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...'

Monica took a step

moment she appeared in the room, she instantly

"Sorry."

the one you should

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

forward, Donna grabbed the cup and leaned back on the chair. Taking a sip of the wine, and savoring the taste, Donna looked

at the age of

"Mhhh, it's not that."

head once

of her, she looked

didn't you?... The fact that the mana

another sip of the wine, Donna nodded her

"I have."

the wine glass down, Donna's face turned

the Union and Douglas about the situation, they've told me that they currently don't know anything about the crack and that

"That's a good idea."

Monica nodded her head.

Donna decided

won't be able to help me

"...You're right."

face when she replied. Scratching her neck, she looked at the crack in the

blame me for

fingers touching each other, Monica pursed

huge crack appeared

you're not at

the situation. Similarly glancing at the crack in the sky, she

it's just a pity that you won't be able to help me.

"Wait."

off, Monica's head snapped in her

replacement for me. Well, not perfect. After all, no one can

you

"Isn't it obvious?"

back on her chair and crossed her

help you. Plus, the

"Ah..."

part of Monica's sentence,

on Monica's face deepened when she saw

do you say? He's

smacked her lips before she closed her eyes and

admit it, but your

was no

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

know what, I don't think this is the right time to tell him. I'll call

[Ren Dover]

that she was about to

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

***

like the situation

more shaking, I finally relaxed and looked toward the others. After my words,

I tapped on my bracelet and threw something in

"Hein, catch."

"Uh..what?!"

who had his feet on the table almost

"Watch it."

sitting next to him. Placing her hand behind his chair, she managed to stabilize the chair

was able to easily catch the

thing I threw at him, he threw

"Thank you."

amused with Hein as

tell you to sit

do with anything? I didn't expect him to throw something

"Sure."

with both legs on the table, Hein turned his hand and opened his palm revealing a small hexagonal-shaped

"What's this?"

as he examined the contents

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