Awakening of Mana

“It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”

– Are the side effects a bit better?

“I’ve already forgotten the pain. More importantly, I’m dying to check my abilities right now.”

The moment that thought ended, the place I headed to was the academy’s mana training room.

Mana.

The fundamental power of hunters that allows them to use skills and magic.

Usually, places like mountains, seas, or inside gates have the highest mana density.

But you can’t go to such places every time you want to train.

Gates are even more dangerous.

That’s why this place exists.

The mana training room.

A combination of cores obtained from gates, various materials, high-ranking hunters’ power, and science.

A place where mana density is artificially increased using those.

For academy students in their growth phase, it is one of the most essential facilities.

“Student Woo Hyuk?”

“Hello, sir. I’d like to use the mana training room.”

“Ahem. As someone who once dreamed of becoming a hunter, let me say this—wouldn’t it be better to give up early and find a new path?”

As I said before, I had already tried mana training.

An unawakened person cannot feel mana.

‘It was the academy’s support, hoping that exposure to dense mana might trigger awakening.’

Of course, I merely followed hunters’ mana training methods for awakening.

Naturally, I had never succeeded.

Knowing that, the man gave me this advice.

“I passed the final test this time.”

“Is that true? Don’t tell me—you awakened?”

“Yes.”

“Congratulations! That’s a relief! Someone like you deserved to awaken! Finally, your efforts have paid off!”

“Since I’ve awakened, I want to try feeling mana again. Would that be possible?”

“Technically, you need academy approval… but—ah, whatever! Go on in!”

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me! I’ve seen how hard you trained every day. I’m really happy for you! Think of this as my gift!”

Click—.

The door to the mana training room opened.

There were 20 rooms in total.

It might seem small, but among academies in Korea, it was the largest.

Maintaining high-density mana required immense cost and manpower.

That’s why permission was required.

“Room 20… it’s been a while.”

The first room I ever entered.

Back then, I couldn’t feel even a trace of mana.

But this time—

[The power of the dimensional stone resides in your body.]

This time would be different.

“It’s surprisingly quiet today.”

“Days like this help us breathe.”

“Then how about jokbal tonight?”

“Oh! Sounds good! Spicy jokbal!”

“Hey, I can’t eat spicy food!”

“Then it’s time you learn!”

Inside the mana training control room.

Two staff members were enjoying rare free time.

The usually full training room was empty.

Graphs on the monitor flowed calmly.

“But the core’s mana reserves seem a bit low, don’t they?”

“Hmm. But with fewer users, it should last three days.”

“Right. Students can’t absorb that much anyway.”

They continued chatting while waiting for food delivery.

Then suddenly—

The calm graphs spiked violently.

“What the—what’s happening?!”

“These values are abnormal! Is it broken?”

“No way, it was just checked!”

The graph represented mana consumption.

Which meant the mana density was rapidly dropping.

At this rate, the room could be drained completely.

“This speed… even high-ranking hunters can’t do this!”

“Is someone experimenting with mana nearby?”

“Impossible—let’s go check!”

They grabbed their equipment.

Then—

“Delivery!”

“Please wait! We have something urgent—”

“Just pay first.”

“Hey, hurry and pay!”

“You said you’d treat today!”

“Is that important right now?!”

“It is!”

[Strix Timber – Youngest son of the 2nd Magic Tower Master]

– Though born into magic, he chose the path of a magic swordsman with unmatched talent.

Magic swordsman.

Though from a fantasy world, the concept was familiar among hunters.

So understanding the ability wasn’t difficult.

“Mana cultivation method.”

Vrrr—!

The mana around me began to surge.

Though it was my first time sensing mana, it felt familiar.

Like an old companion.

This is the power of the dimensional shop.

“Good. Just as expected.”

The mana gathered not in my heart—but in my abdomen.

Slightly below the navel.

The “dantian.”

Unlike typical mages.

But that’s why I chose this.

My ability wasn’t limited to magic.

I had already used the power of a martial artist.

So a magic swordsman’s method suited me best.

“Whew…”

Wasn’t it a waste to use a dimensional stone for training?

Not at all.

Mana cultivation is a high-level hunter skill.

Especially one like this.

If I gained just this—

It was worth more than clearing a dungeon.

– A wise choice.

“Gotta get my money’s worth.”

– That’s not—

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Pain surged from my lower abdomen.

Mana gathered rapidly.

But my body had limits.

However.

As expected of a magic swordsman.

My body stabilized the overwhelming mana.

Like sheep before a shepherd.

Mana obeyed me.

My dantian filled rapidly.

After about 5 minutes—

The surrounding mana thinned.

Ding!

[The power of ‘Strix Timber’ disappears.]

[Intelligence increases by 20.]

[Skill ‘Mana Cultivation Method’ acquired.]

[Mana Cultivation Method Lv.1]

– Optimized for magic swordsmen.

– Mana recovery +20%

– Slight increase in total mana when used at full capacity.

“It worked!”

Others spend years finding the right method.

I learned the perfect one in minutes.

And its efficiency—

“The mana density is completely drained?”

The entire room was emptied in just 5 minutes.

Faster than any method I knew.

And that wasn’t all.

[Hidden Quest ‘Mana-Devouring Beast’ completed.]

[Reward: 50,000 points.]

[Hidden Quest ‘Explosive Growth!’ completed.]

[Reward: 50,000 points.]

“Hidden quests?”

– As the name suggests.

“They weren’t in my list.”

– They are hidden.

“So there are more?”

– Yes.

“Based on what?”

– Unpredictable actions.

“…What?”

That was all the explanation.

Still.

This was great news.

Another way to earn points.

“I should leave now.”

The entire facility was drained.

Staff would arrive soon.

And I wasn’t officially allowed here.

“Damn it! We’re late because of you!”

“How is this my fault?!”

Right after Woo Hyuk left.

The managers arrived.

Students were already complaining.

“The mana here is thinner than outside!”

“It suddenly dropped!”

“We don’t know—oh, managers are here!”

They checked everything.

No issues.

In the end.

The facility was shut down until the next day.

“What the hell happened?”

“No idea…”

After they left.

One staff member recalled someone.

‘Could it be…?’

Jung Woo Hyuk.

Vrrr—!

– You seem pleased.

“Of course. Do you know how hard I tried to feel mana?”

On the way back to the dorm.

I continuously used mana cultivation.

Mana.

Something I couldn’t sense before.

Yet now it was everywhere.

Like air.

Then—

Thud.

A heavy bump hit my shoulder.

I was about to apologize.

But seeing their faces—

I realized.

It was intentional.

“Well well, look who it is.”

“The great dimensional mage, Jung Woo Hyuk. Haha.”

The man standing behind them.

Yang Ji-hwan.

And his group.