Mantle of the Gods [LitRPG / Slow Burn / FTB Harem]

It was very tedious.

I'd thought that if I was just making an outline, it would be easier. In a way it was because I had less I had to do, but the details had to be more precise. The original was like having a hundred strings and having to tie them into a knot while using another knot as a reference. The twists and turns had to be followed, but it was more or less just a long exercise in pulling out the bundle of string and tying it up.

This was like taking those same bundles and separating out five threads and lining them up everywhere that I had been knotting the thicker threads. It was less material to have to shape, but keeping up with the right portions of magic to create a precise edge so that it wasn't unstable was feeling a little overwhelming. It didn't help that from what I could remember, it had only taken Trent a few seconds to create it, while I was spending minutes just trying to figure out a portion the length of my finger. I knew that I wasn't on Trent's level, but he'd made it seem effortless, which only made my struggling feel more hopeless.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. My head was hurting from focusing so hard, but I wasn't going to stop. I had a lot of ground to make up and I was determined to get it done as fast as I could manage.

Mana potions weren't the best thing to use to keep one's mana full. Over using them would stunt your mana regeneration after a while. But that was better than what would happen if you tried to pull mana straight from a crystal. Overdrawing that way would make it so that you couldn't use magic at all without it causing you immense pain.

I looked at the empty bottle that I'd already gone through. Somehow I was burning through more mana even though I was making thin lines instead of a full seal. I wasn't too worried about running out of mana. Klix would keep a steady stream of mana potions coming for as long as I needed them.

So I focused on the outline in front of me. I tried not to rush, but more than once, I got ahead of myself and the line that I was trying to make snapped, erasing part of what I'd done. That wasn't a problem that I'd had white copying the full seal. The nature of this seal made it weaker, thus easier to break.

I looked up at Klix as it broke again. "Is this going to be a problem?" I motioned at the portion that had just vanished. "Is this going to be enough for me to take control? And is it going to be able to withstand whatever burning thing you're going to do when I'm done?"

The Goddess shook her head. "I've never needed a seal outline. Whenever I make a seal, I do the whole thing."

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Great. I've started over from scratch and she doesn't even know if it's going to work.

I kept my thoughts in my head. I wasn't ungrateful, just scared that this wasn't going to work and I'd have to go back to what I had been doing, except I'd be days behind.

I pushed the thought of failing out of my mind and focused on my task. Worrying about the future was only going to distract me from the present, which would only serve to shape that future into being.

I ran my finger along the edge of the outline, tracing where I needed the magic to be. It was like sketching with my finger instead of sculpting with my hands. I had to keep an even flow of mana running out of my finger because if I let out too much, then it would buckle the outline which would either change the shape or break it.

I noticed my hand starting to tremble, so I anchored the end. I needed to take a break at least to stretch my arms and legs.

"I need a little break." I gestured at Oz. "Maybe now would be a good time for Oz to eat something."

Klix looked like she was going to say something, but I just turned away from her and started walking towards the edge of the room. I needed a few minutes to breathe because stressing would only cause more mistakes, which would slow things down.

I glanced over at where Trent was laying. His usually milky toned skin had turned ashen a few days ago, but Klix had her High Priest tend to him a few times since we'd arrived, so he was more or less physically stable. I'd thought about trying to make a mental connection with him, but that had been super risky the last few times that I'd done it.

I jumped as someone touched my shoulder. I turned around to come face-to-face with Oz. The dark woman looked concerned and her green eyes were looking me over as if she was expecting to see me bleeding or something.

"Sorry." Oz let her fingers trail down my left arm as grabbed my hand. "Are you okay?"

"I…" I didn't know what to say. "I'll be fine. I just want to get this done."

"I hate that I'm not able to do anything other than model for you." Oz bounced her eyebrows suggestively.

I chuckled, then shook my head. "Well, you made me laugh, so I guess that's something." I squeezed her hand. "You're helping a lot already with the Pixie stuff."

Oz glanced at Klix and grumbled something under her breath.

"Hey." I turned her back to look at me. "It's all going to work out."

The door opened and a Scarlet walked in carrying a container.

"My food's here." Oz pulled away from my touch, but hesitated. "I know you can do this."

"Thanks." I smiled at her. "Once you finish eating, we can start again."

Oz nodded and went to take her food from the Scarlet.

"Hey!" I called after her. "Don't eat too fast! We're not in a hurry!"

The dark woman waved at me to let me know she'd heard me.

We both knew that wasn't the case, but she didn't contradict me. I just hoped we had enough time left.