The Absolute: Humanity's Second Chance
Chapter 30 Dragon Slayers

And upon a single glance, I was flabbergasted. Was, was this even possible? No, what the hell am I even looking at here?

I thought in shock.

From my sight, I could see something resemblant of millions of golden sparks within the body of the dragon, making up a portion of its entire being.

While the majority was just Mana veins.

If I'm correct, the millions or so golden sparks were actually cells. The dragon's cells. It pumped them up with Mana and thus transformed them into apparitions?

Or spirit cells?

I deduced, and wrecked my brain to replace a solution. Yet could not arrive to a conclusion no matter how much I tried.

'Let's forget about it for now. I don't even know how much Mana each cell contains anyway.' I thought, and decided to first try the Mana breathing method.

I took a deep breathe of air, then held it, and released it a moment later. 'Alright, I got it. Let's give it a try now.'

My thoughts kept moving as I took a normal breathe of air this time. At the same time, I was concentrating and absorbing Mana.

I made sure to absorb it through my nose, which I was not sure if it was possible at first or not. Fortunately, it was very much possible as I felt Mana enter my nose.

I felt golden hues of light rush to my nose, and tried to drown them, which caused me to break concentration and stop my actions. Also breaking out into a cough fit.

"..."

Moments later, I let out a breathe of relief and decided to try again. Yet slowly this time around, for I had learned my lesson. The hard way.

I took a breathe of air, and focused on the Mana that was rushing to my nose. I made sure to hold my breathe, and only let in a portion of the Mana to enter.

Breathe still held, I guided the Mana through my will to follow the oxygen entering my body all the way to my heart, while making sure to cleanse the impurities within my body.

It was a bit hard, but overally I managed to do so. I just had to be extra careful and delicate. This was my body after all.

When my heart finally accepted my Mana, I finally let out the breathe I've been holding in. Then I repeated the process eight to nine times, before I managed to do it manually.

Then at that moment, a chime rang within my head, one that I was now more than used to hearing.

But It still did not feel right, or as fluent as it was supposed to. I frown at such a discovery, and decided to study the two god-like monsters fighting.

My comprehension was on full alert, and I entered a trance-like state. I was comprehending the two technique both beings were using to absorb Mana, comparing them, then filtering the errors one had, that the other did not.

I also combined the positive points of both techniques, and filtered out the ones that were less positive than the other.

And from my meticulous study which I was not sure took how long, I managed to see that what big brother was using, was actually not any lesser than that of the dragon's.

Maybe that's why he can battle it out with it? I thought, while continuing with my study, combination and filtration of the two godly techniques.

At the same time, ideas appeared within my mind, giving me epiphany and showing me things that one could do with Mana, that I never thought possible.

Especially so, pertaining to the two techniques I was putting my all into studying. For example, mortals require oxygen to survive, hence they breathe it in.

Same for Mana. Supernatural beings require it for the sake of being able to do what they do, and to become even more powerful, hence we absorb it.

But, but, what if we were to say that it was the same for Mana? It required us to absorb it, so that it has any value at all.

So instead of absorbing Mana, why don't we let it absorb us? We refine it, and it refines us? We become stronger, and it becomes purer!!

Is, is such a thought poss—

[ TING!!! ]

*** Narrative ***

Juliette set at the same position she had always sat on, and watched the battle continue even now as we speak.

It had to be known, twenty minutes have flashed by since she did something crazy, and was now comprehending the situation around herself.

Or rather, about herself!!

[ Name: Juliette Silver ]

[ Mana: 1 458 000 units ]

[ Epithet(2): First Blood(Grand), Pioneer of Mana(Grand->) ]

[ Class: Lvl 6 Classless (0/90) ]

[ Sub-Class: None ]

[Alignment: None ]

[ Stats: STR - 15,0 || AGI - 2,25 || END - 12,1 || WIS - 6,0 || INT - 6,0 || AFF - 101,0 ]

[ Stat Points: 0 || Ability Points: 1 ]

[ Abilities(3) : Mana Control(1), Mana Enhancement(1), Mana Construction(1) ]

[ Techniques(1): Mana Incorporation(Unique) ]

[ Equipment(2): Bracelet of Norde(Superior), Bracelet of Sarrd(Superior), Bracelet of Barrd(Superior), Bracelet of Narrd(Superior), Mana Bracelet(Perfect Superior) ]

[ Resources(4): Tier 1 Random Treasure Chest(×5), Spirit Fragment(6/4), Tier 1 Spirit Shard(×5), Mana Core(×1) ]

"..."

She went through her Template, and the first thing she could point out, was the Mana she had. It was well over one million units.

She did not know how great it was, but it was definitely way above what an Apprentice should normally have at this level.

As for why she had such high Mana, it was thanks to the notifications that appeared around twenty minutes ago when she thought of a crazy idea.

It went like;

[ TING!!! ]

[ An oustanding achievement made!! ]

[ You are the second to comprehend the highest rated, rare ranked mortal technique, "Mana Breathing". Due to your meticulous deeds, the rank of the mortal technique has risen by one level ]

[ You have comprehended the unique technique, "Mana Incorporation" ]

"..."

And the definition was as such;

[ Mana Incorporation (UNIQUE) :- A Mana breathing technique beyond the constricts of mortalhood and ascenders. It allows a person to increase their Mana by simply breathing. The Mana breathed in every second, equals 500% of what a person can absorb through bitter cultivation. Can also cleanse the body with every breathe of Mana that is absorbed. Once continually cleansed, there is a high chance an innate born physique can appear within the being's Physiology. Once an Affinity is grasped, more functions can be accessed ]

That alone was terrifying, but so were her Abilities, including the newly comprehended [Mana Construction].

[ Mana Control (EXTRA) :- The fluent Manipulation of Mana like the extention of one's limbs. Mana can be easily felt, sensed and weilded however the user deems fit ]

[ Mana Enhancement (EXTRA) :- The ability to fluently course Mana within one's Mana Veins, to temporarily boost their overall stats by 100% for a duration of five minutes ]

[ Mana Construction (EXTRA) :- The abstruse level of Mana influence, that allows the user to shape the incorporal form of Mana, and solidify it into any shape they like ]

Such was the terrifying power of Juliette. Or so she thought. Then there was the Epithet she had, that evolved into a new stage due to her actions.

Things went like;

[ TING!!! ]

[ You have pioneered into a godly phase of Mana, and are deserving of the Mythical Ranked Epithet, "Grand Mana Pioneer" ]

[ To evolve your Epithet into a Mythical Rank, you are to undergo a small trial that would require you to transcend your Mana reserves for your Realm of power ]

[ Grand Mana Pioneer -> To become a Grand Mana Pioneer, someone loved and adored by Mana more than even spirits, you are to transcend your Mana reserves by a thousand times. A genius of your level can transcend their reserve by five thousand times innately, hence you are required to have Mana five million times more than the rightful Mana reserves of your current Realm ]

She was met with thus right after she obtained the Unique Technique, "Mana Incorporation". And this was out of this world, for she had to have over five hundred million Mana reserves to obtain such an Epithet?

While being an Apprentice at that?!

And that was not all, there were the bracelets she had, four of which had the same functions, with one being above the others.

[ Bracelet of Norrd(Superior): An artifact that enhances the Mana recovery rate of the user by 5%. Mana absorption is also increased by 5%. Fire resistance increased by 10% ]

All four of them had the same effects, with the others having their own respective elements which they gave her resistance to. Then the last one became different.

[ Mana Bracelet(Perfect Superior): An artifact that enhances the Mana recovery rate of the user by 30%. Mana absorption is also increased by 30%. Mana cost is reduced by 10% ]

"..."

These were all her charms, and blessings.

Unfortunately, she was bored even with such status and power. Even watching Damien fight was no longer enough stimuli to excite her.

Thus she decided to lay down.