The Extra Who Stole the Hero's System-Chapter 24: Mana Focus Band

THIRD PERSON POV

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Evelina continued her relentless training, she was a graceful yet determined figure moving through the simulated attacks of the Enchanted Grimoire. Hours passed, marked only by the increasing intensity of the mana arts she conjured and the growing sheen of sweat on her brow. She conjured Vexal Walls with practiced ease, deflecting the arrows, her focus absolute, her movements precise.

From the hidden vantage point in the viewing section, Kai watched, his body tense with a strange mix of apprehension and grudging admiration. She was truly skilled, her dedication unwavering.

After what felt like an eternity, Evelina’s movements began to falter. Her Vexal Walls appeared with a slight delay, their shimmer less vibrant. Her breathing became ragged, deep gasps for air. There was subtle tremors in her hands, the strain on her face. She was pushing herself to her limits, draining her mana core dry.

Finally, with a frustrated gasp, she stumbled, a mana arrow grazing her arm as her Vexal Wall flickered and failed. She stood panting, her shoulders heaving, her mana core utterly exhausted. The grimoire, sensing her depletion, paused its assault. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Evelina reached to her wrist, her fingers fumbling slightly, and pulled out the Mana Focus Band – the elegant silver conduits armlet artifact that Kai had acquired for her. It boosts external mana absorption rate and casting rate. She slipped it onto her wrist, then, with a renewed surge of determination, said, "Grimoire! Enter simulation to Level 5!"

Kai eyes widened. Level 5? That’s a significant jump in difficulty. The grimoire, as if responding to her unwavering resolve, began to hum with a deeper, more ominous energy. Its pages flipped rapidly, then settled on a new, more complex written page. The air around the book began to warp, pulling in mana from the surroundings with an almost visible force. The very light in the training hall seemed to dim, drawn into the grimoire’s core.

A cold dread settled in Kai’s stomach. He could sense the immense pull of mana, even from his distant vantage point. It truly was a terrifying, immersive sensation for Kai, It felt like standing too close to a black hole. This wasn’t just a simple mana art. This was something far more potent. Kai’s instincts quickly acted. This offensive art was probably lethal. For a training simulation, the feeling it emmitted felt utterly, terrifyingly real. Kai began to worry, not just for Evelina’s safety, but for his own. If the blast went off, even from there, Kai may barely be safe.

As the grimoire continued to charge its attack, mana fusing into a swirling vortex of raw power, Evelina, with an empty mana core and only a few minutes before the book unleashed its devastating blow, pulled out the Mana Focus Band. She closed her eyes, her face a mask of intense concentration, and began to meditate. The artifact on her wrist glowed with a soft, steady light, amplifying her connection to the external mana, increasing her absorption rate exponentially. She was trying to replenish her mana core in mere seconds, to gather enough power to defend against what was coming. It was a desperate gamble.

The grimoire pulsed, a low, guttural growl emanating from its pages. The mana it had absorbed reached a critical mass, shimmering with an unstable, volatile energy.

It was ’Shock Gun’ the high level destructive mana art that boomed from the grimoire, its pages flaring with intense light.

A massive, concentrated blast of pure mana, crackling with raw power, erupted from the book. It wasn’t a projectile; it was a wave of pure, concussive force, a shimmering golden blast of destruction that tore through the air, heading straight for Evelina. The sheer speed of it was terrifying.

Kai’s heart leaped. His hand instinctively reached for the system, ready to activate ’Pause,’ ready to intervene, even if it meant exposing himself. The blast was a few inches from her, too close, too fast.

Then, in the dying second, Evelina moved. Her eyes snapped open, blazing with a fierce, desperate resolve. Her hands, still trembling from exhaustion, shot forward, channeling the last, desperate reserves of manex she had managed to absorb.

"Vexal Wall!" she screamed, her voice raw with effort.

A massive, shimmering wall of mana, larger and more robust than any she had conjured before, erupted before her. It wasn’t just a simple shield; it was a fortress of pure energy. The Shock Gun blast slammed into it with a deafening roar, a collision of immense forces.

The impact sent a shockwave beneath the training ground, shaking the very foundations of the manor. Kai felt it even in the viewing section, a deep tremor that rattled his deep bones. Dust rained down from the ceiling. The air filled with the smell of dread. For a moment, the entire training hall was engulfed in a blinding golden light.

When the light faded, Evelina was still standing, though her body was swaying precariously. The Vexal Wall, though heavily damaged, had held. The Shock Gun blast had been blocked. She had done it.

Kai stared, utterly shocked. Her reaction speed, her focus, her sheer willpower to pull off such a powerful defense in her exhausted state – it was incredible. She wasn’t just skilled; she was a force of nature. And a terrifying thought, cold and unwelcome, crept into Kai’s mind.

Kai’s mind raced quickly, if she can wield such power, such focus, such determination... what if that intensity, that power she had shown, ever turned against me? The slight possibility of her turning against him, filled him with a primal fear. She was powerful. And she cared about him deeply. Deeply. In a way that could be both protective and utterly suffocating.

Evelina’s legs finally gave out. She collapsed to her knees on the training ground, her body trembling uncontrollably, utterly exhausted. The Mana Focus Band on her wrist pulsed faintly, then went dark. Her mana core was completely depleted. Tears, hot and heavy, streamed down her face, not from pain, but from a profound sense of helplessness, of inadequacy.

She looked up at the ceiling, her eyes filled with a desperate, almost manic intensity. Her voice, raw and broken, tore through the silence of the training hall.

"It’s not enough!" she screamed, her voice cracking with despair. "I’m not good enough! I need to be stronger! I need to be the best!" She slammed her fist against the stone floor, a desperate, frustrated sob escaping her lips. "I need to do it! I need to become the first Sapphire’s Mage Knight! It needs to be me!"

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[ A/N ]

The book has been contracted, thanks for all the support everyone. Chapters won’t be locked until volume one is over, which will be 40+ Chapters. SUPPORTING WITH GOLDEN TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE.