Nile sat cross-legged, his breathing steady, his body still buzzing from the lingering effects of absorbing the Body-Strengthening Rune. It had taken him a full hour of effort, an intense process that pushed him to his limits, but he had finally done it.
As he opened his eyes, his gaze landed on the butterfly, flitting around the room in playful arcs. She noticed his movement immediately, her wings fluttering excitedly as she darted toward him. Without hesitation, she landed on his head and bounced onto his shoulder, nudging his cheek with an insistent push.
Nile chuckled, knowing exactly what she wanted. Attention.
"Later," he murmured, gently tapping her small body. "I have something important to do first."
The butterfly hovered in place for a moment, seemingly reluctant, but eventually took off again, circling the room like a carefree spirit.
Nile exhaled, refocusing his mind. Now onto the next step.
He recalled the details of Arcane Manipulation Art, the technique described in the book Frost had left behind. The method was intricate, emphasizing precise control over mana flow. Closing his eyes, Nile began circulating his mana along the first Mana Circuit, the one now fused with the Body-Strengthening Rune.
At first, the flow was sluggish. Without using the absolute control granted by the Sphere, he had to rely entirely on his natural talent and understanding. But slowly, the pace picked up. His mana flowed through the circuit, completing its first loop. Then another.
A minute passed, and he noticed something shocking.
One complete circulation in 60 seconds.
His eyes snapped open in disbelief. That's impossible. Even the most advanced mana circulation techniques required at least 100 seconds per cycle. And yet, his flow was already surpassing that.
A surge of excitement rushed through him. He closed his eyes again, pushing forward. Could he go even faster?
He activated his absolute control over the Sphere, using its power to subtly guide and refine his mana flow. The results were immediate.
55 seconds.
50 seconds.
His confidence soared, but as he reached 45 seconds per circulation, a deep discomfort set in.
A bloating pressure swelled within his body, spreading from his circuits into his muscles and bones. Sharp pains flared up in random places, like cracks forming in fragile glass. Nile gasped, instinctively halting the circulation. His breath was uneven as he delved inward, analyzing his condition.
His body was rejecting the strengthening—no, it was struggling to keep up. The accelerated process was pushing him beyond his current limits, and the strain was evident.
A wry smile crossed his lips. So even with heaven-defying abilities, there are limits.
Patience. That's the key.
With that realization, he decided to stop using the Sphere for now. The sphere, which had expanded earlier to assist him, began to shrink. As it reverted to its original one-centimeter size, it floated back toward his palm—
—only to be snatched away mid-air.
Nile blinked as the butterfly zipped past him, clutching both spheres in her tiny limbs. She twirled in the air, her wings shimmering mischievously.
She wanted to play.
A grin tugged at Nile's lips. "Oh, you little thief…"
The butterfly chirped in challenge, flitting just out of reach.
Nile lunged.
For the next few minutes, the quiet room turned into a battlefield of dodging, chasing, and laughter. Nile leaped and reached, but the butterfly always stayed a step ahead, teasing him with little flicks of her wings. Every time he thought he had caught her, she twisted away with a triumphant chirp.
Eventually, they both slowed, Nile panting lightly, the butterfly perching smugly on his head.
"You win," he admitted.
The butterfly made a victorious noise.
After a brief pause, Nile looked at her thoughtfully. "I can't just keep calling you 'butterfly' all the time." He tapped his chin. "You need a name."
The butterfly tilted her head.
"You want to pick one yourself?" Nile asked, curious.
She chirped in response, flapping her wings.
"Alright, let's try a few." He started listing names based on her playful, affectionate, and attention-seeking nature. After testing a few, he finally said—
"Trixie."
The butterfly perked up. Her wings fluttered rapidly, her chirping growing excited.
Nile smiled. "So you like that one?"
Trixie twirled in the air, doing a little dance of approval.
"Alright then, Trixie it is." Nile chuckled, watching her excitement. "Now, let's see if you can behave."
Leaving Trixie to play with the two spheres, Nile returned to his cultivation.
He resumed using Arcane Manipulation Art, circulating his mana carefully. Fifteen minutes later, the bloating sensation returned—his body had reached its limit for the day.
He stopped, exhaling slowly. Cultivation wasn't just about effort. It was about knowing when to push forward and when to let the body adapt.
Glancing at Trixie, he saw her bouncing between the floating spheres, lost in her own world of fun. He smiled.
"I'm heading downstairs," he told her. "Go back to your garden."
Trixie, however, had other ideas.
One of the spheres enlarged suddenly, and before Nile could react, she dived inside and settled comfortably. The second sphere floated back toward Nile, as if presenting itself obediently.
Nile narrowed his eyes. "You… just made yourself invisible to everyone else, that's so smart."
Trixie chirped smugly.
Nile sighed but laughed. "Fine, fine. But no causing trouble, got it?"
Trixie twirled inside her sphere, her version of a promise.
With that, Nile grabbed the second sphere and made his way downstairs, his steps lighter than they had been in a long time.
As Nile descended the stairs, the warm glow of lanterns illuminated the reception hall of the inn. The soft hum of conversation filled the air, accompanied by the distinct aroma of freshly prepared food. His steps slowed for a moment as he took in the scene.
Everyone was already gathered at the table, their faces relaxed after a long day. Arin and Laya were carefully arranging the dishes they had prepared, their quiet coordination making it clear they had worked together. Jessica sat near the edge, her arms crossed, looking like she had just finished a scolding session with someone—probably Sid, judging by the way he was avoiding her gaze. Roni and Maya were in their own world, talking in hushed tones.
Nile was about to greet them when—
Grrr~~
A loud growl echoed from his stomach.
He froze, eyes widening in embarrassment. Every conversation stopped. Every head turned toward him.
A short silence. Then—
Jessica snorted.
Maya giggled behind her hand. Even Veena, ever composed, had a small smile tugging at her lips.
Heat crept up Nile's face, but as the initial embarrassment faded, he realized something important.
The reason he had felt that bloating sensation after just 15 minutes of cultivation—it wasn't because of an inherent limit. It was because his body lacked the necessary nutrients to continue strengthening.
The moment this realization hit him, his hunger intensified tenfold.
Without another thought, he moved toward the food, his previous hesitation forgotten.
As he approached, the casual atmosphere shifted—subtly, but unmistakably.
Among the group, three people felt something different.
Jennifer, Veena, and James.
For most, Nile seemed the same as always. But for them, it was as if something within him had come alive—like a stagnant pond suddenly surging with motion.
James's brows furrowed slightly. "His mana…"
Veena, who had always been watching over Nile closely, immediately understood. Her sharp gaze softened in realization. "He's finally started."
Jennifer, always the silent observer, simply nodded, her expression unreadable.
Nile, oblivious to their thoughts, reached for the food eagerly.
"Well," Jessica smirked, breaking the moment, "I don't think I've ever seen you move this fast, Nile."
Maya laughed. "He must've realized that if he was any slower, Sid might finish everything first."
Sid choked on his drink. "Hey!"
As the playful teasing resumed and the group laughed, the unspoken truth remained between the three elders.
Nile had taken his first true step into cultivation.
And this was just the beginning.