After he felt comfortable enough to use his power without burning anything, he summoned a fire.

  Immediately, he noticed a significant shift in the fire's potential. The capacity to inject mana had grown, allowing him to amplify both its intensity and size beyond its previous limits. It was as if the flame's very essence had expanded, its once-restricted boundaries now stretching wider. There was no doubt—this was the result of the substantial boost to his Fire Affinity.

  He channeled mana into the flame, pushing it to its limit as its size swelled. The flickering fire rose higher, safely above the grass to prevent an accidental blaze, and far enough to avoid scorching himself. It expanded steadily, growing to the size of a partially inflated hot air balloon, before he sensed it could hold no more.

  With a focused breath, he began compressing the flame, shrinking it down to a compact orb roughly the size of a basketball. Its density increased as he poured more mana into it, driving its heat and intensity to their peak.

  The fire orb now burned with a brighter, more vivid orange than before, its glow intensified by the surrounding darkness, making it appear even more radiant against the night.

  The heat was now undeniable, pricking Finn's skin with an intensity he hadn't felt earlier, even at the same distance. It was clear that as his fire grew in strength, so did its temperature—a problem he would have to solve sooner or later. But for now, he pushed the thought aside, focusing on testing his improved control.

  Reaching both the size and heat limits of the flame, Finn began compressing it again. He commanded it to zigzag, curve, and spin, sending it in erratic directions while constantly changing its speed. The progress was obvious. It was as if he could feel the space surrounding the fire through his senses, the connection becoming stronger the closer the flame was to him, and fading as it moved farther away.

  Satisfied with his control, he launched the flame upward like a firework to avoid any accidental damage or attracting monsters. It soared higher than ever before, maintaining its form and speed until it eventually dissipated. The improvement was undeniable; not only had the distance increased, but the flame also endured longer.

  When the fire finally dispersed, he summoned another. This time, he tested how quickly he could amplify its heat, expand its size, compress it, and alter its shape. Each test revealed the same result: everything was faster, smoother, and more responsive than before. If he could refine these techniques further, his arsenal would expand significantly.

  Sweat now coated his body, the cold night breeze doing little to counteract the fire's searing heat. As Finn paused to catch his breath, an idea—an intrusive curiosity—surfaced in his mind.

  He glanced at the small flame floating before him. Slowly, he brought it closer to his hand, intending to test its effects on his own skin.

  Just to see how much damage it would do.

  Finn was cautious, ready to withdraw the flame at the first sign of real harm. To his surprise, the fire didn’t hurt immediately. For the first five seconds, it felt like a faint warmth. Then, the pricking sensation returned, growing sharper. After ten seconds, the pain deepened, and by twenty seconds, it became unbearable. He pulled the flame back, revealing a red mark on his skin.

  Despite the discomfort, Finn was shocked to find the burn shallow—barely more than a surface wound.

  Looks like I’ve got some fire resistance, he thought, inspecting his hand. Is this because I’m naturally attuned to fire, or is it just some system quirk?

  Glancing at his mana reserves, he noticed it was already halfway depleted. He decided to drain the rest in a final flourish, launching a barrage of fireballs into the night sky. They exploded in rapid succession, painting the darkness with bursts of orange and gold, like a New Year’s celebration.

  With his mana nearly spent and his curiosity sated, Finn made his way back to the camp. Yukha was still seated by the bonfire, watching him with amusement.

  “That was quite the show, Finn,” Yukha said, clapping his hands.

  Finn bowed theatrically, responding to his sole audience.

  “Ready to try the new technique now?” Yukha asked, a sly smile on his face.

  “Let’s do it,” Finn replied, his eyes alight with determination. He could feel the anticipation building, as if he were about to learn some ancient, forbidden art.

  Yukha leaned forward, his tone suddenly serious. “Alright. This technique is called…” He paused dramatically. “…Meditation.”

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Finn almost fell off his seat.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me! I was expecting some secret, ancient technique, and it’s just meditation?” he exclaimed, disbelief coloring his voice.

  Yukha threw his head back, laughing. “Now, now, don’t be so disappointed.”

  “Fine,” Finn grumbled, crossing his arms.

  “First, what do you know about meditation?”

  "Getting your body into a comfortable position, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breathing?" Finn replied.

  "Exactly," Yukha said with a nod. "And have you ever tried it before?"

  "I have," Finn admitted. "It felt peaceful, sure, but it wasn’t really for me. Honestly, I found it kind of boring."

  Back on Earth, isolated and searching for ways to pass the time, Finn had tried meditation, hoping it might help him control his fire. It had been a disappointing experience, failing to deliver the results he'd hoped for.

  "Why don’t you give it another shot right now?" Yukha suggested. "It might seem dull, but it’s incredibly useful for mana recovery. Once you master it—so much so that it becomes second nature—you can even reduce the mana you expend in the middle of battle."

  "Really?" Finn raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

  "Yes, really. I’ve told you before, haven’t I? Emotions are tied deeply to your elemental control. Breathing helps regulate your emotions, which in turn sharpens your control," Yukha explained. "Besides, meditation is the third-best way to recover mana. The first is drinking a high-tier mana potion for an instant refill, and the second is sleeping, which accelerates mana regeneration."

  "Sleeping?" Finn asked, leaning forward.

  "Exactly. Even a short nap can restore most creatures’ mana reserves," Yukha replied. "But you can’t just nap anytime, anywhere, especially in the heat of battle. That’s where meditation comes in. It’s slower than sleeping, but still quite effective."

  "Alright, you’ve convinced me," Finn said with a resigned sigh. "How do you suggest I go about it?"

  "Since you’ve done it before, it should be easier this time. Just like before, focus on your breathing, but now include the flow of mana within your body," Yukha instructed. "And here’s a tip: concentrate on someone or something important to you. It’ll help keep distractions at bay."

  "Got it. I’ll start now," Finn replied, his determination renewed.

  "Oh, and one more thing—stop moving that little flame hovering above you. Don’t extinguish it, though. Just let it float there, still and steady, it will help you focus more," Yukha added.

  Finn nodded, adjusting his posture and straightening his back. The wooden chair was far from comfortable, but it would do. He closed his eyes and stilled the flame above him. Slowly, he began focusing on his breath, syncing his thoughts with the rhythm.

  As he settled into the flow, he turned his attention inward, focusing on the mana coursing through his body. It was a strange, new sensation. It felt like blood pulsing through his veins, only cooler, lighter—definitely mana.

  Distractions came in waves. The warmth of the bonfire, the sudden chill of the breeze, and the stiffness of the wooden seat all threatened to break his focus. Frustrated, he remembered Yukha’s advice and searched for something meaningful to anchor his thoughts.

  But what was important to him? His parents? He hadn’t seen them in ages. His friends? They were more like online acquaintances. Games? Fun, but not life-defining.

  Fire.

  That was it. Fire. Its heat, its crackling sound, the way it responded to his commands—all of it fascinated him. He fixated on it, letting its essence fill his mind.

  Suddenly, he felt a strange pull, like his consciousness was being tugged away. He opened his eyes—or so he thought. His vision was strange, blurry, and tinted orange as if he were looking through a sheet of orange plastic.

  Below him, he saw his own body, seated upright in the chair, breathing deeply. In front of it was the bonfire, and beyond that, Yukha.

  Wait… am I seeing through the flame’s perspective?

  Panic set in. Finn closed his eyes again, willing himself to return to his body. The next thing he felt was a burning sensation in his stomach, like a flame had ignited inside him. The heat grew unbearable, spreading through his body—from his core to his limbs, then to his head.

  Excruciating pain followed, shooting through every nerve. For a terrifying moment, he thought he might die.

  What’s happening to me? Where am I? Who am I?

  "Wake up!" a booming voice roared in his mind, sharp and urgent.

  Splash!

  The icy shock of cold water crashing over him snapped him back to reality. His body jerked instinctively, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. For a moment, his mind was a haze of emptiness, the world around him spinning in disarray.

  But then, piece by piece, fragments of memory began to resurface, creeping into his consciousness like the faint light of dawn breaking through a heavy fog.

  I’m Finn Hayes. I’m in the Tower of Ascension. Right, I was meditating.

  But something still felt off—he couldn’t open his eyes. Darkness enveloped him.

  Splash!

  Another wave of icy water hit him, this time sharp enough to snap him out of his daze. His eyes flew open, revealing Yukha in front of him.

  "What… huh?" Finn stammered, blinking in confusion.

  Yukha stood there, a massive orb of water floating between his hands, poised to be thrown again.

  "Wait! Wait! Wait!" Finn exclaimed, panic thick in his voice.

  But his protest came too late. The orb of freezing water slammed into him with full force, dousing him from head to toe, starting with his face.

  "What are you doing?!" Finn sputtered, his teeth chattering as he shook violently.

  The water wasn’t just cold—it was like freshly melted ice, piercing through his skin like shards of frost. Adding insult to injury, Finn was gasping for air as though he’d surfaced from a deep dive, his chest heaving with each breath.

  "What’s... the... big... deal?" he asked between shivers, struggling to form words through the freezing assault and his breathlessness.

  "Are you okay, Finn?" Yukha asked, his face shadowed with concern. He looked like someone who had just witnessed someone's near-death experience.

  Finn blinked, incredulous. "What? Shouldn’t I be the one asking that question? Why the hell did you attack me with freezing water?"

  Yukha let out a sigh of relief. "It seems you’re fine now. You really had me worried there for a while."

  "What are you even talking about?" Finn asked, still bewildered.

  "Look below you," Yukha said, his tone grim.

  Finn glanced down and froze.

  The wooden chair he’d been sitting on moments ago? Gone. The grass beneath it? Scorched to ash. All that remained was a charred patch of soil, blackened and lifeless.