Although it was just a mock siege war and not the real deal, the scale was quite massive.
Even though it was merely team selection, the plaza, as large as a city, was filled with people waiting for the mock siege war.
In the streets, there were several people sitting in what looked like audience seating, buying and selling various goods.
“Lord Black has put in quite a bit of effort this time. I heard it might even be broadcast live on TV…”
“TV?”
“Not the public broadcast. They plan to do that for the real siege war.”
Yena shrugged her shoulders and walked through the crowd.
Although she had seen it a few times before, it’s no exaggeration to say that Deoen’s influence far exceeded the typical ‘game’ level.
It’s no wonder that the company that was once Deoen, Nutri Company, became the number one in the world.
[In anticipation]
[Where will it be this time?]
[Public broadcast?]
[Lily could definitely be featured on public broadcast, hahaha]
[For real lol]
[Legendary lineup that could rival the official one]
[Lily Grand General – Day 7 of the wishes]
[So when does it start?]
After wandering around the plaza for a while, we finally arrived at the center where we could see a man surrounded by several people handling business.
He had a large build and black hair.
He wore black armor that was thin enough to be more for decoration than for actual protection.
He would likely wear much thicker armor during battle.
As he instructed several people, he looked over at us and approached with a warm expression.
“Ah! You all came together. Nice to meet you. I’m streamer Black.”
Black, the organizer of the mock siege war and the one who sent me the invitation message, reached out his hand for a handshake.
Thud.
I accepted the handshake.
‘…Strong, huh?’
The wave of black magical power coursing through him was unsettling.
It’s no wonder people talk about the Triad.
At least compared to Leo, who’s next to me, he didn’t seem lacking at all.
‘In fact, in some ways, he’s much more…’
“Um, excuse me?”
“Oh, sorry. I was just lost in thought.”
I must have held on for too long.
Black nodded, looking a bit bewildered, while Yena stared at me in disbelief.
What’s going on all of a sudden?
“What’s wrong?”
“…No? It was nothing. Just found it fascinating.”
“?”
Both Yena and I wondered about the sudden reaction and checked the chat window.
[?]
[?]
[Whoa]
[This is something]
[No way! I can’t let Lily go!]
[Oh no! I can’t give Lily up!]
[Is someone like Black your type…? That’s tricky.]
[Hmm.]
[Where did the contact-averse Lily go…?]
[No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!]
[Wasn’t this a love triangle?]
[LOL, turns out it’s a square, for real!]
[So Lily was a woman too…?]
Ah, that’s what you’re saying.
I chuckled and shook my head.
“You’re stronger than I expected. Your magical power is extraordinary.”
The amount of mana residing in this guy named Black.
With this level, wouldn’t he be at least as good as a past Sword Master?
Humans may seem insignificant compared to Celestials and Demons, but if one becomes a Sword Master, that’s a different story.
Even if it’s impossible up to the Intermediate level, I could exchange a few moves with a younger Lower Celestial.
‘Of course, I would lose.’
No matter how strong one gets, the racial difference can’t be overcome.
Black asked curiously.
“Speaking of which, I heard you used special techniques before. Can you feel such things?”
“Yeah. When you use techniques, don’t you use the mana in your body? Then you can feel it enough.”
Since I didn’t learn techniques through the system, that’s obvious, but Deoen’s users might be different.
However, no matter how much the system restricts the skills you can use, in the end, it’s up to you.
If you directly manipulate your mana, you can feel it.
[…?]
[Can that even happen?]
[This is seriously a martial arts novel LOL.]
[▣White Autumn: Please don’t curse.]
[What’s that?]
[Maybe they just wanted to hold hands?]
[But seeing the weird techniques, that might be right.]
[?????]
[If you feel mana, can you use the Heart Sword?]
[Isn’t it just a skill that activates?]
[I can’t feel anything though.]
The chat window was still lost in confusion.
Of course, it seemed like both Yena and Black didn’t understand either.
‘…Still, someone like Yena should be able to feel at least a bit.’
Yena faintly imitated the ‘Roar of the Spear.’
She might not be aware of it, but it means she unconsciously moved her mana herself.
Suddenly.
At that moment, something tugged at my sleeve from below.
“I think I know!”
“Lord Leo?”
“Well, during Spirit Ascension, there’s this weird stirring inside. It’s kind of… tingling? Oh, by the way, Spirit Ascension means becoming one with the spirit.”
“At that moment, something was strangely churning inside me. I guess you could say it was buzzing…? Oh, by the way, Spirit Ascension is about becoming one with the spirit.”
“I know.”
“It’s a technique that allows you to temporarily become a spirit by merging with a spirit you’ve contracted with or have a close bond with.”
“It’s mainly used by spirit users in times of crisis or when great power is needed, and I’ve actually tried it myself.”
“Not that it was particularly impressive.”
“Even after merging, the blood of the Celestial Race was too strong compared to the spirit, so it didn’t really boost my strength, and there were instances where the spirit, feeling its essence fading, cried and fled.”
“Unless it’s at the level of the Spirit King, one cannot handle the blood of the Celestial Race.”
I nodded my head.
“That’s right. It probably feels similar.”
“Ooh…”
“The essence of spirit power and mana isn’t really that different. It’s just a matter of elemental attributes.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. Once you get used to the power, you’ll be able to use independent techniques without relying on skills.”
“That’s how spirit users are.”
[Oh…]
[Why is there a lecture broadcast happening all of a sudden?]
[It’s informative, though?]
[LMAO]
[A lecture on mental skills with 78,000 viewers, LOL]
[So how do you even use mental skills, ah LOL]
[Is it only for spirit users? Can others not use it?]
[Don’t you just need to feel the mana?]
[LMAO]
[By the way, where did Lily get that knowledge from?]
[For real, LOL]
Black was listening in a daze, and maybe realizing it, he finally spoke up.
“Oh, anyway. I’ve prepared a rest area over there until everyone starts, so feel free to relax. I have some tasks to attend to.”
“Thank you.”
■
“So really, what is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“The feeling thing. Is it for real?”
The rest area was quite spacious.
It was hard to believe it was a building in the desert, with cool air blowing and all sorts of snacks and comfortable sofas or bedding available.
Yena sat on a sofa and asked again.
“That independent mana or whatever… can you really use it?”
“You’ve already used it, Miss Yena.”
[?]
[For real?]
[Huh?]
[Are you talking about that tree?]
[Didn’t it fail back then?]
[OMG]
[Don’t you just stab the tree with a spear?]
[Wasn’t it just a blunt hit?]
I also sat on the sofa opposite Yena.
Next to me, Leo was eating pudding and offered it to me when he saw me sit down.
After I said it was fine, I looked back at Yena.
I looked back at Yena.
“That was just me messing with Miss Yena, but I actually succeeded, albeit slightly.”
“…I don’t think I can do that again.”
“If you use it easily from the start, it’s not a technique.”
I’ve also put in a lot of effort to master this technique.
But I can’t just take the easy way out.
Of course, Yena’s level isn’t something to be ignored either.
“Manipulating mana is a very basic way. If you can do this well…”
I picked a snack from the basket between the sofas.
It was a snack that looked like pepero.
Once I transferred my mana into the snack, faint mana shimmered on the surface.
“This is how it works.”
What should I call this?
Snack Blade?
“Wow, that’s insane.”
[?]
[LOL]
[Snack Sword ㄷㄷ]
[I heard knights can smash rocks with twigs, haha]
[Is he just using it without a skill? What even is this?]
[Can he use anything?]
[Is that just regular enhancement, not a skill?]
“Yeah. It’s just a regular use.”
Puff. The mana from the snack scattered.
Now, the snack returned to being an ordinary piece and crunched away in my mouth.
“As long as you can use it, you can apply it anywhere. But that doesn’t mean skills are bad or less useful. Techniques with the premise of ‘always’ and clear consumption values are definitely handy.”
All the techniques I use are incomplete ones.
They’re crafted based on my past self.
Since I haven’t optimized them separately, I can’t achieve their original efficiency with my weakened body.
There’s not enough time or resources for optimization.
On the other hand, skills that always unleash a certain level of power can maintain their original might as long as the conditions are met.
In the end, both have their pros and cons.
“…When I see things like this, I really don’t know what Lady Lily is all about.”
“Well…”
“What do you mean by ‘well’? You were saying she’s an alien before.”
“That’s true.”
Whether viewed as a Celestial or a Human,
neither is from Earth.
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