Born in Blood



"Why can't you exchange all your spells with me?" Liam asked, uncaring of how shameless he sounded.

"I'm sure you have nothing to lose. It's not like there's anyone else with a darkness element besides us."

Usan shook his head.

"I wouldn't mind either. But most of my spells aren't made from darkness alone. They're made from my own kind of Shadow, too."

Liam didn't understand.

"How?" he asked.

Liam used that moment to learn more about how the higher ranks worked. He was looking for the right opportunity all along, and this was it.

Unforgiven Shadow sighed, giving Liam a scrutinizing look. 

He definitely knew that Liam was fleecing him for knowledge, but he didn't mind too much.

Now that the two were 'cursed buddies', he didn't have the usual coldness on his face.

"Because I've finally found my Path," the Unforgiven answered. 

Before Liam could ask, Usan continued. 

"Why do you think I've been in seclusion for so long?" Usan asked rhetorically.

"As you rise up the ranks, you're pretty much becoming a sole entity. You distance yourself from the world, and by extension, the Opposition's system."

"Your powers slowly shape around what you are, rather than what's already established for you. You break out of the mold."

"Think of it as building a road. You can choose the materials, direction and size of it, but everything leads forward nonetheless."

"Paths are one-of-a-kind. There's no script to follow beforehand. You figure out things as you go."

"As you add more and more pieces to your road, eventually, it'll lead somewhere. The sixth Rank."

"Understand?"

Unforgiven Shadow's explanation was worth more than any sort of wealth that Liam could imagine. 

It gave him insight as to why Wild Fang's bestial aura was so much more different compared to Unforgiven Shadow's precise darkness.

They were merely on different Paths.

But with that explanation came more and more questions.

What defines a Path?

How could the Path grow?

Can one change their Path as they go forward?

"Don't ask too much," Usan cut in. "Why do you think the Rank 6 cultivators in the world don't just pass everything they know to their heirs?"

Liam obviously didn't answer. 

"Because every Path is unique to the cultivator. If I tell you anything more than the bare minimum, it'll affect the Path you take."

Liam nodded firmly. 

One thing was for sure, Liam's Path was going to be unique to him. He wouldn't have it any other way. 

"Now, the spells," said Usan, a hint of annoyance creeping into his tone.

Liam didn't have any issues with the deal, although a little disappointed to learn of Usan's plan of venturing into the Main Lands.

He took out the Shadow Clone spell and handed them to the man, before receiving a scroll back.

It looked a little worn down by time, but as long as the functionality remained the same, Liam didn't care.

He unfurled it, his excited eyes scanning for a description or name.

'Inner World.'

"Inner… World spell? What does this do?" Liam asked. The description wasn't in Ilalian or Echorian.

"Gives you your own personal domain."

Liam's eyes widened.

"The cloud?"

Usan shook his head, sighing again. 

"No. It turns your Shadow into a different dimension that you can manipulate freely."

Liam's eyes widened further.

"It's basically a space ring you can physically enter through and bend reality in."

"As long as you know something deep enough, you can remake it inside the Inner World, and it'll imitate the real thing."

Liam's eyes widened some more.

"It has its limitations," Usan said. "You can't put other living things there."

'Well, you can't, I can,' Unforgiven Shadow thought, but actually said, "Anything you make also has to have the required materials. It's basically a perfect workshop. You still have to put in the work."

"It also uses massive amounts of 'Ora'. But as your mind advances, you'll be able to do what I did with the big dog."

Liam blinked.

'...Big dog? Does he mean the lion?'

Liam began to memorize it on the spot.

Usan had things to do, but he supposed he could spare a few more minutes with the inhuman child.

In the meantime, he simply scanned the Shadow Clone spell.

Soon enough, Liam learned the Inner World spell, and it activated instantly.

Suddenly, his Shadow expanded and grew on its own.

It stretched to an incredible amount, like a piece of gum being pulled from one end to the other.

Then, it stretched back into its place.

Liam dipped his foot inside the Shadow.

It went through!

And it wasn't the Sea of Darkness!

His Inner World was like a vacuum within reality itself.

The spell was basically like a capped bottle filled with water inside an ocean.

In this case, the water is reality itself, and the bottle was his Shadow.

In short, it was a pocket dimension of sorts.

Liam fully entered the Inner World, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

Everything was coated in a layer of darkness. There were no defining features at all in the space, like an eternal void with nothing inside.

It was cold, too. Soundless, but strangely serene and comforting.

'It really is a vacuum.'

Liam looked up, where the faintest light shone through.

His Shadow was like a window to reality, where the room was just outside.

However, Liam instinctively knew how much space there was in there – roughly 45 meters. 

Not the best, but then again, it wasn't as limited as a space ring.

The 'floor' he was standing on was invisible, just another part of the void. 

Liam's mind was connected with the entirety of that space. 

It was his personal domain, and he could do anything he wanted. 

A moment later, Liam began to float and fly!

His mental waves sent out a ripple, and everything changed.

Now, his Inner World resembled the Headmaster's office from the Academy. 

A stark replica, with the same ornate furniture and paintings… but everything was made out of solid darkness.

A chunk of his core 'Ora' was also consumed in the process.

Liam smiled broadly.