Chapter 4
Zarel woke up after dawn, scanning through his memory for the ╫Perfect Core Creation╫ technique. Creating a core station will be needing to create a pathway for all the mana aimlessly flowing in the body to go towards the solar plexus. The ╫Perfect Core Creation╫ suggests using special mana focusing supplements to assist with the flow of mana but even if Zarel was back home these supplements still cost a small fortune, with no other choice Zarel started to let his mana flow to his core.
After an hour, Zarel opened his black-silver eyes and frustratedly scratched his head. Without any mana focusing supplements assisting him, never mind creating pathways for the mana simply controlling it was already near impossible. Guess I should have said that the requirements should be easy while making me strong. The only time Zarel allegedly ‘controlled’ his mana was when using mana crystals and…
‘ASL, can you assist me with adjusting my mana flow?’ Zarel asked excitedly, he just remembered how the ASL managed to use the {Analyze} ability.
[The ASL is only able to guide the host’s mana to flow
outwards.]
[Suggests Using a mana controlling technique.]
Zarel eyes sparkled and became excited ‘Library.’ Without any hesitation, Zarel entered activated the {Library} ability. Zarel felt the same feeling of his consciousness fading. When he opened his eyes, he was once again greeted with the comforting cabin with the floating recollection orbs.
[Welcome to the library. What will you be needing?] The same silky soft voice welcomed him and asked the same question.
“I need a technique that can help me control mana, the requirements are; it should be possible with my current situation and is specifically used for creating a core station.” Without wasting any time Zarel stated what he needed and the requirements.
[Soul-energy: 990. Locating for a suitable mana controlling technique…]
[╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ has been located. Would you like to use 10 soul-energy to obtain ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ Technique?] A window appeared in front of Zarel.
Zarel’s eyes widened with shock. “10 soul-energy? Why does ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ almost cost four times as ╫Perfect Core Creation╫?”
[╫Perfect Core Creation╫ Technique is an already known technique and is the most commonly used by the wealthy to create a core station, while ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ is one of the few outset mana control technique and is also not yet discovered in this timeline.]
“That makes sense.” Zarel nodded his head in understanding. Something that’s low on supply will always be more expensive than something that’s high on supply. What more if it wasn’t even discovered yet.
“But at least can you tell me what ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ technique can do?” Remembering how he didn’t have even the slightest clue about ╫Perfect Core Creation╫ when he bought it and ended up not being able to be used it at all, having exchange something for an unusable technique felt like he was scammed.
[╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ is an outset mana control technique that uses an artifact that can continuously draw mana from the practitioner until all the practitioner’s mana is drained. A Continuous experience of the movement of mana will let the practitioner understand the basic principle of mana control.]
A window showing a detailed explanation of the technique was shown in front of Zarel. Reading through the description, Zarel became excited. “I agree to use soul-energy to obtain this technique.” Without any hesitation, Zarel bought the ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ technique.
The headache and the memories for using ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ flooded Zarel’s mind. As soon as he opened his eyes, he stood up and grabbed the used fire crystal which was the closest to him ‘ASL, analyze.’ The feeling of his mana flowing from his entire body to the right arm then towards the hand holding the fire crystal. A window showing the results of {Analyze} appeared.
{Analyze: Fire Crystal: A crystal that has been endowed with a basic fire generation magic, and inscribed with mana absorption. Has already been used.}
Zarel didn’t pay any mind to the result of {Analyze} instead he focused on the feeling of his mana flowing towards the fire crystal. ‘Again, analyze.’ The same feeling of his mana slowly flowing towards the fire crystal.
After nearly two hours of consciously using {Analyze}, Zarel weakly laid down on the ground dripping in sweat and breathing raggedly. It was shown in the recollection orb that all the mana of the practitioner will be depleted also known as mana depletion which gives a sense of exhaustion but the sense of exhaustion was greater than what he expected. ‘Status.’
{Status Window: Name: Zarel M. Galler. Age: 16. Race: Human, Health: Mildly malnourished, Mana Drained. Mage Level: Practical. Mana Count: 0/100. Mana Density: 0%. Mana Control: Practical Level. Cognitive Ability: 10. Magical Affinity: None, Intrinsic Abilities: {ASL’s Host (980 SE)}. Blessings: None. Spells: None. Techniques: ╫Perfect Core Creation╫ 0%, ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ 17%.}
Seeing his mana count at 0/100 has confirmed that all his mana has been depleted. ‘Is there any way for me to replenish my mana count?’ Zarel asked if he can replenish his mana count, he can return to practicing the outset mana control technique.
[For the host’s current predicament, there are 2 ways the first is natural replenishment which will take an hour of rest for every 5 points of mana count or use soul-energy in exchange for mana count 1 soul-energy is worth 10 points of mana count.]
“Huuuu” Zarel deeply breathed out, soul-energy will be the only way to survive in the meantime. ‘Exchange soul-energy for a fully replenish mana count.’ Immediately afterward a warm feeling invaded Zarel’s body his mind felt clearer and his body was full of energy. He didn’t have any time to waste on waiting he only has 13 days remaining until his chance to escape. He once again started analyzing the fire crystal again and again.
After four hours and 20 soul-energy used as replenishments, Zarel, without a hint of hesitation, exchanged another 10 soul-energy for a fully replenished mana count. With the same fire crystal firmly in his grasp but instead of using {Analyze}, feeling a slight change in his body he opened his status.
{Status Window: Name: Zarel M. Galler. Age: 16. Race: Human, Health: Mildly malnourished, Artificially Energized. Mage Level: Practical. Mana Count: 100/100. Mana Density: 0%. Mana Control: Practical Level. Cognitive Ability: 10. Magical Affinity: None, Intrinsic Abilities: {ASL’s Host (950 SE)}. Blessings: None. Spells: None. Techniques: ╫Perfect Core Creation╫ 0%, ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ 51%.}
He quickly looked at the ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ technique last time he didn’t even take a glance on it but was sure it wasn’t at 51%. He quickly closed his eyes and tried to grasp the faint feeling in his body, from all over he could feel something akin to a droplet of water sliding on his skin but within him. With a strange unexplainable feeling, Zarel easily concluded that these ‘droplets’ were the mana in his body.
He tried guiding them to one part of his body but with nothing tangible he didn’t have any idea of how to guide his mana to a single place, nonetheless, he was ecstatic, feeling the mana in the body meant that he was one step closer to controlling it independently. He once again used {Analyze} on the fire crystal while deeply concentrating on the feeling of the ‘droplets’ being guided towards the fire crystal.
After two more sets of fully depleting and immediately replenishing again, Zarel once again tried to guide the ‘droplets’ to the fire crystals, this time with little success. He could feel, at a snail’s pace, the ‘droplets’ moving towards the fire crystal purely with his own guidance.
{Analyze: Fire Crystal: A crystal that has been endowed with a basic fire generation magic, and inscribed with mana absorption. Has already been used.}
“ha… haha… HAHAHAHA! It worked! Finally, it worked!” Zarel became delirious with joy, a minute of utmost concentration finally yielded results. With the newfound success, he opened his status window.
{Status Window: Name: Zarel M. Galler. Age: 16. Race: Human, Health: Mildly malnourished, Artificially Energized. Mage Level: Practical. Mana Count: 100/100. Mana Density: 0%. Mana Control: Practical Level. Cognitive Ability: 10. Magical Affinity: None, Intrinsic Abilities: {ASL’s Host (930 SE)}. Blessings: None. Spells: None. Techniques: ╫Perfect Core Creation╫ 0%, ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ 85%.}
╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ increased from 51% to 85%. ‘Now that I can guide my mana, I should be able to create a core station with ╫Perfect Core Creation╫ with that thought he breathed in and out, guiding his mana towards his core. The ‘droplets’ slowly flowed towards the guided direction.
After an hour, Zarel stared at his status window with lifeless eyes, an hour of work and concentration resulted to this?
{Status Window: Name: Zarel M. Galler. Age: 16. Race: Human, Health: Mildly malnourished, Slightly Tired. Mage Level: Practical. Mana Count: 80/100. Mana Density: 0%. Mana Control: Practical Level. Cognitive Ability: 10. Magical Affinity: None, Intrinsic Abilities: {ASL’s Host (930 SE)}. Blessings: None. Spells: None. Techniques: ╫Perfect Core Creation╫ .2%, ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ 85%.}
‘A .2% increase, a .2% increase, a .2% increase’ Zarel repeated in his mind countless times while staring at the cave ceiling lifelessly. He wasn’t expecting an instant core station but still, an hour of practicing the ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ will increase by eight at the very least or nine at most. ‘ASL, is this natural?’ hoping there’s some deficiency happening he asked the only one who could answer him.
[Increasing the mastery of ╫Perfect Core Creation╫ by .2% in an hour while mana control being at Practical-level is above average.]
‘How can I increase my mana control’ Zarel asked desperately.
[Perfect mastery of the outset mana control technique ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ will increase the host’s mana control from Practical-level to Beginner-level.]
‘Oh? Really?’
[Affirmative.]
“huuu” Zarel sighed in frustration.
Grabbing the same fire crystal, he once again continuously let his mana flow into it.
An hour and a half have passed since. Zarel suddenly opened his eyes, dripping in sweat and breathing slightly raggedly, he could feel the ‘droplets’ were being tangible to the point he could hypothetically push them, they no longer seemed like they were just drops of water sliding on the skin but instead were ice sliding on a surface, much faster.
‘Status.’ With some expectation due to the change, he excitedly called for his status window.
{Status Window: Name: Zarel M. Galler. Age: 16. Race: Human, Health: Mildly malnourished, Slightly Tired. Mage Level: Practical. Mana Count: 0/100. Mana Density: 0%. Mana Control: Beginner Level. Cognitive Ability: 10. Magical Affinity: None, Intrinsic Abilities: {ASL’s Host (920 SE)}. Blessings: None. Spells: None. Techniques: ╫Perfect Core Creation╫ .2%, ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ 100%.}
Finally, ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫ has finally been fully mastered and mana control reached Beginner level.
‘ASL, with this I can finally easily create a core station with ╫Perfect Core Creation╫ right?’
[Affirmative.]
Hearing this Zarel immediately replenish his mana count. After half a day and 70 soul-energy used. Zarel could finally practice ╫Perfect Core Creation╫. With his mana replenish he suddenly felt his legs become jelly causing him to fall down. ‘What happened? ASL, what happened?’ he asked with a sense of fear. ‘Did something go wrong when I was practicing ╫Burst Mana Expenditure╫?’
[The host has been fasting for the entire day.]
‘O-oh.’ Remembering he skipped everything and anything just to start practicing he completely forgot to eat.
After gathering some dried wood to make a fire and eating the fruit from the nearby trees. He began practicing ╫Perfect Core Creation╫.
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