Summoned and Unwanted

557 Unbound

Vincent stood in front of the training boulder. He clenched his fist and tried to control the surrounding mana around his fist. Surprisingly, now it felt much easier to only concentrate on one point rather than over his body.

After getting used to adding his mana to charge his gauntlets quicker, Vincent stopped becoming better at external mana control. He was only becoming better in internal mana control.

The previous strike Vincent threw was weak. He wanted to keep his strength hidden, yet now, after watching Biro perform such a powerful and destructive attack, his adrenaline was making his heart race with excitement.

“You can do it.” Lilith cheered.

“Why don’t you show your woman something interesting?” Said Biro to motivate Vincent.

At that moment, Vincent thought, ‘I don’t think I need to hold back. Not after what I did yesterday.’ This line of thought motivated Vincent to use all he had.

Vincent prepared to throw a strike. He gathered mana from his surroundings, yet he forgot his gauntlets were absorbing the mana he collected onto his gauntlets.

The problem was simple. Gathering external mana was slow. So slow that it was absorbed quicker than Vincent could keep around his fists.

Furthermore, Vincent discovered how the application of the mana’s protective layer was being absorbed in a far slower rate than when collecting mana for an attack.

.....

‘The applications to use the surrounding mana are different. So far, I know about three types of applications. Use the surrounding mana called exterior mana. Add the user’s mana to increase the potency and charge rate. And lastly, add the user’s element of affinity to change the element of mana.’ Vincent pondered deeply.

Kazumi didn’t tell Vincent a hint or what was on her mind. She could tell Vincent was trying to figure something on his own. Similarly, Lilith and Biro assumed Vincent was wracking his brains while gathering external mana.

A rush of energy burst out of Vincent, and mana was suddenly absorbed like a vacuum for a second. A notification window appeared, and great news was written on it.

.

[Notice]

[The host’s body succeeded in undergoing a change.]

[The host’s body has undergone mutation refinement and the Blood Tempered Body trait became Stage Two.]

[The host can now control the mana surrounding the host more proficiently.]

.

-I think the mana is a little bit easier to control.-

[Yes. You are feeling correct. I am using Mana Sense, and I can feel the mana around your moving a little bit more fluidly. The mana is being controlled better than before.]

*Clap, clap, clap* “Congratulations on achieving blood purity stage two. I felt you were at the edge of refining the next level of your body. Haha. My instincts are always right.” Biro congratulated Vincent and helped Lilith understand what just happened.

“I am happy for you, Vincent. ” Lilith cheerfully said. She slyly grinned and sneakily added, “Lupa will be happy to find out, hehe.”

Biro and Kazumi laughed while Vincent tried not to think about the amount of pestering Lupa would do. She would definitely demand a spar and taste Vincent’s new improvement.

Vincent lowered his gaze and looked at his fist. The feeling of mana made him realize it needed a direction to go. He suddenly recalled using his finger to penetrate the magic-protected hide of the Alpha Grizzly Bear.

‘I first use Finger Shank and then use Shatter. What if I add the next step? The first move is to penetrate with Finger Shank. The second move is to expand with Shatter. The third move needs to use the space and explode like teacher Biro’s Force Blast.’

While Vincent was in deep thought, Biro whispered to Lilith, “Vincent needs to learn a new move by himself. He needs to do what my father said the cultivators do.”

“The cultivators?” Lilith asked with a low voice.

“Cultivators aren’t well liked because they bend the will of the world. They control and adapt the mana around them to their needs. Force Shock and Force Blast are two moves created for the first and second stages of Blood Temeperd Body. But who said they are the only two moves people can use? Do you understand what I am trying to say?”

Lilith nodded. “Does it mean teacher Biro is trying to let Vincent learn to bend the will of the world by himself like cultivators and create his own original moves?” She curiously asked in a low voice.

“Vincent is lucky to have a bright woman like you. ” Biro responded with a smile and a low voice. “I am not saying Vincent needs to become like the cultivators. I am simplifying preparing Vincent for the future.”

“Future?”

“Yes. Vincent achieved stage two a few months after achieving stage one. I couldn’t believe it the first time I heard about this. Now I can recall the same astonishment I felt that day. ”

“What about the move for stage three? Is teacher Biro preparing Vincent to learn a stage three move?”

Biro shook his head. “Only the first and second stage Energy Flow arts are thought without too many restrictions. However, like cultivators create or inherit moves from others, from stage three onwards, Vincent will need to create new moves or buy them from families that wish to sell their family’s precious arts.”

“But why do people call the cultivators barbarians if they need to create moves like them from stage three onwards?” Lilith questioned. She felt confused about the situation. She didn’t want to believe the people were filled with hypocrisy.

“The reason is simple. Only a few reach stage three. You can say one out of every one thousand or more who reach stage two keeps training to temper their body. I myself am at stage three while my father is at stage six.”

“In other words, those who do not achieve Blood Tempered Body Stage Two will not know that they need to follow the steps of those they call barbarians. As years passed, Force Shock and Force Blast, which also bend the will of the world, have become considered as the only moves one can practice.”

“Gaining a mana-refined body is far easier than a blood-refined body. The more stages one advances, the more difficult to see results becomes. Many end up giving up on pursuing growth and finding a good paying job.”

Biro placed his hand on Lilith’s shoulder. “As you can guess, I am almost in a similar state. I am too busy to keep training constantly while my father has become too old to keep training as he used to.”

“The duke looked health.” Responded Lilith.

“Yes. He is energitic and healthy because of all the hard work. He might live for another half a decade because a blood-tempered body increases the life expectancy of the user. Far more than a mana-tempered body.”

“Regardless of the increase in life expectancy, Vincent is young. If he improved this much in such little time, I bet he will be refining his body more than mine in a year or less.”

Biro and Lilith looked at Vincent with a gaze full of expectation. If Vincent wasn’t in front of them, he might feel pressured and lose his concentration.

Vincent extended his finger. He controlled both his mana and the surrounding mana to gather. As the seconds passed, the mana soon filled his finger with one charge.

Vincent decided to target the side of the self-rebuilding training boulder, hoping to break a small chunk at least. He thrust his hand, and his finger swiftly penetrated the boulder like pushing one’s finger into sand.

The key was set. Vincent started the ignition by spreading condensed mana with the advantage of Blood Tempered Body Stage Two’s increased mana control.

Cracks formed similar yet less than Shatter. Vincent could feel it was time to ignite the ignition. He forcefully spread all the mana in the gauntlet with one burst.

*Boom* A couple of small pieces of the boulder shot randomly like bullets.

Vincent didn’t have time to celebrate using a new move. He turned around and saw Biro covering Lilith. In his hands were a few pieces of tiny rocks.

Vincent nervously moved his gaze at Nick and the rest of his classmates. He sighed in relief when Ton and Ollie, with small rocks in their hands, protected the rest.

“Continue training your intent. Teacher Biro used a little bit too much power.” Said Ton to the students while throwing small rocks on the ground.

“I hope no more students want to go to the infirmary. Those rabbits look like they want to taste your meat and drink your blood. ” Added Ollie. He was getting used to helping with teaching students.

Nick knew it was Vincent who sent the small pieces of rocks flying as Vincent was the only one standing in front of the training boulder.

Nick turned his head to face the two vicious horned rabbits. “I will not flinch. I am not your food. You are my food.” He taunted with a frown.

Sparring with Lupa was making Nick think like her. He needed to become the hunter instead of the hunted. He didn’t want to keep losing his breath and feel his body tremble when Lupa got overly excited and showered Nick with bloodlust.

*Smack* “Vincent. You did it. I knew it was your time to shine. Hahaha.”

“Congratulations, Vincent. Don’t worry. I am not hurt. Teacher Biro protected me.”

[The damage isn’t too bad for your first try. To use the condensed mana to expand suddenly and forcefully caused it to explode.]

[Its like when you one time shook a soft drink, and it exploded. Haha. I remember you getting scolded.]

-...-

“So Vincent. Do you have a name for your move? Cultivators like to give their moves a fancy name.” Biro suggested. He looked rather interested to learn what Vincent was going to call his new move.

Vincent rubbed his chin and pondered, ‘A move that breaks and destroys. A move that separates what with bound by an explosion. I know!’

“Unbound. ” Vincent said his thought out loud.

*Smack* “I like the name Unbound. It is far better than “Heavenly god of destruction wave of annihilation.” or something like that.”

“I like that name too.” Said Lilith with a smile.