《Resonant Outback: Rise of the Mana Drifter》 The Surge Dingo howls pierced the night as Jack stared at the glowing blue numbers floating above his head. [Level 1 - 0/100 XP] "Bloody hell," he muttered, swiping at the ethereal display. His hand passed right through it. It had been three days since the sky turned an eerie shade of purple and mana flooded the world. The coastal cities were gone, swallowed by tidal waves of raw magical energy. But here in the red heart of Australia, the change had been more... subtle. Jack looked down at his hands, noting the faint blue lines tracing his veins. He could feel the mana pulsing through him, changing him. Changing everything. A dull roar in the distance made him tense. That didn''t sound like any native fauna he knew. Whatever it was, it was big, and it was coming closer. Jack grabbed his old rifle, knowing deep down it wouldn''t be enough against whatever monsters the mana had cooked up in the Outback. He needed to level up, and fast. "Right then," he said, steeling himself. "Let''s see what this new world''s got." Jack''s [Observe] skill activated automatically as he scanned the horizon. Translucent blue boxes appeared in his vision, identifying the flora and fauna around him: [Eucalyptus Tree - Level 2] [Red Kangaroo - Level 3] [Thorny Devil - Level 1] He blinked, still not used to the new reality. Everything had levels now, even the plants. As the roar grew louder, a massive red box appeared at the edge of his vision: [WARNING: Apex Predator Approaching] [Thunderdog - Level 15] "Strewth," Jack whispered. He''d heard rumors about the Thunderdogs¡ªdingoes mutated by the mana surge into monstrous proportions. This was his first time seeing one. A notification pinged: [New Skill Unlocked: Bushcraft - Level 1] [Bushcraft allows you to utilize the natural environment for survival and combat. Each level improves efficiency and unlocks new techniques.] Jack''s mind raced. He needed a plan. His eyes landed on the Thorny Devil, and an idea formed. "Alright, little fella," he said, approaching the lizard. "Let''s see if this works." [Skill Check: Bushcraft - Difficulty 8] [Roll: 12 + 1 (Skill Level) = 13] [Success!] With surprising ease, Jack scooped up the Thorny Devil. Its spikes didn''t pierce his skin as they should have. Instead, he felt a warm tingle as the lizard''s defensive abilities merged with his own. [Temporary Buff Acquired: Thorny Skin] [Physical Defense +5 for 10 minutes] The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The ground trembled as the Thunderdog burst into view. It was the size of a small car, electricity crackling between its razor-sharp teeth. Jack raised his rifle, but before he could fire, another notification appeared: [Quest Alert: Survive the Thunderdog] [Reward: 150 XP, Skill Book: Outback Survival] [Failure: Death] [Accept? Y/N] "Like I have a choice," Jack muttered, accepting the quest. As the Thunderdog charged, Jack dove behind the Eucalyptus tree. The beast''s jaws clamped down on the trunk, sending splinters flying. [Eucalyptus Tree HP: 80/100] Jack fired his rifle, the bullet striking the Thunderdog''s flank. [Damage Dealt: 25] [Thunderdog HP: 475/500] The monster roared in pain and anger, its eyes locking onto Jack. This was going to be one hell of a fight. The Thunderdog lunged, its electrified fangs barely missing Jack''s arm. He rolled away, feeling the crackle of energy in the air. [Agility Check: Success] [XP Gained: 5] [Current XP: 5/100] Jack''s mind raced. The rifle wasn''t doing enough damage, and he was running out of options. Suddenly, a new notification popped up: [Environmental Interaction Available] [Use Eucalyptus Oil to enhance weapon? Y/N] Without hesitation, Jack accepted. His [Bushcraft] skill kicked in automatically, hands moving with newfound expertise to extract oil from the damaged tree. [Skill Increase: Bushcraft - Level 2] [New Ability Unlocked: Natural Alchemy] Jack quickly coated his rifle''s remaining bullets with the oil. The ammunition glowed with a faint blue light. [Weapon Temporarily Enhanced: Mana-Infused Bullets] [Damage +20, Chance to Inflict ''Burning'' Status] The Thunderdog circled, growling. Its fur sparked with built-up electrical charge. Jack knew he had to time this right. [Skill Unlocked: Hunter''s Intuition - Level 1] [Increased accuracy and critical hit chance against predators] Jack took a deep breath, aimed, and fired. [Critical Hit!] [Damage Dealt: 75] [Status Effect: Burning - 10 damage per turn for 3 turns] [Thunderdog HP: 400/500] The beast howled in pain, the mana-infused bullet burning through its hide. But the attack only seemed to enrage it further. With a deafening roar, the Thunderdog released a blast of electrical energy. [Incoming Area Attack: Lightning Burst] [Evasion Check: Failed] [Damage Taken: 40] [Jack''s HP: 60/100] Jack gritted his teeth against the pain. The Thorny Skin buff had absorbed some of the damage, but he was still in trouble. He needed to end this fast. As if responding to his desperation, the mana in his veins pulsed. Time seemed to slow as a new option appeared before him: [Awakened Ability Detected] [Unlock ''Mana Resonance''? (Requires 50 XP) Y/N] Jack didn''t hesitate. "Yes!" A surge of energy flooded his body. The world around him sharpened into crystal clarity. He could see the ley lines of mana crisscrossing the landscape, converging on the Thunderdog. [Ability Unlocked: Mana Resonance - Level 1] [Harmonize with surrounding mana to enhance abilities and manipulate the environment] Instinctively, Jack reached out with his mind, grasping the threads of mana. He wove them into a shimmering net and flung it at the Thunderdog. [Mana Resonance Activated: Nullifying Field] [Thunderdog''s Electrical Abilities Suppressed for 30 seconds] The beast''s fur stopped sparking, confusion evident in its eyes. This was Jack''s chance. He raised his rifle one last time, channeling every bit of mana he could into the final shot. [Critical Hit!] [Mana-Infused Bullet Damage: 100] [Resonance Bonus: +50] [Total Damage: 150] [Thunderdog HP: 0/500] With a final, pitiful whine, the Thunderdog collapsed. [Quest Completed: Survive the Thunderdog] [Reward: 150 XP, Skill Book: Outback Survival] [Level Up! You are now Level 2] [New Stat Points Available: 5] Jack leaned against the Eucalyptus tree, exhausted but alive. As the adrenaline faded, he realized something profound had changed. He wasn''t just surviving anymore; he was evolving. The purple sky pulsed overhead, a reminder that this was only the beginning. Whatever this new world had in store, Jack would face it head-on. The awakening As the sun rose over the red earth, Jack examined his status window: [Jack Thompson] [Level 2 Mana Drifter] [HP: 120/120] [MP: 80/80] [XP: 5/200] [Skills: - Bushcraft (Lvl 2) - Hunter''s Intuition (Lvl 1) - Mana Resonance (Lvl 1)] [Unallocated Stat Points: 5] He pondered over where to allocate his new points. Strength could help with physical challenges, but Wisdom might boost his newfound mana abilities. In the end, he decided on a balanced approach: [Strength: 12 (+1)] [Agility: 11 (+1)] [Constitution: 10 (+1)] [Intelligence: 9 (+1)] [Wisdom: 8 (+1)] As soon as he confirmed, a warm sensation washed over him. He felt stronger, quicker, and more in tune with the mana currents around him. [Skill Book Available: Outback Survival] [Would you like to learn this skill? Y/N] "Yes," Jack said, curious about what knowledge it might impart. Instantly, his mind was flooded with information about the Australian wilderness ¨C not just what he already knew, but deeper, more intricate knowledge. He understood the land in ways he never had before. [Skill Learned: Outback Survival (Lvl 1)] [Passive Effect: Increased resource gathering and crafting efficiency in Australian biomes] [Active Ability: Spirit Walk - Temporarily blend with the environment, increasing stealth] Jack grinned. This would definitely come in handy. He turned his attention to the Thunderdog''s carcass. It seemed a shame to waste it. [Harvesting Options Available: 1. Meat (Food Source) 2. Hide (Crafting Material) 3. Mana Core (Magical Essence)] Jack''s eyes widened at the last option. A mana core? That was new. He carefully extracted all three, his newly enhanced [Bushcraft] skill making the process surprisingly easy. [Items Obtained: - Thunderdog Meat x5 - Thunderdog Hide x1 - Lesser Mana Core x1] As he held the glowing mana core, a notification pinged: [Quest Alert: The Mana Mystery] [Objective: Discover the source of the mana surge] [Reward: ???] [Accept? Y/N] Jack hesitated. This seemed like a much bigger undertaking than just surviving a single monster. But if he ever wanted to understand this new world, he''d have to start somewhere. "Yes," he said firmly. With his new skills and a sense of purpose, Jack set off across the sun-baked landscape. He didn''t know where this quest would lead him, but he was determined to uncover the truth behind the mana apocalypse. As he walked, he practiced his [Mana Resonance], feeling the ebb and flow of magical energy around him. In the distance, he spotted a shimmer that didn''t look natural ¨C perhaps some kind of mana disturbance. [Location Discovered: Shimmerspring Oasis] Intrigued, Jack changed course. Whatever awaited him at the Shimmerspring Oasis, he had a feeling it would be the first step in a much larger adventure. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. The purple sky pulsed overhead, a constant reminder of how much the world had changed. But for the first time since the surge, Jack felt a spark of excitement alongside his apprehension. He was no longer just Jack Thompson, outback survivor. He was a Mana Drifter, and he had a world to explore. The Shimmerspring Oasis materialized like a mirage, shimmering with an otherworldly blue glow. As Jack approached, his [Observe] skill activated: [Shimmerspring Oasis] [A mana-infused water source with unknown properties] [Danger Level: Medium] Jack crouched behind a large red rock, surveying the area. The oasis was ringed by unusual flora he''d never seen before: [Mana Fern - Level 3] [Attributes: Minor mana regeneration when consumed] [Glowroot - Level 2] [Attributes: Illuminates area, potential alchemical uses] His [Outback Survival] skill tingled, urging him to gather these new resources. But something else caught his eye ¨C movement by the water''s edge. [Humanoid Detected] [???] - Level ?? Jack tensed. Another survivor? Or something else entirely? He activated [Spirit Walk], blending into his surroundings as he crept closer. The figure came into view ¨C a young woman with vibrant blue hair, kneeling by the water. She seemed to be... communicating with it? Jack''s [Observe] skill gave him more information: [Aria Bluemist] [Class: Water Speaker - Level 7] [A survivor with an affinity for water-based mana manipulation] Suddenly, Aria''s head snapped up, looking directly at Jack''s hiding spot. "I know you''re there," she called out. "Your mana signature is obvious to anyone who knows how to look." Jack''s [Spirit Walk] faded as he stood, hands raised non-threateningly. "G''day," he said cautiously. "I''m Jack. Just another survivor." Aria''s eyes narrowed. "Another ''survivor'' who just happens to have active mana abilities? I don''t think so." Water from the oasis began to swirl around her hands. "Who sent you? The Syndicate?" "Syndicate? I don''t know what you''re talking about," Jack said, bewildered. "I''m from a cattle station about 100 kilometers east. Been on my own since the surge." Aria studied him for a moment, then relaxed slightly. The water fell back into the oasis. "You really don''t know, do you?" She sighed. "Sorry for the hostile welcome. Can''t be too careful these days." [Relationship with Aria Bluemist: Neutral] [Trait Unlocked: Cautious - Aria is slow to trust but loyal to allies] Jack lowered his hands. "No worries. Mind filling me in on what I don''t know? What''s this Syndicate?" Aria gestured for him to sit. As they settled by the oasis, she began to explain. "The mana surge didn''t just change the land and the creatures. It changed people too. Some, like us, developed abilities. Others... changed in worse ways." She traced patterns in the sand as she spoke. "The Syndicate is a group that sprung up in the chaos. They''re collecting mana cores, awakened individuals, anything with power. And they''re not asking nicely." Jack''s mind raced. "But why? What are they planning?" Aria shook her head. "That''s what I''ve been trying to figure out. I was part of a research team studying the surge when the Syndicate attacked. I barely escaped." Her eyes grew distant. "I''ve been on the run ever since, trying to stay one step ahead while I search for answers." [Quest Updated: The Mana Mystery] [New Objective: Investigate the Syndicate''s plans] [Reward: ???] Jack felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. This was bigger than he''d imagined. "Looks like we might be able to help each other out," he said. "I''ve got a quest to discover the source of the mana surge. Reckon that might be connected to what the Syndicate''s after?" Aria''s eyes lit up. "A quest? So the system''s affecting you too..." She nodded. "It''s got to be connected. But we can''t take on the Syndicate alone. We need to find others, build a network." As if on cue, both Jack and Aria received a notification: [Party Formation Available] [Form party with Aria Bluemist? Y/N] They shared a look and simultaneously said, "Yes." [Party Formed: Outback Drifters] [Party Bonus: Water and Earth affinity skills gain 10% efficiency] Jack grinned. "Guess that makes it official. Partners?" Aria smiled back, the first real warmth he''d seen from her. "Partners." As the sun began to set, casting the oasis in a purple-orange glow, Jack and Aria began to plan their next move. The Shimmerspring Oasis would make a good temporary base, but they couldn''t stay in one place for long. Jack shared what he''d learned about his [Mana Resonance] ability, while Aria demonstrated some of her water manipulation skills. They traded tips on survival in this new, mana-infused world. As night fell, they took turns keeping watch. Jack''s mind whirled with everything he''d learned. The Syndicate, awakened abilities, a quest that seemed to span the entire continent... It was a lot to take in. But as he looked up at the star-filled sky, the constellations familiar yet somehow changed by the ever-present purple haze, Jack felt a sense of purpose he hadn''t known since before the surge. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he wasn''t facing them alone anymore. And somewhere out there were answers ¨C to the surge, to his newfound abilities, and to the future of this transformed world. The Outback Drifters'' journey was just beginning.