The sun's heat beat down on Joy's back as she pulled the steel bricks wrapped up in the blanket, the relentless rays scorching her green skin like an unrelenting forge. She leaned forward, straining with all her might, dragging the heavy load across the vast plain toward Tyler.

The weight of the bars left a trail of slumped grass in her wake, the blades crushed flat under the burden. She gritted her teeth against the burning strain in her legs, her gaze locked on Tyler far ahead. He was carrying something shiny that caught the sunlight, flashing like a distant beacon. She wanted to get to him, Tyler had commanded her not to take off the vines tying her to the blanket. In a way, she had enjoyed it at first, fetching the steel bricks for him and earning a head pet as reward.

Her small heart fluttered at the memory of those head pats, a warmth that lingered in her mind like the rare sunbeams piercing through storm cloud. If only they lasted just a bit longer, those fleeting moments of connection that made her feel seen, valued, not the outcast she had always been.

But, if she took these things right back to him, the heavy bricks bundled in the blanket, dragging behind her like stubborn shadows, he could maybe give her those fruit things, sweet and juicy bursts of flavor she had come to crave. Yeah, more importantly, the head pet. His hands were warm and har-gentle, unlike the cold claws of rejection she had known from goblins and ogres alike. They carried a tenderness that wrapped around her like the safety of hidden burrows, making her forget the endless cycles of death and isolation.

Each pat was a promise of belonging, a silent affirmation that she wasn't a mistake, but something cherished. The yearning gnawed at her, deeper than the ache in her straining legs or the burn of the sun on her back, it was a hunger for that touch, for the human who had pulled her from the void, making every grueling step worth it just for the chance to feel it again.

BOOM!!

An explosion erupted where Tyler stood, the deafening noise snapping Joy out of her imagination. Far ahead, dust billowed and settled like a stormy veil. He was in a punching position, his fist extended, revealing he was the one who had caused the damage.

A huge line stretched out for what looked like 50 meters, a deep scar tunneled into the earth, exposing the brown, wet dirt beneath like a wound in the plain's flesh. Her human had done that? She knew he was strong, but she hadn't thought he was this strong. She continued pulling the bricks, summoning even more effort this time, her small muscles quivering with resolve.

Meanwhile, Tyler grinned as he finished. He stored them back into his inventory, the items shimmering and disappearing with a soft glow. *Can't wait to test out their full strength in the monster zones,* he thought as he turned his attention to Joy. He placed his hands on his waist, the wind tugging at his clothes. *Still pretty far... she's trying though. The distance between her and that tree has grown significantly.*

"Okay... what do I do now?" he muttered while looking at her. He put his hand over his mouth as he mentally recalled the system's alchemy recipes. The system panel shimmered in front of him, displaying the recipes. He rubbed his lips as he scrolled through them with his eyes.

"I don't even have enough ingredients to craft a single potion besides the healing one." He sighed as the system panel disappeared, the glow fading like a dying ember. He turned his attention to Joy, watching her struggle to reach him, her small green figure pushing forward with grim determination. *Well, I can't just wait for her, it's going to take a long time. What do I do now? Do I also train?*

Thoughts soared through Tyler's head as he sank deeper into contemplation, the vast plain's gentle breeze rustling the grass around him. He thought of his passive skill, Weapon Mastery, how he could easily wield any weapon that came to hand, suddenly knowing its balance and flow, adapting in an instant.

The truth was, miraculously, these moves he made with his weapons were drawn from martial arts movies, mostly the ones Mike had forced him to watch back home.

Tyler had never really liked them; they seemed overly exaggerated, with characters literally walking on air or defying gravity in ways that felt ridiculous. But surprisingly, some of those moves he'd dismissed as fake he could now replicate effortlessly in this world, his blade or fist cutting through the air with precision he'd never imagined.

This world was pretty different from his, most certainly not boring, but dangerous too. People here had mana, and he'd been told it was all around them, an invisible force weaving through everything. An idea suddenly clicked in Tyler's head, sharp and electric, as he slammed his fist against his palm. Looking up with wide eyes, he muttered, "Mana. Yes, that's right."

*George said that in order for me to receive mana just like everybody else naturally, I'm going to have to open my mana pathways. But how the hell do I do that?* Tyler contemplated, his hand now on his chin, fingers tapping absently against his skin. He thought back to how Grone had taught him to channel his mana, circulating it throughout his whole body, the energy flowing like a river through hidden channels, but that was the mana already inside him, the untapped reserve he hadn't drawn on yet. So he figured, maybe if he did something similar, he could open these mana pathways. *I'll need to feel these mana pathways first, and then that's when I can open them. I need to feel where they are, just like how I felt the mana.*

Tyler crouched down and sat cross-legged on the ground while facing Joy. He saw her drawing closer, her small figure inching forward with determination, though still far off in the vast plain. He sighed, the warm breeze carrying the sound away as he closed his eyes. The wind swept across the plains, brushing against his face with a gentle insistence, lightly fluttering his hair like invisible fingers. He took a deep breath, the air fresh and laced with the earthy scent of grass and soil, and placed his hands on his knees, palms facing upward.

Then he started to feel the mana, just like before. It gathered at his core, nestled between his abdomen and chest, a swirling vortex of intangible energy, alive and pulsing like a living symbiote nestled within.

This was the mana currently inside him, a familiar hum that felt automatic, almost instinctive, as if he were moving it without conscious effort. It still felt strange to sense mana this deeply, the way it coursed through him like an undercurrent, subtle yet powerful. He had grown used to channeling it for skills or enhancing weapons, where it became as unnoticeable as blood flowing through veins, vital, but taken for granted.

He could feel the mana deeply now, its presence pulsing within him more intensely than when he channeled it for skills or enhancements, a living current, warm and electric, coiling at his core like a dormant storm. So now he had to spread it evenly across his body, to diffuse it while attuning to every subtle shift, every hidden flow. He planned to sense every inch of himself, tracing the mana as it traveled through those elusive pathways, revealing them like veins beneath skin.

That's how he intended to feel it, the mana pathways unveiled through the mana itself, the tunnels illuminated by the energy coursing through them. His mind slipped into a profound ease, the world fading away, forgotten in the quiet hum of focus. All he could envision, all he could see, was the mana, a singular, all-consuming presence that wrapped him in serene isolation, blocking out the plain's breeze, the distant rustle of grass, even his own heartbeat.

Suddenly, a small "haiyyy!!!" reached him from the distance, muffled and childish, like a tentative child's call carried on the wind. The sound shattered the trance, and he opened his eyes in surprise to see Joy dragging the bricks toward him, her small hand waving up at him with innocent enthusiasm.

A flicker of annoyance surged through him at first, sharp and unwelcome, disrupting the fragile peace he had built, like a ripple in still water, threatening to pull him under with frustration. But then he took a deep breath, the cool air grounding him, and the irritation softened into something warmer, a reluctant affection for her persistence. He simply smiled and waved back, saying, "Hey." The gesture felt like a bridge, small but meaningful, easing the knot in his chest.

Joy smiled in return, her teeth flashing in delight, a wave of pure gladness washing over her. She was doing it now, communicating with her human, just like the other humans did, those distant figures she had watched from the shadows in the monster zones. She was learning, and the realization sparked a profound happiness, blooming in her chest like sunlight after endless rain. Beneath all these strane , the vines chafing her waist, and the hard pull of this burden, a kind of warmth spread through her, soft and reassuring, melting away the ache in her legs.

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Tyler then closed his eyes and took a deep breath again, the plains' quiet reclaiming him as he refocused, diving back into the mana's embrace. He hoped that Joy wouldn't disturb him again, though a part of him lingered on her smile, a quiet echo in his mind.

"Okay…" he muttered under his breath and returned to focusing, the mana spreading out through his body again, a warm tide flowing from his core. Now he could feel it, the mana diffusing throughout him, tracing the pathways like invisible veins, but not quite tangible, more like ethereal channels humming with potential.

He envisioned it vividly, the energy weaving through his limbs and torso, but something felt off, a subtle blockage that tugged at his senses like a knot in a thread. He tilted his head slightly, his face frowning while his eyes remained closed, the plain's breeze whispering against his skin.

All of a sudden, he sensed these veins shifting, almost as if small holes were opening up, tiny apertures blooming along the pathways. And then, an almost invisible blue smoke began to emanate from him, wispy tendrils of aura curling into the air like exhaled breath on a cold morning.

Tyler could feel it, the release, the outflow, but this wasn't right. He was expelling mana, not drawing it in, just like when he channeled it into crystals or activated skills, pouring his inner reserve into the world around him. The air seemed to thicken with the energy, but no influx came back, no replenishment from the surrounding atmosphere. It was a one-way flow, leaving him hollow, the loss prickling like a slow drain on his vitality.

How is he going to receive mana? He tried to reverse it, willing those small holes to suck the mana back, to inhale the ambient energy like a parched throat drawing water. But they resisted, stubbornly releasing without intake. It felt almost impossible, like trying to breathe in space, no gasp, no inhale, just an empty vacuum that clawed at his chest, a frustrating void where abundance should be.

Almost like these mana path openings weren't meant for that at all, designed only for outflow, not the reciprocal pull he craved. Sweat beaded on his forehead, trickling down his temples in warm rivulets. His eyebrows twitched, muscles tensing as strain built, his body a vessel caught in a silent battle. He was searching desperately, questioning every sensation, why wasn't this working? The failure gnawed at him, a deep emotional ache of inadequacy amidst the plain's vast indifference, pushing him to probe further into the mystery of his own power.

*I can feel the mana within my body, but I can't seem to pull it back. How the hell do these people receive mana if it's this hard? And they say they can receive it without even thinking, they can receive it even while sleeping. Yeah, they can, but I can't seem to.*

He opened his eyes and exhaled, the breath escaping his mouth in a ragged gust as he started breathing heavily, his chest heaving with exertion. He wiped the sweat off his forehead, the salty beads slick against his skin, leaving streaks in the dust of the plain. His sight directed at Joy, who was pulling the steel bars with dogged persistence..

He sighed, closing his eyes again, the weight of failure pressing on him like an invisible burden. *Come on, I have to do this. Why aren't these things sucking up mana? I'm just releasing mana. I can't seem to draw it back in.*

Tyler started to feel his mana again, its reserves slightly decreased from the large amounts he had released, a hollow echo in his core that amplified his frustration. He then started to feel the mana pathways, those small little places where the mana was open. He felt them as he thought,* These places only release mana, and they are everywhere around my body. It seems that I can't draw mana with them. It's almost like they are not even meant for that.*

His heart jolted with an idea, a spark of hope cutting through the fog of despair like a lightning bolt in a storm.* Wait, that's right, these places aren't really meant for that, are they? But what if there are some places that? Yes, maybe I need to look even deeper for those places.*

He felt the mana veins with his mana, searching for those hidden spots, places to open up, just like how he had opened up those places to release the mana. Maybe there were places for the suckage, gateways to pull in the ambient energy that swirled all around him. The effort gnawed at him, a deep emotional ache of inadequacy and determination intertwined, pushing him to the edge as sweat trickled down his back.

His eyebrows rose as he felt something, a strange pull, almost like trying to breathe with his nose and mouth closed, sucking in desperately but drawing nothing but emptiness.

These places scattered throughout his body echoed that sensation, small voids yearning for fulfillment, like blocked pores in the skin of his mana pathways. He wasn't releasing mana anymore; he had stopped, but the focus lingered, sharpening his awareness of the resistance, a stubborn barrier that teased at the edges of his consciousness.

This was an alien feeling, this energy a spectral force that defied the familiar logic of his old world. No mentor guided him here, no familiar hand to demonstrate the way, unlike the everyday skills he could learn by watching another human. Sure, it was regular in this world, but for him, it was a solitary puzzle, a deep dive into the unknown that stirred a mix of awe and isolation. He was learning, probing even deeper, the mana resonating within him like a distant hum growing louder, more insistent.

These places felt more spiritual than physical, ethereal openings that pulsed with potential yet remained sealed, like small little hairs standing on end, waiting for a spark. But how to open them, that was the tormenting riddle.

He tried to force them wide, willing the barriers to yield, but nothing shifted, the effort rebounding like a futile push against an unyielding wall. It felt like trying to suck air with a hand clamped over his mouth, desperate, suffocating, the vacuum pulling at his chest with mocking emptiness.

He tried and tried, time slipping away in the plain's quiet expanse, his eyes closed against the world. The strain built, a relentless pressure that taxed his body and mind, like a battle with a stubborn part of himself, unyielding and defiant.

Sweat trickled down his brow, his breaths shallow and labored, the emotional weight of the struggle, a profound ache of frustration and determination, pushing him to the brink, where failure felt like a personal betrayal, yet the flicker of hope kept him anchored, searching for that elusive breakthrough.

*I can feel them. I can feel these places, but I can't open them. I don't even know how. It's almost like something's blocking these places, invisible, intangible, but still there, a stubborn veil that mocks every push. I feel like I'm close, yet it also still feels like I'm not doing anything*

He continued trying to open those places, forcing them with all his will, the strain building like a storm within him. It started to feel even more like these places were tight now, contracting further, as if resisting his intrusion with a defiant clench. And while he was so focused on this, he didn't know that a long time had passed. He heard nothing, the world's sounds muffled by the roar of his own concentration.

Joy had now arrived, her breaths ragged and heavy, sweat dripping down almost every part of her body, glistening on her green skin like dew on leaves. She reached Tyler, collapsing slightly against the vines' release, the burden finally lifted. She felt lighter, almost as if a weight had been stripped away, and a bit of joy fluttered within her, a triumphant spark that warmed her chest, chasing away the ache in her limbs. Success, pure and sweet, bloomed like a rare flower in her heart, making her small frame tremble with quiet elation.

Tyler looked focused, his clothes damp on his chest from sweat, beads trickling from his forehead like silent tears of exertion. Joy looked at him, her wide eyes filling with concern, the human seemed uncomfortable, almost trapped, his face strained with disappointment, brows furrowed in a silent battle.

She didn't like seeing him like this; it tugged at her, a pang of empathy that made her want to free him from whatever invisible chain bound him. He was sweating too, which meant he was burdened by something heavy, just like she had been. She needed to get him out of there. Spreading her arms, she jumped right at Tyler's chest.

As soon as Joy's body connected with Tyler, his eyes snapped open, the impact knocking him onto his back with a thud. His eyes widened even more, shock rippling through him like a wave, but in that moment of distraction, something miraculous happened, the tension released, the barriers dissolving like mist under sunlight.

It was almost as if there were tense muscles, knotted and rigid, and when he relaxed them, they opened wide, the places sucking in mana now, receiving it like water pouring into a parched hole, a gentle blue glow shimmering faintly in his eyes.

So that's what it needed, these barriers weren't just barriers; they were a part of him, self-imposed walls he had to let go. He was the one stopping the mana from entering, his own focus the very lock he struggled against.

Tyler smiled, the realization washing over him like a cool tide, and then he chuckled, the sound building into full laughter as he held Joy up while lying on his back. "I did it! I finally did it!" he said, his voice ringing with triumph. "All thanks to you, I was able to open my mana pathways." She had saved him from his own stubbornness, her innocent interruption the key to unlocking what force alone could not. He sat up quickly, the grass shifting beneath him.

Joy was a bit confused at first, her head tilting slightly, but seeing Tyler happy again filled her with a mirroring joy, a bright warmth that spread through her like sunlight breaking through clouds. She just hugged him, rubbing her cheek onto his chest, the gesture full of innocent affection, her small body pressing close as if to share in his victory.

Normally what Tyler would find awkward or strange wasn't that anymore. He was just filled with happiness and satisfaction, the emotional high surging through him like the mana he had unlocked, a profound relief that banished the earlier ache of failure. If it wasn't for her, maybe he would have kept trying to do it the wrong way, trapped in that cycle of tension. He petted her again, his hand gentle on her head, and suddenly, a system panel appeared in front of him.

Achievement Unlocked: Learn a Passive Skill: +10 points to mana.

Another one appeared atop the other, its text glowing triumphantly: Congratulations, user has learned Passive skill: Mana Absorption.

Tyler said, "Oh, so it's actually a passive skill." With his curiosity piqued, the system panel disappeared, replaced by a larger one, its letters bold and commanding:

Mana Absorption - A skill that allows the user to absorb mana continuously throughout the day, even when unconscious. The user will receive 1 point of mana each minute, equal to 60 points of mana in an hour.

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