POV Kevin
From the day I got home, I threw myself into intense, rigorous training from the first light of dawn. I started my days with 7-kilometer runs, pushing myself to the limit of my abilities, followed by an intense strength-training session. This first part of my morning training lasted from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. After that intense effort, I allowed myself a nourishing meal to rebuild my strength, followed by a short, restorative one-hour nap, before resuming in the afternoon with mana control, also known as energy flow mastery.
The first step of this process consists of getting familiar with mana, feeling it and making it move within you. It requires work—meditation, concentration and specific techniques—to better use it in the proportions a situation demands and to adjust it precisely. With mana, you can increase your strength, speed and endurance, among other things.
The second step, called forging, consists of creating what are called channels inside your body. It means creating veins to carry mana much faster and in greater quantities. It is a complex process that requires advanced mastery of flow manipulation. Forging the channels demands meticulous precision to shape your energy pathways, allowing an optimal flow of mana throughout the body.
The third step is the creation of a mana core. This core is often sphere-shaped and is designed to store and release mana in a controlled way. It acts as an additional reservoir, giving access to greater reserves of power and maintaining optimal energy stability.
It is important to note that these steps represent only part of the process, as there are others, with variations. But each requires dedication, regular practice and a deep understanding of the principles. Each step is therefore harder than the last, requiring continuous training and rigorous discipline to progress toward total mastery of mana.
For now, as someone just entering this world, I was only at the first step. The beginning turned out to be rather difficult for someone like me who had practically never been an awakened. I had decided to train in an isolated spot, in a small park where few people went. Fortunately for me, I was someone with a great capacity for learning and great perseverance, forged in the ordeals I had lived through. So every day, I committed myself to pushing my limits, determined to carry out my quest for vengeance.
At the end of the first week of practice, I began to perceive my mana more clearly and tangibly. This energy, which I had barely explored until then, revealed itself to me in all its power and versatility. Connecting to that inner reserve, I felt an electrifying vibration run through my being. Mana pulsed within me, ready to be channeled and directed according to my will. I discovered that this energy was malleable by nature, able to adapt to the different intentions and needs I imposed on it.
I realized that mana was not simply raw energy, but a creative and transformative force. I could mold it and shape it to meet specific goals.
After the third week of diligent practice, I made progress in my ability to manipulate mana inside my body. I managed to move it gently, with an increasingly precise sense of control. Each movement of mana turned out to be an energetic dance within my being.
Then, in the fourth week, I noticed a clear improvement in my fluidity and dexterity when manipulating mana. My energy movements became more natural, more harmonious. I could circulate mana with greater ease, directing it precisely where I wanted.
In particular, I thought back to that incredible black sword with which I had exterminated the monsters. I imagined it the same way as the first time, and after several attempts, it materialized out of a black veil. I felt a thrill of excitement, holding that incredible sword in my hand again.
A sword steeped in abyssal blackness, like the abyss I had visited, now rested in my hands. Its dark hue seemed to absorb the light, creating a singular, mystical and unsettling aura around the weapon. Every time my fingers brushed its hilt, an icy wave seemed to spread through my being, reminding me of the dark power that resided within it and deep within me. An incarnation of dark power pulsing deep in its structure, patiently waiting to be released. Every time I held it, I could feel that sinister energy vibrate along my palm, filling my veins with an electrifying sensation.
So I decided to name it Seth, after the god of Egyptian mythology. Seth, the god of drought, disease, the desert and above all darkness. He draws his power from the terror inspired by his voice and his breath, compared respectively to thunder and to the scorching breath of the desert. Seth is called the "Shredder," the "Warrior God," or, my favorite: "He who kills the light."
"Seth, the sword that kills the light."
As I could feel in this sword, there was also deep within me an energy different from mana, immeasurable and terrifying, which I couldn't access. In fact, I could only really use insignificant scraps of it. What's more, my mana mixed with this unknown energy.
Over the weeks, with training, my body gradually began to build muscle and become a little sturdier. Normally, gaining muscle should have taken longer. Even if for now it was happening on a small scale, it was strange that I was progressing so fast. So I later decided to increase the workload. But for now, classes were going to resume in exactly three days, so I had little training time left.
The next day, as I was heading home after an intense training session, a strange sensation ran through my body. The hairs on my skin stood up, like an alarm signal. I couldn't explain it, but I knew a portal was about to form. As if to confirm my intuition, the sky began to darken quickly.
Guided by the shivers running through my body, I let myself be led to a specific spot. My instinct told me to go to a small stream in the heart of the park's forest. The closer I got, the stronger the shivers became, a sign that I was on the right track.
When I reached the stream, it was shimmering softly under the moonlight; the air was strangely charged with mana. Thanks to my training, I had also learned to sense the surrounding mana, and I could feel the abnormally vibrant energy coming from this place.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning tore through the sky, striking a few meters from me and creating an intense flash of light. In its wake, a portal of an enigmatic red color opened before my eyes.
I quickly thought back over that month of training:
"If I'm able to progress quickly with physical training and control of my energy, then by fighting monsters, I'll grow even faster!"
My heart began to beat faster at the mere thought of becoming stronger. Nevertheless, was I capable of clearing a rift on my own? At worst, if I got into trouble, I would just have to run away, since the monsters couldn't cross over. However, what if I found myself surrounded—would I still be able to escape?
"No, I don't have to be afraid, I'm already dead! I have to change, I must never again be that frightened child! That child who suffers through events in pain. I must become a monster that even demons will fear. I'll kill everything that stands in my way!"
My choice made, I still took the time to gauge the rift before entering it, using a well-known technique that consists of infusing your mana into the portal to estimate its level. When you infuse your mana into it, the portal reacts and sends mana back. If that mana overwhelms you completely, you absolutely must not go in.
In my case, the two manas pushed against each other, almost evenly matched, with the portal's slightly overpowering mine. So the portal was roughly at my level. I assumed I was now rank 10, so the portal had to be at the same level, or slightly higher. The technique is actually rather unreliable, but it was all I had. I didn't have access to the machine called a calculator, which measures a rift's level. But my mind was focused solely on becoming stronger.
With conviction, I entered the rift; immediately, all my senses went on alert. Once again, the rift was a cavern with dull blue rock walls. I walked its corridors and, after a few minutes, finally came out into an open chamber. That was where the long-awaited encounter with monsters took place. I found myself face-to-face with a pack of white wolves whose tails were scorpion stingers. I counted about fifteen of them in total, and once they spotted me, they charged.
"Seth!" I said immediately.
My sword materialized out of a dark veil in the palm of my right hand, while I quickly got into position. I hastily analyzed the situation in front of me, assessing each monster's position and behavior so I could react accordingly. Two wolves were out in front, probably the most immediately threatening. Behind them, five others hung slightly back, strategically spaced, ready to seize an opportunity to attack. The other monsters were grouped in the background, forming a compact mass that would potentially be hard to break through.
That said, this configuration actually worked in my favor, because facing a compact, tightly grouped block on my own would be difficult. I took note of the advantage offered by the two most advanced wolves and of the need to neutralize them quickly. The next five would arrive afterward: I would have to fall back briefly and eliminate them as fast as possible, because the rest of the pack wouldn't be long and represented both numerical strength and a threat. I stood ready, my mind focused and determined, to engage in combat with firm resolve.
At that moment, all you could hear were the wolves' cries and footsteps; the air was electric with the imminence of the clash. I was ready to face the monsters standing before me, aware of the challenges that awaited me, but determined to triumph and prove the power that slumbered within me. I fixed my gaze on the two wolves first, assessing their movements and looking for gaps in their guard. Ready to act, I used my mana mastery to increase my speed and strength, preparing for the imminent clash.
When the right moment came, I charged at the wolves, my sword slicing through the air. I attacked them with lightning speed and precision, targeting their weak points while avoiding their counterattacks. My unshakable determination and swordsmanship quickly paid off, and the two wolves were defeated, ending their immediate threat.
However, I knew time was short. The other five monsters, closing in fast, would soon come into play. I briefly fell back, trying to position myself strategically to face this new wave of opponents. Using my speed and mobility, I attacked fervently, trying to eliminate the five monsters as quickly as possible. I used my mana mastery to increase the power of my attacks, while staying agile and adaptable to dodge their counterattacks. The battle raged, the monsters' claws and fangs trying to tear me apart, but I showed determination and precision.
In the end, each of the five monsters had fallen to my sword. However, the battle was far from over, and I had to stay vigilant against the numerical strength and growing threat looming ahead. I decided to run across the vast space, forcing the wolves to follow me in order to break up the compact block of the eight remaining wolves. Since I had managed to spread them out, even by just a few meters, it gave me the opportunity to eliminate them one by one. My sword whistled through the air and cut them down with deadly precision. Finally, only I was left standing, surrounded by the monsters' corpses.
I caught my breath as the dust of the battle slowly settled. I had done it: I had defeated a whole group of monsters on my own without taking a single wound. The excitement of combat and satisfaction ran through every cell of my body, strengthening my confidence and self-assurance.
But before I could fully enjoy my victory, more cries rang out from the back of the cave and I saw about fifty more rabid beasts arrive.
"You've got to be kidding!" I said anxiously, seeing this new wave of monsters.
Faced with this new, imminent threat, I had no time to dither or lose myself in anxiety. I put my mind back into combat mode, quickly assessing the situation. The presence of fifty more rabid beasts represented a considerable challenge, far beyond what I had faced before.
I fell back into a defensive position, preparing to face this tide of monsters. When the wave hit, I started cutting down several wolves from that disorganized tide. Naturally, there were now far too many angles to defend, with these beasts attacking me from all sides.
"Argh!" I let out.
Wounds were beginning to mark my body, caused by the claws and bites of the rabid beasts. I concentrated above all on avoiding the venomous stingers, which carried a potentially paralyzing poison in large quantities. I focused intensely, using my reflexes and mana mastery to skillfully dodge these dangerous attacks while continuing to fight.
Inevitably, the wounds kept piling up on my body at an alarming rate. Claws lacerated my flesh, bites sank in deep, and the pain grew more and more intense. Every wound was proof of my opponents' ferocity.
"I'm going to die if this keeps up!" I panted.
Without warning, an intense pain shot through my body, because I hadn't had time to react to a beast's attack; it had managed to slash my stomach with a brutal blow, and a fountain of blood gushed from the long cut, soiling the cave floor.
My legs gave way under the impact, forcing me to lean on my sword so as not to collapse completely. The throbbing pain took hold of me, but another sensation was emerging: an indomitable rage rising fast.
"There's no way common beasts like you are going to kill me!" I shouted.
All my rage and energy poured into my sword. It was a technique I had only rarely attempted during my training. However, given the urgency of the situation, this was my only chance. I had named this technique:
"Slash!"
The energy accumulated in Seth burst out all at once in a sinister black beam. It was a blade of mana of incredible intensity, and it cut down ten beasts at once, spilling their entrails on the ground.
Surprise seized the surviving beasts, stunned to see their companions annihilated in an instant. The apparent dominance they had held until then vanished in the face of this dazzling display of my power.
I straightened up, panting and battered, but my eyes burning with relentless determination. Taking advantage of this brief opening, I reasserted my position, ready to face the remaining beasts. My blade came alive once more with a dark aura as I injected my mana into it. It now shimmered, ready to be used again with devastating precision.
"Now the real fight begins!"
In a ballet of swift movements, I narrowly dodged several claw swipes aimed at my face. Unfortunately, some of them still grazed me, leaving bloody marks on my skin. The pain added to the physical exhaustion that was beginning to take hold of me.
I was barely catching my breath when I felt a violent tug on my clothes, making me stumble backward. The fabric tore further, exposing part of my body. Even as I was carried by the momentum, I narrowly dodged the blow that could have been fatal.
I was sweating profusely; my exhaustion could be felt in every movement. The wounds were piling up, reducing my ability to keep fighting with the same vigor as at the start.
Despite my efforts, I could still see about twenty wolves standing in front of me, and others arriving, ready to attack. Fatigue and pain threatened to take over, but I clung to my determination, refusing to give in to exhaustion.
"Come on, I'm going to tear you apart! I got used to pain a long time ago!" I bellowed.
I threw myself into a frenzied fight against the remaining wolves. My aching body and gaping wounds didn't hold me back, because my will to survive and to win was stronger than ever. My dark sword danced in my hands, and I struck with redoubled ferocity.
Every movement was imbued with deadly precision, aimed at eliminating my opponents without mercy. Ten more wolves succumbed to my swift, relentless attacks, their breath fading in a final roar. The beasts, caught off guard by my devastating assault, were unable to cope with my unshakable determination. The fury of battle made every fiber of my being vibrate, carrying me away in a deadly dance.
I was driven by an inexplicable inner strength, drawing on my deepest resources to keep fighting against the obstacles in front of me. Every wolf that fell was a victory, an affirmation of my growing power. My body was marked by wounds and fatigue, but I refused to yield. Every moment was a battle for survival, and I couldn't afford to weaken. Sweat streamed down my forehead.
I was aware that even after this new wave of victories, the fight wasn't over yet. More opponents could still stand in my way. But at that moment, I savored a brief pause, letting the excitement of combat mingle with a fleeting sense of triumph. The wolves fallen at my feet bore witness to my unshakable resolve and my determination to survive in this whirlwind of violence.
"If I die here, I won't be able to protect what's dear to me! I'll lose everything!"
My body began to heat up, and I was exhaling scorching air, as if I had become a furnace expelling steam.
"If I want to become strong, I have to devour you!"
With every monster I struck down, I felt myself growing stronger, while my confidence and adaptability to the demands of combat grew. I was getting used to the frantic rhythm of battle, my movements becoming more fluid and precise with every moment. At the same time, a dark, electrifying energy was slowly awakening within me. Black lightning now crackled frequently around my body.
"Slash!" I said, launching a new blade.
Finally, after a long fight, I managed to take down the 100th wolf I had encountered.
"Should I keep going?" I wondered, looking at my body and my tattered clothes.
My body was battered, covered in my own blood mixed with that of the beasts that had fallen to my blows. My T-shirt had been reduced to shreds, a testament to the harshness of the fights I had faced. The wounds were piling up, more numerous than ever before, but in reality they represented only a fraction of the suffering I had endured over the years.
"Yes, I can do it!" I declared, determined.
Despite these wounds, I stayed on my feet, ready to keep fighting. My body, hardened by previous ordeals, was used to pain and effort. I estimated that I was now at only about 50% of my capacity, but my mind was resolute, and my heart was still beating with indomitable fervor. I knew I had to keep moving forward, facing every challenge with determination and courage.
The scars and wounds had become an integral part of my journey, a testament to my resilience and determination. I pulled myself together, taking a deep breath to draw on the energy reserves I had left. The battle wasn't over yet, and I had committed to seeing it through to the end. Even at 50% of my capacity, I remained a formidable force, ready to overcome every obstacle in my path.
And as if in answer, I saw countless glowing eyes shining from the back of the cavern. I took a deep breath before shouting:
"Bring it on!"
After a long, exhausting fight through the dungeon, I finally reached the boss room, where I was confronted with an imposing sight. Before me stood the giant wolf, the final guardian of this dungeon. Its size exceeded anything I could have imagined; its fur was white, its piercing orange eyes seemed to read my soul, and its sharp fangs gleamed with deadly menace. My wounds and my fatigue no longer mattered. All that counted was giving my very best, pushing my limits and triumphing over this formidable opponent. I strove to keep my mind clear and my reflexes sharp, using my mana mastery to strengthen my defense and increase my endurance.
"So you're just an XXL version?"
Given the giant wolf's imposing size, I expected it to be powerful, but in the end it was its speed that caught me off guard. With a howl, it lunged at me with surprising swiftness, devouring the space between us in an instant.
"Fast!"
My reflexes were put to the test: I had to react quickly to dodge its attack. I leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding its sharp fangs as they snapped shut where I had been barely a second before. The strength and agility of this giant wolf were astounding. Its momentum kept going, forcing me to maintain maximum concentration and move with greater speed and precision to stay out of its reach.
The wolf completely overwhelmed me, because its size gave it a much wider attack range than an ordinary wolf. I finally took a first hit that sent me flying against a wall, coughing up blood. I had no time to waste focusing on the pain, because it charged at me again. I narrowly dodged and, while it destroyed the wall where I had been, I launched a counterattack. But it only caused a small cut.
"What!" I said, surprised, while fighting the pain.
I was exhausted and surely had a few broken ribs, but fortunately no vital organs seemed to be affected. The reality was that I was at the end of my rope; my body was screaming in pain. At most, I could launch six Slashes, after which I would be out of mana, which would also mean my death. I decided to bet my life on one idea.
"Double or nothing!"
Instead of launching several small Slashes, I was going to launch just one! Instead of putting in a little energy as usual, I was going to triple it to create a bigger attack.
I began gathering every last bit of mana left in me, while the wolf kept up its attacks. In a deadly, ferocious ballet, it attacked me without the slightest respite, while my sword glowed with a dark, infernal aura. I was ready to release this mass of energy, but I had only one try and I had to strike true. Finally, after many breathless exchanges, I found the decisive opening I needed. Dodging, I found myself a few meters above its neck.
"Devour, Seth!"
Darkness enveloped my sword, giving my attack far more power than a simple Slash. The shadows surrounding it seemed tangible, thick and charged. The darkness came crashing down; but what I hadn't foreseen was that it would be unleashed with such violence.
Instead of cutting through the giant wolf's neck, an explosion of energy occurred, sending dark shards flying in all directions. It was the result of my lack of control and experience. The wolf collapsed, stunned, unable to move, but still alive, to my misfortune. Half of its face and a large part of its neck had been blown away by the explosion. Without waiting, I rushed toward the giant wolf to finish it off before it could recover.
"You're the one who dies!" I said, driving my sword into its skull.
The giant wolf let out a howl of pain, marking its end and the end of our fight, while black lightning burst from my body once again. I stood on top of the monster's corpse.
--
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