It finally happened—" said a figure that radiated power.
"Yes, my lord, we've been able to calculate around 3,657,967 variations in space, 451 spatial mutations—" said a butler who seemed to be at the peak of his life.
"Tell Cynthia to take care of the mutations, execute protocol B3." said the figure while massaging his head and leaning on his throne.
"Yes, my king," he replied, bowing his body in a perfect 90-degree posture.
The butler was about to leave when the big door opened and a stunning woman walked in.
"My queen," said the butler, bowing again.
"Calm down, Clifford, you know I don't like my acquaintances calling me 'my queen,' just say my name," the beauty said when she saw Clifford.
"But…" Clifford tried to reply.
"My name."
"Asalina…" said Clifford.
"Good, Cliff. After so long it's annoying that you treat me with so much formality. Don't you agree, Cal?"
"I guess, it doesn't bother me but yeah it's weird," said Caelus, getting up from his throne.
"I'll go see Cynthia. Cliff, make sure Marco handles the residences, tell him to use the 12 magic teams— they haven't had a mission in years." Cal added as he stretched.
"I'll command the hunters and the search group," Asalina said while moving a hologram that came from the watch on her wrist.
***********
"IS THIS REALLY NECESSARY—?!" Churn shouted while trying to dodge Verju's blows, something he only managed twice.
"Not really," Verju replied without stopping,
"unless you want your whole body to end up beheaded, cut in half, eaten by goblins, burned by a dragon, swallowed by a black hole—"
"You can stop now—" Churn tried to interrupt.
"Turned into stone or into an animal, struck by lightning, cut in half— I think I already said that," Verju continued.
The blows were getting faster each time. His experience as a former amateur MMA fighter had taken Verju to a level almost higher than all his friends.
His strength had only increased since coming to this world, and his techniques improved slightly with every sparring match.
Verju tried to land a jab at Churn, but Churn dodged it with sudden grace, his eyes managed to follow Verju's punch, his body tensed up and he tried to throw a counterattack—
Which almost put Verju in trouble. Verju twisted his body and lifted Churn with one hand, crouched slightly and slammed him against the floor.
Churn tried to say something before getting hit but he couldn't endure it and passed out.
"Will he be fine?" Kida said, almost laughing as he looked at Churn.
"Yeah… I think, well probably—" Verju "shit I used too much strength"
"He'll be fine, worry about yourself, it's your turn." Verju added as he walked toward Kida.
"Shiiiit—" was the last thing heard from Kida that night.
**********
I don't really understand all this. It's been almost a week and I feel weird. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm scared or confused, I just don't feel anything anymore.
The shock I felt when being transported to another world disappeared, the fear and the dread of never seeing my family again have almost completely vanished. I don't feel like I'm in another world. It's strange.
Maybe it has something to do with my talent. I've felt like my talent increased, I've noticed like a 50 or 60% difference. My abilities grow every day, in fact I even feel changes in my body.
Apparently, the arrival of mana in our bodies has improved our old abilities.
my eyes have become deeper, like I'm staring directly at the ocean,
and my stats are the most surprising.
Huis opened his status window.
[User Status: Huis]
Rank: F
Strength: F
Agility: F
Endurance: F
Perception: F+
Mana: F
Charm: B
These are the best stats I've ever seen on a character. Not even my most talented character can compare to an F+ rank perception right from the start.
Huis's thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Churn and Kida. Their condition was pitiful, but their bodies had grown in just one week. Their muscles were more defined, and I think Kida had grown a bit.
"We shouldn't push our bodies so hard," Churn said, lying down on a strange piece of furniture made of books and backpacks.
"And food isn't so plentiful that we should waste so much energy," Kida added, throwing herself down next to him.
"Those are just excuses not to train. Look at me, I'm as good as new and I train more than you," Verju replied.
Kida and Churn stared at Verju. When they tried to explain why what he said was so stupid, someone interrupted them.
"Mana gives us nutrients," Murd's voice echoed in the room. "I haven't slept in three days and there's no change in my body, maybe a little tiredness."
Everyone's expressions had changed. Were they fascinated?
The fear and rejection of this new world had long since vanished.
Curiosity and a thirst for knowledge had taken hold of them. Knowing that mana existed—and even more, that it resided within their bodies, fueling them with energy—made them feel closer than ever to the dreams they once had.
***********
"Miss Cynthia, we've located three variations and a structure that seems to have accompanied them near Ironstay," said a young soldier.
"Understood. You may withdraw. I'll issue a statement shortly," Cynthia replied, signing a document that seemed important.
The young soldier quickly fled, leaving Cynthia alone.
"Shit, shit, shit, shit," Cynthia muttered, clutching her silky black hair.
"Shit, shit, shit… Why, why does Cael always dump his problems on me? He can't do anything on his own," she thought.
Her relationship with Cael had changed over the years—from a close friendship to something resembling a master-and-servant dynamic.Everything Cael didn't want to deal with ended up on Cynthia's shoulders.
Still preoccupied with her recent appointment as Director of Sitia Academy—the largest in the empire—Cynthia continued receiving requests from Cael that she simply couldn't refuse. The rewards were too great.
"All for a better future," Cynthia said, striking a fist to her chest.
She moved quickly, slipping into a suit that perfectly fit her elegant figure. Over it, she donned a light armor set bearing the emblem of the Arvenlight Empire, then stepped outside.
Channeling mana into her vocal cords, she spoke:
"We'll handle the disturbances in Ironstay. Do not contact the rescue team. I'll take care of it."
Hundreds of soldiers heard her clearly—some captivated by her beauty, others by the sheer admiration they held for her.
After her message, Cynthia disappeared—or rather, teleported.
Her control over teleportation magic was unparalleled; with just a few thoughts, she was already a couple of kilometers away from Ironstay.
Cynthia sensed small, human-like figures nearby and headed toward them.
"What will they be like? Will they be like us? What abilities will they have?" the questions arose in Cynthia's mind. There was no trace of doubt or fear in her thoughts, only curiosity.
A ten thousand years, something similar had happened in this world.
Millions of humans had arrived. Their clothing and abilities were different; they used a strange energy, which they called internal energy or ki.
The power of this energy was no less than that of mana; in fact, it complemented it well.
This group adapted quickly, very quickly indeed. In just a couple of years, they had already rebuilt their ancient civilization.
"The Murim Alliance" was created, which, it seemed, was in charge of regulating their world in the past.
In just ten years, they formed a small "empire."
This didn't just happen once; twenty thousand years ago, a similar event occurred again: a race with monstrous physiques, unparalleled regeneration, and dubious intelligence—the ogres.
Thirty thousand years ago, an elegant, refined, and dominant race arrived on this world: the elves.
Then forty thousand, fifty thousand, sixty thousand, seventy thousand, eighty thousand, and ninety thousand…
Cynthia's gaze grew heavy before she thought about the race that had arrived during that time and what it had caused.
Every ten thousand years, a "new" race arrives on this world. The reason is unknown, but the space around this world breaks into small fragments that allow this.
The first recorded instance was one hundred thousand years ago when our empire, the great Rignir Empire, arrived on this world.
Every generation of the empire prepares for a moment like this. The great families of the empire pray for the opportunity to welcome a transmigrated being or their descendants.
"Finally, I've arrived," Cynthia said with a smile.
he threw the school's power with force and shouted,
"Good morning, beings from another world! Representative of the Empire, Cynthia Ferris, welcomes you!" The shout echoed throughout the school.
Five figures approached the entrance quickly. Their mana was sensed by Cynthia, and she discovered that the "newcomers" were also human.
Four boys arrived first and stared at Cynthia with eyes of surprise and admiration.
"Cynthia Ferris"—that name resonated in the minds of Churn, Kida, Huis, and Verju.
The strongest mage in the Empire, the omnipresent one, had arrived.
Cynthia's gaze transformed from curiosity to warmth and tenderness. "Good morning, young people from another world, I..." Before Cynthia could finish speaking, Murd arrived, and at that moment, Cynthia's eyes filled with surprise and curiosity.
"MANA E+!!!!"