"The world is getting restless. Looking at the signs, it won't be long before the World Gates swing open again."
Rhea's voice sighed in Natsuha Shinomiya's ear, full of bittersweet nostalgia.
"Excluding your hibernation time, you're not much older than me. Why are you acting like an old philosopher?" Natsuha kicked off her shoes, slipped into her slippers, and walked toward her room.
During their commute, thanks to Rhea's sensory feedback and constant commentary, Natsuha had come to realize that this seemingly peaceful world was actually a churning whirlpool of hidden currents. Succubi, night terrors, and demi-human half-breeds were everywhere.
The fact that "Mystery" had stopped thinning and was now beginning to surge back was excellent news for those who were naturally supernatural or carried supernatural bloodlines. As "Mystery" filled the environment, their transformations would become more pronounced. Unlike pure-blooded humans, who had evolved (or regressed) to adapt to a low-Mystery environment, these beings would see their abilities skyrocket.
This meant that for a while, pure humans would be forced to take a backseat, waiting to re-adapt to the magic-saturated environment before they could reclaim their dominance.
It was inevitable. Every race had its flaws. Natural supernaturals were generally weaker than humans when Mystery was thin, but once it returned, they possessed innate advantages in physical stats or specific racial traits—like their absurdly long lifespans.
However, in terms of technology, humans were absolute monsters. Even the Magitech of old was a human extension of Goblin technology from the other world. Humans had eventually outpaced their teachers so thoroughly that they reverse-exported superior tech back to the Goblins, creating a trade deficit so massive the Goblins were essentially human laborers.
But perhaps because they specialized too heavily, the human lifespan remained short. Even after becoming a Transcendent, a human might live five hundred years at most—barely competing with the average lifespan of a common demi-human.
In this world, a dog or cat might live fifteen to twenty years. On the other side, you just added a zero to that number. Furthermore, some demi-human species had reproductive rates that put humans to shame. Fortunately, many long-lived races didn't care much for breeding, so it all balanced out in the end.
"Rhea, do you think the demi-humans will start a war once Mystery returns? You said they're born with power, unlike us humans who have to train for it." Remembering some novels she'd read, Natsuha felt a prickle of anxiety.
"Relax, they won't. Everyone's too comfortable right now. As long as humans don't panic and play it cool, they won't make a move. Besides, it's been thousands of years. There aren't that many die-hard tyrants left. Even if there are, they'd have to unite their own fractured tribes first. Intellectual beings love internal conflict; unless the species is facing extinction, they're usually busy fighting each other.
Humans—well, I'm not human anymore, but the point stands—are fast. Compared to humans, demi-humans are effectively immortal. Forty generations of humans won't outlive a single generation of the high-fantasy races. But that makes them lazy and timeless. If humans focus on the technology tree, one man could eventually become an entire army."
Rhea was clearly proud of her former human heritage. Human adaptability was a unique talent.
"By the way, back in your time, did you have to be a Transcendent to use magic?" Natsuha asked, thinking of the classic tropes. Like many girls, she'd had her "Magical Girl" phase.
"No, anyone could. But the methods differed. We either drew mana slowly into our bodies or manipulated the ambient mana around us. The former is how we trained to transcend; the latter is how commoners used magic. Mana exists alongside Mystery. Drawing in mana increases your internal Mystery, raising your 'Level' toward Transcendence. As for the specific ranks... you're far from that. I'll tell you when you get stronger.
Actually, the 'Superpowers' you see today are just mana randomly forming 'Engravings' inside the body. Using a power is just subconsciously pushing mana through those internal circuits. Because you've lost the ancient knowledge, you just call it a 'Superpower.'
Those 'Ability Scanners' you use? They're likely based on old Mana Detectors. They detect the use of mana. You can only use these powers because of those internal Engravings; they save you a lot of effort, but since your mana reserves are so pathetic, the effects are weak."
Rhea had been puzzled why humans could use special abilities in such a low-Mystery environment. After seeing a few people on the street, she had finally put the pieces together.
"So how do I become a Transcendent like you?" Natsuha looked at her long, slender, pale fingers.
"The easiest way? Go out, seduce someone, lure them into a dark corner, kill them, and absorb their malice and soul." Rhea spoke as if humans were nothing more than disposable batteries.
"Kill someone?" Natsuha was horrified. She'd barely killed a chicken in her life.
"Yes. It's the fastest way. Though I don't strictly recommend it; it's a hassle in your modern society. Torture works too. Any malice will do—pain, greed, lust, whatever. I can filter the energy for you. As long as you can handle the negative emotions attached to the power, there are no side effects."
Rhea's war-hardened logic was chillingly pragmatic.
"No other way?"
"I lost most of my memories. This is the only method I can extract from my current state. By the way, my companions are likely scattered across this world. As Mystery returns, they will wake up. You'd better be prepared."
"Your companions are sealed in items too? Does that mean you're all immortal?"
"In a sense, yes. But without a biological host, we can't move. Being alone for that long... it drives you insane. The soul can only take so much."
In the basement of a certain manor...
"Mom, is this our family's 'Artifact'?"
Mina Morita stared at the door-sized object hanging on the wall. It was a shield, nearly two meters tall. Unlike traditional round or heater shields, it was roughly triangular, ending in a sharp spike. The edges were lined with serrated hooks, and a large, diamond-shaped red gem was embedded in the upper half of the face.
"Yes. It has been passed down for centuries. I didn't expect its next master to be a young girl," a bearded old man with greying hair grunted, stroking his chin.
During the era of peace, this shield was merely a symbol of authority—the family crest. Whoever held it, led the family. Now that Mystery was returning, it was a weapon of war once more. It was an Artifact—not quite a god's weapon, but indestructible. No matter how many wars their ancestors had fought, the shield remained pristine.
"Hmph. Don't worry. We are an ancient family. Rules are rules. Since you were the first to awaken your potential, you are the shield's master. No one can object. However, you are too young to be Clan Head. I will retain that title for now." The old man looked at the timid Mina with slight disapproval but didn't argue with fate.
"Okay," Mina whispered.
"I'll leave you to get acquainted with its power," the old man said, touching a cloth badge on his chest—an exact replica of the shield—before walking out.
"Mom..." Mina looked at her mother, Yumiko Morita, for help.
"Mina, don't worry. I'm here. You felt your potential wake up, didn't you? The world is changing. Our family... we are actually hybrids of humans and demi-humans. Our ancestors used a secret technique to turn us fully human while preserving the strength of the 'Great Hoof' tribe deep in our blood. It only awakens with the right combination of luck and talent. You should be happy. Now you can protect yourself... and protect him, right?" Yumiko stroked Mina's hair gently.
"Yes..." Mina didn't fully understand, but she knew that with this, she could protect her mother and Alistair.
Mina reached out and touched the white-and-red shield, which was adorned with gold patterns. In a daze, she felt a connection. She thought about making it smaller. Instantly, the two-meter-high slab of metal shrank until it was the size of a standard buckler.
"Wonderful, Mina! You're perfectly in sync with it," Yumiko praised.
"It's surprisingly light... and I feel like I already know how to use it. It feels... familiar." Mina swung the shield around, starting to enjoy herself.
Then, she had another thought. The shield shrank further until it was barely the size of her palm. She held it to her left chest, and it automatically pinned itself to her clothes like a metal badge.
"Wow! This is incredible!"
"Not a bad little host," a raspy female voice whispered in Mina's ear.
Mina jumped. "Mom, did you hear that?"
"Hear what? I didn't hear anything," Yumiko said, puzzled.
"Don't bother looking. I'm inside the shield on your chest. You can call me... Horyaz."