Overgeared

[You have taken the Dragon Pill.]

[A large amount of mana is flowing throughout your body.]

[The amount of mana is too much!]

[Attempting to expand your mana core in order to accommodate the mana!]

It was good so far. It seemed the Dragon Pill was working properly. However...

[Your mana core isn’t trained at all. The expansion of the mana core is progressing very slowly.]

[Mana has started to flood.]

[It is recommended to discharge the unacceptable mana from your body. Would you like to accept?]

It was a bit strange from here.

[The mana flooding is causing cracks in the expanding mana core!]

“...!”

Hell had begun. There was a shock like being stabbed in the stomach and then all the blood vessels in his body twisted simultaneously. The maximum amount of pain that the system allowed spread from the top of Grid’s head to the tip of his toes.

‘This...! What?’

It was a pain that continued without any breaks, making him dizzy. It felt like his mind and body were completely burning.

[You have suffered a serious internal injury!]

[The mana core has been damaged, making it harder to accumulate the mana.]

[It is recommended to discharge the unacceptable mana from your body. Would you like to accept?]

The system warned again. Grid almost accepted, but then he gritted his teeth and ignored the notification windows. The Dragon Pill was a myth grade elixir. It was an elixir even the gods coveted and he would never obtain it again. Grid absolutely wasn’t willing to give up the effects of the Dragon Pill.

"Kkuk...!”

The pain continued. Rather than adapting, he became more sensitive. All the life and death experiences he had been through passed through Grid’s mind.

Yura and the Yatan’s Servants including Malacus, Pope Drevigo and Pope Candidate Pascal, Hell Gao, Braham’s golem army, Randy who protected the mysterious forest in Pagma’s form, Elfin Stone and the direct descendant vampires, the legends of the Behen Archipelago and his clone, Kraugel, Agnus, Mercedes, the Red Knights, the evil dragon Bunhelier, the yangban Garam...

Grid was dominated by the worst pain and had the illusion that their alternating strikes were putting him to death. He couldn’t even scream. However...

‘Endure it!’

Grid was determined to hold on. The current him wouldn’t have existed if he gave up all his opportunities.

“Your Majesty? My Liege!”

Mercedes detected something while guarding the entrance of the training hall and ran in. She found Grid collapsed in the centre and screamed.

“Your Majesty! Ugh?!”

Mercedes let out a groan as she tried to help Grid. Grid’s reddish skin was as hot as lava. Even so, she was someone who would jump into a volcano to protect Grid. Mercedes swallowed back her screams and lifted Grid onto her back. Her hair, cloak, and armor were burning from the heat, causing a big burn on her back, but she didn’t care. Grid barely managed to speak to her as she tried to find Sticks.

“I’m ok...ay.”

It sounded like scratching iron. Grid coughed up blood every time he breathed but he barely managed to squeeze out a few words.

“Let... go.”

“...I understand.”

She sat down in front of the groaning Grid and cut off her burnt hair

I can’t be

eyes stared at Grid. Her Keen Insight was trying to figure out exactly what her

***

recommended to discharge the unacceptable mana from your body.

didn’t know how many times it appeared. There was no time to count when

the unacceptable mana from your body. Would you like

“Kuweek!”

Mercedes closed her mouth. Her Keen Insight could see it. A large

working hard. Rather, the situation might worsen

‘Stay strong, Your Majesty.’

wondered if her desperate

succeeded in accumulating a

your mana core have been

core has achieved the first

mana has permanently

of the mana core has enhanced the Magic Swordsman of the Epics class.

same. It was natural. The amount of mana accumulated in

"Kkuk...!”

dizzier. Curse words automatically rose

be satisfied

for Grid’s willpower to endure this terrible pain for a long time. Grid felt like it had been a few hours, even days. Now Grid was trapped in an eternity of hell. His

just a

re-established his broken will. He endured knowing that the regret of missing out on this opportunity for the rest of his

“...!”

lost his spirit for a moment. It was the aftermath of the pain one felt when a fire

a bit more…

the hand of Mercedes sitting next to him. It was a coincidence. Nevertheless, Grid couldn’t throw her hand away and Mercedes wrapped her trembling hands around his. Mercedes’ hands were burning from

flooding is causing cracks in the expanding mana

to discharge the unacceptable mana from

cycle was repeated and Grid’s heart crumbled. How long did he have to endure for the mana core to recover and pave the way for expansion? It was even more frustrating because

“......”

open his eyes. He used a superhuman mentality to see how much time had

‘10 minutes...?’

of his field of view. It had only been 10 minutes since he took the Dragon Pill? Didn’t it feel like

I can’t endure

as a day. It was practically

“......”

see Mercedes praying. Her hands—wrapped

up... I have

He didn’t

unacceptable mana from your body.

‘Accept...?’

Grid tried to shout this word in

do things that don’t match with

was a blunt

it your specialty to think irrationally and be foolish? Yet

absolutely arrogant tone. The person Grid longed for had

‘Braham...!’

Great Magician Braham has started to adjust the mana that is running wild

the mana core have been

vessels and veins that have