Chapter 53: The Monster in the Rain
One hour passes, and I continue to fight.
It feels as if I will be torn apart by my mana and the absorbed kinetic energy if I lose my focus even for a second.
The rain continues to fall down even harder, and at this point, the raindrops nearly hurt.
My body's burning.
My muscles are screaming.
My head feels like it's about to explode.
Yet, I feel so alive.
I lead mana through my circuit. It moves at dizzying speed, and it hurts every ti I lose control over it and it crashes inside my body.
But I continue to improve even more. I move faster and more recklessly. I do not fear.
My mana pool feels bottomless and I continue use more and more mana, yet there's still a lot left over.
It's fun.
I dodge, and a cone of absorbed kinetic energy blows off the monster's head.
[You have defeated a Bear - lvl 15]
I jump up and the oscillating mana coats my hand, slashing through the troll's neck.
[You have defeated a Troll - lvl 14]
Raindrops freeze in the air, and when they move again, the monster is pushed away from , breaking against the rocks nearby.
[You have defeated a Bear - lvl 11]
At so point, I almost don't move and just absorb the kinetic energy from the stronger and stronger rain.
It's hard to see, but my [Mana Perception] pierces through the rain, and I attack all moving mana signatures that aren't human.
I stand there and absorb energy from the monsters as they attack
and from the heavy raindrops falling from the dark sky.
Another head blows off.
Another mangled corpse flies away from .
Notification and I invest stat points.
Into mana.
The rain weakens, and I start getting less kinetic energy from it.
But it's okay; I just increase efficiency.
Don't waste; use it all.
Another notification.
At so point, monsters stop attacking , so I dash at them.
It's easier to see now.
I stomp, and the rain gets pushed away from , along with a bunch of smaller monsters that surrounded .
Multiple notifications about the kills.
A two-headed wolf is collecting mana in its mouth, and I dash at it while propelling myself ahead.
It shoots fire at , and I jump over it.
While I am in the air, another head shoots its fla at , and my mana flares up even more. I waste so much mana it almost makes
feel disappointed in myself, but I propel myself towards the ground, pushing against the air.
I slash through the monster's neck with my hand covered in oscillating mana.
Notification.
And then nothing.
Huh?
I look around, the rain is gone.
There are two suns in the sky.
Huh?
My [Mana Perception] sends a wave of mana into my surroundings and covers almost twice as big an area as before.
Nothing, only humans.
Again.
Still no monsters.
I slow the mana rushing through my veins.
The world… the world becos a bit louder as I exit the [Focus], but at the sa ti, it feels less alive.
POV Kim Min-Jae
I watch as mana explodes from Nathaniel's body, causing the rain to stop as if ti itself has co to a halt. The droplets slowly fall, and in that instant, a monster's head bursts into a fine red mist. The mana I feel from him makes
sick.
He continues to cast it into his surroundings as if without any care in the world, but I can see the patterns in everything he does. He moves only when he needs to, and the mana that looks as if it's about to tear him apart bends to his will.
Through the heavy rain, I catch a glimpse of Nathaniel's calm face, illuminated by the glowing drops of water.
A shiver runs through my body.
The monster slows down in front of him, coming to a stop the sa way the raindrops did, and then its head explodes when the rain stops for half a second.
As the battle continues, I feel less and less mana from him, at first thinking that he's close to being depleted, but then I realize that he's only improving so much that I can barely sense any mana from his body anymore with my low level.
Without any hesitation and with calculated cruelty, Nathaniel goes through the monsters while Tess supports him from a distance. She moves around swiftly, using her skill to boost herself, and continues to kill monsters with ranged attacks as they try to assault Nathaniel.
Behind , Lily's quiet sobs continue while she watches the man with an emotionless face and a frightening aptitude for mana before us.
The rain slowly calms down, and we continue to fight against the weaker monsters that Tess lets pass to us.
After what feels like an eternity, the rain stops, and two suns appear in the sky.
Then I feel it: a massive pulse of mana from Nathaniel. It passes by
at an insane speed, and goosebumps form all over my body as I feel it touching .
It's as if a wild monster is looking for prey.
Another pulse, even stronger this ti, feeling almost like a question.
Then nothing.
When I look back at him, he still looks the sa, but sohow, I can't force myself to take a step towards him. The fear is palpable, and I can't help but wonder what lies beneath the surface.
I feel the touch of his mana again as it asures
and my own mana.
Our eyes et for a split second, and what I see could be described as a disappointnt.
When he looks away, I can't do anything other than clench my teeth so hard they feel like they are about to break.
[Na: Nathaniel Gwyn]
Difficulty: Hell
Floor: 1
Ti left until forced return: 4y 336d 19h 53m 42s
Traits (1/3): Mana Circuit (Passive)
Lvl 21
Strength: 13
Dexterity: 12
Constitution: 27
Mana: 46
[Primary Class: Unavailable]
[Sub-class: Unavailable]
Skills:
Focus - lvl 9
Mana manipulation - lvl 9
Mana Perception - lvl 8
Oscillation - lvl 5
Kinetic Redistribution - lvl 8
[Skill Points: 0]
[Stat Points: 0]
Hehehe.
I am so dead.
Fuck.
We find others huddled in a group. Disheveled, wounded, bloodied, and surrounded by dead monsters.
A few more people have died.
The corgi is looking at the broken, mangled, and bloodied body on the ground that I hardly recognize as its owner.
Biscuit quietly leaves and cos to join , bumping his head into my leg.
(Gone) I hear it in my head, and I gently caress his head.
I am sorry, but that's all I can do for you, little guy.
Sophie is there, only with Maya and her sister.
Hadwin is together with the twins and the bus driver, Jacob.
From our little group, no one has died, but Lily's eyes are still wet, and for so reason, she's avoiding my gaze.
Even Kim avoids looking at , and I see his clenched jaw; Kevin seems to be less cheery.
So that's it.
It's fine.
It might be better if it stays this way.
Only Tess seems to be behaving the sa way she did before. I catch her eyes with mine and look at her for a long mont.
She is looking at
without any hesitation, not dodging my gaze, not shuddering when I move.
I… see.
I just nod at her, and she nods back.
My [Mana Perception] flares up towards the sky, and I feel the mana collecting again, the sa way it did before. It will take a few hours, but soon enough the sa thing will repeat, so I need to beco even stronger.
Lately, I have beco too complacent and even started worrying about what others will think of .
Not anymore.
I stop in front of Maya.
Her gaze is calm, and she looks at
without any worry. Mana is already circulating through her body, and she exudes the calmness that I know so well.
My body moves so fast she is unable to even dodge as I kick her.
She goes flying through the air, and I slowly walk towards her.
Her face is still calm as she stands up and brushes the dust off her body. A translucent armant made of mana appears around her body, and I start to observe it.
Behind , soone screams, but then I hear Tess's weapons flying around and the crackle of lightning she is now able to infuse into them.
I continue to observe Sophie, but there isn't even a wisp of mana coming from her, and she holds her little sister in her hands.
Maya dashes at . Her mana doesn't move that much, so I recognize it as pure strength or dexterity stat.
I dodge under her swing and hit her with my knee, sending her flying again.
When she lifts her face from the ground, I am already in front of her, and while giving her enough ti to use her skill, I kick against her translucent armor.
I observe the way her mana moves and the way it reacts to my attacks.
She jumps to her feet and stands there, observing my movents as I slowly walk towards her.
Hmm, that's not enough. I should break her skill to observe it a bit more.
Even while in [Focus], she is slightly impatient and rushes at .
Her movents slow down under the influence of my skill, as she gets closer and closer to . I lower my output and hit her chest armor with absorbed energy.
That makes the translucent armor shatter into fine particles of mana, and I continue to observe as it slowly reforms.
"You fucker…"
Huh? Are you slipping out of [Focus] already?
She dashes again, this ti attacking
from the side where my arm is missing.
She is probably the fastest one among the survivors.
But.
I only take a small step back, and her kick misses . Then I take another step, and two of her swings miss
again.
Quick jab against her armor, and it breaks again.
Then I move my own mana, and as she is reforming her translucent armor, I try to copy it.
It fails, and the mana in my hand dissipates.
So I attack her again, and she again activates a skill.
I watch it.
I feel it.
Mana forms in my hand and slowly extends.
I focus more and move the mana.
It gets harder and harder, but I push through.
Soon, a translucent light blue light appears in my hand, taking a shape reminiscent of a short sword.
Then I hear the notification about acquiring a new skill.
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