How to become a Demon Lord: The Former Hero's Journey as a Demon Lord!

Chapter 12: The Mana Core

Floid let out a low groan.

"What the hell, Alucard. I just woke up,"

"I believe moving rigorously after a night of fun will be the best way to improve your stamina as a demon lord. And I can tell that last night was quite intense so training today will be especially beneficial!"

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Rosavellt released a low hum from her place on Floid's chest as she snuggled deeper into him. Floid clicked his tongue and then chuckled at his vampire butler. He enjoyed the dry humor that this bastard uses sometimes. When Floid extracted himself from Rosavellt, he walked naked towards the bath. Alucard followed behind him and then waited at the door as Floid finished bathing. Once Floid came out, Alucard draped a robe over Floids shoulder. This was the morning routine that Floid got used to over the last few days.

Alucard would not leave his side. Ever. The butler was probably one of the most tenacious people that Floid has ever met in his life. Even when Floid was walking alone with Rosavellt yesterday, Floid could easily see Alucard moving with them by hiding in the shadow! I don't know if he thought he was actually hiding or if he wanted me to see him. Because standing behind a curtain is not a good way to hide! I could even see your feet!

But that resolve made Floid finally accept the vampire's desire to always be there. Floid just didn't bother to question it and he accepted it.

"Lord Dragonnel has requested privacy during your training so I shall be at the door. I hope your blade cut into him and makes him bleed a thousand times over,"

Floid rolled his eyes at Alucard. Isn't that a little intense!? Floid knew that Alucard did not like Dragonnel. Floid did not know if Alucard thought that Dragonnel was a threat to his position. Dragonnel was just like a butler for Floid as well and Alucard just didn't like it! Although, Floid was sure that there is a lot more behind the story that he didn't know about. But Dragonnel didn't always follow Floid around so that was one thing Floid was thankful for.

If Dragonnel tried to start following Floid around, Floid didn't know how Alucard would even react. He might actually try to kill him. Although, who would win between the two of them was a mystery.

Floid pat Alucard on the shoulder before entering the room. Dragonnel was already standing in the middle of the spacious room and waiting for Floid. Once he saw Floid, Dragonnel bowed. Even now, Floid is still not used to the respect they were all giving him. Anybody would find it hard to go from a loner to a king in just a few days! It was like they suddenly threw him into a position of royalty when he was not even a commoner before!

Dragonnel eyed Floid as the boy walked up to him and watched how Floid walked. There was confidence in his steps, but not enough confidence for him to be considered a fighter. Dragonnel immediately knew that Floid has never fought a serious battle a day in his life. Floid had a good foundation but he hasn't built on it yet. I suppose it's my job to build it then! At least the foundation is good enough for us to work on.

"Master. Before we start, I think I should at least find out how far you are in the theory and practical aspects of magic. As a demon lord, you are obligated to be an expert in all forms of swordplay as well as magic casting. But first, what do you know about Mana?"

Floid knew almost everything about Mana. Especially from what he learned online before coming to this world. He started to explain what Mana was to Dragonnel and Dragonnel was shocked by how much he knew.

Mana in this world was the driving force of all things. From the strongest beings to the tiniest animal, everybody had Mana! If you want to put all the important things in this world on a scale, then Mana would be at the very top! Even above oxygen! After all, not everybody breathes oxygen in this world! But everybody uses Mana!

Mana is used by humans in magic casting as well as the production of artifacts. The kind of mana used in magic casting and artifact production comes from inside the body. This Mana is the one that your core has absorbed over a long period of time and then you use the mana to produce spells or power artifacts

The only creatures that are able to directly use the mana in the atmosphere instead of only their own mana are dragons. A dragon has a Mana core inside of them that constantly absorbs Mana from the atmosphere, but that mana core also acts like a gateway that allows mana to pass through it freely. Dragonnel pointed to Floid's chest with a smirk.

"That Mana core that I had is currently inside you. You have a power that allows you to absorb mana from the atmosphere, don't you? This is only possible because the demon lord that defeated me took it away and sealed it into himself. That is one of the reasons why I'm currently absorbing Mana from you instead of the surrounding. It's because I don't have any Mana core left. When the demon lord died, the mana core transferred into the body of his successor."

Floid was shocked by how much Dragonnel knew about the powers that the system gave him. But why wasn't Dragonnel angry at all about the fact that Floid has his core. Was it also something concerning the contract that Dragonnel signed with the former demon lord?

Floid decided that he would ask Dragonnel later. So that EX ability he got was actually a dragon core? [He who is loved by Mana] allowed Floid to absorb as much Mana from the atmosphere as he wants, but Floid never thought that it was anything more than a simple skill. But what about the other ability? [Duplicate] allowed him to copy any spell used in front of him. Did the previous demon king have that ability as well?

Floid asked Dragonnel this question and the dragon nodded. The powers that Floid got were something passed down from one demon lord to the next. Every demon lord after Floid will also have that ability. But Dragonnel didn't know much about the second ability [Duplicate]. What he knows about it was also what Floid knows. That it can copy any skill used against Floid. Dragonnel told Floid that he could only teach Floid how to use [He who is loved by Mana] properly. Floid will have to find out how to use [Duplicate] on his own.

Floid accepted that he will have to find out how best to use Duplicate on his own. The two of them finally got down to work.

"So I'm assuming that you've been using that core to power up your spells whenever you want to cast them. Haven't you?"

Floid nodded. Isn't that what the main purpose of the core was? Dragonnel shook his head. Well, he shouldn't be too disappointed. Floid just got the core so it would be even more strange if he already knew how to use it. You see, the mana core is more than just a battery that you use to charge up a spell before throwing it out. The mana core is a part of your body. Like your leg or your arm.

"When dragons get their new core after being born, they don't just use it whenever they want to power up their fire. We use the mana core all the time. Every second of every day. We use it while sleeping and even while breathing. The mana core is like a living breathing balloon. It can grow and expand according to how much Mana you put into it. But just like a balloon, it will burst if you put too much Mana into it before it becomes strong enough to contain the mana. That is why we use it all the time to make sure that it can grow and become strong enough to contain even more mana,"

Oh. Now Floid understood. So that was why he was getting even more MP whenever he used a spell. He wasn't just getting Mana, he was increasing the capacity of his Mana core.