Kael's power had broken through yet again, reaching the peak of the ninth level. Ella stared at him, stunned, her heart pounding with disbelief.
Whether it was his overwhelming strength or his unyielding will, Kael left Ella in awe. She recalled their first meeting—back when he was merely an eighth-level mage yet had already mastered Fifth-Level Mana Oscillation. The memory made her breath hitch.
In such a short time, Kael had soared to the pinnacle of the ninth level. Just how monstrous was his potential?
The scene of Kael teaching her Mana Oscillation flashed vividly in her mind. A bitter, indescribable emotion surged in her chest. He had left her far, far behind.
Was her path of magic destined to pale in comparison?
Ella's fists clenched violently, her knuckles whitening. Her entire body trembled—a visible struggle raging within her.
"Kael," she suddenly knelt, one knee striking the ground as she looked up at him, her eyes blazing with resolve. **"I wish to become your disciple!"**
An apprenticeship?
Kael froze. Ella had proposed this once before, but he had refused, offering instead to exchange magical knowledge as equals. She had accepted then.
But now, seeing the steel in her gaze, Kael knew she meant every word. Ella trulywanted to pledge herself as his student.
Back when Kael was only a mid-tier eighth-level mage, Ella—stronger than him at the time—had already entertained this thought. Now, with Kael's power far eclipsing hers, that desire had only grown fiercer.
After witnessing his strength today, Ella realized with crushing clarity that with each meeting, the gap between them widened further. This time was no exception.
"I may lack talent," her voice was quiet but unshakable, **"but I am determined to walk my own path in magic. So—please teach me!"** Ella had always been aloof yet relentless, but now, as she knelt on the ground, her frail frame pressed low, something about her unwavering determination struck Kael deeply.
In the end, he nodded.
With his current mastery, Kael was more than qualified to be her mentor.
His time in the Eternal Tower and the Water Dragon Secret Realm, coupled with the arcane knowledge from The Book of Immortality, had left him with insights surpassing even most tenth-level mages.
Seeing his agreement, Ella's heart swelled. Without hesitation, she kowtowed three times—completing the formal rites of apprenticeship.
Ella's talent was actually quite remarkable—among wandering mages, she stood at the pinnacle. More importantly, her obsession with magic bordered on fanaticism. With proper guidance, she could undoubtedly grow into a formidable mage in her own right.
Of course, that guidance would have to come from Kael.
As one of the Lafei Territory's core forces, Ella had the potential to become a true high-tier combatant for the region—provided Kael nurtured her properly.
Without delay, Kael began instructing her. Ella bombarded him with questions on arcane theory, each of which he answered with effortless precision. Most of her inquiries revolved around Mana Oscillation and mana pathways, and Kael's explanations cut through her confusion like a blade through fog.
Ella's admiration for him deepened into something bordering on reverence. Problems that had stumped her for months unraveled under Kael's insights, his solutions so elegant they left her breathless.
Time and again, concepts Ella had considered abstruse crystallized into clarity with just a few words from him. It dawned on her then: Kael's mastery already far surpassed the ninth level. A single opportunity could propel him into the tenth—perhaps at any moment.
A tenth-level powerhouse so young… Has the continent ever seen such a thing? The thought flickered through Ella's mind as she studied him.
After his latest breakthrough to the peak of the ninth level, Kael sensed the barrier to the tenth trembling at the edges of his perception. The signs were clear: another ascent was within reach.
That said, the chasm between ninth and tenth wasn't just vast—it demanded both accumulation and luck to cross. Yet Kael, having shattered limit after limit, now stood one step away. Even if he faced a tenth-level opponent now, he could hold his ground, if only for a time.
"I can't afford complacency," Kael mused darkly. "I must reach the tenth level as soon as possible. If the Renault family discovers…"
After their theoretical session, Ella's eyes burned with newfound understanding. They sparred again, and she seamlessly wove Kael's teachings into her combat style. Her progress was swift, her comprehension sharp—enough to draw a subtle nod of approval from Kael.
As a former wandering mage, Ella had lacked proper guidance, limiting her achievements—but her latent potential was undeniable.
After their battle, both Ella and Kael were left panting heavily, especially Ella. Her stamina was spent; her face pale, her body drenched in sweat.
"Go rest. I'll stay while longer," Kael said, recognizing she'd hit her limit.
Ella blinked in surprise. Was he seriously planning to keep training? But she could only nod weakly. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest, leaving her nearly immobile.
As Ella departed, Vesper—that old lecher—was nowhere to be seen. Probably off carousing in some underground tavern with prostitutes again, Kael thought dismissively.
He entered the Tower of Hope, an eight-story structure where the seventh floor served as Ethan's alchemy lab, while the first three floors were reserved for Grace, Amelia, and Ella's cultivation.
Kael settled on the fourth floor. With a flicker of intent, he opened his spatial ring and retrieved the magic crystals Finn had given him.
Yes—magic crystals.
Hundreds of them, all eighth-tier or higher, now lay before him. Kael expanded his domain, summoning the sapling.
Its leaves remained translucent, glimmering like carved jade, their surfaces rippling with a radiant life force.
Kael had named it the Tree of Life.
The moment it sensed the crystals, the tree pulsed with excitement, its leaves quivering faintly. Kael piled the crystals together, letting the roots latch onto them. Instantly, they began voraciously draining the energy, accelerating the tree's growth.
This time, Kael had come prepared. Hundreds of crystals fueled the sapling's metamorphosis.
In mere moments, the Tree of Life surpassed Kael's height, its trunk thickening into a towering presence. The emerald leaves glowed with intensified soft light, while the branches shimmered with an ethereal luminescence. A torrent of vitality surged from the tree into Kael, replenishing him endlessly.
Kael's body flooded with euphoric warmth as the Tree of Life's overwhelming vitality surged through him. Its life force was so potent that he instinctively knew—any wound, no matter how severe, could be healed in moments by drawing upon its power.
"Wait—I still have those Earth Essences from the Water Dragon Secret Realm. Would they...?" His eyes gleamed as he watched the tree effortlessly absorb hundreds of magic crystals. The thought struck him like lightning.
These Earth Essences were priceless treasures, containing the purest, most concentrated earth elements imaginable. Wood and earth complement each other... This might accelerate the tree's growth beyond anything the crystals could achieve!
Kael retrieved the shimmering amber-hued essences—he'd never let Finn sell such supreme-grade magical materials. The moment they materialized, the Tree of Life quivered violently, its excitement dwarfing even its reaction to the earlier crystal feast.
Just as I guessed. The essences held extraordinary nourishing power for the tree.
As Kael laid out all the Earth Essences, the tree emitted low, resonant hums, its branches stretching hungrily toward them. The craving was palpable.
"With these..." Kael's voice trembled with anticipation, "the tree might grow into a true colossus. And if I can manifest a 'Miniature World' through it—I'll finally possess strength to rival tenth-level powerhouses!"