Volume 03, Chapter 96

  Training Before The Duel [1]

  Célestin claps his hands together, rubbing them eagerly. “Alright, Clark. First things first, you need to genuinely feel and connect with your Mana.”

  Dominic raises an eyebrow. “I already felt it when I absorbed it from the chalice. And I can sense your Mana too. Does that count?”

  “Nope.” Célestin wags his finger in correction. “What you felt earlier was just your body reacting instinctively. And feeling someone else’s Mana is entirely different. Right now, your Mana is essentially a wild beast running rampant inside you. You need to tame it.” He pauses, tilting his head. “Did Dominic’s web novel mention how to actually sense your Mana?”

  Dominic nods thoughtfully. “Yeah. It said something about focusing inward, imagining Mana as a current of energy flowing beneath the skin. Like sensing a river inside me.”

  “Exactly right.” Célestin smiles warmly. He then smoothly settles into a cross-legged position on the floor and gestures for Dominic to join him. “Sit down and close your eyes.”

  Dominic sits across from him, mirroring the position.

  “Now,” Célestin continues gently, “close your eyes and take deep, slow breaths. Don’t rush. Let your breathing settle naturally.”

  Dominic obeys, shutting his eyes and inhaling slowly, holding each breath for a few heartbeats before releasing it.

  “Good. Just like that,” Célestin says encouragingly. “Relax. Let it come naturally.”

  Dominic keeps breathing, allowing himself to ease into a calmer rhythm. Gradually, his heartbeat steadies, his muscles loosen, and his senses sharpen.

  Then, softly—like a faint ripple in still water—a small flicker appears within him.

  The flicker strengthens, swelling into a gentle wave. Then the wave expands rapidly, filling Dominic with awareness of an immense energy.

  He almost gasps at the magnitude. Even with his eyes closed, Dominic senses his Mana clearly—a vast ocean within him, surging and radiating outward. It stretches far beyond his body, reaching the house, then the yard, and even the nearby streets. Its sheer magnitude feels exhilarating and a little daunting.

  This… this is my Mana? Dominic thinks in awe. Yet he feels a small twinge of worry. Mana at this scale could place overwhelming pressure on others. Wait, isn’t Célestin feeling overwhelmed by this?

  Usually, magicians feel suffocated by higher Mana emissions. And Dominic knows his Mana—ranked [A]—is immense enough to heavily pressure those nearby.

  “Are you sensing anything, Clark?” Célestin’s voice breaks into his thoughts.

  Dominic answers softly, almost amazed. “Yeah. It’s huge… much bigger than I expected.”

  Célestin chuckles lightly. “Of course it is. You’re at [A] Rank now. But you need to pull it back. Visualize that river again, flowing only within you. Rein it in gently, steadily. Don’t let it leak.”

  Dominic nods firmly. He doesn’t want others to feel crushed by his overwhelming Mana. He has to control it.

  Taking a deep breath, Dominic visualizes his Mana again. This time as a sprawling ocean, chaotic and immense.

  With effort, he imagines a powerful current pulling it inward, concentrating the energy closer and closer.

  At first, it resists like an animal struggling against a leash, but Dominic doesn’t falter. He tightens his focus, calmly willing his Mana inward.

  Gradually, bit by bit, he feels his Mana compress and calm, condensing slowly back into him.

  Then, a holographic screen flickers into view.

  Dominic smiles faintly at the satisfying progress.

  Célestin relaxes noticeably, feeling the intense pressure of Dominic’s Mana finally ease. He exhales softly in relief, watching the visible glow around Dominic diminish into a gentler aura.

  ‘Finally, I can breathe easier,’ Célestin thinks gratefully.

  He had not admitted it aloud, but ever since Dominic gained Mana, the constant heavy pressure has been straining even for him. Yet he endured it without complaint, not wanting to burden Dominic with worry. Besides, the pressure served as good resistance training.

  Dominic’s face visibly relaxes, and Célestin smiles proudly. “Feel better?”

  Dominic slowly opens his eyes, exhaling in relief. “Yeah. It’s a lot easier now. I think I’ve finally got it under contr—”

  –Fwoosh!

  In an instant, Dominic’s Mana surges outward uncontrollably once more, flooding the area again.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Célestin flinches slightly, feeling the renewed weight. “Ugh. Clark, keep your focus. Do not lose control.”

  Dominic winces apologetically. “Sorry, my bad.” He quickly shuts his eyes, repeating the visualization.

  As Dominic begins the process once more, Célestin patiently encourages him.

  “Look,” Célestin explains softly, “controlling your Mana is like learning any new skill. At first, you consciously focus on every detail. Like when you're learning to drive a car. Every action feels unnatural and forced. But after practicing consistently, the steps become second nature. Eventually, you do not think about pressing pedals or shifting gears; you just… do it naturally. Controlling Mana is the same. Soon, it will feel effortless.”

  Dominic absorbs the explanation and nods, redoubling his concentration. Once again, the Mana slowly pulls inward, gradually becoming easier to handle.

  Another notification appears, and Dominic smiles again.

  ‘Slow but steady,’ Dominic thinks with quiet pride. ‘I’ll master this in no time.’

  Célestin takes a deep breath, finally able to breathe comfortably as the overwhelming pressure gradually subsides.

  Dominic’s eyes remained closed, his brow furrowed in concentration as he meticulously pulls his Mana inward, condensing it closer and closer to himself.

  He is encouraged by his steady progress. His aura shrinks further, becoming more contained, and he feels greater control with each passing second.

  Célestin visibly relaxes, breathing even easier now. "You're doing great, Clark," he praises gently.

  Dominic does not reply, fully immersed in maintaining the delicate balance. The outside world feels distant, irrelevant. But suddenly, behind his closed eyes, something pierces through—

  A vivid flash of crimson eyes, cold and menacing.

  "Ah!" Dominic gasps sharply, his eyes snapping open in shock.

  In that instant, his carefully restrained Mana erupts outward again.

  -Fwoosh!

  The pressure returns violently, causing Célestin to flinch briefly. But Dominic immediately regains his composure, quickly closing his eyes again and desperately pulling his Mana back toward himself. This time, the process is slower, more difficult—but he persists.

  "Clark?" Célestin asks, his voice laced with worry.

  Dominic does not respond, focusing intensely on regaining control.

  Célestin's frown deepens. "Clark, what happened just now?"

  Dominic’s expression tightens further. "I saw… red eyes staring back at me," he answers, his voice strained yet controlled. "It felt… malicious. Like something was watching me."

  Célestin’s expression turns grave, his jaw tightening. "Red eyes, huh? It might be connected to the demon orb. Umbra magic binds you to demons more intimately than you realize."

  Dominic swallows, feeling an unsettling chill crawl down his spine. "Could it be… Baal? The demon that’s inside André?"

  Célestin’s expression darkens slightly, considering the possibility. "Maybe. Either way, we’ll have to be careful from now on."

  Dominic draws in another deep breath. "I’ll be fine," he insists firmly, as much to himself as to Célestin. "I just need more practice."

  Célestin’s seriousness melts into a playful smirk. "Good. Because if you keep scaring me like that, I might start charging extra for these lessons."

  "Shut up," Dominic mutters, still focusing intensely.

  Dominic continues drawing his Mana inward, pulling it closer until the chaotic energy settles calmly around him.

  Célestin lets out a relieved sigh, sensing the aura now restrained completely within Dominic’s bedroom.

  "Alright, stop for a moment, Clark."

  Dominic slowly opens his eyes, maintaining a tight grip on his Mana. He breathes heavily, sweat beading on his forehead, but satisfaction is clear in his eyes. His Mana is finally under his control—contained, calm, stable.

  "Good," Célestin says encouragingly. "Now, hold onto that feeling. Don’t lose your grip."

  Dominic nods firmly, determined to maintain control.

  "Now," Célestin instructs gently, "stand up slowly. Try moving while keeping your Mana under control."

  Dominic nods again and cautiously rises to his feet, feeling the Mana shift slightly but remain obediently within his grasp.

  He exhales softly, a small, victorious smile creeping onto his lips. I can do this, he thinks.

  Célestin watches Dominic closely, arms folded as he assesses Dominic’s progress.

  "Alright, now try walking around the room," Célestin instructs again. "Maintain that steady feeling. Don’t panic if your control slips a bit. Just bring it back in slowly."

  Dominic nods and takes a careful step forward. At first, his Mana remains stable, clinging tightly around him like a cloak. But as he moves, the energy begins to fluctuate—pulsing and trembling like water rippling in an unsettled pool.

  "Easy there," Célestin cautions softly. "Don’t force it. Let it flow naturally. Breathe through it."

  Dominic takes another slow step, inhaling deeply and trying to stay calm. His Mana wavers again, this time surging outward slightly, pushing against his hold.

  "Tch…!" Dominic grits his teeth, determinedly pulling his Mana back, reining it in before it escapes completely.

  "Good, Clark," Célestin encourages, offering a reassuring smile. "Fluctuations are normal. The important thing is how you react to them."

  Dominic continues walking around his bedroom, each step cautious and deliberate. With every movement, his Mana pulses—sometimes expanding a bit, sometimes shrinking too tightly—but he carefully corrects it, keeping it within a manageable range.

  Sweat beads on Dominic’s forehead, and his breathing becomes heavier with effort. Still, he presses on.

  After several moments, his Mana stabilizes again, less erratic than before.

  "Nicely done," Célestin says, standing up with a smile. "You’re ready for the next step. Let’s try going outside."