The Author's POV

Thud—!

Softly landing on the ground, Monica's hair gently fell over her shoulders. Opening her eyes, she lowered her head and glanced at her hand.

"So this is how it feels to break through to rank."

She quietly mumbled.

The sensation was completely different from when she was rank. She couldn't quite explain it, however, if she had to put it into words, it felt as though her connection with the mana in the air had significantly improved.

With just a simple thought, she could will the mana in the air as she wanted.

Raising her hand, she waved it in the air. What followed after the simple gesture was an incredible scene.

The moment Monica's hand swiped right, the red particles that were floating in front of Monica all froze in the air. Following this, as though Monica's hand was a magnet, they all rushed toward her hand.

A thin bright red coating soon formed on Monica's hand, creating some sort of gauntlet.

Gazing at her newly formed gauntlet, a look of amazement appeared on Monica's face.

"....So this is how it feels to truly agglomerate mana."

Mana agglomeration.

A technique that she was able to replicate when she was rank and was supposed to be something that only rankers could use.

If before her technique was unrefined and still weak, it was now no longer that as the mana expenditure had decreased drastically, and so did the power that was held within it.

Clenching and unclenching her hands repeatedly, Monica looked towards the sky as her pupils started to shine with an orange glow.

Arching her back, Monica clenched her fists as tightly as possible and punched towards the sky.

At the exact moment she punched out, the space around her distorted and a massive orange beam shot towards the sky with unprecedented speed and power.

BOOOOOM—!

A defeating explosion akin to that of the sound barrier breaking apart rang through the sky as circular pressurized wind gales began to expand out from the area Monica punched out, spreading throughout the sky like forever expanding rings.

"...Not bad."

Gazing at the sky, Monica muttered in a satisfied tone.

"Let's try adding a little bit more power."

Still excited by her newfound power, Monica decided to test out her powers once again.

Arching her body backward once again, the red particles floating in the air gathered around her at an even faster rate as the glow around her arm intensified considerably. As a result of this, the gauntlet in her arm thickened up.

It didn't take long for Monica to gather enough mana to once again release another attack, however, just as she was once again about to punch out in the air, a voice rang from the distance.

"Monica stop!"

Frowning, Monica looked toward where the voice came from, and there she saw Donna looking at her from the glass window of the building she was previously in.

"Donna?"

The moment she recognized Donna, her eyes returned to their normal color and the glow in her hand disappeared.

"What's wrong?"

Monica curiously asked as she looked at Donna. In response to her question, Donna looked toward the ground.

"Have a look for yourself."

Following her line of sight, Monica's face froze.

"Wha...err."

Gazing at the sea of people that were staring at her from below, Monica finally realized just how much of a scene she had caused.

'I messed up...'

her nose in embarrassment, Monica took a step in the sky and reappeared in

in the

"Sorry."

you should

proceeded to sit back down on a sofa. Once she sat down, her line of sight paused on an unfinished cup of wine that

the cup and leaned back on the chair. Taking a sip of the

the age of 32, you truly are

"Mhhh, it's not that."

her head once she

seat opposite of her, she looked at the crack in the

that the mana in the

the wine, Donna

"I have."

putting the wine glass down,

the crack and that they are still studying it. For now,

"That's a good idea."

Monica nodded her head.

brows, Donna decided to switch

you probably won't

"...You're right."

her face when she replied. Scratching her neck, she looked

can't really blame me

fingers touching each other, Monica pursed

can't control the fact that a huge crack appeared in the sky

I know you're not

not blame her for the situation. Similarly glancing at the

you won't be able

"Wait."

head snapped in her direction. Snapping her fingers, she

there's a perfect replacement for me. Well, not perfect. After all, no one can replace

you

"Isn't it obvious?"

mysterious smile, Monica leaned back on her

as good as me, he should be good enough to help you. Plus, the mission isn't even that hard, and he owes

"Ah..."

Monica's sentence, her eyes

on Monica's face deepened

He's the perfect replacement

her hair back, Donna smacked her lips before she closed her eyes and nodded

admit it, but your suggestion is quite a

was no

stood up. Taking out her phone, just as she was about to dial a number, she proceeded to

right time to tell him. I'll call him in a

[Ren Dover]

she was about to

him more time to rest, he must still be tired after all the time he has been away. It

***

looks like the situation

others. After my words, everyone had managed to calm down, and everyone was no longer as tense as when the situation

in Hein's direction, I tapped on my bracelet

"Hein, catch."

"Uh..what?!"

off-guard, Hein who had his feet on the

"Watch it."

sitting next to him. Placing her hand behind his

that, Hein was able to easily catch the thing I threw

thing I threw at him,

"Thank you."

amused with Hein as she

tell you

anything? I didn't expect him to throw something at me. I

"Sure."

still seated with both legs on the table, Hein turned his hand and opened his palm

"What's this?"

examined the

the side, and raising his head to look at the bottom of the flask, the look