"What are you telling me? There's someone who went to the mines without being one of the registered miners?" A fat man asked from his seat, eyes wide with anger.
"Investigate this immediately. Find out who told him the location of the mines. Find them immediately!" he ordered with a fierce expression.
The guard opposite him had a gloomy expression. He thought to himself, "This person truly has guts. Invading King Clay's mine… they're truly courting death."
---
At that moment, Leo was patrolling a deserted forest. There was no sign of life here, which made the place feel unnaturally cold. The silence created an invisible pressure that weighed on him.
"This should be the location of the mine," Leo muttered to himself. After gathering information, he had also learned that the crystals found in the mine could enhance the abilities of those with powers. Leo was determined to grow stronger as quickly as possible,he had a feeling that getting his revenge wouldn't be simple.
He looked around and frowned. He had been traveling for over a week. He hadn't expected the mines to be this far. Even though his speed couldn't match that of a car back on Earth, he was still fast. Still, he never hesitated. He continued searching. And now he felt. He was close. Very close. According to what Shaw had told him, the entrance should be nearby.
He paused for a moment, frowning deeply, when suddenly a notification appeared on the system only he could see:
[Dense earth element discovered underground.]
Leo's expression shifted. Joy flashed across his face then a frown returned. There's no way I'm digging underground, he thought. It would take too long, and it's not safe. If this really is a mine, there should be guards protecting it. Even though I'm confident in my strength, I can't take on a large group.
Entering through the back door is always safer than the front, he reasoned. He suddenly felt regret. I should've asked Shaw what miners wear I could've disguised myself.
"Sigh… I neglected that," he muttered, his expression turning cold. No matter what, I must absorb those earth elements.
After coming to that conclusion, he hesitated no longer. He took off his shirt, revealing his well-built body. He looked at his hands, then at the ground.
"Maybe I should think of this as body training… like in martial arts," he muttered, trying to release mana into his hands.
A golden light suddenly shrouded his arms but it vanished after a moment. He frowned and tried again. This time it lasted a breath longer before fading again.
His expression soured. "What's the problem? I have mana. I'm summoning you come out!" he growled, veins bulging as he forced the energy out. Golden light shrouded his arms once more but again, it only lasted two breaths before disappearing.
"The time increased…" he noted, eyes lighting up with realization.
---
[Skill gained: "Surge Breath" Helps control mana power.]
"I got too confident coming here. If this had happened in battle… I'd already be dead." ´◔‿ゝ◔`)━☞
---
[Skill comprehending…]
[Skill comprehended.]
"I can make my mana flow with every breath… it's like a breathing technique."
After comprehending the skill, Leo sat down to practice. He took in a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. This continued for over half an hour. When he stood again, he felt refreshed. Focusing his mind, he took another deep breath and activated his mana power it now appeared stable.
He smiled as he formed mana into claws.
"I can control it now… just like I control my breath.
---
"I should dig up this forest," Leo muttered as he began digging.
Unknown to him, in the distance, a bird was watching silently. At that moment, it suddenly spread its wings and flew away, disappearing into the distance.
The bird eventually reached a middle-aged man,he was the guard who had spoken with the fat man earlier which was strange. The man placed his right hand on the bird's head. After a moment, he let go and then suddenly sank into the ground.
Below, deep underground, were thousands of people; they had been waiting for him.
"He'll arrive soon. You all should get ready. It's just an apprentice but we need to be cautious this person is quite bold," the man said casually but there was a hint of suspicion in his voice, He sat down with his eyes closed.
Then, without warning, he asked a question that made everyone present tremble.
"Who directed him to the mines?"
Among the crowd, Shaw's face turned pale as fear gripped him.
"It's over," he thought.