Noland stared at the small, fluffy rabbit cradled in his hands, a mixture of excitement and contemplation swirling within him.
[Energy absorbed. It is estimated that the experiments will be finished in 140 hours]
“Great! I’m not far from wielding mana, I guess,” he mused, a grin creeping across his face. The thought of being able to manipulate such a powerful force sent a thrill coursing through his veins.
In order to wield mana, he had to be classified as an awakener, a status bestowed through a rigorous ceremony when one was 14 years. But Noland had read of exceptional individuals—Prodigies—who could tap into this arcane energy long before them.
These rare beings possessed an innate sensitivity to mana from birth or a very young age. They could perform rudimentary mana applications, bending the energy to their will with a level of ease that seemed almost magical.
As he pondered these possibilities, a flicker of hope ignited within him. “I wonder if I’ll be one of those prodigies,” he thought aloud, a spark of ambition flickering in his chest. The prospect of wielding mana before the ceremony was tantalizing, but it came with its own set of complications.
“I guess I’ll have to hide the fact that I’m not yet an awakener until I reach the right age. It’s not just about being special; it’s about survival,” he concluded, with a wry smile on his face. He knew the dangers of the world and the greediness of the people, which was the same whether it was this world or old.
Noland shifted his gaze back to the rabbit. It wasn’t just an ordinary creature; it was a vessel for the life energy he had absorbed, weighing less than 10 pounds after the experiment.
Surprised at the significant change, he pondered, “I guess life energy has weight. So, if I were to die, would my weight also diminish?” The idea sent a shiver down his spine, a reminder of the fragility of life and how deeply intertwined his fate was with this uncharted power of mana.
Shaking his head to dispel the darker thoughts, Noland took a deep breath to clear his mind. He tucked the rabbit carefully into his bag, securing it among the layers of fabric and supplies he had brought with him.
---
It was nearly evening, and the sun cast a warm orange hue across the horizon as Noland emerged from the forest, two rabbits perched on each shoulder and two more stuffed into a waist bag that threatened to break apart. He dragged two wild pigs behind him, leaving a dusty trail in his wake.
Noland had spent a significant amount of time in the forest, searching for monsters to hunt. There weren’t many monsters in this part of the wilderness, and he wasn’t foolish enough to venture deeper. Instead, he circled the same area until he stumbled upon the two wild pigs feasting on a rabbit.
To test his raw physical strength, he engaged them in hand-to-hand combat, and as before, he emerged victorious with ease. Even though he was confident in his ability to tackle larger monsters, he still decided it was best to leave, as the day was drawing to a close and securing his bounty took a bit of time. His new clothes bore the dirt of his short hunting exploits.
After exiting the forest, Noland set off toward the town, which was a two-hour walk away. He had been walking for about an hour when he heard the sound of horses approaching. Glancing to his left, he saw more than ten men on horseback riding toward him. Uneasiness crept over him as they halted in front of him.
"Squeal!" The horses came to a stop, making high-pitched noises. The riders were clad in clothes with sheathed swords hanging at their waists, and Noland could tell they were not ordinary people.
“Brother, do you know the direction to Pinewood Forest? We were heading that way, but a storm threw us off course. Haha!” The apparent leader of the group asked politely while trying to lighten up the tense mood, his face covered by a cloth as he scrutinized Noland's clothes, and the corpses draped over his shoulders.
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“That way lies the forest you seek. It’s best if you don't go there at this time. It's getting dark soon and monsters become more active during nighttime.,” Noland replied cautiously, pointing behind him while warning them about the dangers lurking in the woods at night.
“Haha! Thank you for the warning. We will be alright. We may not seem like it but we are pretty strong.”
After thanking him, the group hurried off toward the forest. What a strange encounter, Noland thought, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders as he watched them ride away. He had feared a confrontation and was relieved they had only asked for directions.
“They didn't seem to come from town. Where are they from? How odd. I don’t recall seeing them before. And what could they possibly want in the forest? Well, that’s not my concern,” he muttered to himself as he continued on to the town. By the time he arrived, evening had set in, and darkness was spreading.
As he neared the town wall, he noticed he wasn’t the only one returning from a hunt. He joined the others heading straight to the guild and handed over the corpses to the staff, completing repeatable quests that earned him a total of 4 silver coins. With 1 silver coin equating to 10 bronze coins, he effectively accumulated 40 bronze coins.
“I’m doing really well! If I compare this to my old life, it’s like earning a few thousand dollars. If I can earn this much on a daily basis, it’s a significant amount,” he thought, pocketing the coins and heading home.
After fetching a bucket of water from the town well, he washed himself and his clothes. Once dressed in clean garments, he ventured out to grab a meal. If it was original Noland, he would never have braved the night, but he felt stronger now. He returned home close to midnight.
“What a long day. Everything feels surreal. Can I return? Do I even want to? I’m unsure. This world is perilous, yet also exhilarating. I just need to bide my time in this town until I can use mana, then I’ll explore other places,” he mused, lying on his bed and contemplating everything that had transpired in the last two days.
He had transitioned from Earth to this new planet, its spherical nature remaining a mystery, but the experience was enjoyable despite the dangers.
“If I play my cards right, I can steer clear of hazardous situations and savor life to its fullest. I wonder about the technological level in this world. With nanotechnology, I could invent countless things, but I need to visit larger cities to determine my next steps.”
“Nano, how much longer do you need?”
[Just 9 hours left]
Noland felt a surge of excitement rush through him. “Good. It should be ready by the time I wake up.”
His mind whirred with thoughts of the groundbreaking experiment Nano was conducting. The device, a marvel of advanced technology from a distant planet, was delving into the mysteries of mana — an energy form unlike anything Noland had ever encountered. This world’s mana was not mere power; it was alive, pulsing with a unique vitality that seemed to resonate with the very essence of existence.
Despite Nano’s remarkable speed and capabilities, it required days to thoroughly analyze this potent new energy. As part of his explorations in the wild, Noland had accumulated a wealth of life energy from the creatures he encountered. He had shared this energy with Nano, which had decreased he completion time of the ongoing experiment.
"Life energy is an ideal source. It syncs seamlessly with the systems I operate on," Nano had explained. To Noland's amazement, the device relied on his own life energy to power its functions, establishing a profound connection nestled within his soul.
Curious about the mechanics, he had once queried Nano about how it processed this life energy. Its reply had been straightforward yet enlightening.
[Human bodies run on a combination of chemical and electrical energy, which can be understood as vitality. As you consume oxygen and nutrients, your body generates energy to sustain its systems. I absorb any excess life energy, allowing me to perform my functions more efficiently]
Noland’s recent foray into absorbing energy from slain creatures had been a dual boon. Not only had he contributed to Nano’s power banks, but the process also translated the life energy he harvested into a form of vitality that could replace the oxygen and food his body needed. It was an ingenious cycle—his enhancements only strengthened Nano’s analytical capabilities, allowing for a faster and less intrusive experiment.
With the prospect of unlocking the secrets of mana tantalizingly close, all that remained was the passage of time. Noland felt a ripple of anticipation at the thought of what lay ahead. Each moment spent in the embrace of that vibrant energy drew him closer to understanding the true power of this world.
As he succumbed to the gentle pull of sleep, wrapped in a cocoon of hope and scientific curiosity, he envisioned the results of Nano’s experiment. What new powers could await him? Would he be able to harness mana for himself? The infinite possibilities danced in his mind until he finally drifted off, committed to the wait, eager for the dawn and the answers it would bring.
