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With the way things were in the army on Panthea, there was no time for Ian to dwell on his situation. There was only time to do as he was told.

“Alright, everyone has to run 50 laps around the training ground right now. It’s not too hard so get to it.”

The ten men paled at Luke’s command.

Ian frowned again. The training ground appeared to be twice the size of a football stadium he had once seen in South Korea, meaning most of them were likely going to collapse before running the full 50 laps.

“Not going?”

The second Luke’s face contorted, the men became startled and began to walk. Ian was the last one to move. They mostly kept in formation in the beginning. However, one by one, they began to trail behind. By the 20th lap, Ian and Jason were in the lead together.

Ian had been trained to be a hunter, so he could run about 30 laps without too much difficulty.

It’s getting rough.

After the 30th lap, Ian took in a big breath. The air was very crisp and clean, not stifling as it had been in South Korea. 

The slightly cool and misty breeze filled his lungs. Relishing the feeling, Ian unconsciously closed his eyes. There was rarely a chance to enjoy the moments in such absurd situations as he was in, and he wanted to indulge in the small pleasure for a while. 

The air tickled his lungs. Ian grinned, suddenly twitching his eyebrows.

It’s not just air I’m feeling…?

He had simply thought he was feeling refreshed, but he noticed that wasn’t it. He focused a little more on the strange sensation in his lungs. His running pace slowed down a bit, but he didn’t care. He instinctively knew that this oddity was more important than focusing on the run. 

He exhaled slowly and then inhaled. The strange feeling appeared again.

I knew it… There’s something there.

Ian could tell his heart was beating faster. It wasn’t because he was running. Rather, his muscles, which had been aching from the creeping pain, were now contracting smoothly.

“I have to seize it.”

Mana existed everywhere in the world. It must be what he was feeling. He realized the mana must be entering his lungs whenever he took a breath. 

Ian saw this as an opportunity. It didn't matter to him if this was a dungeon or not. The natural energy was much stronger there than in South Korea, so the mana must be denser. 

Ian closed his eyes and continued to feel the energy.

Up until now, he had always been discriminated against for not having mana, belittled wherever he went. The opportunity for him to sense and use mana had arrived. He couldn’t let go of this chance! His desperation fueled him.

Ian felt the mana more distinctly when he breathed, and the mana from his lungs spread throughout his entire body, massaging his muscles and regenerating them. His muscles were still strained, but he felt the heat rise throughout his body and recover his muscles.

He opened his eyes.

“Woah…” He marveled, his awe showing on his face.

An astonishing scene was unfolding before his eyes. He had only been able to faintly detect mana before, but now he could see it spread throughout the air in front of him. The view was exceptionally beautiful. It looked as though countless stars were twinkling under the night sky. The myriad of tiny stars appeared to be flying about in the air like dust.

“No way…” Ian murmured at the incredible sight.

To be able to see mana? It was preposterous to him. More than anyone else in the world, he should have been incapable of doing so. Yet, the unbelievable was happening before him.

It doesn't make sense for me to be here in the first place.

Inexplicable things kept on happening to him. Ian shook his head and gave up trying to understand. He just had to accept it.

At that moment, translucent blue windows popped up before him with a ding.

[You have grasped and embraced your own attributes!]

[Mana will likewise accept you as its partner. They will aid you in times of need and will never betray you.]

[Mana is the energy that dominates the world. It is no easy feat to get them to acknowledge the body of a human. The gods have begun to notice you.]

He thought he could hear some giddy laughter.

Ian gulped in the air, buoyant. For him to awaken mana, it now felt as if he might be able to walk the proper path of the sword.

He exhaled and then his world turned upside down.

***

“What an amusing fella.”

Luke smiled as he looked at Ian, who had passed out.

Others had already collapsed from exhaustion, but Ian had kept on running even after the 50th lap.

Luke had no plans on stopping him. He left Ian to his own devices, wanting to see how much longer he would last.

He’ll probably last one more lap.

However, his prediction was wrong. One lap turned to two, then to three...

Ian eventually knocked out after running 10 more laps. Although Ian fainted at the end, he had grabbed Luke’s attention. Sixty laps was beyond the limit even among those who have properly trained there. Even Luke would barely be able to run 60 laps.

Yet, here was some new punk accomplishing such a feat. Amazed, Luke approached Ian.

His chest was rising and falling, so Luke knew he was breathing. Ian also had a smile plastered on his face. Even after losing consciousness, Ian couldn’t stop being elated over awakening mana.

Luke burst out laughing when he saw Ian’s expression.

"Puhaha! This punk’s not bad. He sure knows how to run."

Running to the limit would make a person feel as if they’re on drugs, and Luke believed that Ian was on this high. His favorite types of people were also the ones who could run. To be specific, he liked people who knew how to push their body to the brink.

Not bad... It's been a while since we had decent fella join.

Right from day one, Luke took to Ian. Of course, this was only due to his own misunderstanding of Ian.

***

Ian was walking in the air. It was a weird feeling, walking with ease despite there being nothing beneath his feet.

There was literally nothing around him, just the void.

Where am I…?

It hadn’t been long since he arrived in Panthea, but he was in yet another strange place. 

Ian sighed and kept on walking. Strangely, the place felt very familiar to him. He didn't know how much time had passed, but he certainly had walked for a long time. 

At long last, Ian could make out a dot in the empty space. He sprinted towards it.

"A door…?"

It was a wooden door. He instinctively reached for it and entered. As soon as he did, the first thing he saw was a bright light. 

Ian raised his hand to block it, but his body didn’t move as he wanted it to. After much effort, he managed to lift his arm. 

He saw a tiny pudgy arm which resembled a baby’s arm.

Wait, it's actually a baby's arm?

Astounded, Ian tried to raise his body, but it wasn’t easy. While he squirmed about, someone picked him up.

"You must’ve felt stuffy."

He heard a solemn voice say. 

Ian looked up at the man. He looked just like Ian but many years older.

The man’s red clothing with gold decorations gave Ian a hint to the man's identity.

I’ve never worn something like that, but if I had, I would’ve looked exactly like...

Just as the thought came to his mind, Ian heard a woman's voice from the side.

"The child will need a name.” 

Ian turned around to see who the lovely voice belonged to. She was a silver-haired woman with skin like porcelain. Her beauty took his breath away. 

Ian felt like bursting into tears as soon as he saw her. In fact, he actually felt like crying the moment he saw the man who resembled him. He didn't know exactly why he felt that way, but his soul was shaking.

"Yes… We can't delay it any longer."

The man peered down at Ian, whose face reflected in his clear eyes.

"Your name is…Ian. Ian Ignis."

At that moment, there was a change in the flow of time. The wheel of time began to spin tens, hundreds of times. Scenes began to play in fast-forward. In one scene, he was smiling happily as he ate. Then he was clumsily wielding a wooden sword, and next, he was getting excited to ride on top of a small horse.

Ian watched them all play out, before a scorching heat took his breath away. He suddenly saw a burning mansion. 

"Ian! Come here...!”

The silver-haired woman grabbed his hand and led the way. Ian had to scamper as he was getting dragged along, unable to keep up with her pace. While they were running, water droplets fell on Ian's cheek. He looked at the woman running slightly ahead of him.

“Hngh… Hnn.”

She was crying.

He watched for a while before unconsciously turning back. 

It was total chaos. The mansion was still on fire, and screams could be heard in all directions.

“Punish the traitors!”

“They’re the ones who plotted a rebellion against the Camillo Kingdom! Kill them all!”

The clamor of the dozens of men was dizzying.

Ian could make out a familiar voice among the uproar.

"Over here, you dirty scoundrels!” The man shouted, brandishing his sword.

Red sparks flew from his sword, resulting in a resounding…

Clang!

The sparks flickered with every clash.

Ian watched in a stupor. Although it wasn’t a fitting thought, the sword looked beautiful to him.

Then he saw the man get slashed down. Even to the end, the man was smiling at Ian and the woman. Ian shut his eyes and kept on running. Before he knew it, tears were also streaming down his face.

“Huff. Huff.”

He gradually became short of breath. There was a limit to a woman and child’s stamina, and they soon slowed down.

Ultimately…

“Agh!” The woman cried out and collapsed.

Ian looked at her with urgency. 

Her white clothes were gradually turning red. Ian grabbed the arrow that impaled her back.

“Ian…”

She gazed up at him, her eyes dimming and losing focus.

"We are not traitors. Find His Majesty the Emperor. Remember, you must hide from the crown prince... My baby..." She uttered before closing her eyes.

The energy drained from her entire body.

Ian’s face crumpled.

“Uahhh!” The young boy bellowed in grief and anger.

Jolt!

And then, Ian woke up.