After verifying his physical strength, Ignis turned his attention inward, focusing on the mana coursing through his body. Clenching his fist, he channelled his mana, and almost instantly, flames erupted to life, flickering and dancing around his fist with a vibrant intensity. The heat was comforting, familiar—an extension of himself. A slow, satisfied smile formed on his lips.
Though he had only regained a fraction of the overwhelming power he once wielded in his past life, this was merely the beginning. He was making progress, step by step. Strength could be rebuilt, refined, and enhanced. He wasn't just recovering; he was evolving.
Beyond raw power, he could feel something new within him—abilities that had awakened as a result of his evolution. However, this wasn't the right time or place to test them. First, he needed to inform his parents that the process had been a success.
Without further delay, Ignis walked to the door and opened it.
Evan and Alenna were waiting just outside, their expressions tense with worry. The moment the door creaked open, their eyes scanned him, searching for any signs of injury or harm. But when they found none, a wave of relief washed over them.
Without a word, they stepped inside, closing the door behind them. Their gaze then shifted to the ashes scattered across the floor. They immediately understood—these were the remnants of Ignis's clothes, confirming what he had told them earlier.
Evan studied his son for a long moment before finally speaking. "So, tell me, Ignis—how do you feel? I can sense the mana fluctuations coming from your body. It seems your evolution was a success. Have you noticed any other changes?"
Ignis met his father's gaze and nodded. "Yes, I succeeded," he said, his voice steady. "And I feel… incredible. As for the changes, I've grown stronger—both physically and in terms of mana."
Evan's eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise. He had expected improvement, but to hear Ignis confirm it so confidently intrigued him. He extended his palm outward, facing his son. "Then let's test it," he said. "Hit me. Use all of your physical strength."
Ignis didn't hesitate. He took a step forward, clenched his fist, and struck Evan's outstretched palm with all the force he could muster. The impact wasn't loud, but the sheer pressure from the collision sent a gust of wind surging through the room. The air trembled for a moment before settling into an eerie stillness.
Both men remained motionless—Evan's hand steady, Ignis's fist still in place. Then, slowly, Ignis withdrew his hand, and Evan lowered his palm.
Alenna, who had been watching closely, broke the silence. "Well? How was it?"
Evan exhaled, his expression unreadable for a moment before a small, astonished smile formed on his lips. "His physical strength is on par with the most powerful strike of a trainee knight," he admitted. "I'm speechless. His progress may seem slow, but in reality, it's far beyond what ordinary knight training could achieve—both in speed and effectiveness."
Alenna's eyes softened with quiet pride as she looked at her son. Ignis had only just begun his journey, yet he was already surpassing expectations.
Evan's gaze sharpened as he continued his assessment. "And what about your mana? How much has it progressed?"
Ignis met his father's eyes with quiet confidence. "It has advanced significantly. Both my Dantian and Heart, which were previously empty, are now filled to about sixty percent with mana. Once my heart is completely saturated, my second evolution will trigger, officially marking me as a 1-Star Knight and a 1-Circle Mage."
Evan nodded thoughtfully, absorbing the information. "Good. That means you should already be able to channel your mana with control. Try directing it to your hand—slowly. Let me see it for myself."
Without hesitation, Ignis obeyed. He focused inward, guiding his mana along its natural pathways. Almost instantly, flames surged to life, engulfing his hand in a vibrant blaze. The fire crackled softly, shifting in hues of deep orange and red, yet despite its intensity, it didn't harm him.
Evan and Alenna froze, their eyes widening in shock.
Evan turned to his wife, his voice laced with confusion. "Did you teach him how to convert raw mana into an element?"
Alenna shook her head, just as bewildered. "No. I was about to ask you the same thing—did you teach him?"
Evan slowly looked back at Ignis, his expression unreadable. "Ignis," he said, his tone measured, "no one has instructed you in elemental conversion. So tell me—how are you able to manifest fire?"
Ignis clenched and unclenched his flaming fist, watching the flames flicker and dance before answering. "You're right. No one taught me." He met his father's gaze, unwavering. "This is my natural mana attribute—it awakened after my evolution."
For a moment, neither Evan nor Alenna spoke. They exchanged a glance, unspoken realization passing between them.
Then, Evan exhaled, a slow smile spreading across his lips. "This… this is fabulous," he said, his voice brimming with excitement. "Do you understand what this means, son?"
Alenna's gaze softened as she, too, looked at Ignis with newfound wonder.
Ignis nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I understand, Dad. I've read the Knight Training Mental Method before. A natural mana attribute is rare, appearing only in descendants of prominent families who follow superior mental training methods designed for elemental mastery. Unlike ordinary children, whose mana is attribute-less and must be converted upon contact with the surrounding elements, those from powerful bloodlines—trained in advanced techniques—can wield their elemental power directly, making them far stronger."
Evan smiled approvingly. "That's correct. But there's something else—something not written in the Knight Training Mental Method." He crossed his arms, his voice carrying the weight of experience. "Having a natural mana attribute doesn't just enhance magical ability—it also strengthens the body.
"Take me, for example. I'm a 5-Star Knight, and over the years, my body has been passively strengthened through my mana training. Even without using my abilities, my physical strength alone is equivalent to that of a 1-Star Knight. But for those born into extraordinary families—who train using superior mental techniques—their physical enhancement is even greater. If a descendant of such a lineage were to reach 5-Star Knight, their body would be as strong as a 2-Star Knight without any external reinforcement."
Evan paused, his eyes gleaming as he studied his son. "But you… you are different," he continued. "Far beyond them. If my guess is correct, with each evolution, your body is growing stronger at the same rate as your mana—just like the legendary dragons."
Alenna inhaled sharply, realization flickering in her eyes. Ignis remained silent, absorbing his father's words.
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