“Are you sure? You could wait until after the competition or rank up first… we don’t know how your cube might react. You already got a scare when you faced that Diamond rank.” Brendu speaks to me with clear concern in her eyes, her voice softer than usual.
“My cube has become a bit more resilient after recovering. I’m almost sure I can handle both abilities—I shouldn’t have many problems. I’ll go one by one in case my assumption is wrong.” I reply while looking her straight in the eyes, holding her hands.
I’m trying to calm her down. I don’t want to see her this worried. I also need to convince her—if she starts insisting, I’ll end up giving in.
“Almost sure? You’re not completely sure?” She looks at me with a hint of anger, her hands tightening around mine.
“Almost sure I can handle both rank-ups, completely sure I can at least withstand one.” I clarify quickly—she might break one of my fingers if she squeezes any harder.
Her princess-like gaze scrutinizes me. Her beautiful gray eyes scan every inch of my face, searching for any sign of doubt or lies. It’s not enough for her to feel my emotions through Imra—she always prefers to confirm things by observing my expressions.
“Are you sure you don’t want to ask for help? Aunt Susan, Uncle Julio, or my father could find someone to verify whether your cube can handle another rank IV ability without consequences.” Brendu seems to be slowly giving in.
“No. I want to make some decisions on my own. I’m grateful for their help, but I don’t want to depend on others all the time—I need to decide for myself.” I let out a sigh. “Maybe someday they won’t be there. I’d rather make mistakes now, when I still have support, and learn from them.” I give her my best smile.
All this time, I’ve made my own decisions—but always after consulting someone more experienced. I’ve never taken a blind step. It’s time to take risks. If I fail, at least I have a safety net. This is the best time to fail.
“Sometimes you sound like an old man.” She lets out a small laugh. “That’s one of the reasons I liked you from the beginning—your age and appearance don’t match your thoughts.” She hides her face in my chest.
“I thought you fell for my looks—my model face.” I joke. She responds with a headbutt to my chest.
“Sorry, sorry.” I quickly apologize before she hits me again. Maybe that wasn’t the right moment for jokes.
“You’re right—it’s better if you make mistakes now. That way, I can support you.” She gently pushes me and steps back, smiling. “Your pretty face was just a bonus… although sometimes it’s a curse. Too many women stare at you—they know you’re already involved with four women and still don’t care.” She huffs in annoyance.
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“Let’s see what I’m capable of after gaining another rank IV ability.” I wink at her, completely ignoring her last comment.
I step into my reliable training dome—my oldest training companion at the academy. It’s always there for me.
I focus, bringing back the notifications from the omnipresent voice. They’ve been sitting at the back of my mind for days—it’s time to move forward. I trust myself for the upcoming fights, but it’s always best to be at your peak.
“Electrifying Ferocious River (III) has reached its level cap. Do you wish to rank up the skill?”
The notification looks slightly different this time. I was told this can happen—the voice sometimes adapts depending on your age.
I mentally accept.
“Calculating conditions…”“Mana quantity and control: Approved.”“Imra quantity and control: Approved.”“Compatible Pseudo Law or Law: Approved.”“Requirements fulfilled to upgrade a Rank (III) skill to Rank (IV).”“Upgrade approved. Do you wish to evolve Electrifying Ferocious River?”
I accept again.
“Electrifying Ferocious River (III) has transformed into Electric Serpent Field (IV).”
Knowledge floods directly into my mind—it feels refreshing at first, but quickly turns into a mild headache from the overload.
It’s not just knowledge—my body feels it too.
A slight pressure forms in my cube—not painful, not tearing—more like being overly full. My cube feels… saturated. The discomfort slowly fades… but not completely. A faint pressure remains. It’s not enough to knock me down.
I activate Thundersnow. As always, it works perfectly—my mind ignores the discomfort. I feel normal again, as if it never existed. It doesn’t seem serious.
Which means… Time to test my new skill.
Dozens of electric serpents appear around me, dancing freely without a defined pattern. I can control them if I want—direct each one—but that would reduce their defensive efficiency.
The knowledge explains everything. The field automatically defends me—anyone I perceive as hostile is targeted instinctively. The serpents react without conscious input, intercepting attacks, people, or abilities.
I no longer need to focus like before—it feels natural. The differences are massive: the number of serpents, their power, the reduced mental strain…
My defenses have skyrocketed. The gap is enormous—there’s no comparison. Even offensively, I’ve improved. My mind is freer now—this skill works almost automatically.
I’ll refine it over time.
The only downside is mana consumption. Rank IV abilities drain a lot, especially this one—dozens of constructs at once.
But they’re not fragile—each serpent is carefully built with mana and reinforced with Imra. Mortal Arcane Construction and War Architecture shine here. Without them, this skill wouldn’t be possible. The cost is worth it.
As I deactivate the skill, something clicks. This is a field-type ability… similar to Crushing Zone.
I can expand or contract it—keep it close to my body or spread it out. The farther it extends, the more mana it consumes.
My long-term dream feels closer than ever… A true domain combining all my affinities. Gravity and electricity are already aligned… and I have ideas for ice.
For a moment, I consider upgrading another skill—but stop. That pressure in my cube is still there. It has lessened after using the ability… maybe it’ll disappear over time.
“You look very happy.” Brendu approaches slowly. “Those electric serpents looked powerful… and troublesome.” She says honestly.
She knows my abilities well—we train together often. If she says they’re more dangerous now, she’s right.
“I feel much more confident facing my next opponents.” A smile spreads across my face. I can’t wait for the tournament to resume.