Chapter Seventeen
[Ping!]
[Absolutely not! It's dangerous!]
Relax.
A sigh left my lips as I closed my eyes.
I have it all planned out. This is the best option we have, right now. We are running low on time. I don't have time to exercise and slowly wait for the lipid deposits to be cleansed from the body through the biological process. It has loosened enough to not rupture the veins now.
And, didn't you say it yourself that I can form Vessel Mana Circuitry now?
[Ping!]
[Just because we said it doesn't mean you should. The method you're considering is very painful. What if something happens to you!?]
Nothing will happen. Don't worry. I'll just cough up a little blood.
[Ping!]
[You know that's not the truth! You're planning to use mana to push the lipid deposits out of your body. You are not going to cough up a little blood! There will be a lot of blood and your skin will feel like someone is stretching it to the point of tearing it apart!]
I'll be fine. The lipid deposits are no longer stuck to the inner walls of the blood vessels. I'm just gonna push it out and clear the blood vessels. It's not that dangerous. You're overreacting.
[Ping!]
[You know if you can't tolerate the pain you'll die of a heart attack. Host can't die.]
Stop acting like that. I'm not going to die. Trust me. Okay?
Calm down.
[Ping!]
[Can't you just exercise?]
We don't have time. I need to be able to protect myself. How long do you want me to rely on Kaelen?
A sigh passed my lips.
Just believe in me. Okay?
Silence bounced off the cave walls as I closed my eyes, feeling as if a needle was pricking my heart.
Looks like it gave up on convincing me.
[Alert!]
[Quest Triggered: The First Step To Greatness Is The Hardest]
[Objective: Host Must Stay Alive Until The Formation of Circle 1 of Mana Heart]
[Reward: 500,000 Gold Coins]
[Would you like to accept the quest?]
[Yes] [No]
Half a million gold coins to stay alive? Haha. It seems like we are starting to develop a mutual understanding.
Yes. I accept.
[Ding!]
[Quest Accepted. All the best, Host!]
The blue screen vanished, leaving me alone in the violet glow of the chamber that seemed to match the rhythm of my heartbeat. I sat cross-legged before the four pieces of broken rock filled with clusters of mana stones.
You can do this, Yeun!
I drew in a long breath to calm my nerves as I closed my eyes, focusing on the thin threads of mana coursing through my vessels connecting the 108 mana points in my body.
The Neutral Mana Circuitry.
I decided to use the circuit's mana affinity to suck mana, in a different way. Rather than using it to absorb the energy, I dulled the pull and manipulated the blue beads of atmospheric mana instead, making each bead latch onto one stone and draw pure mana of the stone out in the form of glowing threads.
Whirrrrrrrrrr...
The air vibrated as I began to weave those individual threads into thick ropes of mana, strong enough to push the lipid deposits. Then, I quickly guided these ropes toward my skin, aligning them with the 108 mana points scattered across my body.
The mana entered my body through those points, forcing its way inside my blood vessels and systematically replacing the original circuit.
A cold sweat broke across my brow, carrying with it the yellowish lipid deposits that were being purged from my system. But as the pressure of the incoming purple mana intensified, the sensation shifted from a dull ache to a sharp, tearing heat.
"Arghhhhh!"
It felt as though my very skin would split under the sheer volume of pressure being generated by the purple mana to push out the lipid.
The purple light of the stones turned a muddy crimson as a brownish red mixture of lipids and blood began to seep out from all over my body and sprinkle over the mana stone.
Crack! Snap! Crackle!
My bones, once warped and bent because of this obese body, began to straighten with violent, rhythmic pops as I doubled over.
It's okay, Yeun. You've been through worse. It's okay.
"Gacccckkkk!! Splat!"
I coughed up a thick spray of dark blood that splattered against the muddy floor. Then another. And, another. Till my senses of pain were clouded and I lost count of the number of times I had coughed. My vision began to blur as I pushed even harder, forcing the final surges of energy to bridge the gaps between my nodes.
I can't fail again like the time I thought I had the portal under control. I can't lose consciousness... Just a little more...
With one final universe breaking surge of willpower, I joined all 108 mana points together. A low frequency boom resonated through my chest as the new circuit locked into place as it cast out the last of the impurities left in my body, spreading a sweet kind of warmth across my chest.
[Ping!]
[Vessel Mana Circuitry Established Successfully!]
[Skill Points : 0]
19 SP in a go. Not bad .
I rolled onto my back, ignoring the pain as my bloodied body hit the cave ground which was also soaked in my blood and lipid. My breathing was uneven, but stable
"Huff... Puff... Huff..."
The violet light was gone.
The mana stones embedded in the rock had turned dull. Looks like I consumed the mana of the stones completely during circuitry formation.
I closed my eyes and checked inward.
The circuitry was in place as purple mana was coursing through my blood vessels, connecting the mana points throughout my body.
With a mana circuit this pure, the opportunities in the future will be limitless for me.
Now, I just need to form the circle around Mana Heart. After that, I can use the 108 mana points in pairs to form mana circles around all my organs to reduce the strain on my heart and improve my mana drainage and absorption.
[Ping!]
[Stop plotting. Host needs to rest first.]
Are you telling me to rest so you don't have to give me half a million gold?
[Ping!]
[Do you not understand the situation. Or, you're dumb??? You only survived because of the determination of your old soul. If you try anything more now, YOU'LL DIE.]
Got it. Got it.
[Ping!]
[Also, you look like a pile of poop!]
You never get tired, do you?
[Ping!]
[Any sane person will vomit at sight of this mess. You're going to die single after all!]
No matter how much I wanted to retort back. I had self awareness and a good sense of smell.
Ugh... I need a bath...
"Your Grace, it's daw- YOUR GRACE!"
So sleepy...