Chapter 11: The Grind (3)

Chapter 11: The Grind (3)

~Silva POV~

*Shiii*

"Huff…"

*Shiii*

*Shing*

[Ding!]

[Due to enhancing your body using your Gate to channel the Mana coursing through your body you have gained a skill!]

[Skill: <Mana Reinforcement> have been learned!]

[<Mana Reinforcement> LEVEL UP!]

[<Mana Reinforcement> LEVEL UP!]

Not before long after doing it for the last few hours I finally saw the notification pop up earning me to grin happily before the news, "Hahaha… about fucking time. And here I thought I was screwed later in the day. Thank God…"

After this, I began to repeat the same process trying to be faster each and every time. I want it to be strong for me to use as well as enhance myself in the process.

But I do need to practice more to make it a skill. As the saying goes practice makes perfect.

Smirking at this I immediately checked my Skill List to see the proper descriptions of my new skill <Mana Reinforcement> and read carefully about what I can do with them as I feel my cells and nerves around me providing me the buff.

Skill List.

----

<Mana Reinforcement> Lv. 2/100 Exp: 12.3%

MP Cost: 50 MP

Duration: 10 Min.

Description: Users can utilize Mana that are based on and/or take control of reinforcement, allowing them to perform magical feats such as hardening one's body and the environment around them, giving them an extra layer of defense.

-This skill boosts STR, VIT, INT, SEN, and AGI by 10%.

-Every 10 levels the duration increases by 5 Min.

-Every 10 levels increase boost by 5%

----

Good.

Now I have something to work with here on the combat side of things for the time being although I could do better. I'm so going to enjoy this skill so much but that's not without its downside.

I have to be cautious with every move I make but regardless though this is great progress being made.

Seeing the level-ups, I then stopped myself feeling a sense of accomplishment grinning as I then moved my hands feeling my new <Mana Reinforcement> keeping them in place along with my own sensation of Mana burning within me.

At the very least it's not as burning hot as it was before.

Smirking at this I immediately checked my Skill List descriptions I was very glad to get this skill early on to provide the protection I need. Now I have something to work with here stopping in my tracks although a thought occurred…

I could do better.

But I dismiss that arrogant persona right away because I don't know nor am I smart enough to think that idea.

Right now, I merely need to continue my training creating new skills as I go further along practicing or trying different ideas of how to do it. Currently, I need more skills than my <Mana Reinforcement> could provide against future enemies.

Although the boost of 10% to my Stats is a nice buff to have in battle, I have to be wary about how much MP I use in fights. This setback of not being able to use Magic right away is bad, but it won't deter me from trying to become the strongest.

For now, all I could do is struggle to get stronger but sooner or later I'll reach my way into the top from the bottom for now I need to keep training…

To keep grinding with all I have before the big threats start coming then put my all into the grind.

However, noticing my body exhaustion I knew I couldn't ignore it any longer. I needed to take a break or else I would instead suffer losses instead of gains.

Hopefully, some meditation will help my body give time to recover than rushing to peak conditions. One must have patience as all good things will come with time.

/////

Meditating for a while I tried to raise my skills in the process of training my breathing and manipulating the control of my Mana in the process.

The focus and power were something else feeling the new power as the more I manipulate the Mana around me the more I feel less of the heat from before when I first tried it out manipulating a foreign force.

[<Mana Manipulation> LEVEL UP!]

Nothing I ever really felt before as if a child playing with a new toy, they discovered wanting to test out the limits and play some more.

That's the feeling I get when I play around with Mana as I try to get a handle on things. But like all things I need to focus more on what I can do.

What I need to improve on since I can't have myself be lacking. Breathing in and out I began to relax my body, "Whew…"

Opening my eyes, I tried to release the mana within me releasing outside trying to have better control of mana.

The blue color particles are flying around the forest existing outside my body having to expel it from my body. But to my surprise, I managed to see a pop-up screen revealing the information provided.

I could only grin seeing the skills I try to learn thanks to having some prior idea of how to incorporate them from the Fairy Tail library.

[Ding!]

[Due to expelling mana from your body a skill has been generated to expel mana!]

[Skill: <Expel Mana> has been learned!]

Smirking at this I immediately checked on my Skill List to see what this skill can do for me.

Skill List.

----

<Expel Mana> (Active) Lv.1/100 Exp: 0.4%

MP Cost: Any/Min.

Description: A training exercise used by Mages/Wizards that allows them to expel Mana into the air to know how much Mana is needed to activate their Magic Power to activate their spells or Holder Magic Tools.

-Every level of 25, 50, 75, and 99 reduces MP Costs by 5% each.

---

Smirking at this I couldn't help but sigh out a breath of tiredness from expelling my mana as I commented on it, "Whew… just releasing my Mana through me just made me feel tired? Is it because it's similar to one's own life force?"

I felt physically exhausted from expelling mana from my body and drained doing so but not before seeing some Level Ups doing so in the process.

[<Expel Mana> LEVEL UP!]

[<Expel Mana> LEVEL UP!]

[<Expel Mana> LEVEL UP!]

Leaning my arms down feeling sweat drenched my body from practicing not only my Mana but also how to manipulate it through my body are new sensations and body parts I need to adjust properly before starting a fight.

But regardless though the more I train on <Expel Mana> the more I feel like I have control over my Mana. It's really an unbelievable explanation to truly explain but felt right when doing it over and over for a few times.

Calming my nerves and resting my body I need to grind up some skills for me to obtain and get stronger in the process.

Using <Mana Manipulation> I tried to less of a better term sense the magic within the area for me to better understand.

"Whew…"

Releasing a breath of air I began to try and focus sensing the magic in the area to have a better understanding –

!!!

*WOOSH*

*BAM*

Getting my Rune Sword from my side out in the open pointing towards a Magical Beast that is in the shape of a wolf glaring at me while I returned one of my own, I suddenly felt someone going to attack me.

*Shiii*

<Mana Reinforcement>.

Activating my skill at the ready feeling my heartbeat faster I tried to sense a tingling sensation that alerted me when I tried to sense someone. A feeling I never knew before till danger presented itself as I began to sense someone wanting to harm me.

"Grr…"

The wolf in question was quite honestly large for its size but I can tell the intent to get me while I had my guard down as it paces around me ever slowly while I did the same panting tired from training.

[Ding!]

[Due to your sensing magic a skill has been generated to sense magic.]

[Skill: <Magic Sense> has been learned!]

[<Magic Sense> LEVEL UP!]

[<Magic Sense> LEVEL UP!]

Sensing the magic power now from the wolf trying to eat me up and growling at me I used <Observe> to see any info relating to it.

[Wolf Lv.10 – Scout]

It's a scout?

Better get out of here then but not before taking this hound down. Holding up my Rune Sword getting better adjusted in a stance the wolf soon lunged at me bearing it's teeth.

"Roooar!!!"

*Cling*

Shit!

Stumbling back the wolf bite down on the sword with it holding its guard as the force of the wolf tackled me down but I made sure to hold my own keeping it from biting me as I growl slowly holding it back.

Checking my status my HP bar took a hit but not enough for concern getting back up I'm not going to allow this mutt wanting me for a new chew toy!

Thinking quickly I thought I began to push back the wolf gritting my teeth and feeling the exhaustion taking over but my will to live stronger not wanting to die right away of this thing.

Gripping my blade tightly as I focused my Mana around, my blade building up feeling the burning sensation again with blue light showing around my blade storing Mana and in that moment it burst open.

*BOOM*

*THUD*

Fuck!!

Feeling the recoil of the sudden burst of mana I saw notifications of the skill being activated as I saw it pop up explaining what I did making me smile.

[Ding!]

[Due to your Mana stored in your weapon a skill has been generated to store Mana.]

[Skill: <Cage> has been learned!]

[Ding!]

[Due to your Mana bursting a skill has been generated to infuse Mana and expel it open.]

[Skill: <Mana Burst> has been learned!]

Getting my bearings together again I glared hatefully at the wolf as Mastema activated hissing at the wolf, "Damn mutt… really picked a bad day to test your luck on me."

*Fwp*

*Pew*

*Fwp*

*Pew*

*Splat*

"Arghhh…!"

The wolf moaned in pain as I pierced through its body with holes of blood releasing from the wounds in the body. It moaned in pain before falling down and dying in a pool of its own blood leaking out.

Not letting my guard down, especially after allowing myself to get ambushed like that I kept my Teigu Mastema out in the open if need be to run away or aim for the head.

Fortunately, though it seems like my worry is not needed as I see the pop-ups of me winning signaling that I earned my EXP and reward along with killing the wolf.

[You gain 10 EXP!]

[You gained the item sharp teeth!]

Picking up the teeth in question I couldn't help but murmur about holding an actual item drop from the wolf, "Hmm… Didn't think I would get an item. This should sell right? Nothing wrong with that selling to people who would want it."

Panting tired and finally realizing that I actually created something with Mana I couldn't help but feel disgusted seeing the wolf corpse with the smell lingering on its body.

Yup.

That's my cue to leave this place.

With that I decided to take my leave not wanting any more ambushes on me for the remaining part of the day.

Now what I need is a good long bath…