I continued my training with Niryn for hours on end. Between five and seven, perhaps. Time here was hard to measure—the temple seemed to swallow the days with silent voracity. When night finally fell, I returned to my room, my body tired but my mind electric.

  After a warm shower and fresh clothes—courtesy of Niryn—I lay in bed with my thoughts spinning. I began to mentally review everything I had learned that day.

  The affinities.

  It wasn't just about casting fire or creating ice—each element carried a meaning , a deeper aspect . And when channeled through simple magics like 『Mana Reinforcement』 or 『Mana Enchantment』 , the results were... unique.

  For example, when I fused 『Mana Reinforcement』 with the darkness element , my skin took on a dull appearance, as if made of condensed shadow. The light did not pass through. The heat did not settle. It was as if I became an empty, dense space. Furthermore, my mind became more resistant to compulsions and illusions—and my body became harder to detect both spiritually and physically.

  Now, when fusing 『Mana Enchantment』 with darkness , any weapon touched became difficult to see or follow with the eyes. The blade seemed to distort vision—and more than that, it had a strange effect on the opponent: senses failed, focus wavered, and an instinctive fear welled up.

  I tested each of my affinities in the same way. With ice , Mana Reinforcement created a smooth, cold armor, excellent against physical attacks and capable of chilling weapons that struck me. With lightning , my reflexes and perception heightened—my muscles responded before I could even think, as if my body anticipated my movements.

  Nature was the strangest and most... intimate. When fused with 『Mana Reinforcement』 , my skin would take root—moss would sprout, thick leaves would grow, and I would absorb mana directly from the ground. Subtle, but constant. A silent regeneration.

  I had plans for all of this. Especially for the next day's training. But first, I studied a few more books. I read until my vision began to fail from fatigue. And then, I passed out.

  ?

  The next morning came early.

  After getting dressed with the help of Niryn—who seemed particularly excited—I headed straight to the training grounds. The light there seemed brighter, or maybe it was just my impression. Nora was already waiting for me.

  "Congratulations on your rise in rank, my lord," she said, firm and respectful.

  "Thank you," I replied with a slight smile. "Today, I plan to test out some new magic. Is that okay with you?"

  "Of course. I'm looking forward to seeing what you're capable of."

  Without further ado, I raised my hand, channeled mana, and activated 『Mana Reinforcement』 . The aura appeared in a flash, sticking to my skin like a living film. This time, I infused lightning .

  Instantly, electric pulses coursed through my body. Subtle arcs of energy crackled between my fingers. My senses sharpened, my vision clearer, my movements smoother. My thoughts raced ahead of my action.

  Then, I cast 『Mana Enchantment』 on a training sword. The wood absorbed the energy as if it were metal, and sparks ran across its surface. Streaks of light snaked across the makeshift blade.

  I moved forward.

  My feet cut through the grass at double speed. Nora watched me, motionless. I made a horizontal cut—quick, electric. She stepped back lightly. Another cut, diagonal, from bottom to top. She twisted and narrowly avoided it.

  So I attacked from top to bottom with full force.

  She raised her weapon and blocked. Sparks crackled. A few currents shot up her arms—but she didn't move. No paralysis. No damage.

  She's too strong... , I thought. But if it were someone of my level... that charge would have knocked her down.

  I continued the attack with a quick sequence:

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  — A low horizontal spin, aiming for the legs. She jumped.— A sudden lunge, fast as lightning. She dodged it by inches.— Double crosscut, using the momentum of the spin. She blocked the first and dodged the second with a circular maneuver.

  I took a few steps away, breathless but excited. I smiled.

  Speed ??alone is not enough... let's try something else.

  I deactivated the lightning element. I took a deep breath.

  And I invoked Nature .

  The mana transformed in the next instant. The plants around me reacted—grass grew in spirals, flowers bloomed, thin roots brushed against my ankles. It was as if the environment recognized me.

  My body, now with 『Mana Reinforcement』 fused with Nature, was different. The skin felt like it was made of living bark—thick moss covered parts of the arms, and I could feel the mana from the soil flowing through my feet.

  The wooden sword pulsed. With 『Mana Enchantment』 , it gained density and vigor. As if it had absorbed the life of the forest.

  The energy was different from before. Less aggressive... but more resilient.

  Time to test.

  I lunged at Nora with a direct thrust—quick, precise. She moved sideways with uncanny grace, dodging it effortlessly. I twisted and tried again, this time aiming for her shoulder. A fluid movement of her sword and the sharp sound of wood echoed as my attack was deflected.

  She stepped back lightly. I took advantage of the space to channel mana into my feet and threw a wooden thorn as a projectile, shaped with 『Plant Manipulation』 . The dart whistled through the air—and was deflected in a single fluid motion by Nora's sword, which flicked her wrist with clinical precision.

  "Tsk..." I clicked my tongue. Nothing gets past her easily.

  I closed the distance again with an upward vertical slash, then transitioned into a rapid sequence of strikes—three horizontal slashes interspersed with rhythmic thrusts, like a dance of attack. Nora stepped back, blocked, swung the blade with preternatural ease. It was like trying to cut water with an axe.

  As I pressed down with my sword, I used the time and focus of the fight to discreetly scatter small root sprouts across the field—seeds activated with a barely noticeable trickle of mana.

  As Nora stepped on them, I channeled a small surge of mana through the ground. The saplings exploded into thorns—an aggressive web of living wood advanced toward her like a premeditated trap.

  She reacted in the blink of an eye. A subtle glow ran through her training sword—mana. With two quick movements, like a precise execution, she cut through the thorns before they could touch her. Fragments of wood flew around as she swung the blade in a low stance.

  "Impressive," he said, with a barely noticeable smile.

  I, however, sighed and muttered, "Tsk."

  I attacked a few more times, trying to take advantage of openings. A side slash aimed at her waist—blocked. A quick sequence of three low-arcing attacks—she jumped over the third, landing behind me. I turned with a spinning lunge, but she had already retreated again.

  The last offensive came with a leap. I concentrated mana in my feet, advanced with a pirouette and brought my sword down like a scythe against a tree trunk. She raised her blade and defended effortlessly. The impact resonated in my bones. The electric shock from the previous abilities was gone—and my body was starting to feel tired.

  My mana reserves were almost empty.

  I pulled away, panting. "Let's take a break. I need to regain my energy... I still want to test my other affinities."

  Nora just nodded. "As you wish, my lord."

  I sat on the grass as Niryn approached with a greenish glass bottle in her hands. She handed it to me gently, smiling. I drank in silence, letting the coolness of the liquid soothe my dry throat.

  I closed my eyes for a moment.

  'Come on... my strengths and weaknesses.'

  I thought about what Nora had said the other day. My talent was obvious—speed, mana control, creativity in combat. But I was still predictable. My movements were easy to read. My mana flow, though strong, telegraphed my attacks too much.

  I was still a beginner.

  But... I only started training yesterday.

  Three months. It was time until the cave test. I could grow — mold myself. Becoming the kind of monster that even the sect wouldn't expect.

  Now... which affinity do I use? Ice, darkness... or death?

  I took a deep breath. Ice first.

  I waited a few more minutes for my mana core to stabilize. I felt the energy filling my body again. And then, I stood up.

  With a single stream of thought, I activated 『Mana Reinforcement』 and 『Mana Enchantment』 , now fused with the ice element .

  The change was immediate.

  A cold, opaque, crystalline layer began to cover my skin—like sheets of thin ice fused to my body. Every movement was stiff, yet incredibly steady. The temperature around me dropped. Light mists came out of my mouth as I breathed.

  The wooden sword in my hands was coated with a white, opaque film, with edges of icy crystal. When I touched it, I felt a familiar chill—not of fear, but of power.

  The atmosphere grew colder. Nora arched an eyebrow, observing.

  I ran towards him.

  The first blow came hard—a sideways slash. She blocked it. The impact left a streak of ice on her blade.

  I continued. A series of quick thrusts. With each touch of my sword against the air, icy particles spread. The ground beneath my feet began to freeze in small circles, making it slightly difficult to move.

  I lunged low, aiming for her leg. She recoiled. In the next second, I twisted my body and struck with an upward diagonal strike, aiming to create a trail of ice along her weapon. Nora parried, but the contact left her blade with tiny ice crystals.

  She jumped back—nimbly. But the cold was already beginning to weigh her down, even if only slightly.

  If it were someone at my level , I thought, this would be easier.

  My control tightened. Ice might not be as explosive as lightning or as versatile as nature, but it was steady, precise, relentless.

  And I still have two more elements to test...