Mental Unleashed

It was a serene afternoon as the final bell resonated, signalling the end of another day at school. Students dispersed in a flurry, yearning to seek solace within the confines of their homes and embrace a well-deserved respite.

Amidst the bustling crowd, Shroud stood out, hastening his steps with an intense determination to evade any encounters with a particular junior.

The incident that had unfolded in the cafeteria remained vividly etched in the memories of those who had borne witness to its occurrence, an indelible mark imprinted upon their minds.

This incident ignited a whirlwind of speculation and inquisitiveness, casting a shadow of doubt upon the relationship between Shroud and Luna. As the final class came to a close, Shroud found himself besieged by a swarm of classmates, each one eager to know his relationship with Luna.

This besiegement of his classmates gave him quite a headache. He didn't want to exacerbate the misunderstanding, so he chose to explain what had occurred earlier that morning and how he came across the new transfer student, however.

Despite their persistent questioning, Shroud remained steadfast in his decision to withhold further details. Their disappointment grew as he declined to provide additional explanations.

Despite facing multiple complaints from his classmates, Shroud chose to turn a deaf ear and departed from the classroom. He found it insignificant to answer all their question, so he just left without saying another word.

Upon crossing the school's gate and reaching the main street, Shroud's attention was drawn to his injured left wrist. After contemplating for a moment, he proceeded to untie the handkerchief that had been wrapped around it.

After unwrapping it, he discovered that the nasty bruise had vanished. He cautiously moved his left wrist and found no signs of pain. With the confirmation that his wounds had fully healed, he couldn't help but curl up his lips a little.

"Seems like the severed meridians are doing their job," Shroud commented in his mind. Shroud was referring to his unique body constitution that constantly strengthened the body by harnessing the leaking energies.

It was no wonder that he didn't feel as exhausted at the moment. Thanks to the continuous strengthening provided by his unique constitution, his body experienced a passive refreshment every second. Furthermore, it was this very constitution that enabled Shroud's injury to heal at an unusually rapid rate.

Despite a full day of school, when many students would typically feel exhausted, Shroud felt rejuvenated as if he had just woken up from a nap. With a surge of energy, he contemplated, "Perhaps it's time to unseal some of my mental energy."

"Technically speaking, it would be inaccurate to say that my mental powers are sealed. They are more akin to being in a dormant state," Shroud reasoned with himself.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he made the decision to proceed. However, as he unsealed his energies to a certain extent and attempted to walk, he almost stumbled and fell to the ground.

The peculiar imbalance that occurred was a consequence of the disconnection between his mind and body after the unsealing of his mental energies. Shroud had attempted to unseal approximately 1% of his mental energy, but it proved to be too overwhelming.

Realizing that his own mental powers were overwhelming for his body, Shroud promptly reverted them back to their previous state. Inwardly, he chastised himself, "That was foolish of me. I forgot that as a sage, my mental powers are far more potent than ordinary ones."

This was one of the benefits that came with being a sage. Shroud, bearing the esteemed title, possessed extraordinary mental powers. In his mind, Shroud contemplated unsealing a mere 1% of his mental abilities, but he had overestimated his body's capacity.

During the time when he possessed a true divine physique, Shroud could handle the potent mental energy without issue. However, his current physical body was only at the level of ordinary humans.

By utilizing [Void Mind], Shroud had successfully rendered his mental powers entirely dormant. However, the extent to which they were suppressed was significant. Currently, Shroud was only utilizing a minuscule fraction, approximately one billionth, of his total mental capabilities.

While it may sound absurd at first glance, the significance becomes apparent when considering that this number excludes Shroud's psychic abilities. If his psychic capabilities were to be included, the aforementioned fraction of one billionth would be further reduced to a staggering one quadrillionth.

The exclusion of psychic abilities from the initial fraction was due to the distinction between psychic powers and mental powers. While they are related, psychic abilities rely on a potent mentality and unwavering willpower for their utilization.

This connection highlights the interplay between these two aspects of Shroud's capabilities. That's why, when discussing Shroud's "true" mental powers, it becomes necessary to incorporate his psychic abilities as well.

Only when considering both his mental powers and psychic abilities together that one can grasp the full magnitude of Shroud's formidable mental prowess.

"Alright, let's give this another try," Shroud contemplated, determined to gradually awaken his dormant mental powers. With careful intent, he began to revive them, and as a result, he found himself capable of utilizing 1.8 quadrillion units of his true mental prowess.

"Hmm, though this increase may seem modest, I can now access some of my weaker psychic abilities," Shroud muttered, feeling somewhat content. However, his attention swiftly shifted as he detected the presence of multiple beings behind him—eight, to be precise.

Casually pretending to admire the street scenery, Shroud discreetly glanced back and noticed the eight individuals who had been tailing him. Among them, he recognized a familiar face—Raphael. "Ah, so it's Raphael. It seems he has brought some reinforcements," Shroud remarked, his voice filled with a hint of disdain.

Despite the eight individuals' attempts to conceal their presence, Shroud's psychic abilities enabled him to detect them. However, due to the limitations of his psychic powers, he couldn't ascertain their identities. So how did he recognize Raphael?

Well, it was because Raphael's chin remained visibly swollen, protruding noticeably among the group, making him easily distinguishable from Shroud's point of view. It was sticking out like a sore thumb.

'*Tch, it seems this kid hasn't learned his lesson, bringing an entire gang with him,' Shroud thought, realizing that confronting them all would lead to unfavourable consequences. Considering his options, he contemplated his escape route, knowing that he needed to find a way out of the predicament he was in. It was when an idea came into his mind.

'Ah, I can utilize my psychic abilities to create a weak illusion. It may not be powerful, but as long as it can last for 5 minutes, it should suffice. However, timing will be crucial,' Shroud devised a plan in his mind. However, to execute it, he knew he would need to set up the stage.

As Shroud scanned his surroundings, he spotted a four-way intersection where a traffic police officer was stationed. An idea sparked in his mind. "Hmm, he could serve as a suitable bait— I mean volunteer to help me set the stage," Shroud thought, envisioning the officer's presence as a potential bait for his plan.

Shroud made his way towards the traffic police officer, closing the distance until they were just two meters apart. Seizing the opportunity, he cast his illusion, enveloping the area. "I can't wait to read tomorrow's newspaper," Shroud thought to himself while having a mischievous grin.

The next day...

[Daily News: Yesterday, a group of eight individuals viciously assaulted a traffic police officer, leaving him severely injured. The assailants have been apprehended and are now facing legal proceedings, with potential imprisonment for several months.]

To be continued...

****

A/N: Hope you enjoy the chapter and feel free to comment. Your thoughts and criticism are valuable in helping me improve and stay motivated to write more.

I initially considered having Shroud engage in a fight with them, but I ultimately decided against it as it seemed unnecessary for this particular scene. I tend to include unnecessary fight scenes, so I am actively trying to avoid doing so in this instance. However, I do plan to incorporate them in later significant events within the story.