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 room, she

"Sorry."

one you

Once she sat down, her line of sight paused on an unfinished cup of wine that was resting on

leaned back on the chair. Taking a sip of

age of 32, you truly

"Mhhh, it's not that."

head once

on the seat opposite of her,

you?... The fact that the mana in the air

the wine, Donna

"I have."

putting the wine glass

know anything about the crack and that they are still studying it. For now, they told us to stay put and conserve our strength in case something

"That's a good idea."

Monica nodded her head.

brows, Donna decided

probably won't be able to help

"...You're right."

an awkward look on her face when she replied. Scratching her neck, she looked at the crack in the sky and softly

really blame me

index fingers touching each other,

huge crack appeared in the sky

you're

Monica's situation, Donna did not blame her for the situation. Similarly glancing at the

it's just a pity that you

"Wait."

her direction. Snapping her fingers,

a perfect replacement for me. Well, not perfect.

are you

"Isn't it obvious?"

a mysterious smile, Monica leaned back on

good as me, he should be good enough to help you. Plus,

"Ah..."

Monica's sentence, her eyes opened up as she finally

smile on Monica's face deepened when she saw

He's the perfect replacement

Donna smacked her lips before she closed her eyes

admit it, but your suggestion

no need

she was about to dial a number, she proceeded to lower

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

[Ren Dover]

caller ID 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 of me to

***

the

words, everyone had managed to calm

my bracelet and threw something in

"Hein, catch."

"Uh..what?!"

had his feet on the table

"Watch it."

hand behind his chair, she managed to stabilize the chair

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

the thing I threw at him, he threw a grateful look

"Thank you."

to be too amused

you to sit properly

to do with anything? I didn't expect him

"Sure."

her words and still seated 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 of

side, and raising his head to look at the bottom