[The Night It Began]
The three set up their tent near the forest.
A small flame danced quietly before them.
Lucian sat reading the sword manual.
Jenica kept complaining because she barely understood half the contents of her own book.
As for Dastan…
He was the most absorbed of them all.
That was when they began discovering something entirely new.
Mana.
The energy that governed this world.
A force capable of strengthening the body.
Creating magic.
And even altering the laws of nature themselves.
Lucian slowly raised his hand.
And for the first time…
Tiny particles of light gathered above his palm.
Their glow reflected silently within his eyes.
Meanwhile, Jenica whispered:
— “Is this power… truly a blessing?”
Dastan lifted his gaze toward the distant darkness between the trees.
Then calmly replied:
— “…Or the beginning of an even greater disaster?”
[The Power System — Mana]
In this world…
Power was known as:
Mana.
A hidden energy flowing through everything.
The air.
The earth.
Even the bodies of living beings.
And through training…
It could be transformed into a terrifying weapon.
[First Form — Mana]
The most basic application.
Enhancing the body.
Strengthening muscles.
Increasing speed and endurance.
Or coating weapons with mana to amplify their destructive power.
This was the foundation from which everyone began.
Even the weakest fighters could use it after simple training.
Lucian slowly raised his sword.
Mana flowed around the blade like faint light.
Then suddenly—
The tree trunk before him was sliced apart effortlessly.
Jenica’s eyes widened.
— “That makes absolutely no sense…”
Dastan stared at his spear.
— “No… it’s terrifying.”
[Second Form — Aura]
A far higher stage.
Instead of keeping mana within the body…
The user releases it outward.
Creating pressure.
Influence.
Dominance.
Aura was what separated true warriors from ordinary fighters.
Some concentrated it into their fists.
Some around their weapons.
And some…
Covered entire areas with it.
One of the three elders said during training:
— “The moment the air itself starts feeling heavier… run.”
[Third Form — Aura Transform]
A stage reached by only a select few.
When the user completely merges with their own energy.
Creating a being that surpasses logic itself.
A being…
Capable of breaking the very laws of reality.
Some transformed into monsters.
Some embodied their elemental nature.
And some became walking disasters.
Even the three elders…
Refused to explain this stage in detail.
The spearman merely said:
— “When you reach it… there will be moments you wish you never had.”
[Final Form — Aura Ultimate]
Absolute power.
The stage where the user becomes capable of imposing their own world.
A domain…
Where the laws of reality cease to exist.
Gravity.
Time.
Light.
Heat.
Everything falls under the user’s control.
Jenica whispered fearfully:
— “This isn’t combat…”
The elder calmly answered:
— “Correct.”
Then he looked toward the sky.
— “It is authority.”
[One Month Later]
An entire month passed…
With the three training every single day without rest.
Their hands became covered in wounds.
Their bodies bruised and battered.
But the results…
Were undeniable.
They had become capable of using basic mana with solid control.
Even defeating weak monsters such as goblins.
True, it was still difficult…
But they had genuinely grown stronger.
[The Mountain City]
The three entered a massive city overflowing with life.
Markets crowded every street.
Voices echoed from every direction.
People moved endlessly, as though the world itself never stopped.
Jenica spun around in amazement.
— “Finally, a normal place!”
Then suddenly—
The ground shook violently.
Carriages halted.
Buildings swayed slightly.
Jenica screamed:
— “An earthquake?!”
But a young man walked past them laughing.
— “Relax.”
He pointed toward the distant mountains.
— “It’s just Alito training.”
Silence fell.
— “…What?”
The young man smiled as though it were completely ordinary.
— “He destroys mountains with his fists every morning.”
Then he continued on his way.
While the three remained frozen in place.
Dastan finally spoke:
— “I think I want to go back to the orphanage.”
[The Training Grounds]
The closer they got…
The more destruction surrounded them.
Ruined mountains.
Massive cracks across the earth.
Dust covering the sky itself.
Then…
They saw him.
A gigantic man standing at the center of an enormous crater.
On his right hand…
The number engraved there read:
20.
Alito.
Even after destroying an entire mountain…
Not a single drop of sweat appeared on him.
He was merely punching the air.
And every punch…
Created a terrifying explosion.
He finally stopped when he sensed their presence.
Then slowly turned around.
And smiled.
— “Strangers?”
Lucian stepped forward.
— “We want the permit.”
Alito burst into loud laughter.
— “Straight to the point? I like that.”
Then he looked at them one by one.
Until his gaze stopped on Lucian.
He pointed at him.
— “You.”
But suddenly…
His finger shifted toward Dastan.
— “No… the gloomy one.”
Dastan froze.
— “Me?”
Alito grinned excitedly.
— “Learn boxing.”
— “I don’t want to.”
— “Then fight me in the arena.”
Silence.
Then Jenica literally collapsed onto the ground.
— “We’re dead…”
She quickly stood up again, pointing furiously at Alito.
— “You’re a professional! One of the Numbers!”
Then she pointed at Dastan.
— “Meanwhile, he’s still a beginner even in mana!”
Alito raised an eyebrow.
But Jenica continued passionately:
— “Every Number possesses Aura, Aura Transform, and maybe even Ultimate! How is he supposed to fight you?!”
She paused briefly.
Then muttered hopelessly:
— “This is suicide…”
But before she could completely lose it…
Lucian and Dastan grabbed her.
She sighed heavily.
Then raised three fingers.
— “We have conditions.”
Alito smiled.
— “Let’s hear them.”
— “First…”
She pointed toward his arm.
— “You fight using only one hand.”
He raised an eyebrow.
— “And the second?”
— “You tie it behind your back.”
Alito laughed loudly.
— “I like that.”
— “Second, you are forbidden from using mana in any form.”
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then his smile widened further.
— “Interesting.”
— “And third…”
She looked toward Dastan.
— “You personally train him for an entire month before the fight.”
Alito stared at Dastan for several long seconds.
Then suddenly—
A massive grin spread across his face.
— “Then let’s begin.”
The color completely drained from Dastan’s face.
Meanwhile, Jenica whispered to Lucian:
— “If he dies… you’re the one explaining it to Noor.”