Lucian said taking a long breath "Okay, let's not waste time, explain me about all the spell I know."
"The first most easy spell you learned was: Rank-1: Light barrier spell. It costs 3Mp of creation mana and is strong enough to block the full power shot of an AWM sniper from our world. When cast, motes of light gather and weave together, solidifying into a transparent glass barrier which is of 50 cm by 50cm size. The edges shimmer with a faint, refractive quality, like heat haze on a summer day, and the barrier hums softly with contained energy.
The System continued, its tone methodical. "The second spell is Rank-1 Flame Punch. It costs 3Mp of destructive mana and is strong enough to break the Rank-1 Light barrier spell. The spell creates a stream of red-colored flames near your fist. These aren't mere embers; they are tongues of fire that lick and coil around your knuckles, casting a flickering, ominous glow on the surrounding area. The heat is intense enough to make the air shimmer, and sometimes, if not used with extreme care and precision, it may burn the clothes near your wrist and even your hand, leaving behind the scent of scorched fabric and seared flesh.
"The last spell you know is Rank-1 healing spell, capable of healing the wound made by one bullet of an AK47. It costs around 3Mp of Balancing mana. When cast, a soft, blue light emanates from your palm, spreading outwards like ripples in a pond. The light clings to the injured area, coaxing flesh and sinew to knit back together. You'll feel a strange sensation, an intense tingling that borders on uncomfortable, as the damaged cells are urged into rapid regeneration. It will take around one minute to heal the wound caused by one bullet of an AK47."
Lucian's mind raced, recalling a specific moment. His brow furrowed slightly, a subtle tightening of the muscles around his eyes betraying his focus. "What about when Leora did something, and a transparent aura appeared in Leora's sword?"
"That spell was very difficult, so old Lucian only learned and practiced these three spells if he was forced to train."
Lucian nodded focusing on a task he was her for.
Lucian took a slow breath, the training room still cloaked in thick silence, broken only by the faint crackle of torchlight reflecting on stone walls. The wooden dummy stood motionless in front of him, its surface chipped and blackened from battles long past. The air was dry, tinged with the scorched scent of burnt wood.
He rolled his shoulders, loosening the tension that had crept up his spine. His fingers flexed and curled into a fist, knuckles whitening. Energy stirred beneath his skin—dormant, but restless, like magma waiting for a crack to erupt.
He closed his eyes. The memory of the Flame Punch spell surfaced in his mind, raw and heavy, like pulling something out of thick mud.
"Flame Punch."
Mana churned inside him—Destructive Mana—its presence unmistakable, hot and impatient, like a beast clawing against its cage. It surged through his arm, swelling with pressure, rushing to his clenched fist.
Red fire sparked to life along his knuckles.
The flame didn't explode outward—it crept, licking across his skin like liquid heat, wrapping his hand in a flickering glove of power. It didn't hurt at first. Just a tingling burn, like holding your hand a little too close to an open flame. But the longer it stayed, the more it bit into his nerves.
Lucian narrowed his eyes. The edges of his sleeves curled from the heat, the fabric beginning to brown and smoke.
He stepped forward—heel first, weight low, body twisting as he pivoted from the hip. His punch lashed out like a coiled spring let loose.
Crack!
The dummy's chest splintered with a loud, dry pop. Flames hissed into the hole his fist had made. Wood groaned and curled inward, smoke rising like a ghost from the charred wound. He staggered back slightly, cradling his fist.
His knuckles ached. The outer layer of skin felt tight and raw, the heat lingering like phantom fire. The sleeve was singed nearly to the elbow. The pain wasn't enough to stop him—but it whispered a warning.
Lucian exhaled through gritted teeth. The corners of his mouth pulled back slightly—not a smile, but something close. Determination, maybe. Or the familiar taste of adrenaline.
More!
He focused first on Creation Mana, extending his hand. A faint shimmer appeared in the air before him, coalescing rapidly into a square of translucent, glass-like energy about half a meter wide. It hung steadily, distorting the view of the dummy behind it slightly. Light Barrier. Feels stable enough.
He asked to System "How long will this barrier last if I leave it like this?"
System replied "Around for 40 seconds in normal environment."
Next, he drew upon his Destructive Mana. The familiar warmth bloomed, flowing down his other arm as crimson flames erupted around his fist. Without hesitation, he punched towards the barrier he'd just created.
CRACK!
The sound was sharp, like shattering glass. The moment the flames impacted, the barrier spiderwebbed with fractures before dissolving into harmless motes of light. The flames on his fist died down immediately after. Okay, Barrier works, Flame Punch breaks it. Simple enough.
He thought for a second, turned and left the room briefly, boots echoing off the stone floor. He returned a minute later with a short dagger—nothing fancy, its edge dull and handle worn from countless hands, but it would do.
He gripped the weapon tight. The leather-bound hilt was cool against his palm, a nice contrast to the heat building in his blood. His heart drummed faster. He braced his feet again, planting his weight with the precision of someone preparing to strike for survival—not sport.
"Flame Punch."
Once again, the fire obeyed.
This time, it leapt from his wrist down the blade, the metal hissing as flame kissed its edge. For a moment, it looked beautiful—red and gold streaks spiraling around cold steel, alive and dancing.
He lunged.
The dagger tore through the dummy's head. Wood cracked, then split clean. The head fell with a dull thud, smoke spiraling up from the cut like incense from an altar.
But—
"Gah—!" Lucian's face twisted, and he dropped the blade immediately.
He clutched his hand, chest heaving. The hilt had gone molten-hot while he was mid-swing. The heat had seared through the leather grip, branding his skin beneath. His breathing grew sharp, jaw clenched as pain flared up his arm like a lightning strike.
His fingers were red, swollen, and blistering.
No hesitation. He yanked his burned hand closer to his chest and spoke the next spell through gritted teeth, voice tight with effort.
"Healing spell."
Cool, almost icy mana gathered in his palm—Balancing Mana. It wasn't aggressive like Destructive Mana, nor ethereal like Creation Mana. This one flowed like spring water, smooth and even, neither warm nor cold but… soothing. As if nature itself exhaled through him.
Blue light flickered into existence, thin and translucent, like fog drifting over a calm river. It wrapped his hand slowly.
The moment it touched the burns, his muscles tensed. It didn't feel pleasant. It felt wrong—a crawling sensation under the skin, like ants wriggling beneath the flesh. And then something wet—like a rough tongue dragging across his palm.
He winced, shoulders trembling slightly, but forced himself to hold still. The sensation faded into a dull numbness. When the light vanished, the skin on his palm was smooth again. Slightly tender, but whole.
Lucian flexed his fingers. The pain was gone. But the memory of it hadn't left his nerves.
He stared at his palm a long moment, exhaling through his nose. "Are these… the only spells I know?"
"Yes," the System replied, its voice steady. "But don't worry. With me here, we can develop far better and more efficient spells. My data analysis capabilities are vast. Like students used to use Overseer AI to write essays or optimize presentations—I can create magic spells. We simply need more raw data about this world."
Lucian nodded slowly, eyes narrowing with focus.
"Then let's begin feeding you."
"Show my status." Said Lucian determination filled his eyes.
"Status updated. Displaying current stats."
[Name: Lucian Frostbane
Age: 17
Balancing Mana: 7MP
Creation Mana: 7MP
Destructive Mana: 1MP]