The summer break had ended, and with it, Leon's time of pure training and leisure with Thadius. Now, he was fully immersed in his first year of middle school.
The transition was smoother than expected. His new school was well-funded, the students generally well-behaved, and the teachers competent enough to not make him want to pull his hair out in frustration. Still, school was school.
While he was far from struggling, he often found himself sitting in class, staring at the clock, waiting for time to pass.
A month had already flown by. Days of routine study, occasional physical education, and the expected social dynamics of middle school life. He kept a low profile, avoiding unnecessary trouble.
He had no interest in petty drama or status games.
What mattered was his own progress.
And tonight… tonight would be a turning point.
For the past few weeks, he had felt something shifting within him, something building up. When he first sensed it, he estimated he'd reach a breakthrough in about a week.
He had been wrong.
His mana was more stubborn than he expected, lingering just on the edge of evolution but never quite tipping over. It had been frustrating, but he refused to rush.
Now, however, he could feel it. The time had finally come.
—
After school, Leon returned home, taking off his shoes at the entrance before stretching slightly. He had gotten used to living alone, though it sometimes felt a little too quiet.
Heading into the kitchen, he prepared himself a meal. Nutrition was important, after all. He settled on something balanced—grilled salmon, a side of sautéed spinach with garlic, and a small portion of brown rice. For a drink, he had water with a slice of lemon.
Simple, but effective.
He ate in silence, enjoying the blend of flavors while mentally preparing for what was to come. His body had been conditioned for years, but this was the first time he'd be attempting to push his mana into unknown territory.
Once finished, he washed up, changed into comfortable clothes, and sat down in his usual meditation spot, devoid of distractions. Crossing his legs, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Then, he engaged his core.
—
The familiar hum of energy filled him, his mana flowing in steady waves through his body. He had trained this process to the point of instinct, but this time was different.
Tonight, he wasn't just refining.
Tonight, he was pushing forward.
Minutes passed. Then an hour. The strain built up gradually, sweat forming on his brow as the energy within him churned, shifting. It felt as if he was grasping the edge of something vast, something that had always been there but was only now revealing itself.
Then, finally—
A shift.
A spark.
A breakthrough.
Leon's body tensed before a flood of new sensation overtook him. His mana surged, expanding, transforming. He barely had time to process it before a pulse of energy radiated outward, making the lights flicker for a brief moment.
He exhaled sharply, his breath steady despite the exertion. His eyes slowly opened, a faint glow lingering for a second before fading.
It was done.
He had advanced.
And now, it was time to see exactly what had changed.
Leon remained seated, his breathing deep and controlled as the transformation settled within him. His body felt… different. Stronger. More refined.
Mana was a metaphysical energy, something that, in its rawest form, did not naturally interact with the physical world. Unlike heat, electricity, or kinetic energy, it did not conform to conventional laws of physics. Instead, it existed on a separate plane, something akin to a potential force waiting to be shaped.
For mana to be useful, it had to be molded—converted into a structured form that could interact with reality. That was what skills were: pre-defined constructs that shaped mana into something tangible. Whether it was enhancing physical strength, creating barriers, or projecting force, mana had to be guided, given form through intent and technique.
And right now, Leon could feel his mana shifting, evolving into something new.
A soft hum resonated in the air around him. The space felt charged, like static before a thunderstorm. The energy within his body no longer flowed in simple currents—it swirled, spiraling through his limbs like an unseen vortex.
Then, all at once—
A pulse of power radiated outward.
The invisible force rippled through the room, rustling loose papers on his desk and making the lights flicker once more. His muscles tensed, heat building in his core as the transformation finalized. His skin tingled as if his entire body was adjusting to a new equilibrium.
Leon exhaled slowly.
It was done.
He flexed his fingers, noting the subtle shift in sensation. His body felt more in tune, as if his muscles and mana were now working together on a deeper level. He clenched his fist, and his strength was undeniable—it wasn't just raw power, but something more refined. More efficient.
Turning his attention inward, he examined his mana.
Before, it had been weightless and untethered. Now? It carried substance.
It was denser, heavier—almost as if it had transitioned into a gaseous state. It wasn't just coursing through his body anymore; it occupied space.
This changed everything.
The implications were massive. If his mana had gained weight, then it could exert force. If it could exert force, then it could interact with the world more directly. This could lead to new applications, new techniques.
He needed to test it.
Standing up, he took a deep breath and activated his ability.
[Class Wheel: Damage Dealer]
Mana naturally flowed through his body, but now, the moment it surged into his limbs, he felt a distinct difference.
It pressed against his muscles, filling them with power, but at the same time, it resisted, like thick vapor clinging to his very being.
Lifting his arm, he clenched his fist and pushed his mana outward. Normally, it would simply coat his body, reinforcing his physical strength and enhancing his abilities.
Now it was layered, forming an almost tangible shell.
He took a step forward, testing his speed. The first thing he noticed was how much smoother his movements were. His body had adapted, adjusting to the newfound density in his mana.
There was no sluggishness, no extra resistance—if anything, it felt like his muscles were guided, the energy acting as a stabilizing force rather than a mere enhancer.
His next test was power.
Leon shifted his stance and clenched his fist once more, channeling his mana into it. He struck forward with a simple punch, releasing a controlled burst of energy.
The air compressed.
It wasn't just a forceful strike—the surrounding space reacted as if something more than just kinetic energy was involved. The impact left a faint ripple in the air before dispersing.
His mana was affecting the environment.
That meant efficiency had increased.
Previously, whenever he used raw reinforcement, his mana only strengthened his body directly. But now? Now it was influencing his surroundings in a way that suggested greater force application.
More importantly, he was using less energy for more effect.
Grinning, Leon activated his ability once more and switched classes.
[Class Wheel: Tank]
Immediately, the shift was noticeable. His body grew heavier, but it wasn't weight in the traditional sense—it was stability. His stance became firmer, his breath more controlled, and his muscles, though relaxed, felt like solid steel.
He lightly tapped his forearm.
A dull thud echoed, as if striking a reinforced material rather than flesh. He tried exerting force against himself—clenching his fists, tightening his core—and each time, his body responded with an unshakable resistance.
His durability had skyrocketed.
But what about mana consumption?
Switching to [Mage], Leon cast a basic projectile using the given skill [Mana Missile]—nothing fancy, just a focused burst of energy. Normally, this would cost a moderate amount of mana, but this time, it was significantly more efficient.
He repeated the process, watching as the energy formed faster, sharper, and with less effort.
His mana wasn't just stronger. It was refined.
Denser mana meant:
Increased durability in defensive applications.More potent attacks when used offensively.Lower energy consumption, meaning extended combat potential.Greater force exertion, affecting both his body and the environment.
Leon smirked.
If this was what just one advancement could do, he couldn't wait to see what came next.
—Elsewhere, in an underground facility—
A dimly lit room housed several figures standing around a large monitor. The screen displayed a series of reports, each detailing recent anomalies in civilian areas—most notably, an unknown energy barrier protecting people from an attack in a local park.
One man, his face obscured by shadows, leaned forward, studying the footage. "This wasn't an official hero. No registry, no reports of quirks like this in the area."
Another figure, shorter but exuding an aura of authority, tapped their fingers on the desk. "Yet, whoever did this vanished before the Hero Commission could even identify them. That kind of awareness isn't normal for a civilian. Either they were trained… or they're hiding something."
A third person, analyzing a separate screen, spoke up. "There was a witness—a waitress at a café nearby. She mentioned a boy sitting at the terrace. No one remembers seeing him leave."
The first man straightened. "A child? No. If someone this young can generate a barrier strong enough to withstand a villain's full-force attack, then he's either an anomaly… or something much more dangerous."
Silence filled the room.
Then, the shortest figure finally spoke again. "Find him. Quietly. If this is something new, we either control it… or eliminate it before it becomes a problem."
—Back to Leon—
Leon sat on the edge of his bed, stretching his fingers absentmindedly. The feeling of denser mana still lingered in his body, like an extra layer of weight he hadn't fully adjusted to.
He had advanced, but the real question was—what now?
He had already concluded that his mana was in a gaseous state, meaning it had taken a step closer to tangible matter. If he could refine it further… perhaps solidification was possible?
He needed more data. More testing.
But first—school.
Leon sighed, glancing at the time. Morning would come soon.
'Might as well sleep.'