Kai continued absorbing mana ore after mana ore.
His mind was focused on his body, diluting any external distractions—that would hinder his progress. A Supernal must have a clear mind and be highly focused while progressing their rank, as one mistake might be fatal.
An hour passed in silence.
It was broken only by the soft clink of mana ores being taken from the box and the steady and purposeful rhythm of Kai's breathing. He continued absorbing the mana ores without rest in between, letting the raw mana flood his body and settle into his blood vessels.
By the end of that first hour, he felt it.
A sharp, unmistakable shift in the structure of his blood vessels.
Kai's lips curled up a little as he realized the adventitia layer, the outermost layer of his blood vessels, had begun to develop. It was a strange sensation, as though his veins had grown a new, fabricated skin.
A skin that was stronger and denser, more capable of holding the power inside his blood.
