A month and a half had passed recently Melius had ignited Lucas's Aura spark. In the days following, Lucas dedicated himself to his most daring plan yet—integrating both Aura and Mana to use simultaneously. He had a spark, yes, but no real way to cultivate it. Melius provided rough lessons, though they were nothing like the refined teachings of his grandfather, Silas. The ancient swordsman knew Aura like the back of his hand, but his knowledge was fragmented, filled with half-remembered tales from a long, war-torn life.

"Listen, you fool," Melius growled one morning, watching Lucas attempt another round of Aura tempering, "Aura and Mana are different. Completely. I'll guide you, since you tricked me into sparking that damn thing inside you. But don't go dying on me, kid."

Lucas couldn't help but grin. "Are you worried about me, Uncle Melius?"

Melius coughed, clearly flustered. "Don't get full of yourself, boy. I'm only worried about my payment! If you die, your grandpa won't pay me."

Lucas chuckled but remained silent. Beneath the gruff words, he sensed something more—a bond, forged not by blood but by trials. Melius continued, pacing with his great sword slung over his shoulder.

"Aura... it's living energy, physical and raw. It flows through your body's physical nodes. Mana? That's spiritual, ethereal. It's like the air you breathe, everywhere. But Aura... it's like breathing underwater. Hard. Dangerous. You get me?"

Lucas nodded, though Melius's teaching was far from precise. Unlike Silas, Melius wasn't a good teacher. But Lucas had something the grizzled swordsman didn't—his AI.

AI, analyze the Aura tempering scroll. Can we improve it?

The AI beeped in response.

"Analyzing. The Aura tempering technique is similar to Mana tempering. Adjustments needed. Calculating... Estimated time: 3 hours."

As the hours passed and they returned to Almera, Lucas reflected on the grueling past month. His muscles ached daily, and exhaustion became his constant companion. But in that pain, there was progress. Each day, he grew stronger. Each day, he came closer to the power that would grant him freedom—freedom from fear, from weakness, from dependence.

At dusk, the AI beeped again.

"New enhanced Aura tempering technique developed. Now on par with Mana tempering."

Lucas scanned the AI's enhancements. It was a revelation. The techniques for Mana and Aura tempering followed similar principles, but with critical differences. Mana flowed through spiritual nodes, ethereal and untouchable, while Aura coursed through physical nodes—tangible, heavy, alive. The two forces existed in parallel, intertwined but never interacting. Most Magi could never dream of combining them.

Why? Because Mana tempering was second nature to most Magi—like breathing air. From the moment they awakened, Mana was their lifeblood, flowing effortlessly through their spiritual pathways. Aura, on the other hand, was different. To cultivate it was like trying to breathe underwater. And without guidance, most who attempted both failed. They became so accustomed to channeling Mana that, when they tried to direct Aura, they sent it into the wrong nodes—spiritual instead of physical—and suffered devastating backlash.

But Lucas was different.

AI, he thought, I think I understand. Most Magi fail because they don't have what I have. They don't have you. They try to pass Mana through physical nodes, or Aura through spiritual nodes, and the result is chaos.

Lucas's mind raced. What if... what if I pass Mana and Aura simultaneously, but through their respective nodes? Spiritual for Mana, physical for Aura? Can they spiral together, like a helix?

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The AI beeped, processing.

"Analyzing hypothesis..."

Lucas urged his mare, Cookie, forward, eyes gleaming with excitement. This could work. I know it can.

An hour passed as they neared the city walls. Finally, the AI beeped again.

"Hypothetical test completed. Result: Success. Warning: This method increases cultivation difficulty twofold. High risk of severe backlash. However, training time will be reduced significantly, and simultaneous use of Mana and Aura will be possible.

Lucas's pulse quickened. His body might struggle to keep up, but this method... it was revolutionary. A technique no one had ever discovered, because no one had the guidance of an AI capable of such precision. He would be the first.

As they reached the training grounds the next morning, Lucas felt a strange exhilaration. Despite his exhaustion, he was eager to test his new method. He knew the risks—backlash could be fatal. But the rewards were too great to ignore.

Melius, eyeing him suspiciously, tossed him a dull practice sword. "You're awfully eager today. What madness are you planning now, boy?"

Lucas grinned. "Wouldn't you like to know, Uncle Melius?"

Melius grunted, annoyed but intrigued. "Just remember, kid, Aura isn't something to play with. You mess this up, and no amount of Mana will save you."

Lucas nodded, the weight of Melius's warning sinking in. He couldn't afford to fail. His life—and his power—depended on it.

As the training progressed, Lucas finally initiated his experiment.

AI, begin the Helix Method. Spin Mana through the spiritual nodes, and Aura through the physical nodes—together.

"Commencing process..."

Lucas closed his eyes, focusing every ounce of his willpower. Mana swirled within him like the gentle flow of a river, light and effortless. At the same time, Aura pulsed, deep and primal, like the heartbeat of the earth itself. The two forces began to intertwine, spiraling together in perfect harmony, yet never touching.

For a moment, everything seemed to fall into place.

But then, a sharp pain tore through Lucas's body. His vision blurred, and his muscles seized up. It felt as if his veins were on fire, the two energies warring for dominance. Breathless, he nearly collapsed.

"Warning: Backlash detected. Immediate intervention recommended."

Not yet, Lucas thought through gritted teeth. I can handle this.

Sweat dripped down his brow as he forced the energies back into alignment. Slowly, agonizingly, the pain began to fade. The Mana and Aura continued to flow, separate but equal, in perfect balance.

After what felt like an eternity, the backlash subsided, and Lucas opened his eyes. He had done it. The Helix Method worked. He had succeeded where countless others had failed.

Melius walked over, frowning. "You look like death warmed over. What the hell did you do?"

Lucas, gasping for air, smiled weakly. "Just... testing a theory."

Melius raised an eyebrow, but didn't pry further. "You're a damn fool and crazy, kid. But maybe, just maybe, this madness help you survive in this world."

Lucas lay on the ground, his chest heaving. He was drained, but he could feel it—the power of Mana and Aura, intertwined and alive within him. He was the first, the only one to achieve such a feat. No other Magus could hope to replicate it. Not without the AI to guide them.

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AI, status check, he thought, still panting.

"Helix formation complete. Spiritual and physical nodes are stable. Current fusion rate: 62%. Backlash risk reduced by 18%."

Lucas smiled. His AI had been the key all along. Without it, he would have been just another failed experiment—another Magus destroyed by the clash of two incompatible forces. But the AI had guided him, mapped out every node, every pathway, ensuring the delicate balance between Mana and Aura.

AI, continue monitoring the flow. We're just getting started.

"Affirmative. Ongoing analysis initiated. Adjustments to Helix Method will continue based on new data."

As he lay in the dirt, watching the sunset over the hills, Lucas felt a deep sense of accomplishment. He had done what no one else could. The Helix Method—his creation—was a top-tier cultivation technique, unrivalled in the Magus world. But more than that, it was his. No one else could wield it, because no one else had the AI to guide them through the labyrinth of spiritual and physical nodes.

He wasn't just a Magus. He was something more—something new. And as the first of his kind, he would carve his own path in this world.