The morning sun crept over the horizon, casting warm golden rays onto the hilltop. Ranav sat cross-legged on the soft grass, staring at the endless sky. It was peaceful here, and for him, the spot had become a sanctuary.
Jessica, however, had chosen this place for an entirely different reason. "The mana geyser beneath this hill is ideal," she remarked. "The abundance of mana here makes me feel comfortable."
Ranav chuckled. "You say it like you're the one doing the hard work."
"You'll thank me when it's over," Jessica quipped.
They had decided that tomorrow would be the day Ranav advanced his body training. After all the preparation, planning, and reading, Jessica believed he was finally ready.
"You should let your master know we'll need her supervision," Jessica suggested.
Ranav shrugged. "I'll just show up at her door tomorrow morning. If she's free, we'll proceed. Besides, at this stage, I only need about ten minutes to fill my Dantian."
Jessica didn't argue but added, "We'll need to prepare. Advancing to the Body Tempering stage will purge all impurities from your body, leaving your stomach completely empty. You'll feel ravenous afterward."
Ranav grinned. "Sounds like a good excuse for a hunt. Let's head into the valley and see what we can find."
Descending from the hill, Ranav treaded carefully through the dense woods, the rustling leaves and distant chirps of birds filling the silence.
Jessica's voice broke through his thoughts. "Remember, when you're on the verge of breaking through, you must ensure your last breath before the transition contains as much mana as possible. It's critical to channel the excess mana into your body for refinement."
Ranav frowned slightly. "Shouldn't that process be automatic? The book said the Dantian would naturally release the mana to temper my body once it's full."
"That's true," Jessica replied. "But from what I've read, the more mana you have during the breakthrough, the better the refinement. A larger reserve means a more resilient and powerful body."
"Why didn't the books mention that?" Ranav countered.
"Not all theories make it into common manuals," Jessica said with a hint of pride. "That's why I wanted your master's presence, to ensure this refinement goes as smoothly as possible."
Ranav sighed, his steps slowing. "You've been holding this back the whole time, haven't you? You stopped me from advancing earlier just for this theory."
"Yes," Jessica admitted without hesitation.
"Sometimes, I feel like you're more robot than companion," Ranav muttered.
"What's a robot?" Jessica asked, intrigued.
"It's a tool that assists with tasks, often running on artificial intelligence. Think of it as an intelligent helping hand that stores and analyzes data to support you."
"And what's artificial intelligence?"
Ranav shook his head, smiling faintly. "Never mind. It's... complicated. I'll explain some other time."
"Jessica was simply efficient, intelligent, intuitive, analytical, innovative, precise and analytical like Artificial Intelligence back from Earth. Without Jessica's help, my progress would be much slower." He thought.
Jessica was quiet for a moment before replying, "You often say that. I hope you mean it this time."
Ranav paused, his expression softening. "I will, Jessica. I promise. I value your companionship more than I can say. It's just that... there are parts of my life I'm not ready to share."
Their conversation fell into a comfortable silence as Ranav's thoughts drifted to his life on Earth. He had intended to write down everything he remembered, but time and circumstance had always gotten in the way. "Soon," he thought. "I'll start writing soon."
Jessica's voice interrupted his reverie. "Quiet. There's a rabbit ahead."
Ranav's posture shifted instantly, his gaze sharpening. Under Jessica's guidance, he moved silently, hiding behind a large tree. Peering out, he spotted a fat rabbit nibbling on some grass.
"I'm taking the shot," Jessica urged, taking temporary control of his body.
In one fluid motion, Ranav's finger shot a bullet. The rabbit fell instantly.
"Clean kill," Ranav murmured as he stored the rabbit in his storage space.
"This will do for tomorrow's feast," Jessica said, satisfied.
The next day, after his morning sword training and breakfast, Ranav rushed to Nanima's house.
"I'm ready to advance to the Body Tempering stage, but I need your help. There might be some things that could go wrong," he announced.
Nanima studied him for a moment, her wise eyes glinting with approval. "Very well. Let us begin by the pond."
Under the shade of a massive tree near the water, Ranav sat cross-legged. The air was heavy with mana, perfect for the task at hand.
"Relax," Nanima instructed. "Breathe deeply and let the mana flow into you. There is no need to be afraid. I'll be here until you finish your breakthrough."
Ranav closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing technique. Instantly, mana began to gather in his Dantian, swirling like a storm.
As the moment of breakthrough approached, Jessica's voice chimed in his mind. "Now. Take a deep breath and mix as much mana as you can." Then she felt silent again.
Ranav obeyed, extending the process until his Dantian was full to bursting. Then, with a final push, he sent the excess mana surging outward.
The moment the surge of energy hit, Ranav's entire body locked in place, as if gripped by an invisible force. His breath caught in his throat, and a sharp, burning pain shot through his limbs, as though his very bones were being fractured and reforged at once. Every muscle in his body screamed, stretching beyond its limits, straining against an unseen pressure that threatened to tear him apart.
His skin felt as though it was being peeled from his flesh, layer by layer, as if the impurities of his entire life were being dragged out of him. His mouth opened in a silent scream, but no sound came out, only the raw sensation of power building within him. He could feel it, surging from the depths of his core, as his very soul was reshaped.
Hot sweat poured from his skin, mingling with thick, dark substance that oozed from his pores like the filth of a lifetime, black and sticky. It stank of decay, of rot. His body shook violently as if the very act of purging himself of this corruption was too much to bear.
A wave of nausea rose in his gut, and before he could brace himself, the bile surged upward, flooding his throat, forcing itself out of his mouth.
Nanima watched calmly but remained vigilant. "Kumnyama qeda," she muttered, her hands weaving intricate gestures.
The dark residue dissolved into nothingness, and the air cleared of its foul odor.