The days following the goblin encounter passed in a blur of activity as Ravenwood recovered from yet another threat. The villagers were grateful to Yuuto for eliminating the goblin scouts before they could signal for reinforcements, and Brann had given him a rare moment of genuine praise. But for Yuuto, the weight of the growing dangers pressed heavily on his mind.
He stood at the edge of the village, overlooking the dense forest where the goblins had been lurking. His hands gripped his staff tightly, and his brow furrowed in thought. He knew there were more threats out there—more creatures like the goblins, more mysteries like the dark magic he had encountered, and likely more enemies he couldn't even imagine.
The world of Aetheria was vast, and while Yuuto had grown stronger since his arrival, he was still learning. There were abilities and powers he had yet to unlock, skills that would help him navigate the dangers ahead. One such ability had been nagging at him since his battle with the goblins: Mana Sense.
[New Quest Unlocked: Unlocking Mana Sense]
Objective: Tap into the deeper currents of mana that flow through Aetheria. Train your body and mind to sense mana naturally, without relying on sight or sound. Unlock the ability to detect magical beings, traps, and hidden energies in the environment.]
Reward: 50 EXP, Skill: Mana Sense Unlocked.]
Failure: Limited ability to detect magical threats, increased vulnerability to ambushes.]
The Ascendant System had laid the path before him, and Yuuto knew this was the next step in his journey. The Enhanced Mana Detection skill had allowed him to sense disturbances, but it wasn't enough. He needed more control—more precision. If he could unlock Mana Sense, he would be able to sense magical threats, traps, and hidden energies in the environment, giving him an edge in combat and exploration.
The forest would be the perfect place to train. It was teeming with mana, both light and dark, and it would test his ability to detect and control it. Without wasting any time, Yuuto made his way back into the woods, walking the familiar path that led deeper into the wilderness.
The forest was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. As Yuuto moved through the underbrush, he could feel the faint traces of mana lingering in the air—the residual energy left behind by magical creatures and natural forces. But sensing it was one thing; truly understanding it was another.
He needed to push his awareness further, to reach beyond what his eyes and ears could tell him. The System had given him the framework, but unlocking Mana Sense required deeper concentration. He found a small clearing in the woods and sat down, crossing his legs as he focused inward.
Alright, time to focus.
Yuuto closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting the natural mana around him flow through his body. He could feel the energy, faint but constant, like a soft breeze brushing against his skin. But he wasn't just trying to feel it—he needed to become attuned to it, to let it guide him.
The Ascendant System had taught him how to manipulate mana for spells, but now he had to let go of control. This wasn't about shaping mana; it was about sensing its presence in all things.
[Quest Progress: 20% - Focus your mind and body on the flow of mana. Listen to the natural currents of magic around you.]
Yuuto's breathing slowed as he sank deeper into concentration. At first, the sensation was faint, like trying to hear a distant whisper in a crowded room. The mana around him flickered, elusive and hard to grasp. But slowly, as he tuned his senses to the energy, he began to feel it more clearly.
It wasn't just one stream of mana—it was many, overlapping and interwoven, like a complex web of energy that stretched across the entire forest. There were natural currents of mana, flowing through the trees and the earth, and faint traces left behind by magical creatures that had passed through.
He could feel the residual mana from his own previous battles—the fight with the dire wolves, the dark magic that had plagued the village, and the fireball he had used to wipe out the goblins. Each encounter had left its mark on the environment, and now Yuuto could sense those marks as clearly as if they were footprints in the dirt.
It's all connected, Yuuto thought. Mana isn't just something we use for spells—it's a part of everything.
The realization sent a shiver down his spine. If he could learn to tap into this network of mana, he would never be caught off guard again. He would know when something was wrong—when a disturbance in the natural flow signaled danger.
He continued to focus, his awareness expanding as he felt the mana flow through him and the environment around him. The energy was alive, pulsing in rhythm with the world itself. And then, in the midst of that flow, Yuuto felt something new—something different.
It was a faint, irregular pulse, coming from somewhere deeper in the forest. Unlike the natural mana around him, this pulse was sharp, jagged, and unnatural.
A disturbance.
Yuuto opened his eyes, his heart racing. The disturbance was weak, but it was there. Something magical—something dangerous—was lurking deeper in the forest. And now, with his growing understanding of mana, he could sense it without even seeing it.
[Quest Progress: 50% - You have detected a magical disturbance. Investigate the source of the disturbance to further hone your Mana Sense.]
He stood up, gripping his staff tightly as he moved toward the source of the disturbance. His body moved automatically, guided by the flow of mana. As he walked, the unnatural pulse grew stronger, leading him deeper into the woods.
After several minutes, Yuuto arrived at a small glade, hidden among the trees. In the center of the glade stood a stone altar, overgrown with vines and moss, but still emanating a faint glow of magic. Dark mana swirled around the altar, twisting and pulsing in the air like a living thing.
Yuuto's eyes narrowed. Dark magic again.
The mana around the altar was dense and oppressive, making it hard to breathe. But now that Yuuto had unlocked a deeper connection to mana, he could sense the intricacies of the dark magic more clearly. This wasn't just random corruption—someone, or something, had deliberately placed this magic here.
Someone's using dark magic to manipulate the mana in this area.
Yuuto stepped closer to the altar, careful not to disturb the swirling dark energy. He could feel the power radiating from it, but more importantly, he could sense the way it disrupted the natural mana in the forest. The dark magic was acting like a poison, seeping into the environment and corrupting the flow of energy.
[Quest Progress: 80% - Analyze the dark magic and neutralize the disturbance to complete the unlocking of Mana Sense.]
Yuuto took a deep breath and focused on the mana within him. He had cleansed dark magic before—at the corrupted tree near Ravenwood—but this time, it felt different. The dark energy here was more subtle, more insidious. It wasn't a raw force of destruction; it was a delicate, corrupting influence that was warping the mana around it.
I have to be careful.
He reached out with his mana, carefully probing the dark energy. As he did, the flow of mana around him shifted, reacting to his touch. The dark magic resisted at first, pushing back against his efforts, but Yuuto remained calm, guiding his own mana in a steady, controlled flow.
Slowly, he began to unravel the dark magic's influence, separating it from the natural mana in the area. It was like untangling a knot—delicate, painstaking work—but with each passing moment, the dark energy weakened.
Finally, with one last surge of mana, Yuuto shattered the remaining threads of dark magic, cleansing the area. The oppressive weight lifted, and the flow of natural mana returned to normal, filling the glade with a sense of calm.
[Quest Complete: Unlocking Mana Sense]
Reward: 50 EXP, Skill: Mana Sense Unlocked.]
Yuuto felt a surge of warmth as the Ascendant System chimed in, confirming the completion of his quest. He had done it. He had unlocked Mana Sense, and now, the flow of mana was clearer to him than ever before.
[Skill Unlocked: Mana Sense]
Description: Allows the user to detect the flow of mana in the environment, sense magical beings, and identify magical anomalies, traps, or disturbances.]
As Yuuto stood in the now-cleansed glade, he felt the full weight of his new ability. The mana around him pulsed with life, and he could feel its subtle movements, its gentle currents. With Mana Sense, he would no longer be blind to the magical threats of Aetheria. He would be able to sense danger before it struck, to detect hidden traps and dark magic, and to navigate the world with a new level of awareness.
It was a small gain in the grand scheme of things, but to Yuuto, it was a new beginning. A new step on the path to survival—and one that would help him protect not only himself but the people of Ravenwood.
As he made his way back to the village, Yuuto knew that the next challenge was already on the horizon. But now, he was ready for it.