After a moment—
Draven turned away.
"If you aren't going to tell me..."
"...then shut your damn mouth."
He continued looking around.
"It's not like I can't figure it out myself."
A figure suddenly appeared beside him.
The First Blood leaned slightly toward him.
"And how exactly do you plan on doing that?"
Draven glanced at him.
"This is some kind of mental space, right?"
The First Blood's expression changed slightly.
"...Huh."
He looked at Draven.
"You figured that out?"
Draven rolled his eyes.
"If I couldn't figure that out after listening to you blabber this entire time..."
"...then I'd be fucking stupid."
The First Blood suddenly laughed.
"Hahaha..."
He shook his head.
"Now aren't you pretty knowledgeable after everything you've absorbed."
Draven sighed.
"Yeah."
"So you can shut up about it now."
The First Blood laughed again.
"Fine."
He looked toward Draven.
"So..."
"You're planning to leave this place and create a mana pool, isn't that right?"
Draven nodded.
"That's the plan."
The First Blood's smile faded slightly.
"I've seen how you're planning to do it."
Draven glanced at him.
"And?"
"It's not a bad idea."
The First Blood paused.
"...But unfortunately..."
"...it won't work."
Draven's expression didn't change.
"If you say so."
The First Blood narrowed his eyes.
"You're ignoring me."
"Because you don't care what I say."
"But I'm telling you the truth."
He stepped in front of Draven.
"Your idea..."
"...is about five percent correct."
His eyes sharpened.
"And ninety-five percent wrong."
Draven finally looked directly at him.
The First Blood continued.
"That's how flawed what you're creating is."
"I'm not saying you can't create it."
"And I'm not saying it won't work."
"You'll be able to use mana once you're finished."
Draven remained silent.
"But that's all you'll accomplish."
The First Blood raised a finger.
"You won't feel that constant pain anymore."
"Your mana won't be running wildly through your body."
"And you won't have to constantly focus on keeping it from exploding."
Draven's eyes narrowed slightly.
"But..."
The First Blood's expression became serious.
"...you won't be able to use magic."
Silence.
"You'll only be able to strengthen your body."
"That's it."
He looked directly into Draven's eyes.
"Physical enhancement."
"Nothing more."
The First Blood's smile returned.
"...Not much different from what you were already capable of doing before."
Draven remained completely still.
The First Blood tilted his head.
"So..."
"Are you still planning on doing it?"
Silence stretched between them.
Draven remained completely still.
"...Yeah."
The First Blood raised an eyebrow.
"That's the plan."
Draven's expression didn't change.
The First Blood stared at him for a moment.
"...I can see you still doubt what I'm saying."
He shrugged.
"Suit yourself."
Draven glanced at him.
"Got a better idea?"
Silence.
A faint smile slowly appeared across the First Blood's face.
"...What do you think?"
Draven stared at him.
Then—
"Answering a question with a question?"
He shook his head.
"I don't even know what to call you."
The First Blood's smile widened.
"Damn."
"...You're boring."
Draven's eyes narrowed.
"Just get straight to the point."
"I don't have time for this."
"Time?"
The First Blood looked genuinely amused.
"What the hell are you worried about time for?"
He gestured toward the endless darkness around them.
"You've already noticed this is some kind of mental space."
"Time doesn't move the same way in here."
Draven remained silent.
"It normally wouldn't work like this."
"But..."
The First Blood tapped his chest.
"...because both of our consciousnesses are here at the same time, I've been able to notice the difference."
He smiled.
"I noticed it the first time we met."
Draven's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So..."
"While we're standing here talking..."
"...barely a second has passed outside."
The First Blood shrugged.
"So you don't need to rush."
Draven stared at him.
"Believe me if you want."
"Don't if you don't."
"It doesn't change my point."
His expression became more serious.
"Right now..."
"...what you're creating is garbage."
Draven's eyes twitched.
The First Blood continued without hesitation.
"It shouldn't even be called a mana pool."
"Even the crude imitation of a mana pool that humans developed to circulate and utilize mana..."
"...is thousands of times better than the nonsense you've created."
Draven stared at him for several seconds.
Then—
"You really can't help yourself, can you?"
The First Blood blinked.
Draven sighed.
"I thought you were supposed to get straight to the point."
The First Blood's expression twitched.
"Shut up, brat."
His eyes narrowed.
"You've really started getting on my nerves."
Draven remained completely unfazed.
"Yeah."
"I get it."
"My attempt at creating a mana pool is garbage."
He paused.
"And you seem to look down on the methods humans developed."
The First Blood scoffed.
"Of course I do."
"Humans are pitiful."
"Lower beings whose lives are no different from livestock."
His expression became slightly disdainful.
"Though..."
"They do possess some potential for growth and evolution."
He paused.
"But they're far too dependent on so-called gods' blessings and all that other nonsense."
His gaze returned to Draven.
"But that doesn't change anything."
"To me..."
"...they're still nothing more than insects."
Draven nodded.
"Yeah."
"I get it already."
His eyes narrowed.
"So are you going to tell me how to create the mana pool or not?"