Getting Stronger [5]

It felt like several pins were stabbing into my body.

My muscles tightened, and it felt like they were tearing apart.

It took a lot of effort to remain silent now, but if I stayed in the pond any longer, screaming would be the least of my worries.

So, I didn't hesitate any longer and made my way out of the pond.

Sensing my movements, Lionel became alert.

"What's wrong?" he asked as he watched me exit the pond.

I didn't respond immediately to his question. It wasn't until my body was no longer submerged in the pond that I spoke.

If I had opened my mouth to speak while I was still in the pond, I might not have been able to maintain my composure due to the pain.

"It's nothing. Staying in the pond just started to become painful."

I turned to Leo and said.

His expression immediately became serious, and it seemed like he was about to step out of the pond.

'Oh no you don't, sir! You're not getting out of there until you've absorbed enough mana like crazy!'

"I think it's because I've reached a limit or something.".

Lionel's movements came to a halt.

"A limit?"

"Yes. At first, staying in the pond felt refreshing, and I could feel my stats growing. But later, the feeling turned into slight pain."

"Even then, I was reluctant to leave since I could feel myself growing stronger, so my greed made me endure until I couldn't bear it anymore."

Hearing this, a contemplative expression appeared on Lionel's face.

With a mind as young as his and our unique environment, crazy imaginations must have been conjured in his mind by now.

Perhaps some of those thoughts might even be closer to the truth.

I knew the real reason why staying in the pond became painful.

There was only so much mana a body like mine could absorb in one sitting.

It was like how some people couldn't eat past a certain amount of food in one sitting while others could.

My case was the former.

Even with my low sensitivity to mana, if I wasn't pressed for time and could rest a little, I could submerge myself in the pond again and increase my stats a bit more. I could repeat this process a few more times until it stopped working.

However, I couldn't do this.

Time wasn't on my side, so I could only sigh silently in regret.

An opportunity like this could only come once.

After entering the tower, if I find another gathering of mana water, even if it's the lowest grade, unless my brain is full of shit, I'd be foolish to waste it by bathing in it.

Ah.

What a pity.

"I see," Lionel stated with uncertainty evident in his voice.

He seemed to have thought of something but was unsure if it was as he thought.

Seeing as he was checking himself out a bit, it was probably the case.

Even if it wasn't, I couldn't tell Lionel the true state of the matter.

After all, I was just like him, a first-timer in this unfamiliar world.

However, even if I couldn't tell him anything that'd make him suspicious of me, I could still put his mind at ease to continue staying in the pond.

"I feel okay now though. Are your stats still growing?"

I knew they were, but I had to act.

"Yes."

Lionel's voice held a bit of excitement.

I almost cursed in envy.

Even now, he doesn't seem to feel any pain yet.

This filled me with a bit of anticipation.

"Then you should probably stay as long as you can until it becomes too painful and you can't bear it. At least I can't feel anything wrong with me, so it should be okay," I said with a little bit of uncertainty to make the act more believable.

Lionel did not reply immediately and went into contemplation for a few seconds before nodding.

"I'll stand guard here, so continue."

Seeing Lionel close his eyes to enjoy the benefits the pond was giving him, I removed my focus from him.

I took my shirt and pants from the ground and dressed up.

My singlet and boxer were wet, but I couldn't exactly wait for them to dry in a wild place like this.

I had no choice but to continue wearing them wet and have them dry on me.

Strangely, I didn't feel too uncomfortable.

"Ah, yes. I should check how much my stats have grown."

Calling 'status' in my head, I watched as a blue panel materialized in front of me.

I felt my anticipation building up.

'How far have I grown?'

'Status'

*

[Status]

[Strength: F2]

[Agility: F]

[Endurance: F4]

[Mana: G8]

{Skills}

None in possession.

{Mana Art}

None in possession.

{Special Gift}

Bind[0/1]

*

"Damn!"

I couldn't help but curse aloud.

Immediately, I realised I might have overreacted.

No, I didn't overreact. If anything, cursing aloud was already me being restrained.

A part of me wanted to jump around excitedly.

I never expected the mana water to be this overpowered.

Given its grade is epic, I guess it could be expected, but damn!

My body trembled in excitement.

Certain thoughts started to cloud my mind.

Thoughts the previous me that just arrived in the tower would have considered dangerous.

I turned to look at Lionel, who was still blissfully submerged in the pond.

'How far will he grow?'

I couldn't help but wonder.

My heart started beating loudly.

It was without a doubt that Lionel now was already more powerful than the Lionel in the early first chapters of Tower Ascendance could ever be.

At first, I wanted us to cautiously and quietly pass the tutorial while building our strength, but now…

Why…

Why don't we…