Compared to the First Trial, the room I found myself in now was a lavish spectacle, a significant upgrade in luxury.
"Am I some kind of prince this time...?"
Before I could delve into that fleeting thought, the sudden shift into the second Trial ushered in prompts, undoubtedly detailing the task and conditions of this new challenge. Yet, my focus shattered as an intense wave of chills swept over my entire body, stealing away my attention.
[Warning: Your Perfect Mana Pathways are massively reacting to the Magical Power around you---]
[Your Sixth Sense has passively activated---]
[Evaluation: Danger--]
All I could grasp from the prompts was the ominous warning I could feel on my skin as an otherworldly force surged into my body at a perilous speed.
It raced through me, accelerating with each passing moment.
The System's eagerness to enhance my Mana Pathways suddenly made sense.
For those naturally attuned to mana since birth, their pathways slowly imbibe magical energy from the surrounding air, gradually nourishing them over time. But for me, devoid of any hint of mana until this moment, these pathways remained parched, starved for the past twelve hours, yearning to be filled.
Now, with the sudden flood of a massive amount of 'food' materializing before them, they seemed to ache with a desperate hunger, craving to saturate these barren channels completely.
[Your Talent [Mana] has leveled up]
[Your Talent [Mana] has leveled up]
[Your Talent [Mana] has leveled up]
.
.
.
[Your Talent [Mana] is seeking more Magical Power--]
[Your Talent [Mana]--]
[Your Tale--]
.
.
.
I couldn't halt this process, powerless against the whims of my Talents. While their intent was to bolster my strength, I hadn't considered this outcome.
It was not technically something they were doing to harm me. From my [Absolute Awareness] I knew calling upon Fairness now would be futile.
Damn System.
Blood surged from my lips, a visceral reaction to the overwhelming influx of magical power coursing through me.
Danger loomed, but amidst the peril, there was an incredible opportunity. The promise of an extraordinary surge of strength beckoned—a gamble I was willing to take, even if it meant teetering on the edge of death.
As I fought to maintain my grasp on consciousness, the creaking sound of the door drew my attention. An elderly man, unmistakably a butler from his attire and poised demeanor, entered the room.
This family must hold considerable influence.
Caught in the whirlwind of events, I hadn't yet delved into the memories attached to this new identity. Despite my lack of knowledge about his specifics, I sensed the butler approaching.
That's Dangerous.
As I could not convey this with words, I raised my hand as a sign, which he fortunately got before it would be too late.
He suddenly rang a bell in a certain code I did not recognize, but for now, I did not have the luxury to care about that.
With time slipping away, I shut my eyes, wracking my brain for a solution to my predicament. Amidst the chaos, one thought pierced through the haze, a certain skill still at lv.0 surfacing in my mind.
Mana Control.
Although I had no idea what I was doing, I had no choice but try.
What did I need right now?
Stem the relentless tide of mana coursing through my veins.
But, how does one control Mana? It wasn't as straightforward as the other passive skills I'd acquired. Run, Jump, Observe—all clear-cut actions with corresponding passive effects.
Is it a mere act of willing it to comply with my will, or does it involve traversing the Mana pathways to govern its flow?
---
The answer seemed to be the former.
In the mere span of a few heartbeats, I delved into the uncharted realm of Mana manipulation. With the Skill sitting at Level 0 and my knowledge on its practical application nonexistent, my attempts were nothing short of fumbling.
Yet, amidst this clumsy endeavor, the magical energies around me reluctantly succumbed to my feeble control. The struggle was palpable; my nascent command battling against the dominant influence of the Perfect Mana Pathways that still held sway.
Amidst my struggle, I briefly opened my eyes.
The room had filled with a myriad of faces—Knights, Maids, and unfamiliar figures whose identities escaped me. Unperturbed, I dismissed their presence, realizing that the blood trickling from my ears had rendered me temporarily deaf. A blessing in disguise, as I couldn't afford distractions in this critical moment.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the insatiable hunger of my Mana Pathways began to subside. They ceased their relentless absorption of magical energy from the air, and I commanded the Mana to halt its approach, closing my eyes in exhaustion.
Using my [Absolute Awareness], I scrutinized my own condition, realizing the toll this ordeal had taken on me. The silent battleground within myself had left me in a dire state.
If any of these individuals harbored ill intentions towards the original owner of this identity, it would spell disaster for me.
Given the nature of the System, I highly doubted it would place me in the shoes of someone universally adored. Summoning every ounce of strength I could muster, I insisted that everyone vacate the room.
Even as a concerned physician attempted to approach and examine me, I remained steadfast in my determination, ignoring his attempts to calm me down.
Observing my actions, the Knights dismissed me with an air of disbelief, their expressions dripping with condescension. Even the Maids, it seemed, held a trace of disdain in their eyes.
I see, that's how you all are gonna play, huh.
I hesitated to employ it in the First Trial, fearing the consequences.
But now, bolstered by my [Limit Breaker] passive, the liberation of my Sky Sword Technique from limits, and my enhanced endurance granted by my Growth Skill, I found a measure of confidence.
As the atmosphere shifted around me, I invoked [Overload], expelling the lingering blood from my mouth before addressing them.
"Get out while I'm being nice."
My words pierced through the room, freezing everyone in their tracks, their eyes wide with disbelief and a hint of fear creeping into the maids' expressions.
I did not have the time to wait for them to react.
In the blink of an eye, I closed the distance to the nearest knight, my fist tearing through his stomach with such force that he crumpled without a chance to comprehend what had happened.
A swift kick sent his body hurtling toward the door, the impact reverberating through the room, causing it to quake.
I once again gave a death stare at everyone.
"Leave!"
It wasn't a request; it was an order.
Without hesitation, they fell in line, following my lead. I ensured the door was securely locked, barring any unwanted intrusions. The butler, guessing my inability to hear, offered a silent apology with a bow before departing.
Smart move, I mused inwardly, acknowledging his astuteness.
That fleeting thought echoed as I succumbed to unconsciousness, the five seconds of my skill long past. Standing upright was only possible through the endurance granted by my [Determination] Talent, but even that had its limits.
---
Author's Note:
We're inside the Second Trial now! Can you guess what Akira will have to do in the Eminence in Shadow world?
For Patrons, the new Chapter will be available in about 1 hour at most.
I would like to thank WonderingAbyss for being my 5th Patron! Thank you so much for the support