Son Kang was surprised at the number and variety of equipment. Metal stamping machine, a multi-axis CNC mill, a flatbed lathe, a laser cutter, a grinding machine, and a bunch of smaller tools and even a table saw. The similarly numerous metal sheets and ingots of various dimensions, stamping molds, wooden planks, staffs, and various other supplies.

Seeing this made his head spin briefly. He couldn't help but ask "Why did you get such a large number of industrial equipment and materials? This is almost at the level of an industrial workshop!"

Ilsung laughed.

"That's what I planned to tell you, dad, you heard from the officer about mana right, though it sounds like fantasy fiction, it is indeed true. After the Arken arrived it seems the world now has what's called mana..."

"...I could feel it being absorbed by my body, I'm already much stronger because of mana. From what the officer said we will have to battle monsters inside the dungeon and even if one is not powerful enough to daringly enter a dungeon people will need some means to defend, in case whatever is inside the dungeons come out."

Kang nodded, he considered the same thing and was already planning to hire extra security. Before he could say anything, Ilsung continued talking.

"As you know, most large military equipment has disappeared, though the military can try making them again, there's no guarantee it won't disappear. It may be the case for guns as well, we may not be able to take weapons inside, and most likely normal firearms would be useless against the monsters if they come out of the dungeon."

"I plan to make weapons that are imbued with mana and will most likely be the first line of defense we could use to defeat or defend from the monsters"

Ilsung opened his sling bag took out 2 sheathed daggers and put them on the table.

"These are daggers I made yesterday, they are extremely tough and durable as they are made with a special manganese boron steel. On top of that, I found a way to push mana into these weapons, so they are way stronger and as they conduct mana, you can use them to cast magic"

Kang was stunned. "Magic? We just know about mana, I didn't hear anything about magic, does magic exist now?"

Ilsung nodded. "Yes. Mana increases the physical abilities of a person, but it is also the fuel to cast magic. I think the government is keeping it a secret for a now. I had a dream previously where I learned magic to enchant a weapon."

"What?....oh my god, this is a bit too much to take in," Kang said as his face contorted more and more. "Are we now living in a fantasy? Or is it a nightmare?" he found a chair and sat down thinking.

Ilsung could understand his father. Who wouldn't be surprised if they heard about mana, magic, monsters, and having to defend against them.

Ilsung picked up the dagger on the table and unsheathed it. Kang was surprised, even at a glance he could tell the dagger was very impressive, but as he continued watching the dagger, he could feel a faint surge of invisible force from the dagger.

"Let's head out to the back dad, I'll show you what it can do."

Behind the warehouse was a big empty patch which he had cleared. Ilsung and Kang walked toward a tree.

"Watch this dad"

Ilsung slashed at the tree with the dagger. The sharp and tough dagger easily cut through the tree, and a deep gash appeared on the trunk of the tree, the trunk above was now only supported by a very small portion of the bottom trunk. Ilsung sheathed his dagger at his waist and put his right leg behind, put his right hand behind his chest, and threw a punch at the tree.

A crisp ringing sound echoed. The upper trunk separated and the tree fell. It nearly fell on Kang before he dodged it. The part of the tree where his fist landed was now pulverized.

"Goddamn.....When the fuck did you become so strong?" Kang was now swearing from surprise.

Ilsung laughed. "As you saw at the test, I have a good talent for mana, I've been slowly absorbing it for some time, so I got stronger. Anyway, that's not the important thing. The best part is still to come"

Ilsung drew the dagger from his waist and activated the magic of the dagger, he raised the dagger above his head and slashed at the remaining tree stump of the fallen tree.

Suddenly, the entire tree stump set on fire, but that wasn't all, a part of the tree was slowly turning to ice, and as the air near it condensed, fog could be seen. Before long the tree stump was completely gone.

Kang's jaw was now on the ground.

"As you can see, it can set the target on fire and Frost at the same time, if the target is resistant to fire, the Frost will do the trick and vice versa. It's quite powerful and would be good for self-defense. I wanted to give this to you and show you how to use it, dad."

"How do you know of such powerful magic?" Kang asked dumbfounded.

"It's all because of the dream," Ilsung said as he laughed inside.

"So you want me to use it, but I don't know how, I can't even perceive this mana or whatever."

"That's ok, I have a solution for that as well," Ilsung said. He projected an inscription on the ground. "Stand in the center of this circle dad."

Kang was now exhausted from the constant surprises, he could only do as he was told while shaking his head.

Ilsung rotated the inscription and activated it, it absorbed mana from him and used it to forcefully start the mana flow in Kang.

Kang could feel a strong sensation passing through his body, as mana was pulled, pushed, and churned constantly. As the inscription absorbed mana from Ilsung to its limit, it now forcefully pushed the mana into Kang.

Kang could feel a strong surge of power seeping into his body, as the invisible force constantly pushed and pulled, he now developed a sense for it and could feel mana being pushed into his body. He now focused on absorbing the mana being pushed into him.

After 15 minutes, the mana in the inscription depleted and it faded. Kang felt lightheaded. He sat on the trunk of the fallen tree. Ilsung offered him a water bottle. Kang drank the entire bottle.

As he recovered from the lightheadedness, he could vaguely sense that mana was all around him, he could feel the mana slowly seeping into him from the surrounding atmosphere. He felt a new sense of vigor and strength. He felt refreshed and energized. He liked this feeling of being full of energy.

"I understand now, so mana energizes you and increases strength and stamina. It's like fuel. But what about magic?"

Ilsung shook his head. "It cannot be passed, and I have no way to teach you, dad. Currently, I think the only way to learn magic is to enter a dungeon, maybe there will be a book from which one can learn, or maybe there's a different way, but I don't think anyone knows at this point."

"Well I think I'm now quite stronger and irrespective of magic, I think I can defend myself or escape at the very least."

"That's where the dagger comes in. There's a magic cast on it, all you have to do is push mana into it and it can cast something known as Frostfire onto the target it slashes. You just saw it in action."

"It also automatically amplifies mana when you wield it, increasing the natural absorption of mana from the environment. You should practice with it now, so you can get the hang of it."

Kang was excited. He put the dagger on his waist and unsheathed it, wielding the dagger, he could see that not only was it exceptionally made, but it also gave him a powerful feeling. He was ready for practice.

~~

Several hours and a dozen fallen trees later, they went back home.

Though he wasn't Ilsung, he felt a little guilty for being a freeloader, and he didn't dislike Son Kang, so he gave him the dagger. He can now be sure that Son Kang won't be killed like an ant if a monster attacks him.

He pondered for a while if he should give one to his stepsister, but he remembered the bullying and abuse faced by the previous owner of his body, he could also sense a vengeful gaze from her today on the ride back home.

*Well, whatever, since she will be at the academy, she will be reasonably safe and will also learn how to fight and defend herself from the monsters. Worse comes to worst, Son Kang will still have a son at least.* Ilsung grinned.

After finishing dinner, he went to speak with Eun.

"How was the dinner master?" Eun asked with a smile.

"It was great as always, I wanted to talk to you, let's go out to the lawn out front."

Ilsung walked to the lawn, filled by Eun.

"You know over the past couple of years, you have been the only respite from the bullying I used to face, I would like to think we are friends, so I wanted to help you."

Hearing what Ilsung said, made Eun happy. She couldn't help but feel pained for the bullying and abuse he had to bear in the past.

"I'm happy for you master, I heard from Sir that you have great talent and enrolled at a university. Congratulations..." "..But I don't know what you mean by help."

"You must have heard about mana and how it increases strength and enhances one's physical body. It will take focused training and proper guidance for one to sense mana and utilize it. I'm going to forcefully induce mana in you."

Before Eun could speak. Ilsung projected an inscription and asked Eun to stand in the middle. As the mana pulsed through her she started to have a faint sense of mana and she began to vaguely perceive it, within a short time, the mana was now being forcefully pushed into her. She could sense the growing pool of force within her, which she realized was mana. Before long, the process was complete. Just like Son Kang, Eun too was light-headed. As she recovered, she could now understand what mana was and began to appreciate it. She felt stronger and more agile, she felt energetic.

"Thank you, master. I understand without you saying, that it's a secret. Rest assured, I won't reveal it to anyone"

Ilsung smiled, and he handed her a dagger.

"This is a specially made dagger that I acquired, it increases mana absorption when you wield it. It's very sharp and durable, it will help you defend yourself if worse comes to worst. It also has magic cast on it, you just push mana into it and then slash at the target."

"Don't try it here though, you will set the house on fire. You can accompany my dad the next time he visits the farm and ask him to teach you. Carry this when you leave the house for any reason."

"I understand, thank you master" Eun was extremely grateful and happy. She now had a sense of security and the fear she had developed in the last few weeks had mostly subsided.

"Ok let's go back, I'm feeling sleepy. I'll be leaving for the academy in two days, make some cookies for me to take." Ilsung liked the food he ate at home, but his favorite were the cookies that Eun baked every evening.

Eun smiled. "Sure master, I'll make a big batch of cookies and pack them for you."

Ilsung returned to his room. The stock market which was suspended was resumed yesterday. He checked the data for each sector and industry, he decided it wasn't a good time to trade. He shut down his laptop and was deep in thought.

*Carrying the daggers as they are dangling on my waist would be annoying. I should also make a few other weapons and carry them with me, maybe they will be useful, and maybe I can sell them at a good price. If I want to use them in battle I should inscribe the items with a Conjuring inscription. Since I'll have to enchant and inscribe items tomorrow, I'll start now by inscribing Conjuring magic on my palm.*

Ilsung projected a complex inscription onto the palm of his right hand, the inscription which was the size of a large pizza, slowly shrank until it fit perfectly in his palm, it absorbed mana like a dry sponge.

After a short while, the inscription glowed a bright magenta before it disappeared into his palm. He had expended a big chunk of mana previously, and now the inscription has sucked dry his leftover mana.

Inscriptions like Enchantment and Conjuring require a large amount of mana, but this was further exacerbated in this case because he cast a very high tier conjure, which can practically conjure things from practically the other side of the earth, another reason for casting such a high tier conjure inscription was because he wanted to be absolutely sure he would be able to Conjure the items inside a dungeon.

Having been drained of mana, he was now extremely tired and drifted to sleep soon after laying on the bed.

~~

END OF CHAPTER 8