Mammon felt the familiar weightlessness as he logged back into the game. The cool air of the village night wrapped around him, and he stood for a moment in the cave before heading to the grove where the wolf had been buried. He brought out the glowing orb, its light faint but steady—a reminder of the promise he had made. He clenched it tightly, feeling the warmth seep into his palm.
He had a mission now, a direction, and a burning question. What was the significance of the gift the wolf had entrusted to him?
As dawn broke over the village, he made his way to Astranor's library, determined to grow in power no matter what. The early morning was quiet, with only a few villagers moving about, and the smell of dew-drenched earth filled the air. When he arrived, the door opened at his approach, and he stepped inside, feeling the familiar hush of the library's ancient walls.
Astranor was already there, flipping through a worn, leather-bound tome. He looked up as Mammon entered and offered a faint smile.
"You're up early," Astranor said, closing the book with a soft thud.
"Yes, I just want to start practicing, that's all."
"Wait, before that, I have something to tell you," Astranor said, his expression becoming unusually serious.
"What is it?"
"The encounter you had with those magical beasts... it's not normal. You're attracting forces that most people don't face until they're much more experienced."
"Are you saying this is just the beginning?" Mammon asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"Yes," Astranor replied. "The magical beasts you encountered were only the start. Something is stirring in these woods, and you may be the one who will decide its fate."
"Why are you saying that?"
"Because magical beasts don't usually lurk in this part of the forest, especially not in those numbers."
"What do you mean?" Mammon asked, a shiver running down his spine.
Astranor looked him in the eye, his gaze piercing. "I believe you have something inside you, an untapped potential that draws the attention of magical creatures. It's a rare gift, but it's also dangerous. You're going to need guidance, training, and most importantly, allies."
"So, when can I start this training?"
"From today, this very moment, until you can control whatever is inside you," Astranor said.
"But I want to learn swordsmanship skills."
"That can wait until we're done," Astranor replied firmly.
"I don't even have mana," Mammon protested.
"You think you don't, but you might still have it, though I can't say for sure," Astranor responded.
Mammon felt a surge of fear and excitement rise within him, the weight of his newfound destiny settling heavily on his shoulders. He looked down at the glowing orb in his hand. Whatever lay ahead, he knew one thing for certain—he wouldn't turn away.
They began their training, with Mammon logging out periodically to eat, bathe, and clean up the house before logging back in. Time moved faster due to ECHO's 2:1 time ratio, meaning time in the game flowed twice as fast as in real life.
This continued for three days, until the final day when Astranor instructed Mammon to retrieve the black wolf's core and hand it over. Astranor inspected it before returning it to Mammon.
Sitting in a lotus position, Mammon held the beast core in his hands and checked his stats
Status:
Name: Mammon
Race: Half-Elf
Class: ???
Stats:
HP: 50
MP: 0
Stamina: 75
Strength: 5 Agility: 5 Constitution: 5 Dexterity: 5
Wisdom: 5 Intelligence: 5
Attack Power (Str): 10 Attack Power (Agi): 10 Magic Attack Power: 10
Luck: 0
Available stat point: 4
Available skill point: 4
Mental Condition: Normal
Physical Condition: Normal
Mammon closed his eyes. The beast core was meant to increase a person's mana pool and boost their magical output, but that wasn't his goal. He intended to use the core as a catalyst to try to harness mana.
If Astranor's theory was correct, then he still had mana. He focused completely on the core, feeling its overwhelming power, but he didn't attempt to absorb it. Instead, he aimed to use it as a gateway to his mind. Astranor had told him that mana stayed in the mind temporarily until it was channeled into the mana heart, where it would permanently reside.
The core's overwhelming power made it difficult to reach his mind, so after a few attempts, he called for Astranor.
"Hey, Astranor, I'm trying to reach my mind, but I can't seem to do it."
"You're not supposed to be able to at your current level of understanding and power," Astranor replied.
"I know, but I'm trying to do something," Mammon said, frustration lacing his voice.
"If you say so," Astranor said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Have you tried anchoring it?"
"Anchoring my mind?" Mammon asked.
"Yes. Anchor your mind with a single idea while keeping the power in the core steady. If you think about an idea and focus only on that, your mind will become 'still.' It will help you find clarity."
"Should I really do that?"
"Yes, doing so will increase your chances of reaching your mind faster."
"Okay, thanks for the tip." Mammon said as he closed his eyes.
'Even at this early stage, he knows what he's doing. I just want to see how he turns out,' Astranor thought.
Mammon followed Astranor's advice, carefully channeling the core's power in a controlled cycle. He planned to make himself a conduit, allowing the energy from the core to flow through him and then return to the core. It worked just as he intended. With his mind anchored on reaching his inner self, he felt a stillness settle over him, and soon he was transported to another realm.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a white room, he had succeeded.
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