Nanik's Return

A Month Later…

It had been a month since I acquired the Corporeal Data Creation skill. During this time, I immersed myself in mastering the CMD Terminal (which stood for Command Prompt on a certain computer operating system…) and pushing the boundaries of my newfound ability. Through relentless experimentation, I discovered that the largest object I could create was the size of a tennis racket. Any object I let go of would collapse inward and vanish in a flash of bluish-purple light ten seconds later.

Kaelith and Farthington, on the other hand, were… well, I guess you could call it training, though it resembled more of a daily circus act. They spent hours chasing each other around like crazed hyenas before showing up at my door for their bonus pay. I forced them to spar with me every week to gauge their growth, and today marked our final sparring session before Nanik returned.

Ten Minutes Into the Sparring Session…

Kaelith was sprawled limply on the stairs of a makeshift plywood structure, looking like a puppet with its strings cut. Nearby, Farthington lay headfirst in the ground, resembling a defeated ostrich buried in sand.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead, stepping out of the combat trance that left me both exhausted and exhilarated. As I stretched, yawning and rolling my shoulders, a familiar flicker caught my eye. The CMD Terminal had activated on its own, text scrolling rapidly across its monochrome display.

[Mana production rate of target entity has reached the minimum amount]

[Bandwidth increased from 2 -> 3 Terabytes]

[Packet loss decreased from 69% -> 68%]

‘Does this mean my mana production rate increased because of my training?’ I wondered, staring at the CMD Terminal’s message. I have been pushing my abilities to their limits, constantly using the new skill I acquired and the ones I already had over the past month.

I reflected on the relentless exercises and experiments. ‘Maybe a Mansian produces more mana if you consistently use it, similar to how a heart becomes more efficient the more blood it pumps.’ The thought seemed to click into place, a tentative theory forming in my mind.

‘Well, that’s just a theory’ I mused, smirking slightly at my own internal monologue. ‘A Mana Theory.’

‘Open CMD’ I say in my mind and the terminals showed up before me. Checking my Skill points I find that They increased from 2 to 8. ‘That must mean that I gain 6 skill points every time I have a major increase in my mana production. I can’t really do anything other than increase the stats like, Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Etc… with the amount I have right now. Should I see what happens if I do?

Tapping on perception I took a look at how much it cost to increase the stat.

[Cost to Upgrade: 2 SP]

[Current SP: 8]

[Buy?]

[Yes]

‘2 SP? I wonder if thats a fixed price or if it changes…’

I tap yes and my status page changed:

Mansian Mana Production - Level 2

- Bandwidth: 2 TB (Terabytes)

- Packet Loss: 69%

Attributes

- Strength: 3

- Perception: 3

- Endurance: 2

- Charisma: 1

- Intelligence: 3

- Agility: 2

- Luck: 1

Acquired Skills

Developer’s Eye - Level 3

Trance Creation - Level 2

Artificial Life Creation - Level 2

Data Tag - Level 1

Corporeal Data Creation - Level 2

‘I don’t really feel any different…’

–

Walking through the hallways of the shadow phoenix base to get from the training rooms to the employee quarters, I suddenly heard As I turned a corner, the crackle of the front entrance intercom system pierced the silence. A voice, laced with playful arrogance, echoed from the main entry hall.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Helloooo, anyone there~?”

I quickened my pace and arrived just in time to hear Kaelith, his tone sharp with suspicion, respond, “Who are you?”

“I’m the one in charge here. Who are you?” came the reply, the voice dripping with smug confidence.

Kaelith’s eyes narrowed, his suspicion deepening. “I’m an employee that works here. How do I know you’re not lying about being in charge?”

“Tell Tokei that I’m here about her next mission, will you?”

The moment the voice reached my ears, I knew who it was. I strode over to where Kaelith was standing, his face contorted in a mixture of confusion and distrust as he hovered near the digital monitor controlling the intercom and front entry.

Kaelith turned to me, his expression serious. “Hey Tokei, there’s some sort of scammer outside claiming to be in charge here.”

Suppressing a sigh, I flicked my hand dismissively. “Just open the door, Kaelith. He’s the one in charge here.”

Kaelith turned to open the entryway, but turned back to look at me just as fast, “how do I open the door using the magic plate again?”

Irritated and disappointed, I just pushed him away from the panel, “You know what, just let me do it.”

Kaelith watched, eyes wide with curiosity, as I deftly tapped a few buttons on the control panel. With a heavy groan, the metal doors of the base began to part, spilling brilliant sunlight into the dim interior. The sudden contrast made me squint, but it also highlighted the figure standing outside—Nanik.

His black hair, threaded with striking red accents, shimmered in the light, and his volcanic orange eyes glowed as if holding a furnace within. His black buttoned shirt with meticulous orange stitching and gray jeans added an aura of casual elegance to his powerful presence.

Nanik sauntered into the building, a relaxed yet purposeful stride in his step. His gaze locked onto mine, and a familiar smirk tugged at his lips. “So, kiddo, how’ve ya been while I was away?”

I met his gaze with a cold, measured look, “I’ve been fine. You’re a day early.”

His smirk turned into a pout. “Come on, that’s no way to treat a guy who’s practically your dad…”

“Uh-huh,” I responded dryly, my arms crossing defensively over my chest. “Anyway, you were going to update me about the Kyritite shipment that’s supposed to leave Trizen tomorrow, but I haven’t heard a single word about it all month. We need to intercept it because we can't get our hands on the metal through conventional means. The government’s hoarding all of it, and they won’t hand over a single piece for any amount of Aero.”

Nanik’s playful demeanor faded slightly, his eyes softening. “I’ve got the information, but what’s so important that you’d need to resort to a heist for this metal? You never exactly told me why it’s so crucial.”

A sigh escaped my lips as I relented, giving him the answer he had been seeking. “It's for making efficient high-speed processing chips. I need them to finish a project I’ve spent far too long working on to just abandon.”

Nanik’s expression shifted to one of understanding. “Well, if that was the case, you could’ve just said so.” His gaze drifted to Kaelith, who had been standing awkwardly nearby, a strained smile plastered on his face as he witnessed our exchange.

“And he’s one of the two new members, right? What’s his name?” Nanik asked, nodding toward Kaelith.

“That’s Kaelith Hudson,” I stated plainly. “He appears to be a War Sorcera from the abilities he has. The other new member is Farthington Redsworth who is an Enhancer.”

Kaelith, catching Nanik’s attention, offered a tentative nod, his eyes flickering with a mix of awe and uncertainty. “Nice to meet you,” he stammered, trying to match Nanik’s confident demeanor.

Nanik chuckled, a warm, rich sound that seemed to break the tension in the room. “Nice to meet you too, Kaelith. Welcome to the team. I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.”

Kaelith’s smile grew a bit more genuine, the awkwardness melting away as he nodded. Nanik’s easygoing nature had a way of putting people at ease, even in the most tense of situations.

As Nanik turned his attention back to me, his expression grew more serious. “Alright, Tokei. Let’s get down to business. Call Farthington over to the meetingroom near the hangar. We’ve got a lot to discuss before tomorrow’s operation.”

As Nanik leaned in closer, his presence became a comforting warmth in the otherwise sterile hallway. His volcanic orange eyes locked onto mine, filled with a depth of understanding that only he could offer. He whispered softly into my ear, “About that lead I found, I’ll tell you more about it after this meeting.” He pulled back, standing straight, his voice louder now, meant for Kaelith’s ears. “Don’t agonize over it too much. I’m sure something will turn up.”

For a brief, fleeting moment, the mask of my icy composure cracked, and a rare flicker of warmth spread through my chest. It was one of those rare instances where Nanik truly felt like a father to me—reliable, supportive, and strangely reassuring. His words, often laced with his usual playful banter, carried a weight that I had come to rely on, even if I rarely admitted it.

Kaelith, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, shifted uneasily on his feet, glancing between us with a hint of curiosity. The awkwardness in his demeanor was palpable, his strained smile a testament to his attempt to read the room.

Nanik, ever the master of diffusing tension, turned his attention back to Kaelith, a friendly smile curling his lips. “Alright, let's get moving. We’ve got a lot to go over, and time’s not exactly on our side.”