Chapter 34 – [Chain Manipulation] (2)

Chapter 34 – [Chain Manipulation] (2)

Rowan watched in fascination as the chains before him twisted through the air. It was so similar, yet at the same time, so different from [Bind].

It was more akin to [Mana Manipulation] than anything else. Unlike before, where he merely commanded the chains to wrap around something or squeeze, he now had to actively manipulate them.

It took more work, but it was also far more versatile.

The closest thing he’d done to what he was doing now had actually been surprisingly recent.

It was when he’d used his chains as a shield against the armored bloodspawn’s blows. It had actually worked, but the nature of [Bind] had hindered it and led to the wounds he currently bore.

Rather than simply blocking the blows, the chains had almost instinctively followed after the humanoid, trying to grasp it.

This had left gaps in the shield, gaps that the creature had taken full advantage of. If Rowan had returned and done the same now that he had [Chain Manipulation], he thought it would go far differently.

But there was no use dwelling on the past. He’d experimented with his chains for a while, and while he wanted to learn more, he was running out of both his recently recovered mana and ideas on what to do.

So, with nothing else to do, it was time for a little nap. Hopefully, nothing would stumble across him in his sleep.

—

Rowan woke to a strange sensation on his leg. It was almost as if he was being tickled, though he doubted that was what was happening.

Cracking open an eyelid, he let out a cry of alarm.

There, standing above his leg, was one of the doglike bloodspawn. And it was gnawing on his leg.

Pointing at it with his left arm, he released the mana he’d condensed during his fight with the armored creature but never ended up using.

The blue energy burst forward from his finger like a roaring storm, slamming into the hound and blasting it against the far wall of the cave.

[You have slain Fungal Bloodspawn – Level 2]

Breathing heavily, he turned his attention to the leg the beast had been gnawing on. After a few seconds of staring, he frowned and rotated the limb, trying to look under it.

It was still covered in a strange, sticky substance—probably the bloodspawn’s saliva—but there weren’t any wounds. His leg was entirely unharmed.

Rowan grimaced, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it. His body was already filthy anyway, coated in blood and dirt.

Still, it was an interesting development.

He hadn’t realized his body had become so durable already. It was nice not to have to worry as much about weaker enemies, but the more powerful bloodspawn would certainly still be able to harm him.

With a sigh, he checked on his wounds. They were still there, but both were ever so slightly smaller.

Hopefully, it would only be a few more days until he could walk and use is body again.

Rowan shuddered at the thought of what would’ve happened if his opponent had landed more or deeper blows. The two injuries he had had done so much damage despite starting as small nicks.

Shifting his body, he brought his attention back to the chains. He hadn’t thought about it for a while, but he still remembered that horrible feeling when something within the steel links had awakened.

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That feeling as if he were a mere insect standing before a giant.

Whatever was residing within the chains hadn’t shown itself since then, but Rowan remembered. He remembered every moment of it. And he didn’t want to endure it again. Ever.

But he couldn’t help but wonder if evolving [Bind] had had an effect on it. There had been no signs that he could sense, but still, he remained cautious.

There was more he would’ve liked to practice with the chains, but he wanted to work on his [Mana Manipulation] as well.