<h4>Chapter 491 Chapter492-The Experience of Death</h4>


    In truth, for magi above level 1, there exists virtually no difference in the quantity of mana or in their affinity towards it.


    Magi at this echelon have devised their own means to covertly siphon mana from the mana ocean, rendering their supply seemingly infinite.


    This, on another note, reflects the limitations imposed by the human soul''s capacity.


    The ability of a magus to absorb ambient mana is directly linked to the strength of their soul.


    To directly assimte the free-floating mana spanning the entirety of the underground stronghold, Two''s demonstrated soul strength would have to surpass that of a level 1 magus by more than tenfold.


    But is this the extent of Two''s limit?


    N didn''t know.


    Nor did he know if anyone did.


    Perhaps those who did know had long since perished? Two didn''t seem to embody such a ruthless persona.


    But without a thorough understanding of an intelligence''s operational parameters, any judgment remains unreliable.


    The tremors in the mana did not persist for long, converging in less than the span of three breaths before and after.


    During this interval, N heard the guards outside being alerted, attempting to unlock the iron door.


    Yet before it could open, all went silent.


    What had transpired outside?


    Once again, fear gripped N.


    Each living being, to varying degrees, harbors mana within, the amount fluctuating with the organism''s constitution and energy level, but it never zeroes out.


    For, should it ever dwindle to nothing, that life form would cease to exist.


    The mana absorbed by Two, perhaps, was not limited to that which freely floats in the air.


    "What have you done?"


    Though he had his suspicions, N''s voice still trembled slightly as he asked softly.


    "The people outside, are they all dead? Did you drain them?"


    "Indeed."


    The reply was sinct, yet it wasden with a kind of mana—a mana potent enough to instill fear in any living creature.


    No being is devoid of the fear of death, a terror etched into the deepest recesses of biological instinct.


    Two lifted his gaze to meet N''s.


    "Do not disperse your mana shield; it is not over yet."


    Not over? Hadn''t everyone already perished?


    What more was there to do?


    Matter-energy conversion.


    Suddenly, N remembered this term that Two had mentioned earlier.


    He had studied the cultures of many worlds and understood this concept, which posits that the mass of material and energy can be equivalent in mathematical equations.


    This idea overturned many antiquated physical theories, sparking a revolution in physics.


    Although the concept of physics per se does not exist on the Av Continent, analogous concepts certainly do.


    Mana is the cornerstone of the world.


    It forms everything within the world, and this "everything" has never been limited to living entities alone but also epasses the fundamental matter—flesh, bones that constitute humans, rocks and soil that form mountains, the tumultuous waves of the oceans—all are transformations of mana.


    This has been proven on Av, and some have considered exploiting this property for various purposes.


    Theoretically, it is feasible, but practically, it''s been deemed impossible.


    But... could Two aplish this?


    If it could, does that imply its understanding of this world far surpasses what N and Dorek could fathom?


    And why does it possess such a profoundprehension of mana?


    Perhaps, this is destined to remain an unsolvable mystery.


    N watched as the extinguished golden pupils of Two were reignited, a unique aura emanating from its being.


    Though now kneeling on one knee, Two seemed to be seated upon the clouds like a deity.


    "Imand, let all things return to chaos!"


    Two''s voice was not loud, but mana served as its herald, so this decree was disseminated across the area delineated by Two in an instant before N could even grasp what was happening.


    Then, a peculiar sensation ensued.


    It felt as though consciousness had suddenly plunged into a warm ocean.


    Light vanished in a blink, and N''s body was seized by gravity, plummeting towards the abyss.


    This experience reminded N of birds falling from the sky, perhaps they felt simr when their once powerful wings lost their mana for the first time.


    Would they feel fear? Should he feel fear? N tried to ponder this question, but in the warm embrace of the ocean, even thought was a forbidden act.


    "You were careless."


    A voice carried over the water''s surface.


    Its sound, distorted after passing through the denseyers of water, was still immediately recognizable to N.


    It belonged to Howard.


    Yet, less than ten minutes ago, this voice had changed allegiance.


    Now it belonged to an intelligence named "Two."


    I was careless?


    What does that mean?


    What has been done to me?


    Have I fallen into some trap?


    N found his once infinitely diverging thoughts beginning to coalesce anew, akin to molding a y figurine, with himself as the lump of y being whimsically reshaped.


    The reformation didn''t take long, or perhaps, to a disengaged soul, the very concept of time had lost its meaning.


    Light once again unfolded its embrace before N.


    Opening his eyes, he discovered he was standing firmly on the ground, though the mana orb that once surrounded him had vanished.


    A fear, as if plummeting into an abyss, gripped N tightly.


    He finally understood the meaning behind Two''s "You were careless."


    His gaze shifted towards Two, who was slowly standing up without any apparent change, except for slightly dimmer golden pupils.


    "You were on the verge of returning to the embrace of the mana ocean. Had I not reacted swiftly, you would have be fundamental mana, rejoining the world by now. How was the experience of death? Intriguing, wasn''t it?"


    What might have been a taunting joke, when uttered by Two, carried no such sentiment.


    It was a blunt recount devoid of any embellishment or emotion, even the question sounded like a precise record.


    Was that warm, lightless ocean the mana ocean? The ce where every consciousness returns upon death, was it truly as such? N found it somewhat unexpected.


    Although the existence of the mana ocean had been confirmed long ago, such a conceptual entity remains beyond the direct observation of modern magi.


    Every magus who attempted to observe it met the same fate: assimtion by the mana ocean, bing the most fundamental mana to return to the world''s embrace.


    It was a majestic form of death, one many high-level magi choose when their lifespan nears its end.


    In retrospect, there''s something quite romantic about it.


    Pursuing death in the quest for truth?


    Or pursuing truth through death? The question remains forever unanswered.


    "Not bad, better than I imagined. I thought there would be hell or something of the sort."


    N forced a smile, knowing that facing Two required a certain mental fortitude; no amount of shock would suffice otherwise.


    "So, those people outside... the bodies, what did you do with them?"


    N had an inkling of the answer but sought confirmation directly from Two.


    "Matter-energy conversion, a considerably difficult technique even for me."


    "I consumed them entirely, bodies and souls alike, leaving nothing behind."


    When Two spoke these words, there was a peculiar smile on its face.


    Not terrifying, but distinctly non-human.


    Beneath the facade nearly identical to that of a human,y a soul utterly alien.


    For the first time, N felt so intensely the difference between Two and humanity, and so clearly perceived the distinction between different species.


    To humans, the morals of ants hold no significance.


    Two must see it simrly.


    It''s not human, so why adhere to human moral codes? Just as humans don''t consider eating beef or mutton a sin, Two doesn''t see the consumption of human bodies as a wrongdoing.


    Everyone is simr; the only difference lies in the magnitude of power.


    Two could have exined in a more euphemistic manner, but it chose not to.


    Instead, itid the facts bare before N''s eyes.


    You are conversing with a being you''d inevitablybel a ''devil.''


    "Gaining threefold for every energy spent, although digestion takes time, overall, it''s a significant gain. I should be able to restore quite a bit of functionality. It''s just a pity it''s not enough to reboot the secondary energy furnace; otherwise, I wouldn''t need external energy support."


    Two nced at its fingers before returning its gaze to N''s face.


    "What''s the matter, not quite adjusting? Or is it fear? Disgust? Perhaps you want to kill me?"


    "I can understand all these reactions, but I hope you also understand something. If you make a move, the next thing I might digest could very well be your corpse."


    Survival is the basic instinct of all beings, ranking highest among their primal urges.


    "Is this your true nature?" N took a step back, retracting the short staff in his hand.


    "What exactly is your purpose? Or rather, what are you?"