[Pinnacle Academy, Central Building - ssroom 1-A]


    The Empty Mana Orb.


    On the surface, it appeared as a simple tool designed to measure a person''s mana capacity and sharpness.


    A harmless instrument used by the science department for routine assessments.


    But I knew better. The Empty Mana Orb was something I had created in a fit ofte-night inspiration, a seemingly innocuous object that held a far more sinister purpose.


    It wasn''t merely a measuring tool; it was a siphon, designed to extract a portion of a person''s mana and store it within its crystalline structure.


    This wasn''t just about testing potential.


    It was about harvesting raw magical energy, a crucial ingredient for dimir Bane''s twisted experiments.


    The mana collected from unsuspecting students would fuel his attempts to create new demi-humans, to perfect the prototype for the Devil''s vessel.


    And now, Bet was holding it in his hand, a sly smile ying on his lips.


    Of course, it''s my duty that I must correct all the mistakes I''ve made as an author.


    This situation is no exception... Therefore, I will not allow it.


    **


    Damon Bet watched Rel closely, a curious glint in his eyes.


    The moment he held up the orb, a shadow seemed to pass over Rel''s face, his expression darkening subtly.


    Does he perhaps not know what this is? Bet wondered.


    If he doesn''t, then extracting his mana will be even easier.


    But then another thought struck him.


    He needed to see the full extent of Rel''s mana capacity and elemental attributes.


    This was an opportunity too valuable to waste.


    "This orb isn''t harmful, so I can assure you this process isn''t dangerous," Bet said, his voice smooth and reassuring.


    Rel wasn''t buying Bet''s act, but he decided to y along. He looked up towards the teacher, then past him, his eyesnding on the brown bag sitting on the desk.


    "I''ll do it," he said, his voice t.


    "Good," Bet replied, turning around to rummage through his bag.The sound of rattling filled the room.


    A few secondster, Bet produced a small stone pir with a t top, designed to hold the orb. He ced the orb onto the stand.


    "You know how to do it, right?" he asked.


    "All I have to do is use a little of my elemental attribute and thebination of my mana, correct?"


    "Well, it seems they don''t call you the number one student for nothing,"


    Bet attempted a ttering tone, but Rel merely rolled his eyes.


    huuu...


    As Rel slowly approached the desk, a faint flow of energy began to surround him.


    The mana that once resonated around him started to disrupt and scatter with each step, reacting to the abnormality of his Anti-Magic attribute.


    SUUUU...


    His hand had yet to reach the orb, but Bet remained oblivious to the subtle change in the atmosphere.


    As Rel reached out and ced his hand on the orb, a ck me engulfed it.


    WHOOSH!


    As the dark colour of mes was absorbed into the orb a massive gust of wind shot out in all directions, followed by small bursts of ck mes that erupted within the room.


    Bet instinctively covered his eyes, the wind surprisingly powerful for such a seemingly small exertion of power from Rel.


    It was clear that he had been holding back.


    But something else was happening, something that deeply disturbed Bet.


    The mana within his own body was reacting strangely, scattering and stressing as if seeking refuge.


    CRACK...CRACK...CRACK...


    Rel maintained his hand on the orb, seemingly lost in concentration.


    Bet had forgotten to tell him when to stop.


    "Rel, you can stop now," he said, his voice filled with concern.


    But Rel didn''t respond.


    "Hey... Rel?"


    The cracks in the orb grewrger, the air in the room growing heavy with an otherworldly energy.


    CRACK...


    "Rel, you need to stop!"


    SMASH!!!


    The orb shatteredpletely.


    "Stop!" Bet screamed, and Rel finally withdrew his hand.


    "Oh..." Rel looked at the shattered orb, his expression impassive.


    "I apologize, Mr. Bet," Rel said, his voice carefully neutral. "I must have lost control. I didn''t sleep wellst night."


    Bet''s facade cracked, hisposure hanging by a thread.


    Not only had he lost the chance to properly measure Rel''s power, but he had also destroyed an orb specifically crafted for unique, high-graded students.


    The fact that Rel had shattered it so effortlessly meant his power far exceeded that of a typical third-year at Pinnacle Academy.


    "Don''t... worry..." Bet managed, his voice strained as he knelt down to gather the shattered pieces of the orb.


    "We can do this another time.But I have to leave now."


    He gestured for Rel to leave the room, then turned back towards his bag.


    "At least none of the other orbs got..." Bet''s voice trailed off as his eyes widened in horror.


    Right before him, more pieces of ss spilled from his bag, and a chaotic surge of mana filled the room.


    "No..."


    Bet crumpled to his knees, the shards of countless shattered orbs scattered around him.


    Not only had Rel''s elemental attribute proven devastatingly proficient at breaking the unique orb, but it had also shattered the other standard ones within Bet''s bag.


    "I''ll...I''ll get him for this..." Bet clenched his fist, picking up the ss shards and crushing them in his hand, his anger boiling over.


    His n to harvest mana from the students had failed, and the consequences of his actions were just beginning to unfold.


    Bet, still kneeling amidst the shattered fragments flipped open his watch and dialed a familiar number.


    "I''ve confirmed a partial amount of his abilities," he reported, his voice tight with barely contained frustration.


    The caller on the other end chuckled, "Really? But that won''t be enough—"


    "He was able to shatter the unique orb," Bet interrupted.


    A disbelievingugh echoed from the watch''s speaker.


    "That''s ridiculous. The orb is designed to withstand even an attack from a light attribute user."


    "I''m serious," Bet insisted, his voice hardening.


    "He broke the orb and everything else around it."


    ________


    To Be Continued...


    ________


    Authors Notes


    - The ck mes are depicted to be seen as a different coloured variation of the elemental attribute of fire. But because of this misconception, Rel''s anti-magic attribute would be mistaken for mes.


    - For the orbs to have shattered, Rel needed to increase the output of his anti-magic attribute which is why ck mes were bursting throughout the air.