"Did you buy the rune pen?"
"Yes, young lord, but why do you need a rune pen?" Augustus extended his hand, and a red pen adorned with ancient carvings appeared in his palm.
"Mana control," Daniel replied, taking the rune pen and inspecting it, analyzing it carefully.
'Not bad. It's actually better than the version we had on Earth.' This pen was one of the Hero's ideas, though he had also capitalized on it in his previous life, having suggested its creation.
"Excuse me? Mana control?" Augustus stared at him with wide eyes, utterly unable to grasp what Daniel meant.
Though a possibility crossed his mind, he dismissed it. Surely, his young lord didn't have a death wish, right?
Daniel didn't answer. Instead, he removed his shirt, revealing his athletic physique. His muscles weren't overly bulky, but it was well defined
Using the pen, he drew symbols on his abdomen, arms, legs, chest, and finally on his forehead—a "III" as the background, with the image of a stag's antler in the center.
"These symbols…" Augustus frowned as he recognized them. He knew these runes, but how was Daniel able to replicate them so accurately?
These runes were used to control various types of energy. However, only Awakened individuals were supposed to use them.
"Channel your mana into my body," Daniel said, tossing the pen to Augustus, who caught it.
"Young lord, have you lost your mind? Your body will explode!" Augustus's tone was serious and full of warning. If anything happened to Daniel, that woman would undoubtedly slaughter him.
"Theoretically, yes. But don't worry—I can stabilize the mana flow," Daniel replied calmly, fully aware of the risk of his body exploding.
To unlock the full potential of this body, he needed to take such risks. If he succeeded, his body and mind would reach the peak of mortal limits.
What gave him the confidence to undertake this perilous act was his enhanced body, strengthened after receiving the Primordial Dragon Template.
His current physique was robust enough to endure and control the flow of mana using these runes.
"Young lord, you're not the first to attempt such a foolish thing. Throughout history, millions of geniuses have tried to temper their bodies with mana as mortals, and ninety-nine percent of them died gruesome deaths."
"But one percent succeeded," Daniel countered.
"This is absolute madness!"
"Enough. If you're unwilling to help, leave. There are other ways to channel mana into my body," Daniel said, feeling a headache coming on. He understood Augustus's concern, but Augustus didn't know everything about him.
Augustus looked into Daniel's eyes and, seeing his unwavering determination, sighed deeply.
"Very well, young lord. I'll help you. But the moment I sense you're in danger, I will burn the mana inside your body to protect you."
Burning mana within a mortal's body was incredibly dangerous, capable of destroying internal organs. But it was better than an explosion and certain death.
Daniel said nothing, instead clearing his mind. The slightest mistake in controlling the mana flow could pulverize his brain and trigger his demise.
Augustus stepped forward, placing his hand on Daniel's shoulder. A colorless, imperceptible energy flowed from his fingertips into Daniel's body.
As mana entered his body, Daniel's face turned pale, and his eyes flushed red. The mana coursed through his veins, capillaries, tissues, and skeletal structure.
Simultaneously, an excruciating pain engulfed him, so unbearable that he was certain if he lost consciousness from the agony, he would never wake again.
He quickly took control of the mana flow, gritting his teeth against the overwhelming pain. His body began to turn crimson.
His entire being trembled from the torment, and fear threatened to consume his mind. Even though his mental fortitude had been greatly enhanced through the fusion with the Template, it was still barely enough to withstand such suffering.
Controlling the mana flow, he began circulating it through his tissues and bones, tempering them carefully while ensuring no mana leaked out.
"His heart rate has slowed dramatically," Augustus murmured, his frown deepening. He was prepared to intervene at any moment to save Daniel.
Hours passed as Daniel tempered his tissues and bones. Then came the most critical and delicate phase: the brain.
The slightest mistake could cause his brain to explode. Carefully, Daniel directed the mana flow toward his brain.
The moment the mana entered his brain, the pain he felt intensified tenfold, and his vision began to blur.
His consciousness wavered, and he struggled to keep his eyes open. Part of him yearned to give in to the darkness, where there was no pain.
But another part of him—the part that remembered his friends' deaths, the humiliation he had endured, and the mocking laughter of his enemies—urged him to push through.
He clenched his teeth harder, focusing on tempering his brain. Every nerve center, cell, and layer of his brain was adjusted with painstaking precision.
Due to the brain's sensitivity, he had to proceed even more cautiously, extending the process by several more hours.
Augustus glanced at the clock. Over twelve hours had passed, and he hadn't left Daniel's side for a single second.
His worry had reached its peak. He had watched Daniel grow up and, more than a young lord, considered him akin to a son.
"He's fine," Augustus muttered after examining Daniel's condition. To his disbelief, Daniel truly seemed to be okay.
More importantly, the mana inside his body was nearly depleted. It wouldn't be long before the process was complete.
As Augustus had guessed, Daniel's body gradually returned to its original state.
Exhausted, Daniel collapsed to the ground, barely able to stay conscious. Seeing Augustus rush to his side, he managed a faint smile before finally closing his eyes.
"Did the young lord really succeed?"
"He succeeded… he really did," Augustus said, unable to believe what he was witnessing. Daniel's muscle structure and symmetry had improved significantly, even surpassing his prior state.
While history had seen individuals achieve such feats, they were extraordinarily rare—fewer than eight people in five thousand years.
And today, before his very eyes, another had joined their ranks.
"I can't wait to see their faces," Augustus said with a smile, recalling how the Vorhelm family's Elder Council had discarded Daniel as though he were trash upon discovering his low mana compatibility.
Adding insult to injury, thanks to the meddling of two other patriarchs' wives, Daniel and his mother had been exiled to the worst region under the Vorhelm family's rule, where they had lived for the past fourteen years.
"Perhaps he truly has a chance during the Awakening process," Augustus thought, his opinion of Daniel's potential completely changed.
After today, Augustus realized just how terrifying Daniel's physical strength was. Perhaps it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the strongest mortal alive.
But one question lingered in his mind: how had the young lord's body become so powerful?