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*****
Feny wasn't particularly bothered by the prospect of new nicknames. Unless he personally issued a public statement, there was little chance of escaping his identity as a "Knight."
The flames blazed fiercely, melting the snow for several meters around him. It was clear these fires possessed real heat; they simply refused to harm their creator.
After a moment of thought, Feny decided to call this state "Flame Mode." In this form, he felt a tangible surge in physical strength alongside the fire, though his body felt significantly heavier.
He ran a series of tests to confirm his suspicions. Compared to his base state, his strength had increased by roughly 20%. However, his speed had dropped noticeably, and he found it impossible to activate his invisibility cloak while the flames were active.
Despite the loss of stealth and agility, the mode was a definitive net gain, shifting his build toward raw power. Furthermore, Feny realized these weren't ordinary flames—they didn't require oxygen to burn. Rather than true fire, they were a manifestation of his "Breathing Style" energy.
The drain, however, was substantial. For someone like Feny, who hadn't yet fully mastered the breathing technique, maintaining the form for just ten minutes left him feeling exhausted.
After deactivating Flame Mode, Feny sat in the snow to rest and began a deeper study of his Total Concentration Breathing. Following this unexpected "transformation," he realized that the energy he could absorb through breathing wasn't limited to just one type.
Because of his familiarity with Explosion Magic, he had naturally gravitated toward the warm, scorching "Sun Energy," finding it the easiest to harness. Now, Feny cleared his mind, opened his senses, and tried to perceive the energies surrounding him.
Beyond the bright, cheerful Sun Energy, he detected others: the gentle, cool flow of Water; the heavy, textured weight of Earth; the fleeting, untraceable whispers of Wind; and the violent, untamed crackle of Lightning.
Feny felt a twinge of self-reproach. He had been so negligent that it had taken him this long to notice the variety. While he couldn't yet absorb these other elements, the discovery filled him with excitement. If his hunch was correct, absorbing these energies would inevitably trigger further evolutions in Incursio.
He sighed at the thought of the inevitable nicknames that would follow, but he vowed to increase his proficiency in breathing. His goal was to reach a state where his normal, resting breath was a "Total Concentration" breath.
Over the following week, Feny balanced his training with logistical work, successfully moving Shuri into the Seoul laboratory.
To his relief, Shuri and Helen Cho hit it off immediately—perhaps because they were both fans of his work—which allowed him to breathe easier. Tony, meanwhile, hadn't contacted him at all, seemingly burying the thought of his surgery. Feny sighed but didn't push; some decisions had to be made alone.
Before he knew it, Christmas had arrived.
With the Mandarin threat neutralized, New York had regained its peace. The streets were lined with festive decorations, and store Santas lured children with candy. Even Kamar-Taj succumbed to the holiday spirit, placing a decorated tree in the courtyard.
"Morning, Kaecilius!"
Arriving for his morning training, Feny spotted Kaecilius and walked over to greet him.
"Morning, Mage Halsey," Kaecilius replied. His response was polite but distant. He had noticed Feny's attempts to bridge the gap between them lately. While he didn't know the reason, he felt they were fundamentally different people and saw no need to accept the overture.
"Have you eaten yet?" Feny asked, casually summoning a Sumire Karaage Roll and offering it.
Kaecilius looked at the snack. His eyes wavered for a fraction of a second—he clearly recognized the delicious scent—but he shook his head. "Thank you, but I have already eaten."
"Fair enough." Feny shrugged and began eating it himself as they walked toward the training grounds. Kaecilius's nostrils flared slightly, and Feny caught him swallowing hard, but the man never asked for a bite. Feny had to admit: the man's willpower was iron-clad.
After the session, Feny continued to observe him. Kaecilius didn't have many friends, but the ones he had were incredibly close, forming a tight-knit clique within the temple.
"What's on your mind?"
Mordo walked up to Feny, following his gaze toward Kaecilius. "I've noticed you've been going out of your way to interact with him lately."
"Yeah," Feny admitted. "I wanted to get a better sense of who he really is."
Mordo smiled. "He seems solitary, but he's actually quite sincere once you get to know him. He's progressing quickly, too, and he's always willing to share his notes. Ancient One is even considering assigning him some disciples."
"I see..." Feny watched Kaecilius walk away. If the man could convince his followers to betray Kamar-Taj in the original timeline, he certainly possessed a unique charisma.
"Where is the Ancient One? I have some things I need to ask her," Feny asked, turning back to Mordo. Kaecilius's betrayal was still a long way off; for now, Asgard was the priority.
"She should be in the tea room. I saw her heading that way earlier."
Feny found the Ancient One and laid out his plan to visit the Golden Realm.
"You want to go to Asgard?"
The Ancient One's expression shifted into one of mild surprise. "For what purpose?"
"I want to ask for a star map." Feny looked a bit sheepish, then added hopefully, "Unless you have one? If you do, I wouldn't have to make the trip."
The Ancient One shook her head. "And why do you need a star map?"
"I'm planning to see what's out there in the universe," Feny said truthfully. Seeing the Ancient One's brow furrow, he quickly added, "Just a quick trip nearby. I'll be back before you know it."
"Feny, the universe is vast, and it is dangerous," the Ancient One said, her deep gaze reflecting a hint of genuine concern. "You are strong, yes, but there are entities in the cosmos far more powerful than you can imagine."
(End of Chapter)