Chapter 24 – The Path to Power
Quinn stared at Cedric, his expression unreadable. The body was gone—no traces left behind. No evidence. No way to track the Hallow's remains.
He exhaled sharply. So that's how it is.
"Looks like we have no way of tracing the body," he muttered, his voice steady, but inside, his thoughts were a storm.
"I have to get stronger."
His fists clenched. This wasn't enough. This wasn't even close. If he had been stronger, if his control over mana had been absolute, this situation wouldn't exist. He would have crushed that Hallow before it even had a chance to vanish into nothingness.
"My mana—no, my very existence—must become something greater."
"I need to refine every ounce of energy within me. No more wasted movement. No more inefficient attacks. My mana must flow like a raging river, yet strike like a needle to the skull. No excess. No hesitation. Pure devastation."
"My endurance must be peak—no, beyond peak."
"Taking hits isn't enough. I need to withstand destruction itself. If a rocket were to explode in my face, I wouldn't flinch. If a blade pierced my skin, it would break before it reached my bones, there would be no more relying on luck. No more close calls. I would forge myself into a being that could not be killed."
"My punches… they must be powerful. No, they must be monstrous."
"A single strike from me should be enough to erase a Hallow from existence. Not just knock it back, not just wound it—obliterate it. If I threw a punch, the very air should crack, and the force should be enough to tear through steel, flesh, and bone alike."
"A Hallow's body should not even be able to hold itself together after facing me. If I landed a clean hit, it would be like dropping a bomb at point-blank range. Destruction."
"I will increase my senses beyond human limits."
"Even if I lost my eyes, even if my ears were shattered, it wouldn't matter."
"Blind? I would still see. Deaf? I would still hear. Paralyzed? I would still fight.
My awareness must become so sharp that even in total darkness, I would feel the air shift, hear the heartbeat of an enemy, and sense their intent before they even moved. I would be an apex predator in every sense."
"And most of all… I will make Hallows fear me."
"Not just respect me. Not just acknowledge my strength. They would fear my very presence.
My name alone should be enough to send shivers through their wretched forms. When they sensed my mana, their instincts should scream at them to run. When they looked into my eyes, they should feel the weight of their own inevitable annihilation."
"No more running. No more chasing shadows."
"I would be the nightmare that Hallows feared to face."
Quinn exhaled slowly, his eyes sharp as blades. His resolve had been reforged, burning hotter than ever before.
It was time.
He would train. He would surpass every limit. And when the next Hallow stood before him, thinking it had a chance—
It would learn true despair.
Quinn's breath steadied, his heart pounding with determination. His body, his mana, his very existence—none of it was enough. He needed more. He needed to become something beyond human.
At that moment, a familiar cold sensation washed over him as the System stirred.
[New Quest Available]Title: Mastery of Mana – The Foundation of Absolute Power
Description: Your mana is a crude weapon—powerful but inefficient. To transcend human limitations, you must refine it to perfection. You must become a vessel that wields mana as an extension of your will, without flaw or weakness.
Objectives:
Circulate mana through every fiber of your being without interruption for 48 hours.
Condense your mana into a stable core of absolute density—one that cannot be shattered, even under extreme external pressure.
Refine your mana to reinforce your body, enhancing endurance until your flesh resists destruction itself.
Hone your control until your strikes carry the force of compressed energy, turning every punch into a shockwave of devastation.
Accelerate your mana flow to eliminate casting delays, allowing you to unleash skills instantly.
Utilize mana to enhance agility and reaction speed, surpassing human reflexes.
Completion Reward: ???
Duration: one week
Failure Penalty: Permanent Instability of Mana Flow
Quinn's eyes widened as he read through the quest.
"Failure… means my mana would become unstable forever?"
That wasn't a punishment—it was a death sentence. A crippled Awakened was no better than a walking corpse.
A slow grin formed on his face.
"Perfect."
This was exactly what he needed—a challenge that would break him, then rebuild him stronger.
Quinn turned to Cedric, his expression sharp with determination. "Do you know a place where I can train in isolation?"
Cedric raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. "Somewhere isolated, huh? You planning on doing something reckless?"
Quinn didn't answer immediately. He knew Cedric would understand without him needing to explain.
"I need to push myself past my limits," he said finally. "A place where no one will bother me, where I won't have to hold back."
Cedric exhaled through his nose, considering it for a moment. Then, with a nod, he said, "Yeah, I know a spot. There's a forest just outside the city—about an hour away if you move fast. Not many people go there since it's rough terrain, and the mana density is a little… unstable."
That caught Quinn's attention. "Unstable how?"
"The area was hit by some kind of battle years ago. Left behind a weird mana field. Some say it messes with Awakened abilities—forces you to work harder to maintain control." Cedric smirked. "Sounds perfect for whatever insane training you're planning."
Quinn clenched his fists. That was exactly what he needed. A harsh environment that would force his body and mana to adapt.
"I'll be heading there for a week," he said. "If you don't mind."
Cedric shook his head. "Not my call to make. But if you're really doing this, you should at least take the day off. Rest before throwing yourself into hell."
Quinn opened his mouth to protest, but Cedric cut him off with a look. "And at the very least, tell your sister. Disappearing for a week without warning? That's not something you do to family."
Quinn hesitated for half a second. Then, with a nod, he said, "I will."
Without another word, he turned and left the AGC building. His footsteps were steady, his mindset.
He had one last stop before his real training began. Home.
The late morning sun hung high in the sky as Quinn stepped out of the AGC building. The city streets were alive with movement—cars humming, people chatting, the usual noise of daily life.
But to him, it all faded into the background.
His mind was already in that forest, standing in the heart of the unstable mana field. Feeling the pressure of wild energy pressing against his body, testing his control.
It would be grueling. It would be painful. But he welcomed it.
Each step toward home felt heavier, not from exhaustion, but from the weight of his own resolve.
The system's quest burned in his thoughts.
Circulate mana through every fiber of your being without interruption for 48 hours.
Condense your mana into a stable core of absolute density.
Refine your body until it resists destruction itself.
A single mistake meant permanent instability—crippling his growth forever.
He clenched his fists.
No. Failure was not an option.
He would push his body, his mana, and his very existence beyond their limits.
The familiar sight of his new apartment complex came into view. He took a deep breath.
One last conversation. One last moment of normalcy.
Then, he would vanish into the wilderness for a week. And when he returned—
He would no longer be the same Quinn who left.
With that final thought, he stepped inside.