I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

”The arms are responsible for most combat techniques. Swords, spears, axes, bows... virtually every weapon depends on them. Precisely because of that, the mana channels branch into numerous smaller pathways, allowing for much more refined control over movement.”

Lukas remembered his father’s words perfectly. If the mana flowed into one of those branches too soon, the main channel would lose its stability, splitting off in unintended directions.

He took a deep breath, preparing himself. Then he began.

The particles left the Source and slowly rose, following the path he had visualized. They crossed his chest without difficulty, the mana flowing smoothly through his torso. But the moment it reached his left shoulder, everything slowed down.

The resistance was obvious, a tangible presence. It was not a barrier like the one in his legs, it was something different. Countless pathways seemed to open at once, each trying to draw the mana toward itself. The energy hesitated, uncertain of which direction to follow.

Lukas remained calm, his breathing steady. Instead of forcing it forward, instead of trying to break through by sheer will, he simply reinforced the correct path in his mind. The main line shone a little brighter within his imagination, becoming sharper, clearer.

The tiny particles responded immediately, as though they had found a beacon in the darkness. They ignored the secondary branches and continued moving forward, following the light.

Bicep. The flow was smooth and steady. Elbow. There, a new difficulty emerged. The current began slowly circling around the joint, unable to continue forward, like water caught in a whirlpool.

Lukas remained completely motionless, his concentration absolute.

Breathing. Control. Patience. It was exactly as the manual had taught, exactly as Clavor had repeated so many times. Lunar Breathing did not favor speed; it favored stability, precision, and consistency.

Five minutes later, the mana passed through the elbow, the whirlpool dissolving. The rest of the journey became much simpler. Forearm. Wrist. Fingers.

When the first current completed its path and returned to the Source, a gentle chill spread throughout his entire left arm, like a cool breeze flowing through his muscles.

Lukas slowly opened his hand, feeling every movement with a clarity that had never existed before. Then he closed his fist, his fingers tightening with flawless precision.

The sensation was completely different from that of his legs. His fingers felt more alive, more sensitive, as though he could perceive every tiny movement they made.

He slowly opened his eyes, the moonlight reflected within his irises.

”It’s done.”

Clavor stepped closer, his footsteps silent. He grasped his son’s left wrist and closed his eyes, his expression focused. A few seconds later, he nodded, the gesture firm and decisive.

”Excellent.” A rare gleam of approval appeared in his eyes.

”Your control is even better than yesterday. You’re learning quickly.”

Lukas smiled, feeling the warmth of his father’s approval. He could sense it as well. Guiding mana felt increasingly natural, as though his body were learning alongside his mind, the two working together in perfect harmony.

...

The following night, they repeated the entire process.

This time, it was his right arm.

Even before beginning his meditation, Lukas already knew exactly what he needed to do. The experience from the previous nights had accumulated, forming a solid foundation of knowledge and understanding.

Breathing. Visualization. Control. The three pillars of the method.

The silver line naturally appeared in his mind, clearer than ever before. The mana left the Source with far less hesitation, flowing as though it already knew the way.

The shoulder still offered some resistance, but nothing compared to the first arm. The secondary branches no longer confused him. The elbow stabilized quickly, and the current found its path without difficulty.

Forty minutes later, the circuit was complete, the mana returning to the Source in a perfect cycle.

When he opened his eyes, Lukas spent several moments simply looking at his own hands. He opened and closed his fingers, feeling the quick, precise response of every movement. He slowly rotated his wrists in circles, testing the new connection. It was impossible not to smile.

Now, all four of his limbs were directly connected to the Lunar Source. Four primary channels, four true pathways through which mana could circulate freely.

Although he still could not truly strengthen his body, he could clearly feel that something had changed. His body seemed far more integrated, as though every part had finally been connected to the same center, as though an entire system were beginning to take shape.

Clavor silently observed his son, his eyes studying his face before speaking.

”Very good.”

His voice carried a rare note of satisfaction, a pride he seldom allowed himself to show.

”Four connections in four nights. All of them are stable. Not a single one had to be redone.”

He crossed his arms, his eyes gleaming.

”Your mastery of mana is progressing much faster than I expected.”

Lukas modestly lowered his head, feeling the weight of the praise.

”There’s still one left.”

Clavor’s smile faded, his expression becoming serious once more.

”Yes.”

The boy immediately understood why. The head. The most delicate stage of all, the connection that demanded the greatest control and precision.

The two remained silent for several moments, the cold night air surrounding them. At last, Clavor spoke again, his voice deeper than before.

”Tomorrow will be different.”

Lukas raised his eyes, meeting his father’s gaze.

”The connection to the head requires far greater concentration than any other part of the body.” He paused briefly, choosing his words carefully.

”The brain, the eyes, the ears... all of them are extremely sensitive to the circulation of mana. A small mistake won’t merely rupture the channel.”

His gaze became firm, almost severe.

”It could directly affect your senses.”

Lukas took a deep breath, feeling the weight of those words. He had always known that this moment would come, that he would eventually have to face the final challenge. Even so, hearing it made his heart race, filling him with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

Clavor placed a hand on his shoulder, his touch firm and reassuring.

”Do not be afraid. Be respectful. They are not the same thing.”

The boy nodded slowly, absorbing the wisdom of those words. He knew his father was right. Fear made people hesitate and made them doubt themselves. Respect made them act carefully and attentively, with the precision necessary to avoid mistakes.

The following night, the final connection would begin. And with it, the first step toward transforming mana into true power.