Choosing Another Hex

Haoyue's heart suddenly began to race.

It was here!

It was here!

He had waited two years since transmigrating for this very moment!

The screen of light flickered wildly before his eyes, and a brilliant silver glow emerged from the void.

The light faded, and a card slowly took shape.

This card was different from the Dragonheart he had received before.

Dragonheart was a prismatic card, with seven colors interweaving and flowing across it.

This card, however, was silver-white all over, its surface covered in dense, mysterious markings. At its center was a set of scales, with a small orb of light floating above each pan.

Before Haoyue could take a closer look, the card flipped over on its own.

Its back faced upward.

The design on the back was an ancient rune, somewhat similar to the magic circles he had seen in videos based on fantasy novels in his previous life.

The card hovered in the air for three seconds, then slowly flipped over.

Its front.

Words began to appear one by one:

[Host has met the requirements for a breakthrough to level two]

[Congratulations, host. Reward obtained: Silver Hex · Choose one of three]

At the crossroads of fate, every choice will change the future

Please choose one of the following three options:

[Option one: Physical to Magic]

Convert battle qi energy into magical output

Passive: All battle qi in the body is automatically converted into mana at 100% efficiency, with a 15% increase to the total

Suitable for: Players who wish to turn a warrior's constitution into magical output.

Restriction: Because battle qi can no longer be stored, the body remains weak before reaching Deity-level, and transformation into a Tiger-Striped Warrior is impossible before reaching Deity-level.

[Option two: Magic to Physical]

Convert magical elements into battle qi energy

Passive: Magical elements in the body are automatically converted into battle qi at 100% efficiency, with a 15% increase to the total

Suitable for: Players who wish to turn magical talent into a warrior's output

Restriction: Mana can no longer be stored, and magic cannot be used before reaching Deity-level.

[Option three: From Mind to Matter]

Use the soul as a medium to convert all energy into the essence of life

Passive: Gain additional health equal to 50% of total energy value (the higher the total energy value, the higher the health)

Special notes:

"Total energy value" includes: spiritual power, battle qi, and mana from each magical element (each element is calculated separately)

This Hex can stack with "Dragonheart"

Suitable for: Players who wish to maximize survivability

[System notification: This choice of one out of three is permanent and cannot be changed once confirmed]

[Host, please consider carefully]

The words stopped appearing.

Haoyue stared at the three options, his brow furrowed.

This was the first time he had faced a choice in the Hextech System.

His first Hex, Dragonheart, had been given to him directly, without a choice.

This time, however, each of the three options had its own advantages and disadvantages, and he had to decide for himself.

"Physical to Magic... Magic to Physical... From Mind to Matter..."

He muttered to himself and began analyzing them one by one.

Option one: Physical to Magic.

The core of this option was "converting battle qi into magic."

It would automatically convert his battle qi into mana and increase the total by 20%.

It sounded wonderful-doubling a mage's energy meant his mana would far exceed that of others.

But the problem was that he was not only a mage of three elements; he was also a descendant of a Tiger-Striped Warrior.

If he chose this, his advantages as a warrior would be weakened. His magic would grow stronger, but he would lose the advantages of a Tiger-Striped Warrior.

No...

Haoyue thought it over carefully and realized that this option was actually geared more toward a "pure magic" path.

Option two: Magic to Physical.

This option was the opposite of the first, with "converting magic into battle qi" at its core.

The same principle applied as with the first.

One favored magic, while the other favored a warrior.

He couldn't have his cake and eat it too.

Option three: From Mind to Matter.

This option was the most unusual.

It wasn't a simple energy conversion, but rather "increasing health while energy remains unchanged."

Additional health equal to 50% of total energy value-that description gave Haoyue pause.

What did total energy value include?

Spiritual power, battle qi, and magical elements of every type.

Each element of magic counted separately.

That meant...

Haoyue's pupils abruptly contracted.

He had four sources of energy!

One for spiritual power, one for battle qi, one for Water Element magic, one for Fire Element magic, and one for Earth Element magic-

Five!

If he chose From Mind to Matter, his health would increase by 50% × 5 = 2.5 times!

A 2.5-times health bonus!

What did that mean?

A Level Three Warrior's vitality was already strong. If he gained health equal to 2.5 times his energy, then-

Haoyue rapidly calculated in his head.

With his vitality as a Level Three Warrior and health equal to 2.5 times his energy value, that would give him-

The vitality of a warrior above level six!

He was only a Level Three Warrior, yet his health could reach the level of a Level Six Warrior!

What kind of heaven-defying setup was this?!

It surpassed his level by more than two!

"Wait..." Haoyue carefully read the description on the card again.

"'Can stack with Dragonheart'..."

Dragonheart's effects included 30% increased defense, a shield worth 15% of maximum health, accelerated mana recovery...

If those effects stacked with From Mind to Matter...

Thirty percent more defense!

The shield's value would also increase, because it was calculated based on maximum health!

And after the bonus from From Mind to Matter, his maximum health would be 2.5 times higher than before!

That meant the shield's actual value would increase by 2.5 times!

This was no simple bonus; the effects multiplied when stacked!

The more Haoyue thought about it, the more astonished he became.

Haoyue looked at the string of numbers, his heart pounding like a drum.

The vitality of a Level Six Warrior!

He would jump straight from level three to level six, a full three levels!

No, strictly speaking, it was a little more than three levels, but that was already terrifying!

More importantly, this bonus was permanent!

As long as he continued improving his spiritual power, battle qi, and magic of each element, the bonus would keep growing!

He was only a level-two mage now, and his spiritual power and magical power weren't high enough, so he couldn't yet reach the maximum.

Once he reached Level Nine as both a Ninth Rank Mage and a Level Nine Warrior, his health alone would be enough to rival an expert at the Peak Saint-level. Even if he couldn't kill his enemies, he could outlast them with sheer toughness.

"This is the right answer..." Haoyue muttered.

The other two options were also powerful, but neither was as good as this one.

Only From Mind to Matter suited him best.

And-

Haoyue remembered the design in the corner of the card.

There was a very small mark in the upper-left corner of the From Mind to Matter card.

It was a picture of a wizard's hat. It seemed to be part of the Trait System, allowing it to form traits with other Hexes and produce additional effects.

He had made up his mind.

"System," he said, taking a deep breath, "I choose the third option-From Mind to Matter."

[Confirming selection...]

[Selection complete]

[Hex activated: Silver · From Mind to Matter]

[Effect applied]

[Host, please confirm whether you wish to view the detailed status panel]

"Yes."

[Status panel updated]

Host: Haoyue Bolei

Age: 10

Warrior level: Level-three warrior (beginner)

Mage level: Level-two mage (peak)

Spiritual power: Peak of level two

Activated Hexes:

[Dragonheart] (Prismatic · Passive)

Water Dragon Soul: Energy recovery +5%/second, health recovery +5%, water affinity +500%

Fire Dragon Soul: Magic damage +50%, fire affinity +500%, 30% chance to trigger 50% additional damage.

Mountain Dragon Soul: Defense +50%, earth affinity +500%, shield equal to 20% of maximum health

[From Mind to Matter] (Silver · Passive)

Health +50% of total energy value

After reading the status panel, Haoyue's lips slowly curved upward.

"Perfect..."

This was exactly what he wanted.

He was a Level Three Warrior, yet he had the vitality of a level-five warrior.

And with the Mountain Dragon Soul's shield-

At his current stage, he could already withstand an attack from a level-five warrior.

Moreover, once the shield was broken, it would automatically regenerate after two minutes out of combat.

That meant he had tremendous endurance in prolonged combat and exceptional survivability!

"Sure enough, I made the right choice..." Haoyue muttered.

When he had first chosen to cultivate three elements at once, many people had urged him to give up, saying that if he bit off more than he could chew, he would master none of them.

But he knew full well that in this world, cultivating multiple elements was the true path. Once he became a god, each Divine Clone would be equivalent to an extra life, so the more laws he cultivated, the better.

And the more sources of energy he had, the greater the bonus from From Mind to Matter would become!

Haoyue was already beginning to look forward to his next Hex selection.