The sun was high up into the sky in a blazing yellow. It was cloudless and it was hot so everyone in the camp hid in the shade of their huts.

Understandably, everyone was a bit smelly so some of them were turned off. The soldier types however were completely unaffected even some were sparring.

A scene of vitality and activity mixed with genuine anxiety and excitement. Some were working, some relaxing but most were reading the spiritual arts given to them by the scouts. There were already group study sessions since it seemed that they were a complicated read.

In the center of the camp, the loudness of human activity was irrelevant to Izo. He was only focused on thing and one thing only.

[ Explorer Rankings ]

‘It’s just text. Just opinion. Nothing to be worried about.’

Izo said that but he kept adjusting his sitting position and kept cracking his knuckles even when they couldn’t make any sound anymore.

‘You can do this. Just like ripping of adhesive, quick and fast. Fast and smooth. Smooth is slow- Uhm. Quick and fast. Fast and smooth.’

He had the urge to do jumping jacks and run for a bit to hype himself up.

‘No, no more stalling. Maybe, I’m higher in the rankings than I thought.’

The self-convincing was emboldening him just enough to quickly open it.

[ Izo Shelley #730 out of 1000 Overall Ranking

#100 out of 183 Camp Ranking ]

‘You know what? That’s fine. That’s average.’

His worst expectation was lower and his best expectation was higher but this ranking was good enough.

‘Jane asked as us to ignore the rankings anyways.’

There would probably be perks and rewards for the highest-ranking candidates but it would be steep competition. Even if he wanted to, it would be a long term goal.

Working out would not make him fit instantly. His lack of experience in fighting and survival would be a long term learning goal.

The rankings and the buzz of the public would just have to silenced as Izo would prefer to keep his head down and improve himself instead of worrying about the ranking.

‘Phew. Ok, I can now start reading.’

He commanded with his mind for the three arts to appear. Out of Basic Mana Manipulation, Dream State Consciousness and Faith Gathering, Izo felt it best to start with the one that he felt least compatible.

[ Basic Mana Manipulation

A proud testament to mana, mathematics and science and how it demystified and laid bare what others call spirituality. A basic textbook in the Mana Coalition’s schools that includes the most influential laws of nature like Law of Conservation of Mana, Five States of Matter and the Revised Periodic Tables of Elements.

Note: This textbook is updated regularly. Any laws and theories in this book can always be subject to change. ]

Instantly, Izo knew that this was not the spiritual art for him. He would rather be bludgeoned to death by this book than learn it.

He would give it a chance however since first impression are sometimes completely wrong.

[ I. Introduction

Math is your best sense. Not your sense of sight or orientation, Mathematics. If done completely right, it would never lie and would lay bare the rules of reality.

The mages of old casted magic, understanding only the surface. It’s understandably too tempting to do fantastical tricks in a week but you would be building a brittle base. Learn all the rules of mana and you would not be simply creating a fireball but bending reality itself with your knowledge. ]

Izo skimmed past a couple of pages and he was confused on he wasn’t denting the progress bar.

‘I’m only at 5%?!’

He skimmed and skimmed passing repeating words like ‘references’ ‘counter theory’ and ‘experimental supplements’, then he stopped.

‘The barrier of learning this is too high. You would need intelligence, passion and mental resilience.’

One can call the book rigorous and plentiful or obtuse and profuse in its density. If Izo stubbornly learns this art, he would only hurt his progress and his brain.

Remembering Sun Hee chose this one made Izo curious about her progress.

“…”

Sun Hee was laid down with closed eyes. In fact, a good 20 of the Earthling candidates were doing the same. Izo assumed that they were reading the evil book.

He heard a soft giggle from Sun Hee and a few whispers so he went down on his knees to listen.

“Mana radiation. Atomization. Laminar flow beam. Kekeke. Piercing concrete. Fufufu.”

“…”

He just backed away, making sure to watch the beast for any sudden movements. Thankfully, Sun Hee was completely lost in her violent imaginary world.

Sitting back, he analyzed the effect of this spiritual art to Coalition society.

‘Since this has a high requirement for learning their population would have to be geared for intelligence. It would the equivalent of Earth prioritizing being a doctor over all other profession.’

Doctors study for long before any payoffs, their work time is very consuming and most of them are no lifers. He could imagine the stress of Mages and how it would affect family dynamics.

‘I wonder about their suicide rate and percentage of their population that has mental health issues?’

He moved on to the next art.

[ Faith Gathering

Part of the Theocracy’s basic spiritual arts and the three basics. Very compatible with other arts and versatile. Recommended for E rank spiritualists.

Latest Edition by Othelo de Fezzan, Minister.

Introduction

Words are simple sound to non spiritualist. To those who are gifted however they have great power. A curse to someone you hate, a heartfelt thanks and blessing but the most powerful are promises. When one fulfills once promise for a long period of time, you will have the power to dry oceans and burn air.

Your First Blessed Artifact

In the future, you can follow your own intuition but for now strictly follow this guide.

First, find people who are studying Faith Gathering with you. It will make creating an artifact significantly faster. Make sure to have the same promise as them and similar base artifact.

Since the reader most probably don’t have a spirituality rich material or a faith imbued item (Any thing that has been worshipped for a long time) pick up a simple rock.

The power you want must be related to the promise. So, hold the rock and promise ‘You will glow when I say the words (choose a command word) and I promise to wash you once a day in light imbued water’. Repeat the phrase 10 times then wash the rock at day or when the moon is brightest.]

Izo could see a few of the candidates’ bringing rocks to the beach. Petro and his followers were there too but surprisingly they chose to use their weapons as the base artifact.

‘Didn’t the manual say not to experiment? Petro is truly crazy!’

Once the candidates’ base artifacts were washed, some of their rocks had a faint sheen like a phone screen on ultra-low brightness. Petro’s pipe wrench glowed like a glowstick instead. His followers’ weapons glowed between the other Faith Gathering candidates and Petro’s luminosity.

[ Don’t worry if it doesn’t glow too brightly at this moment. Greater spirituality rating will result in better effects and repeated fulfillment of promises will increase your spirituality. Simply create more artifacts and honor your promises and you will enter a continuous cycle of growth. ]

Izo finally understood why this was one of the basic spiritual arts. It was powerful, flexible in abilities and more importantly safe. Jane’s “Liar Demon” art seemed to be more dangerous.

However, he had already thought of a few weaknesses like promises can be hard to keep and having more people, to increase Faith Gathering efficiency, would result in those candidates having the same powers. Depending on what they fight, they would be very strong or useless.

‘Is this why there are many churches in the Theocracy?’

No power would refuse to be number one. The only way their multi-religious system would be tolerated was if they were interdependent on each other.

Izo was very curious on the Theocracy’s power dynamics which seemed to be a lot more turbulent than it appeared.

Izo moved on to the last spiritual art.

[ Dream State Consciousness

Written by the thousands of wise men of the different tribes during the First Summit, this was one of the arts that won the Remus Dynasty’s freedom. It took the essence of their spiritual arts and made it simple while maintaining effectiveness.

Known as one of the best supporting and utility art, it has a high requirement for mental toughness. Practioners of this art are highly value targets and priority for elimination. Otherwise, they would easily win the battle before it is fought. ]

Izo was completely unsure about being targeted first in battle but if it’s truly a backline art he would consider it deeply.

[ I. Introduction

Beings with sufficient intelligence have soul. Located in the mind, it’s the strongest connection to the spiritual realm.

The point where mind, soul and spirituality intersect is in dreams. It is the most natural and intuitive state where we could easily do anything with spirituality because we believe so. To access this power, one must dance between the border between dream and physical reality. A beginner dreamer would be paralyzed but a reality bender would can force oneself to move as he blurs the line between his will and what is real. ]