Majiki: Life signal has disappeared, the leviathan is confirmed dead. Threat level recorded as B, dark mana concentration 37%. Dark mana readings have dropped, all concentration of it has been dispersed. No purification needed.
She checks the monitor while adjusting her glasses. Ren, who was previously ready to leave the control room, took a seat on one of the chairs, tipping her hat and letting out a sigh of relief.
Ren: Thank goodness there's no damage to the ship. I didn't want part of our monthly budget to be used repairing it again. What was last month's damage cost?
Majiki turns her head to face Kouji, giving him a furrowing stare.
Kouji: I wonder what you mean..
He slowly faces away while whistling, unable to hide the obvious lie. Yudai & Koto were laughing in the corner while they were filing in some digital documents.
Majiki: This is no laughing matter, it cost us nearly 1.4 million Drahl to fix the hole in the ship's starboard. Need I remind you who made that hole in the first place trying to heat up meat using explosion magic?
Kouji silently laughed as he placed his hand on his head.
Ren: Money aside, we're lucky that Astraea was willing to fix it given how we wrecked one of her creations by accident. Speaking of her, no one's to mention about the stolen plans of Tetra City until we get more orders from Zephyr.
Everyone nodded in unison.
Sylvana sat in the chair opposite from Ren, unsure of everything that was just said but nodded regardless while smiling.
Ren: My apologies Sylvana, I will give you more details on our mission when we're back at Springleaf Island. For now, enjoy the ride until we reach Oryza, also known as Hakumai's HQ.
Sylvana laid back further, entering a more comfortable resting position. As she did, the control room's main door opened and a man clad in a purple kimono walked through.
Majiki: There you are sleepyhead, had a good warm up?
Kenji: You're as snappy as ever, would it kill you to say good job for defeating the magical beast?
Majiki: Hmph, you went missing only for us to find out you were taking a nap this whole time and now you want me to praise you? You're unbelievable..
She crossed her arms while pouting. Kenji tilted his hat to avert her gaze. He walked further down the control room and came to a stop in front of Ren and Sylvana.
Kenji: I'm back, Ren. So, this is our 3rd division's new member. Sylvana isn't that right?
He faces Sylvana who seemed to be very comfortable with her chair.
Sylvana: Yep that's me! Nice to meetcha Kenny. You sure took care of that magical beast real fast!
Kenji raises his eyebrow in surprise. In the background, Majiki let out a slight chuckle.
Kenji: Actually it's Kenji, Hatori Kenji.
Sylvana: Got it, Haori Kenny.
Ren: Haori- Pft..
Ren began chuckling as well.
Kenji: Well that's the first that anyone's called me that, but uhh sure.. It's nice to meet you too, Sylvana If there's anything you need help with you can ask me anytime, as long as it's within my means. I'd love to stay but I need to head off to my cabin, I'll see you guys later on Springleaf Island.
Sylvana: Aww leaving already? M'kay see ya Kenny!
Kenji gives Ren a nod and proceeds to leave the control room.
Majiki: Aren't you going to scold him for slacking off and leaving you and the rest to deal with Bhima?
Ren: I understand where you're coming from Majiki but as laid back as he seems, he never does something without a good reason for it. You should know best that he doesn't abandon his allies.
Majiki: Well you're not wrong but that's..
Ren: When all's said and done, you trust him don't you?
Majiki adjusts her glasses and says nothing but nods. Sylvana taps the shoulder of Ren with a confused look on her face.
Sylvana: Hey hey commander, earlier Makiki said something about dark mana? I've never heard of such a thing back at the magic academy. What exactly is it?
Majiki doesn't bother to correct the mispronunciation of her name and instead continues to work on the control panel. Ren seems intrigued by the question but expected as much.
Ren: I suppose they wouldn't teach you since only adventurers, the Grand Order, or Hakumai would be on the frontlines fighting beasts. I was going to give you an explanation over a cup of tea when we arrive on Springleaf Island, but since you brought it up now-
Ren stood up from her chair and took a few steps forward.
Ren: Majiki, if you will please.
Majiki: Understood.
Majiki types on some keys from the control panel and a holographic screen appears, casting an image of what seems to be a visual explanation.
Ren: As you know, mana exists all around us. In our bodies, we have something known as a core that allows us to take in mana from the air around us, store it and then release it.
Sylvana looked closely at the screen and pointed.
Sylvana: Ohh i've seen a similar thing during our first year in school. So this blue thing is mana which activates magic? I don't really get much of the theory part but I know that when I concentrate, I get this warm feeling from my chest that makes me feel stronger. When that happens I just go all whammmmm and woooshh, ice comes out and it goes shinggg, before you know it i've won the battle. That's how it goes for me.
Ren: Indeed, that's how mana is. You let out mana you've stored up from your core out and that's how magic takes shape. However, that black-red thing you see alongside mana is what we call dark mana.
Sylvana placed her fingers on her chin, positioning herself into a thinking pose.
Sylvana: It doesn't look very nice, if anything it looks evil..
Ren: You're exactly right about that. Dark mana exists in the air just like mana does. However, our cores filter them out so we only store and use regular mana.
Sylvana: Is it different from regular mana?
Ren: Very different, it's around twice as strong as using regular mana. Of course with such power comes great risk. If someone were to take in, or even worse, use the dark mana, it will corrupt their core, body and mind. The dark mana will slowly eat away at the person from the inside out, until they-
Kouji: Until they die.
Kouji turns to Sylvana with a serious look on his face, his eyes filled with strong emotions. Although he was staring at her, his eyes seemed to look past her, as if he were recalling an experience.
Kouji: Those who use dark mana are nothing but fools.
Ren nods as she turns back to point at the screen.
Ren: Kouji is right, which brings me to magical beasts. Unlike us, magical beasts have their very core made from dark mana itself so they won't die out if left alone. But the side effects of it corrupting their minds still remain, which is why they tend to attack anything or anyone that is around them. Left unattended, they can cause major damage to the ecosystem. That is why adventurers from the adventurer's guild often take up requests to slay them in exchange for money.
Sylvana: That magical beast from earlier doesn't seem weak, it was half as big as our ship. Could adventurers really handle fighting magical beasts?
Ren took a quick look at Majiki, who then changed the contents of the screen.
Ren: Not all magical beasts are equal, the dark mana that each of them are made out of can vary. Magical beasts made out of 1-10% dark mana are classified as threat level D, which is also the rough estimate of the rank that's needed to fight them. In this case, someone who's ranked as Null class will be the minimum requirement to fight a threat level D magical beast. The rest are as follows as you can see here. Someone's rank doesn't always reflect their skill, as you know with your fight with Brook Howzer.
Sylvana: Who's that-?
Kouji: You've forgotten the person you just beat earlier today? I almost feel sorry for him..
Sylvana: Ohh that baldy- I never really paid attention to his rank hehe..
Sylvana sticks her tongue out and makes a bleh face. Ren just smiles and continues her explanation.
Ren: That being said, someone's rank will gauge their mastery over mana, by that extension magic as well. While it is possible for someone to beat someone a rank higher than them, it would require special means to do so such as doing it with a group. That is also why a magical beast's threat level is important. It lets us determine how many people need to be sent to defeat one as well as their rank.
Kouji: You're Warrior class which means a C threat level is the highest you'll be able to handle alone.
Sylvana: It could be C threat or A threat, those magical beasts won't know what hit em!
Majiki: (Was she even listening-)
-4th division's ship-
The ship's alarm which was echoing for a while stopped, followed by a voice through the ship's announcement system.
Jade: Wild magic beast has been dealt with by the 3rd division, threat neutralized. Please resume operations.
Argo turned to Rosary who was skipping down the hallway next to him.
Argo: What was that, some kind of attack?
Rosary: Yeah, it looks like it's over real fast. As expected of the 3rd division, not sure who took it out but they have a lot of skilled fighters. Well enough about that, come on!
Argo: Wait-
Before he could say anything more, Rosary grabs his hand again and drags him across the hallway, leading him into one area of the ship to another.
Rosary: And this is the small cafeteria where we have our meals when we're onboard! I personally like the lunch boxes set! It comes with all sorts of different assortments! Oh oh and this right here is the drink dispenser!
She grabs a cup and begins clicking multiple buttons, mixing different drink flavours.
Rosary: Here, try it!
She hands him the cup, the liquid which came to be a light brown colour after the mix.
Argo: I'll pass for now..
Rosary: Really? Well okay then.
She sips the drink through the straw and lets out a satisfied sigh.
Rosary: That hits the spot! Come on, let's head to the next area!
After a minute of walking down another hallway, they came to a large area with a small window that spread a few meters wide next to a door. Argo looks through the window panel and sees Volt on the other side who was doing some bench presses.
Rosary: This is the training area, well it's more like a gym really. Only Volt ever uses it. Come on, let's head inside!
The door opens and they set foot into the training area. Multiple pieces of equipment can be seen inside. From dumbbells to treadmills and even target practice dummies. There was also a mini ring for sparring. Volt does his last rep and places the barbell back onto the rack.
He notices Argo and Rosary entering and gives them a wave while wiping his sweat off with a hand towel.
Volt: Hey lil bro, you came! Did you come to join me to train?
Argo: Actually I-
Before he could answer, Rosary cuts in..
Rosary: I was giving him a tour of the ship since you didn't want to,I guess that makes me a better senior hehe.
Volt: Hey it's not like I didn't want to but I just haven't gotten my reps in for the day yet. I did say I will make it up to him didn't I?
Rosary: Well you snooze you lose!
Volt: Well darn.. If you want you can still join me lil bro, I can show you whatever she hasn't yet. I'm just about finished with my workout.
Rosary: Well this was the last area so...
Volt: Darn, now I feel like a bad bro..
Argo: It's alright Volt, Rosary did a good job of showing me around the ship but maybe you can show me around the HQ when we get there?
Volt's eyes lit up with excitement.
Volt: You betcha lil bro, we'll do those first things first when we land. I won't miss a single detail. I'll be like a big bro guide, a bride if you will.
Rosary: Hahaha you sure you wanna be a bride?
Volt: Oops that sounded cooler in my head. Well you get the idea lil bro.
Argo: Looking forward to it.
A voice emerged from the ship's announcement system once again.
Jade: We will be arriving momentarily, all members please prepare for landing.
The 2 ships began descending slowly. As it left the clouds, a large island can be seen in the waters below. Surrounding the large island were 4 smaller islands. The ships headed for the large island where a huge building sat in the very middle. The building was square, its entirety covered in glass panes which seemed to be windows. Behind the building, a large open field can be seen with 4 other ships being docked at their respective docking bays.
The 2 ships landed at their designated docking bay where a platform anchored the ships above ground level via a magnetic field.
-Kenji's Cabin, 3rd division's ship-
The room was dimly lit, the metallic silver walls could be seen faintly with lines that glowed blue. In the middle of the room stood Kenji who had just entered. He took a seat on his bed and activated his communication device on his ear.
Kenji: Wing 0302, awaiting response.
??: Red 0101, go ahead..
Kenji: Currently en route, requesting for an audience at point central 00.
??: Request granted, Red 0101 out.
The brief communication ended. Kenji stood back up and adjusted his hat.
Kenji: See you soon.