The Transmigrated Author

[Pinnacle Academy Stadium 1 - Arena A: Main Stage]

A desperate plan burned within Louise's mind. Yes, Jan's durability was defying expectations.

His resistance to the heat, those impossible bursts of power... it spoke levels to Jan's abilities, a potential Louise sensed, but didn't fully understand.

Pain burned through Louise as he shifted control over his domain.

He couldn't sever it completely – the protective barrier still served a vital purpose. Instead, he ruthlessly sacrificed a portion of his fiery barrier, drawing it inward towards the heart of the dome.

The platform itself began to crack and warp under the shift in elemental energy, but Louise remained focused.

In the air above him, a compact sphere of blue flame formed.

The dome, now visibly fractured, shook under the strain.

Jan, sensing the terrifying energy gathering above, had to act.

He charged forward, trying to disrupt Louise's terrifying creation, but something... was wrong.

"...!"

His movement was sluggish, his body unexpectedly heavy. And with each step, an alarming sense of vulnerability crept into his awareness.

It wasn't the dome's heat, nor some hidden technique by Louise – it was his own body, betraying him.

"no... not yet." Jan who struggled to move, was panicking at the restriction he had felt, but Jan suppressed it with ruthless willpower.

COUGH!, COUGH!

Suddenly, he coughed, the taste of iron flooding his mouth.

A warning pulsed through his body as his Lost Archives spat out a chilling analysis:

[Divine Conqueror usage nearing its limit. Stamina and mana reserves are insufficient to maintain activation. You're at risk of collapsing.]

Jan's heart sank. He'd only activated the ability for a minute. How could the drawbacks be this extreme?

He'd assumed the difference wouldn't be too significant compared to the 30 seconds he had used against Alice, but that assumption was now disregarded.

The truth was brutal... His body, born fragile, had been toughened, but only to a point.

While his body on the outside had become a force to be reckoned with.

Inside, his limited mana reserves were a critical weakness. Divine Conqueror, that power that had given him such an edge, was now reaching a limit.

His stamina wasn't the issue. But the drain on his mana was devastating.

He'd spent countless hours studying mana distribution to optimize his abilities, but an irregular power like Divine Conqueror threw his careful studies into disarray.

For a moment, frustration and despair threatened to overwhelm him.

But Jan had never given in to weakness.

not now.

not before.

not back then.

He gritted his teeth. He deactivated Divine Conqueror, but he wasn't helpless.

Jan had acknowledged that Louise in this moment, was probably stronger than him without Divine Conqueror.

Yet, he had to act, and fast. Louise's attack was almost ready to unleash.

Jan's mind was acting at a speed that defied time.

As the sphere of flame above him grew ever larger, each pulsating flicker was a terrifying countdown.

He asked a question out loud, a desperate hope clawing at his throat.

"Lost Archives." he spoke, "What's my remaining mana?"

A chilling response echoed in his mind.

[Mana reserves: 15% and critically low.]

Jan sucked in a ragged breath. 15%. He needed a miracle.

"How much would it take to replenish it?" he asked, his voice calm.

[Replenishing stamina with mana is an extremely advanced technique according to your memories. The process requires complex manipulation of your mana flow. Success is highly unlikely given your current state.]

Jan gritted his teeth. Unlikely wasn't good enough. He needed a solution, and fast.

"Is there... anything?" he rasped.

The Lost Archives remained silent for a moment, and then a new piece of information surfaced.

[There exists a potential factor that could temporarily ignore stamina limitations - triggering Adrenaline.]

[However, this method involves channelling mana to activate your adrenal glands, providing a surge of energy to override exhaustion. While highly effective, the consequences are severe. Extreme fatigue will set in afterwards, requiring an extended period of recovery.]

Jan's eyes narrowed. A gamble, yes, but it might be his only chance.

"Alright," he muttered, a steely resolve hardening his voice. "Let's try that."

The Lost Archives responded with a cold, clinical efficiency.

[Focus on your remaining mana. Circulate it through your body with the intent of stimulating your adrenal glands. The formula is complex but prioritizes speed over precision. Be warned – the after-effects will be significant.]

Jan took a deep breath, focusing on calming his racing heart.

This was it. His last stand, for now. With a deep breath, he channelled his remaining mana.

huuuuu...

It wasn't perfect, the flow jerky and uneven, but it moved.

He felt a jolt course through his nervous system, a wave of mana pushing past the fatigue biting at him.

His body, for a brief moment, felt revitalized.

haaaah...

It wouldn't last long, but it was enough. He had a window, a chance to seal the win.

He looked at the monstrous ball of flame from above, Jan knew that he would lose if that ball struck him.

...

...

huuuu...

Louise exhaled, a cloud of steam puffing out of his mouth.

The monstrous blue flame hung above him, controlling the ball with sheer will.

But as he cast a crucial eye over Jan, a sense of unease settled in his gut.

Yes, Jan staggered, his body clearly betraying him, yet his eyes still burned with that same restlessness.

And something else... pity? Louise wasn't sure.

With a grunt, he dispelled the remainder of the fiery dome.

The crowd, their cheers abruptly stilled, stared down at the two figures standing within the shattered remains of the platform.

Both fighters seemed on the verge of collapse, mirroring each other in their sheer exhaustion.

"Get up, you fool," Louise snarled at Jan.

"Two minutes. You have two minutes or that,"

He gestured towards the sphere of crackling flame,

"will smite you."

It was the first time he'd addressed Jan like a normal human being.

Not as an obstacle to be crushed.

Winning solely through an exhausted opponent wasn't something Louise aimed for.

What he wanted to do was to win on his own terms.

"...!"

Jan surprised by Louise's actions couldn't help but smile.

It was a testament to his tenacity that even in the face of certain defeat, he refused to lose.

Louise, however, couldn't see any mana coursing through Jan's body.

Both he and Jan were completely out of mana, Louise used his last mana reserves to maintain the blue flaming sphere.

It didn't matter. Louise had given Jan an opportunity, a chance.

What happened in those two minutes would determine the victor.

Louise gripped his polearm tight standing tall.

Jan got up with his broadsword, did the same.

This fight wasn't over, not by a long shot.

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Authors Notes:

- What is Mana Distribution?

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Mana distribution refers to the process of allocating mana to different parts of the body or to specific spells or abilities to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. It involves calculating the percentage or amount of mana needed for a particular task and then directing that mana accordingly.

For example, a mage casting a fireball spell would need to distribute mana to their hands to create and control the flames. In another scenario, a healer might distribute mana to their hands to channel healing into a specific area of the body.

Mana distribution is crucial for ensuring that enough mana is available for casting spells or using abilities, while also preventing mana wastage. Skilled users can distribute mana with ease, allowing them to perform complex techniques or spells with greater ease

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- Mana flow: it's a technique used in mana distribution, where mana is directed through the body to specific locations or pathways. This technique is particularly important for healing and recovery, as it allows the user to channel mana to damaged or injured areas to promote healing and mana flow into their system.

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