Two weeks had passed since the awkward socializing incident, and many changes had occurred within the Apex Doctrine training program.

The new members were no longer just running; they were now actively practicing techniques and even taking combat lessons.

A week and four days ago, after relentless training that involved running until they collapsed, Levi, Jillian, and Chloe successfully managed to open their Breath Node.

Following the complete solidification of their Life Star, they connected their wind star to their breath node, bringing Major changes to their already enhanced stamina.

They were then given a choice: start practicing techniques or move on to open the fourth Node.

The fourth Star was the Mind Star, which corresponded to the Axis Node located at the top of the head— the head crown.

This was the mental pillar of a sorcerer, and its functions included expanding consciousness, sharpening perception, and balancing mental strain.

It also increased focus, quickened reaction time, and boosted resistance to illusions or mental backlash.

It was absolutely essential if an individual wanted to learn techniques faster. Most sorcerers, however, become too excited at this point and choose to hold off on the Mind Star to rush into wielding elemental power.

Techniques were taught using a "map"— a translucent, gender-neutral body drawn on a parchment with the instructions inscribed on it.

The casting process is entirely internal and requires no external factors. The map shows precisely how the elemental energies are supposed to be regulated within the body.

This is where the Mind Star becomes crucial: it not only helps in memorizing the map, but it also provides a crucial element of danger perception.

If a sorcerer is performing the regulation incorrectly, the Mind Star steps in to provide guidance and help them avoid backlash.

Being young and excited to wield elemental power, Jillian and Chloe both chose to begin practicing techniques.

Levi, however, utilized his meta-knowledge of the storyline and chose to first create his Mind Star and open his Axis Node. As the saying goes, sharpening the axe does not slow down the chopping of the tree.

And Levi was proven right. In addition to their combat training, Jillian and Chloe had to try to condense the Wind Star while simultaneously trying to learn their chosen techniques.

After the initial excitement wore off, they began to struggle. They had too much on their plate, and they were making little development across their entire training.

Although they managed to successfully cast their chosen technique four days ago— it was a complete failure— it gave them a fleeting moment of hope.

That hope quickly died after they spent the rest of the day failing to cast the technique again.

Levi, on the other hand, had not only condensed his third Star but had also established his fourth one. He was currently attempting to connect it with his Axis Gate.

*****

"That's all for today". Judith announced, she wore a yellow workout overall, the same uniform as the recruits.

Judith was no longer just a recruit; she had changed considerably, becoming less reserved and officially a full member of the Apex Doctrine, capable of going out on missions.

On days like this, when Robert was away on high-profile missions, she supervised their training.

Levi disengaged from his practice brawl with Jillian and walked over to his unofficial corner. Though they were closer now, they maintained a friendly rivalry until the end of the training period.

'Finally'. Levi thought, today was the day he was determined to open his Axis Node. He took a **scroll** and unrolled it, immediately confronting a dense array of incomprehensible writings— complex sorcerer notation.

He wasn't meant to read it; the scroll was a tool. Just looking at the symbols made him feel dizzy, but he pushed past the discomfort and began to intensely devour the writings with his eyes.

He was training to open his Axis Gate by deliberately overusing his mental strength— the specific method required to stress the Node open.

Seconds blurred into minutes, and minutes stretched into hours. At the third hour, a deep, crippling mental exhaustion hit him. Levi looked away from the scroll and immediately free-fell backward.

His environment was spinning violently, a side effect of the extreme mental drain.

After resting for a few agonizing minutes, a triumphant smile spread across his lips.

'Success'. He thought. As the worst of the headache receded, he could feel a strange, ethereal emptiness at the top of his head. The Axis Node was officially open.

He took a sip of water containing a dissolved Blood Rigorous Pill to rapidly restore his mental vitality, and then immediately sank into his soul canvas.

Arriving at his soul canvas, Levi now saw a total of four Stars. He had not only created the Fourth Star— the Mind Star, but had fully condensed it. All that remained was to connect it to his now-open Axis Node.

Without wasting any time, Levi excitedly began to create the channel. After the intense experience of creating the first three Stars, the process of channel creation was now routine.

This time, the channel slithered up through his body and into his skull, finally resting at the top of his head. The Mind Star's energy surged into it.

The intense, lingering headache from the mental strain was instantly evaporated. A cool, minty misty feeling permeated his entire body, bringing deep mental clarity and relief.

But the best part was the expanding of his soul canvas.

The empty, blank floor of his conceptual space began to sink down and then entirely dispersed, allowing Levi to witness the full, magnificent view of his Island of Consciousness.

Levi's spectral body descended and landed on the firm ground of this new island. He looked up to see four "Suns"— which were, in fact, his four shining Stars— hanging in the dark expanse above.

Floating near them was a massive Chessboard.

The island itself was shaped like a broad crescent arc, shrouded in a fine, silver mist.

This mist was not just atmosphere; it permeated the memories of his two lives— one as Levi from Earth, and the other as Levi of this sorcerer world—bblending them into a single, cohesive identity. The air here felt charged with thought and potential.

"Finally". Levi exclaimed, his spectral voice resonating with deep satisfaction. With his mental pillar complete, he could now move ahead and seriously practice his elemental powers.

****

Emerging from his soul canvas, the sheer mental exertion of opening the Axis Node was overwhelming. Levi fell asleep on the spot in his corner of the training room.

He was later woken up for dinner. The Apex Doctrine family immediately noticed his new advancement— the subtle clarity and focus radiating from his opened Node.

He received brief congratulations from Robert and Emi at the table. After a quiet meal, Levi was too exhausted for conversations and went straight back to bed.

The next day, Levi woke up energized, his mind humming with clarity thanks to the Mind Star.

After a light breakfast and completing the required morning exercises, he did not return to his meditation spot. Instead, he went straight to the main counter and found Vivian working.

"Miss Vivian". Levi said. "I'm ready to learn a technique."

She gave him a knowing smile, recognizing the focused intensity that now marked his demeanor. She led him through a discrete doorway to a room on the second floor.

The room was not large, but it was lined floor-to-ceiling with shelves, each packed with tightly rolled scrolls. The air felt dry and slightly charged with dormant energy.

These were the Technique Maps— the instruction sets for sorcerer abilities.

"You've opened your mental node, I can see". Vivian noted. "That's wise. Now, you can take up to two maps. Considering your elemental affinities— Wind and Illusion— that's the limit for now."

Levi had already done his research. Long ago, using the organization's computer, he logged into 'Whatipedia'.

He had thoroughly researched the best initial techniques for his elements. He quickly navigated the shelves. He selected two scrolls.

Clutching the two chosen scrolls, Levi thanked Vivian and quickly made his way back down to the training room, eager to test the limits of his newly expanded consciousness and begin his path to wielding true elemental power.

Arriving in the training room, he unrolled the scrolls.

For his primary element, Wind, he selected the scroll containing the technique— Air Bullet. This was an offensive technique that gathered wind in his hand and then fired it at his opponents. Dealing a blunt damage.

For his second element, Illusion, he chose the Mind-Body decapitation technique. This was a technique that severed the link between the body and the mind.

This was the technique the father and son who were part of the traffickers used. It left a deep impression on him.

Levi set the illusion school aside and focused on the wind scroll, the scroll decipeted that the wind energy would first got out from the breathe node which was located on his lungs.

Then pass through a Series of other channels before going through his hands, after taking a glance Levi looked away, but the image stayed in his mind a bit longer

This confirmed his idea that the scroll was made from materials holding the qualites of the illusion elements, and in addition to the fact that he had awakened his Axis node, this was going to be a breeze.

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