Chapter 15 …
Mana (4)
Johann’s expression shifted as he observed the changes occurring around Yuri.
“So this brat finally…?”
The changes in mana happening right now were not caused by him.
They were triggered by Yuri himself.
The implication was simple.
“He has awakened his mana!”
And that wasn’t all.
Unlike before, he was now gathering mana according to his own will.
The uneven, unstable rate at which he absorbed mana confirmed this.
It was clearly the work of a beginner attempting to absorb mana for the first time.
Johann let out a small sigh.
“He’s gotten past the hardest part.”
Most people can sense mana, but very few can intentionally harness it.
In other words, anyone can perceive mana, but only the chosen can absorb it.
Of course, from Johann’s perspective, absorbing mana was merely a preparatory stage.
The real beginning was just about to start.
Johann spoke while still watching Yuri, who kept his eyes closed.
“Listen carefully to what I’m about to tell you.”
Johann’s calm voice settled over him.
“Mana, by its nature, tends to scatter easily. Even if you draw it into your body, it will soon dissipate. Therefore, you must now condense it within your body. In martial mana arts, this is called… a core.”
Core (核).
The act of creating that tiny seed could be considered the true first step in martial mana arts.
“The characteristics of a core vary greatly depending on the type of martial mana art you practice. To be precise, the purpose of the core changes according to the art you master.”
Heart, solar plexus, head, arms, legs, feet—
Depending on the martial mana art, the structure, location, and even number of cores can differ.
The place where Johann had to plant the seed, which would become the foundation of the martial mana art he would pass to Yuri, was the navel.
The center of the body, where mana could balance most freely.
In the Redner family’s martial mana arts, as well as in the techniques Johann developed himself, creating the core in the navel was essential.
“Don’t be surprised.”
Saying this, Johann placed his hand on Yuri’s back.
“From now on, my mana will guide yours. Remember this well. This is the path of mana you will cultivate for the rest of your life.”
At the same time, Johann released his mana, pushing it into Yuri through his back.
Observing another’s body with one’s mana—
This was a task that could only be attempted by someone with deep mastery of mana.
Soon, Johann’s hand on Yuri’s back allowed him to vividly perceive the processes occurring inside Yuri’s body.
He was slightly taken aback.
“So fast!”
He had noticed before that Yuri’s mana absorption was unusually rapid.
But looking closely, it wasn’t just absorption speed that was exceptional.
“Accumulation rate, penetration rate, transfer rate… all at a remarkable level!”
The so-called three major efficiencies of mana far exceeded normal standards.
“Comparable to me… no, perhaps even greater.”
Comparing his own childhood to Yuri’s current abilities, Johann was certain.
Yuri’s mana talent was at least on par with his own, if not higher.
It was staggering.
“Heh heh heh.”
At first, he had thought Yuri couldn’t sense mana at all, but in reality, a monster of a talent had appeared.
A faint twist appeared at the corner of Johann’s lips.
The smile resembled the one he had when he first saw Yuri use a manifestation.
“A monster!”
Excitement swelled in Johann’s chest again.
What else would this young monster show him?
What other surprises were in store?
He was genuinely eager.
With that anticipation, Johann moved his mana.
A clear stream of mana began to carve a path through Yuri’s body.
“Come on, follow it!”
The world contained countless martial mana arts, each with a unique “mana road.”
The mana road of a vision would create a core appropriate for it.
What Johann now imparted to Yuri was a product born of pure will to defeat the sword master—an unyielding creation.
It was a mana road from a system Johann had never successfully created before—never produced a core.
And now, for the first time, it was being etched into Yuri’s body.
Yuri’s mana followed Johann’s guidance with smooth precision.
“Yes, that’s it!”
Though it was the first demonstration of this mana road, Johann was certain a core would form from it.
He had poured over a decade into the creation of this mana road.
With that much effort invested, failure was impossible.
“Consider it an honor! You are now the master of this mana road!”
As Johann’s confidence declared, the mana road gradually etched itself into Yuri’s body.
The mana raced to Yuri’s navel, the intended destination.
The spot where the core was meant to be born.
“Finally!”
After so many years, the first fruit was about to ripen.
“Show yourself!”
It had to appear.
But…
“…?”
Johann’s thoughts froze.
“Huh?”
All that remained was for a tiny core to form near Yuri’s navel.
But…
“Uh, it’s not there?”
No core had been created.
In fact, the mana that should have been inside Yuri’s body had completely vanished.
“Th-this… this can’t be?!”
Startled, Johann restrained his panic and tried circulating the mana again.
Because a path had already been etched, the mana flowed faster and more accurately.
After the second attempt…
“Uh, still nothing?”
Again, the core didn’t form, and the circulating mana disappeared.
Johann tried again and again, but the core refused to condense.
Time passed.
Finally, Johann removed his hand from Yuri’s back, muttering in disbelief.
“Was there… or wasn’t there? Was there… or wasn’t there?!”
Yuri, looking innocent, asked simply:
“What was?”
“The mana! Where did you sell that mana just now? Where did you stash it?!”
“Oh, that?”
Yuri understood Johann’s question immediately.
How could he not, when it had happened inside his own body?
Johann guided the path, but Yuri moved the mana himself.
He had no choice but to know.
However…
“Well, I don’t know either. Hehe.”
The problem was that even Yuri didn’t know why the mana had evaporated from his body.
He only felt it disappear.
As Yuri scratched the back of his head with a sly grin, Johann thumped his chest in frustration.
“Why, why, why! Can’t you just be normal like everyone else? This damn brat, nothing goes smoothly! How the hell can making a single mana core be this impossible?!”
He had just wanted to teach mana, yet there were more unexpected variables than he had imagined.
Johann was exasperated.
Yuri, on the other hand, faced him confidently.
Shoulders back.
Chest out.
“There’s an old saying.”
“…”
“For a genius, trials are inevitable.”
“A genius can freeze and die! Just tell me where you put the mana, you lunatic!”
“How can I tell if my mouth’s shut? You idiot?”
“Anyway, tell me!”
Johann grabbed Yuri by the collar and shook him.
Yuri looked aggrieved.
“I really don’t know!”
“Why don’t you know! It happened in your body!”
“How would I know! Didn’t the method you taught me for moving mana go wrong?”
“You fool! Do you even know what you’re saying? Nothing could have gone wrong with that!”
“Are you sure? Can you prove it? You shouldn’t gamble if you’re not sure.”
“Sure as anything. If the mana road were wrong, some part of your body would have twisted already! The fact you’re fine is proof, you brat!”
“…This crazy old man?! You should’ve told me before sticking it into my body! You could’ve killed me!”
“Why would I?”
Yuri and Johann continued to argue heatedly for some time.
Eventually, they agreed to repeatedly try tracing the mana road until they discovered where the mana had gone.
From that point, it became an endless cycle of circulating mana through the road.
As time passed, Yuri’s skill improved, but still no core appeared.
After a dozen attempts, Johann realized one thing.
“The mana isn’t being expelled outside.”
That made it even more mysterious.
If the mana wasn’t leaving the body, how could it vanish so completely inside?
“It’s been a long time… that stubbornness has awakened. Heh.”
Johann’s forehead throbbed.
If the mana had disappeared somewhere inside Yuri, he would find it.
He focused every sense he had, more than he had in the past ten years combined.
Was his effort successful?
“Got you, brat!”
After dozens of circulations, when Yuri began showing mental fatigue, Johann finally traced the missing mana.
In the next attempt, he managed to follow the disappearing mana like a mirage.
Eventually, Johann discovered where the mana had gone.
A valuable discovery, though both were exhausted—Yuri from circulating mana, Johann from analyzing it.
But Johann could not rejoice.
The truth horrified him.
The place where Yuri’s mana had vanished…
It was none other than…
“Th-this… insane?!”
The Spirit Blood.
And inside it…
The reason mana hadn’t accumulated in Yuri’s body.
The culprit that had devoured the mana before a core could even form!
“Heh heh…”
Johann laughed like a madman.
“…This is maddening.”
And he couldn’t help it.
Inside Yuri’s Spirit Blood, the very core he had long sought to create already existed.
“In the Spirit Blood… a core is embedded?”
It was unprecedented.
A place where a core should never exist.
A place he had never imagined capable of holding one—the Spirit Blood.
“Is this even possible?”
But the evidence before him was indisputable.
All his knowledge and common sense, accumulated to reach mastery, crumbled because of Yuri alone.
Johann’s eyes twisted as he stared at Yuri, and his thoughts spilled out loud.
“…What kind of brat is this?”
It was deep, unfiltered honesty.
And one more line followed.
“Should we… dissect this brat?”
Johann’s eyes glittered.
Yuri felt a shiver at the intensity in those eyes.
