Chapter 166

Worst Birthday Gift Ever Part 4

“No, stop that, you need to focus your energy inward towards a point. We are going to have to get you to create your core from scratch. This will be taxing.” I said, as my attention span is already starting to wane.

This man, Jackie Khan, is a noted expert, but that expertise came with a cost. Namely he was given everything and never had to actually work for any of the bonuses that he had. Meaning that now, when he was trying to work with the ambient amounts of energy within his body, he was clueless on how to use it, at least relatively so.

Fortunately, I am very patient.

“Come on, you know how this should work. Just open up your channels and direct the energy down those natural paths that are already wired and ready to work in your body. Here, I’ll help.”

Qi-jab.

With Qi infused into my two outstretched fingers, I aim for the spot where his core should be and strike.

“GAHHHH!” Jackie cries out in pain, as he rises up, despite Jhonny doing his best to hold the old man down.

“There, now your Spirit Qi will naturally be drawn to the right area to fix the trauma. As it congregates in that spot, force your control over the Qi to force the Qi into a condensed core that will be forged through your own will and continued pressure and force.” I state.

Again, I am kind of cheating here, as I am also assisting with providing increased pressure on the core, so that something can form from the torrent of Spiritual Qi that is still running rampant in his body.

“You are a sadist.” Master Khan states.

Shaking my head.

“Look, I asked if you wanted help, and you said yes.” I reply.

“You did no such thing.”

Pause.

“Oh, I guess I didn’t. But still, a little gratitude would be nice. I am trying to save your life, well un-life at least.” I reply.

With that, he hesitates for a second, before relaxing once again and dropping to the ground, where we begin tightening and condensing his internal Qi and helping him form a brand-new Qi Core in his body. This time the base will be filled with Spiritual Qi, making sure to add any Qi variations as externally linked sources.

The whole process takes about ten minutes, but feels like forever.

Whoosh!

There is a swell and sudden release of power as he finally condenses his Qi Core to the correct size and pressure rating.

“Ah, hahaha, I did it. I created a new core.” Jackie says through deep breaths of air. It is clear that he is exhausted from the ordeal.

“Yeah, glad you did it, all by yourself.” I state, standing up and finally taking a moment to stretch. This had been a lot, and finally after all that, I feel that the danger has finally passed and I am finally able to relax. That is exactly when I receive the system notification that came along with all this hard work.

Epic Martial Quest Completed: Master of Qi: You have defeated the former martial Qi Master of BiPrism, Jackie Khan in a sparring match by managing to knock out your partner completely with two strikes, and even managed to revive and heal the former Master. Rewards: Experience, Improved Qi Core, Bloodline evolution perks, variable.

Experience Gained: 250,000 / 125,000 / 125,000

Akashic Qi Master has increased to level 150.

Ethereal Simulacrums Master has increased to level 210.

Ethereal Healer has increased to level 262.

That was a total of 21 levels overall and quite the increase. Finally, my Willpower, easily my highest Attribute passed the two-thousand-point threshold, but there was nothing for that accomplishment. Not that I expected to be rewarded for having passed such a huge milestone, but some form of recognition would be nice every once in a while. Alas, this world does not reward you with more strength purely for the fact that you are strong. This world rewards you for your actions and deeds more than anything.

Then I receive notice of the other rewards from this quest.

Improved Qi Core (already applied).

Realizing this, I pause and then bring up the notifications that I minimized earlier, particularly those related to my improved Qi Core.

Perfect Stage III Qi Core: You have managed to create the Perfect Stage III Qi core and have begun your path in the realm of cultivation. Effects: Longevity III, Body Improvement III, Movement III, Qi Core Size III, Qi Circulation III.

Longevity: Your body has begun to slow down the effects of aging. You will now age at a rate of (N times 10%) slower.

Body Improvement: Your Strength, Dexterity, Endurance, Attractiveness, Perception, and Willpower will all be increased at a rate of (N times 10%).

Movement: Your movement speed has been increased by a rate of (N times 10%).

Qi Core Size: The size of your initial Qi core is (N times 10%) larger than standard cultivators will experience.

Qi Circulation: The speed of your Qi Circulation will be (N times 10%) faster.

Note: All ratings are at (N times 10%), where N equals the current stage of your core listed.

Bloodline Evolution Perk marked. Bloodline Evolution Markers Gained: Qi and Spirit Qi markers identified.

That was cool, the first time I had ever seen the exact markers that were added to the bloodline. Maybe this was the system’s way of making sure I had all the components I wanted to be noted as key factors with my next evolution?

I didn’t know, though I assumed getting to the Mythic Bloodline stage was still far away, it felt nice to know that I could include Qi as part of the bonuses that would come in the future.

With the notification given and sudden swell of power from gaining so many levels so quickly, I felt pretty good all things considered. Then turning to Jhonny, I saw that he too likely got at least a portion of the quest completion, as he too looked to have improved drastically in terms of his overall power rating, particularly with regards to his Qi potential.

His Qi that he had accumulated was still the same, but now it seemed that his well to hold Qi had increased.

“That was...” Jhonny began, but then trailed off.

Stolen story; please report.

“You okay?” I ask.

“What? Well, yeah. Well no, I am not just fine. I am better than fine. This was great. Do you always get so much experience from quests?” He asked.

At that I paused, and looked back at what I had gained. Overall, the entire quest was worth half a million experience to me over my three classes. While this was not the highest I had ever received, it was still quite a huge windfall.

“Yeah, roughly.” I replied. I realized that Jhonny likely got some of the splash experience for being with me throughout the entire process. Then I add my own thoughts on the matter, “the experience was likely increased due to everyone constantly testing fate.”

“Oh,” was all Jhonny managed to say, before looking away a bit sheepishly.

Awkward pause.

There was a moment of silence as Jhonny just stared at me for a moment, clearly not knowing how to apologize about testing karma without invoking more immediate karma. As such, I replied.

“You ready to get back to the others?”

Jhonny paused for a moment, then looked down towards Jackie, who was still trying to cultivate and restore the broken Qi Core that had shattered during our duel.

“What about him?” He asked.

I paused then turned my head to face Jackie, who was in a deep meditative pose. The gesture was completely unneeded, but often helped others feel like I was part of their conversations. Then I turned back to Jhonny and spoke.

“Nothing,” then pivoting my head back to Jackie I continued, “you aren’t going to try to seek revenge on us are you?”

“What?” Jackie began, then turned to me and moved from being legs crossed to kneeling in a second, “no master. This one has seen the error of his ways and wishes to learn anew.”

I pause, not quite knowing what this is about. Likely more of a headache that will come back later on.

“Okay.” I answer.

“What would you have me do?”

“Just sit there, and recreate your new core to be able to handle your power accurately.” I answer.

“Yes, master, I will do this and get back to you for more guidance.”

“Yeah, you do that.” I state, then gesture to Jhonny that it is officially our time to leave this place and get back to the real world.

Jhonny fortunately didn’t need to be told twice to leave, as he was by my side in two steps. Then a quick Planar Shift to create a hole for us to walk through, and boom we were back to the real world.

“Brr.” Jhonny said, shivering slightly as he wrapped his hands around his arms to increase his body heat. “I see why people are so afraid of that place.”

Hearing that, I pause, “what?”

“Honestly, it is impressive the way you are able to just shrug off everything in there like it doesn’t matter.” Jhonny says, “I just hope I didn’t slow you down too much while in there. I realize that I did absolutely nothing to help you in there, and I apologize for that.”

“What, no, you were great. You stayed out of the way, then when I needed help with the patient you were there.” I replied.

Scoff.

“That’s just it, I’m your bodyguard. I should be the one protecting you, not getting out of your way so you can do everything on your own.” Jhonny replied.

“Ah.” I said, realizing the problem, but not quite realizing how to solve the problem. This was likely due to a number of reasons, the most glaring being that he likely felt inadequate in the spirit realm, whereas I feel the exact same there as I do here in the mortal realm. If anything, being in the spirit realm is a bit nicer, all things considered.

Unfortunately, I don’t know what to say to him right now. If I did, I likely wouldn't be having similar problems with Zero, my bonded familiar at the moment.

“It’ll be okay. Besides we should probably head up and see what exactly Mallory and the others are doing with Mr. Bones.” I suggest.

“Oh right, there might be another ambush.” Jhonny says, as he then begins running to the correct building.

I of course can now see clearly everything, and Mallory, her bodyguards, the two pilots and yes even Rick are all casually talking. Well Rick is clearly bound on the floor, while everyone is acting relaxed around the room. Even Mr. Bones’s guards are relaxed, which is a good thing.

Seeing that for the moment, everything is okay, I follow behind Jhonny who takes us straight to the exact meeting room.

“Here it is, 302.” Jhonny says, reading the door number and pushing his way in.

Jhonny is first to enter, followed shortly by me.

Hush.

There is that awkward pause that always happens when you enter a party where everyone is talking, and suddenly stop to stare at the newcomers.

“There she is,” Mallory states loud enough for me to hear from across the open ballroom floor.

With that I quickly make my way over to Mallory.

“Your hood?” She hissed.

With that, I realized that my hood was still down from my duel with Jackie.

“Yeah, sorry,” I state, then proceed to put on my hood.

“There is no point in putting that on now that everyone has seen you.” Mallory hissed, but then calmed down. “Well glad you made it. What took you two so long, don’t tell me, were you two, you know?”

Bleh.

“No, I was cleaning up the mess you all created by all but tempting fate.” I replied.

“What?”

“I had to take down a spirit arch-mage, and then Jhonny went and jinxed us again making it so I had to square off against Jackie Khan.” I replied.

“Jackie Khan? Oh, hahaha. You are hilarious. Sure, I will believe this excuse.” Mallory says, then gives me a large wink.

“No, she is being serious. Jackie Khan, the former Qi Master trainer of the world was just there.” Jhonny states, then points out in the direction that we just came from. “He punched her into a wall…”

“He hit you into a wall?” Mallory cried out, then began turning me around to look for any signs of injury.

“Yeah, I’m a healer though, remember?”

Fortunately, that was enough to get her to stop talking, and that is when Jhonny went back into full on narrator mode.

“Then she, I don’t know. She punched out and somehow missed her punches on purpose.” He paused as she let that idea sink in. Then just before everyone could say anything, he continued, “she punched out, and for a second it looked like her fist would connect, but the Master was too quick. He just paused an inch away from her outstretched palm. Little did he know that she didn’t want to connect with him at all. Instead, she caused this wave of Qi to come out and shatter the cores of a Qi Master who was leagues above my own comprehension of power. Yay, hiyaah!”

At the end Jhonny added sound effects, while trying to mimic my supposed palm strikes.

“I did not make any stupid sounds.” I replied.

“Oh that’s true, for all you could hear was the sound, WOOSH, and that was the sound of death moving closer to the former number one Qi Master, ready to call in his final breath.” Jhonny said.

“Then what happened?” Vickard, Mallory’s primary bodyguard, asked.

“Then she jabbed him in the stomach piercing his skin with her two fingers. Then told him to start circulating mana without a core. Gave a live demonstration right there and everything.” Jhonny continued.

“Well, where is he now?” One of the pilots asked.

“She told him to sit there and practice. He all but begged to join her, but she made him sit there until he was done fully cultivating the energy in his body, only then could he leave. It was great to not be at the end of one of her scoldings.”

“Scoldings? I never scold anyone.” I reply a bit defensively.

“Yes, sure thing master, whatever you say.” Jhonny said, and all but played into the obedient student role.

I shook my head at that, as there was no way for me to win this conversation, as such, I switched topics.

“Wasn’t I brought here to inspect an item?” I ask, turning to Mallory.

“You were, but we went ahead and purchased it, regardless of your inspection. Here it is, hope you like it, and happy birthday.” Mallory said, holding out a box that clearly had the shard for the Mirror of the Dead in it, as it all but reeked of spiritual energy.

“Okay, but it isn’t my birthday.” I say, reaching out to grab the box.

“Yeah it is, in the real world, today is the last few minutes of your real world birthday,” she begins, then continues. “Congratulations, you are officially 80 today.”

Party streamers.

With that everyone pulled out noise makers and let out confetti. Even the seller, Mr. Bones had a noise maker that he blew into.

“Thanks everyone, I don’t feel a day over fifteen.” I respond, then taking the box I unwrapped the outer layer showing a very intricately designed box with a number of runes that were clearly meant to ward off the power of the object held inside. With a glance I saw that a few of the more prominent runes were worn away, or destroyed.

“Everything okay?” Mallory asked.

“Yeah, I can just see that the wards were damaged.” I answered.

“Can you fix them?”

“I believe so.” I state and feel that fixing these should not be too much of a problem. Though there is something that is concerning, as there is a lot of energy that feels like it is pouring out of the box.

Then I open the box, well not really open, as I have to turn a few locking gears and releasing runes before the box becomes unsealed and then I can finally see the shard.

Just looking at it, I feel, well I don’t know what I feel.

Power.

That is probably the number one feeling I get when looking at the shard.

“Gah!” Everyone in the room not covered by my Death Shroud, immediately drops to the ground.

Seeing them all drop, I try to close the lid, but find that the wear and tear on the box is too much, that the box is now actively being melted away by the residual radiation of energy.

“Shoot.” I say, though that was not the word I used.

Then realizing I need to get away quickly, I Teleport, only to find that I am bound by the walls of this room.

While I am trying to escape, the walls of this room are too much for my Teleportation to actually break through.

With a start, I realize it is the runes on the box, one of them, or maybe a few of them that are still active are actively preventing me from leaving the room with Teleportation. Likely a safety measure that was invented to prevent thieves like me from absconding with the treasure.

That said, I need to get away from here, so that everyone can at least begin to heal and recover, for even Mallory is now dropping down to the ground.

Realizing I need to remove the item from the box, I do that, and instantly regret the decision.

Burning Tingle.

Sizzle.

The stone instantly begins burning its way into my hand, as I can feel parts of it melting and pouring their way into my blood stream.

At that exact moment, I get a quest notification that I never expected.

Mythic Bloodline Quest Activated: The Mythical Bloodline Catalyst: You have found a catalyst capable of awakening deeper components of your bloodline that will allow you to begin to take steps towards the Mythic rating. You must fully integrate the fragment from the Mirror of the Dead into your system in order to begin the awakening process. Percentage (0 / 100). Rewards: Experience, Mythic Bloodline Awakening, Title, Badge, Skills, variable.

Then just like that I realized two things.

First, I was pretty sure my friends were trying to kill me with this. And second, with the fragment already melting in my hand like a giant chocolate bar, I realized that there was no way for me to use this to contact my parents.

Searing hot pain.

Yes, I had planned to steal the fragment at one point to figure out how to use it, but to have it and immediately lose it like this, it was almost too much.

Poof.

With the shard out of the box, glass half full, I was now able to at least use Teleport to get out of the room.

Now all I needed to do was find a safe place far away from people, while I tried to figure out what the heck to do with this shard that was clearly trying to kill me.

Poof.

Poof.

“I have to say, I think this is the first gift I’ve ever been given that has literally tried to kill me.” I say, finding a safe spot out in the middle of the desert.

Once I was far enough away from everyone, I paused my constant movements, and sat down in a meditative pose, trying to catch and absorb as many melting drops from the shard as possible.

Drip, sizzle.

Fortunately, with me now sitting down, my body can still catch and potentially absorb all the droplets that continue to fall from the slowly melting shard. The only problem, is that even the drops burn.

Worst part, while holding the shard and can hear voices of the dead talking to me. But I need to focus through them, so that I can try to gain as many of these drops as possible.

Yes, one drop does apparently equate to a one percent completion rate for this quest. Probably the worst quest ever.

Now all I need to do is to focus, and oh shoot, what is that.

Glitch.

As I focus on trying to interact with the shard, I feel a momentary flicker, then it is gone. Seeing flicker of my entire consciousness, I realize that this moment here is life or death. That one stray thought, one misplaced energy line will result in my deletion, or worse my inability to remain as a permanent fixture in this world.

With that, I let out a breath, calm my mind and focus.

GLITCH.

Yeah, this might be bad.