267 Diverse Paths to Power
Kino paused briefly, her gaze focused on Eren, before continuing.
“Even in Gilaahan, Hexers were sought after by various kingdoms and organizations to combat awakened demonic rankers that plagued them. Hexers proved to be invaluable assets to these factions.
However, over time, certain Hexers’ Creeds deviated from their core principles and began delving into demon magic to enhance the potency of their Hex magic. This sparked conflicts and internal strife among the Hexers’ Creeds, escalating into a full-fledged war involving divine and demonic forces.
Gilaahan was thrown into chaos until most kingdoms reached an unspoken agreement to distance themselves from both the divine and demonic sides. Hexers lost much of their credibility in Gilaahan after this historic war, and many kingdoms opted to employ ordinary rankers in large numbers to combat the demonic threat within their borders.
This is one of the myriad reasons why Hexers are met with skepticism and disfavor in the world of Gilaahan.”
Eren finally grasped the reason behind the preference of Hexers to work independently or as mercenaries, rather than aligning with guilds or official organizations. The deviant Hexers’ Creeds of the past had tainted the reputation of Hexers, leading to a bias against them from various organizations.
Moreover, some Hexers had strayed from their original purpose of combating demonic threats and had succumbed to greed, using their Hex powers for personal gain. These individuals became involved in underground organizations and engaged in questionable activities, perpetuating a troubled history.
The internal conflicts among the Hexers’ Creeds further hindered unity among Hexers, making trust among their own kind elusive. As a result, most Hexers opted to collaborate with others such as regular Rankers, Evokers, and Elementalists to accomplish their goals.
Kino’s explanation intrigued Eren, as she revealed that Gilaahan housed mana-harnessing entities who followed different paths than the Rankers. The openness of Gilaahan allowed individuals with diverse Paths to Power to converge in this world and explore its countless mysteries. At Eren’s request, Kino delved into the specifics of Evokers, the prevalent mana-harnessing entities alongside Rankers in Gilaahan.
“Eren, unlike Rankers who rely on the mana stored in their mana cores as the foundation for their spells, Evokers draw upon the ambient mana present in their surroundings. Through incantations, enchanted artifacts, and other means, Evokers manipulate the output of their spells to suit their specific needs. This doesn’t mean they don’t utilize their mana cores at all, but their spellcasting methods differ entirely from Rankers,” Kino explained.
Curious about any further distinctions between Rankers and Evokers, Eren continued walking towards the exit of the Hexers’ Grounds, with Kino accompanying him and sharing her knowledge.
“Describing the differences between Evokers and Hexers in words is challenging, Eren. But you’ll recognize it as soon as you encounter them. Their mana signatures are distinct from Rankers, and the way they cast spells is a clear indicator of their identity. This approach results in reduced mana consumption compared to the average Ranker, while making Evokers’ spells more potent and groundbreaking in nature.”
Eren’s eyebrows arched as he learned that Evokers possessed the ability to sustain their spells for extended periods compared to Rankers. This realization posed a potential challenge for Eren, as his strategy relied on prolonging battles when facing stronger opponents. With his infinite mana core, he could gradually overpower formidable foes as they exhausted themselves, while he maintained his peak performance throughout most of the battle.
However, if Evokers could sustain prolonged engagements with Eren, they would prove to be more troublesome than Rankers. Though contemplating these thoughts, Eren attentively listened to Kino’s explanations without interrupting.
“In simple terms, Evokers possess the unique ability to modify their incantations in specific ways over time, a skill that Rankers, for the most part, cannot achieve,” Kino explained.
“Unlike Rankers, true Evokers experience no spell execution lag when practicing a spell school influenced by their path. They can even compress their incantations to a single syllable without relying on altering their mana pathways, external aids or additional support-type spells. This natural progression occurs as they advance along their distinct path.”
Curious to understand the advantages and disadvantages Rankers might have against Evoker opponents, Eren posed his next question while digesting Kino’s insights. Taking a moment to reflect, Kino responded.
“Well… I don’t think there are set advantages or disadvantages that apply universally between Rankers and Evokers. It largely depends on the individuals involved. However, I can provide more information about the Evokers’ Path to Power.
Unlike Rankers, Evokers do not interfere with the natural flow of mana circuits. They do not refine their mana circuits with each rank-up to progress further along their path. Instead, they rely on the mana stored within their mana cores only as the driving force behind their spells.”
Kino patiently explained as they exited the secluded space of the Hexers’ Grounds and arrived at the first test site where Eren had to prove himself to claim Master Illevar’s Legacy.
Additionally, Kino shared with Eren that most Amazonian settlements deep within the heart of Gilaahan’s forests predominantly consisted of Evokers. These Amazonians steadfastly followed the path of being Evokers and didn’t face the same concerns as Rankers when refining their elemental attainments. They could rely on their goddess, the Great Mother, to bestow blessings upon them and fill that void for them.
Certain Amazonian Evokers opted to venture beyond the confines of their settlements and explore the vast world of Gilaahan. These intrepid Evokers actively engaged with the outside world, seeking to propagate the teachings and faith of their revered goddess, the Great Mother.
Eren was taken aback to learn that Evokers did not adhere to classes like Rankers did. Elemental affinity held little significance for those outside specific classes. As long as certain conditions were met, Evokers could cast spells of any element with near-equal proficiency.
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Therefore, there existed a preference among certain guilds for recruiting both Evokers and Rankers, as they complemented each other’s abilities and compensated for their respective shortcomings. Evokers were adept at bridging the gaps and compensating for the weaknesses that Rankers might possess, making them highly sought-after in such alliances.