Mana Duel (Part 1)

Outside the lecture room, the hallways were packed. All the students of Combat Class A and B were clustered in groups, excitedly talking about various topics.

And I was one of them, both the topic and one of the students—leaning against the wall. I gazed out the first-floor window. Even if they didn't bother me directly, I could still hear their whispers, talking about me or just stealing glances when they thought I wasn't looking.

It was kind of getting burdensome. Even Luna wasn't here to talk to since her support lectures were held on the second floor.

Obviously, I could have just gotten inside the lecture hall if it was too much of a problem, but... there was a reason I was outside instead of inside.

Just then there was a stir from the other end, and I could see an older man, probably in his fifties, with graying hair slicked back, wearing the standard academy instructor uniform, black jacket with silver trim, the Hive Academy crest embroidered on the chest, marching toward us.

I along with other students from Class A went inside the lecture hall, whereas the Class B students went to their own lecture room on the opposite side of the corridor.

I sat at my desk, which was third from the front. Yes, the seating arrangements were done by rank. That's why when I looked to the side, there she was, Belle, sitting right beside me.

Although she didn't have her eyes on me right now, as she was talking to Rui.

Just then the professor entered. "Ahem! Aspiring hunters."

He stood at the front, hands clasped behind his back as he surveyed the room. "If you attended the orientation speech, you probably heard my name. But for those of you who hadn't, my name is

Professor Kane. I'll be your instructor for Combat Theory and Practical Applications."

The lecture hall buzzed as everyone heard his name. Obviously, being part of the elite Hive

Academy, he wasn't a nobody.

He was especially renowned for his achievements in clearing many C-grade dungeons solo, and was particularly known for his mastery over mana control.

He clapped his hands once. "Some of you may think you know mana because you can use it. But understanding and using are different things. Let me remind you how little humanity actually knows...”

"Over fifty years ago, portals started appearing all around the earth, bringing with them strange monsters resistant to the weapons of that time. Scientists tried to make sense of it, but they couldn't figure it out."

"Then came a discovery. People who entered these portals, what we now call dungeons, began to learn of a system. A system that allowed them to use a strange energy called mana. With it, people learned to break the laws of the world. Fire from empty hands. Water frozen mid-air. Bodies light enough to fly, strong enough to leap rooftops.”

His expression darkened.

"But back then, there was a political structure, a so-called government. People in power without legitimacy or understanding. They tried to control hunters. Limit their growth. Regulate mana."

He crossed his arms.

"Chaos ensued. There weren't enough hunters to defend against the spawning dungeons. Government organizations crumbled under their own incompetence. During that time, the brave founders of what would become the Elite Ten Guilds rose up and began a revolution. The golden age of guilds."

He straightened up, his tone shifting.

"But I digress." He waved his hand. "What I mean to say is, since then, we've made almost no progress understanding mana. Sure, we can use it to create artifacts, change the weather entirely. But we're still in the dark. Why does mana choose us? Is there a purpose behind the dungeons? Are they random? What are the monsters?"

He tapped the board.

"I believe every answer lies behind mana itself. The so-called system. If we truly understood it, we'd uncover everything.”

A murmur rippled through the lecture hall.

Some students were intrigued, others exchanged uncertain glances.

I sat quietly, processing what he'd said.

It was strange hearing this from the outside. When I'd written the novel, I'd never really thought deeply about mana or the system. It was just... there. A convenient plot device. Fire goes boom, ice goes freezing, protagonist gets stronger.

Just then, a student from the middle row raised his hand. The professor gestured to him.

"Professor, you said we don't understand what mana is, but can't we use it however we want? Turning ice to water, water to vapor? There's also the thing regarding mana veins..."

There were a few snickers in the crowd as the question was really basic. The student scratched his head, embarrassed at being laughed at.

But the professor quieted down the other students with a single look.

"I understand what you're trying to say. But application and understanding are two different things. When we talk about application, yes, we can do things that are absurd, out of the norm. But it doesn't mean we understand it."

He turned to the board.

"Take atoms, for example. We know their structure—protons, neutrons, electrons. We understand their properties, how they bond, how they react. We've mapped them completely."

He wrote "MANA" on the board in large letters.

"But mana? We know nothing. What is it made of? Does it even have components? Where does it come from? We can use it, manipulate it, but we can't explain what it fundamentally is."

Professor Kane tapped the board.

“And about mana veins, when you improve your mana control, scientists discovered that new veins form automatically. Veins that previously weren't there. The same goes for mana capacity itself.”

"Theoretically, we should all have a fixed amount of mana, the amount we're born with, which is zero. As you grow stronger, defeat monsters, your mana increases. Almost as if it's being provided to you from somewhere unknown."

He let that sink in.

"So unlike atoms, which we've studied and understood, mana remains a complete mystery."

The professor paused, letting his words sink in before continuing with more technical explanations about mana flow, conversion rates, and theoretical applications.

The lecture went on for another half hour. At first, I listened attentively, but after a certain point, he was completely over my head. Terms like "mana resonance frequency" and "dimensional flux theory" blurred together into incomprehensible jargon.

Finally, the lecture was over.

Professor Kane clapped his hands once, the sound echoing through the hall.

"Alright, that's enough theory for today. Let's move on to practical training."

Beside me, I could see Belle's crimson eyes burning as she glared at me.

I sighed internally. Sorry, but it isn't time yet.

Just then, a system screen materialized in front of me.

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[NEW QUEST]

Quest: Guide the Mana Duel Episode.

Objective: Control Mana Monster.

Reward: Calculated upon completion

Failure Penalty: Severe injuries