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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
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After finishing dinner.
I returned to the gymnasium with Lim Gangcheol.
The instructor’s advice that I heard from Cha Eunwol during the meal.
It was to test a solution to the problem of controlling my explosively increased mana.
“Come on, Ilhan! Show me what you’ve got!”
With Lim Gangcheol’s encouragement, I stood on the track.
In that state, I recalled Cha Eunwol’s advice by searching through my memories.
-First, I think you need to grasp the entire flow before manipulating mana.
According to her advice, understanding the flow of mana in a broader sense was the beginning of control.
Pondering this, I breathed will into my mana.
At that moment.
Kuguugung-!
I felt a flow like a raging torrent.
It was truly an overwhelming presence.
I still wasn’t used to it, but I quickly regained my composure.
‘Simply circulating it isn’t a problem at all.’
Mana cutting across with fierce momentum.
While observing my body and examining the flow of mana carefully.
Tat-
I took my first step.
By the time I reached about halfway through the first track.
‘······I think I can figure out the speed and direction.’
I was able to grasp the approximate flow.
As soon as I realized this, I moved on to the next piece of advice.
The second was a knack, or a mindset.
-The more you try to control each part, the more unstable it becomes.
-Hmm, so rather than controlling the process of mana flow, it’s about guiding it to the destination? The intended endpoint?
At first, it didn’t quite click.
Perhaps because of that, she kindly explained with an example.
-For example, if we’re strengthening both legs, we used to guide the flow directly there, right?
-Now instead of doing that, when the mana circulates throughout the body.
-After completing one cycle, use that momentum? It seems like using that to ultimately direct it toward both legs!
Since she was also recalling the instructor’s advice while explaining, there was somewhat of a rambling quality to it.
Even considering that, it was still understandable enough.
‘Certainly, I’m not handling a small amount of mana like before.’
Unlike before, whether it was speed or the amount of mana.
It was simply not a scale that could be controlled midway.
With that understanding, I observed the flow within my body.
Kuguugung-!
Finally, when it had circulated once through my body.
‘······Now!’
I redirected the torrent-like stream.
The moment the rapid current of mana reached the desired point.
Kwang-!
An enormous angular force struck the track.
I shot forward like a bullet.
Amidst the explosive speed and unprecedented power, I gave up trying to control the flow.
Instead.
‘Straight to the second track.’
Maintaining my current state, I moved directly to the second, ‘Agility – Stamina’ track.
Once again, I watched the unhindered flow of mana rushing through.
In that state, after another circulation was completed.
‘Now.’
I spread it widely throughout my body, as if sprinkling it all over.
Just then.
Hoong-!
A barrage of balls poured out from ahead.
Simultaneously, all my senses were heightened acutely.
Because of this, not only the balls approaching right in front of me, but also the trajectories of those beyond came into view at once.
‘At this level.’
There was no need to exert effort to avoid them.
I simply moved forward without hesitation, with a smile.
It was enough to slightly turn my shoulders or adjust the position of my steps without deviating from my path.
After breaking through the second track and then the third track, I realized.
‘Even though there’s still one track left, my score is already······.’
243 points.
By just the third track, I had already surpassed the score from class time, 220 points.
A smile naturally appeared at the truly different dimension of power.
“Ilhan! That’s incredible?!”
Amidst Lim Gangcheol’s cheers, I thought again.
‘This was indeed a gift.’
Now that I could control it, the power was definitely tangible.
Just as I was about to ride the momentum and break through the final track in one go.
“······Kuhak.”
Suddenly, a tremendous sense of depletion swept over me.
As if I were a deflated balloon, the strength drained from my entire body.
Thud-
Eventually, I couldn’t maintain my balance and collapsed.
“Ilhan? What’s wrong!”
Lim Gangcheol, who had been exclaiming in admiration until now, tilted his head.
I didn’t even have the energy to respond to his reaction.
My body wouldn’t listen, as if it were a cotton soaked with water.
As I lay there, unable to move, Lim Gangcheol rushed over and shook my body.
“Get a hold of yourself, Ilhan! Ilhaaan-!”
While I was limp under his strong hands.
I barely managed to open my mouth.
“······me.”
“Huh? What did you say?!”
“Carry me on your back.”
“······.”
Toward Lim Gangcheol, who was momentarily at a loss for words, I added with difficulty.
“I can’t move.”
So take me to the dormitory.
At this bold request, Lim Gangcheol stared at me blankly.
*
Shortly after.
Thanks to Lim Gangcheol carrying me, I was able to safely return to the dormitory.
“Well then, I’ll go do my evening training and come back, so get plenty of rest, Ilhan!”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Lim Gangcheol left the dormitory, giving a thumbs up as if he had completed his mission.
I waved my hand roughly while lying face down on the bed.
Only after resting for a full hour was I finally able to regain my strength.
‘······I finally solved the control problem, but now there’s another issue.’
The sudden depletion that had swept over me.
It was quite confusing, especially since it was a phenomenon I had never experienced before.
Of course, I had some ideas about the cause.
‘It seems like it might be because I used too much mana.’
None other than the excessive use of mana.
But I wasn’t completely convinced.
Because this hadn’t happened even when I had less mana.
‘Moreover, now my mana has increased to a level that can’t even be compared to before.’
Whether it was due to the noticeably increased output, or whether there was some cause I didn’t know.
As various speculations kept growing.
“This won’t do.”
I finally got up despite the lingering depletion.
I sat down at the desk and opened my notebook.
‘No point in wasting energy, let’s just ask.’
I intended to leave a written message for the Shadow guy.
Of course, based on my experience so far, he had consistently ignored minor questions.
I had also generally let it go, thinking there was no point in engaging in a battle of nerves over trivial matters, but this time was different.
‘Considering the class progress and the upcoming duels, skilled mana manipulation is essential.’
With that thought organized, I wrote down my questions.
After finishing, I threw myself back onto the bed.
‘At least with the rest skill, it seems I recover a bit faster.’
I wondered if the depletion remaining throughout my body would affect his actions.
With these miscellaneous thoughts, I soon fell asleep.
···
···
···
-Confirming the subject’s unconscious state.
-The subject’s initiative is transferred to [Shadow of ????]!
-Checking synchronization rate with the subject.
-Current synchronization rate…… [17%]
-[Shadow of ????] acts according to consciousness with low-level discernment and partial intact memories!
-[Skill] imprinted in consciousness has been activated!
-Synchronization rate is very low!
-The efficiency of [Skill] imprinted in consciousness drops significantly!
-Skill [Ultra Evolution(SS)] is changed to [Rapid Growth(C)]!
-All types of training effects increase by 4 times!
-Skill [Ultra Regeneration(SS)] is changed to [Rapid Recovery(C)]!
-All types of rest effects increase by 4 times!
The Shadow opened his eyes and slowly got up.
At that moment.
“······.”
He felt a strange sensation remaining throughout his body.
A slight feeling of depletion, he frowned upon identifying it.
But that was all, and soon he moved as if nothing was wrong.
The place he headed was none other than the desk.
And then.
Chwarak-
He opened the notebook as if it were natural.
There were several questions written in it.
What the depletion was, whether it was really due to mana usage, how to solve it, and so on.
After roughly skimming through it.
‘Problems that will naturally resolve themselves before long anyway.’
He didn’t feel the need to answer.
Therefore, instead of a response, he wrote down something else.
After writing a lengthy memo for about 10 minutes, he finally got up.
His destination was, as always, the stat training room.
“Oh, Ilhan! Are you already feeling better?!”
Nod-
“Don’t overdo it!”
Nod-
After having a brief, one-sided conversation with Lim Gangcheol, he immediately entered the mana training room.
Sitting cross-legged, he recalled what needed to be done.
‘Today is the last day.’
The fruit of about three weeks of time investment.
Finally, the moment to reap the rewards had come.
A luscious fruit, but certainly not easy to handle. However, he didn’t mind.
Because harvesting the fruit wasn’t his role.
With his eyes closed, he began to mutter something.
At that moment.
Kuguugung-!
The mana within his body responded.
Moreover, the energy of Hyeoncheon began to condense more thickly.
One cycle, two cycles……
The mana circulated through his body, and circulated again.
When it finally grew to a size difficult to estimate.
‘Now.’
He guided the torrent of mana to the final gate.
Kwang-! Kwang-!
As it pounded the wall with fierce momentum.
Cold sweat streamed down his forehead incessantly.
Finally.
Jjeojuk-
A crack appeared in the wall.
As he concentrated all his force to strike at once.
Jjeoeong!
The path to the final gate opened.
The energy of Hyeoncheon fully dissolved into the even more powerful flow of mana.
Kuguugung-
Thus, the Hyeoncheon mana that pervaded his entire body flowed majestically and reached a point below his navel.
The focal point that had now formed a complete sphere.
As soon as he recognized this, he slightly opened his eyes.
A blue light burst forth from his eyes that flickered like shadows.
*
The next day.
“Ilhan, the 7th period is about to start!”
“······Huh?”
“Today is the mana training room. Let’s go quickly!”
“Yeah.”
“Why are you spacing out again today! Did something happen?”
I just shook my head at the puzzled question.
‘······Something did happen.’
But it was truly difficult to explain.
The reason was none other than last night.
Because of the memo left by the Shadow guy.
‘Well, I did get a reply, but.’
There were absolutely no answers to the questions I had left.
Yet it was also hard to say he had ignored them.
Instead of answers, he had written a memo spanning 5 whole pages.
The content began with:
-Hyeoncheon Ganggi (玄天罡氣)
Four characters neatly written, Hyeoncheon Ganggi.
Even the name sounded unusual.
Starting with this, the content filling all 5 pages was even more intense than the Black Shadow Step.
It was full of incomprehensibly enigmatic Zen-like sayings.
‘Hyeoncheon Ganggi, and the Zen-like sayings are probably incantations. If so, this is indeed……’
A skill related to mana breathing techniques.
Among them, it was highly likely to be a [Mana Mental Method].
When I realized this, I was filled with mixed emotions.
‘It’s good that a skill has appeared, but……’
Perhaps because of the incantations written across 5 whole pages.
I felt more overwhelmed than joyful.
‘Do I have to memorize all of this……?’
As far as I knew, that was the only way to acquire skills.
At this point, I couldn’t even believe that he remembered all this and wrote it down.
Because of this, I had been racking my brain all morning until now.
Lim Gangcheol, who had no way of knowing my inner thoughts.
“Let’s go quickly!”
“Yeah.”
He urged me, pointing at the clock.
Therefore, I headed to the mana training room without even having time to put down the notebook with the incantations.
When we arrived just in time.
“Everyone’s here.”
Just then, the instructor appeared.
After checking attendance, he began the class in earnest.
Soon from the instructor.
“Today’s lesson covers the specific techniques and practice of the 4th stage of mana breathing, as well as the general theory of mana skills.”
Coincidentally, the explanation I needed flowed out.
Sure enough.
‘Oh, so there was such a method.’
As expected, I was able to resolve my questions about skill acquisition.
I thought that was the end, but it wasn’t.
With the subsequent lecture content, I was even able to solve an unexpected problem.
‘······Wait, Hyeoncheon Ganggi is at that level?’
I even heard content that I couldn’t have imagined.
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