The System

CH- 51: Realization.

   A much-deserved reward lost because of a technicality.

Any soul who has bled for their dreams understands the pain behind this ludicrous turn of events, but Tetsu stayed indifferent. Because he didn't like the system's insinuation of those pathetic bugs being worth enough to be called a bonus.

Be it level five or level seven, squashing a pathetic bug should not be regarded as an accomplishment.

On his way back, Tetsu found more pathetic bugs. This time around he avoided them, not wanting useless XP points.

Striding through the forest like a king, Tetsu practiced with air affinity.

Info gave little information on air affinity, simply stating air affinity has the mana essence of 'Breathe' stationed inside the air.

Breathe is a fancier term for air, wind, breeze, and you get the point.

Despite the vague and obvious secrets encircling the affinity, it played a huge role in Tetsu, creating the all-seeing eye of providence, and the aura level system skill.

Air affinity helped Tetsu awaken an innate knowledge that increased his range and control over mana. Now, even though he leaked mana from every spore, Tetsu can manipulate it to flow in a direction of his choosing.

More theories and experiments followed suit and Tetsu discovered other mana signatures devouring each other; the same way he used devour to convert other mana affinities into his unique signature.

This meant every mana affinity had a will of its own. An innate sense to multiply and make more of their kind. Similar to how every race, species, and pretty much every cell's basic function: Multiply.

In understanding the basic function, Tetsu also realized the missing component among the detached mana string.

By imbuing his mana with more willpower, the string lasted longer and functioned much more efficiently than ever before.

Tetsu tried using 'Pave Paths' with this application of mana, borrowing some pieces from the previous puzzle to form a new theory but failed.

While the borrowed pieces formed a perfect puzzle, Tetsu could not use 'pave paths' unless the mana was directly connected to him. Sure, he can extend his mana, control its direction with air affinity, touch any object, and use pave paths, but imagine throwing wisps of mana and using the skill over multiple objects.

If accomplished, he can zoom around better than any magnetic field user or the conditioned runes, by using much less effort and mana.

A slight but very efficient upgrade to 'Tenco ten.'

His current fighting style works best in short bursts. To be specific, five minutes. If the battle prolongs, the mind overheats like a processor built inside the wrong computer, threatening to erode Tetsu's eye sockets.

One has to remember the technique includes predictions to foresee an event/attack. This meant he had to plan for the future, manipulate the present, and constantly learn from the past. Something tailored to an overthinker.

Pieces of the puzzle clicked, yet the expected ding of accomplishment never occurred.

"I may be looking at the puzzle the wrong way. " Wondered Tetsu.

While he tried to rearrange the imaginary puzzle, an unrelated notification interrupted and grabbed his attention.

[Ding! Crimsonfae fangs have reached level 07.]