Elemental-based abilities are those attributes related to or embodying the powers of nature. Thunder, lightning, and the four primary elements—air, water, fire, and earth—are just some examples.
These types of power consume mana, and according to the system, mana can be restored using mana stones. However, mana stones can only be obtained from monsters, so research and development found an alternative way to restore mana power.
Based on their studies, mana was the energy the surroundings released when the door appeared. This states that after the phenomenon occurred, not only humans were affected. Mana started to exist everywhere, which is another hypothesis for why the 'awakening' happened.
It also discovered that the concentration of mana is higher near the red door. It was believed that the closer the area to the door, the more mana there is. However, the government couldn't deploy awakeners yet to gather that mana because of the dangers.
With that, the R&D learned that consuming natural energy based on the attribute they use increases the mana inside the awakener's body. Due to this discovery, the training grounds for the elemental-based wielding awakeners were currently in mayhem.
"TAKE MY HYPERSONIC VACUUM CLEANER!"
A strong gust of wind passed, blowing away my hair against my face.
"LET'S SEE IF YOU'LL BLOCK THIS!! ULTRA-SHOCKING TSUNAMI!!"
Water gushed from nowhere and flooded the area. I simply looked down to avoid water entering my eyes.
Another awakener shouted another silly attack name. I watched as they hurled saliva on each other's faces while singing outrageous titles and slinging their weak powers at each other. I sighed in exasperation.
How the hell am I going to teach this bunch of idiots? The only one who was sane here was gone. I believe the vice mayor attended a meeting. Oh, those two are still rational, I guess.
I watched Ethan freeze on the floor where Felix stood while he tried to grab Ethan. His hands buzzed with electricity, and Ethan would just leap away, freezing the floor again. The two of them couldn't get ahold of each other, like magnets trying to touch, but they would get repelled instead.
I fished the pen in my pocket and opened a notebook. I had missed drawing. I might as well try to draw something rather than sit on the bleacher without doing anything.
"What are you doing?"
My shoulders jumped at the sudden voice beside my ear. The soft yet cold voice came from the vice mayor. She looked haughtily at me, waiting for my answer with her face just inches away from me.
I slightly leaned my head away and answered, "I'm listing effective training strategies to hone their skills faster, ma'am."
Vice Mayor Aina looked down, the corner of her lips twitching slightly. "By drawing their torso?"
Oh, f*ck. When did I draw this? I laughed awkwardly and closed the notebook, "I'm trying to draw them a suit, actually. If they can't control their powers as soon as possible, everything they touch will freeze and get shocked. A body suit that can insulate their powers will be necessary."
The vice mayor glanced at the two. "You have a point. I will try to bring these ideas to the research team." She looked back at me. So, now, why don't you teach us properly…teacher?"
I shuddered. The vice mayor looked at me impatiently. So, without a choice, I stood and clapped my hands, gathering their attention. There were no more than fifty in that room, but they were still too many for me to handle.
So, I decided to pick five awakeners to teach them the basics. Although I really don't know what the heck I'm supposed to teach them. I mean, the blood-manipulating skill wasn't my own ability. I just watched that dead student use it.
I dismissed the rest and faced the five remaining – Vice Mayor Aina, Felix, Ethan, Lovi, and Edgar.
The last two were a couple. They informed me and suggested we pick them together instead. I couldn't refuse. Now, they were flirting even in front of us. Hah…
Then, I began.
I pulled out a dagger and slit my arm like I was just slicing an apple. Lovi gasped while the four sported a troubled look. Are they disgusted?
The pain was still there, but it surprised me that I no longer feared getting injured. It was as if the fact that I had developed a faster regenerative ability was making me careless. I do hope I can acquire a pain-resistant ability, though.
The blood trickled down my arm. However, before the drop touched the ground, it floated in the air for a second, and then a fiber shot and clung to my arm, seeping into the wound. The blood on the dagger's edge also twitched and moved, reaching out to my arm.
Ethan asked, "How…can you do that?"
I shrugged my shoulders and nonchalantly answered, "I'm just using my head. What my mind can think of, I created it with my hands."
The vice mayor folded her arms and looked at me with doubt, "So, we just need to imagine?"
I scratched my chin. How am I going to teach them this? What would be the best course of action for them to understand?
I cleared my throat and took the matter seriously. "Listen, I'm not sure how to teach it properly, to be honest. However, I can share with you how I felt when I used it. When I use this skill, I need a source. I could command the blood as I pleased because I considered it another extension of my body.
"If I wave my hands on the left, the blood will swing on the left. If in my mind, I think of creating a ball made of blood," I threw the dagger to the seat and played with my fingers like I was commanding the blood on my other arm to mold itself into a ball. "It will create as it is."
The cut on my arms healed, and the ball rolled to my palm and floated.
"Your imagination must be feasible, given the many sources you have. Do you think I can make a blood rain using just a single drop of blood? I'd be pale and dead if I pushed it; all the blood in my body would rush and make it happen.
"Likewise, if you push yourself to create something you don't even have on your bones yet, you might end up farting instead. Well, I guess it would work for Edgar. You might be able to do that hypersonic vacuum cleaner you mentioned earlier."
"Pfft."
Everyone stifled a laugh except Edgar, who frowned and scratched his head.
Meanwhile, I was surprised to witness the cold and haughty vice mayor exhibit a gentle expression. I found myself staring at her beautiful yet subtle smile. Felix coughed, which stole my attention. He looked at me teasingly, and I got flustered about being caught.
I cleared my throat and straightened my back again. "I'm saying to practice using a source first. For Vice Mayor Aina, get a fire and control the size first; for Ethan, turn an amount of water on the ice first; Felix, you go get a lightbulb and make it light without exploding it; Edgar, fill a balloon with your attribute without exploding it as well; and Lovi…"
I'm not even sure if this kind of practice will work. Aside from that, what shall I make Lovi do? Her main attribute is her healing ability. How am I supposed to train her on that?
Lovi looked at me with her big doe eyes filled with anticipation. I looked at her seriously and answered, "Go to church and pray."
I dismissed them after saying that after three days, they had to show me the progress. Lovi looked so down that I had to make her meditate and practice healing the awakeners who sustained mild injuries from sparring.
I guess it's not so bad teaching them. I was able to acquire all their arrows, and now I only need six. I can't wait to know what kind of upgrade it will be.