"Those without talent will always lose to those with it... In this life, we can't force our way to be great at something. That's how the world is, Illias." A man spoke to me with a solemn face.
At the time, I was still a child.
I never understood the weight of those words.
How right my Father was about the world.
It was only after I enrolled at high school for the gifted that I finally understood.
"Illias, your scores in chemistry are below average. You need to study more."
I forced a smile at my teacher and said, "I will definitely!"
After that, I went on and studied chemistry for an extra 4 hours longer. I was filled with vigor as I tried my best to learn concepts, even chapters ahead of my peers. As a result, I achieved my goal. In the next semester, I managed to increase my grades. Even though the increase was just from C to B+, I feel fulfilled with what I have achieved.
"Dang it! I failed again!" A student said as she scratched her head.
I know that feeling well.
The feeling of failing.
Hence, I walked towards her, hoping to comfort her, only to find...
"If only I could get an A+! I am only at A!"
That's when I realize the gravity of the situation.
When I was still pondering at the level of B, people had already surpassed it ages ago.
But I spent all my time studying for an extra 4 hours.
Didn't my effort matter at all?
I took up extra hours to study, reducing my bedtime schedule to only 4 hours a day.
Soon my grades began to increase again, and I managed to reach the level of A- in chemistry.
Looking at my grades on the announcement board of the school, I smiled in fulfillment.
But there's an unease in my heart.
As happy as I am supposed to be, I didn't notice the toll that I have to pay.
Blood dropped from my nose.
I haven't been paying attention to my own health.
I should've paid more attention. But, if I did, would I have achieved my goal?
Not only that.
It's also when I realized that even though my grades are increasing.
The grade of my favorite subject, which was biology, had turned for the worse.
My usual B+ became a C.
It occurred to me just how incompetent I was when trying to focus on everything at once.
It only deteriorates my performance.
But how?
How can they all do it?
In this school of the gifted, how can they all do it?
Why am I the only one?
The only one who can't?
I continued to ponder my self-worth.
"Illias, you are aiming to be a doctor, right? You can't get into medical school, especially here, without straight A's in sciences. C in biology and only A- in chemistry, who are you kidding, trying to apply to be a doctor in a med school?"
I looked down as I was scolded by my uncle, who was working in the medical field.
"Hey, leave my daughter alone. She's trying her best!" My father retorts.
Even though my uncle is right, I am glad my father took my side.
But even though he did, I can never relinquish my own incompetence.
I began to study again and again, decreasing my bedtime to only 2 hours a day.
Until one day, at the final exam of my second semester in the 2nd Grade of High School.
I collapsed due to extreme exhaustion and had to be hospitalized.
In the hospital bedroom where the ceiling was white, my parents accompanied me as my father couldn't control his emotions. All he did was cry, looking at my condition. His only child, who forced herself and was uncaring in her own health.
When was it?
When is becoming great is the importance?
Is it really necessary to sacrifice everything to be great?
Or is it better to stay in the realms of mediocrity in hopes of survival?
At the time, I chose the latter.
I cling to mediocrity if it means I can enjoy my life once more.
Then, I did.
I lived my days as a high school and university student happily.
Instead of being a doctor, I finally chose to become a nurse.
It was less demanding, and the passing grade isn't as high as a doctor.
I was making a decent amount of money living with both my parents.
Until it finally happened.
Corrosive Mana (Corona) Incident of 2020.
I lost both my parents in that breakout of the virus.
All I could do was watch as both of them slowly died by looking at the heart monitor hooked up to both of them. In this hospital bed, I, who is only a nurse, can't do anything to help them get better.
That's when it occurred to me.
Perhaps if I were a doctor, I could somehow prevent all this from happening.
Perhaps if.
If.
If.
If. If. If. If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.If. If. If.
IF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"HUAAAARGH!!!!" I screamed at the morgue. Where my parents are held because they died from a corrosive mana disease, which at the time was not well understood enough.
Now that they're gone....
What the heck am I supposed to be fighting for?
What is it to enjoy?
I chose to become a plebian and ended up losing everything.
Why?
Why must I suffer this kind of fate?
I never got hospitalized because of Corrosive Mana.
I did experience symptoms, but I continue to work as if nothing ever happened to my body.
Perhaps I do have a talent.
A talent to ignore pain completely.
A talent to disregard my own health until it is too late.
Late in 2020, we finally found a temporary cure given to us by the elves.
That's when I also met Veuz for the first time.
A woman who can or already masters the art of mana in hopes of helping others.
A doctor and a person using mana.
I already know which one is more powerful.
With mana, a person can get fantastical results while doctors are limited by technology.
That was enough motivation for me.
As Veuz began to expand her cause in order to make peace with the whole race, I joined in on her cause as her disciple. I began to know how she thinks and how she trains herself in using mana.
Ultimately, it was her motivation that inspired me.
"The world used to belong only to us. But the case is much different now. Even if it is originally our world. Is it right to purge every other race just because they aren't human? Is it right to think that only humans deserve the right to live? Weren't the other races dragged here without their consent? Aren't they just trying their best to survive?"
She is the only person who didn't view the incursion of 2020 as an invasion. Rather, as a genuine accident that burdens every race there is. While most focus on trying to find out what happened, like a doctor. To understand the cause and deal with the threat.
Veuz is much more like a nurse. She focuses more on helping the patients. Helping the new inhabitants by giving them leniency and encouraging co-existence. She focuses on the root of the problem, not just the threat.
Who wouldn't follow her after understanding her goals?
So for 6 years, I finally became a Saint Disciple.
Then I met her, Carmilla, who has the most talent out of all the Saint Disciples.
I bore no hatred towards Carmilla.
She is a very nice girl. A humble, kind, and understanding girl. She never gets full of herself. Even now, she still respects me as a teacher and senior, even though I am sure she surpasses me at every level. My inquiry of that would make her say something like, "Even if I am, it's always great to get a reassurance from a senior who honed her craft for 8+ years. You are that great, Illias!"
"I seriously couldn't have grown this great. If it weren't for you teaching me spell conversion back when I was sealing my own powers. I relied too much on Spell Weaver, which made my mana reserves low. Again, I couldn't have done it without you!"
Those little moments made me appreciate my own capabilities.
Maybe it was for the greater good that I experienced all this.
Maybe I wasn't destined to be someone that great.
Just a plebian with some exceptional skills.
.
.
.
.
But no, I am not just a plebeian.
-~
"When you compare yourself to others who are higher than you, that is always the response. Why am I so talentless? Why can't I be like them? You have begun to forget how to progress yourself—caught up by the idea that you can never catch up." Thalamik said.
-~
I need to stop comparing.
Even now, I have achieved what Carmilla taught me.
"The truth about green mana is that...."
"The fuel that you can use to get green mana. It's your own lifeforce."
No need to think about it.
If we can win this battle with Raum.
Even with one casualty.
I'll gladly ignore the pain.
I'll say this again.
Even if I have to give my life....
I won't give up....
I'll keep running....
I will break my limit.
***
Green mana flows in Illias' bloodstream and emits a green light on her body.
"Everyone, I have a plan." She said.
"Let's do it!" Thalamik suddenly said.
"Tell us what we need to do!" Cobalt said.
"I need all of you to buy time for 4 minutes!"
Everyone becomes silent.
Before Thalamik said, "Go ahead. I'll make sure to maintain it all the way. Any problems?"
Momoka asked, "Master! Wouldn't Raum explode in less than 4 minutes!?"
"I have already thought of an idea. Raum is still linked with me. She is still gaining mana from me. But she used it to charge her explosion. But with this..."
Thalamik again raised his hand sign, "Alterity Shift!"
The glow from Raum's crows began to die down as if it had been drained.
"KUAK!!! Huerghh...." Thalamik moaned in pain. "I made it so that my Alterity drained her mana and replenished my own alterity. So her charging absorption will drop to at least 50%. To add another 50%, Momoka, please put me under your spell again. Make me unconscious for 4 minutes!"
"I see. You want to make her unable to drain from you since you are unconscious." Trish said. "But without you conscious who will guide us to buy time?"
"All of you will. Can I entrust this to all of you? I will rejoin once Illias has finished doing whatever she needs to do. You are all inheriting both my Hope, Determination, and Dreams. Are you all up for it?"
Cobalt, Trish, and Illias smiled, hearing the words.
Cobalt faced Raum again with his body in fiery red armor. His eyes were fiery with red mana. "Thank you for your trust, Kaiser."
Trish's body was decorated with blue lighting sparking all around; her eyes were focused. "I won't let you down, human.
Thalamik smiled before falling unconscious.
Illias began to chant as she prepared her plan. "Let's go!"
.
.
.
.
.
.
"HAAARGHHHH!!!" Cobalt charge, swinging his fiery red blade.
SLASH SLASH.
As he charged, the crows began attacking him. So he slashed through the crows, making his way towards Raum's headless torso. Making his way, some of the crows began glowing.
Understanding what this meant, he moved, side-stepping to avoid the explosions.
He finally gets closer as he tries to strike Raum's torso, only for a large herd of crows to puncture his body and drag him away like a vortex.
"KUAACCK!"
ZWUNG ZWUNG!
Trish caught up to Cobalt, who was flying away. "Don't get greedy. We just need to buy time."
Trish helped Cobalt land before charging herself towards the herd of crows that attacked her.
ZAP ZAP ZAP!
With a thunderclap sound, she destroyed most of the crows in an instant.
Due to Trish using lightning, it is quite effective in defeating the crows. Since it contained a light element.
Suddenly, Raum's body fell to the ground as the vortex of crows began to fly uncontrolled.
"Trish. Cobalt. I am ready. Please make way for me."
Trish and Cobalt heard Illias' voice and smiled.
"Then we can go all out."
Both Trish and Cobalt's eyes began to glow in blue and red.
"Illias, from here on out, we will go all out. Whatever you do. Don't stop. Keep Running."
Illias smiled as she began to run towards Raum.
ZWUNG ZWUNG ZWUNG!
Trish and Cobalt began their move as they fought the airborne herd of crows that were attempting to make another vortex.
"SKY PIERCING: DRAGON SLAYER!!"
"RAIMEI!"
But then, a wrong move happened.
SHURTS!
.
.
.
"TRISHHH!!!" Cobalt screamed, Trish's left stomach was punctured whole by a herd of crows. Her eyes went white as she fell from the sky.
***
Are you okay, Trish?
Are you willing to give up?
Is that all?
Will you let Thalamik down?
Will you be fine after letting him down?
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? RISE UP!
BREAK YOUR LIMITS!
***
The light in Trish's eyes returned as she conjured up an electric ball, taking her hand closer to her head.
My body isn't focusing enough anymore.
I need to...
SHURST!!
Another Crow punctured her right rib.
The electric ball escaped her grasp.
"KUACK!!!"
I was attempting to jumpstart my brain by electrocuting it.
However, it escaped my grasp.
I can't control my magic well if I didn't have my hand to hold it.
BAH! WHO CARES!
To sacrifice everything to save something.
That is my proof as a hero!
Trish opened her mouth and...
Swallowed the electric ball.
BZZRZTT
BZZZRTTT
The electric force began to fill her body, electrocuting it.
With an all-or-nothing gamble.
Trish once again returned her focus.
"GRRAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Everything hurts like hell. But I will win!
With a flash, Trish flew towards Raum in a lightning-like movement.
ZWUNG!!!!!!
As she begins to slash zig-zag, the mana covering her body slowly forms into the shape of a dragon.
"RAIMEI: TENNO RYUGA!" She went and cleared the herd vortex of Raum's Crow.
Slashing her blade to Raum's headless body.
CRACK!!! SRTANG!!!
The Pseudo Artifact weapon made by Dwargo was shattered as it made contact with Raum's body.
Due to abusing the power of electricity, Trish unknowingly pushed her artifact's durability, slowly destroying it in the process.
Raum's body moved as it punched Trish.
SHUSRT!
Cobalt dived from a blind spot after Trish was just punched. His sword was ready to thrust into Raum's headless body.
"HAAARGHHHH," Cobalt screamed as his pseudo-artifact sword stabbed Raum's body. Both of her hands tried to hold it in as Cobalt tried to push further into her body.
ZWUNG!
Trish appeared back, diving towards Cobalt, pushing his feet with both of her hands.
The combined momentum of both Trish and Cobalt thrust the sword deeper into Raum's body.
"GRAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Seeing the inevitability of the thrust, Raum positioned her body so that the damage would not damage her core located near her manubrium bone.
SWONGGG!!!!!!!!!!!
A hole was punctured, and Raum's left lower torso had disappeared.
Trish and Cobalt crashed onto the ground 5 meters away from Raum. She regenerated her eyes, but this time placed them on her remaining neck. Looking at the duo, they both were seemingly out of mana.
Just then, a woman was running towards Raum's headless body.
Raum didn't bother; she summoned her crows to attack her.
As she moved, side-stepping away from the crows, some of it hit her as a wound began forming.
The only thing that she didn't do was stop.
No matter how much she got hurt.
None of it seemed to matter.
The crows began glowing as she widened her eyes.
Is this the end?
.
.
.
.
BOOM!!
But she was still running.
How was it?
How was it that she was still standing and unhurt from that explosion?
Raum looked further and noticed a barrier.
It was his technique.
Does that mean he is?
Raum turned to look at Thalamik, who was awakened, reaching out his hand to Illias.
Thalamik was casting his spell to shield Illias from any attacks.
"Keep running Illias!" Trish said.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
"KEEP RUNNING ILLIAS!!!" Momoka said.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"GOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Cobalt said.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"IT'S ALL ON YOU, ILLIAS!!! DEFEAT RAUM!!!!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"HAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Illias ran towards Raum as she motioned her body. "End of the Line!"
***
This is it.
All or nothing.
I can't defeat Raum with borrowed skills from Carmilla.
The only way I can do this is my own way.
'Bind' is the most basic of sealing magic.
But what's simpler is healing magic, 'Divine Circle.'
Carmilla, I couldn't have done it without you.
I will break my limits.
I will defeat Raum.
Illias ran as she threw a green orb at Raum. "HYAAAHHH"
Raum looked before not dodging it.
Her body suddenly healed as she manifested another mouth.
"Healing Spell? As if you can't be more foolish? Excuse for a Saint. Thank you. I absorbed it well."
A distant word rang in her mind.
-~
"You can change your intent. And the mana, still moldable, will obey."
-~
Illias raised her hands at Raum and said, "Spell Conversion."
Like I have explained before to Carmilla.
A healing spell feels and has properties like Raw mana.
Hence, it won't feel dangerous.
This explains why Raum gladly took it into herself.
However, the specialty of Green Mana users is in the spells we use.
Our spells are knocked up to an eleven.
Making it the most potent version of itself. Even if we can't use it to that level yet.
Even now, the absorbed mana is still present inside Raum's body.
The way healing works is that mana is stored inside cells for a period of time as they gradually regenerate.
So, at the moment something is healed, the mana itself doesn't disappear from one's body.
Which means I can still manipulate and control it.
"GRAAA!!!!!! MY BODY!!"
Then glyphs appeared on Raum's body.
Illias remembered a word once said to her and instinctively spoke it out loud. "If it's hard on the outside, just kill it from the inside."
"Y-YOUU!!!"
"Sealing Magic: 1.000.000 Binds!" Illias said as light began exploding and chaining inside Raum's body.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"GRAAAKKKK!!!"
"HOWWW???? HOW AM I DEFEATED!!!"
"HOWWW AM I DEFEATED BY VERMINSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
HOWWW!!!!!!!!!!!
"GRAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Light shone from Raum's mouth and eyes as she exploded into bits.
Revealing the demonic core.
Illias smiled as she closely nudged to the core.
With a greenish mana enveloping around her, she sealed the core. With a turn, she looked at Thalamik happily.
Thalamik offered her a thumbs up as she walked towards both him and Momoka.
Ahh...
My time...
.
.
.
.
.
"ILLIAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Thalamik screamed. His eyes widened as she saw the Saint Disciple fall.