Chapter 28: Pushing the Limits

Maxim was filled with a nervous excitement as he prepared for the visit to Lila's father's technology company. The idea of getting a closer look at the liquid crystal technology had intrigued him more than he expected. Could this be the answer to his mana storage problem? He wasn't sure, but he was eager to find out.

Daniel, on the other hand, was practically buzzing with energy. "This is going to be awesome, man! Cutting-edge tech, crystals that store energy—it's like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. I can't believe you might actually get to use this stuff in your research."

Maxim chuckled at Daniel's enthusiasm. "I'm not getting my hopes up just yet. It might not work, and if it doesn't, I'm going to have to figure out a different way to manage my mana."

Daniel shrugged, clearly unconcerned. "Still, it's worth a shot. And if it doesn't work, you're getting stronger by the day, man. Just think of all the stuff you've learned already. You'll figure it out."

Maxim nodded, appreciating Daniel's optimism. But deep down, he knew that if the liquid crystals didn't work, he was back to square one. Learning to manage his limited mana pool felt like a daunting task, and he wasn't sure how far he could push it without overexerting himself. That's why he was more determined than ever to explore every option before settling for less.

The plan was to visit the technology company later in the week. In the meantime, Maxim and Daniel had decided to squeeze in as much training as possible. They headed back to the old warehouse they had been using for practice. It was the perfect place—isolated, quiet, and large enough to accommodate their increasingly ambitious experiments.

"Alright, let's see what we can do today," Daniel said as they entered the warehouse, his voice echoing off the high ceilings.

Maxim stretched his arms and took a deep breath, already feeling the familiar hum of energy pulsing beneath his skin. Levitating objects had become second nature to him at this point. Small stones, metal scraps, even larger boxes—he could lift them effortlessly now. But today, they were going to push things further.

"We've got levitation down," Maxim said as he walked over to a metal rod lying on the floor. "Now it's time to try something new—changing the state of matter."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "You're talking about... what? Melting stuff? Freezing it?"

"Exactly," Maxim replied. "I think with enough focus, I can alter the molecular structure of certain materials. At least, in theory."

"Alright, that sounds... wild. But I'm here for it. Let's give it a shot."

Maxim grabbed the metal rod and placed it in the center of the warehouse floor. He closed his eyes and took a moment to focus, feeling the flow of mana coursing through him. He had learned to control the release of his energy, regulating it in small bursts to avoid draining himself too quickly. Now, he channeled that energy into the rod, visualizing the heat rising inside the metal, agitating its molecules.

The air around the rod began to shimmer faintly. Daniel watched in awe as a faint glow emanated from the rod. Slowly, the metal began to soften, its rigid shape giving way to a more malleable form.

"Holy crap," Daniel muttered under his breath. "You're actually doing it."

Maxim gritted his teeth, feeling the strain as he pushed harder. The rod started to bend slightly, its edges becoming duller as the metal softened further. But before Maxim could take it any further, he felt a sudden drain on his energy reserves. The glow around the rod flickered and died, and the metal quickly solidified back to its original state.

Maxim staggered back, breathing heavily. "Damn... I almost had it."

Daniel rushed over to him. "That was incredible, man! You were literally melting the thing. You just need more practice."

Maxim nodded, though he felt frustrated. "Yeah, but I hit my limit. I need more mana, or I'm not going to be able to keep this up."

Daniel frowned thoughtfully. "What about the whole energy storage thing? If the liquid crystals don't work, do you think you could find a way to store your mana somewhere else? Like, maybe in a different kind of object?"

Maxim considered the idea. "Maybe... but it's risky. Not all materials can handle the energy. And even if they can, there's the issue of how much they can store without breaking down."

He glanced at the rod on the floor. "If the liquid crystals don't work, I'm going to have to look into more traditional methods of energy manipulation. Learning to harness and conserve my own mana is going to be crucial."

Daniel nodded. "Well, until then, we've got this warehouse. We'll just keep training and see what else you can do."

Maxim agreed. They resumed their training, pushing themselves harder with each session. Levitation was no longer a challenge, but manipulating the states of matter—melting, freezing, reshaping—was an entirely new frontier. The process took a lot of concentration and mana, and each time Maxim tried, he edged closer to success, but the limitations of his energy became more apparent.

As the evening wore on, Maxim slumped down on a pile of old crates, exhausted but satisfied. His progress was slow, but it was progress nonetheless.

Daniel joined him, sitting down and offering a grin. "You're getting stronger, man. I can feel it."

Maxim smiled, though his thoughts remained on the looming visit to Lila's father's company. He hoped—more than anything—that the liquid crystals would work. If not, the road ahead was going to be even more difficult than he imagined. But no matter what, he was determined to find a way to break through his limits.