Zayden managed to create three new skills during the practice. He decided to stop himself from creating another one.
First, it was because his mana core was getting lower. And the other reason was because he lacked the imagination to create new skills. It was an embarrassment for an art student but he was thick-skinned enough.
Zayden packed his stuff and left the training ground.
***
In the evening, he arrived outside the hunter association. He looked up at the tall building and sighed. He clenched his hand and entered.
He wanted to get a hunter's license. Without it, he couldn't enter the dungeon. He could try entering illegally but that was not in his style. He had planned his path toward strength.
To earn Aura points, he needed to gain a public image. There was no better way to increase that as a hunter. A powerful hunter.
He walked toward the Front desk and asked the lady who was busy sorting out the papers. He waited for the reception lady to finish her job.
Zayden waited for five minutes.
Does she not notice me? Rude. Zayden frowned. He thought about how to get her attention and a thought stuck him like a thunder.
He sighed for a moment and asked for forgiveness in his mind. He then activated Aura of Dominance.
A sudden wave of dread collided her mind. Her fingers trembled and vision started to blur. She heard her heart beating clearly. It was seeing death straight without a filter.
She looked up under fear and saw a man glancing at her. His crimson eyes stared deep inside her soul. It was as if he could see every detail of her being. She was naked in front of those red eyes.
She opened her mouth to say a word but it didn't form. Trembling didn't stop. She wanted to run. She wanted to hide.
The crimson eyes softened and opened his mouth. " "
She couldn't hear a word but the trembling stopped. She gasped for air.
" Are you okay, miss?" Zayden asked. He acted like he didn't see the lady's panic. He was a bit scared because he thought his aura broke her mind.
It is more effective than I thought. I shouldn't use it on her. Well, it is a lesson. I hope she can forgive me.
The laby calmed herself and lifted up her hair to the side and professionally smiled at him. " What can I do for you?" But stuttering broke her mask.
Her eyes checked for hunter badges and found nothing. Just a normal grey T-shirt.
" I am here to take an evaluation exam. "
" You awakened?" She asked.
Zayden nodded. " It was a nice feeling."
" Yes, I heard that a lot. Please fill this form. "
Zayden started filling. He noticed an occasional glance from the lady.
Is she wary of me? He blushed off the gazes and continued his doing.
After filling the details, he gave it to the lady. The lady checked the form and guided him to the evaluation room. Maybe because he scared her, his place in the evaluation room was first. While others were waiting, he entered the evaluation room.
There was a big black circle in the middle of the room. Two people were on the side behind a large glass wall, the leading figure nodded at him and signalled him to move toward the center.
He knocked on the sphere and asked, " So, I just gotta place my hand?"
" Yes, the machine will absorb the emitting mana and show the rank."
" Simple enough."
Zayden closed his eyes and thought of this world. Mana is not native to this world. Instead, it originates from Gods.
Humans awakened because their bodies absorbed mana and manifested into magical abilities.
In other words, their power was borrowed from others.
I am different. My awakening came from mana core. Although it is an E Rank, I can improve. I can control mana with ease. It was my own flesh and soul.
My ranking should be higher than my actual mana core. After all ,this machine determined the emitting mana.
I can control the output. I can just release all my mana into a single point. I will try my best to get a higher grade.
Zayden fully opened his mana core and let the mana rush out from his body. He also activated Aura of Dominance and Elemental aura.
His white hair rustled. He slowly lifted up his right hand and placed it on the sphere. Mana inside his hands poured into the sphere.
He glanced at the two testing operators. Their eyes widened as the number on the screen went up.
Zayden felt a tight feeling in his stomach. The sensation was like a boiling lava growling inside it. He quickly stopped and the sensation stopped.
[ Warning! The user had used life force too much.]
[ Further usage of Life force will result in Death.]
[ Please find a way to replenish Life Force.]
What? How?
[ The system wishes the user to learn more about mana core.]
Zayden rubbed his head and sighed. He closed off the system and walked toward the two.
I need to act cool. For points.
He smirked and tiled his head to get a higher position. He then asked in a low yet intense tone, " So how is my rank?"
Should I use My aura? Nah. It is too inhumane. They are just workers, not my enemies.
" They are.."
" It is A Rank."
Zayden paused.
WTF! It is too high. I thought I would get a C Rank or B. I know my strength is not reaching A Rank Hunter yet. I will be fucked if I entered into high ranking dungeon.
If I don't enter a high rank Dungeon then, my public image will not be good.
Dammit.
" Oh… I suppose I can work with that ranking. When can I get my license?" Zayden asked nonchalantly.
" Right away. Please rest in the room beside this."
Zayden nodded and followed. He saw cautious gazes from the people who were waiting. He unknowingly activated the Elemental aura of wind.
Soon he was left alone in the waiting room.
Zayden dropped the act and immediately crumbled on the soft sofa chair. " System, open mana core. I want detailed knowledge."
He read about the mana core. The explanation was simple just like the one he read inside the void but it was more complete.
Mana core existed in the astral plane of his being. He could interact but couldn't change it. It was also linked to his soul.
I see. Earlier, I wanted to show my all so mana core acted accordingly. It used my life force to fuel the output.
" How much life force did it use?"
[ Roughly Ten years life span.]
Zayden coughed out blood. " That much!"
He sighed and asked. " Tell me a way to increase my life force."
[ You can buy it in the shop.]
" How many points do I need to unlock the shop?"
[ You will know.]
" How many points do I have right now?"
[ Aura Points - 23.5]
Woah, how did It increase?
[ Due to the news of new A Rank Hunter. ]
[ The feelings collected were Admire, Jealousy, Fear.]
" That is surprising."
" Now, what can I do?"
[ You can upgrade everything or wait for the shop.]
Zayden went silent. His life force being decreased was concerning but his image was more important.
Right now, my mana core is too low. I need to use ten years of my life to create an attack similar to A Rank Hunter.
I will be posing as A Rank so I need strength.
Zayden stared at the system and said, " Pour all my points into Mana core. Do it automatically. Remind me when it reaches Rank A."
[ Process.]
[ Mana Core upgraded to Rank D.]