edges
Crescent arcs of compressed air screamed towards Jihoon, imbued in verdant emerald giving substance to their lethality. Jihoon quickly swing his halberd in upward crescent as his light-imbued halberd tore through the blade of winds yet the staggering force behind is enough to throw him into the ground. Not remain fallen for long however, his body moved with practiced ease to get himself up in no time. A Hunter must stand tall or else he become easy target for his preys.
Alvorna did not relent, following up with her next conjured spell once standing on the dewy grass again.
Unified Aerokinesis Theory - Novice-class Attack Spell - Breeze
Suddenly, an emerald tide of wind rolled toward him like a tidal wave. Barely perceptible by Alvorna's imbuement of her magic into wind she unleashed. Jihoon could only muster his stance and prepared to split the wave in twain with his halberd. With an upward vertical swing, he managed to divide the rolling wind and barely move past it as even the recoil is propelled him back despite planting his feet into the ground.
Despite clearly limiting herself to just 'novice-class' spell, her proficient and application of her Wind Magic is disgusting despite what their name implied. Her attunement to the element clearly goes beyond just casting her magic. If she really wanted to, she could have just kept him levitated in the air helplessly while she pelted him endlessly with her magic without a care.
Each sylvan gesture of hers flowed seamlessly into the next, maintaining unrelenting pressures through elegant lethality displayed. Like using the flutter of a feather to bring upon a hurricane's destructiveness.
It was readily apparent why so few dared provoke the Harpies' ire when their scion demonstrated such devastating potential. Even when severely restraining herself for this mere spar, Jihoon could scarcely fathom Alvorna's full offensive might were she unleashing her complete repertoire.
Regrouping his guard, Jihoon realized that overwhelmingly direct tactics would only exhaust him against Alvorna's effervescent defenses. Since his options are limited either way, resonating with her while sound at first isn't the objective of the duel. It is so that his attunement of the Light become meaningful. The result doesn't matter either way.
But this isn't his best yet and 'Exceed!' is about to reach its perfect spot for transitional climax either way.
With a mental thought Jihoon quickly commanded the Doppelganger through the System to perform Linked Song Magic. Or called as adaptive transition by many music designers where songs can effortlessly transition to one another depends on the atmosphere or environment. This require plenty of forethought or otherwise in design or clashing become inevitable. But again, his ability make something forceful sound good isn't out of his capability.
Stolen novel; please report.
"Transition to SPIKA, now!". Jihoon commanded upon the Doppelganger. And to his surprise that it can surprisingly replicate a lot of different string instruments on just an electric guitar. And it sheds light on a lot of things that he could have done with his proficiency with his electric guitar but unable due to lack of improvisation.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
SPIKA
Classification: Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect (MAG 30):
-+100% to MAG
(This effect can only be stacked once and is overlapped by stronger similar effect.)
--------____{\\\\////}_____--------
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
+Non-physical Attributes:
-MAG: 30 (+30)
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Exceed! -> SPIKA
Classification: Linked Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect:
+700% to all Physical Attributes (MAG 60)
+100% to MAG (MAG 30) (This effect can only be stacked once and is overlapped by stronger similar effect)
--------____{\\\\////}_____--------
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 7.6 (+46)
-END: 7.8 (+46)
-AGI: 7.4 (+45)
-DEX: 7.3 (+45)
+Non-physical Attributes:
-MAG: 30 (+30)
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
Now, how did he connect two vastly different songs together? The answer is in the timing, and the key signature. Because the only instrument that is being in play right now is his electric guitar, the transition isn't as jarring like one led to believe otherwise.
SPIKA's key signature is E flat minor, which supposedly represent deep distress and depression and the upbeat melody progression did very well to mask it until later into the song where the more receptive will start to notice the dissonance between the chord progression and key signature.
And with significantly enhanced stats by comparison as the Doppelganger substitutes nearly every string parts with the grizzled sound of the electric guitar and forgo nearly anything else. Jihoon made his stride in the major burst of speed toward Alvorna, the Harpies herself is immensely faster if her 3-digit DEX and AGI means anything but Jihoon's multiplicative enhance of his speed took her off-guard briefly as he nearly caught her in the throe of his halberd.
But her control over wind is still subtly insidious as ever. With mere gestures of her hand, she go into chant-less method of her own Wind Magic's conjuration. By doing so, one exchange potency of their own magic for the rapid rate of mental casting. And with how powerful her control of her own magic is, that little trade does little to dampen the overall effectiveness of her Wind Magic.
Jihoon's made his stalwart charge against Alvorna as she continues to send numerous wind spells toward him. The novice-class restriction still applies but she never said that she would limit her casting speed or amount. By the sheer magnitude that she unleashed mentally conjured, Jihoon is left with no choice but to confront directly.
His movements blurred as the effects of his Linked Song Magic took hold, his physical attributes skyrocketing to stratospheric levels. Alvorna's emerald eyes widened in surprise as he closed the distance between them in the span of a few heartbeats, the decayed Judgment of Light a blur of incandescent radiance.
Each spell is designed to completely throw Jihoon's momentum and direction off-balance. Even if he strike with his halberd, its scattering force can throw his trajectory off immensely and open him for far more vulnerability. But that's only work if he was the same as before. Because all of his Physical Attributes are doubled and all of them combined in junction becoming far more than their own sum of their parts.
Once again, 10 is the human limit without any magical intervention. The strongest anyone could ever been without any magic. And Jihoon's over-50 of all of his Physical Attributes make him isn't just 5 times stronger than peak human, he is in reality stronger than 20 times of peak human due to the balanced conjunction of physical stats.
This makes his striking strength as powerful as a bullet train, and can withstood being hit by one without injury. He can move as fast as one and dodges bullets by reflex alone. At this point, mere novice-class breeze and wind can't force his trajectory at all.
As Jihoon penetrates through hurricane of wind spells, as he approaches her position even closer. Alvorna took to the air again, verdant wings thrumming as she rained down a torrent of wind spells. Typhoon gusts battered Jihoon relentlessly, threatening to sweep him off his feet. He merely focused fiercely, sinking into a low crouch as his enhanced strength allowed him to anchor himself against the onslaught.
With a blazing streak, he launched himself skyward, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. Alvorna's eyes went wide as Jihoon seemingly materialized before her, the Judgment of Light swinging in a blinding arc. Her instincts took over, wings beating in a frenzy as she hurled herself backwards. The ancient halberd's blade missed her by a hair's breadth, close enough to ruffle her feathers with the blazing heat of Jihoon's manifested Light.
Jihoon has stopped his light-imbued halberd from approaching her too close. Its shimmering edge seemingly threatened to cut her apart but he knew that with her 3-digit DEX and AGI, this kind of thing is nowhere close to even harm her. If anything, it is her concede that she couldn't keep her restriction of using only novice-class Wind Magic to defeat Jihoon.
That's what he would have thought if it weren't for Alvorna standing still like a sculpture despite him already dropping his halberd already. And that she spoke nothing after a few moments since their stop. Jihoon started to get worry as he looked into her eyes and realize that only emptiness reside in her eyes of emerald for some reasons.
Then, a strong gale instantly unleashed from her position as he is blown away immediately by a considerable distance. Quickly regain his bearing, he skillfully landed on his two feet as Alvorna started to take flight into the sky above. The height that she is flying is considerable enough that Jihoon can't reach even with his physical stats of over-50.
A foreboding sense started to overwhelm him as Jihoon frantically trying to figure out what is she doing right now. Quickly opening the status window to see what he can do, Jihoon realized something when he looked at Alvorna's self-portrayal theme in his status. And remembering the lyric of it, he started to notice the particular verb that is reflecting his situation right now...
An angel with a pair of dark wings
Invites you beyond the memories shrouded in darkness.
Jihoon started to focus on Alvorna's expression and realized something terrible has triggered her into going into subconscious crisis mode. He started to consider that the angel with dark wings isn't a saying of phrase that Alvorna hinted toward.
It's the darkness that reside in every Harpy. The brighter the light, the darker the shadow they cast.
Alvorna's expression was utterly transfixed, her eyes hollow and distant. Something primal stirred within her subconscious mind had seized control. Those vibrant emerald depths Jihoon knew so well were now eclipsed by an ancient, instinctual fury far transcending her conscious self.
Her brow furrowed, lips peeling back in an almost feral snarl as verdant mana roiled around her in turbulent eddies. Despite their resonant bond, some deeper, darker aspect of her celestial heritage had been inexorably provoked for reason unknown, overriding her restraints.
Jihoon can only watch in growing unease as dark storm clouds amassed above them, drawn by Alvorna's very presence like a locus of atmospheric distortion. Thunderheads churned and lightning danced across their bloated underbellies, concentrating into a maelstrom with the Harpy at its vortex. He knew that this is no longer any novice-class spell that she is casting anymore, she is casting the most powerful Wind Magic spell that she knew, her strongest Expert-class Wind Magic.
Against her conscious desires, that slumbering primal force was now awakened to its full, terrifying potential. Alvorna's wings unfurled in their full resplendent span, primordial energies cascading across each iridescent feather.
"Heavenly Tribulation."
Jihoon instantly knew that he is in for a bad time just from the name alone. Since he is now the spell's target, he knew that he must act.
"System, tell the Doppelganger to link RiET-949 with the current Linked Song Magic". Jihoon mentally commanded the System amidst great pressure. Literally as the hurricane begin to push upon him.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
RiET-949
Classification: Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect (MAG 30):
-+100% to all Physical Attributes of self.
The closer the song is to the end, the stronger the effect. (Max: 600%)
--------____{\\\\////}_____--------
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Exceed! -> SPIKA -> RiET-949
Classification: Linked Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect:
+900% to all Physical Attributes (MAG 60)
+100% to MAG (MAG 30) (This effect can only be stacked once and is overlapped by stronger similar effect)
The closer the song is to the end, the stronger all the above effects. (Max: 600%)
--------____{\\\\////}_____--------
This, this is the most stupidly overpowered Linked Song Magic combination that he has created so far. And just because he knew of adaptive transition that the effects of Song Magics become far greater than what even the little goddess likely intended to impart upon him.
Soon, the first gigantic lightning bolt struck toward him. And by some divine luck or that meager initial increase of the Linked Song Magic effect that allowed him to narrowly avoid instant death at a Heavenly Tribulation bolt. But much like its name sake, it never ends with only one. Nor it intend to end until it finally struck him if his reading of any Xianxia is any indication for it.
RiET-949's key signature is A flat minor, represent the theme of struggle. There's simply no better description of it because the whole song is a desperate struggle. From a thematic stand point, there's no better song to end this on to capitalize the multiplicative effect better than any other. And it fits thematically too because the Linked Song Magic so far goes from distress to despair and to struggle.
'Exceed!', the defiant anthem of himself in E minor that had reignited his will to overcome the despair of a broken dream. Its melancholic yet resolute tones perfectly captured his mindset after obtaining the power of Song Magic.
Flowing into SPIKA's unsettling E-flat minor dissonance, those seeds of renewed purpose had catalyzed an almost manic mania. A feverish drive to transcend his former self and limitations, heedless of the turbulent emotional toll such obsession would inevitably unleash.
And now, RiET-949's struggle-themed A-flat minor refrain rounded out the progression. From the depths of despair to the heights of obsessive ambition. All coalescing into this pivotal moment where he fought for far more than just survival against Alvorna's primal onslaught. Like trying to climb the heaven's with mortal strength as he described before with its continuous ascent of chord near the end.
Which made the disgustingly amplified effects of this Linked Song Magic chain both terrifying and strangely fitting. By stringing together the emotional milestones of his journey, he had inadvertently forged a conduit tapping into the most profound essences of his being. His traumas, obsessions, struggles. All sublimated into one transcendent harmonic resonance of a medley.
As thunder boomed and Alvorna's Heavenly Tribulation rained catastrophic lightning with each capable of explosive destruction on landing, Jihoon could feel that resonance thrumming through his very being. Each subsequent boost to his abilities not just some detached numerical value, but a reinforcement of his existential tenacity to endure.
He had come far from just being a helpless civilian that he had been. Now, it is time to mix tape, and perform miracle.
Aside from the philosophical viewpoint, the chained effects of the Linked Song Magic utilized MAG as a core stat that determines the potency of the Song Magic. And that the effects become stronger multiplicatively as the song approaching its end.
However... MAG is also the boosted stats amongst them and subject to be affected by the multiplicative progression effect. And because of it, the Physical Attribute enhancing effect's scaling is quadratic. Let alone of the effect of MAG also increase too.
And so, his battle plan is to stay alive and let the scaling effect of the Linked Song Magic reach the closest to its feverish climax. So that he has enough stats to overcome her Heavenly Tribulation by force if required. To clear the storm in one swing of his halberd.
There's one drawback however. Because of how RiET-949 worked in its description. The song can only become stronger as it approaching its end thus its power can only work for the duration of it, making its use limited to duel scenarios despite its effects. And if his far-stronger opponent detected his quadratically-scaling strength if their Mana Attunement is advanced enough, they might as well just try to kill him instantly with their strongest attack.
A cornered and terrified beast fight the hardest and this applies to everyone. Including him and others.
So as the raging hurricane around him continue its wrath in the immediate location. From the churning vortex overhead, smashing craters where he had stood mere moments before with lightning bolts the size of him. The lingering shockwave can still be felt despite long after it taken place.
Yet Jihoon moved with preternatural grace, his reflexes elevated to levels beggaring belief as RiET-949 only continues to approach its feverish crescendo. The overwhelming orchestra simulated by the Doppelganger with only the electric guitar replicated the oppressive atmosphere that is taking place now very well.
Lightning danced all around him in a blistering strobe, only for his form to blur in explosive bursts of speed, evading each catastrophic strike through movements too fast for even the eye to track.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Exceed! -> SPIKA -> RiET-949
Classification: Linked Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect:
+1,764% to all Physical Attributes (MAG 72)
+140% to MAG (MAG 30) (This effect can only be stacked once and is overlapped by stronger similar effect)
The closer the song is to the end, the stronger all the above effects. (Max: 600%) (Currently: 140%)
--------____{\\\\////}_____--------
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 7.6 (+126)
-END: 7.8 (+126)
-AGI: 7.4 (+125)
-DEX: 7.3 (+125)
+Non-physical Attributes:
-MAG: 30 (+42)
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
Exceeding all 3-digit in all Physical Attributes, he had become stronger than Alvorna in her base state without any Mana Attunement. But of course, none of this could meaningfully penetrate through her storm-weaved cloak that cover her. He still need to bide his time carefully and carefully select his moment to overcome.
The ground itself buckled and heaved beneath the Heavenly Tribulation's fury. Yet Jihoon's footfalls remained unwavering, each step a calculated technique as he flowed around the zones of destruction like spring water around jagged rocks.
4 minutes, that's the originally length of the RiET-949 when he first composed it. And it felt awfully long with everything on the line. The ancient halberd in his hands, the Judgment of Light, seemed to also hum in resonance with the music's resurging swell. An inexplicable resonance woven between man and weapon, as if the two had become extensions of a singular force of nature.
And perhaps they had. Jihoon's newfound attunement to his innate Light affinity amplified in lockstep with his skyrocketing MAG stat. The incandescent glow along the halberd's edge intensified into a radiant sun's corona, its brilliance outshining even the arcing lightning that surrounded them in a blinding, prismatic display.
The relic blade itself seemed to whisper silent insights directly into Jihoon's consciousness. Subtle adjustments to his footwork and grip, subconscious recalibrations elevating his technique to seamless lethality. As if his attunement between it become increasingly heightened in scenarios where life shines most brilliantly at the edge of death itself.
Trusting his instincts to its guidance, allowing the music's rhythm and the halberd's mystical insights to guide him, Jihoon flowed effortlessly between the craters and fissures sundering the earth around him. Closer and closer to the eye of the storm he advanced, until finally a single heartbeat of relative calm allowed him to halt amidst the raging winds.
Overhead, Alvorna's form was silhouetted against the swirling vortex. Though he couldn't perceive her expression through the maelstrom's haze, Jihoon could sense the celestial Harpy's divine focus drawing inward for one final, cataclysmic strike to end this confrontation. By using his Attunement on the surrounding atmospheric mana and how they are being drawn upward into the vortex above.
Right at the exact moment RiET-949's triumphant melody first approach. Jihoon solemnly accepts the impossible challenge.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Exceed! -> SPIKA -> RiET-949
Classification: Linked Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect:
+11,025% to all Physical Attributes (MAG 165)
+450% to MAG (MAG 30) (This effect can only be stacked once and is overlapped by stronger similar effect)
The closer the song is to the end, the stronger all the above effects. (Max: 600%) (Currently: 450%)
--------____{\\\\////}_____--------
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 7.6 (+770)
-END: 7.8 (+772)
-AGI: 7.4 (+768)
-DEX: 7.3 (+767)
+Non-physical Attributes:
-MAG: 30 (+135)
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
With his MAG stats broke into 3-digit. His Attunement with the Judgment of Light becomes intrinsically clearer than ever. Instead of just nondescripts guidance, he actually heard its words directly speaking of him for the first time.
A current of ethereal intuition guiding his movements and techniques with an almost prophetic precision. But as RiET-949's approaching finale hit its resounding peak, that presence coalesced into an unmistakable voice resonating directly into Jihoon's very soul.
Turns out, the Judgement of Light is an EGO weapon. Called as such for anything that contained its own consciousness and capable of thought of its own no differently than a human. Despite its state of decay, the consciousness residing in it still remain pristine and coherent.
"Greetings, Anointed Wielder." The tone rang with the timeless cadence of a veteran paladin - resolute yet carrying solemn wisdom.
"It seems that you have awakened me in just the most inopportune time possible. Or the opposite if you consider me".
Despite the maelstrom raging around them, Jihoon felt an uncanny sense of calm suffuse him at the relic's words.
"You have proven your fortitude by harmonizing with my essence," the halberd's voice continued patently. "Though our resonance remains temporary seeing your state, I shall impart the innermost secret of my transcendent techniques unto you. No time for training right now though, so I'll do the act for you"
Suddenly, knowledge rushed directly into his mind. His body's control temporarily handed over to the halberd in his hand. His stance moved into position, the halberd moved into preparation stance. All as if he is about to jump toward her now that he has over-700 Physical Attributes.
Judgement of Light's Breaking Dawn is a technique meant to maximize the horizontal-swing attack. Which its luminous arcs represent the crack of dawn. So the next technique down the progression list is... the sun rising, clearing away the darkness of the night.
Judgement of Light - Rising Sun
An upward vertical swing, that's what it looks like from outside perspective. But the force behind it is so immense that momentum dragging him upward into the sky toward her. Meanwhile in the wooden hut that Karim still remain motionless in there, somehow conveniently remain unaware of another massive battle taking place like at doorstep away.
Alvorna's silhouette shone like a fell angel at its core, wings outstretched as the full, primal force of her Heavenly Tribulation reached its zenith.
A final bolt of massive lightning arced downwards, like a spear of annihilating energy powerful enough to scour the earth beneath itself. This was the Heavenly Tribulation's ultimate and final onslaught, one last obliterating strike to end their confrontation.
Yet Jihoon stood remains utterly calm, his body and the Judgment of Light moving in sublime unison as that transcendent wisdom guided his every movement. With blinding speed, the ancient halberd raised high in a two-handed grip as it is about to enact its completed swing midair. Like whirling helix that his trailing arc of light left behind, continuously growing in intensity until even the lightning itself eclipsed by its radiance.
Then finally, as RiET-949 approaches its finishing crescendo. As its note progression continues to rise upward higher like ascending to heaven. Its timing was truly impeccable as he thought.
The radiant corona of light impacted upon the spear of lightning. Luminous light and verdant thunder collide as two great force released each other as concussive and deafening explosion of shockwave. One so powerful that even the localized hurricane above them completely dispersed by force as if never once there.
Even after the brilliance faded, ghostly afterimages swam in Jihoon's vision from the sheer intensity of that released force. He gasped for breath, every fiber of his being thrumming with the exertion of channeling such staggering might. But the Heavenly Tribulation is no more, only scattering cloud remained as the dawn arrived in earnest.
There was only silent in the brief moment between them. With RiET-949 ended, so too is the Linked Song Magic effect as a whole. Now entering free fall after that decisive collision, Jihoon's body was too tired and fatigued after all of what has been done. And in the distance, he could see Alvorna also falling downward unconsciously too as she is too in direct proximity of that decisive collision.
4 minutes. This whole Heavenly Tribulation thing from its beginning to abrupt end took 4 minutes. The same duration of RiET-949. And yet this whole fight between them felt like a long war has taken place and its conclusion felt endless despite momentary.
"Whatever, perhaps this isn't the worst death that can happen to me, I guess". Jihoon said with a tone of apathy of his oncoming fate.
Alvorna's eyes fluttered open as consciousness slowly returned to her. She blinked in confusion, taking in her surroundings and realize that she was plummeting from a great height back towards the ground far below.
How did she end up here? The last thing she remembered was proposing a friendly spar with Jihoon to help him practice attuning his Light affinity. But now his limp form was also freefalling nearby, clearly drained and on the verge of losing consciousness himself.
Reacting on pure instinct, Alvorna's wings unfurled and she arrested her descent. With a few powerful strokes, she soared over and caught Jihoon in her arms before he could impact the ground. She landed gently, cradling his weary form.
"Jihoon! What in the celestial heavens occurred here?" Alvorna's voice was fraught with worry and confusion as she looked around at the devastated landscape around. Deep craters marred the earth and scorch marks like those left by heavenly lightning were seared into the ground.
He simply managed a faint smile up at her, relieved she seemed unharmed even if utterly bewildered.
His eyelids cracked open at her words, nondescript eyes struggling to refocus. Upon meeting her gaze, the memories of their ferocious duel came flooding back despite how recent it is.
Yet Alvorna's expression betrayed only confusion – no recollection of the primal fury that had overcome her, no hint she even knew of the tempest she had unleashed. The "angel with dark wings" that her theme song alluded to must have remained shrouded from her conscious self.
"It seems...some darker aspect of your truest nature momentarily seized control, Alvorna," he said between ragged breaths. "Using the strongest Wind Magic that I've seen so far in this realm".
Alvorna went pale at his words, eyes widening in horror. "Wha...what? No, that's not possible! I would never...I couldn't have..." Her mind reeled, unable to process how she could have so catastrophically lost control to something intrinsically connected to her.
Jihoon reached up to gently touch her cheek. "Peace, my celestial muse. You fought admirably to restrain yourself". He looked around at the devastation again. "For a terrifying moment, I glimpsed the full, ancient fury you celestial Harpies are capable of wielding. The 'angel with dark wings' lurking beneath your radiant light."
Alvorna's eyes went wide at those words which she recognized from the lyrics of her own musical theme resonating with Jihoon. She drew in a shaky breath, unable to fully process the implications of what he described.
Some primal, subconscious facet of her heritage had momentarily taken over. The very aspect of herself she had worked tirelessly to transcend through meditation and spiritual harmony. Yet it had still arisen, unbidden and uncontrolled, posing a terrifying threat to the one she cared for most.
Overwhelmed, she clutched Jihoon close, trembling slightly. "I...have no memory of this darker side emerging," she admitted fearfully. "Does that mean I could lose control again at any moment? Unleashing devastation I can't even consciously restrain?"
Jihoon met her worried gaze steadily. "I do not know, Alvorna. Such primal depths seem inherent to your kind's legacy. But I have faith you will find the inner harmony to overcome this trial, just as you have every other. And you're not alone at all for you still have your kind and your mother who is willing to help you should it come to that. And even if the world is against you then I'm willing to stand up against it for your sake too"
Through all of that, he returned her with a reassuring smile on his face that he could express. That's the best he could do for her sake. He has been trying to learn more about her heritage and all he got was more questions and unexplained mysteries than answers with every interaction with the Harpies and things related to them in general.
Alvorna felt her doubts calming at his words. And knowing that he was right about that at the very least. Together, they have formed a harmonic resonance that no inner turmoil can easily break. Best that she can do is to double on her grasp of her own emotional mastery.
And if that primeval side of her threatened to resurface again. Jihoon is there to be her guiding light in her utmost desperate time. Before he could said anything however, Alvorna immediately held onto him tightly as if she's afraid of what her future would be like without him.
That if one day he would have to leave Absence, she would return back to that dreary old day again. One can't continue to live in the darkness once they saw the light.
While the moment between them was tender like always, there are one thing they needed to do right now.
"I think we need to clear this site of battle right now. I don't think Karim will like it if he saw just how close we are to another fiasco again". Jihoon said as he looked at the scarred battleground that they were in.
Both of them snapped back to reality and suddenly, they have a different trouble at hand.