Imprisoned for a Trillion Years, I Was Worshipped by All Gods! - Chapter 666

Chapter 666: Chapter222-ithin Your Tier, None Shall Rival You!
Despite unleashing two complex mana techniques simultaneously, Alan didn’t feel the slightest discomfort.

It was, in large part, thanks to the balancing effect of Lumen Sancta’s Originmana. The sacred staff helped bear the brunt of the pressure, easing the strain on his body and mind.

As Alan observed the way mana circulated within the staff, he began to glean new insights—fresh comprehension of mana manipulation took root in his heart.

And when both Mana Compression and mana Overpressure reached their peaks, Alan suddenly opened his eyes.

A faint golden glint shimmered from his pupils, echoing the radiance emanating from the blade of Lumen Sancta.

At that moment, there was no trace of confusion in his gaze, no madness, no turmoil.

Only calm.

Only clarity.

In his eyes, two rotating six-pointed star arrays shimmered in radiant prismatic hues.

The surrounding dark elements, so oppressive before, now retreated like receding tides. They withdrew, as though instinctively acknowledging the birth of a new monarch—the sovereign of both mana and elements.

“Just the act of releasing it has already distorted reality… This kid… never ceases to surprise me.”

The middle-aged man—Jacob—couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

Originally, he had planned to carefully walk Alan through the structure and operation of Mana Compression, step by step.

Who could’ve imagined that, after a mere theoretical explanation, Alan would forgo all demonstration and independently devise an original method of compression—one completely unique to himself?

This kind of talent was beyond anything those spoon-fed academy students—who only knew how to recite passages from The Theory of Magic—could hope to match.

Jacob was now convinced.

Alan wasn’t merely gifted. No—genius was too mild a word.

To be this deeply attuned to both mana and elements at such a young age… he was a monster, plain and simple.

Jacob ran a quick estimate. Now that Alan had grasped Mana Compression, his internal mana manipulation had already exceeded the level of most tier-gold magi.

What’s more, these new insights fed directly back into his mana Overpressure and every other skill he wielded that relied on mana and elemental foundations.

In other words, his overall magus class proficiency had leapt forward by a considerable margin.

Judging from the totality of his capabilities, Alan’s current strength could rival multiple tier-platinum mages in concert. The only bottleneck left was his innate mana reserves.

But even that limitation would soon become irrelevant.

Just as Alan prepared to retract his Mana Compression and mana Overpressure, a mysterious energy within his body began to stir violently.

It was the chaotic Originmana—leftover fragments from the many staffs he’d absorbed previously.

Back then, fearing they might interfere with his advancement, Alan had ordered Lumen Sancta to purge them from his system.

Or at least, that’s what he’d told himself.

In truth, he never discarded those fragments.

He’d buried them deep within the staff’s core, thinking that maybe, one day, they would serve a purpose.

And that day was now.

Because Lumen Sancta had compressed mana with such intensity, those hidden remnants had been forced to the surface.

But Alan no longer feared them.

With Mana Compression firmly under his control, even the most volatile mana would bow to his will like a docile rabbit.

Seizing the moment, Alan merged his own mana with the chaotic Originmana.

And in that instant, an overwhelming mana fluctuation burst outward from his body, shaking the void-like space around him.

Jacob wiped the sweat from his brow and clutched his chest. “Damn it… don’t tell me this brat is going to break through right here?! This is insane…”

Back in his youth, Jacob had also been hailed as a prodigy among his peers. He’d spent nearly every waking moment—aside from sleep—researching mana and magical theory.

Thanks to that dedication, he was awarded the title of Grand Mage of Kent Kingdom before the age of thirty.

And yet… even with all that under his belt, he couldn’t help but feel inadequate standing next to Alan.

Who the hell else mastered six elemental affinities, learned mana Overpressure, and created a functional variant of Mana Compression—all before the age of twenty-two?

Jacob had devoted half his life to researching Mana Compression, only achieving success in his fifties. But Alan? Alan’s understanding of the technique already surpassed that of its creator.

This meant that Alan wasn’t just capable of using it—he was incapable of failing when performing it.

…

It wasn’t clear how long had passed before Alan finally withdrew his mana.

The compressed forces dissipated, and Mana Compression and mana Overpressure faded into silence.

Darkness once again crept through the space around them, as if everything that had happened was just an illusion.

But the difference was clear to Jacob.

That seamless retraction—so smooth, so controlled—was the mark of someone truly masterful at mana manipulation.

Jacob stood beside him, his breath still a bit unsteady, watching Alan with caution and admiration.

He knew clearly—when Alan had first entered this place, he was only a bit past the tier-silver threshold.

But after that sequence of training and breakthroughs, Alan had climbed to the very limits of tier-silver. He was just half a step away from ascending to tier-gold.

Yet, for some reason, right at the final moment—just as mana overflowed within him—Alan had deliberately cut it off.

“Why… why didn’t you push forward and break through to tier-gold?” Jacob couldn’t help but ask aloud.

Alan chuckled softly and waved a hand. “No rush. The journey must be walked one step at a time. You can’t swallow a meal in one bite.”

“If I force a breakthrough now, it’d be like building a skyscraper on unstable foundations. It might stand tall at first, but one day, those unaddressed flaws will catch up and tear everything down.”

That was the moment Jacob truly conceded—from the heart.

This young man… wasn’t just talented. He was grounded.

He did not grow arrogant with power.

He did not feel ashamed of his lower rank, nor did he scramble to make up for it with shortcuts.

Most importantly, Alan understood something that even many veteran mages failed to grasp.

That rushing forward wasn’t the same as progressing.

Even Jacob himself had nearly intervened a moment ago, almost pushing Alan to make the jump to tier-gold. That was how seductive power could be.

But Alan resisted.

He resisted easily.

That level of restraint—that mental fortitude—was the sign of someone destined for greatness.

“Thank you. Truly,” Alan said, after smoothing his mana flow. He gave a respectful bow toward Jacob.

Jacob waved it off quickly. “There’s no need to thank me. All I did was explain a bit of theory. Everything you’ve achieved—you earned it.”

Alan didn’t let pride cloud his sincerity. “Even so, without your theoretical guidance, I might have wasted ten more years fumbling around in the dark. Please accept my gratitude. And I haven’t forgotten what I promised you.”

Faced with a junior who was not only outrageously talented but also humble and courteous, Jacob couldn’t hold back his grin.

He rubbed his hands awkwardly. “Alright, alright. Since you insist, I’ll accept that ‘senior’ title. But let me remind you of one last thing.”

“You may not have advanced to tier-gold today—but your strength is already on par with gold-tier mages.”

“In fact, some of them who’ve slacked off in their training may already be weaker than you.”

“And when the day comes that you truly cross that threshold…”

Jacob’s eyes sparkled.

“I can say with confidence—within your tier, you will have no equal!”