Chapter 259: Chapter 259 - The Shape of Mana
Dullorak truly did seem to change personality with every head he wore. The elderly head he now used while teaching Atlas about magic, he introduced as Archmage Eldros, a figure said to hold affinity with the Arcane element.
"Wait... Arcane element?" This was the first time Atlas had ever even heard of such a thing.
At the most basic level, elements were divided into two categories: Basic Elements and Special Elements. From there, they could evolve into advanced forms, or even merge to create entirely new ones.
But there was another category altogether. An Ancient Element, standing apart from the basic family tree and operating beyond the usual framework of nature.
"The Arcane element," Dullorak explained, his wrinkled face smiling with unnatural wisdom, "is the pure, unshaped essence of magic. Unlike Fire or Water, which take physical form, Arcane is raw mana itself, given shape. Think of it as the source code of reality when applied in combat."
He then turned his head to the side, opened his mouth, and a swirling vortex of energy began to form within. A moment later, he fired a missile of flame. Then another, this time of water. Then again, one of earth.
Atlas narrowed his eyes. "What was that?"
Bowing slightly, Dullorak smiled once more. "The Arcane element is flexible. It can mimic, enhance, or even amplify other elements. And because it is pure mana, it can bypass certain resistances, since it is not tied to any natural affinity."
"That sounds absurdly powerful. Can I access this element too? Is it possible for a normal human like me?" Atlas asked.
Dullorak’s wise smile deepened. "If your goal is to ascend into a High Human, my lord... then yes. Arcane is possible. And with it, even other ancient elements could fall within your reach, Void, Time, Dimension. All of them... lie within your grasp."
They soon continued their training, diving deeper into the use of mana and how to optimize this resource. Atlas sat cross-legged on a boulder near the flowing streams of the volcanic island, while Dullorak floated nearby, also seated cross-legged but levitating with casual grace. Lyrassa stood a short distance away, quietly observing.
Atlas closed his eyes, mirroring the old man’s posture, as Dullorak’s calm, commanding voice began.
"Feel the mana particles in the air, my lord. Feel how they resonate with your body... with your core..."
The essence of mana efficiency, Atlas realized, was not unlike the use of one’s physical body. Just as a person could deliver force through a heavy punch, or apply gentleness when handling cotton or touching skin, mana required the same kind of instinct and precision.
The System allowed awakeners to cast abilities automatically, simply by issuing a mental command. Yet this was imperfect. The depth of one’s knowledge and understanding of mana directly shaped how effectively that mana was used, and how much damage those abilities could deal.
And though spells could, in theory, be spammed endlessly, limitations always remained.
Every spell carried a cooldown, a rhythm that had to be recognized, trained, and mastered. Those who studied their spells closely, understanding not just the mechanics but also the flow of mana and the proper tempo of casting—would learn to conserve both mana and stamina, pushing their performance far beyond ordinary limits.
For this training, Dullorak asked Atlas to cast one of his skills. Atlas chose Bloodrush, a technique that channeled vampiric energy into his muscles, granting a sudden surge of speed and allowing him to cut through enemies with sharp, agile movements.
Though he didn’t need to run around right now, it was useful for the exercise. Bloodrush also helped trigger a stronger affinity with the blood element.
[Epic – Bloodrush (Active) Lv. 9 activated!]
The goal of the training was simple: to observe how mana moved, how it reacted, how it reshaped both body and surroundings in order to create an ability.
[Epic – Bloodrush (Active) Lv. 9 activated!]
"My lord..." Dullorak continued with his calm, steady tone. "The truth is, one can acquire an entirely new spell without ever touching a skill scroll. If they understand precisely how that skill functions, if they master the way mana performs its task, and if they repeat the process again and again with absolute precision... then yes, they can acquire a new skill."
He lifted a finger, pausing to make his next point clear. "Not that I would advise you to attempt this now. At your current stage, the effort would not match the results. The difficulty is too high, and the time investment would not be worth it."
Still, the man’s expression grew serious. "But... if you can learn to properly control your mana, to imitate the very process of how it shapes and forms the skills you already possess... then you will gain a deeper understanding. A foundation that will strengthen everything you do."
The training continued, with Atlas deeply engaged, actually enjoying Dullorak’s detailed explanations. Thankfully, this man did have a serious side, he wasn’t entirely chaotic after all.
Well... except for the part where his head occasionally shifted into bizarre shapes mid-lesson. Each time that happened, Kurogasa, watching from a distance, would casually fling the blade of his Whispering Kusarigama, hooking the new head and yanking it away before it could disrupt Atlas’s concentration and meditation.
And so the training went on. Atlas kept spamming his skills over and over until his mana ran dry. Then he would sit in meditation, restore what he could, and begin again without pause.
He focused entirely on himself, on the world around him, on the flow within. How the mana particles shifted in the air, how they gathered inside his core, and how they eventually reacted, reshaping his muscles, sharpening his senses, even brushing against his brain.
At first, he had no clue. On the first day of training, he was utterly blind to it all. No progress, no insight, just repetition.
The second day came, and still he pushed himself the same way. He burned through every drop of mana, drained every ounce of stamina, spamming his skills until he finally collapsed from exhaustion.
It was brutal. Training with Kurogasa had left his body hardened, battered with cuts and bruises. But training with Dullorak was something else entirely. Here, he fainted again and again, yet his body bore no external wounds. The damage was deeper, invisible, gnawing at his core, and his brain.
And Dullorak made one thing absolutely clear: Atlas was forbidden from using the Stamina Recovery Elixir.
"Elixirs may restore you quickly, my lord," Dullorak explained, his tone firm but patient. "But rely on them too often, and they dull your growth. The body forgets how to endure. The mind loses the instinct to adapt. If you wish to truly master mana, you must feel the exhaustion, fight against it, and learn from the struggle itself."
If Atlas were to count, he might have vomited dozens of times in a single day, until his stomach was completely empty. The strain in his head was relentless, crushing, as if a weight pressed down on his very mind. The pressure clawed at his sanity, draining it even faster than when he had once stepped into the flows of magma.
The seventh day arrived... Yet still, no meaningful progress.
A creeping thought gnawed at him.
Could it be... that Atlas had no true potential in magic?
**
(Author’s Note:)
Please... I know what you’re here for: Battles, domination, epic wins.
Sometimes we need to pause and understand how the world actually works. That’s how Atlas grows. So walk with him. Learn with him. Cheer him on... even as he vomits his way through spiritual enlightenment.
I’ll keep this short and sharp. Just enough to build the hype without losing the heat.
Thanks for sticking around. Your support means the world!