The Genius of Cloning in the Academy City-Chapter 71: Running Violet! (2)

“Reinforcing the body with mana entails far more risks than simply releasing it.”

Frederick began a short lecture as he seated me in the auditorium.

“This is because the human body is much more fragile and sensitive compared to inorganic materials like swords or arrows. If someone who knows nothing about mana lets it flow through them, they risk damaging their organs, tearing muscles, or ruining nerves. Even blood vessels can get tangled.”

The instructor carefully lifted my hand and pressed against my palm.

“Therefore, in body reinforcement training, it’s crucial to guide individuals to discover the proper channels for themselves and to understand how much and in what way mana should flow. I’ll now channel some mana into you, so observe it carefully.”

“Um, Instructor. That… my friend… no, someone I know already did this for me before.”

I found it odd.

It felt like what the instructor was trying to do was simply repeating the trial-and-error process I had already gone through.

Sitting calmly, letting mana flow into my palms or back, and observing it was something my friends had suggested once before.

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“Whoever they were, they must have tried forcing you to grasp their personal techniques or babbled about some complicated and incomprehensible theories. No matter how much you listen and imitate that, it won’t work. An awakened individual’s mana flows solely in their unique way and path.”

“So, how should I do it?”

“It’s simple. Do whatever you want.”

“What?”

“Inner peace? Enlightenment through meditation? I don’t care about that kind of nonsense. You need to start by meticulously observing the mana within your body. You won’t understand it right away, but doing it your way is the answer. Now, let’s begin.”

Mana with an unfamiliar sensation began to flow into my palm.

Like a stream of water, it coursed from my wrist, climbed up, and disappeared.

I felt like I almost understood something, but not quite, so we repeated the process a few more times.

“Now, try moving your mana yourself. Breathe slowly. You don’t need to do much at first. Think of it as taking a casual stroll.”

I began moving my mana as the instructor directed.

“Close your eyes now. Discard your visual information to speed up your understanding. Focus on your sense of touch. Don’t spread mana throughout your body; start by concentrating it in one area. Try your left arm first. Use the mana like you’re picking apart small grains.”

“Uh… it’s not working.”

“That’s basic! Don’t tell me you’ve just been carelessly letting mana flow as it pleases until now? What a waste…”

Even as I continued moving mana according to the instructor’s guidance, it wasn’t until around thirty minutes later that I started to grasp something.

There was a strange sensation in my left arm. It felt as though another bone had appeared—like there was an additional limb attached to my arm.

“Slowly, slowly. Keep moving it.”

The instructor’s teaching felt different.

The experience changed.

Strength.

Strength surged!

“Woohoo! Power!”

“What? Already? How long has it even been?”

Frederick’s eyes widened, his tone betraying surprise.

Why was he so shocked?

I felt as though my left arm might burst.

Beneath my elbow, it felt hot.

I even thought I could smash bricks with my bare hands at that moment.

It moved.

Strength poured out…!

“Stop!”

“Gah!”

Just as I was focusing intently, the instructor smacked me on the head. Then, he grabbed my wrist and let mana flow into it.

The power I had felt earlier dissipated.

“Why did you do that…?”

“You fool! Were you trying to blow up your arm?”

Looking down at my left arm after his rebuke, I was shocked to see that it had swollen grotesquely beneath the elbow!

“How recklessly did you pour mana in? Your arm could’ve been destroyed. How many times did I tell you to take it slow?”

This… was genuinely dangerous.

When I tried to move my left arm, it wouldn’t budge, as if I had been punished.

“Fortunately, it just swelled up, so it’ll subside soon. Still, this is maddening. How can someone learn so quickly…?”

Though we repeated the exercise a few more times, we eventually stopped as it was deemed too risky.

“That’s it for today. I have plans, so I’m heading out.”

“Can I come again tomorrow?”

“…Sure.”

I stepped outside, bathed in the light of the setting sun.

I reviewed today’s training. Despite the instructor saying my progress in body reinforcement was fast, I wasn’t satisfied.

“It could be faster!”

“Isn’t there a way to improve in just a day or two?”

Frustration bubbled up.

The villains’ plans were set to unfold in three months, and I was still stuck in place.

The same applied to combat training.

“Violet, it seems like you’re not lacking in the basics, but… you’re too aggressive.”

“I told you. I don’t die. My wrists and arms have been blown off a few times, after all.”

Hearing my response, Irene’s expression soured.

“That’s the problem. I understand now why your movements are so reckless and rushed. Start thinking about preserving your body while moving. What’s the point of surviving and not feeling pain if you can’t land a proper hit? You need to be able to hold your opponent down, even just a little, to make proper use of your unique ability. And to do that, you have to pay attention to defense too!” 𝘳áΝȪＢËṣ

Her words helped me understand why I had been pushed to the brink of defeat in my last duel.

Every critique she offered made sense. As we lay in our quarters, we reflected hard.

But realistically, there was no way to improve significantly in just a few days.

Or maybe there was one.

There were many of us, weren’t there?

“Right, why didn’t we think of this before?”

“Let’s try it right now!”

After dinner, the many Violets scattered across various locations sprang into action.

“Let’s start with body reinforcement training.”

Dozens of clones, stationed at our quarters outside the school, sat down and began channeling mana into their limbs, moving them one by one.

Our idea was simple.

Handling magic recklessly is dangerous. It could even kill you.

But we don’t die.

Any injuries can be erased through reverse regeneration.

Therefore, dozens of us simultaneously tried various methods to discover the optimal way to enhance the body!

Only a few minutes into the training, injuries began to appear.

No. 78’s arm swelled grotesquely before twisting completely.

“Ah! My arm!”

Soon after, several clones collapsed, writhing in pain.

The causes were straightforward: breathing difficulties, body paralysis, and heart attacks.

“Urk…!”

No. 89 bled from his eyes, nose, and mouth, then collapsed dead.

“Ahh! I can’t see!”

No. 23 went blind from mishandling magic.

“My arm exploded!”

Some even experienced body parts exploding from channeling too much magic too quickly.

But it’s fine.

It’s not as painful as expected, and the damage can be distributed to others.

Even death isn’t permanent.

We repeated the process endlessly, summoning clones, regenerating, and repeating again.

Training and practicing simultaneously.

And after about a day of repetition—

“Ah! It’s working!”

Through dozens of sacrifices, we finally began to grasp the know-how of moving magic.

When I channeled magic to my legs, I could move faster than usual.

When I directed it to my arms, I felt stronger than before.

The continuous 24-hour learning through repeated actions by multiple clones was effective.

To be precise, calling it 24 hours might be inaccurate—25 hours would be closer. Newly created clones don’t feel sleepy, allowing for uninterrupted training.

After about two days, our iterative learning extended into swordsmanship.

“What the? Violet, you fixed it already. How’d you do that?”

“Yeah, Irene was right. It works if I focus.”

“…?”

While two Violets swung swords and moved in the school gym and private training grounds, the Violets at home mimicked their movements.

From the outside, it might have looked like they were swinging swords into empty air. But I could feel it—something within me was rapidly accumulating.

Albeit slowly, my movements were becoming more precise.

“Ugh! My leg swelled up again!”

“I’ve lost feeling below my waist!”

The duration for which we could use magic to strengthen our bodies gradually increased.

Mistakes resulting in injuries became less frequent.

If one person didn’t have enough training time, then ten would train.

If ten weren’t enough, a hundred would train together.

From those hundred, we would select the best results, replicate, revise, and repeat.

Three days passed like that.

“Look at this!”

“…?”

Standing before Instructor Frederick, I moved magic throughout my entire body.

Magic quickly spread through my body—muscles, joints, and all the places it needed to be.

It permeated the necessary parts, supported the weak points, and stabilized everything.

Magic flowed into major organs and sensory organs like my eyes and ears, stimulating them.

When I took a step, the world slowed down.

When I turned my gaze, I saw things I couldn’t perceive before.

My whole body felt like it was on the verge of exploding, but I barely managed to hold it together.

“Wowaaah!”

I sprinted at full speed.

That was when I realized I had succeeded in full-body enhancement.

Excited, I turned my head—

BOOM!

“Urk!”

I slammed straight into a wall.

Failing to control my strength, I crashed violently.

Oh no, I’m in trouble.

Preparing myself to be scolded, I turned back, but for some reason, Instructor Frederick’s mouth was agape.

He looked as if his jaw had been dislocated.

“S-sorry!”

His dazed eyes stared blankly at me.

“Only… only three days…!”

“…?”

Did I do something wrong? His reaction was strange.