[Mana Manipulation] with [Perception]

This combination could create something akin to my Mana Wavelength Iris, so this is most likely a pass for now. It could be great, but I already have my trait, which is more than good enough for that.

[Mana Manipulation] with [Tether]

Sounds interesting, but I really like [Tether], and I still don’t think I’ve explored it properly. So, this one is also a pass.

[Mana Manipulation] with [Regalia]

This one sounds the most interesting so far. I will think about it.

[Mana Manipulation] with [Infusion]

This is one to seriously consider, though I suspect that it’ll just create a stronger, more mana-focused version of [Regalia]. Or maybe it will allow me to infuse mana more easily? In higher amounts? Like an improved version of my former skill [Mana Surge]?

It's not very enticing.

[Perception] with [Tether]

Also most likely a pass because I want to keep [Tether].

[Perception] with [Regalia]

This one is a straight-up weird combination, and I can imagine a worse skill coming out of it.

[Perception] with [Infusion]

Better [Infusion] maybe, a higher version of it? Though that could end badly as well.

[Tether] with [Regalia]

It could be interesting, but once again, nope.

[Tether] with [Infusion]

Also nope.

[Regalia] with [Infusion]

And once again we have something truly interesting.

So, in the end, it's either [Mana Manipulation] with [Regalia] or [Regalia] with [Infusion]. Either seems to be a good option.

Would the first option make a more controllable version of [Regalia], so perhaps the second will make a stronger version of it?

These options seem fairly similar. When I did this before, I gave up [Mana Infusion] and got [Infusion] in exchange. It would be cool if it came out the same, and I could get [Manipulation] instead of [Mana Manipulation], but unfortunately, I don't think that will happen. I just don't have the same kind of talent as Sophie, in the same way, it's hard for me to do healing. I’ve even tried to get other forms of Primordial energy, especially Tess’s lightning, but I have failed.

Now that reminds me of something.

Tess combined her [Lightning Armor] with [Lightning Manipulation] and got [Storm Crown]. Does that mean that if I combine [Regalia] and [Mana Manipulation], I’ll wind up with something similar? That could be cool.

At this point, I can manipulate mana pretty well on my own, and the skill mostly serves as a definitive numerical value for my skill level. Losing the skill would, of course, be noticeable, but I’m confident that I could adapt within a few weeks.

That's what I like about this. With all the things I’ve done, I should have a dozen more skills, but for some reason, the system doesn't give them out quite so easily. Though that also means that I can do some stuff without having the skills, so that's cool.

The system is clearly a mess, it’s highly situational and individualized, given the way the rules change slightly from person to person.

Well, let's hope things work out like they did for Tess. It might also force me to improve my manipulation of mana without the skill.

“I want to combine [Mana Manipulation] with [Regalia].”

Congratulations, you have successfully combined [Mana Manipulation] and [Regalia]! A new skill has been created.

You have acquired [Mana Crown].

[Mana Crown - lvl 0 > Mana Crown - lvl 9]

I'm sure Tess back then got it to level 2, so at least that's something. But it also irks me a bit. Tess got her crown earlier than I did. Does that mean I'm behind? Is my new skill stronger than her crown? It better be, Tess is just as competitive as me when it comes down to it.

First, let's check my mana. As I use Mana Cycling, I quickly notice a difference. It's not horrible, but it's there, and it's quite noticeable.

Well, it's time to get back to the grind. Getting a skill back seems nearly impossible, even with the system warning of that during my use of the first skill combination token, but that's fine. Only casuals from other difficulties rely on skills; I will learn on my own, yup.

Let's check the new skill then.

As it activates, I feel a big chunk of my mana move and then form a halo over my head made of pale blue mana. Gradually, that halo hovering over my head expands a bit and changes shape, taking the form of a simple crown.

I notice Tess glancing at me as she mouths, “I got it first.”

Tsk.

Focusing on my new skill, I examine its functions and effects. So far as I can tell, it's basically an empty mana reservoir similar to the version that Tess has, though hers stores lightning.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

It's not unlike the orbs I’ve been filling with my mana and Primordial energies, but unlike the orbs, the crown's reservoir seems to be massive and optimized for mana. Of course, the question is how much I can fill it without destabilizing the whole thing. It's also more stable than the orbs, so filling it and keeping it running should be easier.

As I examine it more, I notice that controlling my mana seems to be a bit easier now, as if the crown is filling the gap left by [Mana Manipulation] while I have it active. The same goes for [Regalia], I'm still able to create armor and weapons at the same level as before without any extra effort.

More testing is needed to see the difference between the old skills and the current one. But there is something that interests me more. I want to see how the crown interacts with my Mana Wavelength Iris and the black mana.

I activate my eyes, and there is a small difference. It's hard to explain, but it's as if the crown has made them easier to control. It's like it’s dominating the mana and anything related to it.

It's not a very big difference, just a tiny bit, and I can't help but be a bit disappointed. But it's fine, my strengthened Mana Circuit has already helped with my eyes a lot, and my passives are doing their part as well. The problem probably lies with the low level of the skill as well. My eyes are a powerful trait so they might require more.

Now then, black mana.

I activate [Focus] and, with the help of [Redistribution] and [Infusion], I fill the pale blue orb with a lot of mana and continue to compress it. It's a bit harder now without [Mana Manipulation], but nothing I can’t fix with some training.

When a golf ball sized black orb forms over my palm, I get a bit more attention from group 4, but too curious, I ignore them and continue.

What I notice right away is that [Mana Crown] is reacting to the black mana. The crown and black mana seem to be at war with each other.

Then I get a brilliant idea.

Should I? It could be dangerous.

No, I'm sure it WILL be dangerous.

But I really want to try.

“I will be right back,” I quickly tell the others and push myself far away.

When I land, I’m surrounded by the same darkness as before, lit only by the beautiful bright stars overhead complemented by the giant purple nebula that takes up a third of the sky. Under that night sky, I use the method I learned in collaboration with my duplicate on the fifth floor to dominate a small amount of the black mana. It's harder to do it outside of my body, without my passives and circuits to help, but I activate my eyes and push through.

Then, slowly, carefully, I take that dominated small part of mana into my crown.

In a blink, the blue crown hovering over my head turns pitch black.

Then I start losing control over it. At first gradually, but it keeps getting harder to control faster and faster.

I fight the process, giving my all.

[Mana Crown - lvl 9 > Mana Crown - lvl 10]

[Mana Crown - lvl 10 > Mana Crown - lvl 11]

[Mana Crown - lvl 11 > Mana Crown - lvl 12]

[Mana Crown - lvl 12 > Mana Crown - lvl 13]

[Mana Crown - lvl 13 > Mana Crown - lvl 14]

[Mana Crown - lvl 14 > Mana Crown - lvl 15]

But no matter how much I try, how much pressure my construct or passives work against it, the crown turned black judges me unworthy to control its power… for now. The black crown reaches into my body and starts absorbing my mana in defiance of my attempts to stop it, once again slowly, but then quicker.

[Mana Crown - lvl 15 > Mana Crown - lvl 16]

It slows for a moment but then speeds up again and when I decide to try to cancel the skill, it refuses to listen, akin to how black mana behaves, just much more strong-willed now.

My body's mana is gone, all of that big mana pool taken against my will by this unholy abomination over my head.

With nearly suicidal fascination, I watch as it even reaches into my Mana Reservoir and starts emptying that as well.

How the fuck is this even possible.

So interesting.

I quickly tie an anchor to a mana orb, shoot it toward the others, and then fly further and further away from them, even teleporting through anchors multiple times.

When I finally stop, I find myself really far away from where I started and I’ve depleted most of the mana in my reservoir, but I finally manage to remove the crown from my head and throw it away.

[Mana Crown - lvl 16 > Mana Crown - lvl 17]

It tries to reach me, to take the rest of my mana from my reservoir, but I move further away, and it seems like the crown can't move on its own. It just hovers there eerily, slowly spinning. The connection it had to me disappears and as if unable to maintain its properties without me, it finally stops, without any mana left for it to absorb.

Damn, what a terrifying thing.

I love it.

The way it absorbs mana is scary and it doesn't even feel like its real power, just a side effect created by its combination with black mana.

Well, I can observe it a bit longer. If it's like a black orbs, it will start crumbling after being deprived of mana for a while. Well, with as much as it did absorb, it will take a while, but…

The black crown shifts through a series of colors in quick succession. From black to pale blue to darker. Streaks of light blue appear, quickly joined by purple streaks. Then the crown turns bright white.

And as terror-struck as I am fascinated, I watch it all happen.

Then I teleport away as quickly as I can.

I land next to group 4 once more, only for them to pepper me with questions, I turn in the direction of the crown. Wondering if we’re far enough away. I flew a pretty good way out, didn’t I?

A bright white light appears on the horizon. At first, it is the size of a fireplace, then it quickly grows larger as the crown releases all the mana it has collected, unable to maintain its shape without its connection to me.

There is no way that’s going to reach us, right?

The light becomes brighter and I check my mana stat.

Mana (Stage 1/3 - Vast Mana): 1015 + 1015

Then I remember that my Mana Reservoir basically triples that amount.

I reach into said Mana Reservoir and move the rest of my mana, creating a pointy barrier in front of us that should divert most of the explosion, though we will still take some of the impact.

“I might need some help here,” I call to the others.

There must be something in my voice because they immediately rush to join me in my efforts. Everyone who can, moves to reinforce, creating barriers of their own or using support skills. Sophie even shows off her manipulation of the earth forming a sizable mass of rocks into a wall in front of us, which she proceeds to strengthen with her web.

The horizon turns bright white and then a light flashes, illuminating a huge area around us, turning the night into the brightest day. Every stone, every inch of the cliff face looks like someone is shining a massive flashlight across its surface.

Then the heat follows and even as far away as we are the heat wave crashes into us, slamming into Sophie’s rock wall and baking the stone. The shockwave follows next and I feel pressure against my barrier and pieces of the wall crumble, while some of the weaker barriers the others made start to flicker.

All of this is followed by the deafening roar of the explosion, just before the Mana Radiation hits us. Similar to what I felt back in the Veil Ignition Station, next to the cracked core. It’s not nearly as strong and it’s not dangerous to anyone here, but it's there and I can feel it hanging in the air.

Lastly, with Mana Radiation arrives a weak field, which seems to be an attempt at disrupting mana. It's weak and barely noticeable, but with my experience, I can sense it.

Gradually, the light and the heat dissipate and we lower our barriers after making sure that it's safe.

We were so far away, and yet this happened. Could I do that on my own, by compressing mana into an orb? I don't think so. I wouldn't be able to keep that much mana under my control or collect it quickly enough.

Could I do that with the help of items, perhaps some epic mana stones filled with my mana? Probably yes, but I would need help to create such an item, like when the Craft Guild on the 4th floor helped me create the ant obliterator. But even then it wasn’t this potent. There was some Mana Radiation, but it was even weaker than what happened here and there was no disruptive wave following that. I mean it was almost like an EMP.

And that’s not even what it's meant for, it was just a side effect of losing control of a combination of two incompatible or exceedingly compatible things.

I love it.

“Who wants to check the crater?” I turn to Group 4.

Huh, why are they giving me those expressions? Aren't they curious?