With the exam scheduled for the last week of April, everyone was diligently studying and refining their mana without much conflict. Rex only appeared occasionally to throw sarcastic remarks at Norman, always loud enough for others to hear. Norman usually ignored him or responded with a casual smile and moved on. Rex didn't push further—after all, focusing on the exam mattered more now.
It was the first week of March, and Norman had been refining mana diligently. He felt like he was nearing his body's limit. His physique needed just one final push to break through. His core, located in his stomach, was filled with pure mana essence to the brim—on the verge of bursting and condensing into a new, stronger core. As for his brain, which governed mental manipulation, it only required one deep meditative session for him to naturally advance to the next tier.
Norman decided to undergo his breakthrough in a hotel. With the city under tight control, leaving its borders was difficult. Doing it at home was risky too; stronger mana users might sense the swirling energy around his house. While his Mana Cloak hid internal fluctuations, it couldn't conceal the external turbulence of a breakthrough. If someone sensed it, how ridiculous would it be for an "F-level" talent to be the first of his cohort to break through?
A hotel provided a safer option. Even if someone noticed, they wouldn't be able to trace it back to him with so many guests around. Thanks to the Mana Cloak concealing internal activity, he could quietly handle the process without drawing attention.
On Saturday night, during the first week of March, Norman checked into a hotel. He paid using his allowance, having saved up a few low-grade mana crystals over time. First, he chose to break through in the mental aspect. His mind was already at its limit. One focused meditative session was all it took. A sense of newfound clarity washed over him. Nothing explosive—just a serene understanding. He tested his new ability by levitating the bed and succeeded. Now a Mental Mana Adept, he could lift heavy objects. Back when he was still an apprentice, he could only float lightweight items like knives. Now, although levitating the bed for a few minutes was mentally taxing, it showed he had clearly advanced.
As a mental-type user, he also gained the ability to influence the minds of those weaker than him—forcing his will into others. He hadn't tried that yet, but he planned to experiment subtly on his classmates someday.
After resting for an hour, he moved on to his physical breakthrough. Advancing physically and through energy manipulation was far more painful. The physical one required him to push his body beyond its limit—embracing pain throughout his entire being until the breakthrough forced itself.
Norman began absorbing mana into his already strained body. Sweat poured from him, and his muscles trembled. The mana in the room swirled, responding to his intense will. He forced it into his weakened flesh.
Every fiber of his body screamed in agony.
"Break…through!" he growled, voice hoarse.
The mana surged through his body like fire, searing his meridians and muscles. The pain was excruciating—like thousands of needles stabbing his gut. But he endured. Then, a surge of energy exploded inside him. The pain faded. His body felt new—tougher, stronger, faster.
"Huft… huft… That was rough. I'll have to go through this every time for a physical breakthrough?" Norman muttered while lying on the floor. Exhausted, he fell asleep and decided to tackle energy manipulation in the morning.
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The next morning, he woke up and took a long bath. Now a Physical and Mental Mana Adept, he felt reborn. He wanted to test his enhanced physique but decided against wrecking the hotel room. After breakfast in the hotel restaurant, he confirmed no one was discussing any mana disturbances from the night before. After all, guests often refined mana in their rooms—no one would suspect a rookie had broken through.
Later that Sunday morning, Norman resumed his advancement. The final step: energy manipulation. This required shattering the existing core and reforming it under intense pressure. Less painful than the physical process, but more delicate.
Taking a deep breath, he channeled pure mana into his core. The pressure mounted. A sharp internal crack echoed—his core had shattered.
The pain wasn't like before. It felt like something tearing from deep within. If he let the broken core disperse, he'd fail the breakthrough and be injured—forcing him to start refining all over again. He had to compress the fragments and forge a stronger core.
The swirling mana resisted. His body trembled. But his will remained firm.
"Condense!"
A brilliant light flashed inside him.
The core reformed—stronger than ever.
Norman had become an all-around Mana Adept.