Chapter 154: True mana (1)

"Any ideas on what it is?" Blake asked the system as they looked at 9 magically reinforced tubes twice the size of those in the previous room.

Coming from the top of 8 tubes connected to the ceiling where the different elements apart from the space element and at the center of the room was the 9th tube which had only pure mana being pumped into it.

At the center of each tube was a mass of black gas that kept on devouring whatever element that was pumped at it, but the purpose was what the system was trying to figure out.

[The more I see the projects of this unknown researcher, the more I really want to know more about him.] The system was awed by the works of Zultra.

So far, the level of research of forbidden magic in Infinite realm was stagnant and that was because the unstable and chaotic nature of forbidden arrays had taken the lives of almost everyone that had tried to study it.

In the space of a day, the system had seen forbidden magic used in 2 different ways, and with information of other energy research fields mentioned in the journal, coupled with the fact that they hadn't completely explored the area they were bound to be other research on forbidden magic.

[The black gas seems to be converting everything it comes in contact with to… nothing.] The system said in a confused tone.

"I don't get, do you mean the black gas devours the flames just like the black crystals?" Blake was even more confused.

[No… No, it actually converts it to something, but I am not sure what exactly it is.] The system was trying to figure out what was going on in the tubes, but his words further confused Blake.

[I can't see anything with my mana vision, but I can feel there is a form of energy being released at the bottom of the tube. It isn't mana but it's more thrice as potent as mana] The system was puzzled and at the same time excited by the discovery.

It began checking the other tubes, right from the fire tube to the darkness tube, they all produced the same amount of the unknown energy, but when the system took a look at the lower half of the 9th tube at the center of the room it was shocked to the core.

[My God!] The system was speechless when it saw that the 9th tube had more than 8 times the amount of the unknown energy when compared to the others.

[That… The tube pumping mana seems to be converting the quantity of the unknown energy to 9 times the original amount! I think I am getting a clue of what's going on here.] The system sounded like a mad scientist that just got an epiphany on a problem that has been troubling him.

"What?!" Blake was stunned by the news and had to make sure his ears weren't deceiving him.

Not only could the black gas convert the elements to a form of energy three times as potent as mana, but it produced more than 8 times the quantity pumped in.

It meant whatever or whoever the black gas powers would be able to cast city-leveling spells continuously without running out of mana.

[You heard me right…] The system's confirmation left Blake star-struck causing Castiel and Brian to wonder what was going on.

After recovery from his shock and explaining them, Blake asked the question that was on their mind. "How is that even possible?"

[I am not too sure, but from what I can see and know, it seems like the black mass of gas is breaking down the mana to its basic components before converting it.] The system explained, but it left Castiel and Brian confused forcing Blake to explain.

"Nature's energy (mana) is formed when the 9 elements combine and remain in a balanced state." Blake said. "When you want to cast a fireball, you absorb nature's energy, but as it passes through your stars the 8 elements that aren't fire gets filtered out, then you use your will to shape it as it pleases."

"In this case, the black mass of gas is acting as an artificial star, but a more effective star that makes use of energy of all the elements." Blake explained.

"My question is, isn't there meant to be something like a law of conservation of mass?" Brian asked

(AN: For those who don't know. Law of conservation of mass states that, matter can neither be created nor destroyed, but can only be changed from one form to another.)

[There actually is for the conversion of mana to the various elements, but I do have a feeling that this is still within the law of mana and It might be that we don't have a clue of this form of energy to make the calculation.] The system said.

After close to an hour of observation and pondering, the system came with a theory and shared it with them.

[What if the black fog isn't breaking down than mana before converting it, but breaking down the elements into the lowest and the purest form of energy?]

"That makes a lot of sense because it would have been really scary if the researcher could perfectly control something that can break down mana to the finest detail, but what can be purer than mana?" Castiel asked, but even the system had no answer for that.

"What do you think will happen if that thing was released from the containment tube?" Blake asked as he blankly stared at the black fog.

[It will act as a black hole and devour everything it comes in contact with. It will begin with the earth and since it is made of mana, it will it through that spot until it gets to the core of the planet and does the same.] The system explained.

'No wonder forbidden magic is punishable by death, it could end the life of the planet if care isn't taken.' Blake shivered when he thought of it.