Chapter 3: The Awakening of Mana

Drix leaned back against his desk, his eyes narrowing slightly. The faint, unmistakable sensation of mana lingering in the air was still new, but not entirely surprising. I suppose it was inevitable, he thought. No way I'd remain the only one with powers in this world forever.

Though slightly shocked at first, Drix accepted it faster than he expected. He didn't dwell on the impossibility of it; instead, his mind shifted to the practical. What mattered now was figuring out what this meant for the world—and for him.

The school bell rang, snapping him from his thoughts. Drix stood, grabbed his bag, and waved to a few of his classmates as they called out to him.

"See you tomorrow, Drix!"

"Later!"

"Yeah, see you," Drix replied casually, his expression calm and friendly.

---

As always, he made his way to his sisters' school. The two girls ran toward him the moment they saw him.

"Big brother!"

"How was school?" Drix asked as he knelt to greet them.

"It was good!" his younger sister, Mari, chirped.

"We had art class today! Look!" His other sister, Lila, proudly held up a crumpled drawing.

"Looks great," Drix said with a small smile. "Now, come on, let's get home."

The two girls each grabbed one of his hands as they walked together.

---

When they arrived home, their mother greeted them at the door.

"Welcome back! Go take a bath and rest, you three. Dinner will be ready soon."

"Yes, Mom!" his sisters replied in unison before scampering off. Drix gave his mother a nod before heading to his room.

---

Once inside, Drix locked the door and summoned his most trusted shadow soldiers: Igris, Beru, and Bellion.

"My king," Igris said, bowing gracefully.

"Master," Beru clicked, his head low.

Bellion knelt, his massive frame casting a faint shadow across the dimly lit room. "What are your orders, my liege?"

"Investigate," Drix said simply. "I want to know if anyone has awakened or gained abilities from this mana. Find out what's happening among the people, but keep yourselves hidden. Return with your report as soon as you're done."

The three soldiers vanished into the shadows without a word.

---

With his soldiers gone, Drix sat on his bed, deep in thought. The mana in the air was spreading fast, like an invisible tide washing over the world. He activated one of his most powerful abilities, the skill that allowed him to sense and observe the entire world.

As his consciousness expanded, he saw it clearly: the mana wasn't just appearing randomly. It was being released from the very core of the planet itself.

How did I not notice this before? he wondered, frowning slightly. The world's core must've been on the verge of evolving all this time, and I missed it. The sudden appearance of mana must've been triggered by this evolution.

He focused his senses further, watching the mana flow like a river across the globe, filling every corner of the world. If this is what's happening, then it's only a matter of time before people start to awaken. This world is changing.

---

After a few minutes, his soldiers returned, emerging from the shadows in his room.

"My king," Igris began, kneeling before him. "Our investigation is complete. None of the people have awakened or wielded mana yet. Their bodies remain untouched by its influence."

Beru clicked in agreement. "It is possible they are unaware of its presence. Even if they sense it, they may not yet understand how to utilize it."

Bellion added, "The mana is present in the environment, but none of it has integrated into the people. They may need time—or some kind of trigger—to awaken."

Drix nodded slowly, absorbing the report. "I see. Good work."

The soldiers lowered their heads before retreating back into his shadow, leaving Drix alone in the room. He glanced out the window, his gaze distant.

This world is evolving, and it's only just beginning. The question is... what comes next?

Letting out a quiet sigh, Drix lay back on his bed, closing his eyes.

___

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains as Drix stirred awake. Stretching slightly, he got up and stepped out of his room. The smell of breakfast wafted through the air, and he made his way to the kitchen.

"Morning, Drix," his mother greeted him, smiling warmly as she cooked.

"Morning," he replied casually, leaning against the doorway.

Before he could say anything more, the rapid sound of footsteps filled the house. His two younger sisters burst into the kitchen, their faces lighting up the moment they saw him.

"Big brother!" Mari called out excitedly, tugging at his shirt. "Play with us!"

"Yeah! Let's play!" Lila chimed in, already dragging a toy toward him.

Drix raised a brow, shaking his head. "Not right now. Maybe later."

Their faces fell in disappointment, but before their protests could begin, he spoke again. "How about we go outside instead? Just the three of us. We'll get some food, and you can play at the park."

Their eyes lit up immediately. "Really?!"

"Yeah. Get ready," Drix said with a small smile.

---

Soon after, the three of them stepped out into the bustling city streets. The weather was perfect—a bright sky with just enough warmth to make the day pleasant.

They stopped by a small food stall, picking up snacks as his sisters chattered about school and their favorite shows. Drix listened quietly, offering the occasional nod or comment.

When they reached the park, Mari and Lila ran off to play on the swings and slides. Drix sat on a nearby bench, watching them with a rare look of ease. For all the strangeness in the world lately, moments like this felt grounding.

---

On the way back home, Drix suddenly stopped mid-step. His sisters turned to him, confused.

"Big brother?" Mari asked, tugging his sleeve.

Drix didn't answer immediately, his sharp eyes narrowing. What is this... feeling?

It was faint at first, like a ripple in a still pond. But then it hit him—a surge of raw mana in the distance, unlike anything he had felt in this world before. His mind raced as he pinpointed the source.

It was coming from the heart of the city. A gate was forming.

---

Drix's thoughts churned as he continued walking with his sisters, careful not to let his unease show. He maintained his calm demeanor, but his mind was elsewhere.

This isn't right, he thought. I've been monitoring this world for years. The Monarchs and Rulers don't exist here, so this gate shouldn't be connected to them. There's no one else with powers but me... so what's causing this?

As they neared home, Drix sent a shadow soldier to investigate, using its senses to examine the disturbance.

---

By the time they reached the house, Drix had his answer.

The gate wasn't natural—it wasn't influenced by the Monarchs or Rulers. It was a dimensional rift, a tear in reality that connected this world to another. Through it, he could sense the unmistakable mana of monsters.

This changes things, he thought, leaning against the doorway as his sisters ran inside to tell their mother about their day.

Drix considered his options. The gate was comparable to an S-rank one, and if it fully opened, monsters would undoubtedly pour through, wreaking havoc on the city. He could stop it now, close the rift before it even became a problem.

But he didn't move.

I'm not some guardian tasked with saving the world, he thought, his expression unreadable. This isn't my responsibility. My priority is my family.

Still, a part of him lingered on the possibilities. If monsters do appear, I'll deal with them. But only if they threaten what's mine.

---

That night, as the city remained blissfully unaware of the danger quietly brewing, Drix sat in his room, gazing out the window. His senses stretched toward the forming gate, his thoughts calm yet calculating.

Let it be, he decided. I'll act only when I must.

And with that, he turned away, his priorities firmly in place.