Deep in the Savagery Forest, two well toned man each lifting a huge log of wood are walking. Their clothes are ragged and dirty but despite their sorry appearance, the two have a look of determination on their face.

It's been a week since they enter the forest and experienced all things the forest can thrown at them. From deadly swarms, devastating events and murderous predators. The Savagery Forest is still the dangerous biome they know and hate but something is far different from their previous runs in the past - Both of them becomes stronger during the 2 weeks of their simple yet effective training that they easily defeat any monsters that dares to block their path, despite not having any equipment.

And right now. Mateo and Beltrand are looking up on a tall hill where the compass Gilmore give is pointing.

"This is it. Once we reach the top, it's finally over." Beltrand says with anticipitation and preparedness.

"Yeah." Mateo's short answer.

The two waste no time and proceed to climb the hill with ease. Both of them feel energized despite lifting heavy logs of wood.

As they climb. Corpse of few powerful monsters are just laying on the ground, being feasted by small predators and scavengers.

"Is this a bad sign?" Beltrand asked as she observe the dead monsters with.

"Please don't jinx it."

Few minutes later. They finally reached the top and got greeted by Gilmore casually sitting on a wooden chair and drinking tea. Behind Gilmore is Juli gracefully standing still, waiting for her master's command.

Beltrand and Mateo are so transfixed on the appearance of Gilmore that they didn't noticed the large log cabin behind.

.

.

.

Croak...

A giant spiked toad leaps from the lush trees. Its gaping mouth ready to swallow Gilmore and Juli whole.

"Juli."

"Yes sir."

Juli gracefully face the toad, points her hand and with just a simple flick of a finger with a green gem ring. A violent gust of wind is released on her finger. Mateo and Beltrand watch with awe as the wind feels very solid once it hits the toad which is now sent flying. The toad landed two kilometers away from them.

"W-what you said to me about Juli when we're training on the mansion?" Mateo asked while staring on Juli who now shaking her long skirt as it was now dusty due to her attack.

"Ummmm."

Gilmore stands up and give the tea cup to Juli.

"Congratulations. You two passed the Phase 2 of the training."

"Even if the ironwoods is now a mess?" Mateo asked.

Mateo and Beltrand drops the Elven Ironwoods which is chipped, stained and dented because of the constant usage from the two. The logs are so heavy it makes a very loud thud.

"As long as you not lost or purposely cut them then It's fine. Especially when you two resourcefully use these logs on your advantage." Gilmore smiles as he looked on the Ironwood who truly used for survival.

Mateo and Beltrand smiles and bows their head to Gilmore.

"Thank you sir." The two simultaneously says.

"Leave that after you finished the training. We should return to the mansion now and give yourselves a deserve rest. Phase 3 would start after that."

And thus. Everyone rides the carriage used by Gilmore and Juli back home, back to civilization. Beltrand and Mateo almost cried when they finally enjoy proper bath and good food.

"YESSSSS!!" Beltrand screams in happiness as he devour the soups and seasoned meat.

Juli is just smiling as she watched the two enjoys the food she prepared with Gusto.

"What's our plan tommorow?" Beltrand asked, almost mumbling as there's still food on his mouth.

"I probably visit Shirna first and do important stuffs there. How about you?"

Beltrand swallows his food.

"I just going to sleep for the whole day. You should probably do the same Bro."

"I would also do that of course. I can tell that Phase 3 might be more difficult."

"Hmmmm.... Ms. Juli."

"Yes?"

"Can you give us hint on what Phase 3 might be?" Beltrand asked. Juli bows in apology.

"I'm so sorry but I also don't have any idea as your training is only for Vandril fighters and swordsman. A mere mage and maid like me don't have any reason to enter the training grounds."

"We understand."

"But we're not Vandrils?" Beltrand is amused.

"It seems that even Master Gilmore is willing to use the training grounds for your traning. It must be a great honor.

"Indeed. Thanks Ms. Juli." Mateo's courteous gratitude.

"I'm just fulfilling my maid duties. Anyways, Master Gilmore wants me to relay his message to you."

"What is it Ms. Juli?"

"Master Gilmore is asking if you can give him another set of liquours you gifted to him, if possible."

"Well, consider it done." Mateo says with a smile.

~~~~~~°~~~~~~

A day goes by like a blink of an eye. Gilmore guides Mateo and Beltrand down to a downward staircase which the entrance is hidden inside the mansion. Their destination is revealed once they 150 meters below Vandril's residence.

Using his remaining arm, Gilmore push the metal door, creating a loud metallic creaking sound. The three enters the room and both Mateo and Beltrand are greeted by a empty chamber the size of a noble's room. The walls are all made of metal inscribed with magic runes and mana stones of different variaties.

"A room underground? Reminds me of bad memories." Mateo reimagines the chamber where they almost die to Hero Glidel.

"I understand your sentiments." Gilmore chuckle a little bit as he share the same nostalgia Mateo have.

"Sir Gilmore. This room feels ominous. Wait, don't tell me we going to fight you here?!" Beltrands panics.

"And what benefits it would make if I just beat both of you to a pulp? Besides, this room is not suited for that."

Beltrand gives a reassured sigh.

"But If you're not careful. It might be worse than fighting me.

Beltrand's worry strikes again.

"What we exactly need to do here?" Mateo asked while observing the room.

Gilmore close the door which the two finally realize is a very thick metal door 10 inch thick.

"The fuck is that door?" Beltrand asked.

"Forget about that. Let's start by studying the nature of Mana. I assume you already know the basics right?"

Beltrand and Mateo nods.

"Good. You must already know the difference between us and mages right?"

The two nods again.

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"The fact that we fighters have a assigned fixed mana pool instantly makes us weak on using high caliber magic. It's sad but that's how just the world works. Some people are just gifted to become a mage."

Gilmore touch his sword sheated on his side.

"But it doesn't mean we fighters can't fight toe-to-toe with the mages right? As proven by history and the heroes that defeats foes using their physical feats. If mages have magic potential, we fighters have potential in our flesh which just needed to be honed through rigorous training."

Mateo and Beltrands listen seriously on Gilmore's words which both inspirational and powerful.

"I ask you. Do you think our Mana is completely seperated from our physical body?"

"Uhmmm... Technically no? Because a mage with sickly body is equally useless as a dead one. I believe that's the also true for us." Mateo's honest answer.

"Well that's correct but not really the answer I am looking for. Hmm... Can you stand on those spot for a moment?"

Gilmore points on a specific spot where a line of runes are etched on the floor, creating an sizable square area people can stand on.

Mateo and Beltrand follows the instructions and stand inside the square.

"If mages have their ever increasing Mana Capacity. We fighters also have a trick on our sleeves."

Gilmore makes a peace sign.

"Two words: Mana Potency."

"Mana Potency?"

"Yes Mateo. With our body slowly becoming stronger, so our Mana Potency.

"I don't really understand." Beltrand is confused as it is the first time he heared the concept.

"What it is exactly Gilmore?" Mateo asked.

"Because of our fixed miniscule Mana. We can instead increase the quality of it. Yes you can't still cast powerful spells but Mana Potency shines when used in our body instead. The capabilities of your body can be enhanced tenfold by just using tiny amount of high grade Mana improved by our rigorous training."

"Isn't that is just what we naturally do? We already using our Mana to strenghten our body."

Gilmore nods on Mateo's opinion.

"Yes that's true. But what we aiming to do here is to boost your Mana potency further by using a non-natural way."

"I understand. Does it mean we going to do body strenghtening on this chamber?"

"No. You already finished that on Phase 1 and Phase 2. Phase 3 is all about directy enhancing the Potency of your Mana. And let me show you how it would be done."

Gilmore walks to the center of the chamber where another circle with different design is etched on the floor and there, he stands still while Mateo and Beltrand watch with anticipation.

Gilmore close his eyes and starts to meditate. For just few seconds, Mateo and Beltrand watch as a huge amount of shiny light blue smoke got released on Gilmore's body.

Mateo clenches his fist as he await for Gilmore's potent Mana to hit them, but an invisible barrier blocks it coming from the runes etched on the floor. Mateo gets reassured as he doubt that his body can resist the pressure of Gilmore's powerful Mana release.

The chamber is now filled by the Gilmore's Mana which only mana sensitives can see. It is so thick that it feels like an intense fog. Mateo can't even see Gilmore anymore.

The scene just stay still for 20 minutes, Mateo and Beltrand are starting to get worried as there's still no response from Gilmore.

"Should we help Sir Gilmore?" Beltrand asked as she looked on the Mana fog seriously.

But before Mateo even answers Beltrand. He notices that deep in the fog, a bright light slowly appears. Then the light takes form of a human shape who just standing still.

But instead of their worry fading away, the two just feel eerie as the event becomes bizzare.

"Sir Gilmore?" Mateo calls but there's no response from the other side.

Instead, the fog of Mana moves rapidly towards the light. Like it was being sucked by the human-shaped light where Gilmore is standing. The vacuum is so agressive that the fog is moving violently like a storm.

Until all of the smoke is gone. Mateo and Beltran observes as the light also slowly fades revealing Gilmore with no visible damage.

Gilmore walks to the two who still strucked by awe.

"Did you observed everything?" Gilmore asked.

"Ok Sir Gilmore, what... Is... That?" Beltrand's confused question

"That's what you going to do from now on."

"But I don't understand at all."

"I see. Well then let me explain further. Beltrand, can you stand on the circle where I came from?"

Without asking question, Beltrand follows Gilmore's command. Now standing, he waits for further instructions.

"Now just relax yourself and meditate. When you feel that your in state of calmness, release all of your mana at once."

"W-what?" Mateo is surprised.

"Yes thats right."

Beltrand follows and starts to meditate. And like Gilmore's command, he release all of his Mana which he instantly feels exhaustion.

Beltrand's Mana is incomperable to Gilmore's. Not only it was white but the opacity is so clear that if Mateo still see Beltrand in the center of the room, he might think that Beltrand's Mana is not even in the surroundings.

"This is Beltrand's Mana quality?" Mateo asked.

"Yes. But this is already a good amount. Weaker fighters might have an invisible mana that we can only feel if spread in this whole room."

"Now I want to see my Mana quality."

"Sir Gilmore, what should I do next?"

"Just meditate and focus. The magic circle beneath you would increase your Mana regeneration."

Beltrand continues to meditate and Mateo watch as his friend's body starts to glow. The magic circle starts its wonders, slowly filling Beltrand's Mana.

Until it finally reach his Max.

"Sir Gilmore. I think my mana is full again."

"Good, now absorbs all of your Mana that you spread on this room."

"W-what? Is that really possible?"

"That's what I did so just follow it."

Beltrand trust Gilmore and follows his command. Using the basics of Mana manipulation. He retracts all of the Mana he released back to himself like how he retracts the Mana he coats on his weapons.

"Augh." Beltrand feels uncomfortable as he forcing his Mana to his body which already full of Mana to begin with. But he do his best and after some time, Beltrand finally manages to drain all of the mana in the room.

"So. What you feel?" Gilmore asked.

"I feel like... My power just increased." Beltrand explained as she watch her Mana he spreads on his hand.

"That's good. It means you easily forced your Mana to merge and get enhanced."

"Wait... That's what we need to do in order to become stronger?" Mateo asked with a hint of confusion on his voice.

"You seems unethusiastic."

"Sorry but Isn't the method is too simple for a supposed great enhancement training?"

Gilmore sighs.

"Let's return to that question once we reached.. Hmmmm.... I believe Level 5 of your Mana potency training."

Unusure on what Gilmore said. Mateo just nods.

"Ok Sir Gilmore."

"Good. Now Mateo, it is your turn now. Go on the circle and do just like what me and Beltrand did.

Mateo proceeds to do the whole cycle with no problems. After resting for hours, the two make another cycle again. Now, Beltrand and Mateo are now on Level 2 of their Mana potency training.

Resting inside the chamber, eating the meals provided by Juli. The three just talking about their Mana training, especially Mateo who just thought of so many concepts after learning about the training.

"Sir Gilmore, what is your level on this Mana training?" Mateo asked.

"Level 21."

"Level 21?! And you just add another level earlier?" Beltrand is surprised to hear the answer and he compares his 2 Level.

"No... What I did earlier is not my entire Mana. I just released a little amount as a demonstration. Because I admit, I can't absorb all of my Mana at the moment."

"Is Leveling at that range really difficult?"

"You would understand once you reached higher levels Mateo."

"Sorry for doubting Sir Gilmore. It's just... So many questions are forming on my mind while thinking on this training."

"Like?"

"Like the magic circle in the middle. That's really a useful and powerful tool yet this is the first time I see one."

"Ohhh... I understand. Afterall, I also have the same question in the past."

"Then why that Magic circle is not mainstream?"

Gilmore scratches his chin.

"According to my ancestors. The Academia tries to replicate that magic circle. From every minor detail like the paint used to draw the circle to the stone where the circle is created. Yet despite everything, they never managed to activate their replicas and only this one is the working circle of its type."

"And why is that the case?"

Gilmore shrugged.

"Who knows. Julzhihar brings the secret of that circle to his grave while he created this chamber."

"Why its always that powerful archmage that got involved on the mysterious shits?" Mateo's surprised reaction after hearing the archmage's name again.

"Just ignore it really."

"If Claustrine is here, she can't ignore such info. She's probably babbling about magic once she heard about this."

"The mage girl?"

"Yes."

"Hahaha... Your mage is surely a curious ones. I can feel she destined for greatness."

"You think so?"

"Yup. She have the thirst for knowledge that well-known mages have. Anyways, do you have more questions?"

"Yes... What if for example, I release my Mana here and Beltrand also release his-"

"Death... Straight up Death." Gilmore's non-chalant answer.

"But I didn't finished my question yet."

"Hahaha I already know what you planning. But in serious note, don't even try to absorb someone else's Mana on this training if you cherish your life."

"Someone tried it?"

"Yes. A foolish ancestor of mine."

Gilmore stands up and walks on a plaque on the wall that Beltrand is looking at. Curious, Mateo stands up and follows Gilmore.

"So many names here." Beltrand mumbles to himself.

Mateo sees the plaque seperated by three sections: Passed, Failed and Fools. The passed and failed section are almost in equal lenght while the Fools section only have few names.

Most of them have a Vandril last name and Mateo is surprise to see female names.

"Well. Their progenitor is a powerful woman. They must truly respect that women on their family can have potential that needs to be honed."

Mateo thoughts to himself as he read the names.

"Well. See this name here?" Gilmore points a name on the Fools section.

"Tyranise Vandril III." Mateo reads.

"That's the fool I'm talking about. So Foolish that his death becomes a warning for the entire lineage."

Mateo just wait for Gilmore to continue his story.

"It happened hundreds of years ago but the fact that there's only few Fools after his death says a lot on how much impact he have. According to family history, Tyranise find the finest fighters of his calibre and bring them inside this chamber to do the training with payment. Wanting to become stronger faster, he used the Mana of three Gold ranked adventurers of your level and absorb them alongside his Mana. You know what happened?"

Mateo is focused and anxious to hear the outcome. Even Beltrand's attention is caught by Gilmore's story.

"It turns out that not every Mana is the same and it's especially true for Mana of living creatures. The four types of Mana inside Tyranise's body is fighting inside as all of them are not compatible to each other. The end result is his entire body exploding after a minute of agonizing pain."

Mateo and Beltrand makes a dreaded expression as they imagine what the scenery looks like.

"That's... Fucked up." Beltrand's only words.

"Does that Mean that one's mana is somehow designed to be only compatible to that person?" Mateo asked.

"That's the Academia's primary discovery after the incident."

"I guess his death is not really in vain."

Gilmore laughs on Mateo's words.

"I guess you're right. But I hope the story answer your question."

"Yes." Mateo smile.

"Sir Gilmore. Does our name is also going to be included on this plaque?" Beltrand asked as he looks on Gilmore's name on the bottom of Passed section.

"Sadly. That's only reserved for Vandril lineage."

"Awwwww..." Beltrand's dissapointed grunt.

"Ok let's do your final cycle for today. Who wants to go first?"

"Me!"

"Ok Beltrand just go in the middle and do the routine."

Mateo and Beltrand finished the cycle and now they're Level 3 of Mana potency training. They return to the mansion exhausted yet eager to train more more tomorrow.

But the ethusiasm is slowly fading away as the traning goes on day by day.