INTRUDERS

Steven had completed his mana veins in three days and was experimenting with his mana. He was attempting to find new methods to use his mana when he discovered certain changes in himself after swallowing the mana core.

He could think more clearly as if a fog had lifted from his head; his thinking speed had increased, and he could examine things with greater clarity. His vision has improved, but for some reason, his eyes glow red in the dark. His physical condition has improved slightly.

He didn't even eat twice in three days, yet he still doesn't feel hungry. His body had undergone so many alterations that he was taken aback at first. "I still need to acquire some food to eat," Steven thought to himself as he rose to leave for the factory.

He began to make his way to the east side of the slums in search of food to consume and save for later. As he walked toward the factory, he considered how he could build little bullets out of mana so that he could make some weapons with it. He instinctively caressed the switch knife in his makeshift pocket as he considered this.

When he had this notion, he tried to build a shell of mana on his hands in the shape of a knife, but he failed horribly. However, when he attempted to shape the mana by allowing it to flow through his fingers, his nails became covered with mana and sharpened. When he saw this, he realized he didn't have a lot of mana mastery and that he couldn't manufacture weapons entirely out of mana, and that they could require some sort of foundation.

He finally arrived in front of the factory after much deliberation. He went inside the factory and worked for five hours to obtain some meals. When he returned, it was approximately lunchtime, and he didn't have anything specific to do, so he went back to his hut. On his way, he was still considering possible methods to use mana. But he couldn't think of anything else.

He sat down after entering his hut and closing the door. He wasn't hungry, but even so, he ate part of the food and saved some for later.

When he had nothing else to do, he peered out one of the windows toward the city. Small hovercars and other vehicles may be seen soaring along the huge structures. Steven wished to live somewhere other than here; he admired the wealthy individuals who could go and dwell in other worlds. Steven had too many bad memories of this place. He planned to join the army when he reached 18 to flee this world. 'Last ten years of my existence in the slums and the memories of the Starfall that still tormented my nightmares may fade if I leave this planet and goes somewhere else,' he thought.

While he was thinking about this, he heard several footsteps outside his hut. 'Why are there so many people outside my hut?' he wondered.

'I didn't offend anybody in the slums. Why are they gathering so many people outside of my hut,' he thought, but then it hit him 'that bag,' he thought and gazed at it with a troubled glance. What Steven didn't comprehend at the time was that everything he thought happened in a matter of seconds. Soon after, someone kicked his door, causing it to collapse, a big man walked in, and ten people followed him in.

Steven was outraged when he saw this because they smashed his door. "Who are you, folks?" He yelled, but the man turned away and glanced around. He's a buff man with blue eyes and tanned skin. He finally looked at Steven when he spotted the bag. " Tell me how are yo-" Steven yelled again, but before he could finish, something slammed him in the stomach. He was kicked by the man. Steven flew backward and collided with the wall. 'I didn't even see his movement,' Steven reflected before slumping down. He was unable to move his body. It happened so fast that he didn't even have time to utilize mana to defend himself. Steven couldn't move and was going to pass out.

Before Steven passed out, all he heard was "bring the bag and that kid."