The Glitched Mage-Chapter 101: A blade through the heart

Riven strode through the teleport gate, the shimmering mana barrier parting as he stepped onto the Fire Mana-Dense Island. The transition was instant—heat pressed against his skin like a living force, thick and smothering, the air saturated with volatile fire mana. The sky overhead burned in shades of ember-red and molten gold, casting the jagged volcanic terrain in an ominous glow.

He barely spared a glance at the entry checkpoint, where a bored-looking attendant manned the station. Instead of gold, Riven pulled a handful of high-tier mana beast cores from his inventory and tossed them onto the counter.

The attendant's fatigue evaporated in an instant, his eyes widening as he scrambled to gather the mana beast cores. "Ah—yes! More than enough. Please, watch yourself—the Infernal Beasts have been unusually aggressive lately."

Riven didn't acknowledge him, already striding past without a second glance.

The moment he set foot beyond the entrance barrier, a wave of pure fire mana flooded over him.

His abyssal flames shivered in response.

Just like last time.

The last time he had come here, his mana had resonated with the sheer density of the fire-aspected energy saturating the land. Now, standing in the heart of the volcanic isle again, he felt the same reaction—except stronger.

The abyss inside him welcomed the fire, devoured it, merged with it.

He exhaled slowly, his fingers twitching at his sides as flames coiled around his knuckles, flickering hungrily. This was the perfect place. If there was anywhere he could push himself to the very threshold of the Fourth Circle, it was here.

But first, he needed to secure a place to settle.

The terrain stretched before him, jagged obsidian ridges and rivers of molten rock carving paths through the land like veins of liquid fire. The thrum of fire mana in the air was intoxicating, his body already beginning to adjust, to draw it in.

A growl echoed from the left.

Then another.

Riven's gaze flicked toward the movement. Three Infernal Hounds stalked from behind a cracked boulder, their bodies wreathed in fire, their molten eyes glowing with feral hunger. Not even five minutes on the island, and already, the beasts had caught his scent.

He cracked his neck.

Good.

The first hound lunged.

Riven stepped forward, abyssal flames igniting in response. He didn't even draw his sword—his fist connected with the beast's skull, and abyssal fire devoured the mana-fused flesh on impact. The hound let out a strangled yelp before it crumbled into cinders.

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The other two hesitated.

He didn't give them the chance to run.

His shadow twisted beneath him, and in a single burst of speed, he was upon them. One precise kick shattered the ribs of the second hound, sending it skidding across the scorched ground. The third barely had time to react before his flames tore through its chest, consuming it from the inside.

The fight lasted seconds.

Riven let out a slow breath as the ashes settled. These creatures were nothing but warm-ups. Low-rank beasts, barely a challenge.

He spent the next hour traversing the rugged landscape, his senses keenly attuned to the rising mana density. Eventually, he found it—a small cave nestled in the side of a jagged cliff, its entrance barely large enough to be noticeable unless one was looking.

Perfect.

With a flick of his wrist, he reinforced the entrance with shadows, sealing it from unwanted guests. The temperature inside was still oppressively hot, but compared to the open plains of fire and lava outside, it was a welcome reprieve.

He sat down, crossing his legs as he settled into a meditative position.

Then, he opened his inventory.

The case of Etherbloom potions gleamed in the dim firelight, each vial swirling with its signature silver-and-gold mana infusion. Riven smirked as he picked one up.

With a smooth motion, he uncorked the vial and drank.

Mana exploded through his veins.

His eyes snapped shut as the Etherbloom integrated into his core, filling his reserves with a distinct, controlled surge—nothing like the chaotic spikes of normal mana potions. His entire mana flow expanded, stretching and adjusting to accommodate the enhancement.

[[ Mana Absorption +5% ]]

Riven exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Not bad."

But it wasn't enough.

He uncorked another and drank.

[[ Mana Absorption +5% ]]

His reserves climbed, but already, he could feel the difference. The higher his mana capacity became, the harder it was to fill it. The percentage bar barely moved now, requiring more and more energy just to push it even slightly forward.

It had been the same after reaching the Second and Third Circle. Each new ring required exponentially more mana than the last.

But that was fine.

Riven smirked, reaching for another potion.

This was only the beginning.

He would drown in mana if he had to.

As he drained the last of the Etherbloom potions, a slow exhale left his lips, the surge of energy coursing through his veins like liquid fire.

Mana trickled into his core, filtering in bit by bit—but the process was agonizingly slow. Each drop of power felt minuscule, barely making a dent in the vast reservoir he needed to fill. His fingers twitched at his sides, restless. Sitting still, simply absorbing mana, felt unnatural after weeks of relentless combat. His body craved movement, the burn of a fight, the tension of a real challenge.

A thought struck him.

'System, can I use Created Space Training while absorbing mana?' Riven asked, his mind already racing with possibilities.

[[ Created Space Training can be activated while mana absorption is in progress. Warning: Extended usage may strain mental and physical limits if synchronization is not maintained. ]]

A slow smirk tugged at Riven's lips.

Perfect.

If time within the Created Space moved at a ratio of four to one—four hours there for every hour in real time—then he could accelerate his training without sacrificing mana absorption. Sitting still wasn't an option. If his body needed motion, then he would push himself to the limit while his mana heart continued to refine the fire mana saturating this island.

He closed his eyes, focusing his will.

'Activate Created Space Training.'

The world around him warped. Shadows curled, pulling him under, and in an instant, reality shifted.

When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer inside the cave.

Instead, he stood in the vast battlefield of his own design.

A sunless sky stretched above him, swirling with dark embers and abyssal mist. The ground beneath him was scorched obsidian, cracked with glowing veins of molten fire. Jagged spires jutted from the terrain like the bones of some forgotten titan, the air thick with the scent of burning stone.

He opened his system window, eyes flicking over the various options as he scrolled through them.

[[Opponent Customization]]

Riven's brow arched. Interesting. He selected it, and immediately, a list began to form—names appearing one by one, each belonging to someone he had fought before or observed in battle.

His hand stilled as a particular name surfaced.

His gaze darkened.

Cassiel Vaigne.

He tapped the name, and another screen materialized before him.

[[ Cassiel Vaigne – Known Power & Moves: 45% ]]

[[ Synchronization Incomplete ]]

Riven exhaled. It made sense. He had only witnessed Cassiel fight a handful of times—just enough for the system to replicate a partial version of him, but not his full strength.

That was fine.

He confirmed the selection.

A mist of pure gold swirled into existence across from him, condensing, solidifying—until a familiar figure stood before him.

Cassiel Vaigne stood across from him, or at least, the system's recreation of him. Even in this artificial space, his presence was suffocating—golden light radiated from his form, pulsing with divine mana so potent it felt like a physical force pressing against Riven's skin. His armor gleamed with the same celestial brilliance, the edges of his pauldrons and gauntlets etched with sacred runes that pulsed in rhythmic intervals. In his grip, a longsword wreathed in golden fire hummed with restrained power.

Riven's lips curled into a smirk. "Let's see how much of you the system got right."

Cassiel tilted his head, a slow, almost lazy smirk pulling at his lips. "Oh? You think you're ready for me, Shadow King?"

Riven stiffened. The system-generated Cassiel shouldn't have known his identity. Was it a flaw in the simulation?

It didn't matter.

"Talk while you can," Riven said, abyssal flames licking up his arms. "I'm here to tear you down."

Cassiel laughed—a sharp, arrogant sound, as if the very idea was amusing. "By all means, try."

The moment the words left his lips, Cassiel moved.

Fast.

A golden blur shot toward him, so quick that Riven barely had time to react. A split second later, the longsword was already swinging down toward him, divine fire crackling in its wake. Riven barely managed to dodge, shifting to the side as the blade carved a deep gouge into the ground where he had just stood.

The force of the strike alone sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield.

Riven countered immediately, abyssal fire bursting from his palm as he lashed out with a sweeping strike. Cassiel barely moved, tilting his sword to deflect the flames, his golden aura surging forward and smothering the abyssal energy entirely.

Riven's eyes narrowed. Divine power suppresses abyssal flames?

He didn't have time to dwell on it. Cassiel was already on him again, stepping forward with the seamless grace of a seasoned warrior, his blade flashing like liquid sunlight.

Riven's sword materialized in his grasp just in time to meet the strike—and the moment their blades clashed, he regretted it.

The impact sent a shockwave through his entire body. Divine energy crashed into his arms, burning like liquid gold against his abyssal mana. His feet skidded backward against the scorched terrain, his grip tightening around his blade to keep from losing control.

Cassiel didn't let up.

He pressed the attack, relentless and overwhelming. Each swing of his sword was precise, effortless—like fighting was as natural to him as breathing. Riven could barely parry, his fire struggling to even hold ground against the sheer force of Cassiel's divine aura.

Then, Cassiel twisted his blade mid-strike, redirecting the momentum.

Before Riven could react, the flat of the sword slammed into his ribs with enough force to send him hurtling backward. He crashed against the jagged obsidian ground, breath leaving his lungs in a sharp gasp.

Cassiel's boots clicked against the stone as he strode toward him, golden fire still flickering along his weapon's edge. His smirk deepened. "That's it?"

Riven gritted his teeth, pushing himself up. He had faced monsters, had fought beings beyond mortal comprehension. But this—facing divine power head-on—was a completely different battlefield.

And he was losing.

Badly.

He surged forward again, abyssal flames roaring to life, his shadow twisting at his feet as he unleashed everything he had. His sword lashed out, moving with the speed of someone who had fought countless battles before—but it didn't matter.

Cassiel was faster.

Stronger.

More precise.

Each strike was met with a perfect counter. Every burst of abyssal fire was snuffed out before it could reach its full potential. The balance of power wasn't even close.

And then—Cassiel feinted.

Riven realized the mistake too late.

His opponent shifted his stance mid-movement, golden fire coiling around his blade as he drove the pommel of his sword into Riven's gut.

Pain exploded through his body.

His vision blurred.

The next thing he knew, he was on his knees, his sword clattering to the ground beside him.

Cassiel tilted his head, his expression almost… disappointed. "For someone so arrogant, you really don't know how outmatched you are."

Riven spat blood onto the ground. His body ached, his mana flow disrupted, his abyssal flames flickering unsteadily.

Cassiel exhaled, lifting his sword effortlessly. "I expected more."

Then, without hesitation—he drove the blade through Riven's chest.

The moment the blade pierced his heart, the world shattered.