The Author's POV

8 :10 a.m — [A huge unknown crack suddenly appeared in the sky. What followed after was intense trembling resembling that of an earthquake of magnitude 6.5]

8 :40 a.m — [The trembling persisted for a total of thirty minutes before stopping. At the moment there have been no reports of deaths as there were only reports regarding a couple of injured individuals. Not much is known about the crack in the sky.]

9 :15 a.m — [Reports coming from the Union have stated that everything is under control and that they have increased their guard on the crack in the sky.]

9 :15 a.m — [In a shocking turn of events, scientists have reported the fact that the mana density of the planet has increased by a factor of three. Many individuals who had been stuck at the same rank for years have suddenly found themselves breaking through.]

9 :15 a.m — [Our world has reached a new turning point.]

Click—!

Turning off the holographic projection, Smallsnake solemnly looked toward the others gathered in the room. At the moment, everyone was currently seated on the large wooden desk set up in one of the rooms of the warehouse.

The room was a special room made for emergency situations. The moment the crack in the sky appeared, Hein and Ava panicked and were just about to rush back to their parents and family to make sure that they were alright.

However, before they could go out, they were quickly stopped by Ren who had called in and told everyone to remain in the building. Before Ava and Hein could protest, he also told them that their parents were going to be alright.

Although Hein and Ava wanted to protest, since Ren was the one to speak, and they knew that he was usually not wrong in these types of situations, they obediently followed his orders.

That being said, an air of nervousness and tension permeated throughout the whole room as everyone was still confused about the sudden turn of events.

Out of everyone present, the only one that seemed to be the least bit concerned about the situation was Angelica, who was currently seated by the far end of the table with her eyes closed. Next to her was Ava.

Turning on his laptop and browsing through his information channels, Smallsnake thought for a moment and raised his head.

"Angelica, do you have any idea about what's going on?"

Her calmness made Smallsnake think that she knew something. However, it appeared as though he had assessed wrongly as Angelica quickly shot him down.

"No."

The frown on Smallsnake's face deepened.

Pinching the screen of his laptop, Smallsnake looked through the images of the crack in the sky, however, regardless of how much he tried to look, he couldn't make heads or tails of what was happening.

'I hope Ren gets here sooner. I really am not liking this situation.'

Staring at the different headlines and titles in front of him, Smallsnake shook his head. This situation was worrying him to no end.

Lowering his head and checking his watch, just as Smallsnake was about to call Ren, Smallsnake was suddenly alerted of the presence of someone in the warehouse. Opening the cameras and seeing that it was Ren, Smallsnake finally relaxed and closed his laptop.

'Thank god he's here.'

***

Clank—!

Entering the warehouse, with Nola still in my arms, I quickly headed for the conference room. If they listened to my instructions, everyone should be there at the moment.

And it was exactly as I thought. The moment I entered the room, I found everyone already seated, waiting for me.

Upon my arrival, I felt everyone's eyes directed in my direction, or to be more precise, Nola in my arms. I feigned ignorance to the stares.

Smallsnake was the first to speak. Or at least tried to, however, I quickly cut him off.

"Ren, you—"

"Shut up Smallsnake."

things that

about to speak, Nola's brows furrowed as she looked at me and

"Brother, that's not nice."

"Hm?"

her finger,

Shut up is a

"...Er."

say

said that you must apologize if you say a bad

"..."

twitched. Biting my lips and staring at Nola who had a serious look on her face, my shoulders

"Alright, fine."

look at Smallsnake who was looking at Nola with tears in his eyes, my right hand

Smallsnake, I'm sorry for what I said

situation, Smallsnake's chin raised

okay. No harm

realizing that Nola was still in the room, I could only relent and

girl and sit over

gathered in the room and there was no one outside to supervise her, I could only have her

the conversation. Once she

talk right now, so play with my

"Um."

phone, Nola obediently nodded her head. I smiled when I

formed around her,

'This should do.'

turned to look at the others. Placing my hands on the desk and leaning my body forward, I took a deep

*Puff*

I was about to speak, out of nowhere, smoke diffused

to look to understand who was responsible for this. Closing my eyes, I slowly

the love of God. Please put the

Leopold had become ever since coming back from Issanor, and at first, I didn't

rather, I didn't want to believe it. However, staring at Leopold in front of me, I could only secretly shake my

*Puff*

"...Fine."

cigarette in his hand, Leopold glanced at Nola before

"Thank you."

Leopold, and making sure that there was nothing else

world, and what the big crack in the sky

I smacked my

not as dire as you all think. For the next year or so, there won't be that many changes to the world apart from the fact that the mana density is slowly increasing. In fact, you could say that this

it become easier for people to break through to the next rank, but so would the speed at which

eyes paused on Smallsnake

know how a

know the

enthusiastically answered as he lowered the gaming console in

"Oh, go on."

the gaming console on the table, Ryan sat up straight

in Issanor. There are several factors that can measure the talent limit of

"Yes, that's correct."

Ryan's words, I nodded

factors that determined the talent limit of someone, however, the primary factor was their mana absorption rate. Typically, the higher their mana

midst of my thoughts, Ryan

the user, we can determine the talent limit of someone. Mana absorption rate is typically linked to the genetic spectrum of the user, thus it can't be changed through internal factors. There can only be so much mana that they can absorb at once, and therefore, comparing the data with the mana density in the