After identifying the ideal point, Ren carefully slid toward the center of the bowl. His movements were precise, calculated, every second counted now.
With efficiency, he began arranging the crystals in formation. The hydra plate was placed at a specific angle, positioned to concentrate the reflections directly onto the crystals.
The effect was immediate. The crystals began to glow with an almost blinding intensity, absorbing the pure mana from the environment. Before they could grow or stick to the bowl’s crystal, he stored them one by one in shadow stalker skin, while maintaining the plate’s projection with his other hand.
After a few minutes, Ren took the first potion. Sweat ran down his forehead, even with his new level, being a double tamer and the medicine… The mana saturation here was still difficult to handle for too long.
“Are you alright?” Liora called from the edge, noticing his tension.
“Yes,” Ren responded while adjusting a crystal’s position. “I just need to finish the process, we’ll leave soon.”
His mushrooms pulsed faster now, working to help him process the excess mana. It was a delicate balance, he needed to keep the crystals exposed long enough to absorb the correct amount, but not so long they became oversaturated.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity but was only minutes, all the crystals reached the perfect point.
“The half hour’s almost up,” Liora warned, looking toward the tunnel they’d come through.
“I know,” Ren stored the last crystals in his specially lined backpack. “Taro must be worried.”
He took a moment to ensure everything was properly packed. These crystals were crucial for the two next ranks of his hydra’s evolution; he couldn’t afford any mistakes in handling them.
“Was it worth it?” Liora asked as Ren joined her at the edge.
Ren smiled with satisfaction while touching his backpack. “Definitely. These crystals have exactly the pure mana I need for my cultivation.”
Liora observed Ren with growing curiosity. There was something in his way of moving, in how he seemed to read the tunnels as if they were an open book. In the certainty with which he acted…
“You know?” Liora whispered, keeping her voice barely audible, “I hadn’t realized everything you could do without even using your beast despite spying on you constantly…”
“Technically I was using it… Also I too hadn’t realized it was you, I thought it was Luna who was spying on me until Larissa told me it was you,” Ren admitted quietly, scratching the back of his neck.
Something changed in Liora’s expression, a shadow of disappointment crossing her face before she could hide it.
“Why did you think it was her?” she asked, trying to maintain a casual tone.
“I guess the blue hair and that your mana marks are kinda similar,” Ren shrugged. “Plus Luna… She always seems to be watching me in class so…”
‘I don’t blame her, you really are interesting,’ Liora thought. ‘The way you understand all this… your way of acting is different. The other boys our age seem so immature…’
“We better hurry,” Liora forced a smile. “We don’t want Taro having a nervous breakdown.”
Ren nodded, though he paused a moment to look at the deposit one last time. It was an extraordinary place.
“Ready for the return trip?” Liora asked, already adopting the stance for the silent step she’d learned.
“Ready,” Ren confirmed. “But I’m not the one you should worry about… try not to trip over your own feet.”
Liora gave him a push as they began moving.
Ren laughed. “Sorry, the guys have gotten me into bad habits.”
“I’ll let you off this time,” Liora nodded. “But you should know that girls aren’t rude to each other when interacting.”
‘He’s a boy like all the others after all… But he apologizes and accepts his mistakes so easily… How can he be so honest yet so mysterious at the same time?’
“The mana always shines white when you speak, as if you really enjoy expressing yourself truthfully, but still… You’re different, you know?”
Ren’s mushrooms pulsed softly while considering her words. “I can see mana too and… You’re also sincere and different, I like that,” he pointed out.
Liora blushed slightly and, distracted by the conversation, momentarily lost the rhythm.
Ren also didn’t notice and continued. “You learned very quickly and I like that you’re curious like…”
A nearby and familiar sound interrupted his words. The same one Ren had faked several times.
The sound resonated through the tunnels and Ren’s mushrooms pulsed with alarm. “Don’t move,” he whispered urgently to stop Liora dead in her tracks.
But it was too late. A Deep Assassin emerged from the shadows, its proboscis gleaming threateningly. Liora had stopped poorly positioned, off balance.
Ren had some contingency options… he reached for one of the large rocks in his pocket, planning to throw it as a distraction, but Liora involuntarily took another step as she failed to regain her balance.
The Assassin lunged toward her.
“Jump behind me!” Ren shouted, throwing the rock simultaneously.
The Assassin was surprised to find nothing where Liora had been and received the rock’s impact. The projectile hit with unexpected force, creating a small crack in its carapace.
‘My strength…’ Ren realized while his mushrooms pulsed intensely. ‘Of course, 160% extra and now that I’m a double… A Bronze beast isn’t so far from my reach, especially one that sacrifices some defense for speed and attack.’
Liora manifested her will-o’-wisp and her body set aflame, bathing the tunnel in blue light.
But Ren stopped her.
“Don’t move!” He ordered while manifesting his hydra in his body. The claws grew, amplified by the new light veins and the girl fire’s light, his armor gleaming with the same blue tone as Liora’s fire.
“Close your eyes!” Ren shouted upon seeing the Assassin’s proboscis raised in front, preparing to attack.
Liora reluctantly obeyed, part of her wanting to continue observing the beautiful light display of Ren’s armor.
The Assassin launched itself toward where Liora had landed a few meters behind Ren, its proboscis extended like a deadly lance. But Ren, still interposed between them, created a blinding flash and with his now even more enhanced claws…
The movement was fluid, the result of countless hours of training with Lin. The long claws deflected the proboscis toward the adjacent rock, where it buried deeply. Without losing an instant, Ren took advantage of the beast being trapped and chained several precise cuts to the monster’s head.
The claws, empowered by the double light resonance, cut through the Assassin’s defense despite the rank difference.
Ren maintained the assault, his movements precise and lethal, until finally the monster’s head separated cleanly from its body.
Silence returned to the tunnel as the Assassin’s body collapsed.