The Useless Extra Knows It All....But Does He?
Chapter 84 - The Stages Of Warrior

Chapter 84: Chapter 84 - The Stages Of Warrior

Two days had passed since then, a day before a memorial was held for those who died in the Battle of Beastridge mountain. Academy classes have been halted as students had to prepare for mid sem exams.

Morning sunlight bathed the training grounds in a golden hue as Luca ran laps, his breath steady, steps rhythmic. His injuries had mostly healed by now, thanks to both his innate recovery and some help from the academy’s healers. Beads of sweat trickled down his temple as he pushed himself through another round.

Midsems... huh.

I don’t think I need to study anything, really. With the knowledge I have, topping the exams should be easy.

Still, he didn’t slow down until his legs began to ache. Coming to a stop, Luca plopped onto a bench near the track, catching his breath as he wiped his face with a towel. Just then, his communication crystal buzzed and flickered to life.

"Hey bro-in-law," Kyle’s voice rang with his usual enthusiasm. "What do you think about the group study plan? You’re coming, right? I knew it!"

Before Luca could even open his mouth, the crystal dimmed—Kyle had already ended the call.

Luca let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Well... guess I’m going."

He made his way back to his dorm, took a quick shower, and dressed casually, still amused by Kyle’s antics. With nothing better to do, he figured showing up wouldn’t hurt.

By the time Luca reached the library, it was already bustling. The usual serene space was now a hive of silent panic—students poring over notes, scribbling furiously, flipping pages like their lives depended on it.

As he stepped inside, he spotted a familiar face weaving through the shelves. Elowen noticed him too and approached with a gentle smile.

"Hehe, first exam season, huh?" she said in a soft whisper. "Here to study?"

Luca nodded lightly.

She leaned in just a bit. "Well, good luck finding a spot. The library’s packed today."

"No worries," Luca replied in a hush. "Kyle already reserved a room for our group study."

Elowen’s eyes sparkled for a second. "Ohhh... a group study, huh? Must be fun to study with friends. Anyway, I won’t disturb you. All the best!" She gave a little wave and disappeared between the rows of books.

She’s always so kind, Luca thought as he walked deeper into the library, scanning for the reserved room.

Eventually, he reached a small study room tucked away behind thick wooden doors. As he pushed them open, he found that everyone else had already arrived.

Kyle sprawled over one side of the table, arms behind his head, looking like he hadn’t studied a day in his life. Aiden sat upright, flipping through a thick history textbook with a surprisingly serious expression. Selena, calm and poised, was jotting down notes as if composing magic theory was second nature. And Lilliane—quiet and composed—sat at the corner with a neat stack of books beside her, eyes flicking toward Luca as he entered.

"You’re late," Kyle said, grinning. "I was starting to think you’d bail."

Luca rolled his eyes. "I was exercising. Unlike you, I don’t oversleep till noon."

Everyone chuckled, the room already warm with camaraderie as the group study session unofficially began.

Luca took the empty seat beside Lilliane. She was flipping through a thick book, her fingers grazing the pages without much focus. Noticing her silence, he leaned in slightly and whispered with a soft smile, "Hey, it’s great that you’re getting along with Kyle and Selena. I’m proud of you."

Lilliane froze. She looked up at him, and for a split second, her eyes glistened like she might cry. Luca almost laughed at the sheer helplessness on her face—but he managed to hold it back. Still, the sight tugged at something inside him.

"What happened?" he asked.

Lilliane quickly lowered her gaze again and returned to flipping the pages, not answering. But Luca didn’t need her to. He followed her line of sight and saw Kyle, Aiden, and Selena sitting a bit further off, leaning close as they helped one another with questions, notes scattered all around them. A small, tight-knit circle of shared focus and familiarity.

He turned back to Lilliane and said, gently but knowingly, "You don’t know how to join in a conversation, do you?"

She hesitated—then gave the tiniest nod.

"It’s simple," Luca said, his voice low. "Just listen for when they hit a wall. Step in and solve their doubt. That way, it feels natural—like you’re helping, not intruding."

But instead of relief, Lilliane’s expression somehow grew worse. Her shoulders slumped further as her mouth twitched in frustration.

Luca blinked and groaned under his breath. "Let me guess—you don’t have much theoretical knowledge either?"

She hesitated again before murmuring, "I know how the mage power system works... but not the warriors’. It’s too complicated."

Luca leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "Of course it is," he muttered, before sighing again. "Alright. Let me explain it to you."

Luca leaned forward, eyes serious, and launched into his explanation.

"So, the warrior path diverges fundamentally at the tri-phase convergence point—when kinetic affinity overrides external mana absorption and converts latent spiritual essence into primal bio-aura. This bio-aura flows through the twelve cardinal channels in a spiraling triple-helix pattern, resonating at a frequency determined by your innate elemental constitution. Of course, this is before the cyclical compression of the pseudo-core during phase-4 stabilization, which if done prematurely, leads to meridian feedback collapse and spatial instability in your dantian lattice."

He paused, looking at Lilliane. She was staring at him like he’d just cast a forbidden spell in front of her.

"...What?"

Luca sighed, scratching his head.

"You didn’t understand such a simple thing."

"Ok , let’s try the simpler version then."

"Instead of manipulating external mana to cast spells like mages do, warriors internalize mana—converting it into a condensed form called Aura. Aura strengthens the body, enhances reflexes, and, at higher stages, even reshapes the physical form."

Stage 1: Aura Initiation

Process: Absorb ambient mana and condense it into crude Aura within the Dantian (core energy reservoir).

Signs: Muscles become denser; stamina increases.

Goal: Fill the Dantian to its brim with raw Aura without leakage.

Stage 2: Meridian Awakening

Process: Unlock the 12 Primary Meridians across the body (channels that circulate Aura).

Condition: Each meridian must be carefully refined and infused until it can conduct Aura without rupturing.

Benefit: Allows warriors to use Aura Arts.

Failure: Forcing it leads to internal backlash or paralysis.

Luca said "Most of the 1st years are in this stage, including me and Kyle."

Stage 3: Meridian Saturation

Process: Flood the opened meridians with refined Aura until they reach a saturated state.

Benefit: Physical techniques enhanced by internal energy.

Analogy: Like building pressure in a water pipe—only when all meridians are saturated can one unleash Aura-based skills explosively.

"Monsters geniuses like Aiden are in this stage, I think he is the only one in all of 1st year"

Stage 4: Core Compression

Process: Compress the Aura in the Dantian into a Core Seed. Think of it like forming a nucleus of immense density.

Result: This seed acts as a central stabilizer, letting Aura flow instinctively.

Mistake here = Explosion risk.

This time lilliane said ,"I think senior Aurelia should be in this stage right."

Luca said,"Hmm, the only 2nd year to reach this stage."

Stage 5: Second Meridian Cycle

Process: Unlock and refine the 8 Hidden Meridians, enhancing reaction time, elemental resistance, and coordination.

Elite warriors only reach this stage—some knights serve lifetimes stuck at Stage 4.

"Vincent and Elowen are only third years in this stage, on par with top final years."

Stage 6: Spatial Expansion

Process: Once the seed stabilizes, the Dantian is expanded, increasing total Aura capacity.

Effect: Drastically enhances power output; lets warriors use larger-scale techniques or chain them together.

Visual: It’s like expanding your lungs to hold more air—with every breath of mana, they hold ten times more Aura than before.

Stage 7: Resonant Body

Process: Aura seeps into bones, blood, and organs, creating a resonance—a warrior can now passively exude pressure and sense danger through aura threads.

Ability: Passive regeneration, limited aura projection outside the body.

Aura Field begins to manifest at this stage.

Stage 8: Transcendent Convergence

Process: Aura fuses completely with the warrior’s body—every breath and heartbeat pulses with power.

Result: The warrior becomes a living force; their mere presence bends mana around them.

Effect: Movements become instinctive, weapons respond like thoughts, and even advanced techniques collapse under their aura.

As Luca wanted to continue, he muttered, "There’s one final stage—"

But then he stopped.

Lilliane looked up curiously. "Why did you stop?"

He shook his head, eyes drifting away. "Nothing... it’s just some legend."

She didn’t press further and simply smiled. "It’s actually very easy, when you explained it."

Before Luca could respond, Kyle leaned over the table, wide-eyed. "Yeah, this was so easy to understand. Hey, how do you even know all this? Teach me too!"

Even Aiden and Selena were staring at him now—like he was some ancient treasure trove of knowledge.