NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: The City of Mana
Date: 08/03/2020
Time: 7:30 AM
Ankush stepped out of his house, the fresh morning air filling his lungs as he adjusted his school bag over his shoulder. The weight felt oddly comforting, a mundane reminder that despite his transmigration, the routine of daily life continued. But the moment he stepped onto the street, he was reminded once again—this wasn't the Kolkata he remembered.
His gaze swept across the road, and his breath hitched for a moment.
Instead of petrol and diesel vehicles, the streets were filled with mana-powered vehicles, their sleek designs humming with faint, pulsing energy from the embedded mana stones. These stones, the crystallized remnants of slain monsters, were the foundation of modern technology. His three years of mechanical engineering knowledge in his previous life made him instantly curious about the technology.
He walked toward the edge of the footpath and observed a mana-powered motorcycle waiting at a traffic signal. Its design was futuristic—sleek, lightweight, and adorned with thin blue glowing lines running across its body. Instead of an exhaust pipe, a mana conversion chamber sat at the center, encased in a metallic sphere that pulsed with soft light.
Ankush watched carefully as the traffic light changed. The motorcycle's rider, a young man clad in a leather jacket, twisted his wrist slightly. Instead of the sound of an engine roaring to life, a deep hum resonated through the air, like the faint whisper of compressed energy being released. With a sudden burst of speed, the bike shot forward, completely silent yet incredibly fast.
His eyes flickered toward the other vehicles—cars, buses, even public transport—all running without a single trace of smoke. No fumes, no engine noise, just smooth gliding motion powered by mana stones.
"So this is magic engineering…" he muttered to himself, excitement bubbling in his chest.
Mana stones had replaced fuel and electricity, becoming the primary energy source of the modern world. They came in various grades, ranked according to the strength of the monster they were dropped from.
- F-grade Mana Stones (Dropped from weak F-rank monsters, used in small household appliances.)
- E-grade Mana Stones (Used in motorcycles and economy cars.)
- D-grade Mana Stones (Standard for public transport, delivery vehicles, and heavier machines.)
- C-grade and above (Reserved for high-performance vehicles, elite warrior transportation, and military applications.)
He recalled something from the Pre-Awakening Exam he had researched last night—the drop rate of mana stones was roughly 1:100. This meant that for every 100 monsters killed, only one mana stone was obtained. That alone explained why public transport was more common than private ownership.
Even in this world, energy wasn't free.
As he walked down the footpath, a bus zoomed past him. The words "Kolkata Mana Transport Corporation" (KMTC) were engraved on its side, shimmering faintly with runic inscriptions. The bus was completely silent, its large mana engine glowing blue beneath the chassis. Inside, passengers chatted casually, unconcerned about the sheer futuristic magic fueling their everyday lives.
"This is insane…" Ankush whispered, his curiosity growing with every step.
He turned his attention toward a smaller shop across the street, where a mechanic was adjusting a mana circuit inside a parked car. The mechanic, an elderly man with a thick mustache and mana-infused goggles, worked diligently. Sparks of blue mana flickered as he carefully adjusted a mana flow stabilizer.
Unable to resist, Ankush crossed the road to take a closer look.
The mechanic glanced at him, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Curious, kid?"
"Ah, yeah… I was just wondering how these work," Ankush replied truthfully.
The man chuckled. "Magic engineering, my boy. These beauties run on mana stones and a conversion array that transfers stored energy into a propulsion system. No more crude explosions from burning fuel—just pure, clean mana conversion."
Ankush nodded, fascinated. "Does it require refueling often?"
The mechanic wiped his hands and leaned on the car. "Depends on the grade of the mana stone used. A D-grade stone lasts about a month for a standard car. Higher-end vehicles with C-grade stones can run for several months without replacement."
Ankush glanced at the mana stone chamber—it was a small slot beneath the dashboard, glowing softly as it transferred energy into the vehicle.
He suddenly imagined what kind of cars ran on A-rank or even S-rank mana stones. Would they be flying? Capable of teleportation? Or running without ever needing a replacement?
"Thanks, uncle. This is really interesting," Ankush said with a nod of gratitude before continuing his journey toward school.
As he walked, the architecture of the city became clearer to him.
Kolkata had changed drastically.
While some of the older colonial-style buildings remained, many structures now incorporated mana-powered floating billboards, self-repairing runic walls, and shimmering protective enchantments. Even some high-rise buildings levitated partially, held up by massive A-grade mana stabilizers embedded into their foundations.
At a distant intersection, floating surveillance drones hovered—their mana-infused lenses scanning pedestrians for security. The police officers on patrol wore enchanted gear, their uniforms lined with thin blue circuits pulsing faintly, enhancing their reaction time.
Ankush's excitement grew as he realized he was standing in a city that had seamlessly integrated magic and technology.
"This is… incredible."
But soon, his gaze was pulled toward something even more shocking.
As he turned onto one of the main roads leading to his school, the Dungeon Gates came into view.
Massive black structures, at least 50 meters tall, stood on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by heavy military presence.
Dozens of elite Awakened Warriors, clad in battle armor, patrolled the area. Large mechanical turrets imbued with mana crystals lined the perimeter, aimed directly at the swirling void of the dungeon entrance.
Unlike the city, which radiated an atmosphere of progress, the area around the Dungeon Gates was tense, ominous, and filled with danger.
A massive ranking board displayed the latest activity:
> Dungeon Gate 27 (Howrah Sector)
> Last Cleared: 6 Hours Ago
> Current Threat Level: C-Rank
> Active Monsters: 274 (Estimated)
> Next Scheduled Raid: 14:00 Today
Ankush watched as a group of Awakened Hunters walked past him, clad in full gear, their swords and staffs glowing faintly. They radiated confidence—seasoned professionals who made a living fighting the monsters inside the dungeons.
A few of them were checking their mana firearms, ensuring the weapons were properly enchanted before their upcoming raid.
Ankush gulped.
He had known about dungeons before—but seeing them in person was completely different.
The massive swirling black gate pulsed ominously, like a breathing entity waiting to devour anyone who entered.
"Damn…" he muttered.
Despite the heavy security, dungeons were unpredictable. Sometimes monsters broke through, forcing emergency lockdowns. And once in a while, an S-rank or higher monster appeared, causing city-wide evacuations.
Shaking off the chills running down his spine, Ankush quickened his pace.
His school was only a few blocks away now.
As he turned a corner, the towering gate of his school finally came into view.
And with that, his journey into this new life truly began.