Chapter 6: Laying the Foundation (2)

Three days had passed since I locked myself in my dorm room, repeating the cycle of dying and reviving.

Through countless experiments, I had discovered a few key facts. First, dying and resurrecting endlessly did not result in infinite mana growth; second, once my mana increased after a resurrection, it would remain stagnant for approximately six hours; third, by dying and reviving up to four times a day, the mana gained far exceeded what could be accumulated through conventional breathing techniques.

I looked down at my notebook and checked the records of all my experiments from the past three days. “Damn! This is insane.”

A satisfied smile crept across my face. Who would have thought I could solve the mana problem that had held me back in my past life with such an absurd method? However, it wasn’t exactly the most conventional approach.

Every six hours, I had to take my own life for my mana to increase. No matter how I tried to rationalize it, this was anything but normal.

“So basically, I wake up in the morning and die; eat lunch and die; eat dinner and die; and finally, die one last time before going to bed?” Even saying it out loud made me feel like I had lost my mind.

Holy shit!Well, what choice do I have?

It wasn’t like I could cultivate mana through ordinary means. Had this been my previous life, Iris would’ve caught me and beaten me bloody for even considering such a thing. But now, there was no one left to scold me for treating my life so carelessly.

I pushed down the fleeting desire to hear her reprimand me one more time and refocused my thoughts. I was a little worried about whether constantly using this method would wear down or erase my soul stigmata.

Isn’t the original power of the Primordial Flame meant to consume and destroy the soul stigmata?

For some reason, my soul stigmata had remained intact even after absorbing the Primordial Flame. But if I continue to draw power from it like this, will it eventually disappear along with the Blessing of Resurrection contained within it?

I thoroughly checked the soul stigmata engraved on my left chest. Nothing seems to have changed for now.

The soul stigmata was still intact, without a single sign of wearing down or damage. The Blessing of Resurrection within it was functioning as usual, bringing me back from death without fail.

The irony of my situation was almost laughable. I let out a short chuckle, shaking my head. I endured so much suffering just to achieve death, yet I was worried about losing the very blessing that stopped me from dying.

Still, at least one thing was certain: the Primordial Flame had not destroyed the Blessing of Resurrection within my soul stigmata.

If I can keep increasing my mana like this, I can reach heights far beyond my past life.

Then, I could protect those I had failed to protect and save those I had failed to save. I would no longer have to lose anyone ever again.

Before the memories of my past life could surface any further, I opened my eyes. “Alright, now that I’ve secured a solid foundation…”

It was time to acquire a powerful weapon.

A weapon, huh.

I sifted through my past life’s memories, searching for something useful. It needed to be something I could obtain quickly and wield effectively, such as ancient relics or divine artifacts imbued with the power of the gods.

A few artifacts I had sought across the continent in my past life came to mind, but all of them were either too difficult to obtain or beyond my current capabilities.

Even if I got my hands on one, I wouldn’t be able to use it properly.

The more powerful an artifact, the greater the mastery required to wield it. Right now, aside from my memories, I was practically a blank slate. Even if I managed to acquire such a relic through sheer effort, I would most probably not be able to utilize it effectively.

I tried to think of something useful again. A weapon that I can obtain quickly and that provides an immediate boost in power…

One thing came to mind immediately: A Soul Stigmata Amplifier Potion.

It was a potion that allowed a soul stigmata to overexert itself, temporarily granting its user immense power. For someone like me, who had always suffered from a lack of mana, it had been nothing short of a godsend.

I don’t know if calling this a weapon is quite right, but… in terms of sheer effectiveness, it outclasses most artifacts, so I suppose the label doesn’t matter.

Naturally, its side effects were extreme. Even a single dose twisted the body’s energy flow, and taking it repeatedly could melt one’s internal organs, sometimes leading to death.

“Well, that’s not really a problem for me.” I smirked, glancing down at the soul stigmata on my chest. “Now that I have a plan, it’s time to get moving.”

In my previous life, the person who had created the Soul Stigmata Amplifier Potion was a hero who had played a pivotal role in the war against the demons. Currently, though, that person was in Reynald Hero Academy, the very academy I was in right now.

***

In the faculty office of the Warrior Division, Professor Kane looked at me with a gaze that practically screamed, “What kind of trouble are you up to this time?”

“You want to meet Professor Bastion?” he asked.

“Yes,” I replied.

Jayden Bastion was the continent’s foremost authority on soul stigmata research.

“Why Professor Bastion, all of a sudden? He’s a research professor, so there should be no reason for a cadet to seek him out,” said Professor Kane.

“I’d like to consult him regarding my future path.”

“Professor Bastion is part of the Mage Division.”

“Soul stigmata research is open to all divisions, isn’t it?”

“Career counseling, huh

. With Professor Bastion?” Professor Kane’s gaze darkened, and his sharp, beast-like eyes locked onto me. “You do know what people call him around here, don’t you?”

“Of course. How could I not?”

No matter how much time had passed, how could I possibly forget the infamous Disciple Slayer?

“And yet, you still want to meet him?” Professor Kane asked.

“Aren’t they just rumors? That Professor Bastion killed his student?”

“Rumors, my ass.” Professor Kane scowled openly. This wasn’t just students gossiping behind a professor’s back; this was coming from another faculty member. That alone said everything.

“Two years ago, it was none other than Professor Bastion himself who went around bragging that he killed a cadet named Oscar,” he explained.

“But the investigation concluded it was an accident during a research experiment, didn’t it?” I replied.

“That’s only because he’s a Bastion!” Professor Kane slammed his fist onto his desk, his face twisting in anger. “Even if it really was an accident, a professor shouldn’t act like that!”

His massive fists trembled, his voice thick with fury. “Do you know what that bastard did at Oscar’s grave? Huh? I heard him with my own ears mocking his dead student, calling him a brainless fool!”

“And did you just stand there and listen? Didn’t you punch Professor Bastion square in the face for that? Got yourself suspended, too,” I said.

“I—uh, well… That’s…” Professor Kane cleared his throat awkwardly. “I was young then.”

“Haha. You say that like it was twenty years ago, Professor.”

“Shut it, brat!” Professor Kane roared and tried kicking at my shin.

I casually stepped aside, dodging the strike.

“You…” Professor Kane narrowed his beast-like eyes. “How the hell did you change so much overnight?”

“I came back from the future.”

“Bullshit!”

No, really. I did come back from the future. This is unfair, I thought.

“Y-you didn’t, I don’t know, make a deal with the Demon God or something, did you?” Professor Kane asked.

“You know full well that heroes who have awakened the soul stigmata of the Seven Gods cannot turn into demons.”

Professor Kane clicked his tongue and narrowed his eyes, as if still trying to make sense of me.

Though, there was one small lie I told him: Even a hero could make a contract with the Demon God and become a demon.

It couldn’t happen now, of course. That would only become possible in the future, when the seal on the Demon God weakened. However, there was no need to stir up unnecessary misunderstandings now.

“Well, whatever. Even if you’re on suspension, there’s no rule saying you can’t meet with other professors. I’ll write you a letter of introduction. Go ahead,” Professor Kane said.

“Thank you.”

“Hmph. Go get yourself killed for all I care.” With clear displeasure on his face, Professor Kane scrawled out a hasty letter of introduction.

I took it from him, turned to leave the office, and opened the door. But just as I was about to step outside, his voice, laced with concern, stopped me for a moment. “If anything happens, come straight to me.”

I chuckled softly and nodded. Seriously, this man!

For someone with such a rough appearance, he sure had a soft side.

***

Professor Bastion’s laboratory was tucked away in one of the most secluded corners of the academy. The campus was massive, so most cadets probably didn’t even know this place existed.

I rapped my knuckles against the tightly shut door, but there was no response despite knocking multiple times. So, I knocked harder. “Professor Bastion. I know you’re in there.”

After a moment of silence, the door slowly creaked open. A thick, putrid stench immediately wafted out. Peering inside, I saw a laboratory so filthy it might as well have been an abandoned haunted house.

A frail-looking old man peered out from the barely opened door. Deep wrinkles covered his gaunt face, and his skin was dotted with age spots. His long white hair was very greasy as if it hadn’t been washed in days, and he wore a robe so tattered it wasn’t even fit to be used as a rag. He was exactly as I remembered.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“My name is Dale Han, a third-year cadet from the Warrior Division,” I replied.

“And what do you want?”

“I’m interested in your research, Professor. Here, a letter of introduction from Professor Kane.”

Professor Bastion took the letter and suddenly scoffed. His shoulders began to shake. “You’re interested… in my research?”

“Yes. Specifically, in potions that influence the soul stigmata.”

Professor Bastion let out a twisted, eerie laugh, like some demonic monster that had received the blessing of the Demon God and succumbed to madness. “You. Do you know who I am?”

“Yes.”

“Heh, hehheh, heheheheh! And yet, you still want to be part of my research?” Drool dribbled down his lips as he laughed maniacally.

The next moment, he swung the door wide open with a bang and grabbed me roughly by the collar. With crazed, glistening eyes, he leaned in close and whispered in a low, sinister voice, “You’re going to die.”

I smirked. “Ah, is that so?”

I’d like to see you try.

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