Mana 5 Chapter 25 (Patreon)

After what seemed like far too long, I let out a breath filled with mana and assessed the surrounding space.

It was a long, cold corridor, filled with the same repeating stone pattern. Lit only by a few small mana crystals hanging in the corners.

“Anyone there?” My voice echoed down the hall with no response.

Kicking to my feet, I walked with a renewed pep. It felt great to be filled with mana once again. I followed the corridor until it opened to a small room with a stage in the center. Behind the stage was a closed door, and sitting in the middle of the stage was none other than myself.

Cross-legged on the stage, he wore the same robes that I did now. My clone’s eyes opened as I approached. “Welcome.”

“Hey there. Don’t worry, you aren’t creepy at all.” I stepped up onto the stage.

“Can’t you feel what I am?” the clone asked as it stood up and stretched.

Sensing my clone with my mana, I realized instantly what it was. All the mana I had expended so far in the tomb had been collected and compressed into a physical form. It was filled to the brim with my own mana, not just the active mana I controlled, but everything embedded in my cultivation that made up my soul palace.

It was similar to how my mana beasts existed outside of their rings.

“See, that wasn’t so hard. Once I am gone, the door behind me will open. When you are ready.” My clone bowed at the waist.

“Any rules I need to know?” I asked.

“Here, I will block you.” He said. “But I won’t act unless you step up on the stage. You could turn back if you wanted.”

I watched it. It felt like me, looked like me, and even acted like me.

I drew my bonesword and spun it in a lazy circle as I stepped up on the stage. “No sense in wasting time.”

My clone also created a bonesword out of mana and mirrored me.

I dashed, but so did it. Our swords clashed in a dozen exchanges. Each time, his sword was a mirror image of my own. It was even exact down to the flaw in my third stroke.

Jumping back, I summoned a kunpeng’s claw, smashing down on him. But he summoned one that shot back up, clasping my own until they both dissipated.

When I paused, he stopped and crossed his arms behind his back, waiting for me casually.

Something about it bothered me. He wasn’t pressing the attack.

It was more like he was stalling.

Wanting to try something else, I flared the heavenly dragon bloodline to life. But he seemed to have that as well, once again matching me. I put away my sword and dove at him in a flurry of blows, partway though activating my Pixiu bloodline, but once again, he mirrored me.

Instead of a single outcome being predicted, thousands appeared, blotting my vision with faint images as we both predicted each other and the next attack branched into a thousand possibilities.

Letting everything loose, I shot forward. I punched and kicked, fighting like a madman.

But he was me and just as skilled.

His hands blurred, blocking my fists with his own and stepping back after several dozen attacks.

My heart was racing. Blood thumped in my ears as my skin prickled with adrenaline.

I licked my lips, staring down my clone. He was also breathing hard, but otherwise, he didn’t show any signs of exhaustion.

If anything, he was less exhausted. Somehow, having both bloodlines active didn’t seem to drain him the same way it did me.

At this rate, my clone was actually going to outlast me.

He could do everything I could.

I paused, deciding to push the boundaries once more. I released by four mana beasts. “Let’s see you copy this.”

“Not a problem.” Clones of my four mana beasts appeared at his side.

“Master, why are there two of me?” Clone Mei asked. “Am I the real me?” She gave me puppy dog eyes as her fox tails twitched behind her.

“Don’t listen to my evil twin, Master!” The real Mei panicked, jumping in front of me with her arms out.

I shook my head. He could even clone my mana beasts. “I know who the real one is. Don’t fret.”

Clone Mei looked down at the stage floor and kicked it. “I want to be real.”

“I wish I could make that happen.” I was being sincere. Two Mei’s might even be fun.

But time wasn’t on my side. Nor did I even have an inkling on how to make it happen.

“All four of you, focus on my clone.” I told them, jumping back as the clones of my mana beasts shot forward.

Clone Mei was first arriving before me. Her five tails all tipped with void so sharp it would cleave me in two as they tried to brush against me. “I am real!”

Clone Lumi appeared behind me in a flash of lighting, her hand like a leaping wolf’s fangs as it went for my neck.

I blocked Lumi’s attack and kicked Mei back, even as I was forced to dodge as Clone Aurora came hurtling down at me.

And as I dodged, I had to maneuver around Clone Quinn, who was there with her fingers laced with steel mana as she went for my gut.

Spinning, her attack brushed my chest, tearing my clothes and drawing blood.

I had to dodge back, using void mana to slip to the edge of the platform.

As my feet hit the edge of the stage, I could feel something. There was some sort of enchantment that would activate if I left the stage.

“Shit.” I cursed, realizing I didn’t even know the nature of the challenge. If there was some sort of penalty for leaving the stage, that was something I’d have liked to know.

“Girls, try to push him off the stage.” I cried out as Clone Lumi and Clone Mei cornered me.

My palms shot forward, hitting both of them in the chest and blasting them away before they could finish their attacks.

Focusing on my Pixiu bloodline and the luck that went with it, I dodge the barrage of attacks coming from my four mana beast clones.

Everything faded away as I focused on staying alive and staying within bounds.

The clone mana beasts were savage. They fought like their lives depended on the outcome. It reminded me of the ash beasts I’d encountered.

Something had to be controlling them, and it very well could be the same thing that had been controlling the ash beasts.

“Everyone stop, come back.” I drew my mana beasts back into my chest, and my clone did the same.

Interesting.

I tried to figure out why he wouldn’t keep them out and press for an advantage. And I could only come up with one option.

“You are drawing on the mana I use, even now.” I said in realization. It must have been how the tomb made him and how he was matching me blow for blow, yet not tiring. My clone was feeding off all the mana that I used.

Whatever was driving the clone, the clone was filled with my mana and continued to draw on the mana I used.

My clone just shrugged and smiled back at me. “Are we done?”

“No.” Glaring at my clone, I changed tactics. I threw a completely normal punch without any mana, and it fought back with the same manaless attack.

Dropping my bloodline, it did too.

I smiled, feeling like I was getting close to solving the puzzle. This clone relied on my continual expenditure of mana to fuel its attacks.

What would happen if I didn’t use mana? After depriving us of mana in the desert, most cultivators would immediately go back to using it. Yet this challenge put us at a disadvantage.

Lashing out in a kick, as soon as I touched the clone, I tried to draw in mana, like I was cultivating.

My own mana rushed back into me.

Not only would I not be feeding it mana, but I would take some in turn.

Punch after punch, kick after kick, my clone matched my manaless attacks.

But each time I drew my mana back from him, he wasn’t able to recover.

I continued drawing hit after hit until I was bursting at the seams.

And he was slowing down.

I caught his punch, turning and throwing him over my hip before rolling to the floor on top of him, using that contact to draw all of his remaining mana, and even the mana of my mana beasts within him.

That included all the mana that made up his soul palace, his soul, everything. It was like stuffing double the mana that had made up my entire peak fifth rank cultivation back into myself. I felt like a fat kid after being left alone with a chocolate cake meant for twenty.

With a faint poof, he turned to ash, spilling the soft powder over me.

I paused, feeling my body pulsing with mana. Looking around, I realized I was in another pause where I could recover before whatever challenge came next.

Sweeping my feet under me, I sat in a cross-legged position and dove into my inner world.

It was bubbling over with mana. Mana poured out of it, flowing over my mana beast’s soul palace.

Each of us was saturated in mana, and the domain in my soul was brimming with energy.

This was the opportunity I needed to push myself into the sixth ring. Such a rush of mana was what I had been waiting for.

I let a pulse of that energy push out from my mind into my body, trying to form a domain in the real world.

I’d once created a fake domain in the mortal world, so I used that as an example. Holding onto the thought of it, I tried to push the reality in my soul outside.

It worked, in a way.

I could feel the domain in my soul touch the outside world, much like one could breathe through a bamboo tube.

But it was barely there. I had to pull incredibly hard just to get anything.

Without another option, I tried to shove my domain through the straw-like opening I had already created.

It was far too tight to fight; I felt that tube crackle under the pressure of all the mana in my system.

I paused, feeling uncomfortable as I held it in limbo, shoved inside that straw. But I realized I wasn’t sure what would happen if I shattered it. Would I shatter myself?

I was flying blind on how to break through, but my instincts would have to be enough.

Backing up for a moment, I slammed all of my mana through the tube. Sure enough, it was far too much. The entire thing cracked and widened just enough for me to wrap myself in a domain.

It was a good thing I did as I had to hold myself together as I felt like I had shattered and was about to come apart.

This time, I knew I was on the right track. Grimacing but feeling excited, I slammed everything I had down on that tube, shattering it. The air around me boomed as my domain forcefully took hold in the world, displacing all of the surrounding air.

As the same time, I had to use my own domain to stabilize myself.

Like breathing, I sucked the domain back into my soul and opened my eyes.

Power raced through me as I had opened a completely new power.

Pushing the domain back out, I realized I had a new level of control in the space around me. I grabbed all the mana in the air, stuffing it into my soul and forming a mana crystal the size of my hand instantly.

I tried to make another, but the mana in the surrounding air was now gone and slowly recovering. I’d have to move to a different mana rich place to make another crystal like that.

Keeping the domain active, I pushed it off the ground and floated in the middle of the stage, a smile spreading across my face.

I had missed the ability to fly since leaving the mortal world. I was excited to have it back as I lowered myself and dismissed my domain.

Squaring my shoulders and changing into a fresh robe, I strode forward, opening the doors to the next challenge of the tomb. I was feeling confident.

Heads turned in the room beyond as my door opened and I strode forward.

Ming and the others that had already broken through to the sixth rank sat in front of a mural and another large martial stage.

“Isaac.” Ming stood up and came over to give me a hug. “So happy you made it. We were worried about those without a domain.”

I looked at them, confused. “How did you all solve the challenge?”

“The clone had no power over its soul, therefore, no domain.” Yi Long’s eyes flashed. “Then again, it seems you managed to break through. That must be how you solved it.”

There were ten doors along the wall I had just exited. Mine was the sixth door open, and I realized Michelle must still be in her own challenge.

“One moment. Ming, can you watch over me?” With her nod, I sat down in front of my door and dove into our shared soul space, rushing to Michelle’s soul palace. I floated up into the air to the two soul palaces of her mana beasts above hers.

“Huh?” A girl with a large black shell on her back turned to me. “What are you doing here?”

“I need you to push on Michelle’s rings. Go out and tell her to stop using mana. Her clone is using her mana to sustain itself. But she can draw that mana back from the clone.”

Michelle’s mana beast blinked before nodding dumbly. “Got it.”

She disappeared from the soul palace for a few seconds before returning. “She knows now.”

I let out a sigh of relief. Michelle wasn’t at the peak of the fifth rank yet. I hoped she could use the mana reward as a way to advance her cultivation.

Leaving the shared soul space, I stood up to several cultivators, giving me strange looks. “Thanks, Ming.” I chose to ignore the rest of them.

“Not a problem. Are your wives okay?” She asked.

“Fine. I told Michelle how I passed the challenge.”

My answer caused a bit of a stir as the others showed interest. Wanting to build some camaraderie, I figured there was no harm in telling them. “The clone was sustaining itself on my own mana used when fighting. I stopped using mana and drained it. There was so much of it, I was able to use it to push myself to the sixth rank.”

Ming gave me a wide smile. “Brilliant! Here we just all brute forced our way through it, but we lost the benefits.”

Jade snorted across the room, peeking at me out of one of her eyes before closing it again and pretending to meditate.

“Well, do we get started on this yet?” Yi Long said impatiently, looking towards the stage and the tablet that I had missed. It sat where the stage met the mural.

The mural was a massive phoenix rising from the ashes, and the tablet at the base read in our language, unlike the monolith.

“The Phoenix doesn’t fear death, for they shall rise from the ashes to win and claim their prize.” I read aloud.

“That, plus the stage. I’m guessing it wants us to fight to the death. A fitting final challenge for the prize.” Lee nodded towards the stage, not seeming to mind the idea of killing all of us.

But that felt… wrong to me.

It seemed too simple. Every other room had its own twist, a challenge to succeed.

“What do you think?” I turned, asking Ming quietly.

“Doesn’t fear death, rise, win and claim their prize. Sure sounds like it's a battle to the death.” Ming interpreted the writing.

I looked to the mural for more clues, but it was just the classic image of a phoenix rising from a pile of ashes, an inspirational image of death and rebirth.

“We’ll fight it in rounds. Organize a small tournament for this.” Tian Jin said, nodding at Ming’s assessment. “Unless you have another idea?”

“No. It just feels too straightforward.” I knew there was something here, something we were all missing.

At that moment, another door flung open, and the cultivator that had come from Tian Jin’s group stumbled through, battered and bloody.

“Marco.” Tian appeared before him, catching him before he could fall.

There was a flash of lightning, and Yi Long was there, his sword aiming for Marco’s head.

Tian released his bloodline and domain in the same instant, his arm wrapping with gold armor as he blocked Yi and protected Marco. “Are you already itching to fight?”

Yi backed off, spinning his sword in his hand and sneering at Tian Jin. “I want to get out of this damn tomb.”

Tian turned back to Marco. “You won’t be able to win this next part. Sit it out.”

“Agreed.” Marco sat down on the floor and did his best to recover as Tian stood watch over him.

“Yi Long, I think we can agree not to attack each other’s subordinates.” Jade spoke out against him. “Tian, if he attacks yours or mine, I’ll cooperate with you to kill him.”

“Me as well.” Ming joined their alliance just as another door opened up. One of Jade’s subordinates came out weary, but unharmed.

“Suit yourselves.” Yi paced the floor, scowling before jumping on the stage. “Let’s get this started. I want to fight you, Ming.”

I put my hand on her shoulder to stop her before she got up. “Let me go. Otherwise, if you let them, they’ll wear you down.” They had already proven themselves to target Ming, given the grand prize of this tomb. The other ancient families just couldn’t let it happen.

The martial stage was small as I stepped up on it. I looked down at the dark material, running my foot along it. I wondered if it was some sort of compressed ash.

Rise from the ashes.

I continued to ponder the phrase on the tablet. These people all wanted to fight. It was the easiest answer, and what they were expecting. Even if they suspected the tablet’s phrase wasn’t straightforward, I had a feeling they’d go this route first.

It was an opportunity to kill the opposition, those that had already come for them time and time again.

“Are you ready?” Yi Long asked, standing on ceremony for the duel.

“No, give me a moment.” Fighting him felt pointless, and an idea was trickling in the back of my head.

At that moment, another door opened up and Michelle strode out confidently. Her cultivation had improved to the peak of the fifth rank.

I smiled, although I had hoped she’d come after I did what I was about to do. I was going to get in so much trouble.

Ignoring Yi Long, I spun my sword, pointing it towards myself as I stabbed myself through the chest.

“ISAAAC!” Michelle screamed.

But my blade didn’t hurt. Instead, the stage I was standing on turned to dust and flew into the air, forming a massive staircase up to the peak of the mural, where the phoenix’s mouth opened to a door.

There was a pause as I slid my sword back out of my body, leaving no injury. “I’m not sure where we are, but we left the tomb behind when we entered those mirrors. We might just be in some powerful cultivator’s soul space. The rules are different here.”

I waited for a response, but I didn’t get any. I realized Michelle’s scream had also died off. Turning, I realized I was alone.

“Huh.” I paused for a moment. I wasn’t sure if the others could follow right behind me, so I couldn’t risk entering my soul palace to tell her I was okay. So I took the stairs, moving forward and hopefully to the treasure of the phoenix’s tomb.

This tomb had been long enough; I was ready for my prize.