The training was exhausting, far more so than I had anticipated. It wasn’t the consumption of my lifeforce itself; that wasn’t the issue at all. My lifeforce wasn’t being consumed in the traditional sense. It was a tool, a conduit. I used it to interact with the stone, to shape it, and then I pulled it back, returning it to myself. Over and over again.

  The strain came from the shifting, the constant control of its flow, the very act of interacting with the stone on a fundamental level. It sapped my stamina far faster than physically piling up bricks would have, though certainly less so than trying to pickaxe my way through a solid rock wall.

  It was worth it, I knew, but the disparity between my intentions and my current physical limitations was frustrating. I will have to focus on improving my physical condition, perhaps even seeking some form of physical enhancement from the System, to achieve everything I want at the pace I desire.

  But this would do for now. It would do just fine.

  My training consisted of extracting protrusions from the walls, using the excess stone to fill holes and reinforce cracks and fissures. Smoothing everything out, transforming the rough, uneven cave into a slick, solid corridor. It was… almost fun. A strange sense of satisfaction came from molding the unyielding stone to my will.

  I couldn’t accomplish much yet. It would take significantly more time and mana shards to reach the point I had warned the System about, the point where this ability could truly break the balance. But I will get there. Eventually.

  For now, I would be ‘officially’ a stone shaper. Not some grand mage who manipulated stone with a flick of the wrist, creating vast halls and intricate structures on a whim. I still had to shape it manually, using my own strength and will. It was a necessary compromise for a much broader scope, a much greater potential.

  But it was still slow. It would likely take weeks to recover to my previous physical condition, if I even managed to do that. It seemed the change to my lifeforce, the acquisition of my gift, had caused it to be refined, to become more potent. This meant I had possessed more lifeforce before, but of a lesser quality, and now I had a more refined lifeforce, but in a smaller quantity. Which translated directly to physical weakness.

  But then again, I could now grab solid stone and shape it freely until I became too exhausted. That translated to about half an hour of focused work for every hour of rest, as of now. But it was going well. I had created twenty steps of smooth, solid corridor in just one morning. The results were undeniable.

  And I could always work on getting back in shape later. I wouldn’t be able to acquire this ability later on. No one would. Not after I had convinced the System to ban it as a potential choice for others.

  The thought brought a smile to my face. I had played the System at its own game, exploiting its own logic to secure my advantage. It was a gamble, spending all those shards to lock down my specific combination of gifts and their development path, but it was a gamble that had paid off.

  The image of the System's blue text, the confirmation that my suggestion had been accepted, flashed through my mind. [Combination of specified gifts and development paths will be designated as unique, restricted to the initial acquirer.]

  No one else would ever possess this exact combination of abilities. It was mine, and mine alone.

  I continued my work, shaping the stone, smoothing the walls, and extending the corridor. The exhaustion was still present, but it was becoming more manageable. I was learning to control the flow of my lifeforce, to use it more efficiently.

  With each passing hour, with each completed section of the corridor, I felt a growing sense of accomplishment. I was making progress. I was building my own path, literally and figuratively.

  The thought of Mark, still trapped in that crystal, spurred me on. I really wanted to see the look on his face when he exited the office through a secure staircase into underground corridors without even bothering with the crocs. And then eating gator barbecue.

  The tunnel was slowly taking shape. It was a slow process, but I knew I would get there. Eventually.

  My calculations were precise, as they usually were. Logistics and planning were my strengths, and even in this chaotic new world, those skills remained invaluable.

  According to my estimations, it would take me approximately four days of continuous work to carve a tunnel from my current location to the building where my office was located. Underground, of course. The surface was still too dangerous, too unpredictable.

  From there, it would take at least another day to carve my way upwards, reinforcing the concrete corners and creating a vertical ladder of sorts, granting me direct access to my office on the third floor. It was a complex undertaking, but I had a clear plan, and I was confident in my ability to execute it.

  Mark, Susan, and John would be waiting there, encased in their crystal prisons. I would prioritize Mark’s rescue, getting him out as quickly as possible. The other two… they would have to wait. Until things were more stable, until I had a better understanding of the situation outside, I couldn’t risk bringing them out. I couldn’t trust them to keep it together, to avoid drawing unwanted attention.

  Mark was different. He had helped me before, freeing me from whatever force had held me captive before the merging. I couldn’t imagine him doing that if he was prone to panic or irrational behavior. He was calm, collected, and perhaps more resourceful than I thought. He would most likely be an asset instead of a liability. I sure hope so.

  It would be weird to set the guy free just to find a way to get him encased in crystal again if he turns out to be… problematic. But this remains to be seen. No point in worrying about it now.

  And then there were the others. Over eight thousand people were trapped within this instance, according to the System. I wasn’t delusional enough to think I could save them all. Not now, at least. Even if I had the mana shards, which I didn’t and wouldn’t for a very long time, there was no way to provide for them. Not with the current state of things.

  My priority was Mark. I felt indebted to him, obligated to repay the favor he had done for me. It wasn’t about friendship, not really. We were colleagues, bound by circumstance, not by deep personal connection. There was no promise, no oath to rescue him. It was simply a matter of honor, of fulfilling an unspoken debt. Don’t be an asshole.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  I finished smoothing another section of the tunnel wall, the stone now as slick. My exhaustion was still present, but it was becoming more manageable. I was adapting, my body adjusting to the constant flow and manipulation of my lifeforce. But the physical restraints remained.

  The training, as of now, wouldn’t make me able to do more, but it will certainly allow me to do it for longer. Efficiency, not power. This would be the focus for now. For now.

  It was time to check in with the group, to let them know I was alright and to discuss our next steps. I wanted to gauge their eagerness for the rat hunt, to see if they were willing to wait a little longer for my… grand reveal.

  I made my way back to the camp, the smell of alligator jerky still lingering in the air. The group was gathered around the fire, cleaning their weapons and discussing their plans.

  “Vincent!” Gareth exclaimed as I approached. “You’re back. Everything alright?”

  “Everything’s fine,” I replied, forcing a smile. “Just taking some time to adjust.”

  “We were starting to get worried,” Elara said, her brow furrowed.

  “I told you I’d be back for dinner,” I said, gesturing towards the remaining alligator meat.

  “So,” Gareth said, changing the subject. “Are you ready to start the hunt?”

  “Not quite yet,” I replied. “I’m still… working on something. It’s taking a little longer than I anticipated.”

  “What are you working on?” Finn asked, his curiosity piqued.

  “It’s a surprise,” I said, winking. “I’ll give you a proper demonstration when I’m ready. It will be worth the wait. And your investment.” I added, thinking of the 200 mana shards they had given me.

  “How long do you think it will take?” Bronwyn asked.

  “A week, perhaps,” I said. “Maybe a little less. I’m making good progress, but I need a little more time.”

  “A week?” Gareth repeated, his brow furrowed. “That’s a long time.”

  “I know,” I said. “But trust me, it will be worth it. In the meantime, you’re free to do as you please. You can continue prepping the jerky, or you can start hunting rats on your own. There are plenty of them, and we won’t run short on gator meat anytime soon.”

  “We’d rather wait for you,” Elara said. “We want to see what you’ve been working on.”

  “Besides,” Finn added, grinning. “Hunting crocs should be more fun than hunting rats.”

  I smiled. “I appreciate that,” I said. “I promise I won’t keep you waiting any longer than necessary.”

  I paused, considering my next words. “Just be patient,” I said. “I will make it worth the wait.”

  The group nodded, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and anticipation. They seemed willing to give me the time I needed.

  I excused myself, retreating back into the tunnels. It was time to get back to work. The tunnel to my office still had a long way to go, but I was making progress. And the surprise I had in store for the group… might change a lot of things.

  The week passed in a comfortable, if somewhat monotonous, routine. I dedicated myself to my training, pushing my body to its limits, then allowing it to recover. Slowly but surely, I began to adapt. The exhaustion that had plagued me after my interaction with the System began to lessen.

  My efficiency improved dramatically. Initially, I could only work for about twenty-five minutes before needing to rest for nearly an hour and a half, a ratio of one part work to three parts rest. Now, I could work for thirty minutes and only needed another thirty to recover. A fifty-fifty split. A worthy advancement.

  But I felt I had reached a plateau. My current physical limitations were holding me back. I needed more mana shards, a lot of them, to consult with the System about everything related to my gift, my physical condition, and how to safely advance without closing off any potential paths. That would be a long, complex conversation. And it would cost a fortune in shards.

  But for now, the tunnels were ready. Not just one, but two. One leading directly to the building where my office was located, branching vertically to all five floors via a set of enclosed, reinforced vertical stone stairs. A perfectly safe access point, one that those damn crocs couldn’t reach.

  The other tunnel led directly to the Rat Warrens. I had even expanded the space near the dungeon entrance, creating a small, safe chamber. While I was at it, I made sure to gather all those tiny shards scattered around the area. I still didn’t know what they were for, or if they have an actual use. That said, I wasn’t aware if larger shards could be used for anything other than interacting with the System and acquiring gifts. There had to be more. That was yet another topic for future discussion with the System. Another expense.

  But that particular problem would eventually solve itself. We had a rather large hunting ground, and I could always create a suitable, safe entrance and exit for us to leave the instance and return later without having to deal with the pesky reptiles roaming around.

  I had made the group wait long enough. I would have loved to show them a third tunnel, one leading directly to the border of the instance, but I had told them it would take around a week, and I had reached my current limit when it came to sustaining my gift. It was time to show them what I could do, to demonstrate that their trust, and their investment of two hundred mana shards, had been worthwhile.

  I made my way back to the camp, the familiar smell of alligator jerky greeting me. The group was gathered around the fire, their faces etched with a mixture of boredom and anticipation.

  “Vincent!” Gareth exclaimed as I approached. “You’re back. It’s been almost a week.”

  “I know,” I said, smiling. “But I told you it would be worth the wait.”

  “So,” Elara said, her eyes narrowed with curiosity. “What have you been up to?”

  “I’ve been busy,” I replied, gesturing towards the tunnels. “I have something to show you.”

  I led them through the twisting corridors, back towards the entrance to the Rat Warrens. The group followed me, their expressions a mixture of confusion and excitement.

  As we reached the entrance chamber, I stopped and gestured towards a newly opened passage in the wall. It was a long, smooth corridor, the stone walls looking almost polished. The light from the fungal growths in the Warrens, far in the distance, reflected off the surface, creating an almost ethereal glow.

  The group stared at the corridor, their mouths agape.

  “What… how…?” Finn stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief.

  “I’ve been working on my gift,” I said, my smile widening. “It allows me to reshape stone.”

  I stepped into the corridor, inviting them to follow. They hesitated for a moment, then cautiously followed me into the newly created passage.

  As they walked through the corridor, they ran their hands along the smooth walls, their expressions filled with awe.

  “It’s… incredible,” Elara murmured. “It’s like walking through a palace.”

  “And it leads directly to the Rat Warrens?” Gareth asked, his eyes narrowing.

  “It does,” I confirmed. “And I’ve even expanded the entrance chamber, making it a safer area in case you need to prepare before going in or settle things when you come out. If anything goes wrong you just jump over those…” I pointed to some table shaped stone slabs, “and the rats can’t get you.”

  We reached the end of the corridor, emerging into the expanded chamber near the dungeon entrance. The group looked around, taking in the changes. The rough, uneven walls had been smoothed and reinforced, creating a much more stable and secure environment. And the slabs were as high as their chests, enough for them to jump and climb, but not for the rats to do so. I think.

  They then looked back at me, their eyes filled with a mixture of awe, confusion, and… perhaps a hint of fear. I liked that look.

  I smiled, meeting their gazes. “There you go,” I said, gesturing towards the dungeon entrance. “All set. Now, who wants to go hunt some rats?”