Chapter 10: Problem.
Jonathan crouched down slowly, his expression serious and thoughtful, as he took the long, silver tube-like instrument from his pocket. The metal gleamed faintly under the morning sun, catching small flashes of light as he placed it carefully onto the ground before him. The air was calm, and even the faint rustle of leaves around the garden seemed to quiet in response to his focused movements.
Aiden stood a few feet away, watching with curiosity and anticipation. His small eyes reflected the sunlight that danced across the polished surface of the device. He could feel the faint hum of mana in the air, subtle and steady, as his heart was beating uncontrollably from the excitement.
Jonathan straightened his back as he stood up, dusting his hands lightly. For a moment, he stood there silent — his gaze distant, his thoughts wandering. Then his expression shifted as if he had remembered something important. He turned toward Aiden, his tone deep and calm.
"And also," Jonathan said slowly, his voice carrying authority, "remember this — every time a person advances through a stage, changes occur in their body and soul. The very essence of who they are begins to shift. At stage 4, there is a qualitative change."
He paused briefly, his eyes steady as he continued."At Stage Four, a cultivator gains what is known as half-immortality. A Stage Four mana cultivator cannot be killed by ordinary means — not by the blades of men, nor by the flames of fire, nor even by the force of a thousand cannons. They can survive things that would turn an ordinary human to dust. It's because, by that point, their mana and their body have fused into one unified existence. They are no longer fully mortal."
Aiden's eyes widened slightly, reflecting both awe and disbelief. His young mind struggled to imagine what such power might look like.
Jonathan gave a small, knowing smile and added, "Your mother and I — both of us — are at Stage Four. We have reached half-immortal level."
Sara, who stood quietly a few steps behind, glanced at Aiden and smiled faintly. The morning wind tugged gently at her silver hair, shimmering softly under the sunlight.
Jonathan continued, his tone taking on the calm rhythm of a mentor passing down his knowledge to his student."At Stage Five, one becomes a true immortal. Their bodies are beyond death — no worldly weapon, no natural force, not even time itself can end their lives. Only another immortal could harm them, and even that is rare."
He paused for a moment, looking into the distance as if recalling ancient tales whispered through history. "At Stage Six, one steps into a realm that mortals can barely comprehend. They are known as Angels — beings who stand closest to the heavens, closest to divinity itself. Their mana transcends the limits of the human body, and they can reshape the world around them with a mere thought."
The tone of his voice deepened as he uttered the final part."And finally, at Stage Seven…" His gaze shifted to the sky, his words slow and deliberate. "At that point, one becomes a true deity. They are the embodiment of their element — no longer bound by the rules of nature, no longer subject to the laws of life or death. They become the creators of their element itself. Only another deity could possibly kill them… and even then, it would require unimaginable effort."
He turned back to Aiden, his eyes sharp but calm. "From now on, remember these things well, Aiden. These are truths that will guide you for as long as you live."
Aiden nodded obediently, his voice quiet but firm. "Okay."
The faint breeze carried the boy's single word across the open space, dissolving into silence.
Then, Jonathan turned his attention toward the strange, tube-like instrument lying on the ground. His expression became focused again as he said, "Now, we'll test your elemental affinity."
He gestured toward the device, explaining in a composed tone, "To check your affinity, you must first place your hand on the palm-sized crystal sphere at the end of the instrument. After that, use the breathing technique — the one I taught you — to channel the mana from your mana heart and make it flow toward your hand."
Aiden listened carefully, nodding as Jonathan continued,"Once the mana reaches your hand, inject it into the crystal ball. You'll need to maintain that flow for a few seconds. When the ball has absorbed enough mana, I'll let the mana flow through the tube."
He pointed to the small bumps running along the side of the tube — ten small, evenly spaced globes of glass, each etched with faint ancient letters. "Each bump represents one of the ten elements. The ones that light up will show which elements you have affinity with."
Jonathan straightened his posture and looked at Aiden. His eyes softened slightly but retained their seriousness. "Now, get started."
Aiden took a quiet breath, nodding. "Alright."
He moved forward slowly, his small figure kneeling down before the long silver instrument. The metal surface was cool beneath his hand as he touched the ground. He positioned himself carefully, his posture calm and composed, just as his father had taught him.
In front of him, the crystal ball gleamed faintly, its surface perfectly smooth and transparent — like a drop of frozen water that reflected the sky above.
Aiden placed his hand gently atop the crystal sphere.
Closing his eyes, he began the breathing technique — five short breaths, three long ones, and five normal. His chest rose and fell in perfect rhythm. Slowly, he focused inward, directing his awareness toward the mana heart beating faintly inside his chest.
He could feel it — a light green pulse, steady and alive.
With care, he guided the flow of mana through his body, tracing the pathways he had forged through practice. The energy moved like a gentle current beneath his skin, threading through his veins, traveling from his chest to his shoulder, then down his arm until it reached his hand.
The moment it reached his palm, he exhaled slowly and released it.
Mana surged out of his hand — invisible but tangible, like a wave of pure energy. The crystal ball beneath his fingers suddenly stirred to life.
It began to glow.
At first, the light was faint — a soft shimmer deep within the sphere. But then, it grew brighter, its glow swirling and spinning like a vortex. Aiden felt it — a strange suction, as if the sphere itself had become alive and hungry, drinking the mana from his hand eagerly.
It was as though a vortex had formed within the crystal — pulling, devouring, consuming his mana with almost desperate hunger.
He clenched his teeth but didn't stop, maintaining the breathing technique just as his father had instructed. The sphere pulsed faster and faster until, at last, it shone brightly — a signal that the process was complete.
Jonathan, who had been observing silently, nodded as he said. "That's enough. Pull your hand away."
Aiden obeyed, withdrawing his hand carefully.
The moment he did, the sphere's light shifted — changing from a swirling mass to a steady neutral glow. Inside the instrument, a faint stream of light began to move, traveling smoothly through the long silver tube.
Aiden, Jonathan, and Sara all leaned forward slightly, their eyes following the faint glow as it moved through each of the ten small bulbs along the tube's length. The mana flowed gracefully, passing one bump after another.
As it traveled, the light entered each bulb — and one by one, the glass bumps began to flicker softly.
Then something strange happened..
It passed through all ten bulbs… and when it returned to the starting point, the entire instrument began to hum softly, vibrating against the ground.
Jonathan's brows furrowed slightly. "That's odd…" he murmured.
And then, in the next moment, they saw a scene that was even more absurd than what they had seen before. It was even more bizarre than Aiden becoming a mana cultivator at the age of 7 or his strange mana heart, which cannot be detected by even high-stage mana cultivators. What they saw was that.
Every single bulb on the tube — all ten — began to shine.
Aiden's eyes widened in shock. He had never seen anything so dazzling, so unreal.
Jonathan and Sara stood frozen, unable to comprehend what they were seeing.
For a moment, none of them spoke. Their minds couldn't process it — the sheer absurdity of what had happened in front of their eyes.
Every single element… had lit up.
Not one or two. Not even four, the highest record known across the world. All ten.
The air around them trembled — the grass bending under an unseen force, a faint vibration rippling across the ground. The glow grew stronger, brighter, until it was difficult to even look directly at it.
Jonathan's eyes narrowed, his voice a whisper. "This… this is impossible…"
Sara's lips trembled as she took a small step forward, her voice shaking. "All… all ten elements?"
Aiden didn't answer. He couldn't. His mind was blank. His heart pounded violently in his chest, his instincts screaming that something was wrong.
And then, before any of them could move—
Boom!
The instrument exploded.
A deafening blast echoed through the garden, a wave of energy erupting outward. The air rippled violently as shards of silver metal and shattered glass burst in every direction. A brilliant flash of multicolored light filled the entire yard, forcing all three of them to shield their eyes.
The shockwave tore through the grass, scattering dust and debris. The ground quaked faintly under their feet.
When the light finally faded and the dust began to settle, silence fell once more.
The instrument was gone — reduced to fragments scattered across the garden, still faintly smoking.
Aiden stood frozen, his heart racing. Sara's face was pale, her eyes wide with disbelief. Jonathan, though outwardly calm, could not mask the flicker of fear in his expression.
He had seen many things in his life.But never this.
Their son had not only become the youngest mana cultivator in history…He had just shattered the affinity instrument itself.
Even if there was a problem with the instrument it was still too abnormal for it to explode.
Author's Note / Disclaimer:This novel is a work of fiction. All characters, names, and events are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to real people or events is coincidental. The story explores growth, power, and destiny in a world bound by mana and mystery