Clearing the building
A strange scene could be seen in the common area.
In the middle, a shirtless youth was practicing his martial arts form with seriousness. However, that wasn't the strange part.
Surrounding him, different people of different ages are following along, trying to learn something. There are businessmen, models, doctors, students, and even retired elderly.
Uncles you usually see in dramas acting as the big boss of a company was trying their best to hold the stance and maintain their balance, although their potbelly wasn't helping much. Kids with piercings or weird hair colors were trying to keep up although they were close to fainting from exhaustion. Due to the apocalypse, their rebellious phase came and gone too soon, they were forced to mature and sober up.
Women of all kinds of stature were also practicing, some models had it easier than others, while the housewives had more endurance. Who could've known that the women are the ones coming out on top during the struggle to grow stronger?
'Damn, although he is a bit young, I think I stand a chance. Lucky I have invested in quite a few skincare products before, he won't despise my age right?' thought a middle-aged businesswoman. Similar thoughts were roaming the female member's minds as they practice.
Although most of the women there were having a hard time concentrating because of Gran, they were still trying their best, aside from one.
May was at the back, staring at the shirtless young man in front of her. The way the muscles move, contract, and expand. The sweat slowly formed on the surface of his god-like body. The only thing she was dissatisfied about was that this was displayed for everyone else to see! 'How could he! I thought we decided that you and your everything only belong to me?!'
Although that was totally not the agreement they had with each other.
...
[Name: Gran Blew]
[Personal Info: ...] +
[Class: None]
[Bloodline: None]
[Race: Advanced human]
[Skills: Mount Gaia Martial Arts, Mana Sense, Unknown Martial Arts(Incomplete)]
[Mana: 260/300]
[Stats:]
[HP: 1020 | STR: 250 | AGI: 210 | STA: 520 | VIT: 520]
Gran hadn't been killing much after the survivor group was formed. He had only been observing the mana flow in the group as they went out to hunt together and occasionally offer them help when they were in danger.
'Looks like the system knows that my new forms are not completed, interesting.'
Gran had been trying to complete the enhanced forms of the Gaia Martial Arts, with some success, albeit the progress was not as fast as he would like. He found out that it was not as straightforward as applying mana to the forms and enhancing them.
There needs to be a better understanding of the final result, a sort of visualization if you will call it. If not, it would be like adding oil to fire without knowing how it burns.
...
"Hyak!" A cute sound came out from the youth who wanted to be Gran's disciple. 'A little unnecessary.' Gran thought as he found the boy making weird noises weird. 'Does he have... that?'
Without knowing he was labeled a chunni, Jace swung his sword while trying to remember how to execute the form of the Wind Style. The zombies fell one after another as more survivors joined the group and are continuously being strengthened by mana.
These past few days, Gran has also gained a lot of insight into how mana were absorbed and how it spreads throughout the body. Now he was waiting for an opportunity to test out what he had gathered so far.
"Alright we stop on this floor, a few more floors and we will clear the right wing. Get the other group to come down." Gran instructed, looking incredibly bored.
"Y-yes sir!" Jace shouted out loud, gaining a few weird glances from his group mates as they made their way up the stairs.
Gran ignored him. He was currently 'staring' at the small mana orbs through his mana sense, looking at the direction they were traveling. Although he can't actually see what was happening, he could still feel and in turn visualize the mana flow. Mana was surprisingly acting weird, and some of his previous theories need to be updated.
First, mana was not decomposing the zombie corpses as he expected. The mana in the zombie's body was breaking down and leaving the body by itself, some staying in the air, most being absorbed by the human who killed it. But what was most interesting was that some mana were entering the building's structure. 'Looks like there is more to be known about mana.'
The second thing was that mana was attracted to living things more than nonliving things. 'Something about living things has more attraction to mana than nonliving things, perhaps... lifeforce?' Gran pondered as he 'glance' at the VIT stat in his status window.
"Mister! We are here!" Said a cute girl, about 1.6m tall. Recently she has been sticking close to May, like her assistant or something. She had a little ambition in her eyes, though it was not something bad as she was working hard herself. 'Let's see how high she can go.'
"I'm only 20 you know. Alright, let's go." Gran pushed off the wall he was leaning on as he ignored the embarrassment on the girl's face.
...
In the Blew Clan.
"Patriarch. We have cleared the zombies from our mountain and the surrounding mountains. Awaiting instructions." A man clad in white half knelt down in from of Astof reported. He was part of the Clan guards, the White squad. The ones in charge of the trial that Gran took were part of the Black squad, responsible for defending against outside and handling external issues. The white squad handles the internal issues in turn, acting as law enforcers.
"What do you think elders, about this apocalypse." The man sitting on the top sit asked.
"Hmm, we have seen a rise in abilities of those who have killed these 'zombies'. Also, the children in the schools have also strengthened their bodies at a much faster pace. This is unprecedented in the world of cultivation. This 'mana' is really unfathomable." A wise-looking old man said.
"Indeed, body tempering realm is much easier to traverse now. These monsters are the key to solving that problem. I reckon young Gran has already had some sort of discovery and is ahead of us old ones." Astof's father chimed in.
A look of approval shone in everyone's eyes when they heard Gran's name.
"Correct, we must change with the times. Let Gran handle the research part. We must bolster our force and take advantage of this new era. The Blews cannot fall behind!" Astof stood up and announced loudly.
"Prepare for the Blews to descend the mountain! We shall grasp this era in our hands!"
"Yes! Patriarch!"
...
Somewhere else.
On a high-rise building, in the capital city of the Western Side. Wind blew against a middle-aged woman's face as she stare at the city, once known as the Brightest Star. Not only because it was the most well-lit city on the Western Side, but it was also the place where the brightest genius gathered. The Capital City!
The world was divided by Gaia mountain range, separating 2 major countries on the largest continent. The Western Side and Eastern Side, one known for their technology one for their culture, and heritage.
In the Capital City of the country known for its technology, Elen stood, her eyes scanning the dark city. The occasional roars of monsters fiercer than zombies could be heard.
Contrary to one's beliefs, the Capital City was the first city to fall, as it was the city that was hit the hardest by the apocalypse! Due to the high human concentration, when mana first appeared, the mana concentration in the Capital City easily rose to its peak.
As a result, monsters fiercer than zombies began spawning shortly after the start of everything.
...
"Ma'am, we have taken over the area 5km surrounding the building. What are your next orders?" A secretary in the latest combat suit reported on the side, disturbing Elen's thoughts.
'Ahhh I already miss my kids. Gran must be having a blast.' A faint smile threatened to rise from her face as she thought of the kid called the 'Mad Genius' by the geniuses in the Capital City before he even descended the mountain.
"We carry on, widen the area of activity. Gather survivors, train them up. Loot the government buildings, try to get your hands on blueprints and information. We must take advantage of the current chaos." Elen coldly said.
"Glory to the Blews."
Elen muttered before sending the secretary off.