What is magic? What is mana?
How can humans control it with just their mind?
Is it just energy?
Or is it something else entirely?
What are the limits?
-------------------
John was far from average person on Earth. Good grades at school, good university, great job that he loves.
And for some reason an unreasonable obsession with magic -- a force that, by all scientific understanding, didn't even exist. Truly peculiar.
Like a true programmer, John would return home from his job and starts working even more, on his personal project.
"WHY THE FUCK DOES THAT WORK???" He said calmly.
And indeed, his program was working just fine, even though it shouldn't.
"Haaah, I need a break"
He got up from his, littered with empty energy drink cans, table. Eyes bloodshot, veins on the neck. Yes, he was a bit frustrated.
'A gym. Hope that fucker isn't there'
John grabbed only the essentials: his phone and water, before leaving.
-------------------
The gym was unremarkable, but it had all you need for a good workout.
Except today there was a queue.
'Sigh. Of course he is here... He will drag me in that ring again, won't he?'
He put his hand on the back of his neck and the crack was heard.
'I sit in one place too much'
It was 19:00, he usually goes at that time because it was less busy.
Skipping the queue and ignoring all curses and threats, John approached the reception desk, only for that annoying voice to immediately cut through all the noise.
"Yo, John! Finally you are here! Come to the ring faster, I will definitely win this time!"
'No you won't,' John thought looking at the buffed man in the ring, and at the knocked out person beside him.
The queue was precisely because of him. Apparently, he is a 'renowned martial artist'.
They had a rivalry, although one-sided. And currently the score is... 68:0...
That was the core reason of John's annoyance.
The buffed man never gives up, he just continues to challenge him a few times per week.
'Well, at least I can go here for free'
The buffed man was also the owner of the gym.
-------------------
John and man, whose name is not important to the story, stood at the opposite sides of the ring, staring at each other.
One was hyped up, while the other... Well, didn't really want to be there.
His only positive thought was about a perfect score after the win.
"Hahahaha, I trained a lot for this rematch. Don't think it will be easy this time!"
After short warm-up, John just showed a 'come here' sign with his hand.
They were wearing gloves, to soften the punches.
The buffed man rushed from his place like a bull. Scary sight considering his 2 meters, 140 kg stature.
Still, John stood calmly with a natural, almost casual pose, one foot slightly to the back.
His arms were relaxed, but ready to strike. His hands were slightly bent.
Gaze calm, like the surface of a still lake, yet keenly assessing his surroundings.
The distance between them shortened in an instant.
Buffed man's right hand flew like a bullet, utilizing his body weight and reach to its fullest.
John just turned his head and body sideways, fully avoiding an impact.
Using his hand, he pulled the bull to the side, leveraging the man's own momentum into rotational movement, and then deftly swept his foot, tripping him.
The man, unable to stop or even comprehend what just happened, fell to the floor face down, and after turning around, met with John's fist a few centimeters away.
"That's 69:0, huh? And that was your fastest loss yet."
"Huh. WHAT WAS THAT?! Brother, did you become even better? Damn monster..."
"Yeah, yeah. Now, if you don't mind, I want to train"
"W-wait, wait. Teach me!"
"No"
Immediate answer, as if he was expecting this.
"Pleeeease?"
"No"
-------------------
John was walking home after training.
The lights gently illuminate the street.
He was reading a novel, just another one out of thousands.
But there were 2 things that interested him in that story, one of them is harem and the other...
Suddenly he heard a honk, a very loud one, as if it was right near him.
'Oh for fuck sa-'
And only darkness...