Regression of the Manaless Sword God

Chapter 5: Path of sword

His affinity and his mana were both none, the same as in his previous life. This scene debunked one of the theories which he had for a while, which was, what if this awakening process is based on who takes the test at which number? For example, if one awakened an S-rank mana pool, is that because of themselves or is it because they took the test at that moment? Would someone else also get the same rank if they had taken their test before that person?

He had this thought for a long time before his regression, but now... it had been completely proven wrong. The awakening depends on the person, not the timing.

He was always fated to be unawakened.

Naturally, Ethan had expected this, the same as what happened in his previous life. It was shocking for all. In a single test, they saw the birth of a ’could-be legendary genius’ and someone who was ’destined to be weak’.

There were faint whispers coming from all sides. He knew what they were talking about. A nobody and a genius? If he were in their shoes, then he would have done it too. He neither blamed them nor cared, actually.

After going through everything in his past life, he wasn’t going to mind those nobodies, who couldn’t even stay alive till the end.

Ethan actually watched the faces of the people before him. He hadn’t met them in his past life at this moment, so he wanted to see their reaction to him being unawakened. However, in the end, they were the same as those beneath this stage.

He could sense their gazes calling him inferior, including Rodrek.

’So he is here to take advantage of her after all. I don’t know how he knew about him having no mana pool. He might have stumbled upon a world stone, and seeing that his girl awakened to be one of the greatest, he is here to reap the benefits. I hate his kind the most.’

That was the initial impression Rodrek had of Ethan. Though, he wasn’t exactly wrong here, Ethan was about to use this opportunity for himself and for Eleanor.

However, even when he was being looked down upon by all of them, he wasn’t focused on them. For some reason, his attention suddenly shifted to a panel that popped up before him.

After the awakening, everyone gets a glowing panel before them. Ethan got one too, despite him not having any mana pool or affinity.

The system is the thing that shows your growth throughout your life. Rather than being a source of making someone grow stronger, it is an evaluation device that keeps track of your progress.

Once you awaken, you will have to choose a path, like the path of a mage, path of a knight, path of a magic swordsman, path of a berserker, and many more... everyone gets to pick one based on the nature of their mana, which depends on their personality. There are hundreds of paths based on people.

The system judges their progress based on the selected path and levels them up as they achieve more. The achievements are based on control of mana or learning a new skill.

That was true for everyone else besides Ethan. He did get a panel before, but besides his name, there wasn’t anything at all. He never had mana, so he couldn’t pick a path for himself at all.

However, something else happened this time. Beside his name, there was a path available for him to pick.

On that translucent blue, game-like panel, an option was available,

[PICK ONE OF THE PATHS FROM BELOW...]

[1. PATH OF SWORD]

Though there was just a single path for him.

’I have a path to pick from? How? Is this because I used a sword before?’

Looking at the Path of Sword, Ethan remembered the sword he used before... he needed to go and retrieve it soon.

’I am going to use a sword anyway, so it goes without saying which path I am gonna pick.’

He clicked on the only option he had.

[THE ’PATH OF SWORD’ HAS BEEN CHOSEN.]

[UNDERSTAND THIS PATH, CLIMBER. REACH THE PINNACLE OF YOUR PATH. MAY YOU BE THE ONE TO REACH THE PEAK OF THE TOWER.]

[EVALUATING THE CLIMBER...]

[FOLLOWING IS THE PROGRESS OF THE ’PATH OF SWORD’.]

[NAME:- ETHAN (LEVEL 1)

AFFINITY:- NONE

MANA:- NONE

EXTRA SKILL:- BATTLE SENSE (Lv. 8)

PERSONAL SKILL:- SEVERANCE (Lv. 1), CLEAVE (Lv. 1)

ULTIMATE SKILL:- NONE

PHYSICAL STATS... SEE MORE.]

After he picked his path, his personal information was shown before him.

’Severance? Is that what I felt when I cut through the mana? So I still have that even in this life?’

Though it was still a Level 1 skill, he knew the importance of that. There is a difference even among the skills. Extra skills are what anyone can have, but that doesn’t mean they are useless. Personal skills are associated with the path they pick.

Ultimate skills are in a different league. They’re far too rare to have. In this world, only a few have them, and those who do... are known as the S-rankers by this world.

’Having something after so long feels good... but why do I feel like there is still something else? Well, let’s see what this skill is first.’

[YOU HAVE USED THE PERSONAL SKILL ’SEVERANCE Lv.1’.]

The moment the skill was used... he saw the same path he had seen when he jumped at the Demon King, a path to cut down mana.

As he looked at the different red lines before his eyes, this skill of his sent shivers down the spines of everyone who was near him.

All of them instinctively moved back from the unseen danger.

’This is great. But, this is not it... there was something else too.’