nycdaug Chapter 70 Mana Control
Chapter 70 Mana Control
Maya's attitude changed noticeably. She led Morse to a certain part of the high-tech training facility. Her previous relaxed demeanor instantly transformed into a stern one, as if she had become a different person, displaying a more serious and authoritative side.
“Stand here,” Maya commanded, pointing to a designated spot on the training field. “We’ll begin with the basics of mana control.”
Morse followed instructions and stood in the position Maya had indicated. Her sudden change in attitude piqued his curiosity, and he couldn't wait to learn from her.
Maya took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on Morse. “Mana is the essence of all supernatural things. It’s the energy that flows through our world, and as hunters, we use it to accomplish incredible feats. In this facility, you can see tiny particles of mana essence scattered everywhere.” She gestured to the faintly shimmering particles around her, which seemed to be dancing in the air.
“Under normal circumstances, there is a mixture of various types of magic in the environment,” Maya continued. “These magical particles respond to our own supernatural energy, and hunters can manipulate them through their specialized skills or direct understanding.”
Morse nodded, absorbing her knowledge. He observed Maya extend her hand, and the essence of magic seemed to gather towards her, forming a swirling mass around her palm.
“A skill is a pre-defined technique that manipulates magic in a specific way,” Maya demonstrated, her voice filled with confidence. “If you possess the right skill, you can channel magic through it to complete tasks without worrying too much about finesse. The skill will do the work for you.”
Morse stared at Maya's display with an analytical gaze. He observed how the magical essence responded to Maya's control, forming different patterns and shapes at her command.
Maya's gestures changed, and the essence of her magic once again dispersed into the air.
"But what if someone doesn't have the right [skills]?"
Maya smiled knowingly. "This is where mana control truly comes into play. Hunters without [skills] need to learn how to directly manipulate mana. You need to understand the nuances of different types of mana, how they flow, and how they interact."
Morse's gaze became more focused as he listened intently to Maya's explanation.
Maya's expression turned serious again. "But it's not easy. It requires a deep connection with the supernatural elements, an innate sense of the rhythm of magic, and the ability to guide and shape it in a precise way."
Morse watched as Maya reached out her hand again, this time with a different gesture. The essence of magic responded, swirling around her fingers in intricate patterns.
'That's incredibly precise control.'
Morse's expression became complex, a mixture of understanding and determination, as he continued to observe.
Maya glanced at Morse, then continued, “That’s not all. Traits, such as spatial control or affinity for specific elements, give hunters a natural advantage in mana management. But for those who don’t have these traits, it’s a challenging but rewarding process.”
“I understand…” Morse nodded. He was absorbing what Maya was showing him and digesting the knowledge she was sharing.
“However, not every trait is a blessing,” Maya continued. “Sometimes developing a trait is much more difficult than simply controlling magic, or certain traits make it impossible for people to understand and use other types of magic.”
Maya's words piqued Morse's curiosity. He listened intently, analyzing the information in his mind.
“For example,” Maya continued, “some [traits] can grant individuals enhanced physical attributes—strength, speed, durability—but these may come at the cost of an inability to effectively manipulate external magic. Their bodies become conductors of primal power, but lack the finesse to handle complex magical operations.”
Indeed, Morse knew of some individuals with such abilities. There was a madman who had challenged celebrities around the world to ensure he was the strongest.
"On the other hand, some [traits] allow individuals to use specific types of magic that they would not normally be able to use. For example, healing magic or light magic. These [traits] allow individuals to access magic that most hunters cannot normally use."
Morse narrowed his eyes slightly.
'That's why I can't use fire magic to enchant my arrows.'
This is why he cannot use the mana in the environment to generate fireballs or enchanted arrows like others, and this is why he finds it so difficult.
"These types of traits are often difficult to understand because they use mostly different types of magic, and they can't intuitively learn how to control their magic. I guess that's the case for you too."
Seeing her speak like that, Morse understood why Maya had become the first student. Although this knowledge was common sense, it shouldn't have been important to Maya. Yet she still remembered all those details, which meant her memory was exceptionally good.
Her analysis was completely accurate, and she was able to make such a prediction based on just one battle.
'Her observation skills are also quite excellent,' Morse nodded in response.
"As expected, that red magic is not the type I can use, which means it must be your characteristic."
Maya's lips curved into a satisfied smile; she knew she had the opportunity to mentor others from scratch.
'It's like teaching a newborn baby to walk, it's so much fun!'
Maya couldn't help but notice how attentively Morse was listening to her. His attention never wavered. The gloomy aura surrounding him seemed to dissipate slightly, as if he genuinely enjoyed listening to her.
'You're a strange fellow, junior.' She shook her head inwardly, turning her attention back to their training, preparing to guide him to the next step.
“We will begin with the basics of mana control,” Maya began, her voice steady. “Since you cannot naturally sense other types of mana, I will teach you how to manipulate primal mana, which has no attributes. You will first need to learn how to condense your mana.”
Morse watched intently, and Maya's expression grew even more focused. She stretched out her hand, and a faint halo of light began to form between her palms. It was the performance of a beginner, lacking the fine control that Maya usually displayed.
“Do you see that?” Maya said calmly, as she manipulated primal magic. “That is attribute-less magic, the foundation of all magical energy.”
Morse nodded, his eyes fixed on her manipulation, his ability [Insightful Perception] observing the nature of her manipulation.
“Now, watch how I gather magic,” Maya continued. The glimmer of light began to gather, gradually forming a denser, more tangible shape. “Through practice, you can shape and channel magic like you would clay.”
Morse's gaze remained fixed on the flowing energy in Maya's palm.
Maya's next step demonstrated her control over magic. She channeled the magic into a long, thin, thread-like structure that extended from her palm. This thread swayed gently in the air, showcasing Maya's skillful manipulation of magical forms.
“Right now, manipulating magical power is about technique,” Maya explained. “You can use it to remove objects, grab things, and even influence your surroundings. It’s like having an invisible extension. Swordsmen use this technique as an extension of their sword energy for ranged attacks, or they might concentrate the energy directly on themselves. From what you see, you know how to envelop yourself in magic and enhance your weapon, right?”
"really."
"However, your approach is still immature. What you are doing lacks a clear goal and you don't know the necessary steps."
Morse nodded, accepting her assessment. He realized that while he could manipulate magic in certain ways, his control lacked finesse.
This is precisely what he has been trying to improve, but without clear guidance, it is indeed difficult to do.
“Now, give it a try,” Maya instructed, looking at him encouragingly.
Morse closed his eyes and focused on the magical essence within him. He tried to shape it without a specific goal, just as he had done before.
However, this time, he felt somewhat frustrated. The magic seemed elusive, as if it were slipping away from his control.
This is much harder than I imagined.
He understood why people were so envious of geniuses when it came to magical perception. After all, Morse had never had any access to magic, and he, coming from Earth, lived in a world without magic.
Therefore, it was natural for him to not understand or master magic in his first attempt.
Maya's keen observation allowed her to see Morse's struggle. She moved closer, her expression open and honest. "Junior, look closely."
Maya smoothly extended her hand, pointing to a small stone on the ground. Her magic surged and coalesced at her fingertips, forming a subtle yet distinct halo. The halo stretched out, gently enveloping the stone and lifting it from the ground.
“Do you see that?” Maya’s voice was calm, and her movements were very controlled. “I set a clear intention and guided the magic purposefully. Not by forcing it, but by understanding its flow.”
The stone is suspended in the air, influenced by Mayan magic.
“Now, give it a try,” Maya encouraged, stepping back to give Morse some space.
Morse took a deep breath and focused again. He visualized the stone in his mind, imagining his magic extending towards it. Slowly, he tried to guide his magic toward the stone.
But the effort was unsuccessful. The stone remained unmoved, and Morse frowned, concentrating his efforts.
Maya approached again, this time even closer to Morse. She reached out and gently touched his arm from behind.
thud
Morse was slightly startled, feeling the unexpected touch.
'What is this woman doing?' he thought immediately. In any case, in his mind, Maya was not the kind of person who would casually touch others and make them feel 'uncomfortable'.
However, Maya entered her serious mode and focused on guiding him. Ignoring his initial reaction, she continued to increase the pressure, gripping his arm firmly.
"Junior brother, feel the flow of magical power. Let it become an extension of your intentions."
Despite his discomfort, Morse felt a slight tingling sensation where Maya's hand touched him. Her touch seemed to guide his attention and help him harmonize the energy of his magic.
'Tsk... What am I thinking?' Morse felt a little ashamed seeing that Maya genuinely wanted to help him. The fact that he was judging her actions while she was trying to help him made him feel uneasy.
“Focus your attention on the stone,” Maya’s voice was firm. “Feel the magic responding to your intentions.”
Following her instructions, Morse no longer paid attention to the surrounding distractions and proceeded as usual.
He closed his eyes again and focused his mind. Under Maya's unwavering guidance, this time he could feel the faint pull of magic, like a gentle current drawing his senses. He concentrated his intention on the stone, imagining the magic flowing towards it.
Then, the stone trembled slightly and rose a short distance off the ground.
Maya gradually loosened her control over his arm, and upon seeing the magical threads connecting him to the stone, she revealed a gentle and encouraging smile that continued to curve upwards.
"Very good, junior. You have begun to connect with the flow of magic. You have finally taken the first step."