Norman still felt energized after exchanging for his new talents. With curiosity burning in his eyes and motivation surging through his veins, he decided to delve deeper into the art of refining mana. He pulled out the guide to mana refinement, determined to squeeze every ounce of potential from his new talent.
He began with physique refinement. The concept seemed straightforward enough: infuse mana into one's flesh, muscles, and bones, reinforcing the body until it became like tempered steel. The process involved channeling mana through every pore, letting it seep into the very essence of the body. Norman imagined his muscles hardening, his veins glowing faintly as they absorbed the mana. The guide explained that only a body tough enough to withstand this torrent of energy could eventually evolve and ascend to the next stage.
At first, Norman struggled. He focused, trying to sense the ambient mana and draw it into his body. Minutes passed as he attempted to circulate it. But with his S-ranked mana affinity and E-ranked Manaforged Flesh talent, he gradually found a rhythm. After about five minutes, he began absorbing small amounts of mana through his skin, allowing it to flow into his muscles and bones. It felt like a warm rush, almost like sinking into a hot spring, except it moved with purpose and power. His body tingled as the refinement slowly began.
Encouraged by his progress, Norman shifted his focus to energy manipulation. This refinement required guiding mana through his meridians and into his core—the wellspring of his internal power. He visualized the mana as a gentle current, coaxing it to swirl within his chest. As he concentrated, the energy flickered and resisted, unstable and wild. But with patience and the aid of his talent, he slowly tamed it.
The swirling mana within his core began to purify, transforming from raw mana into refined energy. The next challenge was learning to release it outward, moving it from his core through his limbs. He chose to direct it toward his right index finger, trying to push the refined energy outward. A faint wisp of mana began to gather at his fingertip, dancing in the air. His hand trembled, not from fatigue but from the sheer concentration required to maintain the delicate control.
Now came the most complex step—elemental shaping. Unlike in fantasy novels where individuals were born with elemental affinities, in this world, elements were about comprehension and intent. Mastery required understanding real-world physics and willing mana to obey that understanding. Norman focused on fire. He imagined heat, combustion, and flames.
"What is fire? It's a visible, energetic manifestation of combustion," he recalled from his old world's physics.
He envisioned his fingertip as a blacksmith's forge, a place of roaring heat and molten steel. The pure mana at his fingertip resisted, flickering uncertainly. He tried again, reinforcing the concept of heat, combustion, and ignition in his mind. Then, it happened.
A tiny flame burst into existence—no larger than a candle's glow. It danced at the tip of his finger, obedient and stable. It didn't burn him; it responded to his will.
A smile spread across his face. Encouraged, he spent the next hour experimenting with other basic elements. He succeeded in manifesting water, lightning, wind, and earth in similar tiny forms, each requiring immense focus and conceptual understanding. But even in his excitement, Norman sighed.
"I need talents for specific elemental manipulation," he muttered, "but I'm out of points."
Still, he wasn't done. The final category was mental manipulation—a realm where willpower met mana. This refinement didn't yield immediate power, but it trained the mind to shape reality. A strong will would lead to stronger control. As a Mana Apprentice, the best he could hope for was minor telekinesis or subtle manipulations.
Norman sat cross-legged on the floor, a strand of hair placed in front of him as his target. He closed his eyes and calmed his breathing, entering a state of meditation. He cleared his thoughts, focusing solely on his intent: move the strand. Minutes ticked by as he wrestled with his own mental focus. At last, the hair trembled, moving ever so slightly.
It was minuscule, but it was progress.
"Phew, that's exhausting," he sighed, letting his body fall back onto the bed.
His muscles ached from refining his physique. His meridians pulsed from channeling energy. His mind buzzed from intense focus. He tried to recall every piece of knowledge he had gained that night—about mana flow, elemental concepts, and mental willpower.
But the bed beneath him was just too comfortable. The softness wrapped around him like a warm blanket of peace.
"Maybe just five minutes of rest," he whispered, eyes growing heavy.
That was his biggest mistake. Faced with the final boss of comfort—a warm, inviting bed—Norman could only yield.
Within minutes, he drifted off to sleep, his breathing steady. And so, Norman slept through the night, unaware that his journey had only just begun.