The sacred ground of Mages, the Master of the Magic Tower, and a top-ranking high ranker.
In terms of instantaneous power, Neris can be compared to the rankers around the top 10, and she has long been a figure of respect for numerous Mage users.
However, she has been harboring doubts for quite some time.
In reality, it wasn’t that long ago.
Several months ago, a super rookie named Lily appeared like a comet, bringing a new concept of combat called ‘Independent Use of Mana.’
Many users took on the challenge of this entirely different method from ‘skills,’ and Neris did as well.
Since Lily was capable of handling magic, there was no reason for the Master of the Tower not to give it a try.
“……”
But she failed.
The problem started with sensing the mana.
The idea of mana teleportation and manifestation sounded utterly absurd.
After several attempts, Neris continuously failed and ultimately gave up on using mana.
In Deoen, there are numerous combat methods, and this is just one of the ‘many.’
She is strong enough without having to resort to such a method.
With that self-comforting thought, months passed, and the Academy was established.
The skills of numerous Rankers surged. The mages under her command were all raving about the wonders of mana teleportation.
Except for herself.
‘Why?’
A question arises.
Isn’t this just another combat method, or rather the domain of an essential ‘talent’?
Is it really so natural that while everyone else senses mana, she alone cannot?
‘Why can’t even beginner Mages awaken the mana they sense?’
So, she decided to ask.
Whether her strength, which is far superior, truly lacks talent.
If there’s no talent, why doesn’t she have it?
Despite the potential downsides, she asked…
“You have absolutely no talent.”
The truth was chillingly cold.
■
“…What?”
Neris, unable to accept the truth, displays a shocking expression.
She denies reality, but sadly, it is the fact.
“…What did you say?”
“You have absolutely no talent. Whether it’s magic or mana.”
This revelation would be quite shocking for Neris, but it was equally shocking for me to witness.
Mage Neris.
She cannot sense ‘mana.’
During the time when Neris summoned a gigantic magic circle to attack the Kraken, it was confirmed that she had no understanding of mana whatsoever.
She solely relies on the system’s ‘skills’ to activate magic.
As a result, her magic emerges in a completely refined and standardized form.
Whereas ordinary Rankers would modify their skills or combine them with certain techniques, even if using the same skill, the form would slightly vary.
But she relied entirely on skills.
‘Like a professional gamer playing a game on a computer.’
She was furiously pressing the keyboard.
“Neris can’t naturally feel mana. Since she can’t sense mana, she can’t use any magic other than skills, and she can’t even modify basic skills.”
“No, still, lacking talent is just too…!”
“You’ve tried this, right?”
Thud.
Neris’s eyes trembled as she looked at the paper in my hand.
The basic magic of ‘Fireball’ shared during the first class at the Academy.
Fireball is such a basic magic that everyone struggled with using magic besides skills at first, but eventually, as time passed, they could use it freely.
This magic formula felt like an introductory guide that had already spread far and wide; if you stopped a passing user and asked them to give it a shot, seven out of ten would probably be able to use it.
Among the remaining three, two would be people who didn’t know the magic formula at all.
“……”
And right in front of me, Neris was one of the ‘one’ among those ten.
‘A person who knows the magic formula but can’t use it.’
That was the goal and the highest level for mages, Master of the Magic Tower Neris.
[?]
[No way, Neris doesn’t have talent?]
[? She can’t use Fireball?]
[Not being able to use Fireball is a disaster, right? LOL]
[Wow]
[How did she score 36th?]
[Honestly, isn’t understanding mana not that hard…]
[For real, LOL]
[But people who can’t feel mana, even beating them to death won’t help, ‘cause that’s me.]
Neris lowered her head for a moment, then moved her staff.
“I can use it.”
Whoosh! A sphere of fire erupted from her staff.
A perfectly refined and clean-burning sphere of fire.
“You used a skill, didn’t you?”
“… What’s the problem with that? Whether I use skills or manipulate mana however I want, doesn’t it matter?!”
Whoosh!
The flames soared higher according to Neris’s emotions.
Of course, saying her emotions soared literally meant the staff was shaking violently, causing the flames to move with it.
The flames retained the same size as when it was first cast.
“I never said it was bad. I mentioned this during my first class as well.”
“…?”
“The way I use magic doesn’t fit the users; it’s a new method. Users use skills defined by the system, whereas I manipulate mana directly.”
It’s just a difference between casting something created by oneself and something provided by the system.
In fact, in that regard, Neris’s performance was remarkable.
“Neris doesn’t lack talent in mana; her talent for ‘technique’ is truly outstanding.”
“Your talent is truly extraordinary.”
“…But everyone else is doing it.”
“Earlier, you were casting dozens of skills in your head, right? Like in a fighting game.”
“That’s right.”
Neris couldn’t understand mana, but she understood skills.
So, she combined her countless skills to create and unleash a single amazing magic.
Of course, this combination wasn’t just about mixing techniques; it was a ‘combo’ format created by stacking multiple skills on top of each other.
‘If you use a certain magic, its performance amplifies, and if you use another magic later, additional effects are triggered, and you have to use some magic separately to achieve the greatest efficiency.’
It was a power that couldn’t be realized without understanding the power and performance of each skill 100%.
“If this were a computer game, Lady Neris’ ranking would be much higher. It’s just that each path is different.”
“……”
“I really think it’s impressive.”
In terms of the past, her ‘knowledge’ of magic was outstanding, but she was a case of someone who couldn’t feel mana naturally and became a scholar.
Such a case would have never become a mage unless they were reborn or obtained a special opportunity, but Neris encountered a chance called the ‘System.’
[In short, she’s talentless but overcame it with nooooooormal effort?]
[ㄷㄷㄷ]
[Being talentless is still a talent.]
[So doesn’t that mean Neris has talent too? LOL Combining skills is a skill after all.]
[It sounds cool.]
Neris seemed a bit pleased, smirking and scratching her head.
“Is that so…?”
“Of course! Have some confidence.”
“Then, could you give me the academy application…?”
“That’s not happening.”
Even though she found an opportunity, that opportunity allowed Neris to use magic but didn’t let her use ‘mana.’
So, there’s nothing I can teach.
“You don’t need to come to the academy, Neris. If you force yourself to learn mana, you’ll only waste time.”
“But if there’s some method that Lady Lily could enlighten me on…”
“If there were such a thing, I wouldn’t have to teach hard, right?”
I can provide knowledge or assistance on how to feel mana, but ultimately, experiencing mana is something you have to do yourself.
And Neris was born unable to feel mana.
In gaming terms, it’s like starting with a debuff called ‘Mana Insensitivity.’
If Neris could feel mana, she would become multiple times stronger… no, dozens of times stronger, but…
‘Do I really need to?’
Neris was already strong enough.
It would be much better for her to fight as she has been than awkwardly trying to apply mana.
Above all, Neris’ fighting style was possible precisely because she couldn’t feel mana, so it’s a meaningless fantasy.
“Just keep raising your specs the way you’ve been and keep researching combinations. You’ll get stronger.”
“Then you’ll become stronger.”
“Yep!”
“Then let’s go right away.”
The Floating Ship sails smoothly over the calm sea.
According to the information received, fortunately, Black and the Magician have moved separately in the East.
If the owner of the Bracelet of Sealing had accompanied them, it might have been a bit difficult, but eventually, we should be able to catch them over time.
What we should be more concerned about right now is the top-ranked guild, the Angel Guild.
“The Angel Guild doesn’t have the Bracelet of Sealing. They’re all strong, but if they can’t seal it, the damage will be quite severe.”
“Then shall we capture the Angel Guild?”
“First, we just need to seal it, then we’ll see how it goes. After all, we need to stop the World Boss.”
No matter how much contribution degree or raids matter, the ultimate goal is to thwart the World Boss.
If I focus too much on getting my own gains, it won’t lead to anything good.
The Floating Ship moved straight to the North.
■
“Huh? We caught everything?”
“…You caught it?”
In the Northwest sea.
The boss that the Angel Guild was facing was surprisingly close to us, and we were able to reach the destination in less than ten minutes.
Contrary to our expectations of a fierce battle, the Angel Guild had already finished fighting.
The sea had been calm for a while, and they were tidying up and resting at the broken port.
Uriel, who was polishing a hammer, replied.
“Yes~ Earlier, Lord Heavenly Horse came and just sealed it before leaving.”
“It was quite a threat before it was sealed, but once it was sealed, it became easy.”
“Easy?”
Even if it was sealed, a 129-level World Boss isn’t weak by any means.
Feeling somewhat puzzled, I looked at Michael, who was radiating a bright white light.
This level of power could rival the Sword Saint or Leo.
“Oh, did you do a 4th transfer?”
“I was lucky. The advancement quest is about taking down intermediate World Bosses, and I just happened to clear stage 4 of the Sea Dungeon before the Great Cataclysm occurred.”
In the end, this side also didn’t face any problems.
[Then what to do]
[Is stage 4 not appearing again?]
[Should we just wait?]
[Should we go to the Desert?]
[If we search further in the Sea, it might appear?]
“What did Lord Heavenly Horse say when he left?”
“Well… he appeared so suddenly just to seal it and then disappeared, so we didn’t have a chance to talk. He looked very busy.”
“Without saying anything?”
“Yes.”
“……”
What could be so urgent that he left without a word?
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