The night was colder than usual.
The forest stood silent, as if waiting for something significant to occur.
Luxe stood in the center of the clearing, his eyes closed, breathing steady and controlled.
"…Tonight, I will either stabilize the second circle successfully or completely reset my progress and begin again," he said calmly. "There is no room for hesitation if I want to continue advancing at the required pace."
Lumi stood a few steps behind him, her presence quiet yet tense.
"…Your mana flow is already approaching its current limit, and forcing further expansion may cause internal instability," she said. "Even with your control, your body may not endure the pressure created by the second circle formation."
Luxe exhaled slowly.
"…I understand the risk involved, but delaying this breakthrough will only slow my overall progression," he replied. "If I hesitate now, I will fall behind the events that are already beginning to move."
Lumi's gaze softened slightly.
"…Then at least allow me to monitor your condition closely and intervene if the situation becomes dangerous," she said. "I will not interrupt your process unless it threatens your life directly."
"…That is acceptable," Luxe said. "But do not interfere unless absolutely necessary, even if the situation looks unstable."
He closed his eyes again.
Mana began to circulate.
Faster than ever before.
The first circle—
Rotated rapidly.
"…Increase density… stabilize structure… do not allow fragmentation during expansion," he murmured quietly. "Guide the flow instead of forcing it beyond its natural limit."
The pressure built inside his body.
His breathing became heavier.
"…The rotation speed is exceeding previous limits," he whispered. "If I lose control now, the entire structure will collapse instantly."
Suddenly—
The egg within his bag pulsed.
Thump…
A warm surge spread through his body.
"…Again?" Luxe muttered. "Are you responding to the increase in mana pressure within my core right now?"
The energy synchronized.
His mana flow—
Stabilized.
Lumi's eyes widened slightly.
"…The egg is actively supporting your mana circulation and reducing instability during expansion," she said. "This level of synchronization suggests that the bond between you is deepening rapidly."
Luxe tightened his focus.
"…Then I will use this opportunity fully and complete the second circle formation without hesitation," he said. "This is the perfect moment to push beyond my current limitations safely."
The mana surged.
Faster.
Denser.
Stronger.
"…Now."
The first circle expanded—
Split—
And—
Formed.
A second ring appeared.
Stable.
Clear.
"…The second circle… is complete," Luxe whispered, opening his eyes slowly. "The structure is stable, and the mana flow is significantly smoother than before."
A burst of energy spread outward.
The surrounding air trembled.
Leaves scattered.
Lumi stepped forward quickly.
"…Your mana density has increased dramatically, and your overall presence has changed noticeably," she said. "Even your aura feels sharper and more controlled compared to before this breakthrough."
Luxe raised his hand.
"…Let's test the difference immediately and confirm how much my output and efficiency have improved," he said calmly. "There is no point in gaining power if I cannot control it properly."
Lightning gathered.
More stable.
More intense.
"Thunder Lance."
CRACK—!!
The attack shot forward—
Stronger.
Faster.
More precise.
It pierced through a distant tree completely.
"…The penetration power increased significantly while the mana consumption decreased compared to previous attempts," Luxe observed. "This confirms that forming the second circle has improved both efficiency and output simultaneously."
Lumi nodded.
"…Your control has also improved, but your body will need time to adapt to this sudden increase in power," she said. "You should avoid excessive usage until your physical condition stabilizes properly."
Luxe lowered his hand.
"…Understood," he said. "From now on, I will focus on synchronizing my physical abilities with this new level of mana control."
The next day—
Inside the palace garden—
Christy stood quietly, her gaze drifting toward the distance.
"…You have been unusually silent since yesterday's meeting, and your thoughts seem heavily focused," her mother said gently. "Is something troubling you regarding the Crown Prince or his actions recently?"
Christy shook her head slightly.
"…It is not concern, but rather curiosity about the way he speaks and acts with certainty," she said. "He talks about the future as if he has already seen it unfold before his eyes."
Her father crossed his arms.
"…That is precisely why we must observe him carefully before making any commitments," he said. "If his knowledge is real, then aligning with him could change our position significantly."
Christy lowered her gaze slightly.
"…Then I want to understand him better before making any judgment about his intentions," she said. "Because I feel that his actions are not driven by ambition, but by necessity."
Later that day—
Luxe stood alone in the training ground.
"…Now that the second circle has formed successfully, I need to adapt my combat style immediately," he said. "If I fail to control this power properly, it will become unstable in real combat situations."
Lumi stood beside him.
"…Your next step should focus on combining speed, precision, and increased mana output simultaneously," she said. "Your foundation is strong enough now to support more advanced techniques and movement patterns."
Luxe nodded slightly.
"…Then I will refine my techniques further and develop new variations based on my current capabilities," he said. "This time, I will build a style that perfectly suits my strengths and future growth."
He raised his sword.
Lightning gathered—
Smoothly.
Naturally.
"…Let's begin."
The wind moved gently.
And with it—
A new level of power had been reached.