**"Nex,"** the advanced application of the fourth method of mana manipulation, was known as one of the first four fundamental techniques—yet it was difficult to wield and even harder to master.
**"Nex"** allowed a mana user to envelop an object with their mana and wield it as an extension of their own body.
For example, if one used **"Nex,"** a layer of **"Enn"** would form around a weapon, reinforcing and protecting it. Additionally, the **"Nex"** technique served as a stepping stone to learning the fifth stage of mana manipulation.
This technique, symbolizing evolution, was something Kaelen had struggled for days to master in his past life.
Now, Kaelen was darting swiftly through the trees. A shiver ran down his spine—he ducked just as a black blade sliced through the air where his head had been.
Estelle had caught up to him. The red-haired reaper, her sword in hand, had come to deliver death.
*"Hey, we can talk this out. You're using a sword against an unarmed man. That's hardly an honorable fight."*
Even as Kaelen tried to catch his breath, Estelle gave him no respite.
Deflecting another slash with a surge of concentrated mana, Kaelen stepped back. He had stopped running—this was the place where he and Liam had agreed to meet.
*I hope those brats don't leave me hanging.*
Now, all Kaelen had to do was stall the girl in front of him until Liam arrived.
*"Finally stopped running, have you?"*
Estelle's voice dripped with hatred. Her green eyes burned with fury, and her longsword shimmered in blue-white hues, sheathed in mana.
Kaelen realized Estelle had already mastered **"Nex"**—and she was using other mana techniques as well.
His **"Pik"** was active as a precaution, but his mana was running low. The pressure of his aura crushed everything within a three-meter radius.
*"Yeah, I'll give you what you want."*
Kaelen tore a vine from the tree beside him. The slender branch was nearly as tall as he was. Activating **"Pik,"** he watched as his mana surged through his body before focusing it into the vine. As his mana enveloped the plant, Estelle merely shrugged.
*"Shall we begin?"*
Kaelen's mana was dwindling, so he deactivated **"Pik"** and relied solely on **"Enn."**
This left him dangerously vulnerable, but he couldn't afford to exhaust his mana mid-battle. A single mistake, and Estelle would kill him—failing his exam. And if that happened, Professor Alfia would never let him hear the end of it.
Even now, Kaelen was surprised Alfia hadn't given him post-traumatic stress disorder.
*His past self must have truly feared her.*
*"Still not focused on the fight? How much more will you humiliate me? Your friends abandoned you. Your mana is nearly gone, and yet you still refuse to take me seriously!"*
Kaelen had never seen Estelle react like this before. After the first mana seed incident, she had become the cold, withdrawn Ice Princess.
*"I'm just a normal kid."*
Kaelen smirked—then lunged at Estelle.
In his hand, the mana-reinforced vine glowed blue. As he gripped it tightly, he could feel the plant writhing like a living serpent. Estelle, gripping her sword with both hands, locked eyes with him as she advanced.
She struck first. Her blade arced diagonally, but Kaelen swiftly raised the vine to block. Metal met fibrous wood, and Kaelen staggered back. Estelle didn't relent—she immediately brought her sword down in a vertical slash.
Kaelen twisted the vine, intercepting the strike and slowing the blade's momentum. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he coiled the vine around Estelle's forearm.
She gritted her teeth, stepping back and jerking her arm to break free—but Kaelen didn't give her the chance. The vine slithered up her arm, tightening its grip.
*"Not that easy,"* Kaelen muttered.
Estelle seized her sword with her free hand and spun, slashing before Kaelen could react. He barely managed to unravel the vine and leap back as her blade grazed his shoulder. A thin cut formed, and the sight of his own blood unsettled him.
Kaelen lashed the vine like a whip, deflecting another strike. The plant cracked through the air, striking Estelle's sword. She recoiled but quickly regained her footing.
*"You won't escape,"* she hissed, charging again.
Kaelen slammed the vine against the ground, sending it coiling toward Estelle's legs. She jumped clear—but the move gave Kaelen an opening. He yanked the vine upward, wrapping it around her sword and pulling hard.
The blade nearly flew from her grasp, but she tightened her grip at the last second. Kaelen retreated, whipping the vine in a wide arc. The plant spiraled around Estelle, threatening to ensnare her completely.
*"You think you can trap me like this?"* Estelle sneered.
Then, she amped up her mana. **"Pik"** strengthened her defensive barrier, preventing the vines from binding her.
Kaelen smirked but didn't answer. Instead, he accelerated the vine's movements, trying to disrupt her attacks.
But Estelle ignored the vines entirely and lunged straight at him. Kaelen barely dodged—but she had anticipated this. With **"Nex,"** she swung her sword, mana sharpening its edge.
The blade sliced clean through the vine, throwing Kaelen off balance. He stumbled but caught himself, gripping the now-severed vine. It was still usable—but Estelle had closed the distance. Her sword was within striking range.
Kaelen swung the vine one last time, but Estelle spun and shattered it with her blade. A brief silence fell.
Kaelen stared at the useless plant in his hand, then met Estelle's icy glare.
*"Looks like I win,"* she said, raising her sword to his throat. The tip hovered a mere meter away.
Kaelen took a deep breath and grinned. *"Let's call it a draw this time. I'll be more careful next time."*
Estelle's lips curled slightly, but she didn't lower her sword. *"There won't be a next time. Say your name and die."*
Kaelen shook his head. *"My name's Kaelen. And like I said—next time, try harder, sweetheart."*
Just as Estelle tensed to strike, a distraction came from the side.
A piece of cloth flew toward her. She reflexively sliced it—but purple liquid burst from within, splashing over her body.
*"What the—?"*
Disoriented for a split second, she whipped her head around.
The mage was gone. She couldn't sense his mana—he had fled using **"Kai."**
*"He got away."*
Estelle immediately prepared to use **"Kai"** herself—but then she felt the presence of others.
A disgusted *"Tch"* escaped her lips.
She'd been played.
Estelle sheathed her sword, her armor still shimmering with mana. Moments later, dozens of eyes peered at her from the trees.
About forty chimpanzees stared back, their hands gripping mana-reinforced metal spikes. Realization struck—the purple liquid was fruit extract from their territory.
*So that's what it was.*
She exhaled sharply.
*Tonight was going to be long.*
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