Hearing the certainty in Albion's voice, Azlan didn't deny or agree, he decided to listen further.
"Since you sound so confident, tell me your reasons, Albion."
[It's simple. Various mythological factions wouldn't let humanity go extinct. Without humans providing them faith, sooner or later their power would weaken and they would die.]
Next, Azlan listened carefully to the background of Albion's original world.
Albion then began explaining the background of his original world. That world was divided into three parts: the Underworld, the Human World, and Heaven.
On the surface, humans were at the top of the food chain, but the reality was not so.
Devils, Angels, Fallen Angels, Gods, Dragons, Youkai, Demi-Gods, monsters, and other fantasy creatures that usually only existed in fairy tales truly existed. It's just that the majority of ordinary humans didn't see the hidden side of the world, living in an illusion of fragile peace.
[Whatever the conditions elsewhere, but this city called Tokyo is beyond saving. There's not a single human left except you and the living dead. Normally, factions from the supernatural side would prevent a disaster this severe before it happens. They wouldn't let the supernatural side's existence be revealed to the public.]
Albion continued, his tone like a cold analyst.
[Seeing the appearance of the living dead and this city in disarray after the riots at the beginning of the zombie apocalypse, I estimate more than two years have passed since the disaster occurred. No matter how slow the supernatural side's response, they wouldn't just watch from behind the scenes.]
[The conclusion is, the supernatural side isn't unwilling to act, but they can't—because their existence in this world doesn't exist.]
Azlan listened to every word from Albion carefully, digesting every valuable piece of information.
[Oh yes, the disaster I mean is one that endangers the continuation of the human species or the world itself. Local warfare caused by humans won't trigger intervention from any mythological faction.]
"Thank you for answering my doubts even before I asked."
Azlan swallowed back his words with an unreadable expression.
[The most important factor is this is a different world from my original world, because there's no Mana in the air.]
Albion's voice was more serious than before.
"Mana? What is Mana?"
That was a basic question a layman would ask. Albion wasn't surprised considering Azlan had only recently been an ordinary person.
[Mana literally is energy used to perform miracles. This energy naturally exists and flows in the planet's environment, acting as a source to actualize power systems. There are many names for Mana depending on the culture.]
"Wait a moment, Albion. If Mana is a universal energy source, and there's no Mana in this world, then why can I use Sacred Gear?"
Interrupting Albion—or more precisely, questioning the voice in his mind—Azlan asked his doubt, his brow furrowed.
[Good question. Unlike magic, sorcery, jujutsu, onmyoudou, and other power systems, Sacred Gear can use the user's stamina to replace Mana as its fuel. After all, not all humans have affinity with Mana. So, the God of the Bible bestowed Sacred Gears on certain humans with unknown criteria. Of course, there are quite a few humans who have both Mana and Sacred Gear.]
"I see. I understand."
Although Albion didn't say it directly, Azlan understood the implications of that explanation. Compared to Sacred Gear users born with the ability to use Mana, he was in a disadvantageous position.
An ordinary human's stamina was clearly lower, both in quality and quantity, compared to Mana. Although the capacity of the energy source wasn't the only determining factor for victory, it was a factor that couldn't be ignored.
(In other words, me fighting using Divine Dividing with stamina as fuel against supernatural individuals is very disadvantageous, huh...)
Thinking this, Azlan smiled bitterly, his gaze toward the dark night sky.
"Weakness is a sin. Those who are powerless lose everything: family, home, future. And I have learned very well about that."
Though only 15 years old, his sharp gaze and aura distinguished him from people his age.
[To be frank, Azlan. No matter how hard you exercise, it will only slightly strengthen your physical fitness. You won't even reach the upper limit of ordinary humans.]
[If this situation continues, your development using Divine Dividing won't make progress.]
"Yes, I know. Conventional methods are meaningless in the face of supernatural power. Humans have limits. So, should I stop being human?"
As long as he obtained power, Azlan wouldn't even hesitate to abandon his human status.
Compared to superior species like Gods and Dragons, humans were no different from ants—weak, fragile, and easily crushed.
[Hahaha... You're not the only one willing to change species to obtain power. In fact, there are many humans in my world who reincarnate as Devils just to gain long life and power growth potential that exceeds human limits.]
Albion's voice echoed with low laughter in Azlan's mind.
He was talking about the Evil Piece system developed by one of the Four Devil Kings, Ajuka Beelzebub—a complex mechanism that transformed humans into devils through chess pieces, giving them great power but bound to a new master, though he was aware that power system didn't apply in this world.
"Devils..."
Azlan's first impression upon hearing that term was negative. He was sure not just him, anyone would have a negative bias toward Devils—creatures depicted as villains in folklore and religious teachings.
Since childhood, humans have been taught how bad Devils are.
[Calm down, Azlan. You don't need to sacrifice your humanity. So, what does it matter if you can't cultivate Mana because of its absence in this world? That's not a big problem! In that case, what you need is to train in Senjutsu!]
Albion offered a way out of Azlan's weakness they had just discussed.
[No matter how different the laws of each world, natural energy—which is the source of Senjutsu—always exists in every corner of any world in the multiverse. Among my hosts in the past, there was one who mastered Senjutsu to the highest stage, becoming a Sennin (Sage)!]
"I want to learn Senjutsu!"
Even before Albion explained the details and difficulties of Senjutsu training, Azlan immediately agreed without hesitation. For him, as long as a method could give him power, he would utilize it fully.
In a world without Mana, this was a new hope to transcend his human weakness, a foundation to become stronger without losing his essence.
[Good, I knew you would say that. Don't be impatient, it's already night. Let's start the training tomorrow.]
"Mm."
Azlan nodded, trying to calm the excitement boiling in his chest. He took a long breath, trying to relax his mind that was already imagining the new power he would master.
Without much entertainment in this world that had ended, Azlan took an English-language book he had taken from a bookstore earlier. Under the firelight, he began reading it, word by word, sentence by sentence.
Though not fluent, his determination to learn didn't waver. The book became his companion filling boring leisure time at night.