The Survival of an Inferior

"Ugh..." Haren groans. Piercing ringing reverberates in his ears. Slight nausea and blurry vision accompany his awakening. 

When he tries to rub his eyes, he realises his hands are chained to the wall. 

The ground feels rough, the ceiling seems wide and high. Where is Haren being held? 

A moment later, Haren recovers his senses. He is in a large circular room chained to a lonely pillar standing in the middle. 

Moreover, the atmosphere has no mana lingering. Odd. 

An hour passes before the door opens, letting a whiff of mana in. I show up with Liam behind me. 

Haren glares at me and I return it with a grin. 

"Hello."  

"What do you want? Just kill me." 

"A dead person has no value." 

Haren's class is a Mana Manipulator. A Mana Manipulator in theory is not a Mage. A Mage by Bestokia's definition is someone that absorbs mana and enhances their energy core, allowing them to cast stronger spells. A Mana Manipulator, on the other hand, focuses on Mana Control and only absorbs Mana to store them. Hence, Mana Manipulators only increase their energy core's size. 

Thus, I isolate Haren from any Mana possible. In this Mana Vacuum Chamber, little to no atmosphere Mana is present; The chamber's structure is built with Edulium, a mineral that repels Mana. 

Currently, we are in Oras, a city fortress constructed on the North border of Rodgof. Monsters' appearances are frequent here and sometimes soldiers capture monsters for research. Some monster utilises Mana and they store those monsters here. Using Liam's connections, I was able to rent this place for a reasonable expense. 

What about the Mana within Haren? His long coma allowed me to absorb every drop of mana and boost my Magic Statistics. 

------------------

Name: Samuel Turner(Alias: Arsto)

Title: Pioneer of Manafication

Class: Arcane Marksman

Lvl: 121

Hp:1200/1200

Mana: 1000/1000

Atk: 87.61(92.61)[+]

Def: 111.74(121.74)[+]

Dex: 67.51(77.51)[+]

Mag: 321.5

Luck: 70[+]

Free stats: 87

Skills:

[Arcane Marksman]

-Revelation Ray(lvl1)

-Cooking(lvl1)

-Throwing(lvl1)

-Potion Brewing(lvl1)

Passive:

-Luck(lvl 2)

-Beast Hunter(lvl max)

-Mana Sense(lvl 4)

-Pain Resistance(lvl 1)

-Mental Resistance(lvl 1)

-Demonic Immunity(lvl 3)

-Great Demonic Affinity(lvl max)

-Eyes of Analysis(lvl max)

Blessings:

-Fairy

Turner Bloodline awakened 

--------------------- 

Fucking fabulous, I can be mistaken for a High Mage. 

Haren clicks his tongue and smirks. 

"You won't get anything out of me."

"I know. You are simply a researcher working for the Demons." I reply. 

Haren's arrogance drops. 

"Who the fuck are you? How do you know..."

I throw a glance at Liam, who nods in response and left the room. 

"I know a lot of things about you Haren. I know you have a daughter you adore dearly. I also know that you are the sole disciple of Pharoh; Despite your looks, you are fucking old, close to seventy." I say with a grin. 

Haren's attitude from before vanished, his eyes as wide as they can go, and his jaws drop open. 

"Y-You..." 

The thought of someone peering through his secrets attacks Haren's insecurity. Even Haren's higher-ups know nothing about his daughter. 

His face grows pale. 

I squat down to look Haren eye to eye. 

"So even a narcissistic psychopath feels fear. Interesting. Together with fulfilling your orders of attacking Rodgod, you are planning to use this chance to find your daughter and take revenge for your master." 

The Demon Lord has the power to conquer Elvis, Rodgof, and Kistan alone. 50 years ago, after the hero's death, King Lucas and several others agreed to sacrifice Pharoh in exchange for mercy. That's the only reason for the kingdoms' survival though it seems like his descendants are breaking the pact. 

"..." 

Haren silently stares at me. 

After a moment, he says "Kill me. Otherwise, I will kill you." 

I simply smile at the threat. "What makes you think you can?" 

My control of mana is ironically better than his. 

...

"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?! ANSWER ME!" Haren snaps and shouts. 

...

This is getting nowhere but I expected this. Haren will only succumb to absolute power. 

-------------------

Haren Demiuscra 

Strength: Versatile

Weakness: Speed

Status: Agitated, Shocked, Anxious

Tribe: Human 

Lvl: 129

Hp: 20000/50000

Mana:  102/900000

Atk: 51

Def: 58

Dex: 59

Mag: 91

Luck: 40 

------------------- 

This is a good example that level does not determine everything. It simply portrays how much a person experienced but is not an indication of strength. 

I get up and take out a small bag of charcoal from my coat. Afterwards, I sprinkle it around Haren in a circular pattern as if I am drawing a magic circle. 

"W-What are you doing?"  Haren asks with a trembling tone. 

"You recognise this, don't you? This is what you are researching, after all, forbidden magic. Take this opportunity to learn a thing or two." 

"This is...mind control magic?" Haren mumbles. 

"Correct," I reply with a huge smirk. 

"W-What do you want? I will comply! Fuck! Do you want me to be your spy? I can-"

"The both of us know you can't be trusted." 

Haren starts to sweat profusely. Mind Control magic is absolute black magic that can only be removed by a Sovereign Mage if they spot it. The affected individual will not realise it. 

After I successfully draw the curly patterns in the magic circle, I imbue mana into the charcoal and they start to emit a black aura.

Haren has a look of despair as if he is ready to bite his tongue. 

I walk to Haren and grab his face. 

"Wait-"

"Don't worry, you will still achieve your goals." 

The charcoal vibrates and expels large black goo that flies to my hand, engulfing Haren. 

"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"  Haren screams. 

The black mana injects itself into the helpless Haren, forcing him unconscious. 

"Sleep tight."

-------------------

Haren Demiuscra successfully controlled. 

He will unconditionally listen to your every order. 

Favourability +150 

-------------------

------------------- 

Haren Demiuscra(Mind Controlled)

Age:72

Level: 129

Title: Traitor Maniac

Class: Mana Manipulator 

Hp: 20000/50000

Mana:  102/900000

Atk: 51

Def: 58

Dex: 59

Mag: 91

Luck: 40 

Skills:

-Mana Control(lvl5)

-Quick Cast(lvl max)

-Photographic Memory(lvl max)

-Triple Cast(lvl max)

-Magic Amplify(lvl max)

Blessing: 

-Dragon(Fake)

Favourability: 150(Max)

-------------------

I scratch my head upon looking at his status screen. 

"Fake Dragon blessing?" I mumble.