Chapter 47 - Improvement

Returning to his training spot with Lili, Ethan was focused on training even more than before.

'I need to improve my magic and my body more...otherwise I'll have problems tomorrow...'

With his determination to his peak, the two had finally arrived at their destination. Seeing Lefiya chant while Ais approached her, Ethan removed his cloak.

"I am here.."

Stopping what they were doing earlier, Lefiya said

"It took you time...did something happen?"

With a nod from him, Ais and Lefiya wanted to ask if everything was okay but, before they could, Lili removed her cloak. With the sudden appearance of a young girl next to him, Ais had a confused expression but, Ethan immediately cleared the misunderstandings

"I helped her before entering the Loki Familia...her name is Lili, she's a member of the Hestia familia..."

Explaining the situation to them, he added

"I know I shouldn't ask but.. Can you also train Lili in combat, Ais?"

Looking at the 'young girl', Ais thought about it for a moment.

"I can..but first.. I need to take care of Lefiya's training..."

Understanding, he made a nod before turning his attention on Lili again

"I will train alone because I must increase my strength for tomorrow, Ok?"

Without arguing, she looked at the Sword Princess.

'I don't really like the first impression you gave me..but if it's Ethan-sama asking me...."

Seeing Ethan moving away, she sighed internally before starting to follow Lefiya and Ais' training.

'Ok, Let's bring you here again [Target]..'

Buying a new one, Ethan wanted to try something different.

'If I unite the tip of the thumb and forefinger in a circle-shaped form, I can use a smaller version of my [Avian]...probably. The only difficulty will be to maintain the shape and then release the blow'

Wanting to immediately test his new theory, He took out a new [Target].

'I'll try at close range its effect...'

Boosting his whole body, he attached his thumb and forefinger in a circular shape. Feeling the same pressure that was on his arm, he quickly released the blow. After this, Ethan controlled and directed the blow in a single point with [Avian].

He expected the same cuts appearing on the whole Target but, the situation was slightly different. Before he could understand what was happening, the target had a hole on his c.h.e.s.t.

Shocked by the blow, he was even more conflicted then before. Seeing his [Status Board], [Avian] passed from I to G.

["Isn't it too fast?"]

Hearing his question, Light replied

[The proficiency of the skill will increase with your understanding of it. Being a magic that is a branch of your [Boost Magic], it will be easier for you to increase its rank. This may explain to you why your main magic isn't growing so fast. If you increase the proficiency with [Boost Magic], your [Avian] will increase easier]

Understanding, Ethan thought about her words.

'The branches of [Boost Magic] will increase easier if my main magic is stronger...connecting this point with [Mana Control] that means my [Boost Magic] will increase easier if my [Mana Control] is high enough...'

Although the Target had a hole on his c.h.e.s.t, Ethan believed it was still usable.

'Sorry..bear with it..'

Although it wasn't exactly a thing he should worry about, his SP income was 0 at the moment while he was always using them to buy everything.

'I can't really continue like this...'

Taking a mental note about this problem, Ethan resumed his training.

'I'll move 5 meters away from it..let's see the difference..'

Doing the same as before, Ethan used [Avian] another time. Feeling the pressure reducing while the hit increasing in maximum distance and power, he understood increasing the rank will be even more necessary in the future.

'I need to increase the proficiency of the [Mana Control] skill after this.. I'll continue to read my [Mana Control Manual].. Although my training with the bubbles isn't finished yet, I believe I can move to the next step'

With this, he saw [Avian] have the same effect as always.

'So if I'm really close to someone, [Avian] will be focused on the pressure of the air while when I'm distant to the target it will be focused on the wind produced by the pressure...interesting..'

After his new theories about his magic were confirmed, Ethan resumed his earlier training with his whole arm.

'I believe my max range expanded to 12 or 13 meters now.. Let's try with 13'

Positioning 13 meters from the target, Ethan balanced his boost on his whole body before directing most of it in his arm.

'I can already tell the difference...with the pressure on just two fingers it wasn't as evident as my whole arm'

Using the attack, he managed to make cuts on the Target. Even though the cuts weren't expanding as they would do at a distance of 5 to 10 meters, it was still enough to make Ethan understand his range expanded.

Clenching his fist, he decided to continue the train a bit. His objective was to make his body used to the sudden pressure.

'If my movement seems normal, my enemy won't be able to tell when I'll start my magic... Against an Elf this advantage wouldn't be as effective but at least I can surprise them the first time I attack...'

Finding he had a lot of advantages, he thought that facing groups wasn't anymore a disadvantage to him.

'Using this technique will help me against adventurers of lower levels. I'm not that stupid to think nobody will have some type of resistance against magic. The problem is I don't really know how magic resistance works against my magic...'

Although he could ask Riveria or Lefiya to help him test this, he thought it wasn't necessary at the moment. Determined to get used to the pressure, Ethan continued his training without losing focus for even a moment.

'For now, I'll try to read something from the [Mana Control Manual]'

Taking out the book from his inventory, he sat on the floor. Scrolling the pages after the mana bubbles control, he saw his next step.

'Increasing the volume of a single bubble...without making it explode?... Oh, I see'

Reading further, he saw another thing that interested him.

'Expand my internal mana..like the bubble..and then condense it to obtain a barrier? This can help me against the magic of others...'

Deciding to stop at this point, Ethan wanted to try make the bubble expand. He understood that create 9 bubbles simultaneously could give him more control but, he believed that just expanding a single one wasn't that difficult.

'It should be at least 2 meters in diameter'

Doing as the book said, Ethan started to make the bubble expand. Managing to do so, he felt happy but, after the bubble was at 0.5 meters in diameter, it dissipated.

'Oh..so I need to expand the bubble with my mana, while the external mana will be used to hold the bubble together... I see...'

'I need to use the two at the same time, otherwise the coating of mana won't hold the contents..'

After 30 minutes, He managed to expand it. Even though the dimension hadn't increased much, it was good for him.

'I won't be able to use this type of barrier tomorrow, but It's not a problem, the important thing is that I'll master this new type of magic..'

With a smile, Ethan continued to train, failing every time to make it expand.

'I can make it remain here for hours if necessary but the fact I can't merge the two together perfectly is annoying.. Let's see if the book has some tips...'

Reading the book again, Ethan saw a part highlighted in yellow

['Imagine doing both at the same time, without trying to make them look two different things']

Feeling confused, He thought about the words of the book.

'I need to think..two actions as one? It sounds strange but it's the book that says it..'

Trying to think the two different things as one, Ethan failed to make it expand but, he felt the difference. Although getting used to changing the way you think is difficult, He understood how stupid he was.

'It's obvious! If my split focus isn't enough to do something, then I need to train considering the two as one. With this I won't need to split my focus..'

Although his explanation wasn't wrong, he hadn't clearly understood that getting used to this way of thinking meant doing things automatically. Managing to increase the size of the bubble again, Ethan felt really happy.

After 1 hour, he was at his 2 meters goal. Although Lefiya was craving for answers, he ignored her with a smile.

Distracted again by Ethan, she was hit by Ais' sword.

"You should..focus!"

Rubbing the spot she was hit with the sword, Lefiya had tears on her eyes.

"I-It isn't my fault...his magic is always strange..."

Blaming Ethan for her inattention, Lefiya resumed her earlier battle-ready position.

Lili, still watching the training, wanted to start her own..

She wanted to be with Ethan, but she accepted to train with the Sword Princess...for now.

'I'll do this for me and Ethan-sama's future...!'

With these thoughts in mind, she asked

"C-Can I join your training?"

Looking at her, Ais said

"Yes...try to hit me.."

After this, their training started while Ethan was busy on his own...

'Ok, now that I have the 2 meters bubble, I'll make it disperse like before'

Removing the outer mana layer, Ethan dispersed the mana in the surrounding. He wanted to try how fast he could make the bubble expand.

'If the time I need to do this isn't enough, I won't probably be able to make the barrier in time when I need it..'

Understanding he needed the barrier to form in a few seconds, Ethan continued his training on the bubble.

---

After some hours, Ethan managed to make the bubble 3 meters wide.

'I need 10 minutes now to make a bubble fully expand but it isn't nearly enough for me...'

He was aware that the barrier could probably take two minutes in his current state but he was determined to reduce that value even further.

Being so focused on this, he didn't even notice that it was already sunset.

"Ethan...we should return..."

Hearing Ais' voice, he made the bubble he was expanding dissipate.

'I didn't even notice...'

Seeing everyone staring at him, he replied

"Yes..Sorry I got carried away"

Although she still felt staying near him was difficult, Lefiya said

"You..really like magic, don't you?"

With a nod, he smiled before saying

"I know you are curious about my magic, but I would like to wait for Riveria for a detailed explanation. This was a perk of my [Mana Control] magic I wanted to test for a future magic"

Understanding, she was satisfied with the current explanation but, she still wanted to know the detailed version of it..

"Ethan-sama! We should hurry...Hestia will be angry at me if I won't return in time"

Looking at Ais, he asked

"How did it go? Did she train?"

Without replying, it was Lili that answered his questions

"I tried to hit her but...I'm really bad, even for a level 1.."

He was surprised by the fact that Lili wasn't arguing about Ais being his girlfriend, but, without minding it, he said

"I was like that too, you have to start a real training regime. After that, you will be able to do great things..."

Hearing his words, Lili felt slightly better.

"I...I will do my best!"

Nodding, Ethan pat her head. This brought Ais to look at his hand for a moment but, without minding it, he said

"I will accompany her while you two can go without me. I'll return in two hours probably.."

Although Ais was disappointed, she did as he said, going towards the Twilight Manor while Lefiya followed her..

Smiling, he looked at Lili

"Let's go to your home"

With a nod from Lili, the two went to the Abandoned Church.

'Should I pay a visit to Hestia...?'

Although he knew it wasn't a good idea, Ethan still wanted to see her.

'I'll have a date alone with her after this situation with the Dungeon will be resolved...'

---

(I have a discord server. discord.gg/cpVr5X8 If you enter it, you can choose one of Ethan's future powers from the pool I created, but that's not all! On the server, you can see the reference on some things that will be present in the story! Right now you can freely see some things like the [Twin's Digimon] and [The Devoted Heart].)

([''] this will be used when a book or something different from the System and Ethan speak or for information, the use will be intuitive each time.)

(Alternate Titles: "Ethan...casually finding a yellow note 'Oh, maybe it's important'", "When [Avian] it is troubled about which force to control...", "Lili, fighto!", "That poor [Target]-chan got a hole in the c.h.e.s.t")