The Witch Hunter System

<You have acquired a tiny Realm Fragment with a thousand mana value>

<Calculating appropriate rewards…>

<…>

…

The system alerted him as Vaan forcefully held onto the Realm Fragment, despite suffering numerous wounds to his hand as if he was receiving thousands of skin-tearing lashes.

Without a doubt, acquiring the power of the Realm Fragment was not easy; it never was.

However, there was no gain without pain.

Nevertheless, Vaan didn't find it surprising to learn that a single peanut-sized Realm Fragment possessed the same mana value as ten high-rank mana stones.

"Ten high-rank mana stones for a peanut-sized Realm Fragment, huh? Those palm-sized Realm Fragments from back then would have possessed countless times more mana value," Vaan mused.

Ding!

<Rewards have been calculated>

<Please select one of the following options>

<Option 1: Feed the Realm Fragment to the Heaven-Swallowing Space and expand the subspace>

<Note: There is a very high chance of awakening a new special ability or upgrading an existing one>

<Option 2: You may input your own improvement plan with clear instructions for the system to follow>

<Note: There is a high chance of sustaining serious injuries or even death if you try to assimilate the Realm Fragment with your body any other way besides the first option>

<Note 2: In the unlikelihood that you succeed, you will experience a huge boost in your physical attributes>

…

'Unexpectedly, feeding the Heaven-Swallowing Space would be the first option this time. Whether it has the greatest benefit is still up for debate. However, it is definitely the safest option,' Vaan thought.

There was no need to consider his choice.

Ding!

<You have selected the first option>

Shortly after Vaan made his choice, the peanut-sized Realm Fragment seeped right through his bleeding hand, entering his Heaven-Swallowing Space.

Moments after it entered, it faded into the darkness of the Heaven-Swallowing Space as it was devoured and assimilated.

As that happened, Vaan sensed his Heaven-Swallowing Space expand by roughly the same size as a four-bedroom home.

At the same time, he felt some of his mental energy was restored—or rather, the upper limit of his mental power was increased; hence, he had some extra mental energy.

However, that was only the benefit of absorbing the mana inside the Realm Fragment, not the Realm Fragment itself.

Although he couldn't sense anything else happening inside his Heaven-Swallowing Space, he instinctively knew that something was definitely happening.

Something was changing inside his Heaven-Swallowing Space, but he was unable to perceive it.

Nevertheless, moments passed before Vaan could finally sense one of his sphere-shaped Specialized Magic changing. It was his Heat Manipulation.

The mana lines that formed the magic circuit of his Heat Manipulation reconfigured themselves, creating a new pattern.

Ding!

<Your Heaven-Swallowing Space has expanded>

<Your mental power's upper limit has been raised>

<Heat Manipulation has been upgraded to Kinetic Energy Manipulation>

<Heat Manipulation (Early-stage True Witch) → Kinetic Energy Manipulation (Early-stage Senior Witch)>

…

'Kinetic Energy Manipulation? Why don't I find this surprising?' Vaan slightly smiled at the result of his Specialized Magic upgrade.

Heat Manipulation was simply the ability to increase or reduce the kinetic energy in atoms, which, in turn, generate heat or coldness.

However, Kinetic Energy Manipulation wasn't just limited to increasing or decreasing kinetic energy in atoms.

Anything and everything in motion could be manipulated by him.

'This is an infinitely more powerful and versatile ability—if it isn't restricted to the Early-stage Senior Witch level,' Vaan contemplated.

Fortunately, he didn't lose any of his previous abilities and skills, even though Heat Manipulation changed to Kinetic Energy Manipulation.

After all, Kinetic Energy Manipulation encompassed everything that is Heat Manipulation and more.

Vaan could think of myriad ways to use his Kinetic Energy Manipulation and was itching to put it to the test.

However, he had to suppress his urge and excitement and focus on his objective.

That being said, Vaan couldn't help but wonder if the other pocket spaces also possessed Realm Fragments.

And if they did, what other secrets were hidden much deeper under the Red Goblin Mountains?

'I better check the other pocket spaces first,' Vaan decided.

But before he left the current pocket space, he harvested all the Gehenna plants, including their roots and rocky soil, and stored them inside his Heaven-Swallowing Space.

'Kyuu!'

Topaz was released from his body. She flapped her small wings around, feeling excited due to the freedom she was granted.

At the same time, the pocket space was rich in earth elements, making her feel happy in general. Even so, the pocket space was still far inferior to her old home in the stalactite cave.

Nevertheless, Vaan had the Earth Spirit Body. Thus, she still picked him over the pocket space and the stalactite cave.

After flying around for only a short moment, she settled on Vaan's head and looked ahead.

Earth Manipulation!

Vaan used her earth magic to leave the pocket space, heading for the next underground pocket space shortly after.

Upon their arrival, he found the second pocket space similar to the last one. It was filled with Gehenna plants, heavy air, and some concentration of mana.

He took some time digging for the concentrated mana source before a familiar peanut-sized Realm Fragment was revealed, shining intense purple light throughout the pocket space.

'As I suspected, there's also a Realm Fragment!' Vaan's eyes brightened at once.

Shortly after touching the Realm Fragment, it cut his finger and underwent the exact change, turning from purple to blue as if it was adjusting to his world after receiving some blood.

Mana had a blue color in the human world. But in Gehenna, it was purple.

'Kyuu!' Topaz suddenly cried.

She flew over to the Realm Fragment and stomped on it with her small feat as if to bully it back for hurting Vaan.

"Topaz, wait—!"

Vaan wanted to stop his earth spirit from hurting herself, but he quickly paused with widened eyes when the Realm Fragment easily assimilated with her body. It flew right into her body like a magnetic attraction when her foot got close.

As a result, she missed her target and fell to the ground.

'Kyuu?'

Shortly after looking around, Topaz scratched her head with confusion, wondering where the villainous Realm Fragment had disappeared off to.

But it wasn't long before her tiny body started to shine…