Chapter 32: No. 32: Mana Radiation
Centuries ago, a massive rip tore through the sky, accompanied by a series of supernatural phenomena.
The rip brought forth a horde of colossal creatures known as Dragons. With scales impervious to even high-calibre weaponry and heavy artillery, the Dragons were nearly unkillable. Even missiles were only able to graze most of them at best, rendering modern weapons practically useless against them.
Worse still, the rip, which came to be known as the Rifts, also exposed the world to a mysterious radioactive substance known as Mana.
This unknown substance, when living organisms were exposed to it in excessive amounts, resulted in a form of genetic mutation, making them become more feral and aggressive in nature while also transforming them into something more.
However, when humans were excessively exposed to this unknown substance, they became unable to tolerate it, inevitably leading to their deaths.
But, unexpectedly, those who died through this means became fierce and extremely dangerous. Capable of turning other healthy humans into one of them as well through biting, or on extremely rare occasions, even a mere scratch.
These undead creatures were eventually coined Ghouls.
Weakened and unable to fully protect themselves from the onslaught of the Dragons, Mutants, and Ghouls, humanity was on the brink of extinction.
Luckily, at this point, they made a discovery. Though extremely harmful and dangerous when the body was exposed to excessive amounts, Mana was also capable of evolving human genetics, creating stronger and more durable individuals, each capable of Awakening a unique Ability.
But only when absorbed in meager or moderate amounts, as every person had a limit to how much Mana they could withstand. That limit varied from person to person.
With this newfound power, humanity was finally able to fend for itself while creating fortified cities to shield against the Mana Radiation.
It was said that, since there was still only limited information about the substance known as Mana, experiments were still being conducted to this day to determine its true nature and the full extent of its capabilities.
But with what was currently known, humanity simply classified it as a radioactive substance for simplicity.
Based on his memories, these were common facts everyone learned while growing up.
As such, he understood what Naomi meant when she said excessive exposure to Mana in humans meant death.
’I wonder where she’s heading with this.’
Intrigued by what she was trying to point out, Bruce listened closely as he sat opposite her.
Noticing he was paying attention, Naomi adjusted herself slightly in her seat before continuing.
"What would you say if I told you that the same Mana that’s classified as extremely dangerous was what you just felt within yourself earlier?"
Pausing briefly after seeing the surprised look on Bruce’s face, she continued.
"Though most people are able to use certain amounts of Mana due to their Ability, they’re only able to access it when they activate that Ability."
Glancing toward the entrance to ensure no one else was secretly listening, she lowered her voice. It was still loud enough for Bruce to hear clearly, yet difficult to make out what she was saying from a distance.
"I can’t say for certain that this method is unknown to others, as I’ve never actually seen anyone else use it before. But there’s a way to harness Mana without the need for an Ability."
"I honestly didn’t plan on telling you about this if you proved incapable of meeting the basic requirements to achieve it."
Glancing toward the spot where he’d completed his workout, she sighed.
"But seeing as you were already able to achieve the first step without me even explaining what you were supposed to do, it shows you’re far more capable than I initially anticipated."
Walking toward a punching bag in the room, Naomi continued her explanation.
"Some things are better demonstrated than explained."
Reaching the punching bag, she casually threw a weak, half-hearted punch at it, causing it to sway slightly from the force.
"That’s what happens when you use a normal punch."
Clenching her fist, Naomi briefly closed her eyes as she steadied her breathing.
Opening them again soon after, she threw the exact same weak, half-hearted punch at the punching bag.
However, the result was by no means the same.
The force behind her swing hadn’t changed.
Yet the power carried within it was worlds apart.
The moment her fist connected with the punching bag, it was violently flung backward.
The chain holding it in place snapped instantly.
A large hole appeared where Naomi’s fist had landed, its contents spilling across the floor as the torn punching bag slumped against the wall several meters away.
Casually turning back toward Bruce, the atmosphere around her subtly shifted, becoming noticeably more intimidating.
Her golden-brown eyes gleamed faintly as she looked at him, making her already fierce figure appear even more imposing.
"That’s what happens when you harness Mana while using it to enhance yourself. The greater your control over it, the stronger your attacks become, all without the need for an Ability."
"However, before you’re able to harness Mana, you first have to sense it at will. To do that, you must push yourself far beyond your physical limits multiple times before you can even vaguely sense its existence."
A look of intrigue found its way onto her face as she added,
"Yet you managed to do it on your very first try without even being aware of what you were doing. That’s far more difficult to achieve than you can imagine."
Though she said this, Naomi had never actually shown this method to anyone else before, as nobody she’d met had ever fulfilled the requirements.
She had only ever experienced it herself, and even then, it had happened by accident.
Or rather...
The circumstances she found herself in at the time had made it possible.
Shaking off the thought as a series of dark memories briefly surfaced in her mind, Naomi gave Bruce a moment to absorb everything she’d just explained.
Meanwhile, she found herself seriously considering accepting him as her trainee, especially now that he’d shown the potential to learn something she’d initially believed was nearly impossible for anyone else to achieve.
’Let’s see how far he can go for now before coming to a decision.’
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