After the festival, I slipped back into routine. Wake up. Train. Collapse. Repeat.
I was in the underground training room again, drenched in sweat, my limbs aching in that familiar, satisfying way.
I could feel it—little by little, I was getting stronger. Movements that used to leave me winded now came easier. My footing was tighter. My reactions sharper.
Then, mid-combo, it hit.
A soft chime echoed in the back of my mind—one of those odd mental notifications I'd come to associate with the Workshop.
[Body of the Everflame – Manifestation Complete.]
I froze, chest heaving.
I'd almost forgotten I'd queued that up. Days ago, maybe a week—I'd lost track with all the nonstop training.
I pulled back and exhaled, wiping sweat from my brow with the back of my hand.
"Alright," I muttered, stepping away from the dummy.
I closed my eyes, reaching inward—into that strange space and touched it.
The book opened on its own.
Information slid into place, quiet and efficient. Breathing techniques. Mana circulation paths. Physical conditioning routines.
Everything was centered around the idea of heat—controlled stress on the body and internal mana flow, gradually burning away impurities and reinforcing what was left. It reminded me of blacksmithing—heat, hammer, repeat.
When it ended, the book simply faded away back into the inventory, I can still summon it whenever I want.
I felt… warmer. Mana was circulating more cleanly now, like my body had cleared out a few clogged pipes. Breathing felt smoother.
The manual didn't waste time with philosophy or flashy moves. The first step was simple: adjust your breathing.
Not in some deep, mystical way—just controlled. Steady. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Match it to your heart rate. Hold. Release. Again. It felt more like physical therapy than some grand cultivation method, and honestly, that made it easier to take seriously.
Once I got the rhythm down, the real work started.
I shifted into a basic stance—feet grounded, posture solid—and began channeling mana according to the pattern laid out in the manual.
Nothing big. Just small movements at first, like tracing lines through my own body. Down the arms, across the chest, through the legs. Follow the flow. Keep the breathing steady.
It was surprisingly tiring.
Not painful. Not overwhelming. Just… work. Like jogging with a weighted vest or holding a plank a few seconds too long. My limbs got heavier the longer I kept it up. Mana didn't move easily yet—it dragged a little, like thick syrup fighting to get through narrow pipes.
The manual warned about that. Clear out the blockages. Strengthen the flow.
So I kept at it. Repeating the cycle over and over.
Breathe. Move. Adjust.
By the end of the day, palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy. Not from combat—just from holding form and guiding energy through pathways that clearly weren't used to it yet. My muscles were tight. Shoulders sore. Legs shaky.
I sat down against the wall. My breathing was uneven now, but I could still feel the mana moving—barely, but there. Cleaner than before. A little more responsive.
After that, I decided to call it for the day and headed back to my room. A shower, a half-hearted dinner, and a quiet moment under the ceiling fan later, I was lying in bed, staring at nothing.
My thoughts drifted back to the Workshop. One of the manifestation slots had opened up.
Hmm…
I already had a weapon in the queue. The armor was nearly finished—just a couple days left on the timer. That left me with one open slot… and zero idea what to do with it.
Utility, maybe?
The thought clicked in my head like a light switch flipping on. Something useful outside of combat. Supportive, flexible. Something that made my life easier without blowing up a wall in the process.
Still, that didn't narrow things down. Not even close.
There were so many possibilities.
Avalon? [Manifestation time 300 days]
Too long. Not yet
My brain clicked, and a lightbulb flashed. Healing!
I needed something in case I got injured—something to fix me up fast.
Senzu beans. Like the ones from Dragon Ball. They healed everything in a bite.
Could I make them? Master Korin grows them, right?
I probably could.
I slipped into the Workshop.
Afterwards, knowledge and tools appeared in front of me—everything I needed to create the Senzu beans.
Bingo.
A few basic materials floated in the air, and the mental blueprint of how to grow them was already forming in my mind. All it took was a bit of focus, a few adjustments, and I was good to go.
I could see it all come together in my mind, the tiny and vibrant beans.
[Manifestation Time: 4 days/each]
Not bad, considering its capabilities.
Alright.
The next day.
The first thing I did was glance at the queue.
It had become part of my routine by now—checking the progress first thing when I woke up.
The armor was still on schedule, four days left. Once it was ready, I'd finally feel a little more secure. More relaxed and confident.
I could already picture it in my head. With it, I wouldn't be as vulnerable. Even if I wasn't going around looking for trouble, it would make me a lot less likely to get crushed by it if it came my way.
I leaned back in my bed and sighed, stretching.
Life is good.