The morning sun filtered through the cave entrance, casting long streaks of light across the clearing. Alex had slept better than I had expected, and I could see the determination in his eyes as he watched me stretch and ready myself. Today would be harder—much harder than yesterday.
The forest around the cave seemed unusually still, as if it were holding its breath. I could feel the pulse of my mana flowing smoothly now, calm, responsive, and controlled. But the spiral map warned of stronger threats, and the air was thick with anticipation.
The first sign came as a distant, rhythmic thud. The ground trembled beneath me, a warning I could feel in my bones. From the underbrush emerged a bull, larger than any I had seen, its muscular frame rippling, hooves pounding the earth. Its horns were thick, tipped with gleaming white, and it snorted violently, eyes locked on me with a calculating intelligence.
At the same time, a rustle higher up drew my gaze. From the trees above leaped a leopard as large as a bull, fur sleek and muscles coiled like springs. Its speed was terrifying, faster than any normal leopard, its eyes gleaming with predatory cunning.
I felt a surge of adrenaline. Two simultaneous threats—one massive brute on the ground, one agile predator in the air. My mana pulsed in response, eager to flow, but I had to control it, split it, and direct it with precision.
"Alex, stay low, watch the openings, and follow my lead," I shouted. He nodded, crouched behind a rock, ready to move if needed.
The bull charged first, its massive hooves tearing through the ground, aiming straight for me. I sidestepped, feeling the pulse of mana in my legs, and sent a precise burst along my palm. The energy struck the bull's flank, staggering it slightly but not stopping it. Its fury only grew, and it lunged again.
The leopard leaped from a branch above, landing with a thud on a nearby rock, crouching to spring. Its speed was disorienting, zigzagging unpredictably, forcing me to anticipate its movements while managing the bull's relentless charges. My hands glowed as I split my mana pool, sending a controlled surge toward the bull while maintaining a defensive thread aimed at the leopard.
A near-death moment hit hard. The bull cornered me against a boulder, and the leopard lunged simultaneously. I barely rolled to the side, the energy from my mana streaking past me, striking the leopard mid-leap. It yelped, claws scraping the rock, but wasn't stopped. My heart raced; my chest burned from the exertion. I realized then that controlling mana under extreme pressure required not just focus, but rhythm and anticipation.
I took a deep breath, visualizing the flow like twin rivers—one guiding the bull, one the leopard. I let my body move in harmony with my mana, the energy pulsing to counter their attacks rather than overpowering blindly. The bull charged again, horns angled at me. I redirected a sharp surge of energy beneath it, tipping its balance just enough to make it stumble past me. At the same time, I sent a thin arc of mana toward the leopard, forcing it to retreat to a branch out of immediate reach.
Alex gasped. "Alaric… you're amazing! But you can't keep this up forever!"
"I know," I panted, focusing on the next sequence. I realized I had to synchronize speed with energy output. Every pulse had to be timed perfectly—too early, and the beast recovers; too late, and I risk being struck. I channeled a continuous, flowing thread of mana to my legs, enhancing my dodges, while short, sharp bursts went to strategic points—the bull's shoulders, the leopard's landing points.
Another near-death moment arrived when the leopard leapt down, claws aimed for my chest. I barely rolled aside, feeling the tip of its claw graze my shoulder. Pain flared, but I didn't falter. My mana surged, more refined now, more responsive. I struck the leopard's flank with a precise pulse that sent it stumbling past the bull. The two beasts collided briefly, giving me the perfect opening to create distance.
Finally, both creatures paused, recovering, wary of the mana pulses that had forced them into defensive postures. I breathed heavily, feeling the energy still humming steadily within me. My heart raced, sweat poured down my face, but a sense of mastery was blossoming. I could now split my mana into multiple streams, direct them independently, and maintain control even under extreme stress.
Alex approached cautiously, eyes wide. "You… you really did it. You controlled them both at the same time!"
I nodded, letting my shoulders relax slightly. "It's not just control… it's rhythm. Flowing with my energy, predicting their movement, and timing my strikes precisely. The bull taught me strength, the leopard taught me speed. Together… they teach balance."
We sat down on the edge of the clearing, catching our breath. The forest around us seemed to settle, as if acknowledging the skill we had demonstrated. My mana hummed softly, now a calm, obedient presence within me. The spiral map pulsed faintly, signaling the next trial—but for now, this was a moment of learning, a milestone in understanding.
Tomorrow, the final beast of our training awaited: the ape with iron-like fur. That battle would test not only power, but endurance, strategy, and full coordination of my mana pool. I could feel it in my bones—the next challenge would demand everything I had learned, and more.
But for today, I had proven that mana could be controlled, split, and synchronized, even against two unpredictable, powerful threats. And Alex—watching, learning, growing—was ready to take the next step with me.