Night draped its velvet cloak over Aethelred Royal Academy, transforming the bustling campus into a realm of hushed shadows and soft, ambient Mana glows from enchanted lanterns. For Rudelion, this was his true domain. The quiet solitude was a balm to his hyper-alert senses, a stark contrast to the performative interactions of the day. As the last lingering student lights winked out in the dormitories, Rudelion slipped from his room, a silent wraith in the moonlit corridors. His steps were light, purposeful, echoing the stealth techniques he had mastered in a previous life.
His destination: the Whispering Grotto, the Arcana Wellspring.
He navigated the sprawling gardens with practiced ease, his Mana Sensing skill now a keen instinct, guiding him through the intricate Mana currents of the flora and fauna. The humid night air, thick with the scent of night-blooming jasmine, felt invigorating. He found the secluded grotto, the shimmering vines parting almost welcomingly as he approached. The moss-covered statue within pulsed with a deep, ancient Mana, radiating a serene power that felt both alien and strangely comforting.
He sat cross-legged before the statue, mirroring the posture of meditation he'd adopted countless times in the Murim, but now, instead of drawing qi from the very essence of his being, he reached out, mentally, to the Mana wellspring. The air around him shimmered as he began to draw the primordial Mana into himself, a steady, rhythmic intake that felt like breathing for his new spiritual body. The Demon God's nascent essence within him hummed in response, a vast, cold ocean eager to merge with the boundless Mana of the grotto.
The System flickered: Prime Mana Confluence: 1/24 hours complete.
He lost himself in the flow. Hours melted away like ice in the sun. He wasn't just absorbing Mana; he was refining it, integrating it, allowing it to slowly permeate his Mana conduits, expanding his capacity. The abyssal resonance of his Thaumiel Blood Imprint, previously a faint thrum, began to deepen, the nascent Void affinity awakening further. He felt his connection to the ambient Mana strengthen, his control becoming infinitesimally more precise. It was a slow, arduous process, demanding absolute focus, but the promise of Arcana Core Fragments and Thaumiel Blood Imprint Awakening Progress spurred him onward. This was how he would transcend his given role, how he would truly Defy Fate. This was his redemption.
He retreated from the grotto just before dawn, careful to leave no trace. His body felt heavy, but his mind was sharper, more attuned. He had accumulated nearly three hours of meditation. A tiny fraction of the total, but a start.
The next day passed in a blur of classes and carefully managed social interactions. He completed all his DAILY OBJECTIVES, earning him another 5 Gacha Tickets. By the end of the week, through diligent daily grind and repeated trips to the Whispering Grotto during the deepest hours of night, Rudelion had amassed 20 Gacha Tickets. He had also accumulated Prime Mana Confluence: 15/24 hours complete, and felt a noticeable increase in his Mana capacity and the clarity of his Mana Sensing. His Mana signature, while still suppressed, felt more stable, more controlled.
Now, it was time. Time for the rewards.
He retired to his room after a particularly draining 'Practical Arcana Application' class, where he had to feign incompetence with elemental spells while subtly observing and adapting the instructor's techniques. He closed the door, engaged the Mana-dampening ward on his door (a common feature in noble dorms, ostensibly for privacy, which he now thoroughly appreciated), and pulled up the System.
[GACHA] Gacha Tickets: 20
He tapped 10x Pull. The vibrant kaleidoscope of Mana burst forth again, swirling across the interface, building anticipation. Ten cards materialized, flipping one by one.
[SKILL ACQUIRED: Mana Shield (Active, Rare)]Description: Condenses ambient Mana into a protective barrier around the user, absorbing incoming magical and physical damage. Scales with Mana capacity and control.Rarity: Rare
[STAT INCREASE: Vitality +2][STAT INCREASE: Strength +1][SKILL ACQUIRED: Thaumiel's Shadow Step (Active, Rare)]Description: Manipulates localized Void Mana to allow for short-distance teleportation (Line of Sight, up to 10 meters). Leaves no magical signature.Rarity: Rare (Unique to Thaumiel Bloodline)
[STAT INCREASE: Dexterity +1][SKILL ACQUIRED: Basic Mana Recovery (Passive, Common)]Description: Slightly increases passive Mana regeneration rate.Rarity: Common
[STAT INCREASE: Mana Capacity +10][STAT INCREASE: Intelligence +1][SKILL ACQUIRED: Arcane Insight (Passive, Rare)]Description: Provides deeper understanding of complex Mana structures, spell incantations, and Blood Imprint abilities upon observation. Greatly assists in learning new Arcana.Rarity: Rare
[STAT INCREASE: Charisma +1]
Rudelion's eyes gleamed with cold satisfaction. This was an incredible haul. Two Rare active skills, a Rare passive, and significant stat boosts across the board, including his already high Charisma.
He checked his [PROFILE] again.
[Host Profile: Rudelion Von Thaumiel]Status: Alive (Vessel of Incipient Demon God)Level: 1Mana Capacity: 60/110 (Unrefined -> Improved!)Blood Imprint Affinity: Thaumiel (Abyssal/Void)Base Stats:
Strength: 9
Dexterity: 10
Vitality: 12
Intelligence: 16 (Override: Host Cognitive Framework)
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 19
His Mana Capacity had increased, and his Vitality, crucial for survival, had taken a substantial jump. The increase in Charisma was also noteworthy; he was already off the charts, but more was always better for his manipulation strategy.
He then went to the [SKILLS] tab, reviewing his new acquisitions.
[Mana Shield (Active, Rare)]Level: 1/5Experience: 0/100Upgrade Cost: 100 Mana Core Fragments OR 1x Gacha Ticket (Rare)
[Thaumiel's Shadow Step (Active, Rare)]Level: 1/5Experience: 0/100Upgrade Cost: 100 Mana Core Fragments OR 1x Gacha Ticket (Rare)
[Basic Mana Recovery (Passive, Common)]Level: 1/5Experience: 0/100Upgrade Cost: 50 Mana Core Fragments OR 1x Gacha Ticket (Common)
[Arcane Insight (Passive, Rare)]Level: 1/5Experience: 0/100Upgrade Cost: 100 Mana Core Fragments OR 1x Gacha Ticket (Rare)
Mana Shield and Thaumiel's Shadow Step were critical. One for defense, one for mobility. And Shadow Step was unique to his Blood Imprint, directly aligning with the Abyssal/Void affinity. This was the Demon God's power, being slowly channeled and controlled through him. He felt a profound sense of empowerment, not the chaotic rage of his past life, but a cold, calculated strength.
Arcane Insight was another game-changer. It would accelerate his learning of Mana and Blood Imprint, allowing him to absorb knowledge faster and reverse-engineer spells more efficiently. This was essential for truly mastering his new power system and understanding how to counter threats.
He still had 10 Gacha Tickets left. He could do another 10x pull. But he decided against it for now. He wanted to see if the Pity Counter was working for the UR. He could wait. Accumulate more. Strategize.
The next few days were a methodical grind. Rudelion continued his nightly meditations in the Whispering Grotto, pushing his Prime Mana Confluence quest closer to completion. He felt the vast Mana of the wellspring beginning to truly integrate with the Demon God's essence within him, the abyssal power becoming more attuned to his will. His senses were sharpening; he could hear the faint whisper of Mana flowing through the academy's very foundations, the subtle thrum of distant spells.
He continued to execute his DAILY OBJECTIVES with ruthless efficiency, accumulating more Gacha Tickets. His social interactions became more nuanced. He found himself conversing with various students, subtly extracting information about their Blood Imprints, their Mana affinities, their weaknesses. He maintained his image as the earnest, recovering noble, now slightly more confident, his charm radiating subtly, drawing people in. He even offered seemingly innocuous advice to other students on their Mana cultivation, subtly leveraging his Arcane Insight to pinpoint their flaws, making them view him as surprisingly knowledgeable and helpful. This strengthened his reputation, making him a less likely target for suspicion, and a more likely recipient of goodwill.
During one 'Combat Application' class, the instructors introduced more complex elemental spell combinations. Rudelion, using his Arcane Insight, quickly understood the underlying Mana structures. When it was his turn to demonstrate, he would apply a basic, generic spell, careful to avoid fully revealing his 'Abyssal/Void' affinity. He would then subtly apply Mana Shield to deflect a training dummy's counter-attack, a flicker of transparent Mana around his arm, making it appear like a lucky dodge or a common protective spell. The instructors, while often perplexed by his 'unusual' Mana, remained unable to truly categorize him as anything but an exceptionally gifted, if unorthodox, student.
His gaze often fell upon Lathel, the protagonist, during these exercises. Lathel was a natural, his silver hair a blur as he moved, his Mana pure and strong. He was charismatic, drawing the attention of not only the instructors but also the female students, who often congregated near his training circle, offering words of encouragement. Rudelion observed the easy rapport Lathel built, the genuine connections he forged. It was a different kind of power than Rudelion's own manipulative charm, but effective nonetheless. Rudelion noted the burgeoning 'affection points' Lathel was undoubtedly accumulating with the future heroines of GoldenFrisk2. He had to plan around this. He could not be seen as a direct rival, not yet.
He decided to maintain a polite, distant relationship with Lathel for now. A nod in the corridors, a brief, respectful exchange during group activities. He didn't want to be perceived as a threat to Lathel's 'hero' narrative, nor did he want to be drawn into Lathel's party. His goal was self-preservation, not alliance.
One evening, after another long meditation session in the Whispering Grotto, Rudelion received a triumphant System notification:
[Sub-Quest: Prime Mana Confluence - COMPLETE!]Congratulations, Host! The Arcana Wellspring is now attuned to your Mana signature.Reward Delivered: Arcana Core Fragment x 1, Thaumiel Blood Imprint Awakening Progress +10%
A warm sensation flowed through his core, and he felt a distinct shift in his Blood Imprint. The abyssal resonance intensified, and he felt a deeper connection to the spatial and shadowy aspects of his nascent Void power. This was the first concrete step towards truly awakening the Demon God's essence within him, not as a corrupting force, but as a controlled, Mana-based power. He now had 1 Arcana Core Fragment. That meant he could upgrade one of his rare skills or increase his Mana capacity even further.
His mind raced, calculating. He had 15 Gacha Tickets now, and 1 Arcana Core Fragment. He would continue to accumulate. He would systematically grind, gather, and upgrade. This was his path. He had chosen it. And for the first time in his existence, Rudelion felt a powerful sense of control over his destiny. The game had truly begun, and he was playing to win. For himself. For his own redemption.