---
[Ding. Mission Progress: 1 / 3 Mana Particles Absorbed.]
John exhaled. "That… was intense."
Fizz floated lower. "You didn't explode. That's a win."
"I can feel it. Like something's alive inside me now. Awake."
Fizz grinned. "That's your mana vein, baby! She's open now. Flowing like a river of spicy soup."
"You did it, you have got mana vain" he said. "Proud of you. Proud of me. Mostly proud of me."
John gave him side eyes. "You didn't do anything."
Fizz crossed his arms and pouted. "I supervised. That counts."
John chuckled softly and turned toward the tunnel they'd come through. The cavern behind them was dimming fast, as if the mana particle had been its heart.
After that John clenched and unclenched his fists. His vision was sharpened. The air felt thinner, but clearer. His body didn't feel different physically but something had changed. Something fundamental.
