"Before we get started, how about you heal yourself first? I don't want to lecture someone who's half-dead and shivering like a wet puppy."
"Are you sure?"
"Why not?"
"Isn't using it a little bit... unfair?"
She paused. Then she laughed—hand over her mouth like a noblewoman in a tea party. I half-expected her to say "Oh dear, how uncivilized" next.
Did I say something funny?
"That's why you're not using it? Even though you're clearly one sneeze away from collapsing?"
"Yeah… is there a problem with that?"
Truth is, I was trying to drain my Mana on purpose to level up my Elemental Magic. Strategy, not stupidity. Big difference.
She raised a brow. "Are you sure you're a Summon? Because that logic sounds more like a background NPC with a martyr complex."
Ahem… about that.
"So let me get this straight—you won't think it's unfair if I heal myself right now?"
She crossed one leg over the other, leaned forward like a cat preparing to pounce. "Of course I won't. You think the world's fair? Pfft. That's adorable. If other people can't do what you can, that's their problem. Use your advantages. That's not cheating—that's called winning."
"If you say so…"
Cheru...[Understood.]
Cherubim used my Mana to heal me, and sweet holy cheese—it worked fast. My busted hand re-knitted itself like it was on express delivery.
"Oh? What was that? I didn't see you chant, wave, sneeze—nothing! Is that self-healing?"
Before I could answer—BAM!
A vine shot out of the ground like it owed her money and yanked my foot. I hit the stone floor, back flat, grace level: zero. My improvised stone chair watched from a distance, probably disappointed in me.
"Now," she said, standing over me like a substitute teacher with bad news. "How do you cast your skills?"
"Uh… with my hands. Or feet. Whichever's free at the time. Is… is that wrong?"
"It's not wrong, but it's what a beginner would do. Or an idiot. Like Leo."
"Oy!"
She waved him off. "You're channeling magic like this, right?" She raised a hand and, without warning, a thunderbolt screamed into the sky like it was late for an appointment.
"Yes?"
"See? You're using your body as the casting medium. Not bad, but not ideal either. You're basically driving a race car… with a horse cart attached."
Then—bam! A storm of electric energy flooded the area like someone turned the volume up to 'apocalypse.'
It was like earlier when she summoned that forest and deleted it like a CTRL+Z. Now, we're doing lightning. Cool. Cool cool cool cool cool.
How powerful is this girl?
"Let me give you a practical example. You haven't fought Xin yet, so I can't use him. Let's talk about Leal. How do you think he attaches his threads?"
Right. Leal and his mystical spider cosplay. I can't do what he does. I can only blast threads out. No sticky feature. Lame.
"Oy! OY! What are you two even DOING?! Aren't you supposed to be FIGHTI—Leal! Let me out—mmph!!"
She snapped her fingers. "Leal isn't using his body as his medium. He's using his mana manifestation."
"Wait—you mean the spooky fog of Mana that's always floating around me like haunted perfume?"
She nodded. "Exactly. And since you've mastered mana concealment, manifesting it externally should be easy. Just… treat your Mana like it's part of your body. Like extra limbs. Creepy, useful limbs."
"I… see?"
With a casual flick, all the lightning disappeared. She stood up, arms crossed like a final boss waiting for phase two.
"Then show me."
Suddenly, the skies turned darker than my social life. A thundercloud big enough to eat the sun hovered over us.
That looks very bad. That looks illegal.
She gave me the most serious look yet. "Show me you're worth all the time I've wasted on you. Otherwise…" She cracked her knuckles. "I'll crush you right here."
Wait, wha— There's a giant death cloud overhead! What does she mean "crush me"? What happened to "healing is fair"? I feel like the vibe changed!
Thunder crackled. Mana pressure pressed down on me like I owed it money.
"Don't think about defeating me. You can't. But if you want to not die, prove you're worth it. You are not allowed to be a disappointment."
Well. Good to know. Pressure's off. Just casually avoid disappointing a storm goddess. Sure.
I tried to feel my Mana, but all I sensed was the usual flow inside me. Not enough. I needed more. Not within. Around. I switched gears.
Mana perception—engaged.
I stopped looking inward and started feeling outward. The excess mana that had been floating off me like passive fog was everywhere. It wasn't just a mist anymore—it was a whole freakin' lake.
Back when I first arrived in this world, it was a tornado. Now? A foggy dome of dark energy, 50 meters wide. A spooky kiddie pool for wizards.
But now, I could feel it. Move it. Like fingers I didn't know I had.
"Time's up." Her voice sliced through the air. "This is the end."
A thunderstrike roared from the sky like a divine hammer of judgment.
I opened my eyes.
"No… it's not."
Now… devour everything—Dark Magic.
[Warning: Mana's minimum level is already below—proceeding anyway.]