Chapter 111: Victoria

Chapter 111: Victoria

Once again, I release the kinetic energy before it builds up, and clashes against the wind outside. My heart continues to beat, building more and more kinetic energy. For the first time, I feel my mana reserves depleting. Really slowly but surely.

The construct works differently than I thought. It doesn't only use 30% of my generated mana. Well, it does, but it also starts reaching for more as time passes. Currently around 35% of my mana?

Interesting. So, what did I screw up?

Forcing myself to calm down, I examine my construct and my heart, but I can't find anything that should be stopping me from turning off the construct out of my mana flow. Is the mana heart much more delicate than I thought? Is it difficult to work around it and does it mess up my construct?

Another wave of kinetic energy explodes outside of the hole inside the room, and I ignore the roaring wind that blows into the room and hits my body strong enough to push it. The wind is just a distant sound in the back of my mind as I examine the mess I've made.

A few minutes pass and once again the construct ramps up, taking a bit more mana than intended. Now I have to release the energy every few beats and my massive mana pool depletes a bit more.

Will it turn off when I'm out of mana? Probably, but it could also be dangerous so let's not allow that to happen.

Maybe I can cut off the construct's access to my mana... Oh, I can't. It's now closely hugging my heart, an intricate web of mana circuits that touches the surface of my heart and beats together with it.

Okay. Mistakes were made. Let's calmly think over the solution.

Using [Disruption] so close to my heart doesn't sound like a good idea.

I can use an upgrade token for my [Mana Manipulation], but I would like to keep it as the last choice.

"..."

Okay, I have a genius idea! I'll create another construct!

“...”

I'm not dumb, I swear! I'll create a construct to control my construct. Easy, isn't it?

Quickly, I dive in, and another web of intricate circuits starts to form around my heart.

More time passes, and now I have to release absorbed kinetic energy every two heartbeats, continuously shooting wave after wave of kinetic energy outside. The room I'm in is shaking.

Cautiously, and more carefully than before, I create small points, small dense points of circuits that I plaster to three places where my web of Kinetic mana heart connects to my mana pathways that feed it with mana. I blend them, taking some damage as I do so, as I'm not able to fully focus on everything.

After a long time, I once again feel like being on the first floor when I was unable to control my mana as it now once again thrashes my body, creating bruises, cuts, and pummeling my muscles all over. But I do not let it get in the way of what I have to do.

Both parts of my [Focus] work on creating and implementing my third construct and I start to have to release the kinetic energy after each heartbeat when I finally hear the notification.The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñøv€l-B1n.

Congratulations, you have created your third Construct. The name will be kept as such and it will be shown in the status under active skills and over passive skills. Well done!

Mana Regulator - A mana flow controller acting as an integral safeguard for the Kinetic Mana Heart and other constructs. It precisely manages mana transfer rates to prevent excessive energy build-up, maintaining a consistent and controlled energy output.

I also don't like how often I have to rely on other people after messing up.

I inspect my body once more. Okay, this will take a good day or two to calm down, and even then my body will be hurt, but I should be able to use my mana a little bit.

Feeling Cipher's eyes on me, I turn to him and for a moment I do not avert my eyes, just look straight into his. I hope you are not getting any funny ideas. Even in the state I'm in, I can mess you up, all three of you.

His response is a small calculating smile and he moves closer, giving me a small bottle filled with water.

“I was able to create it while you were sleeping.”

Taking it from his hands, I slowly drink it while still looking at him. I know the man. He is calculating. He is someone who will step over you, who will bully you, and who will enjoy doing it.

But only if he judges he is stronger than you or that he has something he can use against you.

Obviously, he is not showing it, he may even think I don't know it yet. But I'm sure, the man is a wolf that cares about himself only and attacks when he smells blood. But only if it will benefit him.

Smart, calculating, ruthless. Yet, somehow it feels more comfortable than the kindness others show me.

Flashback - Nathaniel Gwyn (10 years old)

A small boy with black hair and eyes of two differently colored eyes carefully opens the door and enters the room. He is in a small apartment that even though it's clean is showing clear signs of being worn off. The apartment you would find in poorer parts of any small city.

“Vic, Victoria” he whispers and enters the room, being met with the firm gaze of a 15-year-old girl that sits behind the table, giving all of her attention to the book in front of her and notes she is taking.

“Nat, how many times did I tell you to knock?” she sighs and turns to the boy, knowing that she won't be able to focus now that he is here.

“Do not call me Nat.” the boy complains, yet he still smiles. Even though acting annoyed, he seems to enjoy the small teasing of his sister. He jumps on the bed, “This is also my room so I don't have to knock.”

The girl nods and turns around in her chair. The black hair is so similar in color to her brother, yet her behavior is more composed. A weird look for someone so young.

“I won everything I competed in today,” he says, his face smiling, happy to share it with his sister.

“Well, that's not unexpected, you are talented when it comes to this, Nat.”

The boy shakes his head, “That's not true, Vic. John is faster, Thomas is stronger, Ben is bigger, and Liam is much more talented.”

Slightly intrigued, his sister shows a bit more interest, “So how come you always win, Nathaniel?” She is examining him, honestly curious about his answer.

“Do not call me Nathaniel,” he complains automatically, not even realizing his mix-up and not noticing a small smirk on the face of his sister, “They are just lazy. They never train as hard as me, they don't put so much work into it or practice after school. They...” he pauses looking for the right words.

“They don't put enough effort into it?” the girl called Vic, or Victoria offers the answer.

The boy nods, this time a bit more seriously, “They are scared to get hurt, they don't like to sweat while exercising, they always complain when their bodies are sore.” he pauses, “They're weaker even when they're stronger” he finishes.