Elara's information from the Broken Axe Guild echoed in Daniel's mind. Shadowwolves. Pure mana. Silver.
He couldn't simply return to the village and hope no more would appear. He needed an active defense. His Mana Projectile skill was useful, but Elara had spoken of "pure mana" and "skills that strike at its essence."
Daniel suspected this pointed to a new direction for his own magic, something that required purification or concentration beyond a simple projectile.
His special ability, Skill Creation (F), had been a mystery until now. His instinct told him it was time to unravel it. If he could create skills, why not one that purified mana?
With his Intelligence at 17, he felt more capable than ever of understanding the principles behind magic.
He headed to a less crowded section of the Guild, a practice area with mannequins and training runes. He sat down, closed his eyes, and concentrated. He tried to manipulate his own mana, feeling it flow through his body, searching for a way to "cleanse" it, to focus it differently.
He visualized the mana as a stream, trying to filter out the impurities, leaving it crystal clear. His head ached with the effort, but his determination didn't waver.
As Daniel was immersed in his concentration, a deep, raspy voice broke him out of his trance.
"Trying to purify your mana core, kid? It's not something you learn in an afternoon."
Daniel opened his eyes. Standing before him was a woman in her thirties, tall and muscular, with brown hair tied back in a thick braid. She wore hardened leather armor, worn from use, and a greatsword rested on her shoulder as if it weighed nothing. Her eyes, an intense amber color, observed him with a mixture of curiosity and experience. There was a scar across her right eyebrow, giving her the air of a veteran warrior. Her aura was powerful and filled with an intimidating calm.
"I'm trying to create a skill that allows me to do that," Daniel replied, feeling a little self-conscious in her presence. "I've seen... something that needs to be fought with pure mana."
The woman let out a small, harsh laugh.
"Create a skill," huh? You're ambitious. My name is Tania. I've seen many mages attempt the same thing. Most fail. But the fact that you're trying says something."
Se sentó frente a él, dejando caer su espada con un leve sonido metálico.
—Mana isn't just energy; it's intention. If you want to "purify" it, you must first understand what contaminates it, and then how your own will can restructure it. It's not brute force, but subtlety. Did you see something infernal, perhaps? The shadows, right?
Daniel nodded, surprised by her insight.
"A demonic wolf."
Tania frowned.
"Those things are a growing problem. You need more than pure mana to deal with them effectively. You need a will of steel and a clear connection to your own energy. Look."
He reached out a hand. Daniel felt a slight fluctuation in the air. Tania's mana didn't glow, but it felt… dense, stable, unwavering. It was different from his own, which was more volatile and reactive.
"This is concentrated mana," Tania explained. "It's not 'pure' in the sense of being free of impurities, but rather focused with a single intention. Demons are chaotic energy. What you need is order to counter them."
The conversation with Tania opened Daniel's mind. It wasn't just a "spell"; it was a profound understanding of his own power. Tania's words acted like a key in his mind. He closed his eyes again, and this time, instead of trying to "cleanse," he focused on the intention: order, stability, a pulse of mana so concentrated it could dispel the chaos.
A new notification flashed before his eyes, dim at first, then clearer.
You have developed a new ability through study and intention!
New Ability: Concentrated Mana Pulse (E)
Releases a pulse of pure mana that can destabilize or stun creatures with a dark affinity.
Mana Cost: 10
Cooldown: 5 seconds
Daniel opened his eyes in amazement. He had done it. He looked at Tania, a mixture of gratitude and admiration on his face.
"I did it!" he exclaimed. "Focused Mana Pulse!"
Tania smiled, a genuine smile that softened her hardened features.
"Not bad, kid. You're faster than I thought. But remember: a skill is just a tool. The warrior is the one who uses it. Shadowwolves are fast, and they hit hard. You'll need more than a pulse to stop them permanently."
His gaze turned serious.
"If you're going to hunt those things, you'll need real training. Tomorrow, at dawn, I'll expect you in the training yard.
Prove to me you're not just some lucky kid."
Daniel nodded fervently. He had found what he was looking for, and more. An unexpected mentor, and a chance to grow even stronger. The capital, despite its cruelty, was offering him the tools he needed to confront the darkness growing in his home.
Baron Lysander was an anecdote. The demonic wolf was his destiny.
The sun had not yet fully risen when Daniel arrived at the Broken Axe Guild's training yard the next day. Tania was already there, her silhouette imposing against the dim light of dawn, practicing moves with her greatsword.
The sound of her weapon slicing through the air was a harbinger of the discipline that awaited him.
"You're right on time," Tania said without looking at him, her voice a deep murmur. "Punctuality is the first lesson for anyone who wants to survive in this world. Now, prepare yourself."
The training with Tania was brutal. There was no mercy in her methods, only pragmatic efficiency. The first few days focused on hand-to-hand combat.
Daniel, despite his enhanced Strength and Speed, found himself constantly outmatched by Tania's skill and experience. She didn't use her sharp sword, but her flat-blade strikes and sweeps brought him down time and again.
"Don't just focus on hitting!" Tania growled when Daniel lunged predictably. "Observe! Anticipate! Your enemy will tell you what they're going to do if you know how to look! And your Speed is useless if you crash into a tree. Move with purpose!"
Then, they turned to their magical skills. Daniel practiced his Concentrated Mana Pulse, feeling the flow of purified energy flow from him. Tania taught him how to sense the mana in his surroundings, how to detect the subtle distortions that betrayed the presence of shadowy creatures. She had him run around the courtyard, dodging objects while trying to fire mana projectiles accurately, and then unleash the concentrated pulse.
"Your mana is potent, kid," Tania admitted one day, as Daniel collapsed exhausted to the ground. "But it's like a raging river. You need channels to direct it. Focus on Intelligence to refine your control, and on Luck to make unexpected flows favor you."
Daniel absorbed each lesson like a sponge. His Heightened Perception grew finer under Tania's tutelage, and his Basic Inventory allowed him to always have small energy rations and bandages on hand. Each training session was a beating, but with each blow, each lesson, he felt himself growing stronger, more capable. Experience notifications flew through his mind at the end of each day. Not just from the simulated combat, but from the constant learning.
He realized that his Skill Creation (S) was not just a magical ability, but the manifestation of his Adaptive Body (S). Every time his mind and body were pushed to the limit to find a solution, a new skill or attribute boost was forged in response. It was the price of adaptation, the way forward.
"You've learned the basics," Tania said a week later, a faint glimmer of approval in her eyes. "The rest you'll only learn on the battlefield. Take care, kid. And if you ever need a helping hand… you know where to find me."
Daniel bid her farewell with a deep bow. He had grown from a simple villager to an aspiring adventurer, with a new skill and a deeper understanding of himself. His remaining attribute points were clamoring to be allocated.
+5 Strength
+3 Speed
+2 Intelligence
[Attribute System
Name: Daniel
Age: 18
Class: None
Level: 6 [280/300] (Almost Level 7)
Health: 50/50
Mana: 50/50
Strength: 17
Speed: 18
Intelligence: 19
Luck: 11
SpecialAbility: Adaptive Body (S) - Skill Creation (F) [???]
Abilities: Basic Healing (F) - Mana Projectile (E) - Basic Analysis (F) - Heightened Perception (E) - Basic Inventory (F) - Concentrated Mana Pulse (E)
Available Points: 0]
The Return to the Darkened Woods
The journey back to the village felt different. It wasn't just a physical journey; it was a journey of self-discovery. Daniel was no longer the same man who had fled from a goblin chieftain. His confidence had grown, his mana felt more malleable, and his mind sharper. The bag of silver and gold coins from the capital's peasants was a good omen, but the true wealth was the knowledge and strength he had acquired.
However, as he approached his home, the air grew heavier, the forest quieter. The sun seemed less bright. His Heightened Perception began to detect a subtle distortion in the ambient mana, an echo of the darkness he had felt with the demonic wolf.
As he reached the outskirts of the village, Daniel's heart sank. The fence protecting the first houses was damaged in several places, and the smell of burnt smoke hung in the air. There were no villagers in sight. The silence was unnatural.
Suddenly, a guttural howl rent the air. This time, it wasn't one. There were several. And they were close.
From between the broken trees, three Lesser Shadowwolves emerged, their red eyes glowing with malice, their bodies exuding a corrupted aura. One of them launched itself directly toward Daniel's house, where he knew Alicia and Elena were.
"No!" Daniel shouted, fury igniting in his chest.
He ran, activating his Concentrated Mana Pulse. A burst of silvery-blue energy shot from his palm, striking the wolf that was heading for his home. The creature howled, its form unstable for a moment, as it turned to face Daniel.
The other two wolves surrounded it. The fight of his life had just begun. Not only to survive, but to prove that the price he had paid for his power was worth it. Demonic howls echoed through the forest, the village, and Daniel's hope of protecting his family.