Chapter 21: A New Beginning
There was no time to think. The "Evolved Seed" was pulsating wildly, raw mana violently flowing from it, threatening to explode at any moment. Kaelen looked at his glowing hand, feeling his dormant power respond to the urgent need. He had no clear plan, but the instinct for survival, bolstered by the mysterious connection he felt with the Seed, pushed him to make a decision.
"If it's consuming mana to grow, I need to overwhelm it with mana!" Kaelen thought. This wasn't just an attack; it was an attempt to drown it, to disrupt it with its own energy.
Kaelen concentrated every last bit of mana in his body, and then some. He felt as if something inside him had opened, a barrier had broken. Mana flowed from his body with unprecedented force, not from his limited reserves, but from a deeper source, from that dormant power that was responding. His hand glowed with a brilliant purple light, more intense than ever before, as if it had become the center of a vortex of energy.
"Explode!" Kaelen roared, thrusting his glowing hand towards the "Evolved Seed" once more.
This time, it wasn't just a concentrated push. It was a massive wave of mana, a sweeping torrent of raw energy, flowing directly into the Seed's weak points. The mana struck the Seed, unleashing a deafening sound that shook the entire building. The massive fleshy mass began to glow frantically, the purple light intensifying, then it started to shrink, as if collapsing in on itself.
The monsters surrounding the Seed shrieked desperate cries, as if sensing their end. Some exploded into essence crystals, while others turned to dust.
Then, with a blinding purple flash, the "Evolved Seed" exploded. It wasn't a physical explosion that destroyed walls, but an explosion of pure mana. A massive shockwave of energy swept through the cavern, pushing Kaelen forcefully backward, throwing him against the wall. He felt a sharp pain course through his body, but he was also enveloped by a strange sense of liberation.
When the light faded, darkness had returned to the bottom of the pit. The "Evolved Seed" was no longer there. In its place was a charred crater, and in the center, a huge, black crystal shimmered, emanating an aura of pure, stable mana.
[Evolved Seed destroyed.][Unstable mana flow stopped.][Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 7!][Attribute Points gained: 5.][New Skill gained: Mana Overload (Active).][New Latent Ability gained: Mana Affinity (Activated).]
Kaelen felt a tremendous surge of power course through his body. The pain and exhaustion completely receded. It wasn't just a level up; it was a fundamental transformation. He opened the System screen, his eyes widening in shock.
[Name: Kaelen][Level: 7][Experience Points: 0/1500][Available Attribute Points: 5][Health: 700/700][Mana: 200/200]
[Attributes:]
Strength: 11 (+1)
Agility: 11 (+1)
Endurance: 8
Vitality: 6
Intelligence: 7
Luck: 3
[Abilities:]
Analysis (Active)
Dimensional Vision (Active)
Mana Control (Active)
Mana Sense (Active - Level 2)
Mana Overload (Active) - New
[Latent Abilities:]
Mana Affinity (Activated) - New
"Mana Affinity..." Kaelen murmured. This meant he no longer relied solely on the mana in the air; he now had his own internal source. This explained the immense surge he felt. He realized that this affinity with mana was the key to his ascent to higher planes of existence, a necessary step to transcend the limits of ordinary humans in this new world, and that creating a Mana Core would be the next stage, requiring him to fulfill specific conditions to compress the mana in his body from its ethereal state into a solid one.
He immediately distributed the five attribute points: two in Strength, two in Agility, and one in Vitality to increase his physical resilience.
[Strength: 13 (+1)][Agility: 13 (+1)][Vitality: 7][Mana: 200/200]
Kaelen felt his awareness expand. He no longer saw the world as it was; he now perceived mana flows everywhere, even in the air itself. His "Mana Sense" skill had evolved, allowing him to detect beings and threats with much greater precision.
Kaelen contemplated his new gains. The System was not just an interface; it was a constant driver to push his limits. "Experience points increase slowly from weaker monsters, but they multiply with every greater challenge. This pushes me not to rest, but to face escalating dangers," Kaelen thought. "And my health... it didn't just increase with every level, but this latest transformation with Mana Affinity gave me a massive boost. It seems that integrating mana into my being radically enhances my physical structure."
"The five attribute points I get with each level, in addition to rewards from major quests like this one, are what allow me to shape my path of power." Kaelen realized that every decision in distributing points defined his combat identity. "My path is clear now. Mana control is the core of my power. 'Mana Sense' for sensing danger, 'Mana Overload' for offense, and 'Mana Affinity' as a growing source of control. This isn't just fighting; it's understanding the world itself."
Kaelen realized that the monsters he had faced, even those from the Second and dormant Third Waves, were weaker than they might seem compared to catastrophe creatures in stories. The reason? Mana in the air was still thin, and the world was still adapting to the catastrophe. This explained the scarcity of Awakened humans, but it also gave them a chance to fight and resist weaker monsters, and highlighted his own unique strength as someone capable of effectively utilizing this rare mana. This understanding deepened his resolve; he had no luxury to stop here. He had to strive to become stronger, and embark on bolder future expeditions, not only to protect the shelter, but to find a true path to survival in this constantly changing world, and most importantly, to find his family who disappeared amidst the chaos.
"This 'Evolved Seed' was not just a monster; it was a pivotal point in the mana flow, and the connection I felt... perhaps it's a key to a deeper understanding of the catastrophe's origin, and perhaps to the nature of my dormant power."
After regaining his breath, Kaelen picked up the huge black crystal from the bottom of the pit. It was heavy, and emanated a strange energy. He wasn't sure what it was, but the System issued no warning, meaning it wasn't dangerous.
Kaelen began his journey back to the shelter. His body was exhausted, but his mind was in a state of extreme alertness. He knew that everyone had felt the immense mana explosion.
Upon his arrival at the shelter, the atmosphere was charged with panic. Survivors were gathered in the main hall, their faces pale, exchanging frightened glances. The recent earthquake, accompanied by the immense purple light, had instilled a terror they hadn't felt since the beginning of the catastrophe.
When they saw Kaelen enter, a profound silence fell. His appearance was weary, but the aura of power surrounding him was evident.
Harun stepped towards him, his face a mixture of shock and bewilderment. "What... what happened?" he asked, his voice barely audible.
"The 'Evolved Seed' in the Science Faculty has been destroyed," Kaelen said in a calm voice, but his words echoed through the hall like thunder. "It was the source of the unstable mana flow. The shelter is now safe from that threat."
Murmurs of astonishment and relief spread among the survivors. They looked at Kaelen with different eyes now, not just as a guardian, but as a savior.
"Impossible..." Harun muttered, then looked deeply at Kaelen, as if seeing a completely different person. "You did it... alone."
"Yes," Kaelen replied. "But that doesn't mean the danger is over. This world is constantly changing. And there are more of these 'Seeds' elsewhere. We must be prepared."
Emily looked at Kaelen, her eyes filled with both concern and admiration. She felt something strange happening inside her too, as if the mana explosion had awakened something.
"Now," Kaelen said, looking at Harun and the survivors. "It's time to prepare. This world is not as it was, and it will not return to that. We must become stronger."
Reader Comment: The Hidden Shadow
"OMG! This chapter was amazing! The fight against the ghosts was so tense, and the way Kaelen was forced to activate 'Mana Sense' was brilliant. The appearance of the 'Mana Nexus' changes everything, and it makes me wonder about the scale of the upcoming threat. I love how the story is evolving and becoming more complex. Kaelen with his intelligence and power, and Emily who is starting to show her courage... I can't wait for the next chapter! Keep up the great work!"