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.

she told one thing after—something like

use it, Eric. You'll completely ruin your prospects as

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

of Mana began to emerge from him as he focused everything on

at a rapid rate, instead focusing on the flow

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

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

that he had pent-up within himself

all the jagged blades the moment his wave of energy

"Ahh…"

into a state of absolute lull. It

and the fleeting essence of Mana began to depart from

bliss, but he

It seems… all my dreams end here.' A sad

to use

his wand

felt so

sweet time, and that this moment would last for an

But he didn't.

Cus—!" Before Eric could complete his Spell, he suddenly felt

… Something very ominous.

~SQUELCH!~

from behind, ripping apart a

properly process pain, or almost any sensation, so the moment he felt a complete hole dug through his chest, the first

hand protruding from his chest—almost like that of

he could even process

realized it at

You're the one shutting off my

to the splashing sound that his blood made as it poured on

him with her hand, causing fatal damage that not

vision turned to Alicia, but she