Page 386

"Mages form mana rings around their mana heart, and each ring represents a cycle for one level—much like how you level up."

"The more mana rings you have encircling your heart, the higher your mage level, which translates into a larger mana pool."

"This increased capacity allows for the performance of higher-level magic." Kisha had a sudden thought that 008 looked like it was giving a lecture with a spectacle in its eyes.

"Think of it this way: as you cultivate your mana heart and increase the number of rings, you not only enhance your magical abilities but also gain access to more potent spells."

"Each ring signifies a step in your progression as a mage, allowing you to tap into more complex and powerful forms of magic."

"So, if you can find a way to cultivate your mana, you might unlock even greater potential."

Kisha tilted her head in confusion. "But I’m not a mage, and aren’t mages born with that ability? Wouldn’t that make it kind of pointless for me?"

"Tsk tsk tsk... Host, mages aren’t born, they are made through their own efforts," 008 explained with a hint of amusement.

"Unlike awakened superhumans, mages rely on talent—specifically, the ability to sense mana, feel its flow, and detect its movement in the environment. In a way, mana and spiritual energy are both forms of natural energy."

"You can’t see them, but they can be felt. Mages develop the sensitivity to absorb mana from their surroundings, storing it in their mana heart, just like how cultivators in the Murim world harness spiritual energy and store it within their bodies."

"Wait, what?!" Kisha’s eyes widened with excitement.

"We can draw spiritual energy from nature? So, if I learn a proper cultivation technique, does that mean I wouldn’t need to rely on crystal cores to level up anymore?" She asked eagerly, her mind racing at the possibility of becoming self-sufficient in her training.

"That’s true, but host," 008 explained patiently, "since Earth is still a relatively young planet, spiritual energy hasn’t fully formed in your world yet. So, no matter how much you try to absorb heaven and earth energies, it would be futile."

"However, mana is different. Mana doesn’t rely on heaven and earth dao energy—it draws from the energy of nature itself."

"I don’t get it. What’s the difference between spiritual energy and mana?" Kisha asked, her confusion growing with every word 008 spoke.

"Spiritual energy is the pure essence of heaven and earth. While it shares elemental properties with mana, spiritual energy is much purer and stronger."

"And because spiritual energy is a pure energy of heaven and earth, it harmonizes perfectly with the human body. Mana, on the other hand, is typically harnessed by magical beings like dragons, elves, and other creatures."

"Since they possess a natural mana heart from birth, these beings can easily control mana. However, for humans, mana doesn’t naturally sync as well with the body, making it harder to wield."

"That’s why mages, in addition to their mana, need a medium to channel their magic. This medium is often a staff, inscribed with intricate magical circles that align with the user’s elemental affinity."

"Although spiritual energy also has elemental properties, it’s a raw, unrefined energy that can be used without the need for a medium because of its purity."

"It’s often referred to as a ’gift from the gods,’ as it’s the same energy that deities harness in their early stages before it transforms into authority—or more commonly known as divine power—due to the devotion they gain from their followers."

Kisha’s head throbbed with all the new information she was absorbing.

Though 008 had mentioned before that creatures like elves and dragons—beings she believed only existed in human fantasy—were real, it still left her feeling skeptical.

The idea that these mythical creatures truly existed was hard for her to fully accept.

But then again, she had died 99 times and come back to life, not to mention awakening abilities that humans once thought impossible.

So, in comparison, the existence of mythical creatures didn’t seem all that far-fetched anymore.

But now, 008 was suggesting that she could actually become one of those mages—individuals capable of summoning storms and tsunamis, just like the ones he frequently mentioned.

"Host, I didn’t say that; I mentioned that only archmages possess that level of power, not all mages," 008 interjected, clarifying Kisha’s assumptions.

Kisha could only nod in response, acknowledging the correction.

"Oh!" Kisha’s lackluster response caused 008 to pout slightly, feeling a bit deflated.

"But wait, you mentioned that only mages can possess mana among humans. Does that mean I’m already considered one? However, unlike the mages you described, I might have already developed my mana heart, but what about the mana rings?"

The questions and points Kisha raised were all valid, prompting 008 to ponder them as well.

"But host, based on your current mana levels, you should have already formed your second mana ring. This is essential to stabilize your mana heart and prevent it from rupturing or exploding due to the excessive flow of mana without the necessary security provided by the mana rings."

Then 008 paused, lost in thought. "Hmm, it might be that your spiritual energy is regulating your mana, keeping it in check. The two energies seem to be balancing each other, preventing either from going out of control, especially your mana heart."

"That could explain why your spiritual energy and mana are behaving like oil and water. But in actuality, they should coexist without clashing, as they use different energy channels."

"In theory, you should be able to harness both energies or even create a new one that’s neither pure mana nor spiritual energy."

008 drifted deeper into its own thoughts, but Kisha found herself unable to keep up. To her, it all started sounding like incoherent rambling, especially since she barely understood anything about mana and its properties in the first place.

To be precise, she had always relied on her instincts and experiences, much like when she developed the technique to harness the Scarlet Honey or when she learned to control the spiritual energy within her to aid in her training.

008 also realized that no matter how much he explained, Kisha wouldn’t truly understand unless she could feel it for herself.

Only by experiencing it firsthand could her mind fully grasp how it worked.

"Host, the moment I detected mana flowing through your body, I immediately searched my sales channel for a suitable mana training manual from a world filled with magical beings—Fantasy World.

Hehe, you can thank me later!" 008 said smugly, before a system interface popped up in front of Kisha, displaying the manual along with its price.

The manual appeared as a worn-out, hardbound book, its cover adorned with intricate inscriptions and a large magic circle at the center. Above the symbols, in bold, ancient lettering, was the title: "Profound Understanding of Mana: Stages and Techniques."

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary manual. But when Kisha’s eyes drifted downward to the price, she froze, choking back surprise as her eyes widened in disbelief.

’Is this system doing this on purpose?’ she screamed internally, glaring at the outrageous price. Her mind raced as she quickly calculated the system points she’d just earned from completing a few missions, wondering if they’d even come close to covering the cost.