It felt like his body sunk deeper into the depths of the ocean. His sense of time and space faded away. It could've been five thousand years, or it could've been one second—he wouldn't know.
Where was he? At the bottom of the ocean? In space? He didn't know. It induced a sense of panic—his breathing turned hasty as he struggled to free himself from the unknown.
All of a sudden, his vision flashed white, and he felt nothing.
He opened his eyes. The noises returned like receding waves. The colors and light came back as though he had left a dark room.
Following that, he realized he was back in the town—but this time, it was bustling with life.
Children laughed, distant arguments echoed across the street, women chattered, men laughed with beers in hand, and guards patrolled with stern looks.
"What is going on?" Shun wondered if it was just a dream.
He punched his face, and the stinging sensation penetrated deep into his skull. Blood trickled down.
It's not a dream? Then what is it? he asked himself with a frown, then remembered the System messages.
He swept his hand, and a floating panel appeared.
[Please collect as many materials as possible.]
What for? He stroked his chin, and a line of thought formed.
"I see… it's for the temple," he whispered to himself, and another question immediately bloomed.
How is he going to get the materials?
As he asked himself that, he began to walk around the town. It was different from the one he knew.
The people here seemed nice—they waved at him a few times with kind smiles. His soul felt welcomed, and warmth filled his body. This reminded him of what a home should look like.
As he walked, he found a crowd. Curious, he went over to see.
"What's going on?" He tapped the person in front of him.
"We don't know. This carriage just collapsed." The man took a step aside, as if revealing a stage.
Shun's eyes dilated for a moment.
That's the carriage I touched this evening! he exclaimed inwardly, laced with terror.
"Then—!" Shun ran to the entrance and saw another crowd. In it, his gaze stopped at an old man.
His head drooped low, frail as though it would fall to the ground. His shoulders hung lower than his collarbone. Tears trickled across his cheek, glinting with despair.
"Poor him. That was his only way of living."
"Just what kind of monster is capable of doing such a thing? To an old man, no less."
Two ladies before Shun whispered with pity. He looked at his trembling hands before clenching them tight and resolving himself.
Whether it was his fault or not, the rice had already turned into porridge.
Following that line of thought, he turned and walked to the market. After a few steps, he found a gap between stalls.
With a nod, he approached and planted his hands on the ground.
With only a few drops of mana remaining, he hesitated, looking at the earth longer than necessary.
"Are you okay, boy?" the stall owner next to the empty plot peeked her head out.
"I'm okay." Shun gave a light nod and returned to his business.
His mana would be depleted, and he wouldn't be able to use any of his abilities or skills. If a fight happened, he would only have one arsenal.
I'll manage, Shun thought inwardly and took a deep breath, calming himself.
He then imagined a picture of that stall—four legs, a flat surface for displaying items, and four pillars extending up from the corners to hold a roof for shade.
Creating a clear image as best as he could, he spread his nerves through the earth and molded it like he was the earth.
The earth rose, shifting shapes and sizes, chipping unnecessary parts, and forming an exact replica.
[Notice: Mana has run out.]
Shun looked up—only to see the stall was half-completed. He gritted his teeth and smashed the ground in rage.
"Not yet, damn it!"
His fingers curled, digging deeper into the ground.
Haaa! he screamed in his heart and kept using his skill.
[Warning! The body is entering an Overheat state!]
[Caution! Prolonged Overheat may cause permanent damage!]
His belly churned as though stomach acid was melting his organs. His heart jumped wildly as if it were about to burst through his ribcage.
Blood oozed out of his orifices.
"Just a little bit longer!" he shouted, fully aware his body was on the verge of collapse. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, determined to finish no matter what.
Just then, he felt a powerful force lifting him from behind.
What? he asked himself, confused as his legs dangled far from the ground.
Why am I floating?
No—someone had lifted him by the back of his shirt, pulling the entire front backward and exposing his stomach.
Then, a man crouched into his vision. "Why did you go that far?"
"Put me down." Shun pointed at the ground, his voice rough.
He then coughed up blood.
The man gave a nonchalant look at Shun's condition. He shifted his gaze to his partner, and a humongous hand lowered him gently.
Shun collapsed, curling like a shrimp. Pain beyond imagination struck every part of his body. It felt like he was being stabbed, burned, and impaled all at once.
His face scrunched in agony—yet despite it all—
"I haven't done it yet." He struggled to get up and planted his hands on the ground. "I have to clear the mess I made."
"Even if it costs your life?"
Shun nodded.
All of a sudden, a strong grip latched onto his hand. His first instinct was to struggle—but it vanished as a cooling sensation entered his body.
He looked at the man. "What are you doing?"
"Doing my job." The man let go of Shun's hand.
[Mana has recovered.]
Not only that—his pain vanished.
"You…" He looked at the man, at a loss for words.
The man nonchalantly stood up and turned to his partner—a three-foot giant.
"Let's go."
They walked away. Each step the giant took shook the earth—and also his heart, shaken by their kindness.
"Thank you! Really!" His voice echoed through the market. The man simply waved his hand.
Now then. Shun shifted his eyes and completed the job.
---
He watched from the side as the old man hugged his new stall, tears flowing down like rivers. His cries reached both heaven and earth.
Passersby stopped to look at him before continuing on their way.
Shun smiled faintly, then turned and walked away.
As he walked, he looked down at his hands.
Back then, he had been on the verge of killing himself.
Overheat was a state where one used their own cells, blood, and even organs to fuel their skills and abilities when mana was depleted.
It was a last resort—used when death was certain and you didn't want to go down without style.
I really need to control myself. That was close, he sternly advised himself.