Chapter 157

Last Minute Realizations

Speed. Form. Grace.

These were the points I held in my mind as I made wall jump after wall jump, obstacle after obstacle. My point was not to go my fastest, but to go where I could hit every spot fluidly and gracefully.

After passing the Lich, I began letting my body and mind flow in one continuous movement. I didn’t even worry about what the other three people, Jhonny, the Knight Captain, and the Lieutenant were doing. Instead, I just focused on me, on hitting my spots, and as making as clean of a run as possible.

My increased 20% strength was amazing, and easily noticed as I was able to make grabs and holds that were always just beyond me earlier. I was able to jump in one leap what used to take me two leaps from adjoining walls to make. With just the tips of my fingers grasping a ledge, I was able to rocket my small frame and body up the wall and propel me onto the next obstacle.

I didn’t even cheat this time by using magic to take off most of my weight, as that was not necessary. The 20% increase in my physical Attributes didn’t result in a 20% increase in weight, meaning I was still the same weight, but 1.2 times stronger than before, and that was not including all the levels I had recently gained.

Wait, the levels?

With that thought, I remembered the fact that I had gained so many levels so quickly that I had not one, but three different class advancements to choose. Given that my primary class of Ethereal Healer was almost at the next threshold, I realized that my choices had to be made quickly.

With this, I felt my body slightly slow down, before I just let my mind shift deeper into the repetitive nature of my morning routine. I made sure to change it up just enough that each muscle group was worked out evenly, then while doing my running portions, I tried to see what options were available for this upgrade, so I could at least see what I was dealing with.

I know that what options were available was based largely on what I had managed to do since my last time. What had I done for my career, what had I done personally, and what I had accomplished for the game world.

Well since the last upgrade at level 200, I have done quite a lot. I had gotten my surgical doctorate; I had found an ancient civilization. I single handedly began the restoration process of reclaiming Blight infected lands. I started a college for magic that is in the process of being accredited. I unlocked my legendary bloodline. I even managed to begin the healing process for the great tree spirit Yggdraspirit. There is also the fact that I managed to create and then condense my Qi core. While my Qi related feats seem like they shouldn’t count towards my accomplishments for my two magical classes, they were still feats that I had accomplished. As such, I was curious about what was available.

When I checked in on my options that were available thanks to all my accomplishments over the last hundred or so levels, I was met with a single system message.

What would you like to do as an Ethereal Healer?

With that, I realized the system too thought my accomplishments were extraordinary for the past one hundred levels. Still, this was quite the challenge, as I wanted to have something that was not only beneficial for myself, but something that my daughter could use to enhance herself once she too reached level 200.

With that in mind, I focused on what I needed most, what would help as a healer, and what I could use as an instructor. This last one was the sticking point, as that is what I largely considered myself for the moment.

While I had managed to come up with little tips and tricks for trying to get students to see the world as I do, I know I don’t always get through to people.

With that I began thinking of a way that I could seemingly force a condition on people, so they could feel Qi, if even for a moment. So, they could feel mana flowing through them as a Water Mage, versus a Lightning Mage. This would help me out teaching Qi, and Magic to my different students. As a healer I could also see this having beneficial effects as we could directly infuse the energy we need directly into a person’s body and let them fully understand the power being channeled into them. So there also had to be a psychic component to the Trait, for that was what this had to be at this point, a Trait.

Realizing all of that, I focused my will and put all of that into as concise of a point as I could.

Class Evolution: Ethereal Healer: Proposed evolution (Trait): Energy Status Resonance (Unique): This unique Trait will allow the caster to impart a desired effect of energy onto a willing target who can then mentally comprehend the exact nature of the energy flowing within them, and how that energy is meant to flow.

That was the first time I had heard of a Unique Trait, which I assumed meant that if I chose that Trait for the Ethereal Healer class, it would never be available to any other class or player again. That alone was interesting enough to make me want to take it. Looking at it, the Trait was almost perfect. Granted it couldn’t be used maliciously, but as a Healer such things should be beyond us. I tried to think about any possible changes and could come up with nothing. It checked off all my boxes, and as I saw it, it was nearly perfect as a teaching aid and help. This could be used to both heal, and show others how you were healing them. It could also be used to show the desired way I want Qi or Mana to flow within a particular student, and it also had the component that the student had to be willing. Meaning that if at any point they wanted to stop, the effects of this Trait would stop as well.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized this was perfect for me, and thus I accepted it.

Chime.

There was no waiting, no preamble, no seven days. Apparently, I had taken so long that the system wanted to force these changes on me almost immediately, which I was grateful for. This also made some sense as I was nearing my level 250 evolution point as well, where even more changes would be forced on me by my class.

With that, I got confirmation of my new Class Trait.

Ethereal Healer Level 200 Class Evolution: (Trait): Energy Status Resonance (Unique): This unique Trait will allow the caster to impart a desired effect of energy onto a willing target who can then mentally comprehend the exact nature of the energy flowing within them, and how that energy is meant to flow.

I felt the flow of newfound energy erupt from me, and for a moment I had that feeling that I somehow stopped running. Mentally I paused for half a second, before checking my surroundings and seeing that most of the boys were slowly but surely climbing over the last wall I had climbed. Realizing they were a good deal away and that I still had over fifteen minutes for this exercise course, I began running a newer and harder route, all while mentally going through my level 200 class evolution for my Ethereal Simulacrums Master class.

This time, I wasn’t given as many options, instead I was as usual presented with the same option I had for my main class, which was a Trait.

As soon as I mentally prepared myself for multi-tasking my class upgrades while working out, I was met with a simple system message.

What would you like to do as an Ethereal Simulacrums Master?

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With that message, I realized one thing. Every night when I mentally synchronize my thoughts with my Simulacrums, I realize that I have been getting jealous of FS, my First Simulacrum. The reason was simple, as she always got to spend time with Zero, who was an exceptional helper. But he also had a lot of down time, as there weren’t always a plethora of people going into the Magic Guild on the second floor of the Arcanarus Tower seeing to be healed. This meant that effectively my familiar was being forced to stay stationary behind a desk and wait for things to happen.

I had tried that life for six months and it nearly broke me, so I could only imagine how my familiar would think about being stuck in one spot for over a year at this point.

Additionally, I realized that I already had a sort of fun Trait already for my Ethereal Simulacrums Master class called Positional Switch.

Positional Switch: You and your Simulacrum have become so intertwined that by just willing it, you can switch geolocational positions with your doppelganger regardless of where you two are in the world in relationship to each other.

That was my level 25 class evolution. This time I wanted to expand on this and make it so I could not only transfer myself but others as well. With that in mind, I made sure I was on a straightaway so I could focus solely on running and keeping this train of thought going, then I made my intention known to the system.

Almost immediately it came back with a proposed answer.

Class Evolution: Ethereal Simulacrums Master: Proposed evolution (Trait): Positional Teleportation (Unique): This unique Trait will allow you to create a one or two-way portal between yourself and one of your doppelgangers where people, resources, and energy can transfer freely, regardless of where you two are in the world in relationship to each other.

I thought about it for a second and realized that there was a lot of versatility with this, far beyond just the transferring of troops and resources, but there were other long term effects that could also be noted. If we as a guild ever wanted to hold a bazaar and sell off some of the rare high-end items and creatures we have found from around here, we could do so easily with this. I would just go out with Mallory and the advanced team, and then create a portal with a Simulacrum.

Of course, that would mean I would need more Simulacrum running wild out here, but that doesn’t seem like so hard of an ask right now. Just get the ability for not one but two more Simulacrum, and I could explore the tower, while two trained people here, and life would be golden.

I know that I am a long way away from that ideal, but that is something worth considering at least. For now I just need to accept this change, which I do as I feel the system once again was more than lenient with this Trait’s abilities.

With that, I once again get an immediate notice and confirmation of my accepted class evolution.

Chime.

Ethereal Simulacrums Master Level 200 Class Evolution: (Trait): Positional Teleportation (Unique): This unique Trait will allow you to create a one or two-way portal between yourself and one of your doppelgangers where people, resources, and energy can transfer freely, regardless of where you two are in the world in relationship to each other.

Almost immediately, I feel a smile form on my face, as I realize that right now I can create a portal between myself and my Simulacrum on the second floor of the Arcanarus Tower.

For a moment I am excited, as I really want to see Zero, especially now that I know people won’t have to die from the fact that my Simulacrums have normal eyesight. And that my First Simulacrum has been wildly dependent on Zero for guidance on the best ways to heal people who were infected with the Blight. At first this was huge, but again, now that the rush is mostly over, the practice of being available to heal people who are infected with the Blight has gone down considerably.

Still, what if he doesn’t want to come? What if he likes my Simulacrum that he has spent every day with more than me?

These are the thoughts that come to me.

I want to create the portal almost instantly, but realize I can’t as I am still moving. I need to make sure I get these yahoos to muscle failure.

Without even checking on them or their progress, I first check my time.

Time remaining: 10:12, 10:11…

Ten minutes left got it.

With that thought, I decided to go full on. I know I have gone a bit easy focusing on things that are not related to this particular quest that I am actively engaged in. While I can make excuses for why that was, that I would have been forced an upgrade by the system and knowing the system they would have likely been stuck on the first category of giving me a Healer related Spell for our level 200 evolution, no I needed to make that choice at least.

Now I had even more motivation to finish, as not only could I possibly reach the level 250 evolution for my primary class, but I could also see Zero.

At the very least I could tell him that I am sorry for basically abandoning him all this time.

With that that, the thought of holding his scaley serpentine form within my arms again, I find my last gear.

Thump, thump, thump.

My feet pound the ground as I charge forward, my feet kicking off from the ground in violent bursts of speed and power.

“Did she just get faster?” The Lieutenant’s voice called out, a note of pain and anguish in his words.

Hearing him, I smile brightly, as I decide to go even faster through obstacle after obstacle. Even if they can do the obstacles, the ones they don’t get to due to being so far behind me by the time the clock stop means they will have to do a set of a hundred burpees each. Meaning, I try to drive home the pain.

Zip, zip, zip.

Only once my arms and legs are tired from constantly kicking off of walls and from climbing over and through various obstacles do I stop and realize that I still need to choose a level 100 class trait for my Akashic Qi Master class, but I still have time for that evolution.

Also, I realize that I will need to choose a particular energy type for my Qi, as I chose different schools of magic for my Magical classes. Since my tertiary class will have to follow the same guidelines as the other classes, I must admit I am kind of glad I have a few levels before I am going to be forced to make a choice for this class.

Then I realized the truly important aspect of this morning, Zero.

I am moving so quickly that I have to constantly turn my Qi through my body, forcing Qi into my aching joints to continue to get more distance with each step I take. I even use Healing magic to slowly alleviate the build up of lactic acid levels, that I try to dissolve while running. Not the easiest thing to do, but so long as the pain is gone, I can easily focus on moving faster.

So that is what I do. I don’t even focus on the others around me, as I am just trying to improve myself. Trying to see what my new body and enhancements are capable of. I want to know what I can do, as such I get lost in a zone of continually pressing myself, continually moving until finally I hear it.

Airhorn.

With that, I check and see that yes, time has in fact expired.

Time Remaining: 0:00.

With that, I immediately began slowly lowering my speed from the full-on sprint I was at to a half speed, and then finally to a quarter, and finally I let my hands drop to my hips as I just walk it out to our starting location.

By now I have tracked all of the others, the Lich was far and away the furthest behind and looked like he was double-dead, or at least seemed to wish he was dead.

Next was the Lieutenant who seemed to be hobbling over.

The two that were the furthest along were Jhonny and the Captain who both seemed to have been neck and neck with each other, though they looked like they were well over a kilometer away from us.

I waited there, feeling better within seconds. Then within a minute I felt my body’s natural Regeneration, and Qi circulation taking place making me feel like I was ready to go yet another round. Unfortunately, I couldn’t as it was almost time to begin my classes.

Gasp.

Wheeze.

Everyone came over huffing and puffing.

Once the Captain was within hearing distance I asked, “so how’d you do?”

Then just like that, the details of the quest came back.

Hidden Quest Updated: New Recruits: You were challenged by the visiting Deolar delegation members to participate in your morning exercise. After 60 minutes, a number of the participants failed to complete all of the obstacles as noted during the original agreement.

Current standing of obstacles cleared:

Knight Captain Glavis De’Arcaneri: (122 / 172)

Lieutenant Foliv De’Travin: (101 / 172)

Arch-Mage Rahul De’Gravitas: (1 / 172)

Honorable Mention: Jhonny (123 / 172)

As per the agreements, to be considered to have completed the training each participant must perform a set of one hundred burpees for each obstacle missed.

Current standing of Burpees remaining:

Knight Captain Glavis De’Arcaneri: (5,000 / 5,000)

Lieutenant Foliv De’Travin: (7,100 / 7,100)

Arch-Mage Rahul De’Gravitas: (17,100 / 17,100)

Bonus Challenge: Rewards will be doubled if you can get Jhonny to finish his burpees before everyone else.

Jhonny (4,900 / 4,900).

Seeing that, I knew the challenge had just started.

“Jhonny, tell me you got that quest.” I say.

With that, I can see a look of fear race across his exhausted face, before he lowers his eyes and answers truthfully.

“I did.” Jhonny.

“Then what are you doing, let’s get to it!” I shout, as I begin dropping and immediately start to do burpees with him.

“What?” Jhonny asks.

“Look, I don’t care about those Deolar recruits having tiny hearts, but I will be darned if my own students don’t have the heart required to finish a morning workout.” I shout from the pushup position.

The Knight Captain was the second to drop, while he had a hundred more burpees to do than Jhonny, he was well on his way to closing that gap with his attitude alone.

“Fine.” Jhonny said, as he dropped with me.

From there, the second stage of our competition was on.

I could already feel the other Qi practitioners gathering around to watch us, but I was determined to motivate Jhonny.

“Come on man, you can do it.” Stevron said, as he too dropped and joined us.

With that, everyone from my morning Qi Manifestation class began stopping what they were doing and all came over dropping and doing burpees with us.

I think they all got the same quest that Jhonny did, but that didn’t matter. For this moment, we were a team unified in one mission, completely embarrassing the Deolar delegates who came and all but said they were too good to workout with us.

Just watching them, it was clear that the Lich and Lieutenant were already at or nearing muscle failure. While the shaking of the Captain’s arms said he wouldn’t last much longer either.

Seeing his strain I shouted.

“Jhonny, you better start cycling that Qi within your body, otherwise this will be a long morning for you.”

And like that, our first intersquad obstacle challenge began in earnest.