As I sat in history class, trying to stay awake, my mind wandered back to the day I first appeared on this planet. It was December 30th, 2023, when, I, a beautiful man with long flowing black hair and a bright, shining smile had appeared in the sky. I had addressed the humans, declaring that I had found their planet and their people are the most compatible with mana, and as such, I had decided to bless them with it. My voice had resonated a million times over and inside ears, as I slowly raised my majestic hand into the air and snapped my fingers, creating a sound unlike anything ever heard before. The snap was so powerful that it would have permanently damaged any creature with the ability to hear, had it been used to cause pain. Soon, every living creature, including the planet itself, had grown stronger and stronger, marking the start of the 'Age of Mana.' But my reminiscing came to an abrupt end as I heard my teacher's voice interrupting my thoughts, "Silan, stop sleeping and pay attention."
I lifted my head off the desk, already dreading the upcoming history lesson. Bestowing the gift of mana upon 8 billion people had taken its toll on my life force, leaving me with a mere 500 years to live. However, to my surprise, I later died, only to find myself reincarnated in my current body.
The teacher's stern voice interrupted my thoughts, "It's fine since you always get the highest scores on the tests, but next time I catch you sleeping, there will be punishments, understood?"
"Understood, sir," I replied, hoping to avoid any further reprimands.
"Good. Now listen up, all of you, this is important," he continued. "Tomorrow you will complete your mana tests. As you already know, these tests are designed to evaluate your magic potential. Today, I will explain the second known user of mana, 'Davis Mistdream.' He was known as a sha..."
I struggled to focus on the lesson, my mind wandering to the changed world. Despite the planet's enormous size, intelligent life remained confined to just 40% of it due to the threat of mana beasts. Animals had been granted the gift of mana too, and their sudden appearance had forced humanity to retreat. As a result, the world was now home to a myriad of different races, including elves, orcs, dwarves, Titans, and others, each possessing unique properties bestowed by mana. In total, there were around 500 billion intelligent creatures in the world.
My train of thought was disrupted by my teacher's voice once again, "Anyway, that's it for today. You're all dismissed." I, along with the other students, gathered our belongings and headed out of the classroom.
As I walked home, I couldn't help but feel uneasy. My family had always been distant from me ever since I told them the truth about my reincarnation. I couldn't blame them for their awkwardness, but I couldn't bear to let them live a lie either. I mean, what was I supposed to do? Let them think that I was their real child?
It had been five long years since they left, taking my talented older sister with them and traveling closer to the human capital. I couldn't help but wonder how they were doing, but at the same time, I couldn't bring myself to reach out to them.
As such I just dragged my body into my empty and dark home, made dinner, and laid on my bed. I couldn't help but chuckle lightly, "Some God I am, huh?"
I feel utterly powerless. Despite my vast experience in my past life, I can't seem to unlock my mana. Summoning my killing intent or sword aura used to be effortless, but now I struggle to feel even a glimmer of it. It's beyond frustrating; it's downright demoralizing. I feel like a complete failure. I can't pinpoint what went wrong or why I can't access my full potential, but I refuse to give up. The mana tests tomorrow are my last hope, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to shock the world.
Sleep eluded me for hours, my mind racing with memories of my previous life and what it felt like to wield such power. But eventually, exhaustion overtook me, and I fell into a deep slumber.
--The next day--
I slowly become aware of the soft golden glow that illuminates my room as the sun peeks through the window. The sound of birds chirping outside is faintly heard through the glass. I begin to stretch my arms and legs, feeling the warmth of the blankets against my skin.
Opening my eyes, I blink a few times to adjust to the brightness of the room. Taking a moment to observe my surroundings, I see the familiar sights of my bedroom and the paintings on the wall.
Feeling the urge to get up, I sit up in bed and place my feet on the floor. I then slowly walk into the bathroom.
I walk down the hallway towards my bedroom, passing by the family photos that hang on the wall. I stop to look at a picture of my parents and me, taken on a vacation we went on 8 years ago. I feel a pang of homesickness, knowing that they wouldn't support me, even now.
But I refused to let that dampen my spirits. Today was the day of the mana tests, and I was determined to make a comeback. After taking a long, refreshing shower, I dressed in my best clothes and set out for the testing center.
The testing center was a massive building, stretching up towards the sky. It was a symbol of the new world order, where mana had become the most important factor in determining one's worth. As I walked in, I was met with a sea of people, all waiting anxiously for their turn to be tested.
I waited in line, watching as the other applicants went in and out of the testing rooms. Some were elated, having achieved high ranks, while others were devastated, having failed to unlock their mana.
Finally, it was my turn. I walked into the testing room, taking in the sterile environment and the serious face of my examiner. They handed me a mana crystal, a small, glowing gemstone that contained the essence of mana.
I closed my eyes, focusing all my attention on the crystal. I tried to remember what it felt like to wield mana, to feel the power surging through my veins. At first, nothing happened, and I began to feel discouraged. But then, I remembered something I had learned in my past life.
"Mana is not just about power," I whispered to myself. "It's about connection, to yourself, to others, and to the world around you."
With that in mind, I opened myself up to the crystal, allowing it to merge with my being. I felt a surge of energy, and suddenly, I could see everything around me with more clarity. And I could see little dots of color all around me, those were mana particles.
I woke up to find the examiner beaming at me. "Congratulations, you've passed the first test," he said before leading me through a door. "Now, we'll test your ability to control mana."
We entered a room with a wooden floor and a cushion in the center. "Sit on the cushion and try to inhale the mana particles while exhaling your breath," the instructor instructed.
Despite my efforts, I couldn't seem to draw in any mana particles. I pondered over the key to this test, and then it hit me. If I had to connect with the world to use mana, then I had to convince it to let me do so. I took a moment to gather my thoughts before answering silently in my head.
"I should be allowed to use your mana because I gave it to you dumbass." I stated. It was as if the earth itself was laughing, and the mana particles began to swirl around me as I breathed them in.
The instructor's face contorted with surprise. "After all my 134 years, I have never seen mana particles respond to someone in such a way. You truly are remarkable," he said, his grin widening. "Now, for the final test: the talent and potential assessment. Please follow me." He led me back to the original room, where a crystal ball sat atop a pedestal.
"This crystal ball is attuned to mana, and it will reveal your unique mana talents through its colors. It will also show your potential through a number. Please place your hand on the orb," the examiner said, beaming at me.
I slowly place my hand on the orb and suddenly...