Kaymelin once had a title, both in Grand Pantheon, and in the Milky Way.

[=[ The Demon Researcher ]=]

It was a monicker gifted to him for his tendencies, and the nature of his works. He was the man who created many races. Legends, eldritch horrors, and other fantastical creatures were all brought to life through his research in-game. Even the gods were close to labelling him as on par with the Goddess of Life due to such achievements.

Outside of the game, he toiled away at the human body, creating a variety of sub-races for people to turn into should they desire a different lifestyle. There were humans who could live like plants, photosynthesising using their green-tinged skin. Humans who could breath underwater, humans who could survive on nuclear energy, and other interesting mutations.

He kept on pushing the limits with every year that passed him by. With a body that could live inside a star, not many people in the galaxy had the guts to challenge him. Thus, he was given free reign over what magical science he would create next.

Eventually, his discoveries from the game world and reality began to blur. At some point, Kaymelin realised that the game world wasn't actually virtual. He had stumbled upon a point in space where the game and reality seemed to intersect, flipping his understanding of the world on its head.

Curious, Kaymelin ran various tests, building a solar system around this minuscule point of intersection to hide his research.

It was only after decades of endless tests and failures that Kaymelin managed to siphon some of the game's signature energy out into the real world.

Thus came the first arrival of Mana...

...

Standing in the streets, Kaymelin closed his eyes, unperturbed by the gazes that fell upon his out-of-place form. He sensed around, searching for that signature energy he so loved. That warmth, that paradoxical coldness... he wanted it back.

He assumed a moment of tranquility for himself. Ignoring the cars above his head, the hustle and bustle of the crowd, the rush of society, and hum of technology. All things paled in comparison to the energy he studied so diligently.

"Mana," He whispered.

And the world seemed to shift, responding to his intentions. A soft breeze blew through his hair, like the caress of mother nature, conscious and immeasurable. It was weak, but it was there.

"It indeed still exists," Kaymelin pried open his notebook once more.

[ The density of Mana here is thin. The recent battle should have been quite high-level. S-Rank, at the very least. Choosing to undergo Awakening here will surely dull my prospects. I need a Mana-rich environment, otherwise, this body's potential talent would be unable to truly shine. ]

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As far as Kaymelin had studied, the process of Awakening required a lot of energy. It was a process that destroyed the blockage that restricted the body from absorbing and utilising Mana, so it was common sense that he needed a lot of force. It was much akin to the breaking of the dam. The shredding of the floodgates.

During his time, many people did not know this, and even fewer among those who did know, figured out how to utilise it.

"Perhaps Humanity has already caught on after all these years." Kaymelin muttered. "It would be quite disappointing if they haven't figured out such a simple thing."

The scribbling of his pen paused for a moment, recalling an observation he had made just moments ago.

[ The surrounding populace is composed of ordinary people. Therefore, it is reasonable to say that the process of Awakening has been monopolised by those in power. Given the scarcity of Mana in the real world, there is a high likelihood that Humanity is fighting more against itself than the races that had been probing us from afar. ]

Kaymelin frowned. Although this hypothesis seemed correct, he feared worse. He was being generous with his analysis, opting to have more faith in his own race.

However...

His eyes were sealed shut once more as he carefully sensed the ambient Mana. He stood in silence, unmoving for an hour. Uncaring for all that occurred around him.

Another hour passed, and he still continued to stand still. His mind, calmly and routinely analysing the sensations that brushed against his skin.

Several more hours passed him by, and despite the grumbling of his stomach, he stood still. A few people had stopped to gawk at him, while others thought that he was a statue. Most got bored after staring at him for a minute, while others threatened his focus.

Yet, not a single one of them could bother him. Even after he was punched in the face and his nose began to bleed.

The perpetrator even thought that he died, running away with his goons in a hurry as witnesses reported his misdeed.

When Kaymelin finally opened his eyes, the sky had already gone dark. He was lying at the side of the road, bruised and bleeding. No one had called the ambulance for him, while the police cared only about the criminal and the potential bonus from their capture.

He opened his notebook and continued to write.

[ The slow regeneration of Mana indicates how barren this region is. It is like a desert, with no oasis in sight. For an S-Rank to have fought here and not damage the surrounding infrastructure, however, should make this place a valuable location. A genius probably Awakened here recently. Perhaps it was the trigger for the entire battle. ]

That, or...

[ Someone or something is still siphoning the area's Mana.]

Kaymelin's hunch told him that it was the latter. The merging of the game world with reality meant the overlapping of worlds. Instead of a simple point of intersection between Grand Pantheon and reality, the process of merging meant that even the tangible objects of Grand Pantheon would appear in this world.

With this in mind, Kaymelin's eyes flashed.

If it was a treasure, he could use its accumulated Mana for his Awakening. However, getting his hands on such an item was tedious. Moreover, it could also be dangerous, as it was likely related to an S-Rank existence.

[ Over the course of several hours, I have gathered enough qualitative data to paint a picture of the world around me... However, I still lack a few key points. I need more information. I need to gather more data. ]

Kaymelin was wary of the shadows that lurked within the city's darkness. He felt it while he was measuring the regeneration of Mana. All those hours were spent on more than a single purpose. Kaymelin was not a wastrel, after all. Every little bit of information was a valuable weapon.

Thus, he came to observe that something, or someone had been watching him, and all the people around him. Spying, like a silent drone.

He could not act rashly, else all his secrets would be revealed in an instant.