Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest-Chapter 565 126.2 - Evergreen

Mana.

When we think about what mana is, most people tend to imagine it as just another resource—something to be harnessed, controlled, and expanded. But in truth, mana is much more than that. It's not just the lifeblood of magic, but the essence of the world itself. It flows through everything—living beings, the land, the air. Every part of the environment is a reflection of the mana coursing through it, and how that mana interacts with the world tells you more than just its surface appearance.

Mana isn't simply raw energy; it's a language. One that, if you understand it, reveals far more than what the naked eye can perceive. When mana is abundant, the land flourishes, teeming with life. When it's disrupted or drained, everything suffers—the soil dries, plants wither, and even the air grows heavy with stagnation.

It's everywhere, integrated into every aspect of existence. In the way crops grow, how the wind shifts, and even how people interact with their surroundings. By reading the mana in an environment, you can infer the health of the land and the stability of the climate or even detect hidden threats before they become visible.

And with the right eyes, like mine, that's exactly what I can do. My vision doesn't just let me see farther—it lets me read the currents of mana, like tracing the flow of a river.

I've done it more times than I can count. In battle, it's second nature to scan for disruptions in mana flow, giving me an edge. In unfamiliar environments, I use it to understand the balance of the land.

And now.

Mana is, in many ways, like electromagnetic waves. It has properties—frequency, intensity, and flow—that can be read, analyzed, and understood by those attuned to it. And just like waves, mana interacts with everything in its path, influencing the environment, living beings, and even objects. By analyzing those properties, you can learn not just about the surface level of things but the deeper truths that lie beneath.

That's what I've been doing all this time, unconsciously. Reading the shifts in mana around me, letting it inform my understanding of the world. Whether in battle or in unfamiliar environments, it's become second nature to perceive mana and break it down in my mind. A constant stream of information flowing through my senses.

'This place is different.'

In front of me, the special properties of mana were different.

The mana here wasn't following the same rules. It felt heavier, denser. From my eyes, I could see it—an intricate weave of energy swirling beneath the surface, not chaotic, but tightly controlled in its own way.

As I focused, I began dismantling the mana in my head, breaking it down piece by piece. The flow, the intensity—it was far richer than anything I had encountered thus far on this journey. The patterns it formed were unfamiliar, almost foreign. It wasn't just that there was more mana here; it was the way it behaved, the way it interacted with the environment.

'This is…' I let the thought hang as I visualized it. In my mind's eye, the mana took shape, forming an intricate network of currents and streams, each one more vibrant than the last. It was like a living organism, pulsing and breathing with its own rhythm.

And then I saw it. A barrier.

It wasn't visible to the naked eye, but my senses picked it up clearly. The mana shifted abruptly as if I had just crossed an invisible threshold. 'A sphere,' I thought, watching as the energy curved around the land in a protective dome, enveloping the entire region in its embrace.

It wasn't just a barrier in the traditional sense, though. It wasn't designed to keep things out—it was more like a self-contained ecosystem, preserving the natural balance within. The mana inside the barrier was of a different quality entirely, almost as if it had been purified, refined by some 'ancient' process.

Indeed, it felt ancient.

Most of the time, mana felt like a living thing, still actively integrating itself into the environment, shaping and influencing the world ever since the day of Nexus Convergence 500 years ago. That event changed everything, flooding the world with mana and starting a process that is still ongoing to this day.

But here, the mana felt… complete.

'Contrary to how it is with the rest of the world where mana continues to integrate itself with the environment, this place… it's as if mana has already become one with the land,' I thought, my mind working to break down the significance of what I was sensing.

Mana, in most places, still carried the raw, untamed energy of its arrival. It was vibrant but incomplete, as if it was still learning to settle into its new home, altering ecosystems and human structures alike. But here, the mana wasn't raw—it was refined, natural in a way that felt… ancient. It had already reached full integration, as if it had been part of this place for far longer than the 500 years the rest of the world had experienced.

This couldn't be a coincidence. The difference wasn't just in the mana—it was in how the environment interacted with it. The land wasn't merely affected by mana; it was shaped by it, as though the two were symbiotic. And then it struck me.

Senior Maya.

Her talents, her abilities—they were too extraordinary to be mere coincidence. I had always sensed there was something more to her, something beyond the training and experience we all had at the academy. But now, seeing this place, I had no doubt. This level of mana refinement wasn't normal, not in the slightest.

'Indeed.'

It was really intriguing.

The fact that there were many things that I still didn't know even if I had completely played the game.

Just as my thoughts continued to spiral deeper into the realization of how little I still knew, despite having played through the game entirely, there was a knock at the door. The sound was polite yet firm, pulling me back into the present moment. The door opened, and the butler stepped inside, bowing slightly before speaking.

"I hope the ride has been comfortable, Mr. Natusalune," he said, his tone respectful and calm. "We have just arrived at our destination."

I nodded in acknowledgment, the weight of my earlier thoughts still lingering in the back of my mind. I stood from the comfortable seat and moved toward the window, curious to see where we were about to land.

The scene that greeted me was nothing short of impressive. Outside, nestled between thick forests and towering trees, stood a massive mansion. It was elegant and grand and radiated an air of quiet authority. The structure seemed perfectly integrated with the surrounding nature, almost as if the land had shaped itself to accommodate the mansion's presence rather than the other way around.

The butler cleared his throat softly, drawing my attention away from the window. "We will be landing shortly, Mr. Natusalune," he informed me with the same composed tone. "If there is anything else you require, please do not hesitate to ask." He bowed again before excusing himself, leaving me alone once more with my thoughts.

I returned my gaze to the mansion and the surrounding forest, the weight of the place settling over me. Everything about it was designed with precision and care, from the trees lining the estate to the way the structure harmonized with the environment. It was a seamless blend of power and nature.

Moments later, the airship began to slow, gently adjusting its course as it prepared to land. I could feel the smooth alignment as the ship descended gracefully toward a special hangar just beyond the mansion. The hangar was well-concealed, but its design was unmistakably for personal use. It was clear that this landing site had been built with the airship in mind, reserved for its frequent—though not recent—visits.

The ship touched down with hardly a sound, the engines powering down with the same quiet efficiency that had carried us through the journey. The hangar itself was sleek, built into the landscape to avoid disturbing the natural beauty of the surroundings.

The moment the door to the airship opened, a rush of mana flooded my senses, assaulting me with an intensity I hadn't anticipated. It wasn't just the air that was different—it was as if the very pressure of the atmosphere had shifted.

'Ooof….'

My head spun for a brief moment, the weight of the refined, ancient mana nearly overwhelming. But within seconds, I regained control, steadying myself as I took a slow breath.

"Haaah…."

The air outside was cool, carrying with it the scent of nature—fresh, earthy, and untouched by the industrial rhythms of the world. It was a refreshing change from the more structured environment I'd just left behind. A gentle breeze drifted in, wrapping around me like a soft embrace. But amidst the natural smells, one distinct fragrance stood out. Familiar. Inviting.

It was subtle at first, but as I focused, the scent became unmistakable—a fragrance I had come to associate with a certain someone. Natural, delicate, and distinctly her.

I raised my head, and there she stood.

Senior Maya.

Her purple hair cascaded effortlessly down to her waist, glimmering in the light as if it had been spun from silk. Her pink eyes, sharp yet soft, were locked onto mine, radiating a quiet strength that only she could possess.

"Junior," her voice came, calm and warm, carrying an undercurrent of familiarity that immediately grounded me in the moment.

In the blink of an eye, she was before me, her presence commanding yet serene.

Maya stood before me, just as I had always seen her—serene, kind, and radiating a purity that seemed almost at odds with the power she carried. Despite the subtle shift in the air around her, she remained composed, her gaze never wavering as she took me in.

"Senior," I replied, my voice calm but watchful. I took a moment to observe her more closely. At first glance, she seemed the same—lively, her complexion bright and full of life. But there was something else, something faint yet undeniable. A red glint in her eyes, subtle but present, hinted at a tension she was holding back. It wasn't just the usual calmness she exuded; this time, it felt like she was keeping herself in check.

I noticed the faint blush on her cheeks and how she briefly wet her lips with nothing but saliva. The small gestures, though seemingly insignificant, told me enough.

'She is trying to suppress herself.' She was trying to suppress her vampiric urges—urges that had clearly grown stronger.