Mangowo
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Chapter 74: Wake Up
🕑 Added 2024-11-07 00:30:02 +0000 UTCThe options flickered up before me once more, and I didn’t dawdle a tick sifting through them. I settled on Sweeping Surge for Tail Whip—it would give it a lovely broadening and add a bit of brawn, ideal for wide, sweeping strikes that packed more disruption. As for Crush Claw, I chose Sunder Strike—a proper gem for landing a precise wallop, breaking through tougher defenses and armor with ease.
Honestly, I couldn’t have been more chuffed with the upgrades. I’d had my reservations about the technique—powerful as it was, it kept me cautiously intrigued. But, let’s face it, I wouldn’t be regretting this choice any time soon. The stronger my skills grew, the more confounding the choices became. Decision-fatigue was setting in, truth be told, so the idea of upgrades aligning themselves naturally with my technique’s nature? Well, why the bloody hell not!
That said, I still planned to have a natter with Lotte about it. It sounded beastly, after all, and it was never a bad shout to get a second opinion. I squinted into the middle distance, perhaps a tad too much for effect. But on to more pressing matters—time to tackle this Mana Conduit Vasculature upgrade.
I took a quick survey of the surroundings. My little badger chum was off in the land of nod, and Air Sense whispered no hint of any sneaky nuisances lurking about. All looked clear. Right then, no more dilly-dallying. The thought of this particular mutation made me wince, though—the pain was in a league of its own, like a wasabi-kick to the spine, only worse. But that stubborn, dragon-hearted side of me balked at the very idea of shying away from a bit of pain. So, with fierce resolve, I dove straight in.
One brutal, blazing stint of agony later, the advancement lay there waiting.
[Mana Conduit Vasculature: Tier II Advancement Options]
Mana Reabsorption Nodes: Enables passive mana recovery post-ability use. Specialized nodes along mana conduits absorb residual energy from abilities, providing consistent replenishment while erasing all mana traces, enhancing both sustainability and stealth.
Mana Burst Capacitors: Allows temporary mana surges for high-powered abilities. Biological "capacitors" store excess mana, enabling momentary power boosts for any mana-based attack or ability. Enhances impact significantly for one use without core mana drain.
Diffusive Mana Network: Distributes low-level mana throughout body tissues. This diffusion enhances physical resilience and provides slight resistance to mana-based attacks, adding a passive defensive layer across muscles and skin.
Mana Conduit Resilience: Reinforces conduit structure to handle intense mana flow. Strengthened conduits allow for sustained high-output spells with reduced strain, supporting prolonged powerful attacks with minimal recoil.
Ohhh, blimey. These options were improving by the second, weren’t they? I scanned the list of upgrades, each one a vague pulse of potential just waiting at the edge of my awareness. Four options, and I had to pick one. Smashing—absolutely no pressure there, right? Cheers, System! I’d wager my arse it was having a proper laugh, dangling such tempting choices before me and demanding I choose just one. What a sadistic little bastard.
Ah, well, couldn’t afford to half-arse this one like I did with those skills earlier. I needed to give this a good think.
First up, Mana Reabsorption Nodes. Sounded simple enough. Bit of extra mana trickling in after each ability—no fuss, no extra thought required. It’d kick in automatically after every cast, just set and forget. Solid, consistent, no strings attached. And the added perk of erasing traces of my mana after every use—spot on for slipping past any bothersome divinators. But, let’s be honest, I already had a few recovery tricks up my sleeve, and surely some anti-divination spells would do the job better. No sense wasting an entire upgrade on this one, really.
Then there was Mana Burst Capacitors. Basically, a sudden zap of extra juice when I needed it. Think of it as the Stamina Surge Reservoir’s magical cousin. The boost it’d give me in a pinch—crikey, I could hit harder, catch someone off-guard. Plus, a cheeky way of having more mana than I technically should. Solid choice, if I’m honest.
Next, the Diffusive Mana Network. Oh, Thalador, just the name made me fancy it. This one spread a light layer of mana throughout my body, a bit like a passive shield. Resilience against physical damage, with a bit of magical defense on the side. Considering everyone and their mum would be slinging spells at me from here on, a constant boost to defense, both physical and magical, wasn’t the worst idea.
And lastly: Mana Conduit Resilience—reinforcing my mana pathways so I could push my limits longer without burning out. Well, bugger me sideways! I narrowed my eyes and shot a look skyward. Was the System messing with my mind, digging into my thoughts? …oh, right, of course it was. It was basically rearranging my memories and even muscle memory to give me new skills. That realization sent a cold shiver down my spine. Whoever—or whatever—put this together was either godlike or had a bloody twisted sense of humour. Either way, impressive and properly unsettling. Gave my head a shake to clear it.
Point was, I’d been wondering if the System would offer me reinforced mana veins in the next upgrade—the one thing I’d been struggling with. And wouldn’t you know, it just might be the most overpowered option here, especially for someone like me. I could cast spells, sure, but right now, there was a cap on how much mana I could channel into a single rune and keep my veins stable. With this, though, I could push straight past that limit. Last time, my arms were practically charred from forcing 25 mana into one lightning spell; with this, I could go well beyond. Just the thought of putting all 50 mana into a single lightning strike sent a shiver down my spine.
Honestly, I didn’t care if it might scorch my veins all over again—the main thing was, I’d be breaking my limits. This upgrade was utterly absurd in its power.
Best part? It looked like a passive effect that stuck around for every spell stage I learned, meaning I could push past my limits for any cast. Basically, I’d be firing off nukes, ending things before they even started.
A spark flickered in my claws. Yep, this was the one. There was no competition. Mana Conduit Resilience it was, and I selected it without another thought. The familiar sting tore through me, the kind that told me those pathways were toughening up good. And the grin? Oh, it was fixed in place.
I was becoming formidable, and there wasn’t a word for how satisfying that felt.
***
"And then I wagged my tail at it! Proper grand sway, mind you—and the daft thing bit again!" I recounted with all the dramatic flair I could muster, practically waving my tail at Lotte. She was cackling like a loon in my head, her great, snakey mug stoic as a rock but her tone as warm as a cuppa. Oh, she always found my tales amusing; even the mundane bits made her chortle. And now, with me stirring up such delightful mayhem, she could hardly keep her mirth contained, which nearly had me cracking up mid-story.
"So, in the end, I just legged it. Exhilarating. Humans are all warned against damaging their mana veins, since some wounds might never heal unless they’ve got a high-core healer handy. But me? I can push my veins to their limit, even burn them out. Only downside’s the pain, but I’ve been mutating long enough that scorched mana veins feel almost …sweet by comparison."
Lotte’s voice took on a suspicious note. "Are you certain it isn’t that you find this ‘sweetness’... peculiarly appealing?"
I had to stifle a snort, keeping my poker face in place, eyes wide and innocent. "Oh, please. You think I’m some kind of pain junkie?" I sniffed in exaggerated disdain. "I'm simply adaptable."
"Adaptable, yes…” She gave a long, amused sigh in my mind. “Jade, I just observed you explaining how you ignited your mana veins like a spectacle and then traipsed about as though you’d uncovered some delightful indulgence.”
I groaned with mock exasperation, throwing my tail up dramatically. “I just enjoyed the aftermath! All the chaos it stirred up, that’s it. And for the record, it was definitely painful. Plus, it was for a noble cause—stopping those snooty tree-huggers!” I huffed. “Besides, next time, I’ll mostly keep my mana veins intact... if possible.”
She chuckled dryly, "Mostly intact? Well, you’re a model of restraint, Jade. I'm sure that'll catch on."
"Oi!" I shot back, unrepentant. “Maybe some of us like a bit of fun, hmm? Even you could do with a pinch of spice, Miss High-and-Mighty Dragon.”
She scoffed. “If you believe I require a little ‘spice,’ perhaps I’m long overdue for a rampage of my own…”
That made my eyes widen; the thought of her on a rampage was equally terrifying and… spine-tingling. A shiver of pleasure ran through me, though I recovered quickly as her chuckle echoed in my head. I remembered all too well what she'd first said about me when I’d started changing…
She'd once called me a creature of sinister nature, as if there were parts of me far too wild to be fully tamed. No matter how hard I tried to rein it in, there were certain… inclinations—like the pleasure I took in watching things burn, in the beauty of sheer destruction. And oh, it was most pleasing. Words couldn't capture it. Sometimes I'd even catch myself analyzing my own mind, wondering why I felt so at peace with such impulses. Yet I'd come up empty every time. This was simply me, my true self. Didn't mean I'd ever go on some mindless rampage, of course—I had enough self-control and intelligence for that.
So when Lotte mentioned her own potential for chaos, I clutched my chest with mock horror. "Lotte! Imagine the scandal—the noble, elegant dragon going on a spree! What would the people say?"
She burst out laughing, and I couldn't help but join her. But before I got sidetracked, I steered us back to something I was curious about: runes. I knew she wouldn’t just give me a straight answer, but it was worth a shot. I explained how, despite grasping a spell’s runes better, I still couldn’t impose my understanding on them. I was missing something, and I hadn’t the foggiest what.
Her tone shifted, and she took on that maddening, wise-teacher air—the one that flirts around the answer without actually giving it. “Sometimes, a path demands self-discovery. It always begins with a foundational question: how harmoniously do your mind and body resonate with your affinity? It appears your mind grasps the nature of lightning. But can you confidently say the same for your body?”
“Er… maybe?” I scratched my head, stumped. “How do I make my body understand how lightning works if it just… doesn’t?”
Lotte chuckled, smug as you please. “I have no doubt you’ll work it out.”
Lotte’s maddening, cryptic nature was enough to make anyone irate, and I was no exception. She was an infuriating teacher. Yet, despite myself, I’d caught a glimpse of what I’d been missing, and—much as I hated to admit it—my blood was humming with the thrill of a challenge. Oh, I did love a good challenge! Huffing at her, I declared, “Fine then, keep your secrets. But next time, my body’s going to be sparking like a natural.” I’d probably regret saying that, but I wasn’t about to back down this time!
Lotte’s laughter only deepened. “Oh, we shall see. I suspect, however, that runes are far from the only matter occupying your thoughts.”
“Ah, right… about these techniques.” I’d been leaning towards fusing my skills, but a nod from her would be all the approval I needed. Hopefully, she'd finally give me a straight answer.
She did approve—although, predictably, with a cautionary note. “Bear in mind, you’ll only be able to hold a single technique slot at the moment. The system’s analyzed your fighting tendencies and given a recommendation, one that will define your style. While future evolutions might grant an additional slot, techniques are powerful precisely because of their focus. As a technique advances, you can incorporate more skills into it.”
“Ah, got it—rather like a path, then. Comes with its own limits.”
“Indeed. Though more techniques may open to you later, I’d advise investing thoroughly in one for now. Does this option resonate with you?”
“Oh, definitely. Staying hidden? That’s right up my alley! This technique would crank my fighting style to the max. And it fits, doesn’t it? You said no one should know I’m a dragon, so this would keep me under wraps and let me be a sneaky menace. Perfect!” I grinned.
“Then proceed,” Lotte intoned simply.
Just as I was about to celebrate, I noticed her eyes glaze over, only to snap back with sudden clarity. “I realize you have more questions, but you must awaken. Now.”
“What?”
“There are several threads around you... each one turning red.”
OH BLOODY HELL!
Comments
Shelbo
Good chappy
Ulsar
tyfc
