The angel's casual utterance of "Seratul" sent a jolt through Sera. Her eyes widened, and she instinctively drew closer to Jim, a protective instinct surging within her.
"You… you know my master's name?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
The angel turned his gaze towards Sera, his expression unreadable. "Seratul," he repeated, the name rolling off his tongue like a whisper on the wind. "An ancient name, indeed. A name that carries the weight of countless eons."
Sera felt a chill crawl down her spine. The angel knew her master's name. How? And what did it mean?
Jim, sensing the tension, gently placed a hand on Sera's shoulder. "Sera, calm down," he whispered. "The angel may simply be knowledgeable of ancient history."
Sera took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions. "But… how could he know? Seratul is…" She hesitated, unsure of what to reveal.
The angel, as if sensing her reluctance, simply smiled. "Many things are older than you can possibly imagine, child. This world, and indeed, this universe, is teeming with secrets. Some are best left undisturbed, while others… well, others have a way of revealing themselves in the most unexpected ways."
The angel's words left an unsettling silence hanging in the air. Sera, still shaken, turned away, her gaze fixed on the ground. Jim, sensing her distress, decided to change the subject.
"Earlier," he said, "you mentioned that divine mana is far denser than holy mana. I was wondering… could it be used to enhance physical abilities?"
The angel's eyes flickered with interest. "An intriguing question. In theory, yes. Divine mana, in its purest form, could potentially enhance strength, speed, and even regeneration. But as I said, it is incredibly dangerous for humans to handle."
Jake nodded, his mind racing. He remembered the limitations he had encountered with his holy mana techniques. Perhaps, if he could somehow harness a minuscule amount of divine mana, he could overcome those limitations.
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He began to experiment, carefully manipulating his mana flow, attempting to mimic the subtle vibrations of divine mana as described by the angel. It was a delicate process, requiring immense focus and control. Sweat beaded on his brow as he pushed himself to the limit, his body trembling with the exertion.
Suddenly, a surge of energy coursed through him, far more potent than any he had experienced before. He felt a surge of power, his senses heightened, his body feeling lighter, faster, stronger. He had done it. He had tapped into a minuscule amount of divine mana. However, the mana weighed down on both the soul and body. Jake quickly dug his hands into the ground and dispersed the heavier divine mana, the surrounding ground suddenly started to grow with life. Trees, plants, vegetables started to grow rapidly in a thousand yards around them.
The angel watched Jim with growing interest. "Impressive," he acknowledged. "You have a unique talent, young one. A rare affinity for energies beyond the ordinary. If you can solve the problem of dispersing or containing the divine mana, you may become a formidable warrior to fight for this universe. Oops, I have said too much."
Jim, feeling a surge of exhilaration, continued to experiment, pushing the boundaries of his newfound power. He discovered that he could move with unprecedented speed, his movements a blur of motion. His strikes were imbued with a newfound power, capable of shattering rocks with ease.
But the power was fleeting. The surge of divine mana quickly subsided in the next 10 seconds, leaving him feeling drained. He realized that he was still far from mastering this newfound ability. It would require years of dedicated training, of pushing his limits, to truly harness the power of divine mana.
As the allotted hour drew to a close, the angel prepared to depart. "Remember," he said, his voice grave, "power comes with responsibility. Use it wisely, young one. The fate of this world may one day rest upon your shoulders."
With that, the angel vanished in a burst of blinding light, leaving Jim and the others standing in stunned silence. They had witnessed a glimpse of true power, a power beyond human comprehension. And they knew, with a certainty that chilled them to the bone, that their journey had just begun.
As Jim was teleported outside, three people remained at the entrance. A member of the holy church, Giant Axe and an unknown mage. They were all interested to see what he would come back with. No one dared to ambush Jim after they saw the connection with the Holy church of Damian. To go against the church was a death wish. The holy church member relayed the message to visit the church this week to see the bishop. Giant Axe and the mage discussed some tactics with Jim and found the conversation to be enjoyable. No secrets were spilled about the angel’s conversation but that was to be expected. Jim added Giant Axe to his friends list and invited the mage as well as he had talent; however, unexpectedly, the mage declined.