It has been two weeks since Seth had been with this group. Seth fit in the group, as he didn’t cause them any trouble and he kept up the quota. They were only given a loaf of bread, a piece of jerky, and a bucket of water, everyday. The old man gave the teenagers larger pieces of bread, he split his jerky between in the girl, and he drank from the bucket last. The old man would do his quota, and made up for what the girl lacked, which has got more difficult, as the girl did less, trying to spy on Seth.

“He-hello, seventeen nineteen”

“Hello, what’s your name”

“fourteen fifty-nine”

“No I mean your actual name. My name is Seth”

Seth always worked a distance away from everyone else, and the girl, who always watched from a distance, this time decided to get a little closer, and speak to them. She felt they were far enough, that the watcher wouldn’t here them, but she still flinched when he asked for her name.

“Emily…”

“Nice to meet you, Emily.”

“Ni-Nice to meet you, S-Seth”

Tears just ran down Emily’s face. This was the first time she’s heard her name spoken in years. Emily then began sobbing, unable to control her emotions, finally feeling like a person again. Seth was shocked that began crying, and how loud she was sobbing. Seth started to panic, as he covered Emily’s mouth, and but it was too late. A watcher, had heard the crying and came to see what happened.

“What the hell is going on? Two kids playing around instead of working?”

“I’m sorry, she stepped on a rock, and I was trying to calm her down”

“Emily is sorry.”

“Who the f*ck is Emily?”

“Eep”

The watcher was angry that male and female snuck off, he hasn’t been able to find a girl since he became a watcher. Emily was so happy about hearing her name, it brought back memories of her calling herself by her name when she spoke to her family, to get attention, forgetting where she was for a second. The watcher, swung his fist at the girl, but Seth got in the way, and was hit instead.

“Oh, look. We have a tough guy. I don’t enjoy beating kids, so I’ll be generous. Since you’re both so energetic, you should be able to bring twice as much ore.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll be back to check your work”

The watchers all knew that Emily was extremely weak, and the only reason they never got rid of her was because the old man agreed to do her share. So when this watcher said this, he meant for this boy to do four times as much work. The watcher left, while Emily was dry heaving. She was extremely scared and saddened that she became a burden. Seth wanted to try and comfort her, but he was worried about a watcher catching them again, so he began mining.

Seth had easily completed his quota, and took many breaks in between, to study to black iron, to increase his affinity with metal. He was able to manipulate the ore fragments that was on the black rag, and he could even sense the black iron through the cave. Seth had always completed more than his quota but he would store the excess in a dimension portal, for future use.

Emily attempted to help, but she got tired too quickly. If she was lucky, she would be able to mine at least half of her normal quota. So the old man was always, nearly doing people’s worth. If he had extra, he would keep them for the teenagers, in case they didn’t make their quota, but he only added it at the end, so they get lazy, knowing how much extra he had. They actually got disciplined, trying to rely on the old man, but Emily had a bad day, so they combined their total, so all seven was disciplined together, instead of throwing sacrificing one person, and this made them unite, but also caused them to hate Emily.

Seth was excited, he was thought an ancient mana technique, which is used as the core for most aura users. Using mana to reinforce the body, it was difficult for normal people, as the mana system changed, so mana wasn’t an affinity, but was contaminated with an element, and was impure, so it had to be refined and compressed, so the body could handle it. Seth didn’t have to worry about that, as he a core that had mana as it’s affinity, and his mana wasn’t contaminated as he was born in the Abyss.

Seth had learned the technique from Abyss, and watched many adventurers use aura, and watched people like Darren, who could use both mana and aura. He wasn’t able to master the technique, but he had the basics down. He never used it while mining, as his body could keep up with the quota normally, because of his enhanced physique, and also it left a strain on his body. If he was just to get double his normal quota, it would fine, as long as he didn’t take a break, but he needed to do Emily’s quota as well. It would be impossible without using it.

This will work out just fine. It’s a form of training, and with the strain it causes on my body, they would believe I overworked myself, and I won’t be able to move for a day, or longer. So they would blame the watcher for forcing me to do this, instead of expecting more from me. The loves kids, and he fears what family I could from. So, the watcher might even be punished. I should give Emily a script, for when I pass, so watcher seems like a total villain.

Seth explain the plan to Emily, and told her how he would force his body to complete the quota, but he would pass out for a day, and she needed to make a big scene, to attract a lot of watchers, so they know of the agreement. He also told her, to explain, he brought her to this area because it was a good area to mine, hoping she would meet her normal quota, alone, but she got hurt, cried and drew the watcher’s attention. He emphasized that she had to cry as loud as possible, just in case only the same watcher came alone, and tried to cover this up. He didn’t expect her to be able to explain everything, but at least draw attention, and he would explain when he woke up.

Seth began channeling his mana, and started to spread it to his arms and legs. He next grabbed Emily’s pickaxe along with his own. He was striking the wall, in a combat stance. He sensed the areas that was dense with black ore, and he began mining. After a while, he reached his normal quota, and he was starting to feeling a strain on his arms. He released the technique, and started to pant. He rested for a few minutes, than cycled his mana to his arms and legs, and started mining again.

After mining the second portion, instead of resting like previously, he channeled his mana throughout the rest of his body. This helped balance his strength, and also spread the strain all through his body, instead of focusing on just his arms and legs, it also used more mana. He planned on finishing the rest in this go. He struck the walls with incredible vigor.

While Seth was striking the wall, he intentionally aim at an area that when he finished his quota, a black iron vein would be exposed, to increase the credibility of his story of showing Emily a spot, where it was easy for her to fill her quota. Seth was feeling an extreme fatigue, but he pushed through, knowing he would collapse the moment he stopped.

Seth was covered in sweat, his body on the verge of collapsing, his mana had ran out. He finished his goal, and signaled it was time act out the plan. It wouldn’t be long before the watcher came to collect the quota, so she has to act soon. Seth fell down as his body hit it’s limit.

Emily starting trying to scream, but she was too scared. She started imagining her family, and how she was stolen from them, but it wasn’t working. She has such thought many nights, and it didn’t affect her as much as before. She was starting to fear, that Seth’s hard work would all be for nothing. That’s when it hit her.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!”

A loud scream that filled the cave. It was the loudest she ever screamed in her life. Seth probably wouldn’t imagine she would do this. She couldn’t force herself to scream, so she grabbed large piece of black iron, sat down, and smashed it into her leg. She imagined that if she didn’t have a wound, her story wouldn’t seem believable. She also knew if they couldn’t get the other watchers to appear, this watcher might continue overwork Seth, especially since he was able to do it once, and just use the excess to cover up the days he’s unconscious. So she made a sacrifice, in order to save Seth, because everything was her fault, the crying, getting the watcher’s attention, and using her name and getting Seth hit.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

She covered the wound, and crawled over to Seth, and let her body cry, just thinking about the pain. Several watchers arrived at the scene, and was shocked at the scene. Two of younger miners, had four people’s quota worth of ore, and one was unconscious, and the other was crying. The watcher who was responsible for everything, attempted to grab the two kids.

“I will take them to be seen by the healer.”

“Are you happy now? Seventeen nineteen, did his two people’s worth and mine! But this is the cost!”

“Wh-what are you talking about?”

“Yeah, young miss please explain what happened here.”

“She’s crazy. Don’t listen to her.”

“Shut up and let her talk and I will determine if she’s crazy or not.”

The watcher never expected her snitch on him, and even more when two senior watchers were there. One of the seniors was actually trying to take her side. So Emily explained how Seth wanted to show her a good spot to mine, and she pointed to the iron vein that Seth exposed. She then revealed her leg, and told them how she hurt her leg, and was crying and the watcher her, try to silence her, Seth protected her and was hit, the watcher got mad at them, and forced them both to do two people’s worth. Most of them knew Emily couldn’t even do her own quota, let alone a second quota, so the kid being exhausted was understandable.

Emily was sobbing, and she hugged Seth. The watchers were all angry. Asking two miners, that weren’t under his supervision, to prepare extra quotas, was the same as stealing, and since he asked both of them to prepare an extra quota, he must’ve been expecting to steal whatever they produce or intended to harass and discipline these two young children. It was difficult for adults to keep up with a quota, it was amazing this child was able to do it, and even more amazing he did such an unbelievable task. When one of the watchers went to check his condition, they felt a faint presence of mana, but it was exhausted, so the watcher believed the kid forced his body to the limit scared of the consequences of failing, and his body unlocked its mana to save his life, seeing as the mana didn’t have an elemental affinity, he figured it was premature.

“Don’t worry this matter, young lady. We’ll take care of this matter. This one won’t retaliate either. You have nothing to worry about.”

The senior watchers was trying his best to comfort the girl. He admired her ability to speak up, and tell on her oppressor. Most watchers wouldn’t bother with the younger kids, as the boss really did have a soft spot for them, he was just twisted. The watchers all had the strength of a c rank adventurer or above. The senior watchers were comparable to B rank adventurers. They looked down on using their strength on the kids, and it eventually been an unspoken rule. The watcher who checked Seth’s condition, picked him up, along with Emily, and left the scene.

“It’s not what it looks like here. I was only trying to discipline her for speaking her name, instead of her number.”

“So not only did you enter my area, you acted out of your jurisdiction to punish my people? And even attempted to steal from me? I didn’t hear about this agreement.”

“I was just joking. I didn’t like that those were flirting.”

“Kids that young don’t flirt. And that also doesn’t explain you trying to steal from me. Don’t worry I’ll take care of your area as well.”

“Wait a moment…I didn’t me…”

The watcher that greeted Seth was one of the senior watchers. The senior watchers usually were responsible for individuals with unique identities. While the watcher was trying to justify his actions, the senior watcher pulled out his sword, and decapitated the other watcher. None of the other watchers thought much of it. They were all jealous of this watcher, and etched the number seventeen nineteen into their minds. If the opportunity ever arisen, they would fight for the chance to add him to their groups. They would even try to get on his good side. This kid found a black iron vein, and was pretty tough for his size.

When the senior watcher arrived at the healing area, Emily was being treated. So the senior watcher, went back to his zone, and checked on the progress of the rest in his group. They finished on time, and they even had extra as one twenty four had mined enough for two people as he didn’t see fourteen fifty-nine, and he didn’t know if she even mined anything today. The watcher explained the situation to all of them, and told one twenty-four that fourteen fifty-nine, had three days worth ready, so he could finally take a break. The seven teenagers didn’t like this at all. Not only was this brat able to complete his quota on his first day, while it took them a while to adjust and finally keep up, but he could even do so much, he did enough to keep up with over half of them alone.

The senior watcher went back to the healing area, Emily’s treatment finished, but her leg was swollen, and Seth never gained consciousness. The Healer advised the watcher to let them both stay overnight, until they’re both okay to leave, as this one the only place with beds, they could use. The watcher agreed, and left them there.

Three days had passed, and Seth was brimming with energy with he woken up. His muscles was full of mana, it may been impure, but it didn’t effect the mana in his cores. Bathing in the dragon’s blood and over exhausting himself with mana reinforcement, has made it possible for his muscles to absorb mana. This will increase the amount they’re able to hold during mana reinforcement, and reduce the strain he feels.

The Healer, guided both Emily and Seth back to their zone. The Healer knew what zone they were in because of the watcher that came for them. Other watchers came to ask about seventeen nineteen’s condition but none of them pretended he came from their zone. When they returned the watcher told them they should rest some more. Seth refused claiming he needed to stretch after lazing around so long. He even agreed to do fourteen fifty-nine’s share as well. The watcher only agreed because one twenty four was up in age, and he was going to wear himself eventually. He didn’t sympathize with him, he just knew he was a hard worker and he kept the others in line.

As normal, Seth walk off to find his own area to mine, he wanted to test his new strength. When he was leaving, several sets of footprints followed behind him. The seven teenagers were trailing behind him, and waited until he began mining, to show themselves.

“Hey Seventeen nineteen, since you want to do extra, how about you do ours.”

“That’s too much by myself.”

“How about you do enough for two of us. You can do that much, right?”

“I can.”

“we’ll be back for it.”

“I’ll bring it to you before it’s time.”

“Good. Or you know what’ll happen”

The teenagers were laughing as they left, determining who would rest today, and making a schedule for the days to come. Seth started mining, and noticed his more than doubled, but it still didn’t compare to when he used the mana reinforcement. The total body mana reinforcement increased his strength and mobility by ten times, the legs and arms version, was on around six times, but his strength was nearly four times stronger. So even if he just used to he partial mana reinforcement, his strength would be twice as strong as it was when he used the complete mana reinforcement before he strength increased.

Seth was excited to test this out, so he started, he began channeling mana through his arms and legs, but to his surprise, the efficiency was better than before. It didn’t feel as taxing, and accepted the mana more easily, the output even increased. If was about one and half time increase, if before it increased his strength by six times, now it felt similar to nine maybe even ten times, so his strength was at least three or four times stronger, than when he used the full body mana reinforcement the first time. So Seth decided to channel his mana throughout the rest of his body, and the strain was even less than when he only used the partial, and he strength nearly doubled.

Seth started mining and quickly finished the first quota. It didn’t take much time for him to collect the four quotas. Since he had so much free time, he wanted to test out his speed. He crouched down, and positioned himself, then he took off. Snap. THUD. Seth, had fallen, but he shattered the links of the shackles. He didn’t hurt himself, so he got back up, and did it again. He felt so free running in full speed. He felt so excited, he would leap into the air. Even though he would be punished for breaking the shackles, he didn’t have a care in the world. He was running around, jumping and spinning in the air, he was even jumping off the walls.

Seth could sense people’s mana, so he would always stay a certain distance from others, even if a watcher was heading for in his direction, he would turn around. He even thought of that as a game. Seth did this until he got tired and it was time turn in the quotas. He never released the mana reinforcement, so it was causing his body to overheat. He was sweating pretty hard, but he waited until the time it was for the watcher to collect the quota, to release the mana reinforcement. When the watcher got to the teenagers, they nervously, gave him the five quotas, and just when the watcher asked for the rest, Seth came around, drenched in sweat, exhausted, and his shackles were broken.

“Here’s the quotas you made me get. So you won’t beat me up….right?”

“We don’t know what you’re talking about”

“you told me to do two of your quotas, or I know what’ll happen”

“Stop making things up”

“so… did you have seven quotas, or five quotas?”

“…”

“I broke my shackles, trying to complete everything… now I will be punished…”

The watcher already decided to take Seventeen nineteen’s side, and it made a lot of sense they just so happened to be short two quotas. They caused a lot of trouble before and even tried to do the same to one twenty-four, but he beat them up and shut up them up. They even made this little kid do their share, and threatened him. This kid was so scared, he forced himself, until he was sweating and somehow broken his shackles. Well It didn’t look like he used the pickaxe or something break it intentionally. Seth was panting heavily and when the watcher placed his hand on Seth’s head, it felt like he had a fever, he immediately took Seth to the healer.

That went better than planned. I originally wanted to just not do their quotas but, I felt so energetic, I did it any way, and decided to blame whatever happened to me on them. So I could just enjoy myself going all out. I wonder what punishments they will get for trying to use me.