Chapter 9: Blind Ruler's Challenge Part 3 Chapter 8
Mana, the source of energy that Humanity has acquired and Embelish in for over 500 years. over 40% of the Human population has access to mana and is the very element that made it possible for Humanity to survive the Gates from over running the World. Without it, Humanity would have been extinct by now.
Having mana is the essential part that separates both the Royals, Talents and Commoners from being in the same playing field.
And right now I'm trying to access it to improve my Fighting Prowess. Mana was mentioned only a few times in the Novel on how it was used. at The beginning, where the MC was just starting out on the Story, next was the Training Arc, and also the Training Arc in the Royal Academy towards the School tournament. all of its mention was just basic introduction to how you manifest it in your body.
And right now I'm trying to remember what one of the Training teachers were talking about back then.
even with the system, my memory isn't something that I could easily improve. so I'm stuck sitting under the tree trying to remember the Basic process of Mana.
"Hmm...I think the Protagonist did something. I know he unconsciously use it once when he was in a tight spot but....I don't think I can apply that to my life....I don't have plot armor after all."
"Tight spot.....hmmm. I should try remembering the School tournament arc."
"Remembering back on the School tournament arc, I think He was assessed by one of the most talented and beautiful teachers of the School... Mrs. Averich Kendill."
Mrs. Averich Kendill one of the Talented teachers of the Royal Academy and also the Most Beautiful person to be assigned position of the Royal Academy despite Being a commoner. Her Ability is Mostly based on the use of Mana since she wasn't blessed by any Gods. Despite not having a God watching over her, her Mana Capacity was Over the Charts.
She was Branded as The Mana Witch for Having 3 Times the Mana a Normal person would have. She even reached a Level called Advance mana, A type of Mana considered to be the Same element of what most Gods uses. but that would only be reached at the later volumes of the Novel...and just like Mrs. Kendill, the Protagonist was also blessed with Higher Mana Capacity than the others.
Now normally you can Improve your Mana Capacity by Training. And to measure that, the Novel introduced the concept of Mana Circle. a single Mana Circle was about 10 mana if you put it by the Systems measurements. In the Novels current history, the Highest Circle reached was 8 circles, by a Grand Magician once in the Past.. it was about 4 Thousand Mana.
1 Mana Circle = 10 mana
2 Mana Circle = 50 Mana
3 Mana Circle = 100 Mana
4 Mana Circle = 250 Mana
5 Mana Circle = 500 mana
6 Mana Circle = 1000 mana
7 Mana Circle = 2000 mana
8 Mana Circle = 4000 mana
9 Mana Circle = 10,000 mana
The Ratio was kind of whacked but that was
how it was written. As the Person reaches a another level of Mana Circle, The journey to reach even a higher Plane gets Harder and Harder. But for a Genius like Mrs. Averich Kendill, She could easily reach The 6th Circle in 5 years.
Anyway, She once said that to use Mana was to Manifest it through Image and Focus. being Blessed with Mana was already a factor that you are capable of using it but to actually apply it was another hurdle for a person to muster.
"Image and Focus....."
'Is it like Meditation? like those Yoga practices?'
I sat down in a Crossed legged position and started focusing on Mana. The Novel Described Mana to be the essence a person is born with. it's color varries depending on the type of Person actually was. his personality to say.
The Novel Described the Protagonist to Have Green colored Mana, since he was Calm and Collective.
"Hmmm...maybe I should think of a different analogy. Okay, so like a Car, The Mana acts as Fuel...The Engine or my Body acts as well...the Processer of Mana and the Result is the Mana Color."
"okay..but how do I rev up my body like a Car....oh, maybe it's like Pooping."
"..."
"No, I'm an Idiot."
"Image....it's Probably Imagination... Imagining myself covered in Mana....and I need Focus..."
So I started to Meditate in position. I calmed myself and focused on only calming my mind. never minding the Soft breeze or the sun's light, I only focused on emptying my mind.
"....."
"....."
Now in my past life, there was these things called memes, they were the Pinnacle of Comedy back then at that current generation and since I was some sort of addicted to it...I mean almost everyone was, Having to empty my mind while living in that generation was...hard to do.
".....among us..."
".....Green MnM"
".....(Vine Boom)"
".....21"
"...Big Chungus.."
"...tiktok CRINGE.."
yeah....this is gonna take a while.
***ARTHUR'S POV:
As I entered the Blue Swirling Gate, Immediately I found myself in a Black Bird Cage. It was around 40 foot tall. and my surroundings were
"A Bird Cage?"
As I looked around, the Circular Cage was Littered with Red Feathers and bits of bones.
"Bones!"
Straight away, I brought out my Sword. readying myself to attack if anything was nearby.
*Tack* *Tack* *Tack* *Tack* *Tack*
"!?"
A tacking sound was heard. Like clump of Beaks hitting against each other.
~Swoosh~
The Vibrations in the air didn't feel right. Despite the tacking sounds and the musty atmosphere, It didn't feel like I was all alone.
Something was flying all around the Cage at a Fast Speed.
~Swoosh~
"Something's here."
*Baam!*
"!?"
'Something landed in the Top of the Cage.'
"ROOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!"
'A roar!?'
*Tick* *Tack*
*Tick* *Tack*
*Tick* *Tack*
It was starting to move. with each step, it sounded like Claws were walking all over a flat metal surface.
"Well, looks like It Finally Showed!?"
"Where are you, Who are you?"
A voice was suddenly heared but I couldn't see where it was coming from.
"Welcome to my Humble Abode."
*BAAM!*
"!?"
Something fell through the cage and landed behind me, Creating a layer of smoke hiding it's Identity.
"I've been expecting you....Arthur."
As the smoke starts to disappear, its form finally revealed itself to me.
"You're a..."
"Yes, I am the Greatest Beast to ever Roam the Desolate World."
"A Griffin"
"Yes...I am Emur, The Lord of the Holy Kingdom of the Wind."
***HAMIL'S POV:
15 Hours.
It took me fifteen hours to have complete control of my thoughts in the empty state.
Regret was the Only thing I could ever feel right now.
but in return of this self loathing feeling, I was able to muster the Basic level of Mana Control.
Once I activated my Mana for the First time, it's sensation over my body was unforgettable.
I could tell that with a few Practices, I could easily control.
It'll probably take me a few days, but it's worth it.
My body was covered in Bluish Colored aura. it felt weird at first but I also felt more stronger than before.
and my stats show it.
[CHARACTER PROFILE]
:Stats:
Name: Hamil Crux
Occupation: Warrior in Training
Age:17
God's followed: None
Mana: 9.5
Strength: 9.2 (+2.5)
Luck: 0.5
Agility: 9 (+2)
Stamina: 8.3 (+3.5)
Intelligence: 7
+++++++++++++++
Bow Profenciency: 30%
+++++++++++++++
[The Challenge of the Rulers: Become worthy to be another Ruler]
[Time Limit: 00000]
[Time Spent: 28:01:06:40]
my stats were increased, but by the Show of the plus sign, it must have meant to be a temporary Increase in Power. My Mana Capacity also went down by 5 percent, it meant that just by activating it costed that much...
"Ok. Now, how should I even do this. I'm pretty sure I can transfer the Mana to my weapon but how?"
Now Mrs. Kendill said something about Imagination, If I imagine my bow being covered in my own Mana...I could easily Strengthen it, so the issue is how I do it.
it was easy doing it to my own body since I had a bit of control but for the Bow, it's Completely different.
I first tried increasing the Mana a bit and the Result was just like I expected. just like how I exert energy to my muscles to flex, it's the same with Mana, I exerted it in my hand, and I could easily tell the difference. the Aura surrounding my Hand was a bit bigger than the other parts of my Body.
now I tried doing it with my bow.
"Hnn..!"
Slowly, I could see my Mana covering up the Bow. and soon after, it fully covered the whole bow.
"ok...so how much did it take to do this much.
[CHARACTER PROFILE]
:Stats:
Name: Hamil Crux
Occupation: Warrior in Training
Age:17
God's followed: None
Mana: 9.0
Strength: 9.2
Luck: 0.5
Agility: 9
Stamina: 8.3 (+0.5)
Intelligence: 7
+++++++++++++++
Bow Profenciency: 30%
+++++++++++++++
[The Challenge of the Rulers: Become worthy to be another Ruler]
[Time Limit: 00000]
[Time Spent: 28:08:56:20]
"...."
it took 5 percent of my Mana.
"I guess that's a reasonable amount."
With the Bow covered in my Mana, I went to test it out.
Positioned about 20 meters away from the Tree, I pulled the String of the Bow up to my face like how I've always done it for the Pass 26 days.
"The string is lighter to pull than before. now, what about the Power?"
~Swoosh~
"!?"
I could barely see the Arrow fly through the air.
not a second later.
*Thud* *Bam*
The tree shook as it took the blow of the Arrow.
"...."
'This might be enough to take down a Shielder but what if...'
I slowly took out an Arrow and poured my mana into the arrow.
"hnn.."
The arrow steadily coated itself in my Mana and 5 seconds later, it was fully coated.
"...."
Without thinking twice, I pulled the bow string and as it reached my face, I let go of the string.
~Swoosh~
just by the speed of the arrow, it was about the same as the one without the Mana coat but as soon as it hits the Tree.
"Baam!"
The Tree shook with the Impact.
as it hits the tree, along the Impact came dust
Leaves could be seen falling down from the tree. and as the smoke clears, the result was much more than I could have expected. The tree Cracks. I could easily tell that if I ever shoot this at one of the Shielders, not only does it take out the Shield but it would also take out the Arm.
"Ok... this is it. the only Problem is that it needs time when pulling a Mana coated Arrow.
Still as I look to my Stats again. I was shocked. The Arrow had the same consumption as the Bow did, despite the size.
[CHARACTER PROFILE]
:Stats:
Name: Hamil Crux
Occupation: Warrior in Training
Age:17
God's followed: None
Mana: 8.5
Strength: 9.2
Luck: 0.5
Agility: 9
Stamina: 8.3 (+0.5)
Intelligence: 7
+++++++++++++++
Bow Profenciency: 30%
+++++++++++++++
[The Challenge of the Rulers: Become worthy to be another Ruler]
[Time Limit: 00000]
[Time Spent: 28:08:56:29]
"Ok, Damn."
For the First time ever, I was feeling confident. not that I was gonna lose but because I was finally going to face those warriors head on. Only one thing was on my mind the moment I fired a Mana Coated Arrow. It was strong. and If I can inflict any sort of fear from that attack to them, then my chances of winning this would go up.
So I walked up to the tree and sat under it. I needed to rest again and I also needed to replenish my Mana. The Novel said about resting as the basic way to replenish my Mana but since this is the Hero's Gate, it might replenish faster.
***ARTHUR'S POV:
The 20 foot tall beast was sitting in front of me. it's Glare almost tore a hole into my head just by a simple glimpse but I stood my ground and tried to make conversation with it.
"Was it you who called to me?"
"...No Arthur, it wasn't. It was the Gate who called you, not me."
'The gate?'
"The Hero's Gate"
"A Hero's Gate!?"
"Yes, it is a Gate unlike any other. A gate who calls forth worthy Challengers. A Hero if it says so."
"....A hero, but I'm not a Hero."
"Not now that is."
"Arthur, The Gate calls upon you. You are worthy to Become my vessel, my Successor. The Gate has brought you to me, Emur the Holy King of the Wind."
"....."
"I will bring you Power. A Blessing of my Power capable of toppling the most sturdiest Challenges, The Strongest Foes and even The Almighty Gods."
"Is it strong enough to stop the Gates...?"
"That Small threat of an Issue is nothing worth noting but Yes, it is strong enough to Stop Gates."
"Then I will..."
"Good. Pledge upon to me Your loyalty and serve me well, Arthur."
"Yes, Lord Emu."
"My Full is Emurteus."
"Now boy, Fulfill my Challenge and I will grant you Power."
"W-wait... Challenge?"
"Now boy! First CHALLENGE!!"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Simple_Thought
Simple_Thought Hmmm chungus
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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