Sword God in a World of Magic

"Turn matter into Mana?" Shang asked in shock.

The Dean nodded.

"That's how they destroy everything around them. They turn matter and even Elemental Mana into Natural Mana around them. Of course, the degree of their power varies vastly. The weakest ones can only turn Elemental Mana into Natural Mana, but they have difficulties in destroying powerful matter."

Shang scratched his chin in thought. "And their power source?"

"That's the thing. It varies."

"Varies?" Shang asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The weaker ones get weaker as they use their powers, but the ones at the Commander Stage can already create a certain degree of destruction around them without doing anything. Sound familiar?"

Shang nodded as he fell into thought.

'Both of these things are related to how my Affinity works. Others use their Mana to unleash their Affinity, which means that their Mana is their power source.'

'Meanwhile, I technically don't use my own Mana with my Affinity. If I wouldn't get injured by my Ice and Fire Blasts, I could theoretically unleash them continuously with all their power without ever needing to take a break.'

'In a way, I'm using the Mana in my surroundings as my power source, which technically means that my power source is as powerful as my surroundings.'

'The other part is also very similar. Other people and beasts don't get injured when they use their Affinities. Meanwhile, the weaker Abominations and I do.'

'It's because the power isn't my own. I am channeling someone else's power, which is why it injures me. Someone with a Fire Affinity can unleash their own fire without any issues, but if another guy throws a fireball at them, they explode all the same.'

'Additionally…'

Shang remembered the time he had touched the antlers of the Frozen Lake Stag and when he touched the Ice Wood.

'I also absorbed Ice Mana and turned it into Natural Mana.'

'However, these two cases could only happen because the Ice Mana was pure. I fought plenty of beasts with an Ice Affinity, and when they use an attack, it still hurt me.'

'Could have something to do with someone controlling the Ice Mana or not. The Ice Wood was dead, and the Frozen Lake Stag stored pure Ice Mana in its antlers.'

Shang looked at the ceiling.

'I guess I could theoretically absorb an Ice Mage's Ice Mana as long as it is stored outside their body. Of course, that won't happen.'

"My Affinity doesn't get its power from myself, and when I use it, I get injured," Shang said after several seconds of thinking.

similar powers to the Abominations. Of course, there's still a certain difference between them and

was how it was

Shang nodded.

looked at his

I can do," Shang

test if your old abilities still work,"

pointed his left arm to

BANG!

BANG!

released an Ice Blast and a Fire Blast in rapid

arm was basically destroyed

hasn't changed," the

answer as he looked

his arm

an eyebrow at Shang's curious actions, but he didn't say

Shang's arm was

Dean said. "You have a warrior's body. You can heal your arm

looked away from his arm and at the

my Mana," Shang

Dean's eyes. "You didn't use the ability of your warrior's body?" he

Shang nodded.

narrowed his eyes. "So, you managed to heal your nearly completely destroyed

Shang nodded again.

used to repair your

closed his eyes and focused

noticed something peculiar

Dean didn't interrupt Shang

minute, Shang opened his eyes with a look

Mages and warriors with specific Affinities can somewhat feel their surroundings if that kind

reaches the level of an Adept, you can basically use it everywhere since every kind of Mana is present

Shang said. "I have

"But with Natural Mana."

Dean's eyes

Mana?" he

"I didn't notice it before, but I can feel

frowned. "So, your Affinity is for

don't know," Shang answered. "I don't think that's all of it. After all, I wouldn't have needed the different Mana Sources for that. On

his