Len sat on a chair on the bottom floor of the library, cultivating to recover his mana. He held the staff in one hand and the other hand rested on the tome he'd got from the Arcane gargoyle.

Rick's boots splashed through ankle-deep water. "Ceiling's fixed. No more leaks."

"Good. Been at this for hours." Len opened his eyes. "Using the tome helped me hold the water control spell longer, but it's still draining."

Rick kicked at the water. "How're you moving it?"

"I get my mana back then I draw the water up the stairs and out of the dungeon, pulling on it till my mana falls off. The tome has been making my casts stronger and the staff helps me," Len said.

"You've been able to get it down about ten centimeters," Rick said.

"Just not moving fast enough," Len said.

"Be easier if we could just make it all evaporate," Rick said.

"Then it would condense and soak all the other—" Len frowned, sinking into thought. "If we evaporated it and then used wind to push it out of the dungeon. That should be easier. Just need heat to do it and that would be the high mana cost."

Len looked upwards. "One sec Rick."

Len jumped up on a bookshelf, then to a railing and upwards till he reached the floor the enchanting section was on.

He waded through the remains of their fight and reached the gargoyle they'd killed.

Arm doesn't look too bad. Using his knife he separated the arm from the rest of the gargoyle and took it over to the examining glass, he held it underneath examining the enchantment.

"Focused beam here, if I turned down the output and increased the range." Len grabbed the roll of tools they'd found.

The beam enchantment was complex, but he could trace the lines of power that focused the energy into a tight stream.

His fingers worked with the delicate tools, redirecting the flow patterns to spread the heat over a wider area. Halfway through the modification, he paused. Steam rising from the water would soak into the books, potentially causing more damage than the standing water.

"Dammit," He put down his tools and rested his hands on the workbench. His eyes moved to the other arm.

"It shot out ice bolts—was that temperature or water based?" He pulled out his knife and moved to the gargoyle. "I would say sorry but you were kind of a dick."

He returned to the workbench and studied the arm under the glass, breaking down the parts of the enchantment. It was much like an engine, different parts working together to create a singular outcome.

"I don't see any temperature based sections." He checked it again.

He not a temperature-based enchantment as he'd first worried, but one that manipulated water directly. First drawing it to the arm, then removing the energy from the water, turning it into ice which was then stored up to become a pushing force.

He grabbed his chin and studied the arm as Rick walked in through the door. "You look like you figured out something."

"Arm draws in water, takes out energy and then hurls it in the direction its pointed. If I can have it draw in water then can put it at the entrance to the dungeon and it'll draw water up to it like a condensing spell and then once it passes beyond the hand it'll collapse, just need to create a path for it to drain away."

He took out the marking chalk and drew out the current enchantment and layered changes upon it.

He used the back of the chalk to erase and modify.

"Sounds like I should get to digging," Rick said.

"See if your sister knows when she'll get here too," Len said.

"Will do."

Time faded away from Len's perception as he hacked together a modification for the enchantment.

He looked around the glowing diagram. "Yeah that should work."

Len picked up the tools and started altering the enchantment, checking the slowly diminishing drawing hanging in the air.

He carefully disconnected several key nodes in the enchantment matrix using a fine-tipped etching tool. The metal responded to his touches, the embedded magic shifting under his modifications.

He added in new connections and commands.

Len made the final adjustments to the gargoyle's arm, triple-checking the modified enchantment matrix. The metal felt warm under his fingers as he traced the altered patterns. Each connection had to be perfect - one wrong line and the water could spray everywhere or worse, explode from pressure buildup.

He carried the arm out of the dungeon entrance where Rick had been busy with earthwork. A fresh-dug channel stretched from the dungeon's mouth to the nearby creek, the dirt piled high on either side to prevent overflow. Rick had driven wooden stakes into the sides and woven branches between them to shore up the walls.

Len placed the modified arm onto a cracked stone slab Rick had positioned at the channel's start. The break in the stone formed a perfect groove to direct the water flow. He oriented the arm's palm toward the dungeon entrance, checking that the angle would catch the rising water vapor.

"Ready?" Len called out to Rick.

Rick hurried past him into the dungeon, boots splashing through the remaining water. "Do it!"

Len pressed his hand to the metal arm and pushed mana into it. The enchantment activated with a soft hum. At first nothing happened, then a fine mist began streaming out of the dungeon entrance. The vapor collected around the arm, condensing into liquid water that trickled down the stone's channel.

The flow increased steadily as more water vapor was drawn up from below. Soon a steady stream ran down the improvised aqueduct toward the creek. The modification was working exactly as he'd planned.

Len watched with satisfaction as the water continued flowing smoothly through the channel. Rick's hand landed heavily on his shoulder.

"Nice work. Though we could speed this up if we freeze blocks and toss them out."

Len nodded. "Yeah, that'd work. Did you manage to reach Lydia?"

"Got through on the talisman. She's bringing a couple dozen carts our way." Rick leaned against the dungeon entrance. "Lucius has some of his traders in the area too. They'll take the books straight to the trains and back to Goran."

"Good. Last thing we need is these getting damaged in transit." Len stepped back into the dungeon, Rick followed him, he slowed as he entered the library proper and looked at the floors of books. "You know I don't think that's going to be enough carts."

"I know that look, you're planning something," Rick said.

"Thinking that if we don't have enough carts we could make one out of ice slabs. Cover it in dirt so that it doesn't get the books wet. Maybe take some stone or metal and stick it into the cart to keep it cold?"

"You aiming to make a cart out of every material we know?" Rick sighed.

"Easy enough to make it from rock," Len said.

Rick gave him a flat stare. "If we don't have enough carts the first time then we'll leave it up to Lydia and her lot to get more of them and sort things out. Else we're going to get wrapped up into every small problem. Cultivating and tempering are more important." He walked over the railing and dropped to the bottom floor.

Len followed him.

They froze water into blocks and ran into their first problem.

"Stairs aren't wide enough," Rick observed. "What if I chuck it up to you and you carry it outside, then by the time you get back I should have another chunk ready for you?"

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"Works," They put Rick's plan to the test and quickly started depleting the dungeon's water.

The physical labor of moving the blocks would be tough, but between the two of them they could clear the water much faster this way. His mana reserves felt steady enough to keep going for a while.

"How many carts exactly?" Len asked as he formed another block.

"Twenty-four. Should be enough for what we've found so far." Rick grabbed the fresh block.

***

Len reached the broken railing he'd gone through when entering the dungeon.

"Ready!" he braced himself for the next ice block.

"That should be good enough, water is below the lowest books. I've been using your staff and book to dry out the books!" Rick yelled back up.

Len dropped down to the bottom floor, the water not covering his boot's sole anymore. Rick drew water from the books and threw it up into the air, feeding the modified arm.

Len set to stacking the salvageable books from the bottom floor into neat piles. His fingers traced the spines, checking for water damage.

Many had a musty smell, a cleanse spell removed rot. They worked together, eating as they did so.

Time passed quickly till they'd cleared up all the books that had been underwater.

"Time to increase that mana and body," Rick said, handing Len back his staff and the tome.

Len wrapped the tome to his belt with its chains and accepted the staff with a nod of thanks. "Top floor has the densest mana, be faster there."

They gathered up their gear and the loot, dropping off the loot at the main floor and continuing up to the astral section.

The celestial room at the top still held traces of their battle with the obsidian gargoyle. Starlight filtered through the enchanted ceiling, casting everything in a pale glow.

They took off their gear including armor and put it off to the side.

"Rock paper scissors?" Rick held out his fist.

Len nodded. They shook their fists three times.

Len threw paper. Rick threw rock.

"Your turn first then," Len said, taking Rick's old hammer from his belt. The weapon felt heavy in his hands, charged with resonating strike..

Rick stood with his feet planted shoulder-width apart, hands clasped behind his back. "Ready."

Len swung the hammer into Rick's shoulder. Pain shot through Rick's body, but he didn't flinch. Again and again, Len struck carefully chosen points - joints, muscle groups, bone. Each hit precise, measured to cause maximum benefit without permanent damage.

The starlight above caught the sweat beading on Rick's forehead as he endured the tempering. His jaw clenched tight, muscles straining against the impacts. But he didn't move, didn't make a sound.

Len followed the patterns they'd developed over countless sessions.

Rick staggered and crumpled to his knee.

"Good?" Len asked.

"Yeah, just give me a second," Rick lay down on the floor. "That'll be easier."

Len looked at him. Rick closed his eyes and nodded once.

Len started up again falling back into rhythm as he monitored Rick's body, increasing the strength and frequency of his hits until Rick's recovery was barely working.

Len held back his hits, using healing spells.

"It works, but fuck if it don't suck," Rick said.

Len reached down, Rick grabbed his hand, letting himself get hauled to his feet.

Len lay back on the cold stone floor, the starlight filtering through the enchanted ceiling above him. He took a deep breath, and nodded to Rick.

The first hit slammed into his shoulder. Pain exploded through his body, but Len kept his face neutral. Years of experience had taught him how to ride through the agony. His healing ability kicked in immediately, repairing the damage while leaving behind stronger tissue.

Rick's hammer struck his other shoulder. Then his chest. Each impact sent shockwaves of pain radiating through him. Sweat broke out across his forehead as his body worked overtime to heal the precise, calculated damage.

The steady rhythm of strikes continued. Thud. Pain. Heal. Thud. Pain. Heal. Len focused on his breathing, using it to help channel the mana flowing through his system. His muscles screamed in protest, but he could feel them growing denser, stronger with each hit.

His healing started to lag behind the impacts. The pain began to stack up, transforming from sharp spikes into a deep, throbbing ache. Still, he didn't move. Didn't make a sound. The starlight above blurred, the only focus on healing his body.

Rick adjusted his aim, targeting different muscle groups. Each new location brought fresh waves of agony. Len's mana reserves dipped as his body struggled to keep up with the healing demands.

The hammer came down again. Black spots danced in Len's vision. His healing barely responded now, overwhelmed by the accumulated damage.

Healing spells flooded his body, Rick healing him.

Once he could breathe again without his ribs creaking he started to relax, screens greeting him.

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Body:

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"Another round?" Rick asked.

"Two rounds of tempering and a round of cultivation?" Len asked.

"Works with me," Rick reached down and Len grabbed his hand, standing up.

***

Len sat cross-legged on the stone floor, closing his eyes to focus on the dense mana surrounding him in the astral room.

He pulled the mana through his channels, each movement precise and controlled. The energy burned like acid in his veins as he compressed it further, forcing it through narrowing channels toward his core. His jaw clenched against the pain.

The mana resisted, fighting to spread out through his body. One slip in concentration would let it escape, tearing through him like molten metal. He'd learned that lesson the hard way too many times before.

Compressed mana filled his core, the

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Enter in core color

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Sweat dripped down his temples as he maintained his iron grip on the flow. The mana wanted to burst free, to follow its natural tendency toward chaos.

His hands trembled against his knees, but he didn't dare break his meditation. The power had to keep flowing, had to keep condensing. No matter how much it hurt. He was nearly there!

The pressure in Len's core reached a critical point. His channels burned white-hot as the mana compressed beyond what he thought possible. Then, with a sudden rush, the energy crystallized.

His core compressed the energy within just a bit more and he felt relief through his body, his channels becoming thicker and stronger, his capacity just a bit higher.

Len released a shaky breath, carefully relaxing his control over the mana flow. The burning sensation gradually faded, replaced by a familiar throb. He opened his eyes, checking his status screen to confirm the level increase.

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Mana:

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His gaze lingered on the corruption resistance numbers. The margin between his body's tolerance and the ambient mana pollution had grown dangerously thin. One miscalculation could leave him writhing as corrupted energy ate through his channels.

"Ready?" Rick asked, hefting his hammer.

Len nodded, rising to his feet. The tempering would hurt, but it was necessary to strengthen his body's resistance. He braced himself as Rick took position.

The first strike landed against his shoulder. Pain exploded through the joint, but Len kept his stance firm. His healing skill activated automatically, knitting the damaged tissue back stronger than before.

***

Rick's hammer fell in a steady rhythm. Each impact sent waves of agony through Len's body, followed by the warm rush of accelerated healing. His Body's experience growing with each cycle of damage and repair.

They'd been at this for hours. The tempering sessions flew by - just hit harder, heal faster, repeat. But the cultivation... that took forever now. Each level required more compressed mana, more precise control, more time spent fighting against the corrupting energy.

Rick paused mid-swing. "Company." There was a dullness to his voice that came with pushing at one's limits of the body and mind.

Len continued to heal, relief running through him as he used his mana sight to look through his eyelids.

Rick turned to face the stairs, lowering himself, ready to charge.

Len repaired what he'd need to fight. Bones, ligaments and muscle.

Rick stood up from his stance as Lydia crested the top of the stairs, leading Gibson and a squad from the expedition unit.

"Should we give you two a minute?" Lydia smirked, her eyes moving around the room.

Len shifted, the floor that had broken around him falling off as he stood up, healing the damage to his body.

Lydia crossed her arms. "If you two wanted privacy for whatever this is, you could have found somewhere less conspicuous."

Rick lowered his hammer. "Just some training."

"Training that destroys stone floors?" Gibson asked, studying the impact craters.

"Tempering," Len explained, rolling his shoulder. The healing had already finished, leaving the muscles stronger than before. "Fastest way to build physical resistance. Take damage, heal, repeat."

Lydia's eyes tracked across the floor again, noting the depth of the impacts. There was an impression of where Len's body had been. "And the healing keeps up with that level of force?"

"Has to," Len said. "Otherwise we'd both be paste by now."

Lydia shook her head, a mix of disbelief and amusement crossing her face. "You're both insane. Beating each other to pieces for 'training' - who does that?"

"Strength is the only thing that you can hold to that allows you to control your own fate," Rick said. "How was the crystal dungeon? Get anything good?"

"Good fight, though the spiders were smaller than what you described." Lydia rolled her shoulders. "Still, decent experience. We wrapped up when your message came through."

"After the first clear the creatures will revert to their normal levels. You'd have to leave the dungeon alone for a long time before it builds up to an overflow state like it did." Len got enough mana back that he used cleanse to draw the blood and sweat out of his clothes.

"Also most of the stuff you take from the dungeon doesn't regenerate. Harder enemies and first shot at the loot in the dungeon, first clear is the best clear," Rick said. "Where's the rest of your unit?"

Gibson stepped forward, his boots crunching on the stone debris. "The three other squads are working through the remaining floors now."

"Won't find much." Rick moved over to his gear. "We cleared everything out already. Though getting all the loot hauled out - that'll take some doing."

Len flexed his newly healed muscles, the lingering warmth of regeneration still coursing through them. The tempering and cultivation session had been productive, even if it looked barbaric to outsiders.

He understood Lydia's reaction - most people would consider deliberately taking that kind of damage to be madness. But conventional training methods wouldn't cut it anymore. The dungeons they wanted to explore would push their limits.

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Body

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"We'll go through the loot we found," Rick said.