Terraforming: The Unprecedented Awakening

"Congratulations, Trainee Park Chanyoung. It seems you've achieved Mana Awakening. Awakening less than a week after arriving in this world—it's unprecedented!"

Pang! Pang! Brack clapped me on the shoulder as he spoke.

Mana Awakening. I already knew the term. Sure, it'd draw a lot of attention awakening this fast, but I couldn't hide my traits forever. With Brack shadowing me every hour for the next two weeks, it'd be impossible for him not to notice something off.

For now... play dumb?

I had a rough idea from the original story, but I put on a curious face like it was all new to me. Not asking about changes in my own body would look even weirder.

"What's Mana Awakening exactly? Does it mean I can use magic? Or gain superhuman strength?"

Heh heh! Brack grinned as he answered, clearly thrilled I'd awakened.

"Basically, every human who comes to this world goes through Mana Awakening, fast like you or not."

"So everyone living in the Shelter..."

"Are all mana awakeners. It's just that their power is incredibly weak."

"...Combatants are different, then."

"Right. A mana-infused body grows stronger without limit the more you train it and fight monsters."

Brack said he'd been doing personal training every day without fail. In fact, during today's session, he'd trained right alongside me. I'd thought he was just showing off the stamina gap to motivate me, but there was more to it.

"But there doesn't seem to be a clear standard for Mana Awakening... Do they just judge it by a certain level of physical strength?"

"Usually, yeah. Except in special cases like yours!"

Poke! Poke! Brack started jabbing my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠chest with his finger. Not once or twice—over and over.

"You've seen it, right? Bennett... ahem. Instructor Gwangnyeon-i's magic-like feats."

Bennett was Gwangnyeon-i's real name. She hadn't told the trainees, but I'd confirmed it via my Status Window. Brack started to say her name, realized I didn't know it, and switched to Gwangnyeon-i.

Even Brack calls her Gwangnyeon-i... It felt weird hearing such a silly nickname from his straight-laced mouth. And pairing it with "Instructor" was hilariously mismatched.

Brack seemed awkward too, scratching his cheek with the same finger he'd been poking me with.

The "magical" power he meant was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠surely the fireball she'd summoned on day one, or pulling a live chicken out of thin air.

"Ah... yeah. I saw it on the first day."

Ahem! "Among mana awakeners, a tiny fraction develop unique phenomena—powers like magic that no one can explain."

Squeeze! He pressed my chest again, probably ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hinting at my regeneration.

"With a power like that manifesting, we can assume you've awakened."

"Has Instructor Brack ever had anything special like that?"

Brack shook his head firmly.

"No special abilities for me... but I've never felt the lack!"

Crack! He picked up a fist-sized pebble with one hand and crushed it in his grip, saying so.

I got the message. Solid fundamentals and a honed body—no need for gimmicks. His physique was trained to that level.

"With Mana Awakening, your growth will outpace others noticeably!"

Better to let them misunderstand. Whether I'd truly awakened or not was secondary; if my stats spiked from the system, they'd have a plausible explanation. No more playing the "power-sleep" game—I welcomed the misconception with open arms.

"Is my regeneration ability useful? How should I best make use of it?"

Might as well get advice from Brack now. His combat experience dwarfed mine; he might suggest uses I hadn't thought of.

"You're sure it's regeneration... You can sense your own power?"

"Haha! Kinda-sorta, but it's vague. If my hunch is right... nothing amazing, but quick fatigue recovery or healing minor wounds?"

"Even that's plenty useful!"

Hmm— Brack pondered briefly.

"You know it lets you heal small cuts or handle high-intensity training without injury risk..."

"Definitely felt it today."

I glanced at my limbs, moving freely without strain.

"...In combat, your options expand hugely. Trade blows all you want—you come out ahead for sure."

I'd rather not trade flesh if I could help it, but good to know the option. Drag it out into a war of attrition, and the longer it goes, the more I profit. Not just one drawn-out fight—hit and retreat, repeat for a week, and the enemy tires while I theoretically stay at peak condition.

Could I beat someone stronger that way? Only if I escaped lethal hits, but better than nothing.

"Speaking of, stamina recovery... perfect timing! Time to overhaul the plan! Tomorrow was lighter to account for soreness, but no need now!"

Couldn't ignore that. Fuck, traits were never meant to be exposed. Not for the next half month, at least!

*

Snort—!

Outside the Shelter. Near a river animals frequented, but no raid worries. Brack said combatant handlers steadily cleared monsters around here, especially this vital water source.

Chirrp! Chirrp!

Just bug cries and Brack's snores—no other presences besides us.

"Status Window."

Ding!

"As expected..."

My Karma had surged. Quests must've cleared while I trained like a maniac.

Odd. Quests fit situations too perfectly. Training? Training quests. Resting? Make friends or misc.

"Does this quest window... have a mind of its own?"

"Exist or not? It exists!"

"Gah!"

Gasp! Gasp! Heart pounding, I whipped around. Right behind me, the angel beamed, wings fluttering.

Pitch-black forest midnight, but stars and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠moon lit her clearly.

Thwack!

"Ow! Violence... from an angel?!"

"Don't pop up out of nowhere."

"No fear of divine punishment?!"

"You said last time there's no punishment unless it's a special case."

Eee! She glared all wronged, but she was at fault for spilling her weakness. Wouldn't have flicked her if she hadn't startled me.

Don't divine messengers usually appear in a blaze of glory? This one sneaks in and out silently.

'Flashy entrance would be trouble anyway.'

"Why're you here?"

"...Skipping the flick? Fine, I'll let it slide. Just... checking in."

More than lip service? Heaven cared? No reason to refuse.

"Thanks for coming, but announce yourself next time. Can't keep getting jumpscared."

"Eee... 'God is always by your side' is our motto..."

"That why you scare me every time?"

After persistent nagging, I got her promise: presences from now on.

"Eee... The simple charm of no effects is the best..."

"Mortal here—divine vibes are lost on me. Anyway, the quest window has a mind?"

"Hmm... Less 'ego,' more 'competent AI.' No chatting, though! Can't befriend the system window?"

Tease or sincere? Unclear.

"Even if I could, no thanks. Others would see a lunatic talking to air."

"You look plenty crazy now! I don't show to them. Hehe."

Tempted for another flick, but held back.

"It tailors quests to my situation, then?"

"Yup! Oh! Wanna peek at your quest history while we're at it?"

"Hey! Don't embarrass me like—"

"Whoa! Y-You've done tons!"

She checked before I could stop her, eyes wide, blinking nonstop at me.

"Days since getting the system? And this many... Im... impressive... Kinda see you in a new light?"

"Praise? Give it as Karma."

"Can't... Told you, read access only—no write."

Too mercenary? Her eyes chilled like before, mix of worry and pity for a friend drifting aimlessly.

Ahem! "Kidding."

"Riiight... I'll pretend. Anyway, at this pace, the 'Return to Reality' unlock quest drops soon!"

What? I jolted at her words.

Meant slacking off secretly through this hellish training! If unlocked before end... The possibility thrilled me.

"H-How much longer specifically?"

"Lemme see... Set for a month from (former) Park Chanyoung... Huh? Tomorrow, looks like!"

I love you, angel! Barely restrained from smothering her in kisses. That hopeful news lit me up.

Vowed: Tomorrow, smash every quest that pops.

'Wait.'

Excitement cooled; something crucial hit.

I stared urgently at her.

"M-My eyes! Why glare like that, bloodshot?!"

"...So, you a girl or boy?"

"Not an animal! Huge insult calling an angel 'female/male'!"

My own words sounded insensitive; I apologized. Her pout was adorable, but saying so would rile her more.

She forgave easily.

"Seemed unintentional... Forgiven! I don't hold grudges like 'Mr. Whoever'! I'm an angel!"

Ahem...

Thick-skinned 'Mr. Whoever' never settled debts with her. No need piling IOUs on a divine messenger—embarrassing impulse or not.

"Ugh... Ruthless... No halo in that heart?"

Currently wriggling, conscience poked.

"You sure you're not a guy?"

"Neither. Not settled yet. No name even."

Not male, then. Good enough. Even kid-shaped, wanting to kiss a guy shocked me. I'd always prided myself on liking women.

Questioning a divine messenger's gender for that? Yeah. So what.

"Seems you're doing better than expected... I'm off?"

"Yeah. Announce next time."

She vanished silently. Quiet returned.

Glance.

Snort— Brack slept soundly.

Safe to spend today's Karma.

Today's training was grueling, near blackout... but doable. Why?

Brack gauged my limits perfectly, scaling intensity.

Accounting for that... Better hoard Karma than invest in stats.

Simple reason.

'No need for high stats during training.'

This was personalized, not group. Boost stats? Brack notices, ramps up. Training time extends or stays hellish.

Either way, 15 days of hell locked in... Fine.

Choice: Save for top skills/items.

Perfect. Rare chance to farm Karma sans stat worries.

Group training? Stats mandatory for top ranks.

I opened the shop window, activating the purchase list.