Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Mana transfer.

Like physical healing, it was an ability only a small number of enhancement-type Awakened could use.

Mana transfer referred to the act of conveying the user's mana to another Awakened.

Each Awakened possessed unique mana of their own, and since one's ability type and mana color were determined accordingly, they could not share mana with one another.

However, an Awakened with the mana transfer ability could alter their mana to match the recipient, making the transfer possible.

'Which type does the president fall under? If he's just handing over mana, it's not much use, but if he can enhance other Awakened, that's got some real value.'

The mana transfer ability was divided into two categories.

Transferring the user's mana to another Awakened, or having the user's mana exert an influence on the receiving Awakened.

The former merely replenished depleted mana, while the latter was used to enhance another Awakened's body or mana.

Naturally, the latter received far more recognition, while the former was treated as a negligible ability.

'The only ones who can use both types of mana transfer are the White Saint and a handful of other Awakened. On top of that, the White Saint even possesses a powerful physical healing ability.'

The White Saint, one of the Setinos Hunters, possessed a wide range of support abilities befitting her name.

Physical healing, both types of mana transfer, removal of harmful effects caused by certain abilities, barrier creation, and more.

In practice, she was essentially a special-type Awakened who additionally possessed enhancement-type abilities.

'Something tells me the president could do both. Since the copied ability underwent a transformation, he might've ended up with a special ability.'

Of course, there was no way to be certain—it was closer to a conclusion drawn from past experiences and intuition.

Seo Hyun-woo not only excelled in reflexes and judgment, but his abilities and potential had also reached a considerable level.

That was precisely why he had never lost even once, and why his potential for growth remained high going forward.

'How far can the president go? He could probably become a Setinos Hunter. Maybe he could even reach the strongest Hunter in history.'

***

'How is this possible? Did he really copy my ability?'

Park Yong-jun was confirming the nature of the ability while clasping hands with Seo Hyun-woo.

Judging by appearance alone, Seo Hyun-woo had undoubtedly used the dragon transformation ability.

Moreover, since there were no Awakened with the dragon transformation ability at Miterich, it couldn't have been copied from anyone but himself.

'I've never seen a white dragon before. It's a color that can't be found anywhere, domestically or abroad. What the hell did the Student Council President do?'

Park Yong-jun had traveled both domestically and internationally to meet the extremely rare dragon transformation Awakened.

Including himself, the dragon colors were limited to red, blue, green, brown, and deep yellow—that was all there was.

Each symbolized one of five attributes—flame, ice, wind, earth, and lightning—and there had never been a single case that deviated from that classification.

Yet Seo Hyun-woo had just shattered that rule.

'A white dragon doesn't belong to any of the five attributes. Then does it possess some kind of special ability?'

Park Yong-jun accepted the white current Seo Hyun-woo was producing and immediately discerned its effect.

Just as Seo Hyun-woo had said, it was unmistakably mana transfer—one of the non-combat abilities.

Furthermore, after absorbing the white current, he felt strength welling up inside him, confirming that physical reinforcement was taking place.

"......You can use both types of mana transfer?"

"It seems that way. I believe physical healing is possible as well."

"Ha! This is absurd. Not just mana transfer, but physical healing too?"

Park Yong-jun let out a hollow laugh as he experienced it firsthand.

Apart from the surge of strength, his mind grew clearer and a refreshed feeling settled over him.

Since he had no injuries, the physical healing effect had manifested in a different form.

"I didn't expect this to happen either. I suspect there might be an issue with my ability."

Seo Hyun-woo said it candidly, wearing an impassive expression.

According to the original story, he should have transformed into a Crimson Dragon like Park Yong-jun—not a white dragon.

After that, they were supposed to exchange a few light blows and end the sparring, weren't they?

But in this state, even if they tried to spar, they wouldn't be able to have a proper fight.

"I didn't expect you to call this a problem. Do you even know what ability you're using right now?"

"I'm well aware. The White Saint is capable of using all of these abilities, is she not?"

The White Saint.

One of the Setinos Hunters and a versatile Awakened capable of using all manner of combat support abilities.

Going by the story's flow and lore, she was Kang Jin-ha's heroine and would later try to offer him her unreserved support.

Moreover, even if she wasn't on the same level as the other Setinos Hunters, she could engage in direct combat—making her capable of close-quarters fighting, prolonged engagements, and rear support alike.

"Then why call it a problem if you know all that?"

"Regardless, I failed to copy the ability perfectly. Whether this ability is good or bad, that fact doesn't change."

"You're looking at the process rather than the result?"

"I believe both the process and the result need to be examined. That's why I concluded there's a problem."

Hearing that, Park Yong-jun seemed to think for a moment before bursting into laughter.

It seemed Seo Hyun-woo was dissatisfied with both the process and the result.

Perhaps the fact that he had failed to properly copy the dragon transformation ability, combined with his reluctance to be tied down to non-combat abilities, had led him to conclude there was a problem.

"......Setting aside the incomplete copy, are you saying you'd rather die than provide combat support?"

"That's not the goal I'm striving for."

"What an interesting thing to say. If it truly goes against your goal, then there's no need to pursue it. It's a bit of a shame, but I'll respect your choice."

Seo Hyun-woo gave a slight bow in lieu of a response.

Unlike the original story, the copied ability had been altered, so it was fair to say a variable had emerged.

But there was no choice he could call the right one—he absolutely had to transform into a dragon.

Above all, since this color didn't belong to any of the seven dragons, it only stirred up unease.

'I'm a bit worried. I can't know what kind of impact this sparring had on Kang Jin-ha. It'd be best if he felt nothing at all from watching this.'

Seo Hyun-woo shook his head, conscious of Kang Jin-ha watching him from somewhere.

He was both the obstacle Kang Jin-ha had to overcome and the goal itself.

Of course, something like this alone probably wouldn't shake Kang Jin-ha's resolve, but there was still a chance it could create a variable.

'Whenever I try to put some effort into anything, something unexpected happens. I can't tell whether it's me that's wrong or this world.'

***

Seo Hyun-woo and Park Yong-jun ended the sparring without so much as exchanging a single blow.

The Barrier System was deactivated, and the students cautiously raised their smartphones to snap pictures of the two.

Meanwhile, Kang Jin-ha turned his back alone and slipped out of the indoor training grounds.

'I knew there was something hidden in the president's copy ability. There's no way something like that could happen otherwise.'

Kang Jin-ha recalled the scene he had witnessed earlier, tracing through his memory.

The Archangel Descent Seo Hyun-woo had copied was different from Baek Seo-yeon's—its crown and wings had turned gold.

So it stood to reason that Park Yong-jun's dragon transformation ability had also undergone some alteration when Seo Hyun-woo copied it.

'The president has never experienced defeat. He possesses an enormous amount of mana and can even copy other Awakened's abilities and techniques—so of course he's been able to do all this. But can I really beat someone like him?'

For the first time, Kang Jin-ha let out a bitter laugh at the thought that he might lose.

There were exactly two reasons he had enrolled at Miterich.

He wanted to walk the same path as his older sister, an active Hunter, and he wanted to test his limits at Miterich, the finest training institution.

Along the way, the desire to defeat the current Student Council President—known as the strongest in school—had taken root as well.

'The president handed mana to the Scarlet Dragon King during the sparring. He must've been trying to confirm that he had the mana transfer ability. The Scarlet Dragon King recognized that and ended the match.'

Kang Jin-ha had been meticulously observing every one of Seo Hyun-woo's actions.

To beat Seo Hyun-woo, he needed to learn at least the man's minor habits or fatal weaknesses.

But he couldn't find anything resembling a weakness in Seo Hyun-woo—if anything, the man only seemed more perfect.

'It's not an ordinary mana transfer ability. He transformed into a dragon, so that goes without saying.'

Even now, the image of Seo Hyun-woo transformed into a dragon lingered before Kang Jin-ha's eyes.

He had looked inhuman—as though he had become something excessively mystical yet noble.

Something he hadn't felt from Park Yong-jun in dragon form, he had felt from Seo Hyun-woo.

'The president doesn't just have strength—he has potential that defies common sense. Is that why no one can beat him?'

Kang Jin-ha stopped in his tracks, belatedly realizing the answer he had been searching for all this time.

Seo Hyun-woo clearly possessed an overwhelming talent that transcended effort, background, and even luck.

That was why he could march toward the pinnacle without losing to anyone.

'So when people say "genius," they're talking about someone like the president. Compared to him, I just have a somewhat unique transformation-type ability. The only way to close that gap is to work harder.'

***

Park Yong-jun pulled out his smartphone the moment he got into the car.

What had happened today was plenty intriguing, and if he told her, she would surely take an interest.

She might even visit Miterich in person to verify the truth, just as he had.

[Park Yong-jun (15:21) : Found an interesting kid. Seems like he has abilities similar to yours.]

Park Yong-jun immediately opened ChocolateTalk and started typing.

The reply came from her only after the car had been moving for some time.

[Shin Da-hee (15:35) : Awakened who can use both types of mana transfer come up now and then. Is there more to it than that?]

Park Yong-jun let out a small laugh after reading her message.

She regularly offered advice to Awakened who possessed combat support abilities and helped with their training.

This was an activity befitting a Setinos Hunter's standing, and also a way to find a disciple truly worth mentoring.

[Park Yong-jun (15:35) : Both types of mana transfer AND physical healing. Isn't that enough?]

Park Yong-jun expected the reply to take a while and was about to slip his phone into his pocket.

But contrary to his expectations, a reply came almost instantly.

[Shin Da-hee (15:36) : An Awakened like that exists? Start with their name and Hunter grade.]

[Park Yong-jun (15:36) : The reply came fast this time. Finally interested?]

[Shin Da-hee (15:36) : I just hope it's not a lie. I've already been fooled enough.]

[Park Yong-jun (15:37) : Why would I lie to the White Saint? I've never seen an Awakened person as capable as this kid. He could probably become a Setinos Hunter before he turns thirty.]