After minor cracks turning into several cracks, the dantian finally cracked with all the surrounding walls falling into the mana essence gathered, however, the mana that was in the dantian didn't spread, as a matter of fact, it started to become denser, and more compressed, the mana with a wall started to shrink, however, no mana leaked out, believe it or not, more mana was still gathering while the mana was gathering, creating an equilibrium or the mana shrinking then rising, until a thick glass, due to the highly compressed mana was formed.
The mana inside started settling and the intake of mana reduced drastically until a nice soothing feeling was left instead of the pain, Rio had to experience throughout the whole process. It was purely thanks to willpower I didn't pass out from the pain and kept composed and focused.
Rio reviewed his newly formed dantian and nodded in satisfaction, instead of the quantitative change like the breakthroughs that happened during the minor realm, it seems Rio went through a qualitative change instead since the mana he held is much denser which means even while he could carry several times more than he did, Rio had finer control and feeling than when he was a mage apprentice.
'status' Rio though
[Ding!]
Name: Rio Casmir
EXP- 10,039
Class: 1st rank mage Initiate
Subclass: 1st rank Shicidan Martial Artist
Strength: 20.0
Agility: 20.0
Endurance: 10.0
Mana: 30.0
'Perfect, system add 10 points to mana' I thought in satisfaction
[Ding! Instructions received...updating...]
[Ding!]
Name: Rio Casmir
EXP- 40
Class: 2nd rank mage Initiate
Subclass: 1st rank Shicidan Martial Artist
Strength: 20.0
Agility: 20.0
Endurance: 10.0
Mana: 40.0
'Haha, although that was very dangerous, adding to the fact that my body is already injured. I've been in this forest for 2 days and I assume it's night already so, 2 nights also. That means I have 4 days left and 3 nights left to hunt before I go back to the academy. It would probably take 3 days to fully recover from these injuries, 2 if I take some pills I have stored. I have 2 days, that's fine, I can make the best of this.' Rio though decided to rest for a couple of days before proceeding further.
While the two days of resting, Rio took the pill that Daniel gave me and the effect seems to run out by the 50th hour.
'status'
[Ding!]
Name: Rio Casmir
EXP- 39
Class: 2nd rank mage Initiate
Subclass: 1st rank Shicidan Martial Artist
Strength: 20.0
Agility: 20.0
Endurance: 10.0
Mana: 45.0
'A decent improvement, however killing and farming EXP is more fruitful.' I thought as I stood up, rotating my arms, making sure I am in perfect condition. Rio then proceeded to go out hunting further deeper into the forest, as he would encounter more beasts further in, however, the beast that would pose a trouble when I first came into the forest was now just one spell away from its demise.
There was one that put up a bit of a fight, but due to my original magic which made me instant cast, Rio just started spamming fireball at it. 'GG' suddenly came into his mind as he chuckled internally.
'It has been such a long time since I had this much fun, this further drives my goal to be the strongest. Dominating all would really be a path that would be fun.' Rio thought as he chuckled casting a fireball at a camouflaged snake on the tree branch 10 feet away.'
By the time 3 days were over and it was already night, Rio figured it was time to return back to the academy for tomorrow's lesson. Rio proceeded to check his harvest as he thought 'status'
[Ding!]
Name: Rio Casmir
EXP- 60,000
Class: 2nd rank mage Initiate
Subclass: 1st rank Shicidan Martial Artist
Strength: 20.0
Agility: 20.0
Endurance: 10.0
Mana: 45.0
'It would be a safe place to put the stat points here so I better do I back at my dorm.' about 4 hours later and it was around 2 in the morning, Rio rushed into the academy and into the dorm.
'System put 15 stat points into every status.'
Rio's muscles tightened and constricted leaving him paralyzed for about a dozen seconds before a nice comfy feeling embraced his body.
'status' Rio ordered the system
[Ding!]
Name: Rio Casmir
EXP- 0
Class: 4th rank Mage Initiate
Subclass: 4th rank Shicidan Martial Artist
Strength: 35.0
Agility: 35.0
Endurance: 25.0
Mana: 60.0
After checking my body and making sure everything seems to be alright, Rio went to bathe, since he have been in the wilderness for a week, and went to bed, awaiting the next day.
'Huh? It's this feeling again, it seems like his senses are warning him about something. When Rio felt the sensation, he knew instinctively something was wrong.
Several questions and thoughts entered my mind as I prepared for the worst.
Rio brought out his two runic weapons and hid, the dorm he had was very spacious so there were a lot of hiding places.
5 minutes later...
'Nothing is happening, am I just being paranoid? However, the feeling is getting stronger, to the point where it's telling me to run.' Rio thought before realizing he was feeling dizzy
'Poison? Is this why nothing happened but the feeling got stronger?'
Rio tried to run, however, it was too late, when trying to reach the window, since the door is probably guarded, Rio felt sluggish and sleepy, until he sunk into the darkness.
After who knows how long, Rio woke up in a dimly lit room, however, it looked like he was in a warehouse of some sort, Rio tried to move but his hands and feet were tied.
Rio heard footsteps coming from behind him, and a golden-haired girl with hazel eyes appeared in front of him.
"Well, Well. Sleeping beauty finally woke up. I bet you couldn't sleep much these past five years with you on the run." the girl said
'What the hell, who is this? This is annoying, I came back and already got captured, I am far too weak, I need to get stronger faster
While Rio was firming himself in order to get stronger, the girl seemed to get impatient.
"It seems you haven't changed one bit; you still ignore me as if I am below you. Now I have you in my hands I will show you, who is below whom."
'I haven't changed one bit? Does she know me?'
'System analyze'
[Ding!]
Name: Lara Hysuer
Class: 3rd Rank Mage Initiate
Strength: 19.5
Agility: 20.8
Endurance: 18.2
Mana: 53.2
'Lara Hyuser? Hyuser? Husker? Oh! Isn't this the bratty little girl that was asking me to be her subordinate? Is she really still stuck on that matter from five years ago? How can such a person even exist?' Rio thought however kept a straight face to not show any emotion
"Now! I will give you one more chance, since I am a forgiving and magnanimous person, I will still offer you a subordinate position," she stated with her chest puffed out and chin practically pointing towards the roof
"....."