An Extra’s POV

Forced Magic Activation.

It was the a forbidden technique among Mages, but for some… it could be considered something of a trump card—albeit a temporary one.

Once a Mage's Mana was depleted, they could never use Magic no matter how hard they tried. The Spell just wouldn't activate regardless of the means.

However, Forced Magic Activation bypassed this by inducing one critical element into the mix.

—Sacrifice.

Just as there was a way for Martial Artists to exponentially increase their abilities by sacrificing their Life Force to grow stronger, Mages could also let go of something incredibly important to attain a temporary burst of power.

They would have to let go of Mana itself.

Despite what was displayed by the system, every Mage—no, perhaps every human, really—had a secret stockpile of Mana within them.

This stockpile of Mana was what made it possible for anyone to grow Magic and develop Skills and Classes if they practiced over time. Many considered it a representation of latent abilities embedded in everyone, waiting to be manifested.

It was trite that zero multiplied by zero was still zero, and that it was impossible for something to emerge from nothing. So, once a Mage depleted their Mana, where did this refill over time come from?

From this same stockpile of Mana.

Without it, Mages would have no way to grow any further than they already had, and they would likewise be crippled if they drained everything at once.

In essence… they would never be able to use Magic again.

This was why Forced Magic Activation was a forbidden technique, but the Otherworlders still learned it during their compulsory education.

The hidden stockpile was an essential part of Magic learning, so Lucielle and their other Magic Tutors had to reference it one way or the other. They never went in-depth on it, though.

Being the inquisitive one, however, Eric went and asked Lucielle all about it after classes.

She did him the service of properly explaining everything about the latent stockpile of Mana and Forced Magic Activation to him, just as he wanted.

one thing after—something like a word

completely ruin your prospects as a

echoed in the mind of the young Mage who closed his eyes and channeled that hidden power within him, more tears flowed down

to disobey you.' Sparks of Mana began to emerge from him as he focused everything on his

the jagged blade that approached him at a rapid rate, instead

completely drain the Mana that was within him, but Eric knew he couldn't

save everyone—stop all of the arrows that emerged from the

so, he released all the energy that he had pent-up within himself in one swift and

dissolving all the jagged blades the moment his wave of energy was sent

"Ahh…"

of pure, unfiltered Magic, sent the entire area around Eric into a state of absolute lull. It felt like time had suddenly slowed down, and the tension around him

like an illusion, and the fleeting

but he also felt

end here.' A sad smile played on his

Eric decided to use his last ounce of Mana

his wand in the direction of the

felt so

time, and

But he didn't.

complete his Spell,

… Something very ominous.

~SQUELCH!~

him from behind, ripping apart a hole

so the moment he felt a complete hole dug through his chest, the first thing he did

that of a

arm, and before he could even process why and how, blood burst out

Eric realized it at

the one shutting off my Skills,

of the Dragon General, also listening to the splashing sound that his blood made

pierced him with her hand, causing fatal damage that not even

but she wasn't even looking in