He zoomed his vision in and out, searching for particles that matched what he knew about water. But it was challenging. The water particles seemed almost nonexistent, far too sparse to provide any meaningful results.
Frowning, he pulled a gourd from his inventory. Using his mana, he extracted the water inside, suspending it in the air as a small sphere. He could force water out of containers like this, but what he really wanted was to analyze it.
’How do players summon water from thin air?’ Sora thought, staring at the orb in frustration. Summoning elements was a common skill, but he wanted to know what made it possible—and why he couldn’t replicate it.
Maybe the amount of water still wasn’t enough. He grimaced and pulled out ten more gourds, emptying each into the sphere until a larger ball hovered before him.
Focusing his [Mana Eyes], Sora zoomed in, adjusting his view to examine the particles at their smallest level. He studied their structure, the way they interacted with one another. He wasn’t sure if this was the "right" way to create water, but it was a starting point.
Alright, he thought, let’s try to move it.
He extended his hand, trying to control the water. He could feel the mana around it, pressing in, encouraging it to shift. But every time he tried to shape it, the particles slipped through his mental grasp. It was like trying to catch smoke in his hands. The mana responded, but the water itself refused to comply.
Frustrated, he concentrated harder, trying again and again to manipulate the particles. Sometimes they would tremble, sometimes they would ripple, but they never fully moved according to his will. He could control the water’s movement by pushing it around with mana, but it didn’t feel natural, and he knew it wasn’t what the summoners did.
Sora spent hours repeating the process, adjusting his mana flow, shifting his concentration, and experimenting with every possible technique he could think of. His focus grew sharper, each failure fueling his determination.
With every attempt, he began to notice more about the particles—their interactions, the way they clung together, and how they responded to different types of mana flow. Yet, despite all his attempts, he still couldn’t grasp the key to true manipulation. He’d managed to suspend the water and force it to move, but he couldn’t control it at the core.
This... isn’t the right way, he realized. But he wasn’t about to give up. He knew there was something, a method that he hadn’t discovered yet.
Watching the water flow inside a torus receptacle made of mana, he had another idea.
He split his attention, using part of his mana to guide the water inside the torus, while another part of his mana began to mimic the water flow.
"Alright, let’s try this," he muttered, eyes narrowing as he sent his mana into a soft, flowing rhythm. He made it smooth, adaptable, like water effortlessly filling every crevice of an imaginary torus. He recreated the exact same flow.
Almost immediately after achieving such effect, he felt a reaction. It was subtle, but undeniable—a resonance that made his mana feel... different, as if it recognized something deeply familiar.
"Interesting," he murmured, sensing the mana shift. It wasn’t just mimicking water; it was transforming, becoming fluid, more responsive. He felt his [Mana Customization] kick in, guiding the change further. His mana wasn’t merely an imitation anymore; it was taking on the essence of water.
Next, he buried his feet underground, letting his mana transform into [Earth].
The energy grew heavy, forming earth-like substance that had higher density as he increased his control. He could integrate that ’Earth’ into his body, making him heavier, forming an almost stone-like texture along his other arm, or condense it to form stones and more.
He spent the next hour adjusting, feeling the weight and density settle. When he felt ready, he clenched his rock-hardened fist and slammed it against his leg. The sound of something breaking resonated.
Spikes formed around him, levitating briefly before they were ’attracted’ to his body. The impact was violent, causing him even more pain, but his body healed quickly, the sensation leaving him with a satisfied breath.
He moved on to [Wind], forming blades of invisible pressure that lashed across his body. Each gust was like a razor-sharp edge, cutting into his skin. It took time to control the flow, to make it fast and deadly. His focus tightened as he absorbed the air’s essence, its slicing precision. Thousands of tiny cuts formed, only to disappear as [Adaptive Regeneration] took hold, repairing him continuously.
Then came [Lightning]. Sparks crackled to life, racing along his arms in erratic bolts. It was fast, unpredictable, and he struggled to contain its energy, to control its direction. Another hour passed, and he allowed a bolt to strike his leg, muscles spasming from the shock. The pain was intense, as his body regenerated the damage just as quickly.
He attempted [Light] and [Shadow] next, feeling mana strain as it tried to adapt, but couldn’t quite hold either form. The elements were elusive, almost out of reach, his mana lacking the subtlety to capture them fully.
’Not yet’, he thought. Perhaps he’d gain the ability at a higher level. Space and time manipulation were even worse—there was no response at all, as if his mana itself did not understand what he was trying to attempt. He laughed quietly, knowing it was an impossible reach... for now.
Settling back on the ground, he combined all five mastered elements at once, allowing them to target him simultaneously. Water drilled relentlessly into his skin, fire blazed over his arms, and lightning bolts crackled around his shoulders. Above, jagged earth spikes rained down, while wind blades carved at him with vicious precision.
Kara watched in stunned silence, disbelief filling her eyes.
Through [Soul Link], she felt his agony. His life force fluctuated wildly, each element bringing him close to the edge of death, only for [Adaptive Regeneration] to pull him back, even stronger. Every pulse of his growth echoed in her, heightening her own strength. Who would push themselves like this? She couldn’t fathom it.
A notification flashed before her:
[High Mana Consumption Rate Detected]
[Warning: At current mana usage, Time Space capacity will be depleted within 24 hours.]
Kara’s anxiety spiked as she glanced back at Sora, his body nearly obscured by the chaos of the elements. He was drenched in sweat, bleeding out, his muscles trembling, his focus unwavering as he absorbed the relentless assault.
"What the hell??" she muttered, both in awe and disbelief. But she could feel his determination through their bond. There was no stopping him—he would push himself, whatever the cost, and she would feel the power building within her as well.