The energy certainly reacts to my test, but not in the way I was expecting it to. Instead of being manipulated by my mental power, the energy converts itself. It matches my mental power and is quickly absorbed into my psyche.

Intelligence +100!

That is most certainly not what I was trying to accomplish, although it isn't a bad result. It would seem that I should have gathered more than just one energy to experiment with. Now I will have to wait until I go back to continue with my experiments.

At least I learned that the energy responds to whatever it comes in contact with. My next experiment is going to have to start with a way to manipulate the energy without it being absorbed. Then again, using a few more points to raise my intelligence wouldn't be a bad thing.

It would also be good to know if the energy can only work that way once or not. When it was happening I could sense something about the energy, but it happened too fast. If I do it a couple more times then I think I will be able to learn about how the energy works.

Since I am starting from scratch, everything I learn about the energy will help. Before I head back into the volcano I may as well have some breakfast. I already put out food for the others, but it is cold so I start taking out more food.

As I am eating Nala wakes up and immediately joins me, it takes a few more minutes for Brightfire to wake up. Once we are done eating, Brightfire and Nala leave to go hunting and I gate back into the volcano. Instead of heading for the mountain I go to the edge of the ice and beat down a few undead.

Once I have five energy I move back to the edge of the island and enter meditation. The five energy orbs are floating in a cluster in the middle of the meditation room. First, I need to figure out a way to move them around so that I can separate one for experimenting.

Since I know what will happen if I directly try to move them I need to think of something else. Then it occurs to me that this room is part of my mind, so I just think about the energy spreading out. Luckily, it works and the five balls of energy separate and line up in front of me.

First I use every sense I have to study the energy looking for any hints I can find. Each ball of energy is quite dense and contains a staggering amount of power. That is all I learn from scanning them, so I decide to replicate my first experiment and get the same result.

Intelligence +100!

It is good to know that it was not a one time thing, and intelligence is important if I want to be a mage. I also got a better sense of the energy as it was merging with my mental power. The name Origin Energy is a little off, it would be better to call it Creation Energy.

That is to say, as far as I can tell, this energy is the power that created everything. Even now its primary function would be to create things, including life. With enough of this energy I could really play god and create a new race, but I won't.

Not only do I not want the goddesses beating me up, I also don't want to be responsible for a new race. Besides, I already have gained enough kids without making more. However, there are plenty of other things I can do with creation magic.

For the next experiment I move one of the orbs of energy into my body. Since the meditation room is technically in my head, that is where the orb appears. Then I carefully guide it through my body until it reaches my mana organ.

Mana +500!

Well, not only did that work, but it worked even better than I hoped it would. However, I feel like I need to be careful not to improve anything too much in a short time. If I don't give myself time to adapt to the changes then something bad is likely to happen.

So, moving on to the next experiment I look at my own soul and move an orb to it. I am a little nervous as I direct the orb to touch my soul, but nothing bad happens. In fact, the orb becomes soul energy and repairs my soul just a tiny bit.

It basically repaired the very end of one of the tiny cracks, not much of a difference. From that I would estimate it would take tens of thousands of Origin Energy to repair the cracks on my soul. That is not even counting the massive hole where a chunk of my soul is missing.

It looks like Seronia wasn't exaggerating how hard it is to repair damage to the soul. However, this means that I have a way of using up a lot of energy, meaning I can kill more undead. Then again, I am far from done with my experimenting, so that will be a backup plan.

Since I have two orbs of energy left I quickly decide on my next experiment. This time I try having the orb merge into the wall of the meditation room. I am wondering if it can be used to improve the room somehow.

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Zen Meditation has progressed to level 6!

Zen Meditation

Level 6

Wis +120, Will Power +50

Recovery. HP 20/Minute MP 20/Minute

It directly upgraded the skill, that was not what I was expecting at all, but I don't mind! In fact, I wonder if I can use it to help raise other skills that have been slow to level. The problem is, how to put the orb into contact with the skill to raise it up.

I try to put the orb onto a skill that is listed on my skill list, but that doesn't work. Next I try performing a skill and having the orb make contact, but that also fails. It seems the orb can only affect a skill that has a physical representation, like my eyes!

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Lesser Dragon Sight has progressed to level 2!

Lesser Dragon Sight

Level 2

Int +20

You can identify items and evaluate opponents.

It worked, which is impressive since that skill hasn't gone up since I got it. There are still several things I want to try, but that was the last of the energy orbs. So, I get up and go back to hunting down undead with my warhammer.

This time I keep at it until I have collected twenty energy before I retreat. This time I am going to try something different, so I pull out some leftover metal. After shaping it into a basic dagger I put a simple fire enchantment on it.

Then I carefully take one of the energy orbs out of my body and insert it into the dagger. However, the result is not what I was hoping for, it doesn't affect the enchantment. All it does is increase the amount of metal, basically turning the dagger into a short sword.

Seeing that I quickly pull out a chunk of Armatite and repeat the process. The increase in volume is lesser, but it does create more Armatite, which thrills me. With enough Origin Energy I can create enough Armatite for weapons and armor!