Mokuri is walking outside the shed, lost in thought. "I have read some of the things in that book, and it really showed the basics of using magic...."
He paused and thought back, "Earth, water, fire, lightning, darkness, and light—those are the basic types of magic....but..."
"How am I going to unlock these types of magic within me....?" "Mana: a tremendous system of magical power that allows you to perform various magical feats," it read. "So that's what it says....hmmm."
For a moment, Mokuri closed his eyes to evaluate the message in his mind. "Oh this is just a theory but.....this mana thing sort of reminds me of the stamina/metabolism of the body since mana is kind of like fuel in a way, and you have to have a lot to be able to control both your mana and magic easily....wait, control! I got it!!" he yelled.
Hours passed, and after he went into the forest to retrieve two giant rocks and ten vines, he entangled them together to make one strong rope. He got two. He initiated the plan: first, he places the rope over a strong tree branch and tied the two rope vines to the rocks and the other to the wrist of his hands. He created a sort of pulling system.
The thought was that when he did push-ups, the weight would resist the pulling-up force by gravity. So basically, when doing push-ups, he pulls on the weights of the two rocks by using the "pulling system."
"I will try this out mentally and physically... by doing push-ups to strengthen my body while focusing on the flow of mana inside me. It's a win-win," Mokuri said with determination but with realization. Then he began. Hours passed, and he was already drenched in sweat, and tension of the muscles doing push-ups while meditating.
For five nights, he does 50 push-ups every 5 hours each. By the time those days come when he knows he can get the hang of it, he proceeds.
It was the final week, and Mokuri is outside, concentrating the mana in his hands. "From all the magic types, I'm only able to easily control three," Mokuri said as he produced a small flame above his palm.
"I got it... let's test this, shall we?" Mokuri said as he went deep into the forest looking for something to test on. His stomach grumbled.
"Man, I did not eat much in the last six weeks... huh!." As he tilted his head, he spotted a huge nest surrounded by monstrous bees.
"Oh, perfect..." He then positioned himself like a runner at the starting line. "This is frightening, but a man's gotta eat..."
He propelled himself forward. The bees noticed this and began to attack. One aimed to sting his head with its ten-inch-long stinger, but Mokuri dodged the attack, leaped up, and landed on its head with one hand,time seemed to slow down.
Suddenly, Mokuri activates the fire ability, which burns the bee below him, creating a large explosion. Then, simultaneously, he also activates a water spell on the other hand and spins around like a break dancer blasting the water 360°around.
Attacking the bees with both these elements creates a large amount of smoke, giving him an opportunity to get closer to the hive. As the queen bee looks around for the target in the thick smoke, Mokuri already closes the gap between both of them, ready to strike with his wooden sword.
But as time flows, there are two other bees on each of his sides, ready to attack as they aim for his face. Mokuri smirks.
He changes his fighting stance, activating dark magic and amplifying it to the wooden sword. He strikes all two, including the queen, with "Shiro-Crescent Strike!!!!"
After that, he takes the honey as quickly as he can before the smoke clears and retreats before the others notice. "Sorry, bees, but it's survival of the fittest."
"Man... I guess the test was a complete success, plus I got myself some honeycombs for dinner tonight."
Mokuri, still walking, began to feel kind of worried. "Um, which way was the shed again?"
But as he went further, he heard voices from the corner of his eye.
"I am Miaru, and I will not let this slide!!!" said a demi-dwarf female tied up and placed in a cage, but she had a suspicious-looking collar around her neck.
Getting a better look, he saw that there was a community of trolls, who wore the same clothing style, except for the one that looked like a king.
"She's probably fine... now to make my escape," he thought nervously. But before he could react, a large troll grabbed him by the head, and everything went dark.
As he slowly opened his eyes, he found himself in the same cage as Miaru. "Eh..." Mokuri seemed confused by the arrangement and also frustrated.
Mokuri looks at Miaru, who looked at him with a suspicious expression. "I've noticed you were watching, and perhaps you were trying to ditch me?" said Miaru.
"No... what are you talking about?" answered Mokuri as Miaru's face drew closer to his, looking deep into his eyes.
"So close," Mokuri thought.
"OK, anyway, we need to find a way to get out of here. If they had not put this collar on us, we could have been gone already," said Miaru.
"Collar?" Mokuri asked.
"Yes, a collar on your neck," Miaru replied.
"Huh! Why is there a collar on me? Don't tell me they are sadistic freaks," Mokuri exclaimed.
"Don't worry, they are not... probably," Miaru said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Mokuri asked.
"Nothing... but those collars are just magic suppressors. They reduce one's magic, and if worn for too long—about three days—they would drain it," Miaru explained.
"I see..." Mokuri replied.
"You seem calm for a human," Miaru noted.
"I have my reasons," Mokuri said.
"but how would we be able to escape?" Miaru asked.
"I'm going to challenge the strongest troll to a duel, and the winner gets their rights," Mokuri replied.
"Are you sure? Are you strong?" Miaru inquired.
"Not physically, but mentally," Mokuri answered.
"I see. Then if this works, I should reward you afterward," Miaru said.
"Noted," Mokuri replied.
After hours, Mokuri whispered to one of the guard trolls to deliver the message to the leader.
"Very well then, prepare the field," said the troll leader as they took Mokuri to his position.
Walking out of the cave entrance was a huge, muscular troll, the so-called champion, who stood on the opposite side.
Mokuri grinned.
"Oh no, he forgot to get them to remove his collar... but even if he manages to tell them, I doubt they will listen," thought Miaru.
"BEGIN!!!!!"
Hearing those words, the troll attacks first by hitting his fist onto the ground and sends rocks flying in Mokuri's direction.
Mokuri counters the flying rocks with flame magic.
"OK... now my turn." Concentrating the mana to his arms , he activates a dark sphere on his left palm and a fire one on his right, maneuvering his hands, then swipes his hands across each other to merge the two into a dark flame.
Then he stretches the dark flame, distancing his hands like holding a slingshot arrow. He lets go of the backside, and it is shot facing the direction of the troll in incredible speeds.
The troll, without any options after trying to slow it down with his earth magic, which did not work, blocks it with his fist. A large explosion forms.
With everyone distracted, Mokuri swiftly frees Miaru and carries her away on his shoulder like a bag of potatoes.
With anger, the troll leader found that they had escaped, and he was furious.
After knowing they had a safe distance, Mokuri slows down and puts Miaru down.
"Hehehe~ the boom and go always works," he thought playfully.
"Mokuri, huh... I'm surprised, though, how you are able to have that much magic even though it was suppressed," Miaru said.
"I just controlled it," Mokuri replied.
"Controlled? Anyway, my village is not far from here, so we can rest," Miaru said.
"Great! I am starving," Mokuri exclaimed.
After they got to the village, at first, they were suspicious of Mokuri, but after hearing the news, they let them in. Moments passed, and after eating, Mokuri was sleeping.
The next morning, Mokuri woke up tired, rubbing his eyes as he walked.
"Hey miaru...can I ask you a question?"
Then, as he opened the door to the outside, "GOOD MORNING, CHIEF!" said the entire village, kneeling at him at the entrance.
"Eh? What? Chief?"