My Isekai Life in Hard Mode

Unveiling the Inner Flame

After what felt like an eternity, Ryoshu finally unlocked the skill he'd been chasing. Each failed attempt only strengthened his resolve against the searing pain.

"I wonder if this is worth it?"

His body started adapting to resist high temperatures.

Unlocking the "High Temperature Resistance" Feature (Lower Grade)

His hand swelled grotesquely. Ryoshu cautiously touched his finger to the flame from the cheap lighter, with less hesitation this time. The pain was bearable now, though not completely gone. Relief swept over him, followed by a sigh.

"This is so much simpler in the game..."

Next, Ryoshu focused Mana into his palm while enduring the burn. Concentrating was tough amidst the pain. Only when his hand turned black did he begin to grasp the flame's essence.

"I've got it... let's practice..."

While burning his other hand, Ryoshu attempted to turn pure Mana into fire, but it only became hot gas.

"Halfway there. Just need to match its color."

Imagination played a crucial role in Mana's control. Ryoshu's clear image of fire sped up this attempt.

Ignite.

The flame flickered and then died, disappointing Ryoshu. Yet, this brief glimpse revealed Mana's vast potential. He tried again, scrutinizing it.

"So this is Magic... Beautiful."

Ryoshu's eyes sparkled under the flame, hope rekindled.

Despite its fragility, Ryoshu persisted, drawing strength from within.

"I have to believe in myself... or at least what I know..."

Ryoshu had always been fascinated by fire, so he adored fireworks.

"But now, I need to change its properties."

This task was more demanding, as he had to directly influence Mana.

Pure Mana was versatile yet elusive, demanding deep understanding. For Ryoshu, a newcomer to this world, mastery seemed daunting.

Still, Ryoshu pressed on, increasing friction between Mana. Results could have been more encouraging due to his poor control.

Sweat poured, soaking him further.

"Another setback." Exhausted, Ryoshu collapsed, absorbing more Mana.

Through sheer effort, he could focus for over 10 seconds.

"Mana Focus" skill leveled up to Level II!

Ryoshu nodded, satisfied.

"Another 2.5%... quite the boost," he remarked sarcastically. Yet, he knew even a 1% improvement could turn the tide in battle.

Though he couldn't feel the change yet, he hoped it would be helpful in the future.

"Let's keep pushing."

Ryoshu rose, renewed with determination.

As the sky darkened with each passing minute, the night approached, casting a shadow over the landscape. Amidst this growing darkness, a determined and worked tirelessly, resisting the overwhelming pressure of its colony.

Feeling the lingering burn from recent events, the ant sought to harness that energy, striving to convert it into something useful. Gradually, a ring materialized within, encircling a sphere of pure Mana. This familiar ritual, ingrained from past experiences, aided in the transformation, turning the Mana into a vivid red hue. It was the ant's most successful transformation yet.

"Congratulations on creating your First Mana Ring. Keep pushing to forge more Mana Rings!"

The announcement from the system filled the ant with excitement.

"Fantastic! Finally, I've acquired this skill!"

Empowered with the ability to manipulate Mana, Ryoshu wasted no time testing it. Focusing Mana onto his scorched palm, he witnessed its transition from the usual blue-white to a lively orange-yellow.

Taking a moment to gather his resolve, Ryoshu attempted to relight a long-extinguished candle. To his astonishment, the candle flickered back to life.

Though the flame burned faintly, it persisted with a remarkable vigor and vitality.

Unlocking the Potential "Magic" (F-)

The "Mana" Potential (F-) automatically evolved into a branch of the "Magic" Potential (F-), elevating it to grade F!

You have mastered the basics of "Fire Magic" (Novice)!

With another skill unlocked, Ryoshu's determination surged as he endeavored to conjure and sustain another flame. Now, the process was smoother, bypassing the need for meticulous steps.

Yet, the outcome fell short, lasting only about 4 seconds before dissipating into pure Mana, a far cry from Ryoshu's current Mana concentration abilities.

"I wonder where I went wrong?"

Searching online for guidance, Ryoshu jotted down notes for future reference:

"The most efficient Mana transformation process:

Step 1: Extract natural Mana from the Mana Core through the body's Mana channels.

Note: The coarser and more disordered the Mana channels, the less effective.

Step 2: Visualize the conversion of pure Mana into different types.

Note: Altering the properties of Mana particles to match a specific element according to your intent.

Step 3: Sustain the transformation and Mana flow."

Ryoshu discovered the inefficiency of his methods and attributed it to his weak Mana storage. Consequently, Mana's transformation consumed more energy than usual and struggled to maintain itself.

Glancing at the clock, which read 01:23, Ryoshu stretched, hearing his spine crack audibly.

"Guess I've been sitting too long..."

Surveying the darkened surroundings, a chill ran down Ryoshu's spine as he realized his solitude in the vast forest.

"Alright... that's enough for today. Tomorrow, I'll focus on stabilizing my Mana Core."

Proud of his achievements on his inaugural day in the Virtual Reality world, Ryoshu's eyes welled up with tears as he involuntarily yawned.

"Now, onto other tasks... before I can finally sleep."

Bathed in the bright moonlight, Ryoshu's surroundings were clear, aided further by the flickering candlelight.

"I've nearly depleted all the candles. I should save some for bathing later." He dismissed the idea by looking at the remaining candles in his bag.

Before indulging in a bath, Ryoshu reminded himself of the need to build a shelter for the night.

"Perhaps I should set up a sleeping spot first?"

"Well, this is Survival with Amemiya Ryoshu. What's on today's agenda? Right, survival lessons, hosted by yours truly - Amemiya Ryoshu." - Ryoshu began rambling to combat the intense sleepiness from an extended exertion.

Retrieving sets of clothes from his spatial ring, Ryoshu demonstrated resourcefulness:

"Ah, clothes! Don't hesitate to tear some off if you're short on ties but have extra fabric. Remember, survival comes before vanity!"

Tearing the clothes into sizable pieces, Ryoshu divided them between the ground and his storage pouch.

"Next, erect the shelter's frame using sturdy, evenly-sized wooden sticks."

Pointing to the branches he had collected earlier, Ryoshu illustrated the process, a remnant from his days as a streamer.

"To set up the shelter, begin with robust central support," Ryoshu demonstrated. Despite his low strength, he persisted until the support was secure. "There, buried deep. Haha."

After a brief rest, Ryoshu resumed his task.

"Next, assemble more sticks to form a tent shape large enough for comfort."

Despite setbacks, Ryoshu persevered, driven by the thought of sleeping on the dirty ground.

"After stabilizing the structure, lay down a bed of leaves."

Using leaves collected earlier, Ryoshu spread them inside before adding more clothes for comfort.

"Adding clothes will keep the mattress cleaner for a cozy sleep."

Completing the makeshift shelter, Ryoshu wiped imaginary sweat from his brow, though his hands were already dirty.

"Not bad for a commentator, huh?! I should have switched to this content earlier. Who knows, I'll become famous again. Or a real survival expert. Haha."

Proudly surveying his handiwork, Ryoshu yawned involuntarily, his eyes drifting shut.

"This'll do for now. But first, a quick bath. Can't sleep dirty and ruin this clean bed."