So, do I protect the base or not? Hell no. What am I, stupid? I haven’t even hit a single level yet, for crying out loud. Sure, the thrill might tempt me, but after seeing the damage? Well, not my scene.

But Nethan’s slipping away, and without him, who’s teaching me mana arts? I glance around—there are a dozen players here who probably eclipse Nethan in levels. This side quest is practically tailor-made for them. Any one of them could teach me.

But since my mana is on break, I’ve got to go with the devil I know. The lanky guy. We didn’t exactly hit it off, but hey, nothing a little curiosity and a few lies—I mean, honest words can’t fix.

I sheath my blade, and walk over as he lights a leafy cigarette. He notices me, frowns at my grin, but doesn’t shoo me away. He takes a deep drag, closing his eyes in bliss, then exhales, bathing me in a cloud of sweet-smelling smoke.

“Nature-flavored cigarettes?” I ask, trying to start a conversation.

“Here, have one,” he says, making another cigarette pop into his hand with just a flick of his wrist. As I catch it, I wonder if he's using magic—this isn't just sleight of hand.

I bring the cigarette to my lips, and with another snap of his fingers, it’s lit. Definitely magic. This guy’s a caster. Learning mana from him just shot to the top of my priority list.

I’m not a regular smoker, but I play along to find common ground. I take a drag, feel nothing, then exhale with practiced ease and say, “This is some good stuff. How do you make these?”

“You’re in the wild. You find stuff, roll it up, and smoke it,” he replies with a sigh. Direct, but the dry tone leaves a lot to be desired.

I cut to the chase. “Look, I shouldn’t have lashed out at you. It was dumb of me to get on your case when you were just trying to help. I’m sorry.” I catch his eye, and for the first time, he seems somewhat interested. I drop my gaze to the ground, putting on my best ‘regret’ face. “I was angry. I needed to find this guy—he promised he knew everything about mana. Said he could solve my problems. I was desperate… still am. I don't know what to do…” I trail off, hoping my desperation catches his attention.

“Who…was this guy who said he knew everything about mana? The one you were chasing, Nethan?” he asks, sounding mildly annoyed. Looks like I struck a nerve. Not quite the direction I was hoping for, but I’ll take what I can get as long as he’s interested.

“Yeah, him,” I perk up. “You know him? He’s just busy, that’s why he’s been avoiding me, right?”

The guy shakes his head, blowing out a cloud of smoke. “Hate to break it to you, but Nethan’s a moron. The guy’s too simple-minded to know anything about mana.”

Yeah, no shit. But for you to be convinced…

“What?” I gasp, disbelief flooding my face. A nervous chuckle escapes me as I sink to my knees. “You’re kidding, right?”

He just stares at me, and I throw my hands up in mock despair. “No… please no! I’m dead. So dead! How will I survive without mana? I can’t use mana! I’m dead.”

“You can’t use mana?” He gives me a once-over, especially the sword at my side. “You’ve a class—warrior? How’s that even possible?”

“I just can’t!” I snap, taking a drag from the cigarette before frustration makes me toss it. “Every time I try, it’s like something’s choking me. My chest tightens, I can’t breathe. My body just rejects mana, no matter what I do.”

He listens to my rant, then lets out a chuckle. “That’s not your body rejecting mana, or you’d be dead by now. We’re in a mana-rich land—everything here’s got mana flowing through it. Your problem isn’t in your chest; it’s your veins. They’ve been dormant so long they can’t hold a drop. Do some meditation, wake them up, and then see if your body’s still got issues with mana.”

He’s pretty spot on. And the solution is meditation? Really? “That’s it?” I ask, dumbfounded.

“Yeah, that’s it,” he shrugs, flicks his cigarette away, and starts to walk off. Then he pauses, glancing back at me. “Do me a favor—stop believing everything everyone says.” And just like that, he’s gone.

So, do I trust your meditation advice or should I start looking for a second opinion?

* * *

I didn’t bother looking for a second opinion. Because then I’d need a third, a fourth, and pretty soon, I’d be stuck in an endless loop of “what ifs.” So, I cut the bullshit and took the advice of a guy whose name I didn’t even care to learn. Genius move.

Anyway, meditation. Seems like the best option. I do my best to mimic the Lotus position I’ve seen on TV and settle down to start my ritual. Where exactly? Some rocky corner? Nah. I’m inside Rox’s tent. No lock, thanks to Jagon registering me. It’s quiet, warm, and empty—everyone’s off doing side quests, training, or daily chores. Perfect spot. Should’ve figured that out an hour ago instead of wandering around like an idiot.

I shut my eyes tight and take deep breaths. In and out. Over and over until the silence wraps around me, pulling me into my own little world. My body relaxes, and slowly, a shimmer of light starts to creep through the darkness behind my eyelids. The light spreads, and when I blink, it explodes, turning everything blinding white.

Confused, I glance around and realize I’m floating in endless space. Then, a ripple runs through the void, and suddenly, I’m face to face with a massive ball of light—so bright it could dwarf the sun. It’s connected by countless threads, each one buzzing with energy, receiving and transmitting it in all directions. The ball pulses hard, and a shudder runs through me. It’s under immense strain, like it’s bound by invisible chains, ready to snap at any moment.

“What is it?” I wonder aloud, and my brain spits out the answer like it knew all along. “My core? Mana core!” This must be where all my mana is stored and supplied from. The boss cut the connection to here. And without the free flow, the core’s overloading—that’s what’s causing the pulse and shudder. What if it breaks? Will I lose my ability to use mana? Or worse, die altogether?

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

I’ve got to resume the flow again. But how? Draw from the core and let it flow through you… Wait, what? How do I even know that? I just do. Is this the power of meditation? Bloody hell!

So I draw from the core, tapping into one of the million threads and absorbing the energy. Instantly, my chest tightens, and the flow halts. I start to suffocate. But I don’t panic. Instead, I take a deep breath and resume the absorption. Little by little, the suffocation eases, though the tightness lingers.

My body warms as the energy flows through me, through every vein, every cell, every fiber, rejuvenating them. It’s like a new life is breathed into me—every ache, every pain, even the slightest discomfort, gone. But that damn tightness… it’s still there.

That can’t be right.

I grab another thread and start over, guiding the energy through me again, feeling even more charged. But the tightness? Still there. I keep at it, floating in this endless void while mana zips through me at lightning speed. The core’s shudder and pulse are gone, replaced by a gentle hum that says everything’s working fine. Except for the damn squeezing. It just won’t leave.

Seriously, what the hell? I’m getting annoyed now. But then the slap of realization hits—of course, I’m new to this whole mana thing. My core’s fresh out of the box, and my veins? Still waking up from a long nap. It’s going to take time, a slow build-up, to get them up to speed. Until then, it looks like the tightness and I are stuck together.

Lucky me. Oh, well, it is what it is. Might as well keep building it up. Can’t say I don’t feel better with each round of absorption. Just as I’m about to grab another thread… Splash!

My eyes snap open as cold water soaks through my clothes, clinging to my warm skin and sending a thousand shivers racing down my spine.

“What the fuck!” I yell, only to be met with a chorus of chuckles and wheezes from the tent. The fighters are back, and of course, Bad Stain’s the one holding the bucket over my head. Looks like they enjoyed giving me a rude awakening. Bunch of geniuses, the lot of them.

I shoot to my feet—way too easily and quickly. The power of mana? Of course! The grin that tries to creep up on my face quickly vanishes as another shiver racks my body. I snatch the bucket from Brad, fully prepared to return the favor, when the archer named Ton steps in.

“In his defense, he did try waking you seven times,” he says, making my frown deepen.

“What? How did I not hear that? Or…all of you barging in?” I blink, struggling to process the disbelief crashing into me. “Seriously, how?”

“That’s called deep meditation,” Ton shrugs, already turning away to strap on his quiver. “You’ve been at it for three hours. Try light next time. Or you won’t know what hits you next.” And just like that, he leaves me standing there, dripping wet and with way too much to process.

* * *

Before the lot of you point out I’m slow, let me set the record straight—I’m not. It’s just the cold sinking into my brain, I swear. That’s why it took me this long—back in the dungeon, now inside a dark cave, sneakily watching a bunch of goblins—to process it all. Yeah…that’s why!

But hey, I’ve learned a thing or two about meditation. Like its types: light and deep. Jagon confirmed it, and the guy’s honest to a fault, so I’m sold. I even know how to get into them. Sure, I’m far from mastering it, but I’ll give it a shot. I have faith in myself—otherwise, I’d end up in some orc’s tummy before I knew it. And did I mention how meditation boosts—

“Move!” Rox’s hand cuts through the air, and we’re off—fresh-faced newbies from the base, us barely a day into this madness, and a handful of seasoned fighters, all charging forward, ready to rumble.

Nevermind, I’ll share the details later. Right now, it’s time to blow some goblins.

As we creep closer to the unsuspecting goblin camp, I draw my sword with a satisfying shing. A deep breath steadies me, preparing for the battle ahead. Rox warned us not to hesitate—these little buggers can get real creative if given the chance. Don’t you worry, sir, I won’t hesitate. These green fuckers are about to get a taste of my skills…skills that I can finally use.

We reach the edge of their lively base, and it doesn’t take long for them to spot us. They spring into action, grabbing anything that can pass for a weapon, and charge at us with the kind of screeches that make you want to rip your ears off. But I don’t let it throw me off. I just activate my skills.

First up: Mana Shield. I know just how to work it. The system does everything. I think about the shield I want, and poof—mana drains from my core, and I feel this weird energy crawling all over me. Before I know it, I’m wrapped in an invisible layer of protection that—hopefully—keeps me in one piece.

[Remaining Protection: 09:59 Min]

Ten minutes? Alright, let’s make this quick.

Next up, Crystal Eye. As soon as I think about it, mana surges into my eyes. Suddenly, the world flips from standard definition to Ultra HD. Darkness evaporates, colors pop, and every important detail is crystal clear. The goblins glow a bright orange, and their vital spots—neck, heart, ass—light up in fiery red. Now I know exactly where to hit for the maximum carnage.

The first goblin leaps at me, rusty sword aimed right for my head. Gotta give it to them—they’re pretty quick. But so am I. A quick side-step, and I slash at its neck. The head and body part ways mid-air as my blade slices through like butter.

The second goblin aims low, probably thinking it’s clever by targeting my ankles. Nice try. I sense it creeping up behind me, swing around, and—another head hits the dirt.

The third one tries to get fancy. It jumps out of my path, clambers up another player like a damn monkey, and launches itself at me, cudgel ready to crack my skull. Bad move, buddy. I duck, side-step as it sails over me, and bring my sword up right through its backside. The thing splits in two—ass to head. Holy shit!

These slashes? They’ve got some serious bite now. And my movements? Smooth as hell, barely a twinge. Mana power? You bet.

Ten minutes later, I’ve ripped through most of the camp like a madman on a mission. Did I do it all by myself? You bet I did.

The mana shield finally flickers out, and I take a moment to catch my breath. As I look around at the chaos I’ve left in my wake, a grin spreads across my face. Yesterday, these goblin bastards were a headache, draining my potions and patience. But today? They’re nothing but pests, and I’ve just wiped out twice their number with barely a scratch. I could do this all day.

Killing goblins is actually…fun. Even when I catch those annoyed sideways glances from the other players—jealous, I guess, since I’ve been “stealing” their rewards and levels. But guess what? I got zilch out of it.

[Skill Crystal Eye has leveled up: 1 —> 4]

[Skill Mana Shield has leveled up: 1 —> 3]

[Your contribution to the tutorial has been engraved in the Dungein Chronicles. Well, done player!]

You have cleared 2% of your first dungeon. Clear all six of them to finish the tutorial.

A floating screen pops up in front of me, and I raise an eyebrow. So, it’s not all zilch, huh? No rewards, but I can still level up my skills and chip away at my dungeon clearance. Fair enough.

Swiping the screen away, I notice the glares from the others have only gotten worse. Feels like I’ve robbed them blind. But hey, it’s their fault for not putting in the effort. We’ve got plenty more camps to clear before we reach the boss anyway. Plenty of chances for them to catch up—if they can.