Warlock of War: My Ares System

[Congratulations, you have reached the Third Ring of your Mana Heart]

I smiled as I looked at these new panels, but instead of backing down, I decided to use this adrenaline rush to proceed to the next step. And just as my foot landed on it, the pressure that had completely overwhelmed me prior was nothing but a tickle on my legs and feet. 

"Huh?" But, I soon fell back, losing all feeling in my body. Tumbling across the single step below me, I bruised my body. And just as I blinked my eyes with confusion, feeling my regeneration take into account my injuries and weakened state, only then did I realize how frail my body was. "I thought I was past the point of needing sustenance like this?" 

And as if my own body was listening to me, my leaned-out muscles and caved-in stomach soon filled with energy. I took in a deep breath, and as the swirling bits of mana in the air mingled with the toxic fog, I felt rejuvenated. So, I did it again, feeling my body recover even more than before. It was as if mana was this miracle potion, reviving my body from the point of no return over and over and over and over again. 

"I have to learn more about this mana heart…." I muttered to myself before looking at the surrounding city through the towering see-through walls surrounding the palace and its courtyard. 

"You cannot leave," A voice echoed from behind me, causing me to snap my head back towards the staircase where all of the massive nagas that were stalking me began to intertwine with each other, weaving and threading their large bodies together. They smooshed and ground their scales against each other until their own flesh began to fuse, creating a single naga with a massive golden crown atop its head. 

[Throne World: Prison of Time has activated its unique ability]

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[Supreme Entity: Jörmungandr]

[Description: The world snake has revealed its presence to you, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that rarely anybody gets to experience. Upon awakening, the mountains quake, and the oceans turn their tides backward, creating tsunamis that welcome the serpent\'s presence. It is wise on most subjects and controls all poisons no matter how deadly they are.]

[Quasi Municipal Erosion has exceeded 99%]

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There it is again. The quasi-municipal erosion, and this time it\'s around 99%, so what happens if it reaches 100%? Will something bad happen to him, or will something bad happen to the world? It\'s hard to even infer when I\'m so clueless about everything. 

Dark green scales reflected any bit of sunlight that could possibly peer its way through the surrounding green fog. Eyes as dark as the abyss, blotting out any possible hint of light, whether it be metaphorical or physical. And a gaping jaw with two massive corroded fangs hiding a massively long red tongue that flickered towards me, its rotten stench filling my sinuses. 

"What do you mean I cannot leave?" I daringly questioned the world snakes\' comment. And even though it felt like my organs were going to implode just from his presence, I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn more about this world. I needed more information. Otherwise, I felt clueless. And I hate being clueless. In fact, I despise it. 

"Anyone who dares to challenge the Staircase of Teachings shall not leave its vicinity until they have completed it or they have died," The snake\'s deep voice was calm and boomed across the world, shaking the surrounding greenery wilted by the poisonous fog. 

"Then, may I ask for your guidance?" I needed to use him, even if it meant bowing my head to my feet. 

"You are not genuine with your words, child. But, if you wish to learn more, then climb the stairs. If you climb it, all the answers you seek shall be revealed to you one by one… of course, that is if you survive." 

"Tch… alright," I sighed before touching my solar plexus. It was warm, and as I grasped the feeling of my mana heart once more when I opened my eyes, I was inside of it. Instinctively I knew, just from its tall than wider appearance with a solid blue rock forming the walls and ceiling… I knew it was the mana core. 

Inside of it, on the rocky floor, were three massive white rings. They practically took up the entire surface below me, and as I stepped onto them, they shimmered a dim blue light, its familiarity gracing me with the presence of mana. 

"I see… so this is it," I smiled before quickly closing my eyes and reopening them, finding myself back at the foot of the steps meant to break and reform me. I was determined to grow stronger, and despite the fact that I just barely managed to adjust to the pressure of the first floor, I continued on. 

Once again, my foot lifted up and pressed onto the first step. It was easy. So, I took my left foot up and pressed it onto the second step. It was easier. I then took my right foot up once more and pressed it onto the third. 

I continued moving up. The fourth step. The fifth step. The sixth step. The seventh step. The eighth step. The ninth step. It was definitely getting harder, but not enough to completely break me. And so, as I placed my right foot on the tenth step, a crushing pressure weighed down on my body, the world serpent ready to devour me if I lost hope. 

So, once again, just like on the first step, I sat on it. But it was tough. I was losing consciousness, and I didn\'t feel or see any signs of me getting it back. Yet, I still remained on that step, taking a meditative lotus position, straightening my back, letting my hands relax in my lap, and then breathing. In and out. In and out. In and out.