You are reading the manga “The Beginning After The End” Chapter 2 online on thebeginningaftertheendmanhwa.online
Review from my POV
As I was reading these chapters myself, I would like to share some of my opinions about the quality and the story going forth from here.
The chapter tells the tale of a previous monarch from Earth who has been reincarnated in a different realm. Previously, he was a strong leader with expertise in sword fighting and energy manipulation, qualities crucial for governance. As a young child known as Arthur Leywin, he delights in his fresh skill of crawling and is acquiring knowledge about his unfamiliar surroundings from his parents’ narratives.
Arthur Leywin, fondly known as Art, ponders his newfound status as a royal tot. He boasts a regal appearance, inherited from his mother’s fiery locks and father’s piercing blue eyes. With a playful grin, Art foresees a future filled with charm and mischief, much to his mother’s delight. He’s already showcasing his adventurous spirit, having recently mastered the art of crawling, which has led his mother to predict a lively and energetic future, much like his father’s.
As Arthur Leywin ponders his reading, he’s struck by the primitive technology of his new surroundings, where horse-drawn carriages and sail-powered boats are the primary means of transportation. In contrast to his native Earth, where weapons are typically reserved for military and law enforcement personnel, he’s taken aback by the open display of arms in public. The crowd’s indifferent response to brutality, such as cheering on a mercenary who assaulted a thief, leaves him stunned. Arthur’s observations highlight the jarring disparities between his past and present realities, particularly the disturbing acceptance of violence as a norm. Although the world’s monarchical system mirrors that of Earth, the key difference lies in its hereditary nature. Furthermore, Arthur’s research yields limited insights into other continents, leading him to suspect that maritime technology is woefully underdeveloped.
Arthur Leywin learns from the book “Beginner’s Guide for the Priv” that the ability to sense mana is a genetic trait, but not all children of Magi possess this trait. Approximately 1 out of every 100 children can sense mana, which usually becomes apparent when their mana core develops, often during adolescence. The book explains that mana can be used in two main ways: augmentation, which strengthens the body and is commonly used by warriors, and conjuring, which enables Mages to cast spells that impact their environment or specific targets.
Augmenters possess impressive physical prowess, but their reach is restricted. Conjurers, on the other hand, can manipulate their surroundings with magic, but they need to draw mana from both their inner core and the air around them. The two types of abilities are evaluated differently: augmenters are measured by the power of their mana channels, while conjurers are assessed by the quality of their mana veins. It’s uncommon for individuals to excel in both areas, as it requires a great deal of skill and knowledge. However, there are some rare exceptions, such as Emitters or healers, who can use mana to heal others. Arthur’s father is a skilled augmenter, and his mother is an exceptional healer, known as an Emitter. Arthur looks up to his mother’s healing abilities.
Empowerment through mana amplification is a technique that elevates physical capabilities by tapping into an individual’s inner energy reserves, rather than relying heavily on ambient mana. This process shares similarities with the concept of ki manipulation on Earth but with the added advantage of being able to harness environmental mana. Mastering empowerment requires a profound understanding of one’s physicality and the ability to efficiently direct mana flow. Unlike elemental manipulation, empowerment does not initially involve distinct elemental affinities but instead enables a variety of combat approaches. However, both empowerment practitioners and elemental manipulators face the risk of ‘Backlash’– a painful consequence resulting from either depleting or overloading their mana core due to inadequate energy management.
Arthur Leywin, having learned extensively about mana and its applications and pondering the parallels between ki and mana, endeavors to meditate and tap into his mana reserves, despite his tender age of seven months. His meditation is comically disrupted by his mother, who misinterprets his concentration as a sign of tummy problems and proceeds to change his diaper, much to Arthur’s dismay. This amusing conclusion highlights the stark difference between his past as a ruler and his present as an infant.