Alan was so absorbed in watching the receding flames licking ineffectually at his Class Armor that he almost failed to realize the grass was on fire. “Shit!“
Canteen in hand, dousing the smouldering earth, the smoke and steam quickly became so thick that Alan hardly even noticed Teyr making a brief appearance. While he trudged through a hazy patch of black mud, stomping on remnant embers, Alan shrugged and called up another coat of flames. Unperturbed by the heat, Teyr greedily devoured nearly five pounds of raw meat, cooed reassuringly at an obviously nervous Su'ong and then flew out to the tower.
With all of the competition either dead or hiding, the Roc now had unrestricted access to prime roosting territory and was eager to use it.
Alan soon discovered that with a growing Realm Seed syphoning off half of his energy stores, three bursts of fire seemed to be his current limit. Unless he discovered a way to speed up his recovery rates, figuring out how to create even the most basic fireball was going to take far longer than expected.
To make matters even more challenging, his Fire Tributaries seemed to have a mind of their own. No matter what he tried, the results of each attempt turned out the same. His body temporarily flared up like a torch.
In the midst of his third failed attempt at gaining control, Alan's efforts were rewarded with both a new Skill, and a new Technique.
Remarkable! Due to your innate connection to the foundational energy source of the Multiverse, you have acquired the *UNIQUE* Skill [Celestial Energy Manipulation].
Synchronicity detected! Your Skill (R)[Elemental Manipulation] has been assimilated into [Celestial Energy Manipulation]. Skill Level maintained at 1.
*UNIQUE*[Celestial Energy Manipulation] Lvl 1- This Passive Skill enhances your control over Celestial Energy, the Genesis energy source from which all others are derived. Allows Celestial Energy to be channeled into Skills and Techniques more efficiently. Provides the ability to interact with external sources of Celestial Energy, simultaneously increasing your insights into the complex connections between different energy types, and assisting in the creation of more powerful Skills and Techniques. (Note: [Celestial Energy Manipulation] is limited to your current Elemental Affinities.)
Moderate increase to all parameters with Skill Level.
Remarkable! Due to your burgeoning development as an Elemental Cultivator, you have acquired the *UNIQUE* Technique {Celestial Embers}.
*UNIQUE*{Celestial Embers} Lvl 1- This Passive Technique enhances your proficiency with harnessing internal energies in the creation of Skills and Techniques. When combined with focused cultivation, allows the Celestial Energy within your Fire Tributaries to be manipulated, providing enhanced control over your personally created flames. Simultaneously, provides the ability to alter the rate at which Celestial Energy is released from your Fire Deltas, modifying the power of your personally created flames. As you become more proficient with this Technique, you may learn to isolate and activate individual Fire Tributaries and Deltas, leading to more precise and controlled usage of your personally created flames, allowing you to target specific areas or enemies with greater accuracy, and to vary the intensity and range of personally created flames as needed. Additionally, instills a deeper understanding of the nature of fire, providing an instinctual understanding of the manipulation and disruption of existing flames.
Moderate increase to all parameters with Technique Level.
“Jackpot!“ Alan cried out, thrilled with both the quality, and effects of his new abilities. [Celestial Energy Manipulation] was basically a vastly improved, Passive version of [Mana Management. It came with all the energy manipulation functions he'd come to expect, with the added bonus of improving the efficiency of his energy consumption.
Even better, the effects of [Elemental Manipulation] had been assimilated into the Skill, freeing up a Skill node, while at the same time making his Skill set more efficient. All of the effects of [Elemental Manipulation] were now Passive as well, removing the Skill activation cost, as well as the need to supply the Skill with a continuous supply of additional energy just to keep it active. Alan hadn't been able to get much use out of that particular Skill, but with the Elements being intrinsic to Cultivation, he knew it was only a matter of time before it became fundamental to his progression.
All in all, it was a Skill that was sure to make his life easier. The simple fact that it was a Passive Skill was a huge boost to its appeal.
Alan's other acquisition, {Celestial Embers}, was equally impressive, if a bit harder to decipher. From what he was able to gather, going forward it was going to make the creation and manipulation of fire a lot less of a hassle. In a way, it almost seemed the System had modified [Celestial Energy Manipulation] to function with his Fire Tributaries and Deltas.
There was no way he could prove that theory, but regardless, there was no question that unlike {Meteoric Rush}, this was not a Technique that he had personally created. Yet neither was it a Technique similar to {Mirage Step} that could be learned by anyone who used the Scroll. If anything, {Celestial Embers} reminded Alan more of [Daemonfire of the Impure Realm] than anything else.
It was a Technique that took advantage of, and, at least in the case of {Celestial Embers}, improved upon what was already there. While [Daemonfire of the Impure Realm] had surely helped to keep him alive, Alan blatantly refused to consider that wretched ability to have been anything other than a parasitic curse.
The abilities were both great in their own respects, but it was the information provided in the first line of [Celestial Energy Manipulation]'s description that provided the real surprise. Since awakening his Cultivation Core, Alan had been trying to uncover what exactly Celestial Energy was. Now finally, he had an answer.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
If he was understanding the context of the word Genesis correctly, then Celestial Energy was the point of origin for everything. He might've been reading too far into things. However, when he considered that every type of energy he had encountered so far was supposedly derived from Celestial Energy, there weren't a lot of other options coming to mind. Whether it was Mana, Stamina, the Elements, or any other type of energy out there, both known and unknown, their roots could all be found in Alan's Unorthodox Energy source.
The only downside Alan could find was that he was still limited to manipulating only the Elements he possessed an Affinity for. With all the energy of creation and oblivion seemingly contained within his Core, it felt like wasted potential.
While disappointing, Alan also understood that the System had likely placed this limitation on him for a reason. It probably wanted to reduce the odds that I'd annihilate myself with something I had no reason to be fucking with… That… was actually a really good idea. Im not much use as the System's personal guinea pig if I'm dead…
For a reason that Alan could only guess at, the System had become personally involved in his Evolution. The only thing he knew for certain; his Cultivation Core had been the deciding factor. The System had already admitted to being addicted to studying unique Evolutionary paths, so it felt safe to assume that his Evolutionary path was tied into it.
Excited to test his new abilities, yet relegated to waiting for his Core to replenish before he could even consider begining another round of experimentation, Alan took a swig from his canteen and peered through the dispersing fog, studying the blurred form of the nesting Roc. Alan tried his best not to feel any resentment when thinking about Teyr. But in the back of his mind, he couldn't help but acknowledge that he was bitter about how things turned out.
Not gonna do me much good worrying about it now… But damn man, I would've gone ahead and tried to use [Rune of Subjugation] on the Golden Almiraj if I knew that Teyr was gonna bond with Su'ong…
With little more than a day remaining in the Safe Zone, Alan knew he was going to have to hurry the fuck up if he wanted to claim a Rune Beast while remaining in relative safety. Yet he was running out of options. The Lakeside Safe Zone was a dud. Pistol Crab's and fish were of no interest, and the Rocs had been decimated.
A large percentage of the Plains Zone remained unexplored. Although from what little he'd seen, aside from a whole lot of grass, and a couple knocked down trees, there wasn't much of interest. There were still Velvet Almiraj survivors skulking around, and whatever other abominations that hid within the underground warren, but Alan was determined to find something special, so he didn't see any use in going back.
According to Reggie, the Barrens Zone was a haven for Scumbags, many of which were of a higher level than the one Alan already fought. 'Fuck no.“ Regardless of how badly he wanted to experiment with [Rune of Subjugation] there was no way in any of the Nine Hells that he was about to waste his only Rune on a Scumbag.
More and more, Alan was considering the potential benefits of using the [Stone of Calling]. The description said he was supposed to kill the summoned beast in return for a Crest, but Alan wondered if he could make this so-called Interdimensional entity into a Rune Beast instead. And if he could, what would happen with the Crest? Would it be altered? Destroyed?
She was now draped in her Shade Silk shawl. Splayed out on their makeshift leaf-bed, hands behind her head, peering up the stars.
Conflicted, Alan was slow to respond. He already knew Su'ong wanted him to use the [Stone of Calling].
Of that, at least, there was no question. Yet the item's suspicious origins left him hesitant to bring it up. However, the simple fact was, of all the places in the Tutorial to use it, the Lakeside Safe Zone was likely the best option Alan was going to come across. What were the odds he would be able to locate another barrier that ensured his health remained above fifty percent?
When Su'ong began to growl menacingly while climbing to her feet, Alan decided he'd better start talking. Just as he assumed, Su'ong was eager to see what the stone would summon. “I thought it would never soak through that thick skull of yours,” she said with a slight shake of the head, “the Safe Zone protections in make this the perfect environment…”
“Besides,” she said, suddenly flopping down on Alan's lap, once more fully geared up in Tortoise Scale armor, “I know that you are worried the [Stone of Calling] will summon something beyond our ability to handle. But think about it. If it turns out we are unable to defeat whatever the stone summons, does it really matter? You said it yourself Alan. With the Lakeside Safe Zone special protections in place, our health will not drop below fifty percent. Should something appear that we lack the ability to handle, what is to stop us from delaying it for a day? Unless I missed something important, the worst that could happen is you have to leave the summoned creature behind when we depart the Safe Zone.”
She looked at Alan quizzically, unable to understand the reason behind his hesitancy. Sure, there were risks involved, but since when was that new? Life was a constant series of risks, and only those willing and able to adapt to, and then overcome the adversities they faced would have a chance to prevail in the end. Su'ong was confident in her adaptability.
“Don't worry,” she purred, kissing Alan lightly on the cheek, “just stay by my side. I'll keep you safe.“
“I… You're gonna… What?“ Alan stammered, rubbing his cheek, feeling the scales grow heated as blood rushed to his face. It was hard not to feel embarrassed, but her closeness, and the comforting sound of her laughter was like a salve for his wounded pride. Despite his roiling emotions, he couldn't keep from grinning.
Amongst all the chaos and pain he'd endured within the Sandstone Palace Dungeon, Alan had found something truly special. A piece of himself that he'd never known was missing had been discovered. He always knew he desired true companionship, but her presence brought about a feeling of inner peace and contentment that refused to take for granted.
No Su'ong. Alan made a silent vow. I'm going to grow strong enough to protect us both.
***
Alan soon stood ankle deep in a wide expanse of springy moss, the [Stone of Calling] gripped so tightly in his hand that he could feel several rows of engravings being imprinted onto his leathery palm. The Portal to the first floor was no longer there, but there was no mistaking that this was where he had first stepped into the Safe Zone. There wasn't much at camp that Alan cared about, but at Su'ong's urging, he had agreed to relocate. There was no telling what manner of creature was going to appear after all.
What was most worrying was that [Daemonfire of the Impure Realm] had made an undesired return. As of yet it was still greyed out and listed as Level 0, but Alan couldn't shake a sneaking suspicion that this stone was another one of Zahlbog's games. No matter how small it might've been, there was a very real chance the [Stone of Calling] was always meant to summon a Daemon, or some other foul entity from the Impure Realm.
This really isn't helping...