Mark spent his remaining time cross-referencing the novel's lore, Thaddeus's fragmented memories, and the library's archives. In the world of Great Hero, existence was governed by two primary energies: Mana and Ki.
Mana was spiritual energy, born from the strength of one's soul. Possessing mana was purely a matter of innate talent—it could not be forced; it was hereditary. A mage's child would almost certainly possess magical potential. Monsters, like goblins, also possessed mana, but theirs was concentrated in a Monster Core, which served as the foundation for their evolution. Humans, however, lacked a core. Instead, mana was generated by the human spirit and flowed through the body's Mana Veins, which acted as pathways to expel the energy and manifest magic. Since most nobles were mages, their hereditary power acted as the very foundation of their authority.
Then, there was Ki—physical energy. If a person pushed their body through grueling training and consumed monster flesh, their physical form would strengthen and eventually transcend human limits. While not as exaggerated as some battle animations he remembered, such training allowed a person's durability, speed, and raw strength to reach and eventually surpass Olympic records.
But that wasn't Ki yet. Once a person reached their absolute physical limit, they faced a wall: the Awakening Ki. While talent played a part, awakening Ki required something far more vital: Will. The more stubborn and resilient a person was, the greater their success with Ki would be. Ki was not innate, nor was it hereditary—it was awakened through pure willpower. A master warrior's child might never even manage to awaken their Ki.
Ki originated from every single cell, serving to reinforce the physical vessel—bones, muscles, tendons, and even sensory organs. In later stages, it could shroud the entire body in a protective layer or coat weapons to unleash powerful slashes. However, Ki was notoriously difficult to control, and projecting it away from the body was even harder. Since Ki was essentially life force, any mistake in its use could result in death. This was where talent mattered, as the amount of Ki a body could generate was largely innate. Consuming monster flesh helped restore depleted Ki, but it had to be done carefully, as the body's capacity to process it was limited.
However, Ki held one significant advantage over mana. Enhancing the body with mana provided only a temporary effect; once the flow stopped, the boost vanished. Ki, on the other hand, strengthened the body passively. If you used Ki to sharpen your senses, those senses would remain significantly keener than an average person's, even when you weren't actively channeling the energy.
Mark tried to recall how he had appraised himself during the first days of his reincarnation. Everything had been a blur then, but two specific ratings remained etched in his memory:
Mana: E
Ki: E
These were the approximate measurements of this world, categorizing the sheer volume of one's energy. Mana was like water in a bucket. As you cast spells, the bucket emptied. It was never recommended to drain it to the very last drop, as doing so put an immense strain on the soul. Over time, the bucket would refill, a process that could be accelerated through meditation.
The measurement of Ki, however, functioned slightly differently. It represented the amount of energy a person could safely expend without overstraining their physical vessel. Like mana, Ki could be replenished, with monster flesh serving as the most effective catalyst. Yet, Ki possessed a terrifying ultimate form: through forbidden techniques, a person could instantaneously "burn" every drop of Ki residing in their cells. In that moment, the warrior would gain power far transcending their natural limits—but it was a one-way street. The final result was always death.
There was one more practice, a thing of legends and nightmares. Just thinking about it made Mark's body tremble; his breath grew ragged, and his heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird. This physical reaction didn't stem from Mark himself, but from the visceral, cellular memories of Thaddeus. It was the aftermath of a desperate gamble made after a humiliating defeat.
According to legend, if a person could wield both Mana and Ki simultaneously and fuse them together, they would become the strongest being in existence. But in reality, it was a death sentence. Though Mana and Ki seemed similar, they were fundamentally antithetical. Attempting to channel both at once usually resulted in the total collapse of the body, the mind, or both. Experts strictly advised focusing on a single energy; even for the rare few who possessed both, using them simultaneously was a taboo that led to instant crippling or death.
Most nobles looked down on Ki, viewing it as the "commoner's path," yet they secretly envied those rare geniuses who could manage both. Thaddeus had been one of those few. He was a gifted mage who had managed to awaken his Ki through pure talent. However, he never bothered to train it seriously; he had only awakened it to boast among his peers.
After his crushing defeat in the duel, consumed by rage and a thirst for absolute power, Thaddeus attempted the impossible: fusing his Mana and Ki. The result was catastrophic. It led to permanent disability, being cast out by his family, and ultimately, his decision to end his own life.
Mark took a long time to steady his nerves. He already possessed Ki—Thaddeus had awakened it long ago—but his sole focus on Mana until now had been born out of deep-seated fear. According to the System, even if Ki was already present, one had to push their physical body to its absolute limit to even begin learning how to control it. Physical exertion had never been Mark's forte, and attempting it in a blind, crippled body made the task feel insurmountable.
Yet, he couldn't deny the allure of Ki. The prospect of sensory enhancement and the passive evolution that came with it was exactly what he needed. Even if it had its own limits, it was vital for his survival. But that goal was still far off. Even setting aside the fact that his body needed rigorous training to manage Ki, Mark first had to achieve total mastery over Mana.
The only spell he had truly mastered was Mana Sense, the most basic, non-elemental form of magic. He was aware of the Mana Veins, and he knew that Mana Sense was supposed to help him perceive them. These were the absolute fundamentals.
So, where did I go wrong? What did I miss?
Suddenly, Mark's expression froze. A violent urge to slam his head against the wall surged through him. It was a familiar feeling—the realization that hits you after agonizing over a complex problem, only to discover the answer was so blindingly simple that it had been right in front of you the whole time. In such moments, you don't know whether to be thrilled by the discovery or humiliated by your own blindness.
He finally understood. He knew exactly why his mana manipulation had been faltering and why his progress had plateaued.