"My god, what kind of ruin is that? Why the hell does it eat people?!"
"Old Gayle—wait, Headmaster, sir—aren't you going to save Alan?"
Francis was startled. But more than the bizarre phenonon before him—sothing he had never witnessed—he was far more worried about his close friend.
To his surprise, Gayle simply smiled and waved it off. "Don't worry. Jacob was always a gentle soul during his lifeti. This ruin, the micro-dinsion he left behind after death, certainly won't hurt Alan."
"You say that, but what if death made him realize just how stifled he was while alive, and now he's suddenly had a change of heart?"
"What did you just mutter?"
Gayle shot him a fierce glare. Francis imdiately shut his mouth and walked obediently forward.
…
"Ugh… My head… it hurts…!"
No one knew how long had passed before Alan finally stirred from the ground, clutching his head in pain. His vision was blurry at first, but gradually cleared up.
It took about another ten minutes before he could barely make out his surroundings.
Pitch darkness surrounded him. There was no sky above, no towering peaks or signature woodland landmarks from the ruins to orient himself. Just an abyssal blackness that seed capable of devouring everything. It lurked silently, watching.
"You're finally awake."
A sudden male voice behind him made Alan flinch.
He spun around in a panic, only to find a middle-aged man clad in a plain gray robe sitting cross-legged before him.
The man's tone was calm. His plain features and gentle aura radiated a kind of approachable warmth.
Perhaps it was this deanor that made Alan feel no imdiate hostility. He didn't react aggressively, despite the strangeness of the situation.
However, upon closer inspection, Alan realized sothing.
This man wasn't alive. His entire body was composed of mana. If anything, he was more akin to a lingering soul echo—so remnant bound to this place.
"Um… who are you, exactly?"
Unable to confirm the man's identity, Alan chose to speak politely.
The stranger chuckled softly, stroking his chin as he studied Alan with intrigue.
"Hmm. This mana resonance—you're a magus, aren't you? And not just any magus, but one who trains both external and internal mana paths simultaneously."
"And your Overpressure technique… clearly, soone guided you. It's sharp yet restrained, controlled with precision. To wield such refined mana manipulation at your age is exceedingly rare."
"And then… there are your eyes."
Alan felt a faint stream of mana—so cool it almost soothed his skin—sweep across his pupils.
Then the man's lips curved into a wide smile. He looked genuinely excited.
"Fascinating. Truly fascinating. You've developed a completely unconventional mana circuit—one that diverges radically from modern magical orthodoxy. With it, you can not only kill, but even sever your opponent's mana flow entirely. Such a technique is incredibly rare… and exceedingly difficult to master!"
Hearing this, Alan's expression darkened slightly. A tinge of blood crept into his eyes. He activated the True Death Eyes instinctively, clearly becoming wary of the man's probing.
"Ah—no need to be so tense! I an no harm."
The man quickly waved his hand in reassurance, radiating a non-threatening aura.
"It's just… I've been here alone for so long, and suddenly soone like you appears—such a curious young talent. Forgive for losing my composure."
"By the way, do you rember who taught you these things?"
Since the man had done nothing beyond a harmless scan, Alan lowered his guard—slightly.
But he couldn't answer the question.
He himself didn't know how to describe the mysterious woman in the black robe who had guided him. She had never revealed her na. Never disclosed anything about herself.
Seeing Alan shake his head without hesitation, the man sighed with a touch of regret.
"That's a pity. I was hoping I could et such an extraordinary instructor. But never mind."
As he spoke, the man took two slow steps forward.
Alan didn't retreat, which made the man smile again. He cleared his throat.
"Let's summarize what you've got. From what I can tell, you currently command three distinct forms of mana manipulation."
"The first—and the most common—is external manipulation. Once the mana circuit is activated, you can draw on ambient elental forces to shape fire, ice, lightning, and other offensive effects."
"However, external manipulation cos with a major flaw—it consus mana too rapidly. It's best suited for sudden burst combat. In protracted battles, any magus relying on this alone will inevitably run dry and fall into a disadvantage."
"The second form involves internal mana manipulation. This thod channels mana directly through the body, enhancing physical strength, agility, and durability. Since you're consuming mana instead of physical stamina, it supports long-duration combat quite well. Plus, the destructiveness it offers is on par with—if not superior to—elental magic."
"That said, internal manipulation carries high risks. Choosing this route is akin to discarding your ranged tools and throwing yourself into lee. One misstep, and you could be dead before you even realize it."
"And then we have the third form."
"The one etched into your eyes—that unique mana circuit. What makes it so remarkable is that it doesn't manifest through the body or the external environnt. Instead, it operates entirely on a consciousness and spiritual level."
"In form, it resembles mana Overpressure. But functionally, it's fundantally different."
"Overpressure uses your willpower to suppress and wear down the enemy's mind."
"But your mana circuit… it can pose a severe threat to an opponent's spirit even if your own willpower is faint—or if you're unconscious altogether!"
"To be honest, I've never seen anything quite like it. I wouldn't even know how to teach it."
"But due to… past experiences, I've developed a deep dislike for external manipulation. So, if anything, I could share with you so advanced techniques for internal mana control."
Alan could no longer sense any hostility in the man. The stranger's words felt entirely sincere.
But still, a question surfaced in his heart.
"Teach ? Senior… are you saying you want to instruct in more advanced internal mana techniques?"
The man nodded. "Was I not clear enough?"
"No, no, you were perfectly clear. I just don't understand… why? Why would you do that?"
"Ah, that." The man rubbed his neck awkwardly. "How do I put this… I see great potential in you. And honestly, I've learned a bit about what you did inside the ruin. I've never encountered a youth quite as remarkable as you."
"Of course, re flattery won't ease your doubts. That's understandable."
"So let's just treat this as a transaction."
"I'll teach you the advanced techniques of internal mana manipulation. In return, should the Kent Kingdom ever fall into danger, and you happen to be free, you must co to its aid."
"I've had no children. I've given my life to this nation. Every tree, every inch of soil here—it's all sacred to ."
"I… I don't want to see it hard."
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