Up early again with more running, I think I’ve run over 200km at this point! And the martial arts training is killing me. Aikoki was hard enough just trying to focus on him but now I gotta practise with Psychokinesis as well mid fight to try and get an advantage. If not for Dr Rath helping to keep my HP up I would have many broken bones at this point.
I did manage to land a solid hit on him once, only to end up getting pummelled. He’s eagerly waiting for me to finish Shadow Clones as he can “go all out”. I’m worried a little to be honest, how does he know how to do all this? He’s supposed to be a farmer for crying out loud.
I’m also not too sure on what a breakthrough point would be but I think it's the mindsets you need during the process of levelling them up. For example using them in unique ways maybe?
Speaking of Clones I’ve been practising over the last 10 days, I’ve managed to create a single bare foot. Yea I don’t seem to be making much progress with it. Almost like I need to create the entirety of the body and the clothes before the Clone takes shape. I’m probably overthinking this.
Where’s Abcier when you need him to explain complex magical powers in a language I can understand? Oh here he is. “Speak of the devil, I was just thinking about you. What brings you here?” “You do my friend, Knowledge sent me.” Abcier is in his normal robes and had walked from just down wind of the beach a bit and up to me.
Ok that's a bit freaky but sure, “Yea, I feel like I’ve made no progress with Shadow Clones, it takes all my concentration to make a foot.”
“You are probably overthinking this” Hold on a second I was just “Thinking that yes, Knowledge is letting me know now.” Silent, I raise an eyebrow “Alright, lay it on me. What am I overthinking?”
“With Psychokinesis, well done by the way, you are not thinking of how the individual pieces of mana are moving but broad strokes. Think in broad strokes with a clear goal and with enough practice, and by that I mean a lot, you will eventually get a completed Power. You have a lot of knowledge of the human body, but none of your current Powered body, and so it is taking you a longer time to create a clone”
“Broad strokes?” “Yes and once the picture is completed, Power will give it a little push, and if it's ready it will become completed. Do you think a single person is focusing on all the narrow, tiny details of a Power and its Mana while being used? Power allows us to guide the Power with little effort once you create or increase its rank.”
“And you're also right, having the name of a god be Power and calling our magics “Powers” does get a little confusing in English.”
“Huh, you're telling me. Thanks Abcier, I probably wouldn’t have thought of that for a while.” “Anytime” he replies, looking back over the sea. “I feel you have many questions for the gods, will you be ready to ask them?” He asks with a slight tilt.
“Soon, once I get the clones sorted and some money I’ll be ready. Does Knowledge think my plan will work?”
“It might, it just might” he replied with a sly grin. The plan I’m talking about is a long term plan, if the clones and money works out I will be able to start it off. And if all goes well with the next Creation Powers I make, we should be golden. But in saying that the next ones are gonna be hard. Which is why I’m focusing on Clones right now, if one of the Abilities is for practice to be retained then I could slightly fast track my progress.
What is the plan? Well I’ll save that for later. For now training!
After some more talking with Abcier about my plan and possible Questions, I head back to my training chair. Where I just sit and stare at the ocean and try to figure out Powers.
If I need to not overthink and think in broad strokes with Clones then I don’t need to think of the exact body details. Just broad strokes, so closing my eyes I try to picture my new-ish body and try to direct the Mana into a specific form, just the outline of the human body.
Then add more features, eyes, ears, face, beard, arms, and more. (Been growing the beard recently, how’s it look?) Slowly, next to my body I can feel the Mana taking the form of a standing body, slowly it's getting there. Like an outline of a character more than anything else.
I suddenly have a thought that I should not do this outside where the cloned body might be naked and the connection to the Mana breaks. The ethereal body phasing out into whisps. Yea tell you what, i'll try this indoors from now on.
Over the next 30 days I continue my training. Shadow Clones is taking a bit but I have managed to create a physical body that looks mostly like me. Just gotta work on clothes and filling out the internals and we are done.
It's taken a lot longer than Psychokinesis but that's probably because it is a more difficult rank. That actually gets me thinking, when unlocking Psychokinesis it had mentioned breakthrough points. Do I get any of that in the pre-creation stage?
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
I take a day to gather my thoughts, doing considerably worse in my training that day with a promise to do better.
That next day I finish the training as soon as possible and sit in my room again, I spend time thinking over all the different Abilities I want the clones to have, how the memories will work, communications, living with them. Everything I can think of is related to the Clones.
And after trying it a few more times I feel it, a slight push in my lower back. A click and a satisfying poof occurs. I open my eyes to look into mine, the clone smiles and says “Ello boss, Scarnon?” (Hello boss, what's going on? - Translated from Bogan Australian English).
“Not bloody much mate, how goes it?” “Eh, can’t complain but fair dinkum this is mad!” the clone exclaims pointing with both arms towards Michael.
“Bloody Strewth” (That's right, this is awesome - Translated from Bogan English).
“Think that's enough bogan for one day, you want to check your messages boss?” the clone asks “Oh yea sure, give me a sec.”
Creation Power: Shadow Clone (Rank C)
Increased control of Mana
Lesser Mana Cost
Integration into other Powers: Required
Shadow Clones, a creation from Earth and replicated in a new world. A power feared and sunned for its danger in the hands of mad men, if used correctly can become one of the most powerful of Powers available to the jealousy, fear, awe and mercy of many.
As you continue to use this Power you will encounter breakthrough points, breaching these points with a clear goal in mind will unlock further abilities.
Current Abilities:
Shadow Clone
(Increases with Mana Expenditure and Rank, set soft limit)
Memory Recollection
Training Recollection
Independent Well and Network System
Independent System Interface
Independent Power usability
(Clones will need to be resummoned to add new abilities for Clones to have access to)
Unconscious activity
(When Original is unconscious Clones will still be active)
Main System Interface upgrade (Rank E ~> D) unlocked
Current Features available:
MP and HP Meter:
MP: 152 points. HP: 263 points
Map mode: Tactical, City, National, Globe, Domain, Star Charts
Voice Chat: Local, City, National, Hemisphere, Global, Domain, Stelar
Party Creation: 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 1000, 10000, 100000+
Auto translation: 1 Language, 2, 5, 10, 50, 50+
Secret Features activated
New Features:
Basic Memory Palace: Five Rooms (able to be increased), House, Mansion, Block, City
Clones have access to System Interface
Oh yea, it's all coming together. The Plan I mentioned with Abcier was twofold, one fold you’ll find out later but the other was this. The Memory Palace, I first came across it watching The Mentalist. A TV show with a pretend psychic with a memory palace, after seeing what he was capable of I tried my hand at creating one to remember dates and stuff. But I did eventually forget about it.
Till I arrived here, that is, I’ve been re-building the Palace from where it started, the front half of my family house. A study, three bedrooms and a bathroom. With the clones' memory retention I can add their memories to the Mind Palace. Though this is a very limited one at that.
I want to have a talk with Knowledge to see if this can be increased outside of training but for now this will do, time to show off me and myself!