Infinite Mana in the Apocalypse

I was looking at a glistening book on the table, a [Skill Book], albeit a very low ranked one at that. [Fireball], an F ranked spell that only the most unfortunate beginners start with.

But this skill book took a majority of my remaining inheritance, and all of my savings. I was known to be a fairly smart guy before everything went to shit, so I planned ahead before spending most of my money

In the worst-case scenario, I still have enough funds to last me at least a few months.

In the best-case scenario, as planned, I would consume this skill book and hope for a semi-decent talent when I awaken.

Getting this skill book was not easy, but it was the only way to awaken if you did not awaken naturally. The rich had no problem awakening themselves, their children, and their children ’s children

I look at the skill book again before steeling my resolve and picking it up. Bringing it close to my chest, I close my eyes.

A few seconds pass before I see a flash of light, even though my eyes are closed. Opening them, the book in my hands had disappeared, and at the corner of my eyes something else had appeared

[Noah]

[Vitality: 10]

[Focus: – ]

[Strength: 10]

[Skill(s): Fireball]

Shining with blue light, the words brought confusion more than relief to me. Where the hell were the numbers for focus?

From the released knowledge, ever since the apocalyptic event that killed more than a billion people occurred, a new magical world took its place. People that are termed as Awakened appeared and others could also become awakened through learning [Skill book] that can be dropped from killed monsters

Yes, monsters. Magical beings that most commonly reside in dungeons, and occasionally come out whenever a dungeon break occurs.

Since more than a year has passed, it became common knowledge that those who are awakened are able to use skills, whether inherently gained or from skill books, to perform amazing feats and vanquish monsters

These awakened beings can increase their strength by killing more monsters and absorbing the [Life Cores] they drop, which add to the three attributes: [Vitality][Focus] and [Strength]

Sigh. So why the fuck is my [Focus] empty?

I try not to become depressed as I feel my body change somewhat after I awakened. I seem to have become slightly stronger, and can instinctively cast the skill I just learned

The problem is, can I even cast skills if I don ’t have any Focus?

Why the hell is there no number though? My exhilaration of awakening was slowly fading away as I couldn ’t figure out the numbers, or lack of thereof, on the blue screen in front of me

Looking back, nothing like this seems to come to mind from the news and everything I have been paying close attention to.

Sigh, I ’ll have to figure it out as I go, [Vitality] and [Strength] are average, and [Focus], what is required to cast skills and increase the damage you do, is black…

Can I even cast [Fireball] if I don ’t even know how much [Focus] I have? Usually, most average awakanees can cast F tier skills 5 times before they completely deplete the energy in their body. The larger your [Focus], the higher tier the skills you can cast and the more times you can cast them

Since Awakened Mages are extremely powerful, [Focus Cores] are much more in demand than [Vitality Cores] and [Strength Cores]

Awakened Mages can shoot their skills at a long distance and not even give the monsters a chance to retaliate, while Awakened Berserkers and Awakened Knights have to get up close to fight

I was hoping to awaken to become a Mage…

Sigh, without wallowing in melancholic thoughts anymore, I try the last hail mary I can, actual