A Psychopath Reborn as a Third-rate Villain

Andras slowly closed his eyes.

The room sank into silence.

His breathing became slow and rhythmic as every distracting thought faded away, leaving only a tranquil stillness behind.

Soon, countless azure particles of mana drifted through the air, gathering around him like a sea of tiny stars. Drawn by an invisible force, they flowed toward his body, disappearing through his skin one after another.

Every pore absorbed the surrounding mana.

The energy coursed through his meridians before converging at the center of his chest.

Inside his body...

His consciousness descended into the world surrounding his Mana Core.

A crystal-blue core floated peacefully in the darkness, radiating a gentle yet dignified light.

Around it revolved four Mana Rings.

The first ring shone brilliantly.

The second rotated with perfect stability.

The third was flawless, representing the completion of his Third Circle foundation.

Beyond them revolved the fourth ring.

Unlike the others, however, it appeared pale and incomplete.

Its surface was only lightly coated in mana, giving it a hollow appearance.

This was the symbol of a Low Stage Third Circle Mage.

The fourth ring had already been formed...

But it had yet to be nourished.

It was an empty vessel waiting to be filled.

Andras calmly guided another stream of mana toward it.

The newborn ring absorbed the energy eagerly.

Its faint glow brightened ever so slightly.

Still...

It wasn’t enough.

Without hesitation, Andras continued circulating mana.

Wave after wave entered his body before being purified by his Mana Core and carefully directed into the fourth ring.

The process demanded absolute precision.

Mana could not simply be forced inside.

Each strand had to be placed carefully, allowing the ring to absorb it naturally.

The moment he increased the flow even slightly—

The fourth ring trembled.

Tiny cracks of unstable mana spread across its surface.

Andras immediately reduced the mana output.

”There is no need to rush.”

”A stable foundation is worth more than a reckless breakthrough.”

His expression remained calm.

One circulation...

Ten.

A hundred.

A thousand.

Time gradually lost all meaning.

Outside, hours slipped by unnoticed.

Inside his body, however, the transformation continued without interruption.

The fourth ring slowly changed.

Its transparent surface gradually became solid.

Azure light spread across it like flowing water.

Its mana pathways widened.

Its structure became increasingly refined.

Forty percent...

Fifty...

Sixty...

Sweat rolled down Andras’s forehead, yet his breathing never became uneven.

Mana Refinement was not merely about absorbing mana.

It was about controlling it.

Compressing it.

Guiding it with absolute precision.

Fortunately...

His Echo Resonance Talent granted him extraordinary sensitivity toward mana.

Every fluctuation...

Every ripple...

Every imperfection within the fourth ring appeared vividly before him.

Nothing escaped his perception.

His control was nearly flawless.

Mana continued flowing into the ring.

Seventy percent...

Eighty...

Ninety...

The ring no longer looked fragile.

Its pale glow deepened into a rich sapphire hue.

Its structure became denser.

Stronger.

More stable.

Then—

The final stream of mana entered the ring.

For a single heartbeat...

Everything became completely still.

The fourth Mana Ring suddenly released a brilliant azure pulse.

A powerful wave of mana swept through his entire body.

His meridians expanded slightly.

His mana circulation became smoother than ever before.

Even the connection between his Mana Core and the four rings strengthened noticeably.

The newborn ring had finally become partially saturated.

His breakthrough...

Was complete.

Andras slowly opened his eyes.

A faint blue radiance flickered within his violet pupils before gradually fading away.

He raised one hand.

Mana instantly gathered above his fingertips.

The speed was noticeably faster than before.

His reserves had increased.

His control had become even more refined.

Even the simplest act of manipulating mana now felt effortless.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

”So this...”

”...is the Mid Stage of the Third Circle.”

The fourth Mana Ring was no longer an empty shell.

It had taken its first true step toward maturity.

Yet Andras understood this was merely another milestone.

To reach the Peak Stage of the Third Circle, he would need to completely saturate the fourth ring with mana.

Only after accomplishing that could he begin constructing the fifth Mana Ring and attempt to step into the Fourth Circle.

Slowly, he rose from the floor.

A thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

He had expected this breakthrough to consume at least a week of uninterrupted meditation.

Instead...

Only a few hours had passed.

That realization surprised even him.

He frowned slightly.

”This speed...”

”...is far faster than it should be.”

After a brief moment of silence, he spoke inwardly.

”System.”

”Why is my meditation progressing so quickly?”

A familiar metallic notification echoed inside his mind.

[Ding!]

[Analyzing Host’s Question...]

[Analysis Complete.]

[Original Owner: Andras Darkmoor possessed an A-Rank talent.]

[An A-Rank talent grants exceptional affinity with mana, allowing its owner to Mana Refinement and Breakthrough considerably faster than ordinary mages.]

Another notification appeared.

[Host possesses the hidden SS-Rank Talent: Architect of the Eternal Continuum.]

[Although this talent remains sealed, the Host’s natural aptitude still exists.]

Andras’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The system continued.

[During transmigration, the Host inherited the complete body, Mana Core, and meditation and Mana Refinement foundation of the original Andras Darkmoor.]

[As a result, the Host’s aptitude is not limited to the original owner’s talent.]

A final notification appeared before him.

[Current Aptitude = Original Andras’s A-Rank Talent + Host’s Innate SS-Rank Talent.]

[The combination of both talents grants the Host a Mana Refinement speed vastly superior to ordinary geniuses.]

Silence returned to the room.

Andras quietly absorbed the explanation.

”So that’s the reason...”

He finally understood.

The original Andras had already possessed remarkable talent.

Combined with the overwhelming potential of his own hidden SS-Rank Talent, his cultivation speed had reached an absurd level.

No wonder advancing from the Low Stage to the Mid Stage of the Third Circle had taken only a few hours.

If this continued...

His future rate of growth would become increasingly terrifying.

A faint smile curved across his lips.

”Interesting.”

”The stronger I become...”

”...the easier it will be to become even stronger.”

His gaze shifted toward the window, where the afternoon sunlight streamed into the room.

The academy entrance examination was only a month away.

Originally, he had intended to enter the academy as an ordinary Third Circle Mage.

Now...

That goal seemed laughably modest.

Perhaps...

By the time he stepped through the academy gates...

He would already stand at an entirely different level.

The thought did not excite him.

It simply confirmed one thing.

His path toward the pinnacle of this world had already begun.