A Bug In Fate

He began his breathing, and mana started circulating through his body.

Even now, he still couldn’t complete a full cycle. It seemed as though something was preventing the mana from flowing smoothly through his body.

But that didn’t stop his efficiency from continuing to increase.

Before Ravenna’s eyes, the number on the orb changed.

70% → 72%.

It had increased by another two percent in less than a minute.

Ravenna stared at the number while narrowing her eyes.

No matter how many times I see it, it’s still insane... and amazing at the same time.

*..The technique isn’t complete, yet his body is already adapting to it... If this continues, where exactly is his limit?*

Her gaze lingered on his expression as part of her remained on guard for any unexpected situation.

Nearly half an hour later, the number had reached 91%, but its rate of increase had slowed considerably compared to earlier, when the efficiency had been rising by two percent within a single minute.

From Alden’s perspective, his progress was becoming slower and slower.

But for Ravenna, it finally made sense.

After everything she had witnessed today, seeing something normal happen around her student was almost a relief.

As the number got closer to one hundred, the tension in the open field kept rising.

Ravenna looked at the orb as it finally hit 99%, but Alden’s eyes remained closed as he continued his breathing. His posture remained steady, and he didn’t make any unnecessary movements, as if his entire focus had been placed on maintaining the rhythm of his breathing.

*..Go... go... hurry up... Why is it taking so long?*

The thought repeatedly echoed through his mind, but he refused to let his frustration affect his breathing. He had already come this far, and stopping now wasn’t something he was willing to consider.

It seemed as if time itself had halted, as the number on the black orb remained stuck at 99%, showing no intention of going any further.

The surroundings had also fallen strangely quiet. The gentle breeze continued to pass through the field, moving the flowers around them, yet neither Alden nor Ravenna paid any attention to the scenery anymore.

Meanwhile, sweat began to form on his forehead, and his expression tightened as his brows furrowed. His breathing remained controlled, but maintaining the same rhythm was becoming increasingly difficult.

Still, he didn’t change his method.

He simply continued breathing.

Again and again.

But the number remained unchanged.

99%.

So close, yet somehow so far away.

But even then, Alden didn’t stop.

He knew he was at a crucial point, and whatever happened next could determine whether his idea would truly work or end at this final step.

Just when he was about to take another breath, Alden felt something inside him change.

It was a familiar feeling.

His muscles strengthened, his senses became slightly sharper, and the other aspects of his body seemed to improve along with them.

"Huh?"

A startled sound escaped Ravenna’s mouth. She had been watching him with her full attention, and the sudden change hadn’t escaped her notice.

Alden looked down at himself as he opened his eyes, and a look of understanding passed across his face.

"I’ve reached the Peak Spark Realm... Huh. Well, I was already close to it, so I think my actions these past few days probably influenced it."

He said it as though he had merely noticed a small change in his cultivation.

"Why are you talking like it’s something normal? Sigh..."

Ravenna sighed in exasperation.

"I mean, it’s a good thing, right? Oh, wait... We were doing something."

His expression suddenly changed into surprise, and Ravenna also blinked before her eyes widened as she realized what he was talking about.

They had both become distracted by his small breakthrough and completely forgotten the most important thing in the heat of the moment.

Their gazes snapped downward at the same time.

What they saw left them stunned.

The orb wasn’t showing anything.

Nothing.

The black surface was completely dull, with not even a single number visible on it.

"What the fuck?"

"What is happening? Why isn’t it showing anything?"

They both exclaimed at the same time, their voices filled with bewilderment.

Their mouths remained slightly open as they stared at each other, silently hoping the other had an answer.

But neither of them had any idea.

Ravenna narrowed her eyes.

Meanwhile, Alden’s eyes lit up as an idea suddenly crossed his mind.

He tapped the back of it with light force, even though it was spherical.

"Hey, wake up... Wake up, bro. I know you can hear me. Don’t be petty, bro..." Alden whispered as he pulled the orb closer.

He started rubbing it with slow movements, secretly hoping that a djinn would somehow emerge from it and grant him a wish.

Alden had read plenty of novels where an ancient and mysterious entity lived inside an ordinary-looking artifact, only for the protagonist to discover it and gain some incredible opportunity.

*..Am I really a protagonist in some novel? Then why isn’t anything happening?*

Wild thoughts ran through his mind as he continued staring at the orb.

Meanwhile, Ravenna shook her head helplessly. Her expression was strange, as if she was trying to figure out what exactly was going through her student’s head.

*..Has he finnally gone insane? I mean, if I were in his shoes, I probably would have too... But isn’t this a little too much?*

Both of them were lost in their own thoughts, and the contrast between them was absurd yet hilarious.

Alden, meanwhile, wasn’t ready to give up.

He had already tried tapping it, rubbing it, talking to it, and even waiting for something mysterious to happen.

Nothing worked.

*Alright... one final theory.*

He raised the orb slightly, preparing to test his last idea by smashing it against the ground.

Just as he was about to do it, a familiar sound rang directly inside his mind.

[Apex Evolution Physique activated.]

[The bug’s body is now fully integrated with mana.]

[The bug has broken one of the world’s rules.]

[The bug has acquired a title.]

[Title: Mana Sovereign.]

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