I Refused To Be Reincarnated

A flicker of doubt flashed in his luminous eyes for a moment before he shrugged.

"Already went through madness. I don't need it anymore!" He exclaimed, clenching his ethereal fists. A subtle smile stretched his lips as he thought about his departed friend, hoping the afterlife existed, and that she was now reunited with her father.

Then, his facial features shifted to seriousness. Mana danced and weaved itself intricately around him in soothing hums, taking the form of solid sky-blue gouges, mallets, chisels, and other utensils he would use later.

However, just as he was about to begin, his pupils constricted, and he facepalmed. 'Am I stupid?' he thought, scratching his head with a forced smile.

Why was he using human tools when he possessed the ultimate affinity? If he wanted precise cuts, he could use the space element. 'Well. Maybe not this one...' he thought, remembering how unpredictable his morning test had been.

Since he only had one block of wood, he couldn't use it to practice. So, he chose to put the most dangerous affinities aside before training and understanding them.

However, he still had alternatives. And one of them was among the best on Earth, to boot!

Impatient to put his idea to the test, he dismissed his mana constructs first. Then, he outstretched his finger, mixing natural and water mana.

PSHHH

The next moment, a high-pressure water jet burst from his index, darting towards his table with inhuman speed. Without a sound, a small hole appeared as the narrow stream pierced his furniture like a piece of paper.

Astonished by the water's cutting potential, he paused momentarily to adjust the output. He needed to strike a balance between precision and power; otherwise, he knew the wood would end up butchered.

After spending an hour on different tests, he came to several conclusions. First, this cutting method achieved fine cuts with high accuracy, making it suitable for carving intricate patterns. Second, since he used water, the process didn't generate heat, preserving the materials' integrity. Finally, it was highly versatile. By adjusting the power, he could even cut steel or other minerals!

Eager to start, he repeated the same actions. However, this time, he set the output right. Then, following the whispers showing him where to aim the waterjet because he had nothing to lose doing so, he cut the block, anticipation coursing through his frame.

Soon, smooth pieces fell to the ground. Unbeknownst to him, the cuts were perfect, preserving the intricate grain, delicate veins, and natural characteristics of the Runebark. His heart swelled with satisfaction as he witnessed the beauty of his craftsmanship, oblivious to the perfection he had achieved.

Next, a calculative light flashed in his eyes as he measured the block's remaining capacity. After all, he had only cut enough to form the limbs.

Soon, a wry smile stretched his lips. "Am I cursed?" He asked, shaking his head in ridicule. Taking Selene's advice about the required thickness to maintain the Runebark's integrity into consideration, he realised he could only build a short body that would make him look Julius' age...Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Unfortunately, he had no solution to this problem. Thus, he smiled bitterly before continuing.

Hours passed by as he used his waterjet cutting technique, skillfully carving. The process was slow. Yet, it filled him with a sense of achievement as a humanoid frame gradually appeared before his eyes.

However, his masterpiece would require several days of hard and focused work. He knew it.

As he contemplated the task ahead, a surge of determination filled him. He would have to carve the body, the limbs and their joints. Then, he would have to work on the detail to make it look as human as possible, integrate the drake's bone to reinforce the exterior, and finally carve the magic engravings.

Despite the tall task, a radiant smile graced his lips as he imagined his success. He would finally move on his own two feet, speak with others, and explore the vast world as he wished!

As he delved into the complex art of woodcarving and puppet-making, another individual of similar appearance frowned.

"What am I missing?" He asked, his exhausted voice a murmur in the representation of Theodor's old shop. "The grafting failure makes no sense! Everything is perfect!" He added, trying to yell his frustration out. Yet, only a low grumble escaped his lips as sweat dripped from his forehead.

With a desperate gaze, he raised his head, gazing at bright patterns crisscrossing into intricate canals and shimmering with incredible power.

However, unlike his previous creations, this one had many channels around the heart area.

"I successfully added the magic beasts' circuits, combining both systems. So, why?" He asked again, despair gripping his heart as fissures cracked on his face, menacing to engulf his entire body.

"Shit..."

He didn't know why, but the circuits refused to be grafted onto him as if they possessed their own will. But how did it make sense? He had created them from scratch using his mana.

His frown deepened as his mind raced for a solution. The day he had been waiting for thirteen years approached with overwhelming speed. Yet, he wasn't ready.

A moment later, just as he was about to give up in despair, a sudden idea popped into his mind. "What if I imitate him?" After all, Adam had the incredible ability to think outside the box. Something he lacked because of his education and deep-rooted habits.

"So, thinking like an idiot should give something like that. The circuits are not rejecting me. Instead, it is me who's rejecting them?"

He frowned at the ludicrous idea. Why would he reject them, even subconsciously? Yet, it was his best lead. Thus, he continued drafting theories and deriving ideas for hours until his eyes lit up.

"The problem is our compatibility! I'm rejecting them because my soul refuses to adapt to the bestial part!"

He wasn't entirely sure but felt he held something.

'What if I fuse a part of me in them? Will it smoothen the grafting?' He pondered before his eyes enlarged, and his smile widened. "For better or worse, I'll try it! Since I'm the best, I'll accept nothing but perfection! Hahaha."

His laughter echoed in the shop, breaking Julius' soul sea tranquillity before he did the unthinkable.

He raised his hand, gritted his teeth, and grabbed his own mana circuits, starting from his legs. Then, with a swift movement, he used mana to untangle the channels and pulled.

"ARGH!"

Agonising screams filled the place as Adam's mysterious copy subjected himself to dreadful torture. Even Ossian, a tier six ghost king, failed to endure more than a few minutes of grafting. Yet, the man was doing something much worse.