Beyond the Script: The Extra Who Stole the Mangakyo

Chapter 6: Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The First Step

I stepped into the academy's small, unused training yard just as the morning sun cast long shadows across the stone pavement. This place was usually reserved for lower-ranked students—people who barely qualified to be here.

Which made it perfect for me.

No unnecessary attention. No annoying noble brats. Just me and my first day of training.

I took a deep breath. Today's plan was simple:

1. Light exercise to adjust to my new body.

2. Mana control training to increase my reserves.

Simple on paper. Brutal in execution.

Phase 1: Physical Conditioning

I started with basic exercises—push-ups, sit-ups, squats. Nothing too intense, just enough to wake my muscles up.

And immediately, I noticed something off.

Even though I had ranked up from F- to E-, I still felt sluggish. It wasn't that my body was weak—rather, it was too strong for my instincts to handle properly.

For example, when I pushed off the ground for a normal jump—

I overshot it and landed awkwardly.

"Damn it."

I had gained increased strength, but my muscle memory was still wired for my old, weaker self.

This was going to take a while.

After a painful hour of adjusting, I finally started to sync with my new body. I wasn't perfect yet, but at least I wasn't tripping over my own feet anymore.

"Good. Now for mana training."

Phase 2: Mana Control

In this world, mana was everything.

The stronger your mana core, the more powerful your techniques became. But for weaklings like me? Just maintaining mana flow was a struggle.

I sat cross-legged on the ground, closing my eyes.

Mana training had three steps:

1. Sensing mana – Feeling the natural flow of energy inside and outside the body.

2. Guiding mana – Moving mana consciously through the body's pathways.

3. Expanding mana reserves – Strengthening the core through repeated circulation.

For most people, step one alone took weeks.

But thanks to the Mangekyō's heightened perception, I could already sense mana with ease.

I focused inward, feeling the faint warmth of mana inside me. It was small, like a flickering candle in a storm, but it was there.

Slowly, carefully, I willed it to move.

A sharp, stabbing pain shot through my chest.

I gasped, nearly losing control. The mana resisted me—like trying to force a river to change direction.

Gritting my teeth, I pushed forward, guiding it through the correct pathways. My veins burned, my body protested, but—

Ding!

A familiar chime echoed in my mind, and a translucent blue window appeared before me. @@novelbin@@

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[System Interface]

[Status Window]

Name: Alden Blackwood

Race: Human

Class: None (Unawakened)

Rank: E-

Mana Core: Basic

[Basic Stats]

Strength: E-

Agility: E-

Intelligence: C

Mana: E-

Stamina: E-

(Grades range from F- to SSS.)

[Skills]

Mangekyō Sharingan (Active) [S] – Grants enhanced perception, Genjutsu, and Kamui.

Mana Control (Basic) [E] – The ability to manipulate internal mana with basic efficiency.

Genjutsu Resistance (Passive) [D] – Increased resistance to illusion-based magic.

[Arts] (Weapon and Combat Techniques)

Basic Swordsmanship [D] – A foundational style for sword combat.

None – (More techniques can be learned.)

---

I stared at the screen, my mind racing.

My stats were still trash, but I had officially unlocked Mana Control. That meant I could start improving my mana pool properly.

And the best part?

I wasn't limited to just system-given skills. Unlike the protagonist, who was locked into a pre-determined skill tree, I had the freedom to develop my own abilities.

Which meant if I trained hard enough, I could eventually create my own techniques.

A small grin formed on my lips.

"Alright. Let's see how far I can push this."