Chapter 43: 042 ‘You’re really insidious.
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In his previous life, Shane often read about various settings related to life force, which made him quite concerned about the nature of this power.
Especially since its mechanism could be used to convert into magic power, leading Shane to constantly wonder if those mages who recklessly squandered magic power would one day suddenly drop dead from exhausting their life force.
However, in any storyline, people seemed to use this power as a matter of course and eventually came out unscathed, leaving Shane puzzled.
These plot holes were eventually dismissed as “just novel stuff, taking it seriously is a loss,” so they were no longer pursued.
Now, Shane felt that since he had encountered this issue in reality, he must find an answer.
Otherwise, his obsessive-compulsive tendencies would drive him to madness!
Naturally, Vivian couldn’t possibly know about Shane’s mental activities.
So, in response to Shane’s question, Vivian answered with a smile.
“I think you don’t need to worry too much about this matter,” Vivian said, “because life force is the power that any life form uses to sustain its survival, just as flowers, grass, and trees need to absorb nutrients and water to grow. Perhaps without it, no life form can survive, yet it will still be consumed.”
Hearing this, Shane somewhat understood.
“Simply put, life force is like nutrition. It’s needed to support life activities. Without it, there will be malnutrition and even death, although it can be replenished, right?”
Many people understood life force as something akin to an individual’s lifespan, believing that consuming it would shorten their lifespan or something akin to that.
But in reality, life force was merely the energy needed for life activities.
Life forms certainly couldn’t survive without it, but consuming it wouldn’t cause instant death, just like how a person needs to eat to replenish the nutrients and energy their body requires. Life force could also be restored through rest, sleep, and eating. Meanwhile, it inherently needed to be consumed to sustain life activities, not something that couldn’t afford to be lost.
Of course, if life force was completely lost, life activities couldn’t be carried out, ultimately leading to death.
However, under normal circumstances, this was similar to being hungry. A moment of hunger wouldn’t lead to death, but if hunger persisted, death would occur.
So, life force shouldn’t be lacking for too long. If it’s not replenished and completely drained, the game is over.
As for magic power, although it was converted from life force, and the human body originally needed to consume life force to maintain life activities, just gaining an extra function to convert into magic power means it’s one among many life activities. As long as daily rest, sleep, and eating are well maintained, and as long as life signs remain normal and life force adequately replenished, it wouldn’t run out.
“However, magical power and life force have a direct conversion relationship, and their connection is stronger than ordinary life activities. If magical energy runs out, it similarly affects the body, causing fatigue and lethargy, or even might result in fainting if severe.”
Vivian added these explanations.
“Thanks to this, when a person’s magical powers experience an anomaly, it often directly reflects physically, so it should be appropriately monitored.”
Vivian’s words reminded Shane of one of his skills: [Undying].
This skill could forcibly sustain Shane’s vital signs by consuming magic power, potentially the best evidence of the direct relation between magic power and life force.
“The world, like the human body, consumes life force to sustain various natural activities, but life force is naturally replenished as long as there’s no issue with the world itself.”
Vivian pointed at the pool icon on the map and spoke to Shane.
“And these magic sources, similar to how our life force converts into magic power, are the world’s life force converted into magic power. If a large amount of this magic power gathers in one place over a long period, it will become substantial in the form of springs or even solidify into magic crystals or various magical minerals and metals.”
Due to this, the spring water in the magic sources could be used for various purposes, just like magic crystals, whether in creating magic potions, magic tools, or magic weapons.
Obviously, the larger the magic source, the higher the concentration of magical power contained in its spring water. Some magic sources’ spring waters could directly substitute for the effects of magic crystals, thus making it an extremely precious resource.
“The problem is, not only do we humans want it, but Demons also crave it,” Vivian said seriously, “since Demons can gain power by directly absorbing magic power, these magic sources attract them immensely.”
As such, various Demons naturally gathered around the magic sources, with greater numbers inhabiting larger sources, making them an arduous threat.
“Moreover, the magic power in the magic sources might even influence and interfere with the surrounding environment, giving birth to some special Demons; the previous Golem was born in this manner,” Vivian laughed and said, “It probably had been targeted by other Demons because of its low level, driven away from the magic source, and resorted to attacking people by the roadside, absorbing minerals to strengthen itself, but then it encountered you, unlucky chap.”
What could Shane say to that?
But thanks to Vivian’s thoughtful explanation, Shane finally understood why she formulated such a strategy.
“Since Demons will be attracted to the magic source, we simply need to lie in wait nearby. Sooner or later, our target will appear, right?”
Not just that. If things went as planned and Demons fought amongst themselves for control of the source, Shane and others could remain ambushed on the sidelines, waiting for the right moment to benefit. They could then directly strip the skin of the Fire Lizard slain by Demons to complete their task.
“The Fire Lizard is a Level 30 to Level 40 social Demon. According to the scale of this magic source, it should attract a group of Fire Lizards.”
Vivian summed up in a single sentence, telling Shane that this was precisely her idea.
To this, Shane also had just one comment.
“You are truly cunning.”
This statement left Vivian, Tielle, Lu Muya, and Merica in shock.
Shortly after, Shane shifted his tone, adding another sentence.
After saying this, Shane gave Vivian a thumbs up.
This made Vivian, who had come to realize his point, roll her eyes involuntarily. Even Tielle and Merica seemed unsure of how to react, while only Lu Muya maintained her usual expression.
“Well, let’s set off then.”
Vivian put away the map.
Everyone packed their luggage, tethered the carriage in the adjacent forest, and entered the Mangar Mountain Range.