Chapter 267: Train
Kael settles in his living room dorm, adopting a serene pose with his legs crossed on the floor. "I'm going to rank up my core," he states calmly, slipping into a meditative state. Around him, the environment is tranquil, a stark contrast to the vibrant energy he's about to engage with.
Ilka, in contrast to Kael's serene demeanor, yawns and floats around his head, her voice dripping with a mix of boredom and superiority. "Your mana core, huh. How boring, mana is too easy compared to aura," she comments, lazily circling above him before landing on Kael's head, making herself comfortable in his hair. "You should just listen to me and put more focus into your training," she advises, her tone suggesting she finds the meditation less than thrilling.
Kael sighs, a note of irritation creeping into his voice, "Shut up and let me finish. I've read enough regarding mana circuits to understand how they function." Despite the disturbance, he tries to maintain his focus, the air around him charged with a silent intensity.
Ilka, now laying on Kael's hair, muses nonchalantly, "I think I heard of that once." Her casual dismissal adds a touch of humor to the scene, contrasting with Kael's serious endeavor.
While continuing his meditation, Kael elaborates, "Mana circuits are kinda similar to aura paths. The key difference is that everyone has mana circuits unlike aura which forces you to make the paths." He begins circulating the mana in his core at a faster speed, drawing energy from the countless mana stones laid out on the floor around him, which are gradually being depleted of their power.
Kael further explains, "Mana circuits are invisible, and we can't really sense them, but we do know they are all over the body. So that got me thinking, what if I managed to sense a singular mana circuit?" His theory is punctuated by the focused energy in the room, the stones flickering as they surrender their energy to his cause.
Ilka, tapping her chin thoughtfully, seems to consider his words for a moment. "I mean, all the circuits are connected to the core and to each other, so you would technically be able to sense all the circuits," she theorizes, inadvertently engaging in the discussion despite her initial disinterest.
Kael nods, his eyes still closed in concentration. "Exactly. As you know, one of the main reasons people are incapable of being both aura and mana users is that in order to use both, first, they have to create an aura path so that when mana enters the body, they don't immediately explode. It's extremely difficult to create an aura path if mana is already present in the body."
Ilka rolls her eyes, her internal monologue almost audible. 'Why is my disciple trying to teach me what I've known for years? The whole point of aura paths is to prevent explosive reactions with mana.'
Ilka, assuming a tone of mock affection while messing with Kael's hair, says, "I know you're a smart boy." She floats upside down in front of his face, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "But, if something goes wrong here, I won't be able to guide you, so you don't have permission to mess around with mana," she warns, her playful demeanor giving way to genuine concern.
Kael, unphased and determined, retorts, "Huh? What the hell. I'm doing this whether you like it or not." He focuses on circulating his mana with precision, a silent rebellion against Ilka's caution. 'If I can sense my circuits, I might be able to reshape them. If I do that, I will practically have 0 ping, hehehe. There's always a second to half-a-second delay when using magic. It might not seem like a big difference, but in a fight, every second counts,' he muses, his mind racing with the possibilities.
Ilka raises her eyebrow, her face morphing into an expression of anger. "Bitch, I said you're not doing it," she states flatly, her patience wearing thin.
Kael, feeling the weight of her gaze, sighs, yet remains stubborn. "I'm going to cast a magic circle on my hand; at the same time, I'll let my aura roam free in my hand. When the mana and aura meet, they'll have an explosive reaction, but as you know, these explosions are mana-based. I'll have Umbra as a needle in my hand to suck the explosion up. When it happens I'll know where the circuit is and I'll focus on-"
Ilka, hearing his plan, bluntly refuses, "No," she declares, crossing her arms and floating resolutely in front of him. "There's no room for discussion, this is not happening."
Kael, frustrated, flicks her away dismissively. "This is going to work. You'll see," he insists, his confidence clashing with her concern.
Ilka exhales deeply, her frustration palpable. "I'm your master. I let you talk to me and treat me however you want, but if I tell you not to do something, you are obligated to listen," she asserts, sitting on his head, emphasizing her point. "You can do it if you have someone assisting you like the tower master or that one woman with the two different eye colors."
Kael, about to retort, "Hey, lis-" is cut off as Ilka interrupts, "If you don't listen to me, I won't teach you anything else." The finality in her voice silences him, her threat hitting home.
Kael remains silent from here on out. Meanwhile, Ilka groans, laying on his head as he continues to circulate more and more mana. 'What a stupid disciple. I'm doing this to protect you, idiot.'
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Eira stretches, her body unfurling like a cat in the sun. 'It's going just as planned, I don't have to worry about anything of mine ever being stolen anymore,' she thinks to herself, a smirk playing on her lips as she steps out of the building. The mansion before her, a result of hours of meticulous designing and executing, stands proudly with its five bedrooms and five empty rooms awaiting their destiny. The extravagant kitchen, despite her denials, bears testament to her dedication, equipped with everything Kael could ever need alongside her own innovative devices, all set against polished white counters and a minimalist design.
She has furnished two living rooms, a massage room, a sauna, an empty library, and a couple of offices, ensuring every inch of the place is laden with security measures, a testament to her serious security habit.
Eira smirks as she surveys her work from the outside. "Hey, Bob, what do you think?" she calls out to a passing zombie. The zombie halts, mumbling, "Rogutgrj ngrgke efi." She nods at the unintelligible response, "I agree," she says, sharing a moment of humor with the undead.
Turning around, she observes the ongoing construction. Most structures are nearly finished, the efficiency of the zombies exceeding her expectations. "I love it. Zombies won't steal a thing, they don't need breaks, they don't get tired, and there's no safety needed for them," she muses, contentment in her voice as she wanders through the developing site.
Humming a tune, she lays on the grass, allowing herself a moment of relaxation. 'Kael, to think you'd give such a gift,' she contemplates, a trace of warmth in her thoughts. 'Hmm... I feel like we should hang out more. We're both always busy doing our own things,' she ponders, a hint of longing weaving through her musings.
She exhales, fatigue coloring her reflection. 'I wonder why he chose to work with me? He came out of nowhere with nothing, and in less than a year, he managed to make us filthy rich. You're always working for something. It's almost like you're preparing for something.'
Eira taps her chin thoughtfully, her golden brown eyes shimmering under the sunlight. 'Hmmm... I think he deserves a gift. I'm going to wait, it's almost time for the greatest festival in the decade, the day everything around the world tree blooms.'
Des, with her respectful yet hesitant voice, runs up to Eira. "Um... I was wondering if you could help me train," she asks timidly. Eira sighs, standing up and looking down at Des. 'This little thing. Her mana is all over the place. Kael, ugh... I don't hate you for taking her in, it's actually kind of cute of you, you damn goblin, but why on mother earth would you leave her to me? What made you think I'm good with kids?' Eira muses internally while stretching. Des's crimson eyes make her little face cuter than it should be, rendering her impossible for any sane person to ignore.
Eira rubs her temples, conceding, "I have some spare time." Des's face lights up with a smile as she holds up her sword and takes a deep breath. "Here I go!" she announces, charging at Eira. Her sword movements are calm and fierce, but Eira easily dodges her attacks. 'This girl. She's extremely dedicated, always training in her spare time. Tsk, all this training just to get a compliment out of Kael.'
Eira effortlessly dodges an attack and counters, gently punching the sword to test Des's reaction. As Des loses her balance, she jumps, following the path of the sword and using momentum to strike. Eira smirks, impressed. "Not bad. But why are your sword movements slow? I'm not a sword user, but I can tell you're deliberately using slow movements," she inquires, curious about Des's technique.
Des shrugs, biting her cheek in thought. "I don't really know. The last time I showed Kael, he corrected me and said it needed to be slow. He said I will understand it the more I train," she explains, conveying Kael's cryptic advice.
Eira exclaims in annoyance, "Ugh... that man," slapping her face lightly. 'Train the damn kid properly, Kael,' she thinks to herself, her frustration with Kael's unorthodox training methods evident. She then turns to Des, her expression softening. "Are you really not going to tell him? Don't you want him to be here for your birthday?" she asks, probing gently.
Des frowns, fiddling with her hands nervously. "I do but... I don't want to waste his time. I know he's going to be busy," she admits, the reluctance in her voice painting her as considerate, yet longing.
Eira laughs, brushing off Des's concerns with a wave of her hand. "Pfff, don't worry about that. Do you want me to tell him?"
Des shakes her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "N-no, it's okay," she replies, her independence shining through despite her evident desire for Kael's presence. After picking up her sword, she adds, "T-thank you. I should head back to the store now," before scampering off.
Eira watches her go, a mix of amusement and frustration lingering in her thoughts. 'That girl... Tsk, if she doesn't want him to be here, that's on her,' she concludes, her attention then shifting back to her own projects.
'The small gate I set up is complete,' she notes with a hint of pride, walking into a building made entirely of metal. Inside, she undergoes a rigorous security check involving a palm scan, eye recognition, and a drop of her blood before the door swings open. The interior is a high-tech wonderland, filled with schematics, prototypes, and data on all sorts of weaponry. 'Kael, that asshole, telling me to design huge shields capable of blocking bullets, all sorts of explosive devices, and fucking mana shields,' she groans.
She sighs deeply, sinking into a huge fluffy chair, the weight of their impending challenges pressing down on her. 'You told me not to worry about it, but I'm not stupid, Kael... We're not responsible for the upcoming war, right? I don't want to be the cause of the war...'
Resting her head on her arm, she debates internally, "Should I train some more?" She taps her chin thoughtfully, then dismisses the idea with a frustrated, "Tsk, I don't have time."
Turning her attention to the task at hand, she addresses the cube directly, "Hey, cube, Kael said you wanted to make a dungeon with the main focus of armed zombies, right? It sounds stupid, but can you show me the design?" Without warning, she's teleported into a vast, dark cavern where zombies are industriously working, placing mana stones and setting traps everywhere.
Eira smirks, an idea forming in her mind. "I'm going to attach guns to their flesh~"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
QTV
QTV Fun Fact: Kael will be mad when he finds out how much money was put into building the mansion.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone