The white expanse of the second trial dissolved as Lucian reappeared in another pristine, empty room. The environment was identical to the previous one—cold, sterile, and impossibly bright.
The system interface flickered into existence before him:
[Trial 3/10: Affinity Trial]
Quest: Harness Mana
Description: Learn to manipulate mana and enhance your body. Master basic mana control.
Objective: Successfully channel mana to strengthen your body.
Lucian exhaled deeply, his nerves steadied by the repetitive rhythm of the trials. "All right. Let's do this."
As he stood in the room, he felt it—a faint hum in the air, almost like the vibrations of a distant string. The energy within him, newly awakened and raw, stirred faintly.
"Channel mana into my body…" he murmured, repeating the objective aloud. He closed his eyes and focused inward, reaching for the fractured remnants of his mana core.
But the response wasn't what he expected.
Instead of the smooth flow he remembered reading about in the novel, the mana within him sputtered, erratic and unstable.
It felt like trying to grasp water in his fists—fleeting and elusive.
[System Notice: Assistance Protocol Activated.]
[Tip: Concentrate on the flow. Imagine your mana as a river; let it course through your veins and spread evenly across your body]
Lucian frowned. "Imagine it as a river? Easy for you to say…"
Still, he followed the system's advice. He visualized a calm stream, its waters flowing without obstruction.
Slowly, he guided that image to his body, mentally mapping the energy coursing through him.
A tingling warmth spread from his chest to his limbs, faint but distinct.
His hands clenched involuntarily as he felt his muscles respond, a surge of strength replacing the frailty he had known for so long.
His eyes snapped open. A faint shimmer surrounded him, almost imperceptible but undeniable.
[Objective Complete: You have successfully enhanced your body with mana]
Lucian allowed himself a small, victorious smile. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.
The room began to shift again, the walls and ceiling peeling away to reveal a larger, arena-like space. This time, the trial seemed more ominous.
[Trial 4/10: Basic Combat Trial]
Quest: Defeat the Mana Constructs
Description: Simulated creatures powered by raw mana will appear. Defeat them using basic combat techniques.
Objective: Destroy three constructs using only mana manipulation.
Before Lucian could fully register the details, three humanoid figures materialized in front of him.
Their forms were crude, almost like clay sculptures, but they pulsed with a faint blue glow—a sign of their mana-powered cores.
Lucian's gaze sharpened. He recognized this type of trial from the novel's descriptions: the constructs weren't particularly strong but relied on unrelenting attacks to overwhelm inexperienced participants.
Reaching for the sword at his waist, Lucian steadied his breath. Thanks to the fragmented memories of the original Lucian, he had basic knowledge of swordsmanship. Nothing fancy, just the fundamentals.
The first construct lunged without warning, its movements erratic yet swift. Lucian sidestepped, narrowly avoiding its clawed strike.
"Focus, Lucian," he muttered.
He gripped the hilt of his blade and infused it with mana, as much as his fractured core could muster. A faint glow coated the weapon, making it more than just steel in his hands.
The construct charged again, but this time Lucian was ready. With a fluid swing, he severed its arm, the mana infusion slicing through the construct's form like butter.
The glow from its body dimmed before it collapsed into a heap of inert material.
[1/3 Constructs Defeated]
The remaining two constructs wasted no time. One circled behind him while the other attacked head-on.
Lucian adjusted his stance, his body moving instinctively.
He pivoted, dodging the strike from the construct behind him, and retaliated with a swift slash. His blade connected with its torso, cleaving it in half.
[2/3 Constructs Defeated]
The final construct was smarter—or perhaps more cautious. It kept its distance, circling him as if looking for an opening. Lucian frowned, his grip tightening.
The mana in his core flickered, unstable as ever, but he forced it into his legs. With a burst of speed, he closed the gap between them, catching the construct off guard.
A downward slash ended the fight, his blade cutting cleanly through its glowing core. The construct collapsed, its blue light fading into nothingness.
[Trial Complete: You have defeated all three constructs.]
[Reward: Mana Core Unlocked. Your fractured core has been replaced with a functional mana core]
Lucian staggered as a wave of heat exploded within him. His entire body felt like it was on fire, his veins alight with energy.
It was as though his very being was being rebuilt, piece by piece. The fractured shards of his mana core fused together, forming something whole and vibrant.
[System Notice: Your mana core has been successfully reconstructed. You now possess an Early Initiate-level core]
Lucian fell to his knees, gasping for air. The change was overwhelming, but the power coursing through him was undeniable.
Before he could even begin to process the transformation, the system intervened once again:
[Access to further trials temporarily restricted]
[Reason: Participant requires acclimation period for new mana core]
[Returning to point of origin]
The arena dissolved around him, and Lucian found himself back in his room. He collapsed onto the bed, exhausted but alive.
His fingers curled into the fabric of the sheets as a faint smile played on his lips.
"I survived," he whispered.
And for the first time, he felt a flicker of hope. This was only the beginning.