"Hmm~ Hmm~"
I woke up the next day...? Or not. I don't really have a clock or watch to keep up with the time outside. Anyway, I'm now trying out my new skill – Air Dance and Mana Manipulation.
Of course I won't go about this the typical way, I don't have the time to waste for training. Instead, I am actively using thought acceleration to speed up the process. And then predictive calculation to supplement whatever I got wrong by calculating the optimal solution.
For now, I'm focusing on trying mana manipulation. I can already feel my mana and can move it around my body albeit not as fast as I want to.
"Mmm~"
I moved the mana around my whole body first like circulating blood but consciously. When I got the hang of it and my skills 'told' me of the optimal circulation path, I move to the next step. I focused mana in a my tight arm whilst keeping steady flow throughout my body.
"Haa!"
Then I faced a labyrinth wall and threw out a punch with my reinforced right arm.
*Bam!* *Crack!*
"Heh~ Success!"
I felt my mouth warped into a grin. I can finally do body reinforcement through my mana manipulation skill. Next step is to familiarize myself with the process so I can do it as easily and naturally like breathing.
So I spent the better half of the day trying multiple ways of using mana manipulation and air dance. During my testing, I gained several derivative skills of both skills I was training.
And that puts me now, after my training. I was checking my progress through the status plate. To summarize my gains, I already got all derivative skills of both mana manipulation and air dance. I also combined some using 'synthesis'.
The results of combing some skills were these Mana Body and Magic Combat Arts. Honestly, I was the one that named these skills since they didn't really appear in the source material.
To explain it simply, Mana Body is a combination of all derivative skills of mana manipulation, it mainly affects my body because it constantly absorbs and lets me be in a constant state of body reinforcement. Of course I can actively increase the mana concentration and further increase the body reinforcement.
Now comes the other one, Magic Combat Arts, it's both a skill and a combat style that integrates mana body and derivative skills of air dance. One great example of its use is when I compress mana in my arms or legs then releasing that mana in an explosive way when hitting the target plus using it in tandem the skills from air dance.
If I were to put a comparison to it, I guess like those murim or wuxia martial skills? Though it is only limited by my mana reserves and lack of integrated skills. It can be further developed later as I get more skills.
For now however, I need to hunt for food...
...
"Hmm?"
It finally picked up something, this is different from the rabbit monster. Its presence feels stronger and I also picked up some electrical feeling from it probably that wolf monster I've been wanting to hunt.
"Hehe~"
I chuckled softly and controlled the surrounding mana to create a veil around me, with this I can blend in with the surrounding easier. Although it wouldn't prevent the monsters from seeing me, it can help hide my presence by making it seem like I am part of the surrounding, enough for me to get close before it can detect me visually.
*Swish!* *Swish!*
I jumped mid air by creating compressed air as platforms and got close enough to it. It seems busy eating the same rabbit monster I ate yesterday.
*Swoosh!*
I kicked off the compressed air I was standing on and immediately found my self on top of its head.
"Grrr...?"
It seems confused as it looked up at my but too late.
"Well then~ Bye~!"
[Explosive Smash]
*Boom!*
I kicked its head and releasing the accumulated compressed mana in my leg creating a strong explosion.
"*Cough*"
When the dust settled, I saw the wolf monster. Its head was missing as expected.
"It's strong as I expected but to think it would be this devastating..."
The ground below was a crater with a diameter of at least 15 meters, and that kick isn't even my full strength nor did I focused the explosion in a single point.
I also ought to mention that I could have just killed that monster by transmuting a spike below it but I wanted to test my magic combat arts first hand. And the result was satisfactory enough that I actually can hunt that bear monster soon.
"For now, I'll just eat this guy..."
I stored the carcass in my spatial storage and left.
And like that, weeks has passed and I reached the 50th floor. Standing in front of me was two massive stone doors.
"Heh! Finally...!"
....
No sound can be heard anywhere, only defeaning silence. Not a ray of light, only pitch black darkness. I've already stopped counting long ago, my sense of time was gone with it and my will to live. The hatred I harbored for them vanished long ago leaving emptiness within me.
I would have despaired with this hopeless situation, if only my powers would allow it. I wasn't even allowed the relief in madness, becoming a mindless monster was far better than what I have become. At least by then I can finally stop feeling anything.
The abilities I was once proud of, now became a curse that tortured me. The uncle and people I trusted so much betrayed and trapped me in this deep abyss.
Sometimes I wonder if there's other reason why I remained alive. I know it because I can't die due to my ability but I continued to hope for something else...I know it's vain and foolish but...
*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!*
Hmm? A sound? In this deep abyss?
Perhaps it's my mind playing tricks on me but a glimmer of hope welled up within me. Please. Please, anyone. Help me.
However deep in me, two voices clashed opinions. One told me to give up my pointless dream, telling me it's just hallucination. The other tells me to continue hoping.
As I opened my eyes, I bare witnessed to the doors opening, light creeping in this endless darkness I was wrapped with. For the first time in years since I was trapped, I felt the hope within me grow.
Then, from within the light, a young boy with white hair and striking crimson eyes locked gazes with me. The heart I thought had frozen over after the betrayal I experienced, started beating with fervor.
I stared and stared at him as I can't take my eyes off him. I opened my mouth, for the first time since I was trapped here, but my throat felt dry. I managed to squeeze all my strength to mutter two words.
"Help...me..."
As he stood in front of me, he gave me a bright smile, yes...an unforgettable smile full of life. I cannot and will not forget this moment through my immortal life.
"Sure!"
One word. It was only a word yet it left such indelible mark in me. That face of his and his smile was etched deep within me as it was the hope I have been craving for years upon years.
*Bzzzzzt* *Crack!*
Crimson thunder crackled in his arms and then the thing holding me and preventing me from escaping cracked. Then it shattered as I felt my body falling. I was finally free from this cursed place.
"Oops, easy there."
Just when I was about to hit the floor, I felt an arm catch me. Then a warm blanket draping on me. It felt warm, a feeling I long thought I had forgotten.
"Hic...Hyuk..."
I felt two streams ran down my eyes. I was finally freed. I've waited for who knows how long.
"Well...I can't exactly tell you not to cry..."
I heard the boy speak and gave me a gentle smile as he wrapped the blanket around me naked body.
"Let's go to my temporary base first, you can also let it all out. No need to hold back."
As if his words triggered something within me, my tears gushed out and I let out my voice.