Solo Leveling: Monarch of knowledge

Adam returned home, the late afternoon light filtering through his apartment's blinds, casting faint lines across the chaotic space. He adjusted the black glasses on his face, their sleek design fitting comfortably. His eyes scanned the room, now crowded with materials and the towering presence of the mana printer.

The clutter didn't bother him, it was a sign of progress. But the space was running out. He moved toward the printer, the faint hum of its idle systems greeting him. Reaching into a small, reinforced container, he pulled out the D-Rank goblin boss's bones. They were splintered and charred, remnants salvaged from the devastating mana bomb explosion.

Gripping the bones, Adam tossed them into the printer's compartment with precision. 'Awà, begin forging the next weapon. I want a spear. Use the goblin bones as the base material.'

[Understood, Host.] Awà replied, her voice steady. [D-Rank bones detected. Limited quantity. Initiating enhancement with mana cubes and alloy composites to stabilize the structure.]

The printer roared to life, its inner mechanisms whirring with precision. Streams of mana flowed from the internal cubes, combining with the pulverized bones and carefully refined metals Awà had designed. The mixture gleamed faintly, an ethereal blue light seeping from the seams as the spear began to take shape.

Satisfied that the process wouldn't take long, Adam turned his attention to the D-Rank essence stone resting on his desk. Its pulsing white glow seemed to beckon him, its mana almost tangible. He grabbed it, the warmth of the stone spreading through his palm as he walked toward his bed.

Lying down, he held the stone above him, its light illuminating his calm expression. 'Awà, it's time. Begin the process.'

[Understood. Engaging nano machine absorption protocols. Preparing to awaken Host.]

Adam exhaled, his body relaxing as his thoughts drifted. 'I have a general outline of what I want my power system to become, but I need strength and knowledge first. For now, I'll follow the standard hunter system… until we're ready.'

With that final thought, he let the stone's glow pull him into sleep as Awà activated the nano machines.

....

As Adam fell unconscious, the nano machines surged to life within him, obeying Awà's directives. The D-Rank essence stone dissolved in his hand, its bright glow fading as its energy was drawn into his body. Tiny streams of mana flowed through his veins, carried by the nano machines, which began a total reconstruction of his biology.

At the cellular level, his body underwent rapid transformation. Each cell, originally unremarkable, was infused with mana, its structure shifting to hold and channel the energy efficiently. Muscles tightened and became denser, their fibers intertwining with mana-conductive pathways. His bones hardened, their density increasing exponentially, reinforced to withstand both physical and magical strain.

Tissues, organs, and even his nervous system adapted to the influx of power. His heart beat steadily but powerfully, pumping mana through his body as naturally as it did blood. The nano machines ensured that no mana was wasted, guiding the energy to optimize his entire foundation.

[Host's cells have begun producing mana at F-Rank peak density.] Awà noted internally. [However, the quality is significantly enhanced due to the D-Rank essence stone. Mana purity exceeds standard parameters.]

Despite his body's physical changes, Awà directed her efforts toward his foundational strength. Following Adam's conscious and unconscious desires, the nano machines prioritized balance and stability over raw power. His body became a vessel built for refinement, capable of holding pure, dense mana without faltering.

As the last remnants of the essence stone's energy were absorbed, Adam's transformation slowed. The once dim glow of his body now radiated faintly, a sign of his newly awakened state. His breathing was steady, his form completely still, but within, he had taken the first step toward something far beyond the limits of a typical hunter.

....

Adam woke up feeling a deep sense of relaxation, as if every fiber of his being had been rejuvenated. He stretched lightly, a faint smile crossing his lips as he sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. The faint morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft rays over the room.

He got up and casually walked toward the bathroom, his body moving with effortless grace. Halfway there, he noticed something peculiar. No sound accompanied his steps. He stopped, his brow furrowing slightly. As soon as he consciously thought about it, he realized that his movements had become instinctively silent, like breathing.

'Interesting.' Adam thought, testing it out. He took another step, this time with intent, and the faint sound of his footfall echoed softly in the quiet apartment. He took another step, relaxing his focus, and the silence returned.

A faint smile tugged at his lips as he breathed deeply, letting the mana flow through his veins. It was like a warm, second nature, coursing through every cell of his body with perfect efficiency. He closed his eyes and took a step forward.

Then he vanished.

The air in the room shifted as Adam's figure blurred, reappearing and disappearing almost instantly. Around the apartment, faint afterimages lingered, frozen in time like ghostly snapshots of his movements. He moved with such speed that the air vibrated faintly, a quiet hum resonating from the force.

Before long, he reappeared in the bathroom, standing still as if he hadn't just torn through the apartment at speeds far exceeding the D-Rank goblin boss he had faced. His smile widened slightly as he looked at himself in the mirror.

Raising his hand, a faint glow of light yellow mana surrounded his palm, emitting a warm, comforting feeling.

'Healing.' he thought, letting the energy dissipate before clenching his fist. The air around him vibrated faintly from the sheer strength of the motion.

His mind drifted to the hunters' class system.

Combat and non-combat classes. Among them were the six specific types: Fighters, Mages, Assassins, Tankers, Rangers, and Healers. Each with its strengths and roles, specialized and confined by their awakening.

But Adam? He felt different. His foundation, painstakingly built with Awà's guidance and his own desires, had resulted in a body that didn't lean into one class but encompassed aspects of all. A jack of all trades.

"But master of none." Adam muttered to himself before nodding. 'For now.'

He took a deep breath, feeling his thoughts sharpen. His cognitive functions had improved dramatically. His mind moved faster, more precise, dissecting and refining plans almost reflexively. In the back of his mind, he was already outlining ways to improve the mana printer, optimize the mana bombs, and streamline his path forward.

He leaned closer to the mirror, studying his reflection. Despite the monumental changes inside his body, his outer appearance remained unchanged. His lips quirked in amusement as Awà's voice filled his mind, her tone laced with mockery.

[Outer appearance is unaltered, Host. Should I assume this is because you're too in love with yourself to accept change?]

Adam's eye twitched slightly. 'Mocking me so early in the day? Noted.'

He ignored her as his expression grew serious. His thoughts turned toward his ultimate goal: the path he was carving for himself and others. The first sign of that path was now clear in his mind, The Gift.

'The talents of my future race.' he thought, his gaze intense. 'Abilities unique to each individual, born from their deepest desires and experiences, shaped by their own mana, body and soul.'

Adam raised his hand, focusing inward. Slowly, a transparent cube with neon blue outlines materialized, floating just above his palm. Its lines glowed faintly, pulsating with energy as it rotated irregularly and slowly. Its size was precise, a perfect ten centimeters per side, yet its irregular rotation gave it an almost organic feel.

He stared at the cube, his thoughts racing. This… this was his Gift. A manifestation of his will, desires, and vision for the future. It was only the beginning, but it represented something far greater.

'This is the first step.' Adam thought, the cube spinning faintly faster in response to his focus. He clenched his fist, and the cube dissolved into faint motes of light, absorbed back into his body.

A determined smile spread across his face. This wasn't just about him anymore. It was about creating something bigger, something lasting. A system of strength, growth, and individuality built on the foundation of mana.

He straightened and turned from the mirror, his resolve stronger than ever. The path ahead was clear, and he was ready to walk it.