/ [Intermediate Mana Vision] discovered /
/ [Lesser Autonomous Mana Absorption] discovered /
Finally, I did it. After an ungodly amount of time, I was finally a little bit competent when working with mana. Mana vision had transformed from lesser to intermediate. It was an interesting development, to say the least. I pondered if these skills would get upgrades as I continued to develop my proficiencies for them. My sight had improved by a large margin. Instead of having the occasional one frame of vision, I worked up to one frame per second or at least something like that. Again, I couldn’t really tell the time in this place. I reserved about ten percent or so of my mana to strictly “seeing;” and with the auto absorption, I don’t have to actively restock my storage. With the rest of my stockpile, I can consider what else was within my capabilities.
During my “training arc,” I had some time to wonder about my current existence. While I did not need sleep, I could do so if I wanted to. It was actually very satisfying to do something human for once. Although I was thankful that I didn't have the normal needs of a human, I was a crystal after all, how would I even eat food or water? At times, it was detrimental to my sanity, so being able to feel somewhat human again was a welcoming sensation.
Furthermore, I took notice of how the system only addresses my own discoveries rather than giving out skills and points like in those isekai novels. Another thing that writers got wrong maybe? How does the act of giving skills work? Is it more like knowledge transferring? No, that wasn't right. I had to actively learn my "skills." Who knows?
My next experiment was to find whether I can control mana outside of my body or not. With the bubbles, I lost control of them the moment they disconnected from my body so what if I could shape them like a pole or a string? Having the exterior section attached to my interior like a tendril extending outward?
My first attempt ended in a failure, the string was too weak, too soft, which resulted in me losing control after a brief moment. Thus I used more mana to harden the tendril, making it more condensed and more concentrated.
/ [Lesser Mana Limb] discovered /
It was a success, however, it took a whopping fifty percent of my mana capacity to be stable. My “arm” wiggled in the air acting more like a tentacle rather than a human limb. The longer I extended it, the more of my mana was used, regardless, it was still connected to me so there was no loss taking place. I reached towards the utmost of my limits and now all ninety percent of the mana not used for sight were in my string. Is it around one meter in length? That is double of my height. Based on the critters and rock formations in the vicinity, I have guessed that my height is around fifty centimeters and twenty-five centimeters in width and depth. A large crystal. I wonder if there were sentient creatures who would love to mine me for raw materials or something. Another spine-shivering thought to be locked away to maintain my sanity.
The maximum length of the tendril so far was one meter and its diameter was about eight centimeters. It was the minimum diameter for the limb to still be part of me. Anything smaller would destabilize the limb from my body. one meter was quite a distance, however, it took up all of the mana deposit I had left. Is there a method to increase the efficiency? There might be more feats I could do if I had some mana left.
Now stay with me here, what if I only condense the exterior of the tendril, making it like a skin of sorts to separate the thin mana inside from the naturally occurring mana? Then I would relieve some of the resources back to my reserve for other usages.
My theory proved to be effective, fifty percent were freed for use after repeated testing. It was the best I could do at the moment. Anything more, and the skin would disperse which loosen up my control of my limb. If I could continue to increase the efficiency or somehow increase my mana capacity then will I be able to make more tendrils? Why stop at two? Maybe four? Maybe eight? The image of a crystal Lovecraftian horror with multiple mana tentacles appears in my mind. A majestic yet terrifying existence indeed. However, that was still beyond my abilities.
Now, with some mana to spare, I could test out what I can do with my limb. The first experiment was to touch the ground. As I expected, the tentacle phases through the earth, similar to how my mana waves pass through objects. Nothing surprising so far but a little disappointing maybe. My tests with the pebbles concluded with similar outcomes.
Something was off here. There was a primal instinct telling me that something was not what it seemed. I wanted to be able to touch things and instinct was raging at me, saying that it was possible. But how? If you think about mana as some sort of metaphysical resource that could travel through objects, how can I sense the changes in resistance? My method of seeing proved that it definitely can on some fundamental level interact with the physical world. Something that is akin to photons in light. Therefore, mana was either an entire physical element or something that drifts between the physical and the metaphysical.
/ [Intermediate Mana Understanding] discovered /
Thank you system for the confirmation. So how can I even begin to use this force? Is it based on density? I exuded the rest of my mana into my tendril, however, it continued to phase through the ground. No, that’s not it then. Perhaps, it’s not enough. I definitely felt it. The change in resistance from my tendril was more than my mana waves. Wait. I think I got it. My tendril retracted inside of me and with 90% of the stockpile, I condensed them into a single bullet shape mass. The energy crackled against my control. Before losing any sort of power over it, I shot the bullet out towards a small stone nearby. With the sudden impact against my mana, the stone flings away and crashes into the wall of the cave.
/ [Lesser Mana Bullet] discovered /
Holy shit. That’s it! I did it! The answer was density, which meant I could touch things if it was at the right density.
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After waiting for my storage to be recharged, my tendril emerged itself out of the crystal body once more. This time, it was faster and with more efficiency. In my previous trial, I placed all twenty-five percent in the entirety of the tentacle’s skin, so what happens if I placed more mana into the part that was in contact with an object? The tip of my tendril touched the ground but it does not phase through. In contrast, a reaction force exerted on the tentacle and consequently, me. My body began to rotate a little bit from the reaction force. I lifted the limb off the ground and the old little crystal me returned back to my original rotation.
/ [Intermediate Mana Control] discovered /
It worked and it worked beautifully. I can touch! Beware world! I am coming! Ahem. My ego got the better of me. I shouldn’t celebrate so early into my experiments.
My tests continued with small rocks and the like. It seemed different than how people experience touch. I could not feel how regular fingers felt. It was only the resistance meeting with my mana. The human sense of touch was complex and this was much more simple. There was no impression of heat or pain, however, this was an improvement from my previous state. I was learning and in time, who knows what might happen. Right now, I could hold a rock on my tendril by wrapping around it. Another thing to take note of was how after a certain weight, I was unable to lift the rock off the ground, similar to how people are unable to lift heavy objects.
It was time to try this on the small critters in the vicinity. They seemed to stay at least half a meter away from my body. It intrigued my curiosity. Did they perceive my presence or something? My tendril attempted to wrap onto a centipede-looking bug, however, it escaped from my grasp. A few more attempts were made with no avail. My problem right now wasn't the speed of my limb but it lay in my vision. My sight was approximately one frame per second. A lot could happen in that one second, the centipede could dodge and run away during that time. With the discovery of [Intermediate Mana Control] and [Intermediate Mana Understand], I sensed that I had a finer touch on how mana works. With ten percent of my reserve for seeing, I sent out smaller waves of mana with more quantity. My sight was now comparable to that of thirty frames per second. A helpful development in my constant monotonous growth so far.
/ [Intermediate Mana Vision] discovered. /
Music to my ears. How I missed listening to music. You only miss the modern conveniences when you have to live without them. All the things like eating and drinking alcohol were now a far-away dream for me. Although I was appreciative that there was no excretion since a crystal could not wipe itself after releasing the Kraken. That was one human thing that I didn't reminisce about. Back to the main task at hand, with my new and improved vision, I set my sight again on the centipede. This time, however, I did not miss it. With a helpful combination of vision, guessing where it would run to, and preemptive striking, the centipede wiggled and bit against my mana. If that hurt, I didn’t feel it. The sensation of having a bug struggling and pushing its tiny legs against my “skin” was definitely not a pleasant one. In contrast to the bug’s all-out battle against my grip, my tendril was trying its hardest to be gentle and not squash the critter. I didn't know my strength just yet so this was part of the extensive testing I had plans for.
Before any further examination could be made, an innate drive took hold of me to connect with the beast. I bring the creature closer and its caparache touched against my crystalline surface. The centipede’s futile battle against my grasp increased in magnitude like it was in pain. I felt some of my mana leaking into its body, changing it into something more. A string of mana extended itself from me to the creature, linking us together in some sort of twisted transformation. My mana was rapidly draining away from my source into the critter. Something in me longed to continue, nothing else mattered. The tendril lost its density which resulted in the centipede falling back onto the ground still squirming in anguish. Touch no longer mattered. The string connected us now and mana continued to drift away from my reserve. All that energy conformed inside the creature into a single tiny bead at the center of its forehead. Something had changed. A part of me now resided inside the centipede and it was slowly growing.
/ [Crystalline Connection] discovered. /
The system assaulted my mind with a notification; however, my focus was directed toward the now docile critter. I felt a sense of familiarity with the bug. Something that is akin to a familial attachment. I called out to it and it responded with confusion, relief, and reverence. A line of mana linked us together as the centipede’s emotions were laid bare for me. It had its own mind, but it was also mine. I understood now that the Crystalline Connection was a sort of one-sided contract that bound the creature to my will. Additionally, I could detect a minuscule increase in my mana capacity. What am I? What am I here for? Why do I have such powers? Nothing but silence answers my questions; only an instinctive desire for growth and spread remained.
The creature looked at me with an expectation of commands. Spin. The centipede followed in a circular motion, chasing after its own tail. My human side told me that it was unnerving, but somehow, I felt like the critter was kind of cute. I took notice of the part of me inside the bug. It was really bizarre, like having your mind being part of another being. I experiment with the other mind, recreating my mana waves. It was a success. The overlapping "image" was foreign to anything I had experienced. However, with this, I might be able to "see" through my minion and defend it with my tendril or mana bullets in case of emergencies.
To test my theory, I replicated my vision through the bead inside the centipede, the pulsing mana waves acted in a similar fashion to my own vision. Before I could test out any more skills, a strange eight-legged spider approached my centipede and, without my commands, my small follower attacked the new organism with unprecedented speed. Was it always this fast? My experience with capturing the centipede tells me no. So I could enhance whatever I link up with through crystalline connection? With the spider immobilized in its grip, the centipede bit into its prey and injected my mana into the new creature. Oh no, here we go again. Similar to the previous process, the spider struggled in pain but eventually turned docile.
Another ally forged through force. The centipede released the prey from its ironclad grip and stared at me for approval and I was inclined to grant its wish. Happiness flushed from the critter towards me. Is that how it works? An exchange of power for loyalty. I can see it now, eventually, I’ll become an eldritch horror that spreads beasts and beasts throughout the world. I won’t let it get to that. I have to maintain some level of humanity in my actions. I was a human first and whatever this was, second.
The new member of our family, the cave spider and its “sibling” awaited for my orders while I contemplated my next move. If there were more beings like me out there then will I be able to communicate with them? What would happen if they attack first? I need to prioritize my own safety right now. It seemed like by converting creatures, I gained more and more mana capacity. Hence, the first step was to increase my crystalline connections. With that, I ordered them to spread out and infect more organisms in the vicinity, right after I take a quick break to regain my reserve.
The familial bond was maintained. Things that were repulsive to me before were now cute and endearing. I was slowly changing with the tide into something else. There was no helping it now but in time, I would need to find a way to hold back my strange instinctual desires. For now, I continued to test the limits of my tendril as the familiars scutter off to follow my orders.