Ethan Gale sat on the edge of his bed, his fingers still tingling with the remnants of mana. The **Infinite Point System** hummed in his mind, its blue interface glowing before him like a promise of absolute power.
*"I really can't run out of mana,"* he muttered, flexing his hands. The sensation was exhilarating—like standing at the edge of an endless ocean, knowing he could draw from it forever.
He glanced at his status screen:
**[Mana Pool: ∞]**
**[Spells Known: Spark (Novice - Level 1)]**
A slow grin spread across his face.
*"If my mana is infinite… then what happens if I upgrade my only spell?"*
### **The Spell's Evolution**
*"System—allocate points to *Spark* until it's maxed out."*
**[Upgrading *Spark*…]**
**[Level 1 → Level 2]**
**[Level 2 → Level 3]**
**[…]**
**[Level 8 → Level 9]**
**[Warning: Cannot upgrade to Level 10. Host's current physical and magical endurance is insufficient.]**
Ethan blinked.
*"Level nine? Why not ten?"*
**[Answer: Maximum spell tier is Level 10. However, attempting to wield a Level 10 spell in your current state would result in catastrophic backlash—possible self-destruction.]**
Ethan's excitement dimmed slightly.
*"So even with infinite mana, my body has limits?"*
**[Correct. Mana is infinite, but the vessel must be strong enough to contain it.]**
He exhaled, rubbing his temples. *"Fair enough."*
Still, **Level 9 Spark** was nothing to scoff at.
### **The Temptation to Test It**
Ethan raised his hand, feeling the new spell's structure in his mind. No longer a pitiful flicker of flame, **Spark** had evolved into something monstrous—a **storm of condensed lightning**, capable of annihilating everything in its path.
He **ached** to test it.
But then he looked around his tiny dorm room—the cracked walls, the wooden desk, the straw mattress.
*"If I unleash this here… I'll destroy the entire building."*
His fingers twitched with restraint.
*"Damn it. I need an open space."*
---
## **A Problem of Control**
Ethan paced the room, his mind racing.
*"If I can't test it here, where can I go?"*
The academy had training grounds, but they were always crowded. If he unleashed a **Level 9 spell** in front of everyone…
*"They'll either worship me or try to dissect me."*
Neither option appealed to him.
He needed somewhere **isolated.**
Then it hit him—the **Forgotten Caverns**, an abandoned mining site deep in the forest outside the academy. The place was rumored to be haunted, which meant no one would be there.
*"Perfect."*
---
## **A Close Call**
Just as Ethan was about to leave, the door to his dorm **burst open.**
Rolan Veyne stood in the doorway, his usual smirk in place. Two of his lackeys flanked him, their arms crossed.
*"Well, well. The academy's favorite failure is still here,"* Rolan sneered. *"I heard a loud noise earlier. Don't tell me you were trying to cast *Spark* again?"*
Ethan's fingers curled.
*"Get out."*
Rolan laughed. *"Or what? You'll set my robes on fire?"* He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a mocking whisper. *"Face it, Ethan. You're nothing. You'll always be nothing."*
Ethan's vision **turned red.**
*"System,"* he thought coldly. *"If I cast Level 9 Spark right now… what happens?"*
**[Calculating…]**
**[Result: Rolan Veyne and his companions will be vaporized. The dormitory wing will collapse. Estimated casualties: 12-15 students.]**
Ethan's anger flickered.
*"…Damn it."*
As much as he wanted to wipe that smirk off Rolan's face, he wasn't ready to become a murderer.
Yet.
Instead, he leaned forward, his voice deathly quiet.
*"Rolan. One day soon, you're going to regret every word you've ever said to me."*
Something in Ethan's eyes made Rolan **step back.**
*"Tch. Whatever. Let's go,"* he muttered to his lackeys, retreating.
The door slammed shut behind them.
Ethan exhaled sharply.
*"I need to get stronger. Fast."*
Ethan sat back
down, his mind whirling.
He had **infinite mana.**
A **Level 9 spell.**
But a **body too weak to handle Level 10.**
.............
Ethan sat cross-legged on his bed, staring at the blue System screen hovering before him.
**[Infinite Point System]**
**[Available Points: ∞]**
**[Upgradeable Categories: Spells, Mana Control, Elemental Affinity]**
**[Locked Categories: Strength, Agility, Physical Endurance]**
His fingers twitched in frustration.
*"So I can make my spells god-tier, but I can't just dump points into my body?"*
**[Correct. Physical attributes must be trained naturally or enhanced through cultivation.]**
Ethan exhaled sharply.
*"That's inconvenient."*
But not impossible.
If the System wouldn't let him cheat his way to physical power, then he'd just have to **work for it.**
---
The original Ethan had never been taught proper cultivation techniques—orphans and "talentless" students weren't deemed worthy of such knowledge. But with his **infinite mana**, Ethan could brute-force his way through.
He closed his eyes, recalling the little he knew from overhearing lectures:
*"Mana circulation refines the body. The more pure the flow, the stronger the vessel becomes."*
Ethan focused, directing his boundless mana through his meridians in slow, deliberate cycles.
At first, nothing happened.
Then—
**A spark.**
A **surge of energy** burned through his veins, his muscles tightening as if being reforged. His skin prickled with heat, his bones vibrating with power.
**[Ding!]**
**[Host's cultivation has broken through!]**
**[Mage Apprentice Level 1 → Level 10]**
Ethan's eyes snapped open.
*"What? Already?!"*
He flexed his hands, feeling the difference immediately. His body was **lighter**, his senses **sharper**, and his mana control **tighter.**
*"So this is what real progress feels like."*
A grin spread across his face.
*"If one session got me to Level 10, how far can I go?"*
---
As much as he wanted to keep cultivating, Ethan knew he needed more than just raw power.
*"I only know *Spark*. If I'm going to survive in this world, I need more spells."*
The academy's **Grand Library** was the obvious answer.
But there was a problem.
Low-level apprentices like him were only permitted to access **basic spellbooks.** Anything advanced required special permission—or **theft.**
Ethan smirked.
*"Good thing I don't care about rules anymore."*
He'd go tomorrow.
For now, he needed to **stabilize his breakthrough.**
---
## **A Sudden Knock**
Just as Ethan was about to resume cultivation, a sharp **rap** echoed at his door.
*"Ethan Gale. Open up."*
The voice was cold, authoritative.
*"Shit."*
Ethan recognized it instantly—**Professor Kael**, the academy's strictest disciplinarian.
Had someone **noticed** his mana surge?
He took a deep breath, schooling his expression into one of weary confusion before opening the door.
Professor Kael stood there, his sharp eyes scanning Ethan with suspicion.
*"You were radiating mana just now. Explain."*
Ethan feigned ignorance.
*"I was… meditating? Trying to, anyway. Still can't even cast *Spark* properly."*
The professor's gaze narrowed.
*"Hmph. Don't waste your time. Talentless boys like you should focus on menial tasks, not magic."*
He turned to leave, but not before adding:
*"And clean up this room. It reeks of desperation."*
Ethan's fists clenched, but he said nothing.
*"Soon,"* he thought, watching the professor walk away. *"Soon, no one will dare talk to me like that."*
---
As night fell, Ethan sat by his window, watching the twin moons cast their glow over the academy.
Tomorrow, he'd visit the library.
And then?
*"Then I'll show this world what true power looks like."*