"The reason you couldn't see me before was because you were relying too much on your eyes". He explained with a serious tone.

Isn't his technique about using the eyes? It's a little ironic that he says that.

"What do I mean with this? When you close your eyes, it's completely dark, right?" He asked.

"Yes, that's how seeing works". I answered.

"Of course that's normal. But for people like us who want to break our limits, it's not enough to be normal.

Therefore, the first thing I will teach you is how to see without seeing. Do you remember the mana that you used before?" He said.

"Yes".

"Great, gather that mana to your eyes". He said it with an expectant voice.

As I tried to gather mana for my eyes, I realized that it was blocked by something. It could only gather around it, not inside it.

"You can't, right? You can probably only encircle your mana around your eyes. But inside is very different". He was amused.

"Usually this means that you don't have the aptitude to be able to use my technique".

"Aptitude?" I said I was confused.

"A better word for it would be talent". He said it cheerfully.

"Wait, I don't have the talent to learn your technique." I asked, puzzled.

"I said usually. There is a different way we can do it since you are a regressor". He exclaimed eagerly.

"I have only thought about it in theory, so it's very interesting for me to see it in action". He said it with a tinge of excitement.

"And what is that method?" I asked.

"Hahaha. The reason you can't gather mana for your eyes is because your brain is trying everything in its power to stop you from doing that.

Some people don't have that restriction; they are the people who have talent. But people who have that defensive mechanism who try to force it... Will end up blind". He laughed.

"But this is where your regression comes in! You can try again and again, because as long as you regress, everything resets!". He said it with a crazed tone as he laughed.

What the hell is he saying? I get the point, but isn't there a different way?

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Why did he give me the heart phoenix? Wasn't that supposed to teach me the technique?

"What about the heart phoenix?"

After hearing my question, he stopped laughing.

"There's a different purpose for that. One, it's for my future versions to see that you have been chosen as the next patriarch.

Two, what I am teaching you is not the whole technique. I am only teaching the beginning; the heart phoenix will play a later part". He said it with a serious tone.

"Ok, so what is this method?" I asked nonchalantly.

He floated closer to me.

"You know how to gather mana in your hands, right?"

"Yes".

"Well, there you go; that's the method!"

"My hands?"

"No, the mana in your hands is the answer; all you have to do is gather mana at your fingertips. And when there is enough mana, you will poke your eyes with enough force to go through it". He smiled.

Wait, poke my eyes? I can't do that. If I do, that's going to make me regress.

"Wait, I haven't told you this, but if I become blind, I will regress because of my skill". I said it hurriedly.

He scratched his head.

"But is it instantly?"

I thought about the times when I regressed. Usually it's not instant, as I would have time to see the skill activate.

"It's not instantly". I answered puzzled.

"Well, there's your answer; it's still possible". He said this while nodding.

I guess the only thing missing is that I haven't tried it yet. Luckily, I am used to stabbing myself with my dagger.

So this shouldn't be that different. But as I gathered my mana at my fingertips,

"Are you actually going to do it?" He asked.

"Yeah, well, I kind of have to".

"Before you do it, remember to focus your mana on your fingertips, and as you poke your eyes, try to connect the mana from your fingers to where you felt that the mana was blocked".

It shouldn't be that difficult, then.

I readied myself by breathing in and out.

I took my fingers and poked myself in the eyes, and I quickly tried to draw mana from my fingers to the spot.

[Skill activation]

- Perfect Clear [X]

[Returning to the moment you first entered this floor]

"Ooh, you are a crazy f*cker".

I heard him faintly say before I regressed.

*****

When I woke up, I saw the same field. And I tried to think of what I did wrong.

The mana from my fingertips still didn't want to connect, and before I regressed, I heard him say I was crazy.

Why did he say that? Did I do something wrong?

Well, I will find out when I summon him again.

[Congratulations for finding the hidden exit!] If the hidden exit is used, you will return to earth.

[Do you want to use the hidden exit?]

[Yes] or [No]

- [No]

[The hidden exit will be closed for the rest of the floor.]

The hidden exit announcement keeps appearing and asking if I want to use it. If I could, I would have loved to use it, but it's impossible because my skill keeps activating.

As I laid the crystal on the ground, I gathered my mana. And just like last time, he appeared again.

"Welcome, young successor. It seems like in this generation, "

"Yeah, we have had this conversation multiple times".

I interrupted him and explained everything.

"So what you are saying is that my previous version told you to poke your eyes with your fingers?" He said this as he scratched his head.

"That is exactly it," I responded.

As he looked at me, he sighed.

"Was there something else my previous version did?"

"He did try to prank me". I said, puzzled.

"And let me guess you didn't fall for it." He asked while a look of realization appeared on his face.

"Yeah, I didn't fall for it".

Why is he asking about this?

"I guess we are even then. It's a little sick, but you must have annoyed me a lot." He said this while chuckling.

Even? I annoyed him a lot?

"What do you mean we are even?" I was confused.

"The thing is, you didn't fall for my prank. So the previous version probably decided to prank you.

My technique doesn't work like that; you don't have to poke your fingers through your eyes". He explained.