Chapter 15: Mana (Part 4)
A change in Yuri's surroundings caught John's attention.
"He's finally...?"
The current shift in mana wasn't caused by him; it was initiated by Yuri himself.
It signified one thing: Yuri had awakened to mana!
But that wasn't all.
Unlike before, he was now actively gathering mana on his own.
The fluctuating absorption rate indicated his novice skill.
John breathed a sigh of relief. "We've crossed the hurdle."
While most people could perceive mana, only a chosen few could intentionally absorb it.
For John, mana absorption was merely the preparatory stage; the real journey was about to begin.
He addressed Yuri with a calm tone, "Listen carefully to what I'm about to say."
"The nature of mana is inherently volatile. Merely drawing it into your body will cause it to dissipate. Therefore, you must now concentrate it within your flesh. In martial arts, we call this... the nucleus."
The creation of this tiny seed marked the true beginning of martial arts.
"The characteristics of the nucleus vary depending on the martial arts you've mastered. More precisely, they change based on the specific techniques you've learned."
Heart, nape, head, arms, legs, feet, and more.
The composition, position, and even the number of nuclei differ according to the martial arts' nature.
And the place where John must plant the seed that will serve as the foundation for the martial arts he will pass on to Yuri.
That place was none other than the navel.
The body's center, where mana circulation is most balanced and free.
The martial arts of the Redner family, which John had mastered, focused on creating nuclei at the navel.
"Don't be surprised," John continued as his hand touched Yuri's back.
"From now on, my mana will guide yours. Remember, this is the path of mana you'll devote your life to."
Simultaneously, John released his own mana, pushing it into Yuri's back.
Manipulating another person's body with one's mana was a task that required considerable skill in mana manipulation.
As John's hand touched Yuri's back, the events unfolding within his body became vividly clear in John's mind.
He couldn't help but be slightly surprised.
"Remarkable!"
Since the last time, John had noticed something unusual about Yuri's mana absorption rate.
But upon closer examination, it wasn't just the speed of absorption that was remarkable.
"The accumulation rate, permeability, transmission rate... All of them are at a significant level!"
The three main efficiency criteria of mana were far surpassing normal values.
"Similar to mine... No, perhaps even surpassing mine."
Comparing Yuri's current abilities to his own childhood, John was certain that Yuri's previous talent was at least on par with his own, if not greater.
It was astonishing.
"Heh heh."
Initially, he thought Yuri was just a clueless novice unable to sense mana, but now it seemed like a monstrous talent had emerged.
John's lips curled into a slight smile.
The smile he wore now was akin to the one he had when he first witnessed Yuri using Divine Power.
"A monstrous talent!"
Once again, a sense of anticipation swelled in John's chest.
What more would this young prodigy reveal to him?
What other surprises lay in store?
He was genuinely excited.
With this anticipation in mind, John manipulated his mana.
Alongside him, a refreshing stream of mana began to weave its way into Yuri's body.
"Come, see for yourself!"
In the world of martial arts, there were countless techniques, each with its own unique "mana path."
If one mastered the path of vision, an appropriate nucleus would be formed.
And what John was about to impart to Yuri was the product of unwavering determination born from a single-minded resolve to shatter barriers.
Despite countless years of research, he had never once succeeded in creating a seed.
Not until now.
For the first time, a new system of mana paths, unknown even to John, was being etched into Yuri's body.
Yuri's mana, guided by John's direction, flowed effortlessly along the path.
"That's it!"
Although it was the first glimpse of the mana path, John had no doubt that a nucleus would be formed as a result.
He had poured over a decade into birthing this mana path.
With the years he had invested, failure was not an option.
"Know the glory! The owner of this mana path!"
With John's unwavering conviction, the mana path was gradually etched into Yuri's body, leading inexorably to its destination near the navel.
Where the nucleus would be born.
"At last!"
After years of toil, the moment for the first fruit to blossom had arrived.
"Reveal yourself!"
But what should have borne fruit...
‘…..?’
John's mind froze.
"Huh?"
All that remained was the birth of a tiny nucleus near Yuri's navel.
But...
"Huh? It's gone?"
The nucleus hadn't formed.
Not only did the nucleus fail to materialize, but the mana that should have been inside Yuri vanished without a trace.
"This can't be happening!"
With a mixture of shock and bewilderment, John attempted to guide the mana once again.
Perhaps due to having carved the path once, the mana flowed even faster and more accurately this time.
But after the second attempt...
"Huh? Still nothing?"
The outcome was the same.
Once again, the nucleus failed to form, and the mana that had been flowing smoothly disappeared without a trace.
Despite John's repeated efforts to guide the mana along the path, the nucleus refused to coalesce.
As time passed, John withdrew his hand from Yuri's back, his face blank with shock.
"It was there... and now it's gone?"
In disbelief, John muttered to himself.
Yuri, wearing an innocent expression, innocently asked, "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? Where did you stash that mana you had earlier? Where did it disappear to?"
"Oh, that?"
Yuri immediately understood John's question, puzzled by the events unfolding within his own body.
Though John had guided the path, it was Yuri who had manipulated the mana.
So naturally, he should have known.
But all Yuri felt was the mana dissipating.
As Yuri chuckled and scratched the back of his head, John's frustration erupted.
"Why the hell not?! Why can't anything be normal for once? Is there anything this damned kid does that's not bizarre?! Why can't you just make a damn mana nucleus like everyone else?!"
Despite only attempting to manipulate mana once, John was overwhelmed by the myriad of unforeseen variables.
His expression was one of frustration.
In response, Yuri stood firm, shoulders squared, and stomach pushed out.
"There's an old saying..."
"...."
"Geniuses face trials."
"Geniuses are just plain ridiculous! Tell me where you hid that mana right now, you crazy bastard!"
"How can I tell you when I really don't know?"
"Why don't you know? It happened inside your own body!"
"How am I supposed to know! Maybe the method your crazy inspiration taught me to manipulate mana was flawed?"
"And what, you didn't think to mention that sooner? You're not supposed to play around with things like that!"
"I mean, how would I know?"
Yuri and John heatedly deliberated for a while, determined to uncover the whereabouts of the vanished mana. They quickly took their seats and agreed to keep trying until they found some answers.
From then on, it was an endless cycle of manipulating mana along the mana road. As time passed, Yuri's manipulation of mana became increasingly proficient, yet there was still no sign of the nucleus forming.
After numerous attempts, John came to a realization: "Mana isn't being expelled externally."
This revelation only deepened the mystery. How could so much mana vanish without a trace from within Yuri's body?
John concentrated with all his senses, as if he hadn't focused so intensely in the past ten years.
Had his efforts paid off?
"Eureka!"
After dozens of mana cycles, just as Yuri was beginning to tire mentally from manipulating mana, John finally discovered traces of the vanished mana. And in the following attempt, he successfully traced the disappearing mana.
In that moment of exhaustion for both Yuri and John, they had achieved a valuable breakthrough through their combined efforts.
But John couldn't rejoice. Instead, he was horrified by the truth he had uncovered.
The whereabouts of Yuri's vanished mana... It was none other than...
"This...this madness?!"
It was in the aorta.
And it was there.
The reason why Yuri's body hadn't accumulated mana.
The culprit that had greedily absorbed the mana Yuri had accumulated before the nucleus could form!
"Haha..."
John laughed almost hysterically at the revelation.
"...This is insane."
He couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.
The nucleus he had longed to create was right there, nestled within Yuri's aorta.
"In the...in the aorta...a nucleus is embedded?"
This was unprecedented.
It was never supposed to be there.
The thought of a nucleus existing in the aorta, a place where it should never be, shattered all of John's accumulated knowledge and common sense.
As John stared at Yuri, his expression contorted, his inner thoughts spilled out involuntarily.
"...How can such a person exist?"
It was a deeply sincere sentiment.
And then, an additional suggestion slipped out: "Shall we dissect him?"
John's eyes flickered with mischief.
Yuri, feeling a chill run down his spine from the seriousness in John's gaze, was filled with a sense of foreboding.
Fantasy.
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