[E.M.Supreme] Chapter 6 - Negative Attempts

Nothing he did seemed to work in terms of making his attacks and the strength of his mana any weaker. 

Without a shadow of a doubt, Mark would melt everything in the second dungeon if he stepped into it now. Maybe his mana negation would be able to shut down the undead skeletons, but he wasn't confident that it would be the only type of dungeon monster he would encounter. Or whether negation would actually work as you thought it would. 

Mark was stuck where he was until he figured something out while his mana shook the very foundation of the dungeon. 

This shit is getting ridiculous…

He stayed in his position without moving at all, considering his options. Eventually, he came to the decision to attempt to roll back mana negation in hopes that at the very edges of the ability, he would be able to touch upon a very minimal amount of mana that would be an iota worth. 

Mark didn't have much hope that it would work, but he had to try something. Anything at all. 

Mana negation activated, and he felt that same empty, isolation he felt the very first time. Though he was prepared for it now. He closed his eyes and felt for his core and the blanket-like curtains that covered it. Slowly, as slow as his metaphorical mana manipulation could work, he pulled the curtain back just slightly. 

The second single iota of mana from his core escaped his mana negation. The rest flooded after it uncontrollably. 

Again, the energies escaped him and rushed out of his body, out of his core, and into the dungeon's environment, turning it into a molten hot hellscape once more. 

Mark opened his eyes and found himself sitting in a pool of lava without feeling any effects at all. 

He tried it multiple times and came to a resounding conclusion. 

This tactic was like attempting to prevent a volcano from erupting with a piece of paper. It was an impossible impossibility that would never happen. 

It was either nothing or everything. Without any in-between to explore at all with his mana negation skill. 

Though he couldn't help but be pleased with how much his mana and elemental manipulation skills rose tremendously. He was aware that they would level up slower the further they went up the totem pole. Yet he stared at them going at the same pace they had been rocketing up at since he received them. 

Skill Upgrades!

Mana Manipulation

45 -> 71

Elemental Manipulation

33 -> 60

He smiled at his mage manipulation reaching level 71. Even if it didn't really mean much to this amount of energy he had been throwing around so far with his [Endless Mage Supreme - Absolute Level] class. He suspected that he would need a very high 3-digit or maybe even 4-digit level to even begin having partial control and precision over his mana. 

Mark's eyes drifted to his last ability that he had yet to use, or see it level up. He had the same squiggly lines as his Meta Negation did. 

[Domain of Mana] Was a skill, if he was being frank with himself, that terrified him. 

Just really using his mana, not concentrating it into what would constitute as a domain, turned the world around him into ash and nothingness. Not that he knew what that was exactly. Just that it sounded impressive and impressive names tended to be special abilities. 

He can already imagine the entire dungeon exploding, causing an earthquake that swallows his hometown and kills everyone he loved and his family at the same time. 

It wasn't out of the expectation when dealing with a golden class this powerful. 

Or worse, it somehow let the entire kingdom know exactly where he was and what he was. Like a beacon for all the Royal Knights to follow if they wanted to execute him.  

Mark didn’t like the thought of fighting armies alone, even if he carried as much power as a dragon. 

He decided to leave that untouched until he could either find a place he could test it on or he had enough control that he would be able to prevent any catastrophe from happening. 

I need to learn so much. How the hell do I get all the prerequisite mage knowledge from a Magus University if I can’t possibly enter one?

Even the very basics of magic were guarded knowledge that the mages were willing to fight tooth and nail to keep secret. He would only get access to them by entering said universities and be taught by their instructors. Anyone teaching outside of their jurisdiction had another oneway ticket to the executioners block, even quicker than a Golden Class.

The Magus Universities and Towers needed to make an example of anyone that broke their rules.

Mark shivered as he remembered the only time he had seen them get involved in an execution. He was too young to recall what reason it had happened, but he could deduce that it had been explained clearly to anyone willing to listen. He still remembered the gruesome actions taken that day. The way the mages gleefully ripped the man held captive’s back then pulled his ribs out while the young man was still alive.

He had nightmares for months afterward, always seeing the screaming face in his dreams warning him to run away. 

Another shiver ran down his spine as he focused on the issues he had at hand. If the mages started chasing him in the future, then his future self can deal with them appropriately, right now he had his own present problems to deal with. 

The first plan of using [Mana Negation] seemed like a down the line solution and his second plan of rolling it back slightly had failed spectacularly. 

Mark needed to think of something else, but in the meantime he planned to continue to train his skill levels as much as possible. He summoned two orbs this time, pushing his mental capacity to its limits and made them orbit around him leisurely. Each one had its own circuit like a celestial body, spinning opposite of the other one. 

He sat their tapping at his chin struggling to think of anything. 

Being the son of a [Tanner] didn’t really help the situation either considering all he had been learning was the basics of–

“Hmm…”

There was no way he would trust anyone or anything to put seals on him to limit his power. There were no special abilities or items that were currently available to him either. Nor could he apply his plan of imbuing his mana into loot he would collect until he solved his too much power problem. 

Two ideas struck him as hard as his fathers finger flick across his forehead for doing something mischievous. It was not a pleasant experience. 

Leather is basically treated beast hides, right? All shaped and formed together to make full sets of light armor. 

The first was quite simple. 

Mark had access to a spatial pocket inventory provided him by the system. What if he loaded it up with mana, then somehow piece mealed it into the tiniest amounts he could possibly make them. Cut them down to sizes that were far more manageable than the gigantic catastrophe blasts of pure energy they were. Like an external mana pool made of his mana that he could use as projectiles. 

Eventually blasting those tiny bits of energy at his enemies.

Seemed like a fine idea.

The second was less fine in his mind, but it was a calculated risk. 

What if he joined the two orbs that hovered around him like a set of armor?

Both orbs came to a dead halt, trembling violently as he stared at them for a few seconds.

Might as well try it. Might get lucky and unlock something special right…?

The orbs got closer and closer, their energies flashing dangerously as they continued to approach one another.