Confrontation with Oneself

Chapter 16: Confrontation with Oneself

Under the shadows of towering trees, Hossam stood gazing at the sunlight shyly piercing through the forest leaves. Despite the surrounding natural beauty, a bitter inner turmoil raged within him. Since deciding to embark on his self-training journey, he had felt the weight of expectations pressing heavily on his shoulders.

Sitting on a smooth rock near a flowing stream, he stared at his reflection in the water. His face was no longer the same; small scars and traces of exhaustion from his adventures had altered his appearance, adding a new depth to the gleam in his eyes—a reflection of the inner strength that was beginning to form.

"Have I become strong enough?" he murmured softly, as though the echo of the question returned to haunt him.

Memories of his clashes with the Elves, grueling training at the temple, and even Alexander's antics all converged to drive him forward. But deep within, doubt lingered.

With newfound determination, he rose, gripping the skill book he had acquired from the Sanctuary's library. The pages were filled with symbols and cryptic spells. One technique caught his eye—a fusion technique of body and mana, requiring delicate balance and immense control.

Standing before a massive boulder, he placed his hand on its center, attempting to infuse mana into his body.

Boom!

"Ah, damn! I didn't think it would fail before even making contact," he muttered, his tone a mix of pain and surprise.

Despite the failure, he persisted. With each attempt, his resolve strengthened, and he began noticing subtle changes. The mana around his body became more focused, his movements more fluid. After hours of relentless effort, he finally managed to envelop his entire body in mana—for ten seconds.

Breathing a sigh of relief, he smiled in satisfaction and sat under a giant tree to rest. But his respite was short-lived.

"Grrrrr!"

A piercing roar shattered the surrounding calm, making Hossam spring to his feet, weapon in hand. The forest seemed to respond to the sound, as though life itself had momentarily halted.

Hossam cautiously moved toward the source of the noise, watching each step. As he approached, he noticed an entrance to ancient ruins hidden among dense trees. The carvings on the walls caught his attention—they depicted battles between humans and magical creatures, including a figure holding a glowing torch, standing as a mediator between two warring factions.

"This seems familiar…" he murmured, reaching out toward the engraved torch.

Suddenly, a strange heat coursed through his body, and a transparent window appeared before him:

[Congratulations! You've discovered an ancient site containing secrets of primal energy. Prepare to face the magical guardians!]

"You damned system! Where were you this whole time? I forgot you even existed!" he shouted in frustration. But before he could finish complaining, the ground began to shake violently.

Boom… Boom… Boom…

Emerging from the shadows were massive creatures made of stone, their glowing red eyes and colossal swords exuding an ominous presence. Their movements were slow but deliberate, as though they knew their target well.

"Oh, come on… now? Really?!"

Hossam readied himself for battle and lunged at one of the guardians, attempting to use his "Iron Fist" technique.

Boom!

The strike landed directly on the guardian, but it caused no noticeable damage.

"Alright, looks like I need another plan."

He began running, using the forest's terrain to slow the guardians down. Climbing a tall tree, he observed their movements carefully. He noticed a small glowing stone embedded in each guardian's chest, seemingly their energy source.

"That's the target…"

Leaping from the tree with tremendous speed, he used gravity to enhance his attack, channeling all his mana into his fist and aiming for the glowing stone.

Crack!

A small fracture appeared in the guardian's chest, but it didn't fall.

"Great! It worked!"

Boom!

A sudden blow from one of the guardians sent Hossam flying into a nearby tree, which shattered upon impact.

Coughing up blood, his vision blurred as pain coursed through his body. "No… I can't stop now."

Despite his injuries, he forced himself to stand. Quickly devising a plan, he decided to use his mana to distract the guardians.

He rushed behind a large tree, forming a ball of mana in his hands, and hurled it far away.

The ball flew toward the guardians, who immediately attacked it without hesitation. Seizing the opportunity, Hossam circled behind them and focused all his strength on the most fractured guardian.

Boom!

He struck the glowing stone with immense force, triggering a small explosion. The guardian collapsed, disintegrating into a heap of scattered stones.

"One down… two to go."

The remaining two guardians became more aggressive. One slammed its sword into the ground, causing a tremor that knocked Hossam off balance. Struggling to rise, he felt his strength waning.

"I can't keep going like this…"

Closing his eyes momentarily, he tried to summon his inner power. He recalled his temple training and his mentor's words: "Mana isn't just a force—it's part of you. When you merge with it, you become limitless."

Hossam began gathering mana differently this time, concentrating it around his entire body. A warm energy spread through him as he opened his eyes, now surrounded by a radiant blue aura.

"Alright, let's try this now!"

He dashed toward the two guardians with unprecedented speed. Leaping into the air, he aimed a powerful strike at the glowing stone of the second guardian, followed by a small mana explosion.

Shatter!

The second guardian crumbled.

The final guardian grew fiercer but also hesitant. Sensing its hesitation, Hossam formed a small mana orb in his hand and hurled it at the guardian's chest.

Explosion!

The glowing stone cracked, and with one final strike from his Iron Fist, the last guardian collapsed into rubble.

Exhausted, Hossam dropped to his knees, his clothes torn and blood covering his body, but a deep sense of pride filled him.

Suddenly, the system window appeared:

[Congratulations! You've completed the challenge and acquired the Primal Energy Technique.]

"Primal… Energy… Technique?" he muttered, gasping for air.

Before he could process the information, the ground beneath him opened, revealing a hidden chamber containing an ancient book glowing with golden light.

"This… this is the key to my next power," he said with a faint smile before collapsing unconscious.

To be continued…