CHAPTER 45: BEYOND HUMAN 7

Terrence maintained his composure.

His fingers interlocked tightly, resting on his lap as his eyes bore into Ivan. "Catastrophic... in what way?"

The Russian doctor took a sip, the glass meeting the table with a foreboding clink.

"The mana density is increasing, and once it crosses a critical threshold... everything will change."

"Go on. I want to hear how much you actually knew,"

"Yes," Ivan nodded. He couldn’t quite read Terrence. The man looked young, but something about him felt different—like he carried a lifetime of experience.

Slowly, Ivan pulled a sleek black tablet from his bag.

It wasn’t the usual commercial type. It looked like it was made from alloy.

The operating system wasn’t standard either. It was heavily encrypted, the kind that would take a team of skilled hackers to crack.

A quick fingerprint scan unlocked the device and it was set on the table between them.

The screen lit up, showing intricate graphs, maps, and disturbing energy readings. Mana spikes tracked relentlessly across the globe.

Ivan’s finger traced a line across the screen, illuminating a map marked with hot zones—regions where mana levels surged alarmingly high.

’I can use this.’

Armed with this information, he could storm the site and greedily absorb the mana pulsing there.

But, he forced himself to remain composed, despite the anticipation thrumming through his veins.

"Look here," Ivan pointed to a cluster over South America.

"This is just one example. Actually, there are already signs of mutations in animals—but they’re subtle. Other scientists think it’s just radiation, since this site used to be a bomb testing ground."

Terrence raised his eyebrow. "Mutations? You mean... like physical changes?"

"Higher mana concentrations will alter genetic structures, pushing species beyond their natural limits. We might see apex predators growing larger or more aggressive, insects evolving at an accelerated pace."

He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle between them.

"And what about us?" Terrence asked.

Ivan leaned back slightly, his fingers steepled beneath his chin.

"We’re not immune. Humans will mutate last, primarily because we’ve evolved beyond that primal instinct. It’s a blessing and a curse—our intelligence has dulled the edge of our animal nature."

A moment of silence stretched between them.

Terrence leaned back, pretending to contemplate.

"So what’s your angle here? You’ve got this information, and suddenly you’re sharing it with me."

Ivan’s brow furrowed, and a flicker of something—perhaps regret—crossed his features.

"Believe it or not, I’m hoping you can help us. You’re not just some guy. Your affinity for mana is exceptional. And I’m pretty sure you’ve got superhuman abilities too."

Terrence let out a short chuckle. "You make it sound like I’m some kind of weapon."

"Perhaps you are," Ivan replied earnestly. "But that’s exactly what I needed right now."

"There’s an artifact I needed—something that can manipulate mana fields directly. My team was close to securing it, but it fell into the hands of a ruthless Russian arms dealer named Barrow."

"And you want me to get it for you like some hired gun? Why not send a real mercenary group? Pretty sure you’ve got more than enough money for that."

Ivan shook his head with a solemnity that suggested far deeper implications.

"Barrow isn’t just any arms dealer; his connections run deep. He’s tied to the Russian President, and that means he’s operating on another level."

Terrence frowned. "So what makes you think I’m suited for this? I might be exceptional in terms of mana affinity, but I’m not invincible."

Ivan tapped the table, eyes fixed on the tablet screen for a moment before glancing up.

"You see, Barrow doesn’t simply trade in weapons; he commands an army of Super Soldiers—remnants of the old Soviet experiments, bred for combat and enhanced by drugs. They’re not just men; they’re monsters."

"Monsters?" Terrence repeated.

"Yes! These soldiers have been engineered to push past human limitations. Enhanced strength, accelerated healing, abilities that they can hardly be conceived of as human."

"They are living weapons. Dangerous and relentless. A regular mercenary wouldn’t stand a chance against them."

Terrence scoffed at the notion. "That sounds like an invitation to die."

"Or an opportunity to unlock the secret to mana absorption...That’s why we need to get the Orlov Diamond."

A chill ran through Terrence as the name sank in.

The Orlov Diamond wasn’t just some shiny gem—it was famous among mana users.

In his past life, he only heard whispers about its power. It’s ability to boost the mana output by almost 50%.

Now that he thought about it, that artifact belonged to the Ice Monarch—Vladimir Jr.

’If I can get it... I’ll be even stronger.’ He struggled to hide his grin.

Who would’ve thought one of the so-called legendary items would just show up in front of him?

Letting this chance slip would make him a failure of a returnee.

"I’ll take the mission—but I don’t work for free. First, I want all the information you have. And second, you’re going to invest in my Investment company."

Ivan looked confused and asked, "Why?"

"Stop asking questions. I’ll give you my phone number, and you’ll transfer 100 million dollars into my firm. Simple as that."

Before Ivan could reply, Terrence raised his fingers.

They glowed white. He tapped the table, and his touch pierced through the surface like it was made of butter.

"A hundred million dollars is dirt cheap for the chance to work with me. And don’t worry—the diamond is just the beginning of our partnership."

Ivan’s eyes widened in surprise, his pupils dilating as he quickly calculated the numbers in his head.

"I’ll have that 100 million ready,"

For the Russian doctor, money meant nothing in the era that was coming.

What he needed wasn’t another billionaire fixated on electric cars or missions to Mars.

Neither a software billionaire obsessed with immortality and extending his life.

He needed someone who already mastered what he could only dream about: mana manipulation.

.

.

.

Both men returned to the party. They looked pleased, and Ivan was laughing, speaking to Terrence like he was already part of the family.

Anna watched in amazement. It was the first time she had ever seen her father like someone so much.

Walking over, she felt the warmth in the air as Ivan placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I’m proud of you," he said with a smile. "You’ve got excellent taste in men."

Anna was taken aback, momentarily stunned. Her eyes turned to her father, then back to Terrence.

"Seems like your dad and I have quite a bit in common," he responded lightly, the tension from earlier dissipating like morning mist.

She felt a swell of joy seeing her father so happy with the man she had fallen in love with.

As they made their way back to the main party area, laughter and music enveloped them, creating a cocoon of celebrations that felt almost magical.

The glow of hanging lights bathed everything in a golden hue, and the scent of rich food wafted through the air, blending with the soft cadence of chatter.

Just as they settled at a nearby table, Anna caught a glimpse of Emily storming toward them, eyes ablaze and lips pressed into a thin line.

There was no mistaking the tension radiating from her.

"Terrence!"

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Author’s Note:

Sorry for the long break. I had some personal matters to take care of, but everything’s sorted now.

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