Animals are naturally occurring creatures that form an important part of the ecosystems of the world of I Reincarnated as a Goblin.
Although they are considered ordinary animals, most naturally possess small amounts of Mana.
The mere presence of Mana does not make an animal a Mana Beast.
Animals remain distinct from Mana Beasts until their Mana develops enough to produce meaningful supernatural changes.
Overview
Animals exist throughout the different continents and environments of the world.
They occupy ordinary ecological roles as predators, prey, livestock, mounts, and other naturally occurring wildlife.
Their appearance, size, behavior, and physical capabilities can vary considerably between species.
Some species may even possess naturally extraordinary physical characteristics without being classified as supernatural creatures.
Mana in Animals
Most animals naturally contain a very small amount of Mana.
In an ordinary animal, this Mana has not developed sufficiently to produce the supernatural characteristics associated with Mana Beasts.
This creates an important distinction:
Possessing Mana does not automatically make a creature a Mana Beast.
The same principle applies to many living beings throughout the world. Mana may naturally exist within a creature without that creature having developed any meaningful supernatural use of it.
Animals and Mana Beasts
Mana Beasts originate from animals whose Mana has developed far beyond the ordinary condition of their species.
Once that development begins producing meaningful supernatural changes, the creature can be classified as a Mana Beast rather than an ordinary animal.
These changes may affect physical characteristics, elemental properties, or supernatural capabilities depending on the animal and its development.
The transition between an ordinary animal and a Mana Beast therefore depends on supernatural development rather than species name alone.
Natural Physical Characteristics
Animals in this world do not necessarily share the same biological limits as familiar animals from other worlds.
A species may naturally possess exceptional strength, durability, size, or other unusual characteristics.
These characteristics should not automatically be classified as supernatural Abilities.
A naturally enormous animal can still be an ordinary animal.
Size Does Not Determine Classification
One of the most important distinctions between Animals and Mana Beasts is that size alone does not determine classification.
An animal does not become a Mana Beast simply because it grows larger than what would normally be expected from a similar creature.
If extraordinary size is a natural characteristic of its species, the creature may remain an ordinary animal regardless of how impressive that size appears.
This is particularly important when distinguishing natural growth from a supernatural growth Ability.
Green Pigs
Green Pigs are one known animal species and an important example of how natural physical characteristics can differ from supernatural development.
As their name suggests, they possess a distinctive green coloration.
They can also grow considerably larger than ordinary pigs.
A Green Pig may naturally reach approximately the size of a bull or grow even larger while still remaining within the natural potential of its species.
This natural growth is not the same as possessing a supernatural growth Ability.
Natural Growth vs. Extraordinary Growth
Green Pigs possess the potential for a far more extreme form of growth under special conditions.
Certain individuals can awaken an Ability capable of allowing them to reach dimensions vastly beyond the species' normal growth limits.
At its extreme, this development can result in a Green Pig reaching a mountain-like scale.
Such growth is supernatural and should not be confused with the large natural size that ordinary members of the species can already reach.
Other Potential Developments
Green Pigs also possess other hidden developmental possibilities.
Under the correct conditions, it is possible for them to awaken a supernatural capability that allows them to fly.
These extraordinary developments require specialized resources and knowledge and are therefore associated with Beast Cultivation.
The detailed methods involved are covered under Mana Beasts and Beast Cultivation.
Animal Potential
Different animal species possess different supernatural potential.
This means that the same food, plant, Mana-rich resource, or training method will not necessarily produce the same result in every species.
Understanding the natural characteristics and hidden potential of a species is therefore essential when attempting to develop it beyond its ordinary state.
Domestication
Animals can be captured, raised, bred, and domesticated by intelligent races.
Depending on the species, they may serve as livestock, mounts, sources of food and materials, or fulfill other practical roles within settlements.
Domestication by itself does not transform an animal into a Mana Beast.
Selective Breeding
Animals can also be selectively bred to preserve or encourage useful characteristics across generations.
This practice becomes especially important when combined with the more advanced knowledge of Beast Cultivation.
However, ordinary breeding and supernatural development remain distinct concepts.
Known Animals
Green Pig
A green-colored pig species capable of naturally reaching considerable size.
The species possesses additional supernatural potential that can be awakened through specialized Beast Cultivation methods.
Horse
Horses exist as ordinary animals and can be used as mounts.
Like other animals, an ordinary horse may potentially undergo Mana development under the correct conditions.
A horse deliberately raised toward a particular Mana specialization may eventually differ substantially from an ordinary member of its species.
Such developed creatures are covered under the Mana Beast classification.
Exceptional Cases
Not every creature that resembles an ordinary animal follows the normal relationship between animals and Mana.
Certain extraordinary species may possess completely different supernatural characteristics.
The horse-like creatures classified as Mental Beasts, for example, include individuals that possess absolutely no detectable Mana.
They should therefore not be treated as ordinary horses simply because they share a similar physical form.
Animals vs. Mana Beasts
| Characteristic | Animal | Mana Beast |
|---|---|---|
| Mana | Usually very small amounts | Significantly developed |
| Supernatural Development | Normally undeveloped | Present |
| Large Natural Size | Possible | Possible |
| Can Develop into Mana Beast | Potentially | Already classified as one |
Common Misconceptions
“Ordinary animals have no Mana.”
Incorrect.
Most ordinary animals naturally possess a small amount of Mana.
“An animal becomes a Mana Beast as soon as it absorbs Mana.”
Incorrect.
Mana must develop sufficiently to produce meaningful supernatural changes before the creature is considered a Mana Beast.
“A gigantic animal must be a Mana Beast.”
Incorrect.
Some species naturally reach extraordinary sizes.
“Every unusual characteristic is an Ability.”
Incorrect.
A characteristic may simply be part of the natural biology of the species.
“All horses are the same type of creature.”
Incorrect.
Ordinary horses and the unusual horse-like Mental Beasts belong to fundamentally different supernatural classifications.