Gunfire rang as Siul ducked down behind a short wall. He took out a small, but stout pistol. Gripping it hard, he rushed out of the cover towards a safer wall. In front of him, he could see a group caught by surprise from his sudden appearance.
Whips of bullets rushed past him before narrowly making it behind cover. The enemies now knew his position, but he still had a few surprises. Grabbing a flash grenade from his chest, he bit off its pin and threw it out towards the group of four.
Shouts echoed before a high patched blast and an impossibly bright flash was emitted. In the next second, Siul rushed out with his ears slightly ringing and shot the dazed group before rushing back into cover. Heavy footsteps turned the corner.
"Siul, I know you're behind that wall." Grane's voice taunted. They were on different teams, but they were also the last ones remaining.
Siul grabbed a smoke grenade from his vest and threw it out towards Grane. Gray smoke covered the area and Siul took the chance to sprint into a building on the opposite side.
Sluggish, heavy shots constantly fired into the smoke. Grane's fired his heavy machine gun aimlessly and the grim reaper's shadow was catching up to SIul.
With a stroke of luck, he narrowly made it into the building, but not before a bullet whisped into the smoke causing Siul to let out a faint grunt. It had grazed his arm.
Now inside the building, Siul ran up stairs and wrapped a quick bandage around his arms. The constant shock simmered down in intensity as he saw the body of one of his teammates. In the game, a fake body along with their weapons would be made when the player died and turned transparent to spectate.
"Are you going to hide all day?" Grane was approaching the house, Siul knew that the man still had a mass of ammo and other heavy weaponry on him. Siul, though, was almost entirely out of ammo.
Inspecting the body in the room, he found a few C-4s along with a detonator.
"Perfect." Siul muttered as he grabbed the packets of explosives. Barging into a bedroom of the two story house, he planted the explosives under the bed, in the closet, in some draws, behind the door, and the last two under some debris directly below the window.
Grane had just reached the top of the stairs. With not much time to spare, Siul rolled the wire from the detonator and opened the window to prepare for his escape. He then took a sheet off the bed and laid it inconspicuously on the floor, covering most of the wire. It would be enough as long as Grane didn't focus on the floor too much.
Siul opened the door and fired a few shots at Grane who had managed to take cover in time. They traded shots and the standoff continued until Siul's pistol let off a few clicks. He reached down for another magazine, but he was only met with empty pockets and straps.
"Ahaha, you're dead now." The continued clicking of the gun as well as the desperate rustle of clothes was an obvious indicator. Grane's steps were rapid.
Without hesitation, Siul threw aside the pistol and ran towards the window, clutching the wire detonator hard before jumping out of the window. He hit the ground solidly, only a clumsy roll had managed to offset the damage somewhat.
After a few moments of getting back his breath and bearings, Siul looked up at the house only to see Grane peeking out of the window. Siul held up his arm and Grane's eyes widened as a sense of realization dawned.
"Lights out bastard." Siul muttered as he put force down on the button.
"Shit!" Grane whipped out a quick pistol, but he was too late.
"BOOM!" An explosion blew up the house as its foundations shook. A small hill of fire appeared from within and set the house ablaze. Holographic smoke formed clogged the air above.
A celebrative screen appeared in front of Siul.
[Team Greyhound Wins! Player "Siul" is the MVP]
[Game Stats - Expand]
Siul let out a deep breath. The battle was particularly intense this time and his heart was still beating rapidly.
The entire environment faded into thin air as players lost their transparency and congratulated Siul.
"That was awesome! You sent him to hell with that explosion." A player looked towards Siul in admiration.
"Fair game man, you really caught me with that C-4 trap..." Grane approached Siul. If he had been more aware of his surroundings, then he could have easily avoided that death with his robust armor.
Robots approached them and healed a few minor wounds. It was still possible to get hurt in the battle center, but the safety was still unparalleled. There were many measures to make sure that no one is harmed severely. The first and only death that happened due to ARG Battle Center Entertainment was when it was still in its infancy and getting the kinks worked out which was well around a hundred or so years ago.
"Haha, yeah." Siul stood up and shook hands with Grane. This would be the last battle of the day. After more than a few hours, although they could replenish their fatigue, it was hard to fix the fatigue of the mind. They were tired.
They accepted the praises of the players around them before they headed out of the center.
"Well then. See ya!" With the goodbye, they parted ways. They had already exchanged contacts when they were inside. Entering into the car, Siul turned on the autopilot with tired eyes. He liked to drive, but it was not safe with a tired mind.
With a few sputters, the old car quickly headed out of the city and towards his house.
---
Siul woke up in his bed. He could not remember when this happened, so he chalked it up to sleepwalking. He had been truly sleep deprived the day before, combined with the action of the ARG Battle Center, he didn't blame himself if he couldn't remember some things. Checking his holo band, he smiled at the new contact.
Walking down from his room and onto the first floor of the house, he found an excited Bon on the couch.
"Siul! Humans have finally made progress!" Bon's information immediately gave him energy as his mind cleared up.
"Really? What did they do?" Siul walked towards the couch and sat on its soft, plush cushions.
"One of those talented geniuses in one of the endangered tribes started acting weird. When I noticed this, I observed him for some time and found that he was secretly meditating near the light magic plant." Bon explained his observations.
Bon let out the subspace world crystal and Siul entered it, Bon's body entered a few moments after. Following the box, the two silently floated down besides the tribesman genius and watched him.
He sat at a safe distance from the light magic plant and looked to be focusing hard despite meditating. It was an often occurrence that the man would let out a grunt or sigh in annoyance.
They watched the man with laser-like focus. Despite their efforts though, only the wind seemed to change.
Suddenly, the man opened his eyes and gave a vicious smile. He stood up and took a deep breath before sticking out his arm with the palm of his hand facing up. He winced in pain. After a few seconds, he furrowed his brows in concentration as the air above his palm seemed to condense and slightly distort. The man kept his concentration as he slowly walked towards the light magic plant and shoved his palm towards it.
As soon as the distorted air in his palm made contact with the plant, an invisible force seemed to be stuck in between the man's palm and the plant. However, the man's attack was met with the plant's own invisible force. In the next moment, with a stout bang, the man was sent staggering back. He looked at the plant with promising eyes before walking back to his tribe.
[The first human has learned how to manipulate mana, this sets a mark on the initial path of civilization the world has decided to take.]
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
[+2 Achievement]
Looking at the window prompt, they stood still, not knowing what to do before they shouted with joy. The anxiety within them was deflated and they had completed their objective. If one could do it, then so could another.
Remembering the man's actions, the two tried to meditate in the world, but it was to no avail. No progress was made.
"... We should wait until these people develop their techniques more. We aren't making any progress." No matter how hard they tried, the two could not feel anything in the air.
As much as they wanted to use magic, they were just wasting their time with no direction.
They continued to watch the tribes and paid more attention to the tribe genius that had learned how to use the magic. Days passed as no development was made.
Then, on a day like any other, Siul observed another genius from a different tribe that had migrated to a cave. He, too, began to meditate near the plant. Then, as expected, after a few days, the man showed signs of having learned how to utilize mana.
The first man to sense mana, which they had named Genius 1, had still not shown signs of trying to teach his own tribesmen how to sense mana, however the newest one to sense mana, Genius 2, had immediately taken his discovery to the chief of his tribe and showed him the power. He then took on the responsibility of teaching the people in the tribe how to sense and use mana.
"This one was much faster in spreading his new power unlike Genius 1, who still has not taught anything..." Siul and Bon continued to observe Genius 2 and eventually stopped paying attention to Genius 1 altogether. Genius 1 showed no interest in even teaching his technique to anyone.
They watched Genius 2 as he brought his tribesmen near the plant and instructed them. His teachings got more and more strict the more people he taught. Slowly, Siul and Bon began to understand what they needed to do. It made more sense the more they watched him teach.
Perhaps the biggest contributor to their understanding was that Genius 2 was very expressive, often using his hands and even drawing rudimentary pictures to try and get what he was saying across. Although they couldn't understand his words, the pictures were more than enough after a whole day of watching.
Each tribesman took, on average, around a day to be able to sense magic. If it weren't for Genius 2's teachings, then they might have taken much longer. Perhaps even weeks. Finally, Genius 2's methods of teaching slowly took form and became consistent throughout his lessons. Siul and Bon felt that they knew enough to try and sense mana on their own.
From what they could decipher from Genius 2, meditating by the plant made the process easier as the mana would be a little more dense around it. They also needed a calm, but open mind. It isn't about closing off the world. The goal is to find a feeling from within that resonates with the area around them and then grasp the feeling to be able to sense and control mana.
They searched the light magic plant sahara region until they found a big patch before entering into the world. Siul put on his light weight, simple mask that blocked the amount of oxygen he received. It worked wonderfully and he did not regret the somewhat high price.
They settled down in the middle, but just far enough to not disturb plants and sat in a meditative position. They mimicked what they saw from Genius 2' teachings.
The world was quiet as they focused on themselves. It was a world of stillness inside of them that blinded the sense of mana. They continued to focus inside of themselves as they searched for the special feeling.
Seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours as they meditated with the light magic plants. The mana density should be high, but that did not mean it would be easy.
They continued to keep a calm and open mind. Only the sense of sight, the one that humans relied the most on, was permitted to be blocked. It would actively make it harder if they blocked any other senses. As they were aware of their surroundings, they were just as aware inside of themselves.
The hours passed into the day and Siul opened his eyes with a rejuvenated and rested feeling. He was not able to sense mana, but the experience itself calmed him and made him more relaxed.
As he got up, he looked around only to find that Bon was still deep in meditation. Siul gazed around randomly until he suddenly heard a loud thump from behind. A dinosaur roared viciously and he nearly froze in fear. It rushed towards him with an unforgiving bite and Siul leaped towards Bon before entering into observation mode as fast as he could.
He turned around to see that the dinosaur's movements had entirely stopped. Its legs were completely covered in vines that were digging into its skin. Blood was drained. It fell like a leaf in the morning breeze.
Adrenaline coursed through him, but it was quickly replaced by fear as he saw the plant's might.
"What happened?" Bon said, confused.
"We almost died! We nearly got killed by that, but..." Siul gazed back towards the dead body of the large furred creature. It was even thinner than before and roots climbed all around it, covering it with digestive fluids.
They quivered in fear at the plants before leaving the subspace world. Sharing their experiences, though, it was expected that they both had not learned much.
A rumbling stomach from Siul broke the atmosphere.
"Alright, time to eat." Siul placed Bon near a wall outlet before he made himself a quick minute meal. The meal was composed of a small slab of steak with some mushrooms on the side.
The steak's juices filled Siul's mouth as he tried to look back on his experience meditating. He soon realized a small problem.
"I am too impatient." He had already known that he would likely need multiple days before he could sense mana, but he was just too excited to wait, or lazy when it came to difficult problems. Like when they were searching for the light magic plant, he had wanted to give up, but it was Bon's enthusiasm that had made him keep going. He didn't know how the box did it, but it didn't grow sad at its missing memories and kept its sights clear and full of joy.
He also wouldn't be able to topple buildings or make extreme spells the moment he learned how to sense mana. He needed to take things at a slower pace and be more patient with himself.
Finishing the last of the steak and mushrooms, his stomach was filled once again as he looked towards Bon. The box seemed to be in a sleeping state, but Siul knew that Bon never slept. It was currently inside the subspace world.
Taking a small rest and nap, Siul entered into the world again. The light magic plants had more than terrified him, but he knew that as long as he didn't disturb them, then he would be safe.
Awkwardly sitting in the middle of the light magic plant orchard, he began to meditate next to Bon.
He focused on himself and the world around him once more. Trying to find the ways they connect. What resonates and what doesn't? There were many things inside the body that did not move with the rest of the world. Instead they reacted and responded. From the physical matter of the body to his mind, they did not actively resonate with the world.
His sense became stronger as he entered deeper into the meditative trance. He listened to the world, the changes of the wind and the bustle of life. Roars to chirps, the frequent cracks of twigs, small critters, and even the caws of the skyfaring birds.
Once more, the seconds turned into minutes and the minutes turned into hours as he fully immersed himself into the world. Trying to find out what resonates and what doesn't. Slowly and decisively, he narrowed down everything he could sense until... Nothing was left.
It was a world that, even with his senses, was invisible. Without color, smell, hearing, touch, or taste. He could not resonate with the world. But he did not give up and instead backed further inside of the senseless world. The more he accepted it, the more it seemed to accept him back.
An unknown time passed and he continued to ignore the few senses that would pop that did not resonate.
Suddenly, he felt something. It was unlike anything he had felt before. It did not feel like he was touching, smelling, tasting, or hearing. Instead, it was something else entirely. It came from inside himself. The very center of his being.
he focused on the feeling even more until he got close enough to 'feel' it. He continued to get closer and closer. He could 'hear' it. The more he resonated with the feeling, the more his senses opened up and assimilated with the feeling. He was able to 'taste' it, then 'smell' it. A long period went by until he saw a strange blue light slowly fade in from the darkness. It walked around his body as if it belonged to it. Suddenly, Siul realized that he was able to 'see' it.
He could sense mana.
Siul watched the mana inside of him that did not seem to have any worries. It traveled through his body like it was always there. Siul tried to move it. Using his new found way to 'sense' the mana, he tried his best to touch and manipulate it.
The mana grew to a slow halt from within his body as Siul focused on taking control. He 'grasped' the mana and moved it sluggishly around his body in the path it moved in before. However, he felt something different this time. The mana traveled along the special path from within his body. From his heart, to his head, then to the chest and arms before going down into the legs. It then moved back to the heart. Along the way, it passed by every important part and organ of his body too.
As he moved the mana around his body, he found his body parts opening up to the strange piece of mana. His body allowed the mana to rejuvenate his cells and increase his bodily functions as it passed through with his conscious effort. Finally, he managed to move the mana throughout the whole pathway. It left a lingering trace, lighting and livening up the pathway.
Deciding to stop now, Siul exited out of his meditation as he groggily opened his eyes. His mind was slow and his true senses came back to him. The world, however, felt different. A new sense joined his perception. He looked around only to find that he could 'feel' and 'see' the mana from around.
Just then, the single mote of mana from inside of him grew excited as it seemingly vibrated in harmony with the mana in the air. Slowly, the mana around Siul started to converge into his body and join the lonely mote of mana. With every new mote of mana, his body felt more lively. Compared to how he felt now, he might have thought that he was terminally ill before. It did not take long, though, for his body to feel satiated and satisfied. It could no longer give any more residence to more mana.
Siul played with the mana in his body and, to his surprise, he felt a small force actively generating a small amount of mana, or at least acquiring the mana in a way unknown to him.
His body was stronger and his thinking was much clearer. He felt hidden injuries inside of his body heal themselves, injuries that he did not know he even had were healing. His body was much healthier than before.
"You finally sensed it!" Bon's voice awoke Siul from his curious stupor.
"What do you mean?" Siul was still in somewhat of a daze, never had he thought that he would actually learn how to sense mana.
"I was able to sense it a day before you did. I didn't wake you because I saw that you were also close!"
"Day before? How long were we meditating?"
"I was meditating for 6 days, while you did it for 7."
"What!?" To Siul, the whole process didn't even feel like eight hours had passed.
He rubbed his head and he felt like he had gotten the best rest of his life, but seven days had passed!
The amount of time that passed wasn't out of his expectation, but he didn't expect to do it all in one meditative session.
Now that they two could sense mana and even manipulate it a little, the two of them no longer had to protect the human tribes of the world as if they were their life and death. Though, having humans develop magic would certainly be a mountainous boon.
The two of them entered into observation and headed out to observe the progress of the tribes. They were surprised to find that one other tribe learned how to use mana as well. When they checked back on Genius 1, though, they were disappointed to find that he was still keeping mana a secret.
"Should I accelerate the world? There is not really much we can do other than hope they survive now that we know they are learning how to use magic." They did not want to interfere with the world much and he was sure that at least one of the cave tribes would be able to survive and develop long enough to get a foundation in the world.
"Sure, let's just do a week at a time." Bon wanted to make sure that nothing unexpected happened.
"Alright." They let a week pass in the world before stopping the acceleration. They then took note of the changes in the tribes before repeating the process.
They continued to do this until three months had passed in the subspace world. As expected, the three cave tribes were doing well, albeit a little cramped. The wilderness tribes, though, were not doing as well. Their populations had been reduced and, to the surprise of the two of them, Genius 1 finally started to teach his tribesmen how to sense magic.
The wilderness tribes had to constantly move and it was hard to keep track of them. This eventually led to the decision to stop paying attention to them. Maybe they would make a surprise debut in the future? But despite their low hopes, the two were not optimistic of those tribes' chances.
Finally, to not totally get out of touch with the subspace world, Siul and Bon decided to accelerate the time so that a week would pass for every hour that passed in the real world. This decision was made so that the progress would not be lost and they would be able to check on the subspace world.
Getting out of the subspace world, Siul groggily walked up to his room and fell asleep. He had been focusing on the subspace world for a few months now and he still wasn't getting the best of rest. His initial goal had finally been achieved and so, he felt that he deserved some more rest. The next step, though, would be the development of magic which would last indefinitely.
Bon continued to watch the world. The box spied on the tribes. Because it could not move much in the real world, its only source of freedom was the subspace world. It liked watching the people go about their daily lives as he saw their stories and struggles unfold beneath him.