Kevin recalled his conversation with Sera about Mana Control, her voice drifting lazily as if the topic were second nature.
"Let's go over everything we know. Mana is the energy that exists within every Soul. In its dormant state, it's called Reishi, or Spirit Energy. But like the Soul itself, this energy isn't tangible. To use it, it must first be converted into something more… controllable."
"And that something is Mana, right."
"Yeah. Mana is the refined, usable form of Spirit Energy. It's what allows a Soul to manifest power, abilities, and techniques in the material world. But there's more to it than just producing Mana."
"More?"
"The real skill lies in control. Not just in how much Mana you have, but how precisely you can manipulate it. Think of it like water: too little pressure and it won't flow; too much and it floods everything around it. Control is knowing exactly how to pour it, when, and where and the amount of control you have will influence your output."
Sera added with a mischievous smile.
"And then there's the secret technique, something even most humans don't realize exists."
Kevin frowned. "Secret technique?"
"That's right. The secret technique of Demons like myself. Demons can absorb ambient mana from their surroundings and reinforce their own reserves. It's called Little Universe. Unlike regular reinforcement, which relies on your own body's capacity, this technique lets you siphon the latent energy in the environment and integrate it directly into your body. In essence, you're making yourself into a
"So it's like… pulling energy from the air itself?"
"That's one way to put it. But it's tricky." She suddenly turned serious. "Absorbing ambient Mana requires absolute synchronization between your body, your Soul, and the energy around you. Most fail because they try to force it; they pull too much at once, lose control, and end up exhausting themselves instead of reinforcing. It's all about finesse. There are multiple schools that teaches this form in the Demon Realm. Hm. Hm... Hmm... I believe it was called Senjutsu or something along those lines."
"How can you forget something so important? Tsk. Of course, if every devil can do it, then why would it be considered important. In any case, you're saying if I master this form of manipulation, I could fight beyond my natural limits?"
"Not just beyond. You could fight in ways no ordinary Soul could, bending the flow of battle to your favor. But remember… it can also kill you faster than any opponent too if misused."
"That certainly makes me happy."
"Relax, will ya? The solution's simple: practice it until it becomes as natural as breathing. And who better to teach you this technique than… this Great Succubus? Heh heh heh."
Though Sera had made that bold declaration, she was also the kind of person whose unpredictability defied reason. She once heated a bento wrapper in a microwave and caused an explosion. She had done the same with a boiled egg, not to mention other random items like spoons and utensils.
It seemed the nature of the object didn't matter; what mattered was that she caused an explosion.
Were all devils like her, or was she simply… unique?
The memory alone was enough to make Kevin feel his knees weaken slightly.
Thankfully, that incident had been two months ago, and she hadn't caused another explosion since. Still, his training with Little Universe had improved dramatically in that time, though the full effect of his progress remained uncertain.
Realistically… could he even harm a Slayer?
This logic was what made Kevin put his trust in Todd's abilities.
Maybe he was just being overconfident.
Glancing around the testing hall, everyone seemed to be watching this performance.
'Here goes nothing.'
Taking a deep breath, he started the rotation sequence of Little Universe.
When he exhaled, he took a single step forward and just like that, he vanished from view.
"!?"
Todd's instincts kicked in immediately. He dropped into a defensive stance, muscles bulging and hardening like braided steel fibers. It was clear he had awakened his augmentation fully, bracing for the unseen attack.
Channeling the flow of ambient mana as an extension of himself, Kevin didn't hesitate and accelerated like a bullet, closing the distance in an instant. His fist connected with Todd's gut, the force amplified far beyond what his body alone could normally produce.
The outcome, however, surpassed even Kevin's expectations.
The crushing blow bent Todd's body inward, forcing a strangled gasp and a spray of blood from his mouth. The momentum carried him through the air, crashing into the hall's reinforced wall with a bone-rattling thud. Dust and debris scattered in all directions.
A stunned silence fell over the room.
It was only until a few seconds passed that the Instructors began to move.
"What the hell...!"
"Such destructive power... I've never seen anything like this."
"Someone check his pulse. Is he stood breathing!?"
Oh oh.
Kevin realized his blunder.
He had gone too far. Apparently, the demon way of mana manipulation was quite advanced.
It couldn't be helped.
Completely inexperienced in the ways of combat, Kevin had no idea just how far the amplification from Little Universe could push even a single strike. His theoretical understanding, honed under Sera's tutelage, had not prepared him for the sheer physical devastation that came from combining raw force with environmental mana.
Wait… the form's name was Senjutsu, was it? Couldn't that also be interpreted as the art of warfare or even battle killing arts? How hadn't I realized this sooner?! Kevin thought in destress.
The victim of this whole predicament wasn't moving at all. Thankfully, he wasn't dead, but he definitely seemed to have fainted.
Shit.
The sheer weight of what he'd just done, and the implications of it, finally hit him all at once.
Could he… be charged with murder?