Ray held a glass tube in his hand. Inside it was a shimmering golden liquid that glowed softly like sunlight trapped in water. He stared at it with wide eyes, feeling both amazed and nervous at the same time.

"Father, it's not poison, right?" he asked carefully.

"...."

Ethan looked at him with a blank face, clearly trying to hold back his temper.

"You think I am useless so you aren't going to get rid of me,right??...Kyaahh.."

"Before Ray could finish his sentence, there was a loud bang! Ethan slammed his hand down on Ray's head.

"AAAHHHH!" Ray cried out in pain.

You think I'd poison you just because you're useless? Are you saying I'm going to get rid of—"

Ethan cracked his knuckles with an annoyed expression. "Brat, you really spend too much time thinking nonsense. Let me clear your head for you." His grin looked devilish, making Ray's face go pale.

"Wait, I was just joking! AAAHHHH!"

What followed were a few minutes of loud cries echoing across the room.

When it was finally over, Ray stood up, holding his sore backside. His face twisted in pain as tears started to gather in his eyes. It hurt badly, and this time, he hadn't even done anything serious.

Ethan nodded with satisfaction as if he had just solved a big problem. "Listen, Ray. This potion is very precious. It will help you grow stronger. I spent a fortune getting this. But if you keep thinking stupid things, you might end up forming a heart demon instead."

"Wait, what?" Ray looked shocked. "Heart demon? What's that?"

"It's a psychological barrier that a person creates due to lack of confidence that hampers his or her own growth."

Ethan smirked, pretending to be serious. Of course, there were no heart demons in this world, but scaring Ray a little wouldn't hurt.

After letting the boy panic for a bit, Ethan sighed and said calmly, "I'll prepare a bath for you. Be ready by tomorrow."

...….

The next day, Ethan led Ray toward one of the buildings behind their home. It was the private training chamber that only Ethan used. The place was filled with faint glowing runes carved on the walls, and the air was heavy with mana.

Ray looked around with wide eyes, feeling the strange pressure in the air. "This place… it feels different," he muttered.

Ethan didn't answer. He led him further inside until they reached a secret room. There, a small spring flowed gently, its water glowing faintly blue. It was a mana spring collected from deep underground from the mana vein and stored here for use.

Ethan often came here to train or relax after long hours of work. Recently, though, it was Sophia who used the place more often. Lia hadn't come since she got pregnant.

"Go sit in the middle," Ethan ordered. "Take this potion and start the breathing technique I taught you."

Ray nodded quickly. He stripped down to his undergarments and stepped into the spring.

"Hisss…"

A sharp chill ran through his body as the mana-rich water touched his skin. He shivered uncontrollably.

"Don't resist it," Ethan said firmly.

Ray swallowed hard and forced himself to relax. After a few moments, his body began to adjust to the strange cold feeling. He moved toward the shallower edge of the pool, sitting cross-legged as Ethan handed him the potion.

Ray looked at the glowing liquid one more time, then back at his father. His heart beat fast. He didn't know what exactly this potion would do, but he trusted Ethan completely.

He took a deep breath, uncorked the tube, and drank it in one go.

Chug… Chug…

The liquid was bitter, leaving a strange aftertaste that made him frown. He placed the empty tube aside and waited for something to happen.

"Huh, Father, I don't feel any—"

Before he could finish, a burning heat shot through his stomach. His whole body tensed up in shock.

"Grrhhhhh!" he groaned, gripping his sides tightly as the pain spread.

His breathing turned heavy. The glowing mana in the spring began to swirl around him, reacting to his body. The golden shine of the potion mixed with the blue glow of the water, filling the room with strange light.

Ethan watched silently, his face calm but serious. He knew the pain would be strong, but it was necessary.

Ray's eyes trembled as he struggled to stay conscious. He bit his lip, trying not to scream, but the burning sensation kept growing stronger.

Ethan walked closer, his voice firm but steady. "Endure it, Ray. Don't fight it. Let the mana flow through you."

Ray clenched his fists, trembling all over. Sweat ran down his face as the glow from his body grew brighter.

The heavy air in the chamber buzzed faintly, filled with power and tension. Ethan stood still, watching as his son began his painful but important transformation.

Ray screamed in pain as a wave of burning heat exploded from his stomach. It felt like fire was spreading through every vein in his body. The heat rose higher and higher until steam started to lift off his skin. His face turned red, and his breathing grew rough. His whole body looked as if it was being boiled alive.

The air around him shimmered from the heat. His skin glowed faintly, and every breath he took felt like it would tear him apart from the inside.

"RAY!" Ethan shouted, his voice filled with panic. He stomped his foot on the magic circle carved on the floor. The runes flared to life, and the ice mana stones placed around the pool began to release waves of freezing energy.

"Concentrate and start the breathing technique!" Ethan roared. "Don't fall here!"

The words struck Ray's mind like a bell. His eyes widened, and he clenched his teeth tightly. His trembling hands pressed against the floor of the pool as he forced himself to remember the breathing method his father had taught him.

It was the Five Elemental Breathing Technique that Ethan had once received as a reward. As Ray began to follow the pattern, the mana in the chamber reacted instantly. Streams of cold air swirled around him and rushed into his body.

But along with it came another kind of pain. A sharp, stabbing sensation spread all over him as if a thousand needles were piercing his flesh. His pores opened wide, releasing steam and sweat while a faint vortex of mana began spinning around him.

Ethan watched with clenched fists. "Damn it, system… you didn't say it would be this painful," he thought angrily.

Even from a distance, Ethan could feel the heat radiating from his son. The water in the spring was beginning to evaporate. His heart ached as he saw the agony in Ray's eyes, but there was nothing he could do now except wait and pray that his son endured it.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.