By the end of the first week of mana cultivation classes, Jack and Thea had both learned more than they’d imagined. Most importantly, they confirmed that all one hundred of their students were capable of mana-breathing. Each student successfully teased slivers of mana from within the stones, without the need for Jack’s external influence. Jack rejoiced at this fact. He needed humanity to be able to grow on their own, without his watchful hand. He still wasn’t sure how Earth would continue to collect mana stones, as currently, the only ones they had were produced by him or earned through their battle with the Altarians. However, that was an issue for the future. Jack still had several ideas to explore on the mana-stone front. Jack’s second most important finding was that some students were generalists. They showed no affinity toward any specific mana type. They successfully practiced all sorts of mana-breathing techniques, teasing the energy into their bodies and swallowing it as their own. These students progress slowly, but steadily and their bodies showed no signs of harmful side effects or degradation. Still, Robin led the class through continued physical training, ensuring that nobody fell behind. A few select students, however, were not able to consume all forms of. One by one, Jack went through all of the mana typings he knew until he found the one that aligned with each student. Marissa was the first specialist. As soon as she began the flame-dance, the fire-mana-stone rumbled and reacted, pouring its energy into Marissa’s body. The air warmed as her dance continued, and, with her final punch, a puff of smoke appeared before her fist.
By the end of the second week, the students had grown tremendously. None had awaked as players, but, as they formed their mana-centers, their five senses sharpened, and a sixth sense formed, the ability to perceive strands of mana flowing in the world around them. With every lecture, the once starry-eyed students now looked and listened with sharpened eyes. They cultivated daily, sometimes absorbing the energy from stones provided by JATA, and on other days they went on excursions led by Storm, Robin, Thea, and Leonidas to locate areas of densely packed mana where they could train without external influence. All the while, Dr. Johansson observed, making detailed notes and recording the entire process. She offered suggestions when she had them, never shy to speak her voice. And, to Jack’s glee, Dr. Johansson adjusted his mana-breathing techniques, tailoring them to each of the students. And with this, they began developing at even faster rates. Jack had also requested Dr. Johansson to watch over his cultivation, but she shook her head and assured him that she saw not a single flaw.
By the end of the third week, Jack had led the students into their first D-grade portal. He simultaneously assisted in the US Player Academy’s training session, guiding the warriors in battle, while ensuring that his students opened their eyes to the reality of the world. He had the students act as not only watchful observers but also medics, porters, and instructors. His students mingled with the players, searching for fluctuations in mana, identifying monsters and traps, locating weaknesses, and assisting in any other ways they could. He detailed to both player and student alike how to harvest monster corpses, and identified both edible and hazardous flora. Jack had worried that there might be some tension between student and player, but, the players were nothing but appreciative. They sang praises of the students who ventured into danger and were especially grateful for the guidance provided by the students in the form of mana-meditation. The students blossomed quickly into teachers, just as Jack had hoped.
By the fourth week, the first two students awakened as players. Both specialists, Trinity was the first and Marissa awakened the following day. They had both been informed that the rest of the system would be unlocked after the completion of a shortened tutorial, requiring only ten to participate. Currently, there were three of the ten required players. After their awakenings, Jack took the two into one of the A-rank portals he had conquered, setting Marissa up in a powerful enchantment beside a magma lake and Trinity he bundled deep in a cavernous ice-troll cave.
By the fifth week, all of the students had awakened and returned from their tutorials, boasting classes that brought tears to Jack’s eyes. Marissa, whom Jack had worried might return as something like a Lava Wizard or a Battle Mage, returned with a soot-covered face and the largest of grins. Inside the tutorial, she had found her calling: Forge Master. It was the first humanity had heard of the class, something higher than a blacksmith or metallurgist. She had learned how to not only craft weapons and armor but had also found a method of imbuing her magic within the items, giving them an array of new effects. She hammered swords that could erupt with heat, capable of melting through even the thickest of armors and she crafted shields that could launch blasts of fire. Best of all, she had developed those skills entirely on her own. Others returned as Master Farmers, Groundsmiths, Elemental Sculptors, Alchemists, Tinkerers, Chefs, Illusionists, and more.
By the sixth week, the entire class had graduated. It was faster than Jack had imagined. It was faster than anyone had imagined. At that point, Jack immediately had Nicholas draw up new designs to massively expand JATA’s facilities. And then, only three months after JATA’s grand opening, the second class of JATA sat in the massive auditorium of nearly thirty thousand seats, all of which were filled.
Over the months, Jack had constantly produced mana stones, filling the space within his dimensional pouch as he taught, fought, and lived his daily life. The process had become as natural as breathing to him, so much so, that he could even create the stones in his sleep. And, when the pouch reached its limits, he dumped the stones into one of JATA’s many vaults. Thea gawked and gaped and worried for Jack, swearing that he had to run out of mana eventually. At first, she’d pleaded with Jack to rest and when he waved her off, she turned to Robin. Robin only smiled at her concerns. Jack was enjoying the production process. His skills improved every day. He grew more adept at creating the stones. Found himself able to pack them to greater densities. He learned how to better shift mana from one affinity to another. He practiced combining stones, and splitting them into smaller pieces. He specially crafted stones for Leonidas and the other diamond players, packing them with enough mana that each could train for years before the energy ran out. Jack experimented with creating battery-stones, switching out the pools of mana he’d used to shield the portals with more efficient building-sized crystals that could power the barriers for centuries. He created new defense systems for the academy, and for the budding city that surrounded it.
Slowly, everything fell into place.
