In that moment, a wave of energy surged into Haru's body, and a pained expression crossed his face. Cold sweat formed, and his body began to shake uncontrollably. A rush of power and energy coursed through him, making him feel as if he was on fire.

Becker began to explain, "The sensation you're experiencing is called mana overload. In this world, mana is the essence of life, and right now, you're being flooded with an excessive amount of mine."

Three seconds passed, and the agony only grew stronger. Haru could feel his body shaking, his muscles tensing as he struggled to endure the mana's wrath. Blood rose in his throat, but he gritted his teeth and held on.

Becker watched as Haru struggled to endure the mana overload, his expression impassive. "Every living being is born with the ability to generate mana, which originates from the heart," he explained. "From there, mana flows through the body, supporting growth and sustaining life. This is its basic function."

"However," Becker continued, "for intellectual beings, we've discovered a way to control the flow of mana and direct it through a predetermined path. We call this the magic circuit. It allows a person to direct their mana to the outside world, either generating aura or materializing it as magic."

Becker's gaze returned to Haru, who fell to his knees but still refusing to let go of Becker's hand. "As a newly summoned human, you likely have no idea the path your magic circuit takes. Because of that, the mana now entering your body has no clue where to go and is instead attacking your body like an enemy, targeting your internal organs."

As Becker finished his explanation, an additional three seconds had passed. It had only been six seconds, and yet, Haru already looked like he was ready to keel over. Still, his grip was tight.

Becker frowned. "I admire your resilience, but you should think about what you're trying to prove. I know you're in pain. Your body is screaming for you to let go. It probably feels like everything is burning inside, and your organs feel like they're being torn to shreds. You should listen to it because if they burst, there won't be time for regrets after."

The guild members watched as Haru continued to endure the mana overload, their expressions filled with concern. They had found him arrogant and audacious, but that didn't mean they wanted to see him come to harm. After all, who among them hadn't been a little cocky when they first started?

The receptionist looked to Becker, her eyes filled with worry. "He's going to die for real," she said in a worried whisper.

But Becker's expression remained resolute. "I'm not holding him against his will. He can let go at any time. He needs to learn what's more important to him: his life or his ideals."

Eight seconds. Haru coughed out a mouthful of blood. His complexion was deathly pale. It was likely that Becker made the ten-second challenge because he never expected Haru to make it this far. To reach ten seconds as someone who never opened their magic circuits was a death wish.

As the seconds ticked by, the guild members began to whisper among themselves. They couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Haru, a young man willing to risk everything for his dreams. They knew that if he could endure this, he would make for an excellent adventurer.

Nine...

Ten...Haru collapsed, yet his hand remained in contact with Becker's.

Becker sighed. "Even now... I've seen the will of your adventurer's spirit, and it is great. But why did you waste it like this?" Just as he was about to pull his mana back, he found himself unable to do so.

"What's going on?"

He suddenly realized he no longer had control over the flow of his mana, which continued to pour into Haru.

Haru, who had collapsed, suddenly rose back up. Wiping away the blood, he looked at Becker with a smirk. "Sorry for making a mess. It took a little bit to find my magic circuit."

"Your magic circuit? You're not really telling me you found your magic circuit just now?" Becker's words hung in the air for all to hear.

Magic circuits were complex and intricate, often taking years of training and dedication to fully understand and control. They were like finding a path among countless possibilities, and no two magical circuits were alike. Each person's magic circuit was unique, defined the moment that person was born.

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For those serious about mastering their magic circuits, the journey often began at a young age. Early training involved sensing their own mana—an elusive and unpredictable force—and learning to direct it along the correct paths. This process required immense concentration, patience, and a deep understanding of one's own body and mind. It was not uncommon for novice mages to spend years just learning to feel their mana, let alone controlling it with any precision.

Certain beings had a natural affinity for magic, making the process somewhat easier for them. These individuals could sense and manipulate their mana with greater ease, often completing their magic circuits more quickly than others.

But even with all his knowledge and experience, Becker couldn't comprehend what was unfolding before his eyes. His own magic circuit was currently connected to Haru's, despite Haru being a recent summon who knew nothing of their world. Somehow, Haru had managed to locate the exit point of his magic circuit and link it to Becker's, allowing him to control the flow of mana and direct it into his own circuit.

'He couldn't have found it so quickly without already knowing where his magic circuit was. Are the summoned really capable of such a thing?!' Becker was going insane trying to figure out what was happening.

Magic circuits should be opened starting from the area of the heart and gradually expanded, allowing the mana to flow naturally. This method ensures a controlled and harmonious activation, aligning with the body's natural energy flow.

However, Haru was brute forcing his magic circuit open from the opposite end, akin to trying to force open a tightly sealed gate from the wrong side. This approach was more like breaking through a dam to release water rather than opening sluice gates slowly. The pain from such a forceful and unnatural method should have been unimaginable, yet Haru showed no signs of distress.

The crowd fell silent, anxiously watching the unfolding events. While they couldn't see what was happening internally, they had witnessed Haru, who had collapsed moments ago, now standing comfortably with a smile on his face as if nothing had happened. All they knew was that Becker had acknowledged Haru had found his magic circuit, and now they could only wait to see if he could endure until the twenty-second mark.

Haru focused intently on controlling the flow of mana through his magic circuit. This was not part of his original plan. In his previous life, Becker was unknown to him. While he was familiar with the Adventurers' Guild, the guild leader back then had offered only limited help to the summoned. He had expected to encounter the same guild leader, but instead, Becker had emerged.

Moreover, Becker's challenge was unexpected. Guild challenges typically involved displays of physical prowess, such as enduring attacks or dodging blows. Haru's previous life had honed his combat skills, and he had expected to impress Becker with his prowess. However, he had not anticipated a challenge centered around mana manipulation.

'My original plan was to open up my circuits fully in a months time but you presented such an opportunity to me. I'll be sure to thank you for this opportunity later.' Internally, he was practically licking his lips at the stroke of good fortune.

What Haru was attempting now was a method unique to him, leveraging his prior knowledge of his magic circuit's location. However, even with this knowledge, connecting one's magic circuit to another's was akin to trying to touch the two ends of a needle together—it required an extraordinary level of precision.

As he linked his and Becker's circuits, mana surged into Haru's body, and he took immediate control of it. Haru's mastery over mana allowed him to adjust the flow rate, carefully directing it into his channels while simultaneously reinforcing and clearing them out. It was a delicate process, akin to excavating a deep hole while laying down the foundations to support tunnels at the same time—a task that even seasoned magic users struggled with, requiring decades of experience.

Haru sensed the mana nearing the half way point to his heart as the countdown continued.

"Seventeen!"

"Eighteen!"

"Nineteen!"

The crowd's cheers grew louder as the timer neared the twenty second mark. Becker twitched in disbelief, his eyes fixed on the boy who defied all expectations and logic.

"Twenty!"

"He did it!" one of the guild members shouted.

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe my eyes! He survived twenty seconds of mana overload. Is he even human?"

"It's because he's a summoned! They have to be different. Damn, it's like having a cheat!"

The receptionist breathed a sigh of relief. She really didn't want to see someone die today. However, as she turned, she realized neither Haru nor Becker had let go of each other's hands.

"Guild Leader?" she called out.

Becker wiped a cold sweat from his brow, his hand trembling slightly as he pulled away from Haru's grasp with effort, giving a wry smile. "You're quite insistent, aren't you?"

Haru looked momentarily disappointed, muttering, "Just a bit more..."

Quickly recovering his demeanor, Haru chuckled. "Thanks for taking it easy on me!"

"Taking it easy? You were going to wring me dry! Are all the summoned as formidable as you? No wonder the kingdom summoned all of you," Becker retorted incredulously.

Haru shrugged nonchalantly. "About our deal..."

"Fine," Becker conceded. He turned to the receptionist and instructed, "Tanna, fetch the Skill Revealing Scroll."

Blinking in confusion at the exchange between Haru and Becker, Tanna nodded and retrieved an ornate wooden box. Opening it, she revealed the Skill Revealing Scroll nestled within.

Becker carefully unfurled the scroll and spoke in an ancient language, activating its magic. He then directed it towards Haru.

Haru was bathed in a brilliant light, and as it faded, the names of two skills hovered above his head.