Chapter 322: The Mana Fountain

A current of power exploded through Alex’s mana pool, threatening to flood the entrance pathways. The muscle in his jaw clenched hard while he fought the mana tide flooding in. It had to be controlled, slowed, if it wasn’t, the deluge would tear his fibres to shreds and burst his mana pool like soap bubbles. That wouldn’t be a good thing…at all.

‘Think of Ito’s Spiral,’ he thought, calling on the Mark’s power. ‘Think of the Cleansing Movements: no rush of power. Just a soft, poised, even flow. Graceful. Like controlling your own hand.’

Slowly, he tapered it, reining it in like an excited stallion. He soothed his mana using careful, deliberate guidance, calming the flow to a gentle stream, finally regaining complete control.

“Keep the movement measured.” Alex whispered.

With care and precision, the streams of power flowed into the entrance pathways, and from there, into his fibres with an accuracy born from dozens of hours of practise with Ito’s Spiral. Where his streams of mana had once been large and clumsy, now they responded to his every thought with agility beyond his ability to control even his own hand.

He explored the fibres with his mana, testing them, adjusting his power. Initially, it felt like they were vibrating from the energy passing through them, shuddering like an old pane of glass on a windy day. He remembered what the book had said, and adjusted his flow of mana, stabilising the fibres, settling them into that hyper-stimulation it had described. Heartbeats passed, he was making sure that the fibres were in no danger and then—when he was satisfied—he reached across his mana pool and crafted the exit pathways.

Once the connections linked, his mana resisted, trying to pull away, desperate to race through his fibres to the new pathways. So he let it go. Guiding hundreds of thousands of streams as they raced through the fibres of his mana pool’s edges, until a rush of power came.

Then mana ran like water.

Every fibre of his pool suddenly churned out mana like lava spraying from Vesuvius’ shell. The sensation was so surprising, that his eyes actually flew open. Hsekiu’s technique was astonishing, completely eclipsing his other mana regeneration techniques.

His mana was recovering five times as fast…no, maybe ten? Maybe even more. He felt invigorated from the top of his head down to his toes.

What incredible possibilities Hsekiu’s could open for him. Alex smiled in satisfaction then closed his eyes again, planning on refining his new skill by using the Mark. He cut the current, erased the pathways, then rebuilt them again with the Mark’s guidance. Again and again, he repeated the process until it felt as familiar as an old glove.

“Yeessss, good,” he said, feeling the mana rising.

In no time, his pool was re-filled. Time for a check. He cut the technique to carefully examine his fibres and look for damage or tiny tears that could worsen.

Fortunately, every last one was intact, with not even a single tear. His fibres felt normal, healthy, a little stressed—which was supposed to be a normal reaction to Hsekiu’s technique—but otherwise fine. He’d have to remember that fibres could sustain damage or be overworked, leading to bigger problems if he didn’t rest and care for them properly; according to Currents, they’d build up resilience over time and allow him to use the technique more, but until then, care was in order.

He didn’t mind that, being able to refill his mana pool so quickly was a massive step toward his goals.

The beginning of the day had been a walking nightmare, but in the end, it turned out to be a really good finish to it. Alex smiled and opened the notebook titled Operation Grand Summoning Ascension and made a check-mark beside the phrase Advance Your Mana Regeneration.

He could work on the next two parts simultaneously.

First, he’d have to examine his fibres and monitor exactly how they were affected by the mana current. The more he knew, the more he’d be able to generalise the process for another step of his plan.

Then, he’d need to get to work on Rejuvenating Slumber right away. The new mana regeneration technique would let him practise for longer, and if he could use Rejuvenating Slumber to cut down on sleep, then his training time would compound.

Advantages and benefits of new power called to Alex, and he was eager to answer.

And just as eager to test out his new limits.

He took the blood magic spell-guide and notebook from his bag, and checked how much progress he’d made.

10% Completed.

That was after practising a few times back in Generasi, but now, it was time to step things up and immerse himself.

The magic circuit fired.

The mana flowed.

And…the Mark interfered.

But with newly expanded mana regeneration abilities, he could push through. Repetition had always been his ally, and now, he could repeat spells almost as many times as he chose to. Alex counted, and with almost forty tries behind him, his mana pool finally began to run low.

And so he fell back into Hsekiu’s technique, feeling a current of power flow into his fibres, hyper-stimulating them with a tidal wave of mana. Soon, his mana reserves were restored.

“This is awesome,” Alex said, excitedly. “Man, I wish I could’ve done this a year ago. How much further would I be, not just with mana regeneration, but with spells too?”

In time, the size of his mana pool would expand to where Hsekiu’s couldn’t increase it anymore. But, for now? It was like an endless Sigmus Day. He dove back into the spell, repeating it another forty times before his mana pool ran dry.

“Phew, I’m really getting hot!” Alex said, wiping his brow. Despite the growing chill of autumn in Thameland, sweat shone on his forehead and trickled down his back.

‘Maybe take a break and check on my fibres before I use the technique again’, he thought, and falling deep within, he turned his senses to the edges of his mana pool.

The fibres were stressed, twitching now and then from over-stimulation.

“Yeah, definitely time to give them a break,” he said, closing Rejuvenating Slumber’s spell-guide and recording his progress in the notebook.

30%.

Alex grinned in satisfaction. “Looks like the dawn of a new day, Claygon, but…before we move on, let’s mark your progress,” he said, taking three bookmarks from his bag and marking the open pages of his golem’s puzzle-books then putting everything away for the next session. He gave a long stretch.

“Alrighty, it’s time to dance,” he said. “I’ll obviously be guiding you through the steps, but I think it's time we practised dancing together. You ready?”

The golem stood there impassively.

Alex waited, wondering if there’d be another gentle touch through their mental connection, but nothing came. That was alright, though. He was patient.

“Well, I guess you’re as ready as you’ll ever be,” the young wizard said, loosening up. “So, let’s get into first stance together, shall we?”

He dropped into first stance, raising his arms to first position and channelling mental guidance to Claygon, counselling him into a mirror image of himself. Then, wizard and golem danced together, slowly sliding from stance, to position, to step, to stance. It was challenging guiding the hulking golem through such precise movements, especially since Alex also had to maintain the proper positions and rhythm. But—the Mark helped—making the task easier until soon, Alex had fewer directions to give Claygon, while the four-armed construct retained more of the dance with only a few general mental directions.

By the time the sun had settled low enough that evening melted into twilight, Alex and Claygon were well in-sync; the long list of corrections and instructions had shrunk to a few brief mental prompts.

Thoom.

They landed the final step.

“And there it is, the Spear-and-Oar dance, Claygon. Theresa and I learned it from our friends Fan-Dor and Gel-Dor last year, and now you know it too.” Alex laughed and bowed to his partner. “We’ll have to modify it a bit more since you have four arms instead of two, but those are the basics. Can’t wait to try it in combat with you. Next time I’ll teach you—”

He was interrupted by the sound of applause.

At first, he thought the expedition members—who’d been watching from the wall—were showing them some appreciation, but a glance toward the top showed their audience was long gone.

The applause was also only coming from one pair of hands. And from closer.

“What’re you looking up there for?” Theresa’s voice called.

He turned to see his girlfriend descending a hill, still clapping as she approached with a huge smile on her face.

“Ugh, I must be tired,” Alex said, meeting her and taking her gloved hands.

“Well, you’ve had a long day.” She stood on her toes and gave him a quick kiss then turned and smiled at Claygon. “Very nice moves, big guy. I guess Alex and Selina didn’t build you with two left feet, after all.”

“If I’d wanted to, Selina would’ve stopped me,” Alex chuckled, then grew more serious, squeezing her hands. “Where’re the others? How’re things on the moors?”

“They’re a bit behind me. I wanted to get back and check on you. And the moors were quiet,” Theresa said, glancing up at the dark strip staining the sky from the mushroom cloud. “Very quiet. I was sure the explosion would’ve brought monsters out in the open. We watched the horizon all day while Khalik and his team pulled big rocks from the ground. But…there was nothing, at least nothing we saw.”

She frowned at the setting sun. “If there’s going to be any movement, it'll probably be tonight.”

“Well, that’s a fun thought. …it’s just been a wagon load of fun thoughts today,” Alex paused. “Listen…if anything happens to me, I want you to take car of Seli—”

His words were silenced by a gloved finger pressed to his lips. “Don’t. Nothing’s going to happen to you. Nothing’s going to happen to me.”

“Look, if it’s a fight, I’d bet on us, even if the odds are against us…” His voice dropped to a whisper. “Like how we beat the Hive-Queen, right? But an ambush at the right time…or something random like that explosion could…well, we can’t do anything about that.”

She frowned. “True…but…I don’t know what to say to that. Except maybe just pray to the Traveller it doesn’t happen.”

“Yeah,” Alex said. “She seems to be protecting us so far…maybe she’ll keep watching out for us.”

“I’m sure she is,” Theresa smiled. “Now…it’s getting dark and cold. Let’s get behind the walls. We can get something to eat. Maybe talk for a while by the fire. Have a warm cup of pine needle tea. Chase some of those dark thoughts away. Even for a moment. Then tomorrow, it’ll be a new day.”

Alex thought about that.

With a deep breath, he drank in the moment.

He’d learned a mana regeneration technique suited for wizards with far larger mana pools and experience.He’d made 20% more progress with a blood magic spell in only a part day of practice. He’d started teaching Claygon the Spear and Oar dance. He’d talked to Shale and sowed the seeds of future plans.

And right now, he was holding the woman he loved.

All in all, it had been a good day.

He could let go of ghosts. Even for a little while.

“You’re right, Theresa.” He gave her a long kiss. “Let’s just enjoy the night as best we can. The dark things in the world will keep for one night.”

Holding hands, Alex and Theresa walked toward the encampment, followed by Claygon.

They didn’t give a second thought to the birds flying above.

Things were sliding further out of control.

Shrouded on the canopy of a tree—crouched among leaves of red and brown—the final Hunter watched the clouds drift, its eyes fixed on the dark sliver of smog that was dissipating.

It snarled at it.

Earlier that morning, an explosion had rocked the land.

A force had stuck the earth hard enough to shake the leaves from the trees. The cloud of black smoke had risen high into the air, and an intensity of mana had erupted. Such power. It had shaken the Hunter and frightened its hag allies.

Through their bird-spies, the hags and their helpers had watched the event far more closely. The flash of light had blinded some of their spies and sent them shrieking with overwhelmed mana senses. And now, the two sisters had gone to work, calling more shambling plant monsters to do their will.

And so the Hunter would go to work too.

It was…reluctant to beg the Ravener for more forces to crush these new enemies. It had no desire to give its master more cause for doubt. But, after the explosion, one thing was clearer, these mortals were more powerful and dangerous than was healthy. It would need more help.

Turning to a nearby worker-spider, the Hunter growled: “Return home to your dungeon. Instruct your core to make me a Hive-Queen.”