As Niryn still knelt on the ground, muttering devout words with her forehead pressed against the damp grass, I examined my body with renewed attention.
Something had changed. Visibly.
My arms were longer. The muscles, previously lean, appeared firmer and more toned. The skin, which had previously carried the pale tone of confinement and pain, was now alive, bright, with a faint glow of vitality. I felt my blood running faster, my lungs fuller than ever. It was as if every cell was pulsing with hunger to exist.
I closed my eyes. I concentrated again.
I sought the mana within me.
And then I saw it. Or rather... I felt it. The core.
There, just below his navel, it pulsed like a small arcane heart. It was full. The energy contained within it resembled a dense green liquid, as if the very concept of vitality had been magically condensed. It was beautiful. Strangely comforting.
And it was at that moment that something moved.
The Nodule.
I felt his awareness within me stir. And then, like silent roots, he reached down to my core. He touched it cautiously...and enveloped it.
There was no pain. No spasms, it was just comforting. It was as if he had always belonged, as if something that was already mine had awakened. As if the mana core and the Node were made for each other.
Then the mana began to circulate.
But not like before.
The Node used the mana contained in the nucleus as fuel, subtly expanding throughout my body: arms, fingers, legs, feet, chest, head... and finally, the brain. Each part was touched, reinforced and improved.
The result was immediate.
My perception changed and I felt much stronger and more voracious. I opened my eyes... and the world had changed.
Colors vibrated more intensely. The lines of the environment seemed sharper. And then, I saw it: the mana. Like streams of water suspended in the air passing like little kennels.
Subtle vortices danced around me. And looking at Niryn I could see her magical veins pulsing with magic in green and blue, and I could see her mana core clearly. Her energy was serene, fluid, with a clear affinity for the elements of wood and water.
The feeling was... divine.
Niryn, noticing me watching her, looked up. There were dried tears on her face, but the shine in her eyes was of pure ecstasy. She stood up with movements restrained by emotion.
"Master... what a wonderful occasion... I was able to feel the presence of the glorious Node! And to see your ascension to Rank 1 with such grace... It is a sacred day. A happy day!"
She smiled radiantly and began to murmur blessings as she walked in small circles, like a girl on the eve of a festival. Her joy was absurd, almost childlike.
I just sighed, watching that scene with a mixture of strangeness and tenderness.
She's cute like that
I got up and thought: What can I do now, with the nucleus formed and the Nodule so active?
It was then that a flood of information flooded my mind. These weren't my thoughts—they came straight from the Node.
When the transmission stopped, I already understood perfectly what I could do:
-『Manipulate plants』 accelerating their growth, controlling their movements, shaping plant shapes.
-『Body Fortification』 creating a dark wood crust over my skin—strong as stone.
-『Regeneration』 capable of recovering injuries, even lost limbs.
-『Creation of parasites』 parasites that could invade bodies, control them, or grant them power.
-『Botanical Sense』 an awareness of the plants around me, as if they were extensions of my own body.
I closed my eyes and activated this new sense.
I felt everything.
Every blade of grass. Every drop of dew on the leaves. The roots beneath the earth. Niryn's movements upon the grass.
Then I stretched out my hands. The plants around me began to grow, to curl, to move. They covered the ground, the walls. Some bloomed in seconds. They gave off a unique scent full of vitality and moisture.
I opened my eyes and stretched out an arm. I concentrated on strengthening my body.
The wood grew over my skin, dark as ebony. Petrified shell texture. At the tips of the fingers, very sharp claws.
I raised my other arm and made a light cut—which closed almost instantly.
Niryn, now calmer, watched in silence. Her eyes shone like those of a child seeing a miracle.
"Wonderful skills..." he murmured sweetly, resting his hands on his knees. His eyes never wavered.
After a while, she asked with a gentle smile:
"Master... how about we continue our mana training now?"
I nodded with a slight smile. "Sure. Let's continue."
She sat down again, and I positioned myself in front of her.
"Now that you are at Rank 1, you can perform small external manifestations of mana. The most basic and useful ability of this stage is called..."
She stood up, and her body was enveloped by a soft aura of color that was a mixture of green and blue, like a translucent layer over her skin.
"... 『Mana Reinforcement』 ."
The aura condensed. His body felt firmer, faster—like armor or an extra layer of skin.
"This ability creates a second layer of skin over the body made of mana. It works like armor, and reinforces your strength and speed. It is the basis of any physical-magical combat."
I nodded. Understood.
She continued:
"With a core, it becomes easier to do this, but since the master has already proven to have talent for mana control, this should be even easier for the master. Concentrate. Feel the mana and order it to envelop your body."
I closed my eyes.
The outside world receded—it fell silent as I focused. I took a deep breath, bracing myself—
I reached for my core—it was like diving into an inner lake filled with cold, icy water.
I gave simple mental orders. The mana responded. I sent it into my arms. Into my feet. Into my skin. It flowed from clean wood.
I failed on the first try... and the second. But on the third, I felt like a warm hug was wrapped around me.
It was like being underwater in an embrace, that feeling was calming and comforting.
Then I opened my eyes. A dark green aura covered my body.
Niryn smiled, delighted.
"Good, master! Now condense this aura. Turn it into skin. Just like when you absorbed mana at Rank 0—but now, since the mana is yours, it will be easier to control."
I closed my eyes again. It was slow, patient work. With every minute, my control grew stronger. I slowly and slowly condemned him. And the aura began to gain density little by little. Until...
I had a new skin. A dense, vibrant layer of mana. 『Mana Reinforcement』 active.
I opened my eyes. Niryn jumped with joy, her eyes shining like wet emeralds.
"Congratulations, master! It was wonderful! Most people take two or three days to achieve this. I, even with talent, took a whole day. And you... less than an hour!"
I smiled, a little surprised at myself. It was my first real skill. And I had managed to master it so quickly.
I glanced down at my hands, covered in the steady aura of mana. I felt the power vibrating beneath my skin. My path had truly begun.