[Mana Sense: A passive ability that sharpens your sensitivity to mana, both in your surroundings and within yourself. This skill enhances your awareness of mana currents, sources, and structures, enabling a deeper connection with magical forces. As the skill progresses, it expands your detection range and improves the clarity with which you perceive intricate magical phenomena. Each level amplifies your capacity to identify, analyze, and interact with more complex and hidden mana flows, strengthening your overall magical aptitude.]

"Finally!" Derek whispered, feeling an exhilarating rush of power surging through him. He grinned despite the chains binding him and the weight of captivity pressing down on his mind. This was a breakthrough, a step closer to his freedom.

Without wasting time, he plunged back into his inner focus, homing in on the mana within his body. He started again at the core, where the faint strands of energy had first flickered into his awareness. But now, instead of a few scattered sparks, his entire being lit up like a starlit sky, countless specs of mana dotted throughout him like a constellation waiting to be drawn together.

His excitement grew. "Now what happens if I move it?" he wondered, fixating on one cluster of mana. Would manipulating these tiny particles trigger an ability? Would this be how a skill was activated?

Derek concentrated, willing the mana to shift. He imagined pulling it from his abdomen to his arms, channeling it like a river flowing through a narrow channel. At first, nothing seemed to happen. But as he pushed harder, the specs of energy began to flicker, sluggishly at first, but soon they responded, surging along the pathways he envisioned. Nothing complex. He willed for everything to move to his arms in the shortest path possible. Shouldn’t that give the maximum output?

He had no idea. But the real problem was, there was no way to test anything here. If he made even the smallest move, he would stand out like a sore thumb. And that was the last thing he wanted—especially when he was lined up for some ritual sacrifice.

Derek mulled for a while as he fidgeted with the mana flowing through his body, moving it left to right and right to left. It wasn't easy but he was getting better with practice. Also, there wasn’t a lot of it. Was Water Fist that powerful with so little mana? Then how powerful would it be if there was more? Wait. Why was he still thinking about his hands?

Derek had an idea. A crazy idea, something that felt so ridiculous that it might just work.

What if he tried channeling the mana through his eyes? Something like the destructive beams from the superhero comics he used to read. Like a freaking cyclops? Would that even be possible? It was worth a shot and any mistakes would be hidden by the water helmet that was sitting on his head like a big bucket.

Derek focused, directing the mana from his core upward, imagining it flowing through his body like water through pipes. He willed the energy to shift course, guiding it toward his head instead of his arms. The process was clumsy at first, like trying to push a heavy object uphill, but slowly, it began to move. The tingling sensation that accompanied the mana shift grew more intense as it neared his eyes.

His pulse quickened as he reached the crucial point. Alright, here goes nothing, he thought.

He concentrated harder, imagining the energy pushing through his eyes, picturing beams of pure power shooting outward. For a second, it felt like something was happening—a faint warmth behind his eyes, a pressure building. Then, in an instant, the water helmet surrounding his head trembled slightly, as if reacting to the shift in mana.

Is it working? Derek wondered, trying to maintain the focus. But before he could push any further, the pressure vanished, and everything returned to normal.

He let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. No destruction, no super-beam, but something had definitely happened. The water had reacted, if only for a moment. He needed to try again. As if encouraging him, a notification blinked into view.

[Ding! Mana Manipulation - lvl 1 > Water Manipulation - lvl 2]

[Ding! You have gained experience points]

“Alright,” he whispered, steeling himself for another attempt. “Let’s see what you can do.” He hurriedly focussed again, gathering up all the mana specs which had once again freely dispersed in his body. This was the most time-consuming process.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

He closed his eyes, plunging back into the internal map of his own energy. Starting from his core, he mentally drew the mana together, coaxing the scattered sparks toward one central point. It was like trying to herd sand with his bare hands, each particle moving sluggishly. He guided them, pulling the energy back toward his head.

With each second, he could feel the familiar warmth building again, the slight pressure behind his eyes. This time, he was more prepared, and more focused. The water around his head trembled as the mana gathered, reacting to the shift in energy. Derek’s pulse quickened in anticipation.

"Come on," he muttered, pushing the mana further, trying to force it through his eyes like he’d imagined. He didn’t know if this was even possible, but the idea clung to him like a lifeline. The pressure mounted, the water rippling in response to the buildup of energy. He felt the tingle of mana pushing against the barriers, struggling to break through.

For a brief moment, the helmet vibrated more violently than before, as if it were on the edge of something. Derek’s heart raced. This is it!

But just as the pressure reached its peak, the energy flickered and slipped away, dissipating back into the recesses of his body. The water around his head settled once more, calm and still.

Frustration simmered in his chest, but he swallowed it down, his breath coming out in a long sigh. He had been so close, closer than before. There was no doubt he was on the right path, but he hadn’t quite cracked it yet.

“It’s working, I just need... more…” Derek thought, mentally bracing himself for another round. He gathered the mana once again, the specs dancing like distant embers. This continued for a while and just like that, Derek lost track of time. A loud sound jolted him from his practice session. What now? Were they finally going to start something? He snapped his eyes open and then froze.

Derek blinked in shock as the change in his surroundings registered. The water helmet had now diminished into a smaller, more manageable bubble around his head. His field of vision was no longer obscured, and for the first time since his capture, he could see the cave clearly, the very big cave. This was a much bigger cave than the one he was previously in. Not too far away from him, three mermen slithered restlessly, the three of them mumbling or rather chanting something under their breath.

As Derek processed this, the cavern’s entrance shifted. This was the rumbling sound he had heard. Four more mermen entered, their bodies moving with purpose. The group immediately started discussing something, their harsh, raspy language filling the air. Derek’s mind scrambled to piece together the situation, and then he remembered: the ritual. They had mentioned it before, and now, the time seemed near.

Derek quickly lowered his eyes, his heart thudding in his chest. He couldn’t risk being caught watching them. He did not know if it was obvious that he could see everything now but he wanted to keep his new advantage hidden for as long as possible. Derek kept his gaze low and listened. They were talking about the ritual. They were going to do it soon, in three silver moons to be precise. What did that mean in terms of time? Was it three days, hours, or something else entirely? He wasn’t sure, but whatever it was, it sounded close. Too close for comfort. He needed more time.

The mermen continued discussing final preparations, something about aligning the currents, the tides, and of course, the sacrifice that was vital for their survival. Derek heard a groan in between and his gaze shifted to his right. His heart sank as he looked at the four other captives, their bodies limp, clearly drained of strength but still alive. For a fleeting moment, he had hoped to see a familiar face among them, maybe his mother or Joanna, just to know they were okay. But as his eyes scanned their faces, relief and disappointment mingled within him.

They were not there, though he did recognize three out of the four. One was a couple staying at the hotel and the other was a family man, also another guest at the hotel. He had seen the three of them standing near the bar where he had gone to get the drinks. The fourth one he did not recognize. However, the three of them here together with him was too much of a coincidence. There was a high chance that Jo was also somewhere nearby. If not as a captive, then she was somewhere struggling in the middle of the endless ocean. That was not good news.

Once again a loud commotion brought his attention back to the group of mermen. Two more mermen entered the cave and this time they were dragging along with them, another monster? This one was a little different from how the mermen looked. He was larger than any of them, his dark, scaled skin glistening with a slick, unnatural sheen. He had multiple limbs—too many, Derek thought. The creature’s torso was elongated, and its face… there was something deeply unsettling about his eyes, large and black, like voids that seemed to absorb all light. His mouth was lined with jagged teeth, and every breath he took rattled with a sinister rasp.

The mermen were terrifying enough, but this... this creature felt more primal, more dangerous. The air seemed to thicken as he was dragged across the cave floor, leaving a trail of dark, oily residue in his wake. Even the mermen, usually so composed, appeared uneasy in his presence. Their movements became more erratic, and their chanting took on a more frantic tone.

The monster snarled, his body twitching as he resisted the mermen’s grasp. Derek watched as they bound him to a set of jagged rocks at the center of the cave that somewhat resembled a small altar. And then without any warning, one of the mermen stepped forward and slit the monster’s throat.