NOVEL NEXT Chapter 61: New ability, same person.
It's been two days since Alexander's visit with Malla, and since that day Zara went over the basics of world energy, or Mana as she would call it.
After learning so much about world energy, and how limited it was from his mother, father, Elise, and Claire, Alexander was quickly surprised at how vast mana could be.
For starters, mana was used differently by demons.
Rather than using it as an internal enhancement mechanism like the Hakshi, or an expulsion mechanism like the Jafren, demons use it as an object manipulator.
For example, if a demon were holding a small stone pebble, they could charge said pebble with potential energy or… mana.
To do this, you would engulf the pebble with your mana, then charge it with potential energy, before finally throwing it, turning that potential energy into kinetic energy.
A comparison would be like wrapping a rubber band around your fingers, to create a slingshot, then placing a piece of paper on said rubber band, pulling back, then firing.
It was a complicated process that required focus and will.
On Top of that, it also requires a large reserve of mana, something Alexander barely had experience with controlling.
In fact, If he hadn't unblocked his mana nodes, then using mana manipulation would've been impossible.
Besides throwing pebbles at increased speeds, demons could also charge themselves with said mana, allowing for one to jump higher or pull themselves forward in a sort of dash.
Though powerful, the ability was extremely energy intensive, draining all of Alexander's mana in about a minute if he sustained a constant state of charging himself.
There were a few other minor things as well, but for the most part, those abilities were the basics.
Now As for how Alexander fared with learning these skills, he partially excelled.
He wasn't as drained and bogged down as before, and that coupled with Zara's eager teaching, made the steep learning curve somewhat flatten out.
"Are you ready to try… without me?" Zara asked Alexander as the duo stood before a primitive obstacle course made of wood and rope.
It was constructed in a large open space settled between two rolling hills. It was a short distance away from the village and was used to help train young demons to become future elder guards.
Alexander crossed his arms as he took a deep sigh.
Zara had done nothing but drill Alexander on how to use mana and charge his body with it, using this very obstacle course.
It started off with Zara completing the course, and Alexander watching, before slowly transitioning into Alexander doing the course with assistance from Zara.
Zara continued to push Alexander on the obstacle course from sunrise to sunset, and now it was finally time for him to try it on his own.
And now it was time for him to try it on his own.
"I'm ready," Alexander said with a nod, "just move fast and stay focused, right?"
Zara nodded, a determined expression plastered on her face. "Yes." She replied.
Alexander took a deep breath, before popping his knuckles and moving to stand in front of the obstacle course.
Alexander then lowered himself down into a sprinting position and began to charge his feet with mana as Zara taught him.
Bringing the mana from his mana-rich core, Alexander could feel a warmth pooling down at the base of his feet.
Stay focused, stay calm, and… go!
Alexander pushed off the ground with his right foot.
Dashing forward, arms outstretched, Alexander reached for the first two wooden panels that were angled in a v-shape.
Alexander began charging his hands with mana, a faint white glow engulfing his naked palms.
Upon reaching the angled panels, Alexander placed his hands against them, visualizing the potential energy in his charged palms.
Feeling the hard, coarse wood, Alexander released his mana, pushing it out from his hands and launching himself forward with a burst of speed.
Dashing forward, Alexander turned his focus on the next obstacle.
A set of seven hurdles that were evenly spaced and about a meter tall.
Pushing his feet forward, Alexander began to charge them with mana once more, his potential energy building.
As his feet made contact with the top of the hurdle, Alexander released his energy and jumped into the air, spinning into a flip.
As he twirled in the air, the wind whipping around his face and body, he charged his hands with mana.
He reached them out towards the second hurdle, his hands open wide.
Falling onto the hurdle, Alexander released his charge energy, but he hesitated and was a second too late.
He missed the hurdle by about an inch, his fingers barely touching the hurdle as his head hurled toward the grass and dirt.
Realizing he missed the hurdle, Alexander's eyes widened.
Shit!
Alexander smacked the ground hard, his neck popping just before his legs crashed against the hurdle.
Alexander's breath was caught in his throat as a sharp pain traveled throughout his body.
Dirt and grass covered his body as his mind was clouded with frustration and irritation.
Groaning in pain, Alexander could hear the sounds of slow footsteps approaching him from behind.
"Alexander, how… how did you fail… again?" Zara asked in slight disbelief, "I told you, take your time."
This was the third time he had failed in that particular spot, and this was the worst out of the three because Zara wasn't there to catch him.
As for the reseason Alexander always failed in that spot, he didn't have a clue…
"I did take my time," Alexander replied as he lay flat on the ground, too hurt to stand up. "I don't know what happened, it's like I just missed it, you know?"
Zara frowned as she crossed her arms, "that doesn't make sense, you can't miss, that's not how that works." Zara replied, "What will you say when you face a war hound, that you just… missed?"
Alexander inwardly groaned as his pain began to fade, leaving behind only shame and frustration.
Even with his unblocked mana nodes and new abilities, he was still the same worthless kid with a new coat of paint.
Life… life never changes.
"Get up." Zara said sternly, "and try again."