Raiden took a deep breath and settled into his meditative state. He was becoming used to the rhythm of recovery—calming his thoughts and drawing in mana from the environment, letting it flow through him to replenish his reserves.
To his astonishment, the process didn't take long. Within just an hour, his mana heart felt brimming once again—every drop of energy fully restored.
'This recovery speed is insane,' he thought, shaking his head with a grin. 'Thank you, 4-Star luck.' That strange blessing never stopped surprising him. Mana surged through his veins, as if almost begging him to be used.
He opened his eyes and rose, ready to push himself further.
'Time for more trials.'
Raiden activated [Flicker Flash], feeling the familiar rush of speed coursing through him. The world around him blurred as he sprinted, his feet barely touching the ground.
He darted around the training chamber, his movements a symphony of fluid precision. Every second counted. He leaned into tight turns, skidded to a sudden stop at the last moment, then burst forward again, testing the limits of his body.
This time, he focused on agility—on refining his movements. He imagined himself dodging a barrage of projectiles, weaving between attacks with split-second pivots and sidesteps from unseen foes. With each use, his control improved.
He sidestepped imaginary enemies, pivoted mid-stride, and changed directions in the blink of an eye. [Flicker Flash] wasn't just about raw speed—it was about control, timing, and precision.
Raiden's chest heaved with exertion as he completed another run. Sweat dripped down his face. The skill deactivated, and the weight of his body returned all at once. He stumbled but quickly caught himself, pressing his hands against the stone wall as he gasped for breath.
The skill's tracker flashed in his mind:
(26/100)… (27/100)… (28/100)
Each activation brought him closer to mastery.
'Twenty-four more times,' he told himself.
Gritting his teeth, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and activated the skill once more. The rush of mana energized him once more as he sprang into motion yet again, testing the skill's limits.
He leaped from one stone ledge to another, dodged under the low-hanging beams, and even created his own obstacles by throwing small rocks into the air just to weave between them before they hit the ground.
By the time he completed his twenty-fourth trial, Raiden was completely exhausted. His mana reserves were completely empty, and he sank to the ground, gasping for breath while his limbs trembled with fatigue. He let the cool air of the chamber wash over him as he closed his eyes. Time to recover—again.
_____
Raiden slipped into meditation and began drawing mana from his surroundings within him with deep, steady breaths. The energy trickled in… then poured through him like a river being guided through channels. His mana heart absorbed all of it hungrily, expanding with each steady pulse.
After an hour, Raiden opened his eyes and checked his stats panel.
[MP: 250]
A ten-point gain.
Raiden grinned, feeling the exhilaration of growth. 'It's like a muscle—I can strengthen it by pushing it to its limits.' He stood again, feeling the rush of newfound potential. Each cycle of depletion and recovery seemed to expand his mana heart and make him stronger. 'If I keep up at this pace… who knows how powerful I'll become?'
His anticipation pushed him to begin yet another round of training.
With 250 mana points, he had twenty-five more chances to perfect [Flicker Flash] ahead of him this time. Ignoring the soreness in his body and protesting muscles, he pushed off the wall and moved into action. He was too close to mastery to stop now.
This time, he focused on using the skill in tandem with his other movements. He practiced combat maneuvers and imagined himself locked in a battle. He lunged forward, spun to dodge imaginary strikes, and followed up with swift counterattacks.
His movements became more fluid, more instinctive as he let himself get lost in the rhythm, feeling the synergy between his mind, body, and mana becoming seamless.
Halfway through the session, he stumbled, nearly crashing over a stack of stones. Pain radiated through his legs, but he still clenched his fists and activated [Flicker Flash] again, forcing himself to continue.
'Just a few more.'
By the end of his twenty-fifth trial, Raiden's entire body trembled with exhaustion. His mana was nearly depleted, and every muscle felt like it was on fire. He dropped to one knee, gasping for air.
The skill's progress tracker flashed:
(75/100)
He'd made significant progress, but the cost had been high.
Raiden collapsed against the wall and closed his eyes as the world spun around him.
It was time to recover. Again.
Every time he pulled mana into him, it became difficult; his body felt sluggish from overuse. The minutes dragged by, but slowly, surely, his mana heart began to refill.
When he opened his eyes, he saw the familiar glow of the stats panel.
[MP: 260]
Another ten-point increase.
Raiden's lips curled into a tired but triumphant smile. 'It's worth it.'
He was determined to keep pushing, to squeeze every last drop of potential from this training session. Rising to his feet despite the dull ache in his limbs, he whispered, "One more round."
He activated [Flicker Flash], letting the surge of mana propel him forward. His movements had sharpened now—each step precise, each transition seamless. He felt the connection between his mana heart and his body growing stronger, deeper, with every use.
The skill no longer felt like a tool; it had become an extension of himself, a part of his very being. He danced through the chamber, his senses heightened, his focus razor-sharp.
After twenty-six more activations, the skill's tracker finally flashed:
(100/100).
A wave of satisfaction washed over him as the notification appeared before his eyes.
[Skill Mastered: Flicker Flash]
[Reward: 15 Skill Points]
Raiden laughed out loud, feeling the weight of his exhaustion melting away beneath the glow of his accomplishment. He had done it. He had mastered the skill. The fifteen skill points were a welcome bonus, but the real reward was knowing that he had pushed himself beyond his limits.
He checked the time and realized that he still had just over thirty minutes.
'Perfect.'
He decided to use it wisely—one last recovery session. And with that, he sank into meditation, drawing the mana inward, letting it flood into every corner of his being. When he opened his eyes, his mana heart pulsed with energy, this time stronger than ever.
[260 MP]
He stood, feeling the power coursing through him.
'This is just the beginning.'
_____
Raiden emerged from the training chamber and made his way back toward the main estate. He moved slowly, savoring the feel of the breeze on his face and the quiet satisfaction of hard-earned progress. The goddess's words echoed in his mind: Defeat the Seven Great Evil Beasts.
It was a daunting mission. And that still felt far away.
"I'll only deal with them if they cross my path," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. He wasn't about to let his journey be dictated by fate—not yet, at least. There was still so much he wanted to learn, to explore… to enjoy.
As he reached the steps of the main building, he took a moment and sat down. Tilting his head back, he gazed at the darkening sky.
'Whatever comes next… I'll be ready.'
He rose, dusted off his clothes, and stepped inside, a satisfied grin lingering on his face despite the sweat and fatigue clinging to him. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, he had earned a moment of peace.
And maybe… just a little more mischief.
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A/N: Pleaseee!! Support with power stones. Consistent update will resume once I'm done with my exams.
For now, show some love. Thank you in advance!!