The morning sun had barely risen when Yuuto found himself standing in the same clearing where he had battled the dire wolves. The village of Ravenwood was quieter now, the tension of the previous days giving way to a cautious calm. The new traps and defenses Yuuto had helped build had given the villagers a sense of security, but Yuuto couldn't shake the feeling that he still had much to learn.
After days of planning and fortifying, Yuuto's thoughts turned back to his own abilities. The dire wolf attack had pushed him to his limits, and while he had come out victorious, there was one glaring problem that had nearly cost him his life: mana exhaustion.
His mana had drained far too quickly during the fight, and it had left him vulnerable when the wolves were at their fiercest. If Brann hadn't stepped in to finish off the pack leader, Yuuto wasn't sure he would have survived. He needed to understand his limits, to find a way to push beyond them without burning out.
As he stood in the clearing, staff in hand, the Ascendant System chimed in, as if sensing his thoughts.
[New Quest Unlocked: Overcome Mana Exhaustion]
Objective: Train to improve mana control and increase your mana pool. Practice casting spells under high-pressure situations to build endurance and avoid mana exhaustion.]
Reward: 30 EXP, Basic Mana Regeneration Upgrade unlocked.]
Failure: Risk of severe mana depletion during combat, increased chance of spell failure.
Yuuto nodded grimly at the quest notification. Overcome mana exhaustion—it was exactly what he needed. The System was giving him the chance to fix the biggest flaw in his combat abilities, but it wouldn't be easy. Training to improve his mana pool and endurance would take time and effort.
He closed his eyes, focusing inward. His mana reserves were still full, but he knew from experience that they wouldn't last long once he started casting. The trick was finding the balance between using enough mana to cast effective spells while conserving enough energy to keep fighting.
Taking a deep breath, Yuuto decided to start small.
[Mana Bolt]
Mana Cost: 15
Effect: Fires a concentrated bolt of mana at a target.
Yuuto summoned the familiar energy of the Mana Bolt, letting the warmth of the spell flow through his body and gather at his fingertips. The blue light crackled and hummed, and with a swift motion, he fired the bolt at a nearby tree. The spell struck true, splintering the bark with a loud crack.
[Mana: 65/80]
Not bad. But the real challenge wasn't casting one spell. It was casting multiple spells, consecutively, under pressure.
Without pausing to rest, Yuuto cast the spell again. And again. Each time, the bolt struck a different target in the clearing—trees, rocks, and even patches of dirt as he trained his accuracy. His mana reserves were dropping rapidly, but he ignored the fatigue creeping into his mind.
[Mana: 20/80]
His breathing grew labored as he cast the next spell, but Yuuto pushed through the exhaustion, forcing himself to keep going. Mana exhaustion wasn't just about running out of magic—it was about fighting through the mental and physical fatigue that came with pushing his limits.
Finally, when his mana reserves were nearly depleted, Yuuto switched tactics. He called upon Barrier, summoning the glowing shield of blue light to surround him. The defensive spell drained the last of his mana, and Yuuto felt his energy flicker dangerously low.
[Mana: 0/80]
His vision blurred for a moment, and his legs wobbled under the weight of his exhaustion. The world around him spun as a wave of dizziness hit him, but Yuuto gritted his teeth and forced himself to stay upright.
This is it, he thought, panting heavily. This is what mana exhaustion feels like.
It was worse than he had imagined. His body felt weak, his mind sluggish, and his ability to concentrate had nearly vanished. If this had been a real battle, he would have been defenseless. The wolves—or any other creature—would have torn him apart.
But this was why he was training.
Slowly, Yuuto sat down on the ground, catching his breath as he let his body recover. His mana would regenerate on its own, but the process was slow, and without a more efficient way to recover during battle, he would always be at a disadvantage.
After several minutes, the Ascendant System chimed again.
[Tip: Utilize meditation to accelerate mana regeneration and increase endurance. Channel mana while in a calm, controlled state to improve efficiency.]
Yuuto frowned at the suggestion. Meditation wasn't something he had considered, but the System seemed to be offering it as a way to not only recover faster but to train his body and mind to handle more mana.
Alright, let's try it.
He closed his eyes and focused inward, calming his breathing and slowing his heart rate. Instead of forcing mana to respond to his will, Yuuto let the energy within him flow naturally, like a river moving through his veins. The warmth of mana returned, filling the empty spaces left by his earlier spellcasting.
As the minutes passed, Yuuto could feel his mana slowly regenerating, but more importantly, he felt his connection to it deepening. He wasn't just replenishing his energy—he was learning to control it more efficiently, to guide it without wasting precious reserves.
[Mana: 30/80]
It wasn't much, but it was progress.
The meditation technique seemed to be working, and as Yuuto continued to focus, his mana levels gradually increased. The world around him felt clearer, his mind sharper. He realized now that the key to avoiding mana exhaustion wasn't just about having more mana—it was about using it wisely, conserving it when necessary, and knowing when to push forward.
After what felt like an hour of meditation and slow spellcasting, Yuuto opened his eyes. His mana had returned to a stable level, and the fatigue that had weighed him down earlier had mostly faded. He still had a long way to go, but this was a start.
[Quest Update: Overcome Mana Exhaustion - Progress: 60%]
The System's notification was a welcome sight. He was making progress, and with more practice, he would be able to push his mana limits even further.
Satisfied with his training for the day, Yuuto stood up and stretched, feeling the stiffness in his muscles from the intense spellcasting. As he prepared to return to the village, a sudden rustling in the bushes caught his attention.
He tensed, gripping his staff tightly as he turned toward the sound. His mana levels were still recovering, but he was ready to defend himself if necessary.
The bushes parted, and a young girl emerged, her wide eyes filled with a mix of fear and urgency. She couldn't have been more than twelve years old, and her clothes were dirt-stained and torn. She looked up at Yuuto, her face pale.
"Mister," she gasped, breathless. "You have to help! The village—there's something wrong!"
Yuuto's heart skipped a beat. "What's happened? What's wrong with the village?"
The girl's eyes filled with tears as she struggled to catch her breath. "I-I don't know… there's something… some kind of dark magic… it's spreading… people are getting sick…"
Yuuto's mind raced. Dark magic? This was something new. The dire wolves had been a physical threat, but this sounded like something far more dangerous. If dark magic was involved, the village could be facing a threat they weren't prepared for.
He knelt down, placing a reassuring hand on the girl's shoulder. "Take me there. I'll help."
The girl nodded, and together, they hurried back toward Ravenwood. As they ran, Yuuto's mind raced with possibilities. He had been training to overcome mana exhaustion, but now, it seemed like his next challenge had arrived sooner than expected.
The village was in danger, and Yuuto wasn't sure what he was walking into.
But one thing was certain: He couldn't afford to fail.
[Quest Complete: Overcome Mana Exhaustion]
Reward: 30 EXP, Basic Mana Regeneration Upgrade unlocked.
Level Up! Yuuto has reached Level 5.
New Stats: Health: 180/180, Mana: 100/100, Intelligence: 20, Magic: 20.
[Basic Mana Regeneration Upgrade Unlocked: Increases passive mana regeneration rate by 10%.]
As Yuuto and the girl ran toward the village, he felt the warm surge of leveling up, but there was no time to celebrate. The real battle was just beginning.
Dark magic had entered Ravenwood, and Yuuto had to be ready for whatever came next.