Noah stopped at the edge of a frozen lake, its surface shimmering under the pale light filtering through the wintry sky. The air was crisp, and each breath he took sent a thin mist into the air. He knew this would be the perfect place to push his limits—to refine his mana under the harshest conditions.
Without hesitation, he walked onto the ice. With a sharp motion of his hand, he used Flame Art to melt a hole in the frozen surface, steam hissing as the water beneath revealed itself. The lake was dark and endless, its depths unknown, but he didn't hesitate.
Noah took a deep breath and plunged in.
The freezing water slammed into him like a vice, stealing his breath away. The shock was immediate—his muscles locked up, and his body screamed at him to surface. But he forced himself to push downward, deeper into the lake's abyss.
