<p>Skills on the changing Earth activate through mana as a medium. Without mana, you can't trigger them. But lacking skills doesn't mean you can't wield mana. If you understand how to handle mana itself—the very essence of skills—then you can manifest magic without any skill assistance.</p>
I blew out the flames dancing at my fingertips. This should be safe enough.
Right now, I was the only one on Earth who could wield mana. The gap in specs between those who could and ordinary people who couldn't was like night and day. Stepping out for a short while wouldn't be an issue.
I turned to Cha Eun-joo. "The postponed summit—what time was it?"
"Uh... three in the afternoon!"
"Tell them I'll be there."
"Got it!"
"And that I might run a little late."
As Cha Eun-joo pulled out her phone to make the calls, Lee Min-ho spread his hands in bewilderment. "What just happened?"
I pieced together the info from the two updates and offered my analysis. "Seems like, separate from the updates, the mana density across the entire Earth is rising as time passes."
"You mean..."
"Mana's building up, bit by bit, in the air, the soil, living things, even inanimate objects. The Earth's taking it in."
Surprise washed over everyone's faces. I added one more thing. "That's why I can use mana even during the update period."
I formed a small orb of light in my palm and swept my gaze across the room from left to right. A soft "ooh" of admiration rippled through.
Kim Min-seok's eyes sparkled with excitement. "D-does that mean we can wield mana too?"
I leaned down, scrutinizing him. Eyes narrowed, closer... even closer. Like a scientist peering through a microscope at microbes, I pierced deep into his core. There, in the formless nebula of his inner mana, I detected faint, minuscule waves.
"Hmm... I can definitely sense some mana."
"Whoa!"
Kim Min-seok's face lit up like the sun. But two seconds later, I shook my head, shattering that joy. "Probably won't work, though."
"Huh...?"
His expression crumbled in disappointment.
"Fundamentally, the amount's too tiny. At that level, even I might not be able to handle it. Pointless to try, really."
Kim Min-seok's shoulders slumped. "Plus, properly operating mana takes a serious amount of time. You might pick up basic spells quick, though."
"Th-then—!"
His face brightened again.
"Assuming you had enough mana, of course."
"Aww..."
And just like that, he looked like he'd been chewing gum that lost its flavor. Hwang Cheol-ho, who'd been watching with arms crossed and keen interest, spoke up. "So how do you handle mana, Sertina?"
"Simple. I've got way more capacity to store it than you guys. Plus, I spent centuries honing it in my old world."
"C-centuries..."
Yunsia gaped, letting out a disbelieving chuckle. Time no mere Earth human could even dream of.
I shrugged. "No need to get down about it. Usually takes less than a year to awaken mana. With updates piling up and mana levels rising, you'll probably get your chance to practice soon enough."
The guild members looked quietly moved. Those reverent stares felt a bit heavy. I averted my eyes, scratching my cheek awkwardly.
Then Lee Min-ho, chin in hand and deep in thought, asked, "By the way... any insights on what's happening to Earth, Sertina?"
He probably meant Astria Online turning real and the updates. I gathered my thoughts and replied. "None. It's not something I've seen even in other worlds. The monsters are all different from anything back home, too."
"Ah."
Lee Min-ho nodded, a touch disappointed. He'd probably hoped I held some key to solving this unprecedented crisis. Sadly, I truly knew nothing.
But I had a hunch. Since it wasn't certain, I spoke cautiously. "Just a guess, but... there might be some kind of channel somewhere in this world funneling mana in."
Silence blanketed the room. Those massive surges of mana appearing and vanishing in an instant? Definitely unnatural.
"I'm thinking maybe some artificial intervention created a bridge between an external dimension and Earth."
Too extreme for natural changes in an irreversible world. That was my take. The guild swallowed hard, faces tense.
"Don't look at me like that. It's just a guess—it could be wrong."
The expectant gazes faded one by one. Like they were staring at some all-knowing being. What the hell was my image like anyway...? I let the thought drop.
"Anyway, first things first—prep time. No airship means no clue how long it'll take to reach the summit hall."
"I'll come too."
Lee Min-ho raised his hand. "...We agreed it was just Cha Eun-joo."
"Better safe than sorry. You're not at full strength yet."
"Huh? Well, true."
Probably from what he saw last update. I had more mana now, but they still fretted. Fair enough—this amount should be plenty, though.
The rest jumped in eagerly. "Me too!"
"Shouldn't we send a few escorts?"
No real issue, but their goodwill deserved acceptance. Not everyone, though.
"Tier, you can barely handle yourself."
"Huh?"
"Stay and guard the house."
"Hng..."
Her small frame, sans mana, couldn't handle a potential forced march. And so, the trio: Cha Eun-joo, Lee Min-ho, Hwang Cheol-ho.
Before leaving HQ with them, I lingered alone at home to test something. I gathered the formless mana nebula circulating in my body, deploying it like a shroud around me.
All mana to defense.
An invisible barrier cloaked me. Perfect. I spun around, satisfied. This should block most attacks. Bullets from the president's jet? No sweat.
Still, better to check specs properly... I took the elevator to the first-floor lobby. Meeting the guild at the entrance.
Should I hand Lee Min-ho a metal rod and ask him to whack me a few? Lost in thought, I walked—
"Ah, Sertina! There you are."
Cha Eun-joo's voice made me look up. And that instant—
Slip—
"Wha...?"
My forward foot flew back, vision plummeting. Sharp stair edges loomed ahead.
Wait, this is bad—
Thud-thud-thud-crash!
"S-Sertina!"
Screams and rushing footsteps. A mishap from not adapting to my changed body's senses.
"Urk..."
No pain. The barrier absorbed it all. Just a bit dizzy. A voice came from by my head.
"Sertina! You okay?!"
"..."
Somehow, lifting my head felt embarrassing. After a moment's debate, still sprawled with arms outstretched, I said:
"Mm. Good. Performance confirmed."
"Huh...?"
Choi Ah-rin paced the National Assembly corridor, biting her nails in mounting anxiety. How many laps now? Tension swelled as the appointed time neared.
What do I do, what do I do?
Sertina herself was coming. The life-ender. Slayer of three thousand elite players. Sure, good intentions lay beneath, but who knew what demands she'd make now? The fate of the entire nation hung in her hands.
"Haa... And with the update mess, I've got enough headaches already."
Her head throbbed. She tapped her temples with her palm's base. Meeting Sertina terrified her. That impassive face hid thoughts impossible to read.
Whatever the agenda, I'm at a disadvantage.
Sertina had saved Korea and asked for nothing. This summit she proposed? Surely about that "price." Plus, furious government alliance players had flooded Eterna Guild amid the chaos, swelling her forces. Facing her with such solid justification in a summit? Choi Ah-rin truly, truly resented this hollow presidency.
"I wanna cry..."
"Madam President, Sertina has arrived."
As she grumbled in wait, fate knocked. No escaping destiny. Straightening her suit collar, Choi Ah-rin strode out with as much dignity as she could muster.
Yeah. Do what I can. Like back then.
That unyielding will against the government alliance in dire straits. It hadn't been futile or wrong.
I won't back down this time either.
But the moment she steeled herself and faced Sertina—
Choi Ah-rin plunged into profound bewilderment.