Faceless

"What is mana?

Mana is what allows you to execute techniques and use your power. By awakening, mana now flows in your body.

It is now your responsibility to channel your mana through your body into your mana pathways in special cycles to improve your control of mana and increase your mana capacity.

Today, you will learn one of the channeling cycles which, if you practice properly, will improve your control over mana and increase your mana capacity," said Ms. Aiko, the teacher for the third compulsory class, Mana Utilization.

Damien and other students were seated in a crossed-leg position inside a humongous hall.

The concentration of mana in the hall was as high as that in the various training centers, making everyone feel cool and refreshed.

The teacher, a spectacled petite dark haired lady, led them in how to improve their control of mana.

This was perhaps the most difficult class as everyone strained to coax the mana to do their bidding.

Unlike during awakening that mana easily entered their bodies, this time, coaxing the mana in their bodies was like trying to woo a stubborn goat.

No matter how much you pulled it, once its hooves locked into the ground, it would be as sturdy as a mountain!

With a gentle smile, Ms. Aiko demonstrated the channeling method and now went about, correcting those who were going about it wrongly.

"Hm?" she passed by Damien, one of the few doing the channeling properly and felt something which surprised her.

She retraced her steps back to Damien to stand behind him, observing how he channeled mana around his body just as she had shone.

"His mana is thicker than that of his mates!" Ms. Aiko exclaimed inwardly.

How was this possible?

Not only was Damien's mana as thick as someone in the Advanced realm, his mana pathways were very large as well!

This meant that Damien's mana capacity was like that of an early level Advanced realm awakened!

Whatever techniques he used would have pronounced effects capable of hurting or seriously injuring those a level or two above him.

Was this the first time he had learnt mana channeling or was there more to it?

Ms. Aiko made a mental note to keep an eye on Damien.

She had taught many students how to channel mana over the years but never had she seen someone with such thick mana while in the middle level of the enlightenment realm!

Two hours later, the class ended.

Those who had been able to channel the mana as directed felt as if they had taken a relaxing massage while their bodies were thrumming with energy.

Those who were unable to do it properly felt sore all over, like a massage gone wrong.

With the final compulsory class over and having two free days for himself, Damien decided to pay a visit to the store.

The mana channeling he had done made him feel that if he was able to absorb mana stones while channeling the mana like he had been taught, he would greatly benefit from it.

"I want to purchase 400 CP worth of mana stones," Damien greeted Saunders, the storekeeper politely.

"Ah, Damien! You caused quite a ruckus yesterday didn't you?" the fat keeper chuckled even as his hands typed away on his holographic desk, processing Damien's purchase.

Damien smiled sheepishly.

"Do me a favor next time though. When you want to beat someone up, send them to the arena or Colosseum. Don't fight in front of my store again.

Is that clear?" Saunders said, narrowing his eyes at Damien.

"Yes sir," Damien nodded.

Saunders' dishonest smile returned to his face as he eyed Damien.

His scrutiny was cut short though when a carrier bot brought Damien's package of mana stones.

"It's quite heavy, Damien. I don't think you'll want to carry it all the way to your room, eh? Just for 10 CP, I'll allow the carrier bot to accompany you to your room.

Consider it a special offer," Saunders said, grinning at Damien.

Damien restrained the urge to roll his eyes.

This guy was a shrewd storekeeper, wanting to make the most money out of his customers.

He knew Damien had made a large sum of CP and would definitely not miss this 10 CP. Besides, the amount of mana stones he had bought were very many and it was certain he wouldn't be able to take it all.

The carrier bot was Damien's only choice.

That was unless he wanted to make a trip from the store to his room and back again.

Sighing, Damien transferred 10 CP to Saunders again.

"Do come around often, Damien. Oh, and your 1-star technique coupon is here with me. Once you decide on which one-star technique you want then you let me know. Enjoy your day!" Saunders said.

Damien nodded and left the store with the carrier bot in tow, carrying many boxes of mana stones.

Without any hitch, the bot delivered the mana stones to the front of his room safely and returned to the store, leaving Damien with his mana stones.

"Is that you, Damien?" Hank called.

"Yeah," Damien replied.

He quickly moved his mana stones inside and went to the room of the two brothers, Hank and Frank.

Their faces which were normally bright with smiles looked dull and straight.

Damien's brow furrowed. "What's wrong?" he asked them.

"Take a look at this," Hank said, setting his comm display on public mode, allowing Damien to see.

Damien moved closer to have a clear view of what the display screen showed.

Five dead bodies torn apart so badly that they were unrecognizable were displayed on the screen.

Damien gasped in shock.

"What happened? Who are those?" he asked.

"The guys you beat up yesterday. They got dismissed by the school and as a result, they committed suicide in the wilderness.

Their dead bodies got mauled by awakened beasts though, that is why they are in such a state. 

A certain third year student found them like this and reported it just this morning after you left for class," Frank explained.

Damien lowered his head.

Complex thoughts and emotions run through his head.

He had been an indirect cause of the expulsion of these five seniors and their death. 

Suddenly, guilt overwhelmed Damien, overshadowing the joy he had previously.

**

"As of now, you are officially ghosts. Your deaths have already been arranged and broadcasted. In a few months, everyone will forget you ever existed.

You are now free from any inhibitions which would prevent you from serving Master Ronnie to the best of your abilities.

This base is your new home, training ground and life. There is no turning back.

Do you understand?" Smith asked, staring intently at the five people in front of him.

They nodded solemnly.

The previous injuries of yesterday had been treated and fully healed.

They were primed, fit and focused.

When Smith had taken them away in his stealth hovercar, he led them to an old, hidden, abandoned lab, formerly owned by the Quentin family.

Due to various reasons, it had been discarded.

Seeing no one had use for it, Ronnie asked his father to give him that lab for his own use.

Thinking nothing of it, he passed it to Ronnie without hesitation.

Thus, Ronnie had a huge building, deep in a forest and outside the notice of almost everyone, all to himself for his plans.

The lab was huge, even extending underground.

Ronnie had left the cleaning and set up of his new base to his butler Smith who ensured it was cleaned up, renovated and filled with the necessary equipment.

All this had been done using Ronnie's saved credits and taking of things which his family had no use for but he did.

That was about a year ago and now it was ready. 

"Your former names no longer exist. You will be known as the Faceless."

Smith turned to Itakura. "You will be number 1."

He then looked at Berg. "You will be number 2."

His gaze then slid to Max. "You will be number 3."

Then it shifted to Mustapha. "You will be number 4."

Finally, it moved to Pedro Leon. "You will be number 5."

"For now, these numbers will be your names. You will be given the needed mana stones to break into the Advanced realm by the end of the month, along with two 3-star techniques.

Your basic training starts tomorrow and ends in six months.

At the end of your training, you will then receive your new names and identities.

I will be your trainer for the next six months.

You have no life out there. Cherish this opportunity given to you and do not let me down.

Is that clear?"

"Yes sir!" Number 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 responded.

Today marked a turning point in their lives.

They were no longer having their former names but rather identified by numbers.

They would be trained to serve young master Ronnie, their benefactor, in the shadows. 

They would be seen but not be known.

They were Faceless.

**

Damien sat on his bed, his head in his hands processing roiling emotions.

"What have I done?"