Looking at the sword in his hands, Kael recalled the technique's procedure. He thought, 'Let's just try to flow my mana into the sword like it said in the book.' He then tried to implement that method, however he had many troubles in doing it. He had instant success in what he was trying to do as he was able to imbide his sword with mana on his first try. But the mana amount that got imbued was very low and even after trying to infuse more mana for two days he didn't improve that much.
Although the sword's durability and piercing abilities were slightly improved, the enhancement was barely noticeable and he didn't make any improvements over the couple of days.
He frowned, thinking, 'The progress in this is too slow. Even though I can infuse a bit more mana now, It's still too little. And I haven't been able to improve the sharpness of the sword even after inbuing it with mana. It's hard to maintain a steady mana flow while trying to enhance the edges. Maybe swords made from Aetherium would help... but they're ridiculously expensive. Even if we pooled all our resources, we might only afford a dagger made with just twenty percent Aetherium mixed with other metals. Perhaps I'll improve over time if I stick to this, however it'll probably take months. I need to think of another way. '
He thought for a few hours, and then it clicked him. The Ironhide Clan's technique. He thought, 'Yeah, that's right. I can try it the same way they enhance their gauntlets. I'll first coat my fist with mana and then extend that mana flow into the sword. While it costs more mana in this way, But it should allow me to learn it faster. Once I'm able to do it, I'll have to practice doing it without coating my fist and directly infusing Mana into the Sword.'
Kael began training in the new way. And it was exhausting than the previous method. However, he could see that he was making some progress in extending his mana into the sword. It was slow, but a steady growth he observed in a few attempts. He guessed that in around one week, he'll be able to perfectly coat the sword with his mana without coating his hand.
For the next week, Kael focused entirely on mastering this technique. He put aside his lightning spells and swordsmanship training, dedicating his entire day to honing this skill. By the end of the second day, he was able to coat the entire sword with mana and sharpen its edges effectively and the concentrated mana even extended the sword's reach by a few inches. Over the following days, he trained to channel mana directly into the sword without coating his hand first. He finally succeeded on the last day.
He experimented a bit with this new ability. He thought, 'Nice, I can slice through branches and small logs like I am cutting through thin air. While I can't cut through a full tree yet, since the sword is only coated with mana, but once I infuse it with lightning, even that shouldn't be a problem.'
He then proceeded to the next step: converting the infused mana into lightning. It took him a few hours of trial and error, but he managed to do it. He thought, 'Okay, this wasn't too hard. Though not all the mana is converting cleanly... I'll need a couple more days to fully master this part. Once that's done, I'll have this technique locked down.'
He trained for the next three days, refining the technique. On the fourth day, Kael sped through the forest, flickering between trees at blinding speed. He headed straight for a boulder. He thought, 'Let's see… Can I cut through boulders as easily as I do trees with my sword?'. He then channeled lightning into his sword, 'Hmm… It's still taking a bit of time to infuse, but there's no mana waste like four days ago.' With that he slashed his sword in an arc toward the boulder with the momentum he build up while flickering through the forest.
The lightning-charged sword cleaved through the boulder as if it were butter. Kael didn't stop there. In one fluid motion, he kicked the severed half of the boulder, sending it flying. The sheer force behind the kick shattered it into fragments that soared through the air. Without missing a beat, lightning needles formed around his other arm. He waved his hand toward the scattered debris, and the needles shot out, piercing the flying rock fragments.
The smaller pieces were obliterated mid-air before they could hit the ground. A few shards that escaped the needles slammed into nearby trees—still driven by the power of Kael's kick.
He finally came to a stop, looking satisfied.
He thought, 'Now I'm finally able to cast spells and reinforce my body with barely any delay. Though I still need to work on accuracy while moving..., It can be improved as I continue to train in this way.'
Looking at the lightning-infused sword in his hand, he continued, 'And I can fully infuse my sword with lightning now. It's massively boosted the sword's cutting power. I'm cleaving through boulders like they're made of cheese. But… it still requires momentum to generate that kind of force. I can't achieve the same result just by swinging my sword while standing still. My strength isn't enough for that yet.
Though, it's not much of a concern, afterall I'm only twelve. And I'm already at the Apprentice level. I don't think any other kid has reached this point at my age—well, except for Alden. I honestly thought it would take me much longer to get here. I expected to reach this level after joining the academy, or maybe right before... but the more I trained, the faster I improved.'
Remembering the effort he had put in over the past four years, he thought, "It took me one year to reach the Novice rank, another year to become an Initiate, and two more to reach the Apprentice rank. All that hard work really paid off."A satisfied smile appeared on his face, his heart light with the results of his relentless training.
After a few moments of feeling satisfied, Kael continued thinking. 'Alright, everything's going well. My mana reserves are way higher than other kids my age. heck, they might even surpass those of some low-level adventurers. I already know six spells and two techniques. It's not a huge number, but there's a good variety among them. Runecrafting is also progressing nicely. I've already deciphered the seals on that elemental crystal. For further progress, I'll need to study advanced-level seals and symbols, but that can wait until I get licensed by the Conclave. Then I can start practicing them.
As for swordsmanship... I don't know how to rate myself. I've only learned the basic forms from a manual. But if I combine it with Lightning Infusion, it becomes a viable option in battle. I can also maintain Flicker Step continuously and cover a full kilometer in just six seconds now.
However, I severely lack combat experience. In fact, it won't be wrong to say that I have none at all. After all, there's no danger to my life here and It has been quite peaceful and lively. I wasn't even allowed to leave the village alone. To be able to move or make an attack on purely instinct in the middle of a fight, or to be able to sense if my life is in danger, is something that is very important for any arcanist. Otherwise, just a sneak attack could end everything.
Luckily, my instincts aren't completely dull. Ever since I learned how to absorb ambient mana, I've been able to sense my surroundings up to about two meters. If someone enters that range, I can sense them and react. But if it's an attack as fast as my lightning, it'll hit me before I even realize it's there. So I need to improve my Combat experiance, But how?'
[A/N:"Arcanist" is a general term for someone who practices or wields mana-based power—they can be either mages or augmenters.]
He thought a bit more then sighed, 'I can't think of any way to get combat experience without Helena and Lucas finding out.
It's not like I can just sneak around—they know too many people. Our shop is one of the busiest in the village. Everyone either comes to buy weapons or runecrafted items. And because of that, I can't take a single step outside without someone recognizing me.
Even the kids know me. And not because I talk to them—it's because Helena won't stop bragging about me. Ever since I finished all my subjects in four months, she's been acting like I'm some kind of little genius. Now every parent in the village knows who I am, and they all tell their kids to follow my example. Great. Real subtle, Helena.
So what am I supposed to do? I can't spar with the villagers. If I ask someone to train with me, they'll go soft because I'm "just a kid." Even if I beg them to take it seriously, they won't. Not when they think they'll get scolded by my parents for hitting their precious son too hard. Should I ask adventurers instead?'
He immediately shook his head. 'No. They're the last people who would help. Adventurers are proud and competitive. Sparring with a kid? Not happening. Even if they agree, they'd never do it for free. Unless it makes them money, they won't bother. Forget it. For now, I'll just keep training. If an opportunity ever shows up... I'll take it with open arms.'
After deciding, he began thinking, "Putting that aside, I need to build a proper combat system around what I've learned so far."He retrieved a small notebook and pen from his armband, then began jotting down all the spells and techniques he had learned so far. A minute later, a neatly written list stood before him:
Spells:
1. Flickerbolt (D - Rank)
1. Lightning Needles (D - Rank)
2. Lightning Arrow (C - Rank)
3. Lightning Blast (C - Rank)
4. Lightning Flash (E - Rank)
5. Lightning Wave Emission (C- Rank)
6. Lightning Bolt Projection (C - Rank)
Techniques:
1. Flicker Step (D- Rank)
2. Ironhide's Body reinforcement technique
3. Lightning Infusion (D - Rank)
looking at the paper He analyzed for a few minutes. Tapping his pen against the page. He thought, 'Even though it doesn't look like much, there's good versatility here. I just need to define clear roles for each spell and technique in combat.
For close-range combat… Ironhide's Body Reinforcement and Lightning Infusion will be my main approach. Reinforcing my body lets me withstand and deliver heavier blows without losing mobility. When I coat my sword with lightning, its cutting power will skyrockets. I've seen it cleave through boulders like butter. It's simple, but extremely effective—especially against fast or armored enemies.
Next, mobility. Flicker Step is perfect for dodging and repositioning. It gives me those short bursts of speed that let me slip past attacks or even retreat if needed. I need to refine it further until I can chain it instinctively mid-combat. If I can do that, I'll be untouchable on the battlefield.
Now, for long-range combat... my options are limited, but they work. Lightning Needles is my best tool for crowd control. Right now it's just D-Rank, but if I can boost it to 200 needles in a single cast, I might be able to push it to B-Rank. That kind of spread could cover a wide area and even cut off enemy escape routes. In narrow spaces, it'll be devastating.
To counter incoming projectiles or disrupt enemy spells, I've got Lightning Wave Emission. Its arc-shaped blast is perfect for clearing a path or neutralizing threats midair. It's not flashy, but in a chaotic battle, that kind of utility is gold.
As for distractions, Lightning Flash is simple but effective. Even though it causes blind just a few seconds, but in the right moment, that's all I need. If I time it right, I can dodge, reposition, or land a clean strike while my opponent's reeling.
When I need to pierce through strong defenses, I'll rely on Lightning Arrow. It takes a couple of seconds to cast, but its piercing power is solid. I've reduced the charge time a little, but I need to shorten it more. It's my best option for heavy-hitters or armored targets.
If I ever need to cause widespread damage or destroy the battlefield itself, Lightning Blast is my go-to. It's not ideal for single-target combat, but if I'm up against a group or need to scatter enemies, this spell will do the trick.'
Lastly, Kael's eyes drifted to the final entry. 'And for long-range precision strikes, Lightning Bolt Projection fits perfectly. It's accurate, strong, and versatile. I can snipe down key targets before they get close, or take out mages and archers hiding in the back.'
He leaned back with a small, satisfied smile. 'It's not a grand master's level combat system, but it's Flexible, efficient, and built from everything I've learned. I'll keep refining it, but for now—this is enough.
After creating the combat system, he continued his training. The next week flew by in a blur of focus and repetition.
But on the day after that week ended, as Kael made his way to his usual training spot, he noticed something strange—he was being followed. To confirm his suspicion, he deliberately walked in a square loop three times. Each time, the same group of people trailed behind him. No doubt about it now.
Still acting casual, Kael led them toward the training grounds. When he was about half a kilometer away, he suddenly vanished from their sight.
The five people tailing him froze, startled.
"Where did he go?" one of them muttered.
"I saw him walking toward that cursed forest just a second ago!" said another.
"Yeah, me too. But how the hell did he disappear like that?"
"Should we go check it out?"
Meanwhile, Kael stood silently atop a tree, watching the group from above with narrowed eyes.
"What are these idiots up to now?" he muttered to himself.
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Author's Note:
Hey everyone! 👋 Just wanted to drop in with a quick update about the power system in the story…a detail I've been mulling over behind the scenes.
Originally, I designed a three-stage power ranking system for each rank, built around the idea of mana cores in mind—kind of like what you'd see in cultivation-type stories. You know, the whole "breakthrough to the next stage" kind of thing. But as I kept writing, I realized… I never even mentioned mana cores. Not once. 😂 And the more I developed the world and Kael's growth, the less that system made sense for the direction I'm going.
So! I've decided to remove the three-stage structure entirely. No more mana cores for humans. Instead…
👉 Mana is produced directly by the body.No inner glowing crystal. No "shattering the core" or any of that. Just cells doing the work and pumping out mana like champs.
👉 Power ranks still exist, but they're not stages you break into.There won't be sudden "breakthroughs" where someone levels up out of nowhere with a dramatic glow-up (as cool as that is). Instead, ranks will reflect someone's overall skill level—how well they control mana, how much mastery they have over their element, and how competent they are in actual combat.
👉 So how do people get ranked?
That'll be revealed in future chapters! 😏
Oh, and here's a small distinction I want to keep clear:⚠️ Only mana beasts—and only the stronger ones, from Rank D to S—actually have physical mana cores inside their bodies. This keeps them unique and also helps explain why their cores are so valuable.
Thanks for sticking with the story! I really appreciate all the support, comments, and feedback. You all help shape this world more than you know. 💙 Feel free to share your thoughts about this change in the comments—whether you love it, hate it, or want to yell at me for killing mana cores. 😅
See you in the next chapter!