Eager to test the power boost from his Hollowfication, Ignis vanished from his spot, moving with blinding speed. His feet barely grazed the ground as he reappeared in front of a sturdy tree at the forest's opening's edge. Without hesitation, he clenched his fist and threw a punch.
The impact was devastating.
The tree shuddered violently as a large chunk of its trunk was blown clean off, sent hurtling through the air before crashing into the underbrush with a heavy thud. A single punch. His strength had surged to an entirely new level, but just as he was about to revel in the sensation—
The mask vanished.
The transformation lasted only thirty seconds before dissipating.
Ignis thought. Not enough.
Ignis exhaled slowly, regaining his composure. He had experimented enough for today.
Without lingering, he pulled his black cloak tightly around himself, slipped on his mask, and left the forest the same way he had entered—silent and unseen.
Once back in the mansion, he returned to his room and seated himself on the bed. Closing his eyes, he began piecing together everything he had discovered tonight.
"Kido and Hollowfication consume both my mana and my Reiatsu."
The realization was profound.
"In both cases, my Reiatsu is depleted the most, but my mana is also drained alongside it. The two are clearly linked. Without mana, I wouldn't even be able to access my spiritual power."
The connection between mana and spiritual energy was undeniable.
"I can't quantify exactly how much my strength has increased after Hollowfication... but it's significant. My speed, power, and even my defenses have improved drastically."
However, the most surprising discovery wasn't his physical enhancement—it was his clarity of mind.
"Unlike the Visored of my past life, I'm not being consumed by killing intent or overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts. Every Visored struggled with inner turmoil, constantly battling for control… yet I feel nothing of the sort. No whispers of madness. No urges clawing at my mind."
This was unprecedented.
The Visored had taken years to master techniques that allowed them to suppress their inner Hollow and reclaim control. But for him, there was no battle. No resistance.
"Could it be because of my high spiritual power?"
The thought lingered, but there was no immediate answer. For now, he would observe.
Shaking off his thoughts, Ignis glanced at the dimming sky outside.
The day had been consumed by mastering the Draconic Flame technique and experimenting with the abilities of his previous life. In the process, he had skipped his mana training.
"There's still time before dinner."
With that, he made up his mind. He would dedicate the remaining hours to mana training—ensuring that every aspect of his power continued to grow.
----
At the break of dawn, Ignis stepped into the training ground, where his mother, Alenna, was already waiting. The cool morning air carried the faint scent of dew-covered grass, contrasting the warmth of the rising sun.
As per their arrangement, his training alternated between his parents—swordsmanship with Evan one day, magic with Alenna the next. Yesterday had been his father's turn. Today belonged to his mother.
Alenna smiled at him warmly. "Good morning, Ignis."
He nodded in greeting, standing before her with an eager but composed expression.
"As you know," she began, "I am a Vitalist. My magic revolves around nature and healing. Because of this, I haven't mastered many other types of spells. I did, however, take the time to learn basic first-tier magic in my spare time. Progressing in mana training has never been my strength."
Ignis nodded in understanding.
Alenna continued, her voice patient and instructive. "Having an innate mana attribute is a great blessing, but it comes with its own disadvantages."
She raised a hand, and a faint green glow pulsed around her fingertips—pure nature magic.
"For example, since your mana attribute is fire, you will struggle with casting water-based spells. Not only will they require more mana, but the casting process will also be significantly slower than someone with a neutral affinity."
Ignis absorbed her words carefully. It made sense.
"That is why," Alenna continued, her expression serious, "I advise you to focus on mastering fire and lightning spells for now. These elements will naturally complement your mana affinity, allowing you to cast spells faster and with greater power."
Ignis nodded, understanding flashing in his golden eyes. "Understood, Mother."
Ignis didn't believe in the idea that mastering more spells made a person stronger. Instead, he had always followed a different philosophy—master fewer techniques, but master them so thoroughly that they could overwhelm anything in his path.
It was a lesson ingrained in him from his previous life, one that had served him well, and he had no intention of abandoning it now.
Alenna walked over to a small wooden table at the edge of the training ground, picking up two worn spellbooks. Their leather covers bore faint golden inscriptions, a testament to years of use. She handed them to Ignis.
"These books contain first-tier and second-tier fire and lightning spells," she said. "Throughout my entire career, these were the only offensive spells I collected. My focus was always on healing and nature magic, and I've advanced those to the fourth tier."
She met Ignis's gaze, her voice firm yet encouraging. "First, master every fire and lightning spell in these books. Only then will you move on to other elements."
Ignis took the books, their weight solid in his hands. He nodded without hesitation. "I will do exactly as you instructed, Mother."
A small smile graced Alenna's lips. "Good. Now, let's begin."
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