part1 · 054-ep54

Episode 54: Magic Manipulation

Some time had passed since he began exploring the fourth floor. Ren had fought any number of monsters.

Darkhounds. Monsters bigger than them. Monsters with sharp fangs.

Each differed in strength, in movement. And Ren had been shifting how he fought, little by little.

"There...!"

He dodged the monster's attack. Drove power into his legs with 《Body Strengthening》 and closed the distance at a burst.

Spear thrust. The monster dropped.

"..."

Ren lowered his spear. He could use 《Body Strengthening》 far more naturally now than before.

At first, just pushing magic into his body had taken everything he had. Now, he could surge it strongly in just the moments he needed.

Even so—

"Still too much waste."

Ren let the strengthening go. He checked his magic consumption.

Lower than before. But he had a feeling he could use it even more efficiently.

"Maybe I don't need to push magic through my whole body?"

Ren looked at his arm. When attacking, what he needed was the arm. When running, the legs.

Then—

"Just send it where it's needed."

Ren tried. Gathered magic into his right arm.

"..."

The magic gathered in his arm. But it wouldn't hold steady.

Let his focus slip a little, and the magic scattered across his whole body.

"This is tough..."

He tried again and again. Arm. Legs. Arm again.

It wouldn't work. Even so, Ren kept at it.

Feel the magic. Move it. Focus it. Repeat.

That was when it happened.

Something changed, from deep inside his body.

《Survival Adaptation activated.》

Ren froze.

"...!"

《Beginning adaptation to current combat and environment.》

《Accelerating adaptation to magic manipulation.》

In that instant, the flow of magic that had been so vague became something he could feel clearly.

"...!"

The magic flowing through his body. Its position, its movement — he knew both.

Ren focused. On his right arm.

The magic flowed. This time it didn't scatter. It gathered, exactly where he needed it.

《Adaptation to magic manipulation complete.》

《Skill 《Magic Manipulation》 acquired.》

"...I did it."

Ren stared at his right arm. Tried it once more.

Right arm. Left arm. Legs.

He could move magic wherever he willed it.

"So this is... magic manipulation."

Magic he'd only ever handled by feel. Now he could move it by his own intent.

Ren clenched his fist.

"With this, I can fight even more efficiently."

《Survival Adaptation》. This time too, it had adapted him toward what he needed to survive.

Normally, it might have taken far longer. But Ren, pressed by need in dangerous conditions again and again, kept gaining that power.

"...Handy power, huh."

Ren murmured. Then looked at the spear in his hand.

"Could I... flow magic into the spear, too?"

He gripped the spear. Magic into his arm. From there, into the spear.

"..."

Just a tiny bit of magic passed over. But it vanished at once.

"Not yet, huh."

Ren gazed at the spear. He'd learned magic manipulation. Next, he just had to master it.

Ren started walking again. Stronger monsters still waited in the depths of the fourth floor.

And—

Ren didn't know.

That the deeper he went from here, the more fights would come that demanded 《Survival Adaptation》.