Lucas stepped back a second time when he felt the familiar energy of the void. 'What exactly is the kid up to?'
He knew Alex had no intention of hurting Zol after going through the trouble. However, he found the way he was behaving weird. 'It's like his mind is someone else.'
Oblivious to Lucas's thoughts, Alex stepped closer to Zol and then focused on his right hand and then brought up his other hand, channelling his void energy.
Mana appeared as a kaleidoscope of colours before his eyes. It was everything and almost overwhelming to his gaze. 'Is this how action at a distance works?'
Alex had always wondered how exactly hunters could conjure their abilities from a distance after reaching a particular stage.
With that line of thought, he channelled his light abilities as he conjured a cube a few inches away from his hands.
He observed as his void energy influenced the sea of mana in front of him as the stream of energy moved to his target destination and conjured his desired shape.
'I see…' Alex smiled. 'The void energy would have to mix with the atmospheric mana and travel through the mana with the same signature. Mana should work the same work.'
In the case of void energy, it could influence all the surrounding mana, directing it however he pleased. However, without the right signature, it couldn't conjure the corresponding ability.
'The fact that I can manipulate mana to such a decree is already impressive.' He then focused on the unique mana Zol used to strengthen himself. He waved his hand above Zol as he gathered the required mana by isolating it from the rest.
With the gathered energy in his open palms, he directed it towards Zol, carefully directing it to his vortexes. However, there was no reaction from Zol's vortexes.
'Was I wrong?' Alex frowned. 'No, that's not it. Every hunter has control over their energy organelles. Without Zol personally taking action, the amount of mana they can above is limited.'
Alex pondered the issue for several seconds, his open palms over Zol. Lucas observed from the side, feeling the sudden spike in mana in the room.
'I can sense the mana alright, but why does it feel bland?' Lucas pondered with narrowed eyes. He could more or less deduce what Alex was trying to do but he didn't really get why.
Alex continued to gather energy as he pondered a solution. 'Of all the energies I see around me, void energy stands at the top with its influence over the others. It's possible if I use the void energy.'
While the idea sounded feasible, Alex was worried about how the void energy could affect Zol.
Void energy was harmful to everyone he knew, but people also had a degree of resistance to it.
'Just a bit should do the trick.' Alex decided and held the mana in his right hand while he used his left hand to direct a sliver of void energy towards Zol's vortexes and attempted to give them the spin they needed.
Alex smiled as his theory worked. The vortexes responded to his void energy as they obeyed the boss on the energy hierarchy.
'Beyond it all, it's all about energy.' Alex mused as he directed the gathered mana towards the vortexes, and like starving animals, they sucked in the energy with vengeance.
But the rate at which they absorbed the energy was far more than Alex gathered. He needed a lot more mana than what he had on hand.
Suddenly, a wave of energy spread out from Alex, instantly covering the planet and beyond. And everyone—animals included felt a chill down their spine for a split second. Even then, it spooked a lot of people.
Before they could even react, a sudden wave of incredibly dense mana rushed past them, all spiralling towards the chamber Alex was in.
If anyone were to observe from high in the sky, they would see a manifestation of a gigantic energy vortex.
The vast amounts of mana Alex isolated and called forth rushed into the room, creating a mini storm inside as Zol's vortexes continued to absorb the mana.
"What's happening?!" Lucas couldn't help but bellow as he felt he couldn't be heard otherwise.
"I'm speeding up his recovery!" Alex replied. "It would take forever otherwise!"
Felicity felt the commotion coming from the room and rushed in, only to be surprised by the storm brewing inside the room.
She was curious as to what was happening and at the same time, afraid to say anything that might disrupt Alex's concentration.
She stood in the back and observed in silence. Obviously, Alex and Lucas sensed her presence but were occupied with their own thoughts and actions.
A few hours passed as the spectators watched in silence. Felicity had to step out a bit to calm the personnel in the facility and inform the planetary defence of what was happening to calm down the masses.
"It's done," Alex stated as the mana storm abruptly died down. He barely broke a sweat—if any from what he did.
The sight shocked Lucas and Felicity to the core. The amount of energy they felt washed over them in those few hours was like nothing they had ever felt.
'So that's the kind of energy Class S hunters wield.' Lucas gulped as he rushed to Zol's side. If he had any thoughts of ever going against a Class S, then he changed his mind.
Felicity focused holographic displays that showed renewed activity expected from S Class hunters. Zol's brainwaves which had been almost flat were now spiking with activity.
However, it appeared to be increasing rapidly, almost as if he was experiencing something that required a hyperactive response.
"Oh no…" Felicity muttered under her breath, but Alex heard it clear as day. That and the rising heartbeat of the doctor told him something was wrong.
He snapped his head towards the doctor and noticed what she was looking at. His gaze shifted to Zol and noticed how his eyes shifted rapidly under his eyelids.
'Shit!'