Zeras sat on the ground his face closed in deep meditation. His breath became so slow as if he wasn't even breathing at all as he easily achieved the first step towards being able to sense Mana, which was to enter into the most focused and relaxed state.
The second step was trying to delve into his own body. Zera's eyebrows knitted as he focused on trying to feel his inner body. He placed all his attention on the area just below his navel, the place where his Mana core was supposed to be present.
Two hours quickly went by, but Zeras didn't take note of that as he entered into a deep meditation trying to sense that phantom ball that was supposed to be present in his navel.
Another hour quickly went by when he suddenly felt his consciousness pulled toward one direction.
In front of Zeras in the next second was a dull dull-looking ball about the size of a football.
The area around the place was fairly large and completely dark, with only the ball present in the middle.
He slowly moved his consciousness towards the ball, as he slammed himself on the ball.
A violent ringing explosion echoed in Zeras's head, as blood came out of his ear but he didn't notice that in the state he was in.
He slammed on the ball for the second time, making more blood oozing out from his senses.
Zeras repeatedly slammed on the ball, as he forgot just how long he had been slamming on it when a small crack suddenly appeared on the ball.
Seeing the small crack, Zeras immediately felt invigorated as he repeatedly slammed on the ball until the crack widened and soon formed into a hole.
When the hole was formed, a terrifying outburst emerged from it immediately blowing him away from the space.
His eyes opened to reality, seeing the room as he felt himself covered completely in blood.
A notification appeared in front of him In the next second:
[Energy: 0/65]
[HP:3/100]
[Host health point has been reduced to a threatening level and will now be forced into a temporary slumber.]
Zera's body immediately fell like a broken twig on the ground, entering into a deep slumber, unable to witness the transformation that was taking place.
The crack in his Mana core suddenly opened up widely causing a terrifying absorption force on the surroundings.
The Mana around the room immediately gathered towards the area entering into his navel.
The entire Mana present in the air was immediately sucked out and as if not enough, the air in the room immediately gathered as the door to the room was blown open and all the Mana immediately moved towards Zera's direction.
-- -- --
In a large training room...
Commander Shiron sat there slowly breathing in and out while a small physical whirlpool of green energy circled mysteriously around him.
His eyes suddenly snapped open as he looked in a particular direction. His eyes glowed with a ghostly green light, his gaze suddenly piercing through the about forty walls in front of him and locking on Zeras's slumbering figure as his face morphed into one of surprise.
"He is already awakening his core. And such a phenomenon on just trying to awaken. He really might possess some bit of talent after all although he did it quite recklessly.
Then I'll help him out, just this once."
Commander Shiron clicked on his watch as he spoke into the air,
"Activate all Mana reserve in the Spaceship."
The Mana reservoir in the spaceship was immediately released as they all immediately moved toward the Northern area of the spaceship as if forced by some mysterious pull.
-- -- --
In the southern area of the spaceship...
"Activating Training level 7." A monotonic AI voice echoed out in the completely white training hall as holes opened on the ground and around the walls.
From the opened holes on the ground, humanoid combat robots emerged from within all about 2 meters tall a red dot appeared in their eyes before concentrating on the figure before them.
At the far end of the hall, a beautiful girl of about 16 stood there her long white hair gently blowing behind her.
Her beautiful green eyes were extremely focused as she stared at the transformation taking place in the room with a large green-colored, advanced technological bow in her hand.
Three robots immediately dashed towards her with inhumane speed as sharp objects pierced through the air from the opened holes in the walls.
The girl's figure immediately disappeared from where she stood, her figure easily weaving among the projectiles.
Her speed was neither too slow nor too quick as she avoided the projectiles when they were just two inches from touching her.
Her running was akin to dancing with well-coordinated footsteps.
Knocking a bow in her hand, she immediately fired one towards the robot, who immediately raised its hand wanting to swart the arrow away.
Gaia's eyes suddenly glowed a green color as a green wave of energy emanated from the arrow causing its speed to suddenly double. The robot was taken off guard as the arrow slipped between its fingers and nailed it on its forehead causing it to land on the ground with a thud.
"Two more," Gaia whispered flickering among the projectiles as she watched the ground open up and swallow the robot's body.
A thruster appeared beneath the feet of one of the robots propelling it forward with speed as its hand suddenly morphed into a sharp cold blade.
"SHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIING"
The air was cut in two by the power of the slash as it moved toward Gaia's neck with speed.
Gaia immediately placed her bow vertically, blocking the blade as she used the other side of it to wrap around the robot's harm before pulling downward causing the robot to fall to its knees.
Immediately slamming her leg on the robot's metallic head, she used that to propel herself backward as she knocked two arrows mid-air and fired.
A green wave of energy emanated from the arrows with one piercing into the kneeling robot's head while the other one moved towards the other robot running towards her.
The arrow moved with speed appearing just an inch from the robot's forehead when a powerful wave of air entered the room diverting the accuracy of the arrow as it nailed the robot's eyes instead of its forehead.
"You have passed with a close to Excellent score." The AI voice echoed into the room but Gaia's attention had been diverted as she noticed the Mana in the air suddenly decreasing.
"Is that bumpkin just starting to break through to Star rank stage?"
She muttered quietly. Normally she wouldn't even care if a Peak Meteor rank Stage Beast was to suddenly attack the spaceship, but the air diverted the accuracy of her arrow in the last second and stopped her from scoring an Excellent.
That got her attention as she was a little surprised by a Mana awakening that could cause this much disturbance.
That was it, a little surprised, and the slightest amount of curiosity lit in her to know who that bumpkin is.