[87 days left until Alvorna’s Rite of Ascension]
They did their best to hide the damage left behind by this misfortunate escalation. Burying the craters, expelling the pungent smell of lightning, removing damaged trees for something much more unharmed and pretending that nothing of note has occurred in meantime.
But despite all of that, what they did was just cover a destroyed environment with a thin veiled illusion. Because the reason that Karim knew something was wrong when he woke up is how disrupted the ambiance mana flows are which is the telltale sign of a high-class spell unleashed.
But what did he do about it? Nothing… He wasn’t even mad, just disappointed. Like a father toward his unruly child who kept breaking their promise that they made.
As the sun climbed high into the sky, Karim finally stirred from his deep slumber. His body ached from the previous night's vigil, tending to Jihoon's exhausted form. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, he immediately sensed something amiss in the air around him. The ambient mana flows, typically smooth and orderly, now swirled chaotically is a telltale sign of powerful magic recently unleashed.
Rising to his feet, Karim surveyed the campsite. At first glance, everything seemed normal. Jihoon and Alvorna were engaged in what appeared to be a standard training session, their faces a mask of innocence. But Karim's experienced eyes caught the subtle signs of hastily repaired damage – freshly turned earth, branches arranged too neatly, the faint scent of ozone still lingering.
Despite his suspicions, Karim chose not to confront them directly. Instead, he called out with forced cheer.
"Ah, I see you two got an early start! Excellent initiative, Jihoon. Let's get back to our scheduled training, shall we?"
Throughout the day, Karim pushed Jihoon relentlessly to make up for the missing time he lay exhausted, focusing on honing his Light affinity techniques and physical endurance.
He watched closely, noting how Jihoon seemed to have made unexpected progress overnight, his movements more fluid and confident than before. Alvorna, too, appeared unusually subdued, her typically playful demeanor replaced by a quiet intensity.
As dusk fell and they gathered around the campfire, Karim finally broke his silence. "So," he began, his voice calm but tinged with disappointment, "would either of you care to explain what really happened while I was dead asleep?"
Jihoon and Alvorna exchanged guilty glances, the weight of their deception heavy in the air between them. They were both silent, but that very silence is the answer they have given to him.
Karim sighed, "I've been aware of it all day. The disrupted mana flows, the subtle signs of a battle... You can't exactly hide these things from someone who's seen as much as I have." He looked at them both, his eyes filled with concern rather than anger.
He’s not heaven-defying prodigal like his brother was but he’s still someone who were gifted with what they had. A half-hearted deception like this wouldn’t have withheld the truth from him for long.
"I'm not upset that you pushed yourselves or done something outrageously dangerous. I'm disappointed that you felt the need to hide it from me. We're in this together, and secrets will only hinder our progress and put us all at risk."
The campfire crackled in the ensuing silence, casting flickering shadows across their faces as they contemplated the gravity of Karim's words.
Jihoon sighed before deciding to spin his version of the truth. He’s probably sure that the angel with dark wings that exist in the imagery of the Harpies isn’t just a coincidence either thus he likely knew something about this too.
“It’s my fault. I pushed her a bit too far and she retaliated as a result. I know that I should have kept myself low-key and not causing trouble, but it seems that I didn’t know my boundary after all”. Jihoon said as he takes all the non-existent blame on her.
Alvorna looked guilty the same but before she could interject, Karim looked at her as if saying that she had spoken enough already. And besides, Karim glared toward the setting sun, signaling Alvorna to leave this place and return before her curfew or she risked Jihoon with her people again.
With the Harpy leaving the premise as she fly back to the Citadel, the two of them now have their own moment alone to discuss.
“Now… what is it that you want to talk about? I’m pretty sure that it must be important even if Alvorna wanted to hear, it is probably too risky for someone so close to the Matriarch”. Karim said as he could tell the
After hearing Jihoon’s thoughts about ‘the angel with dark wings’. Karim had a contemplative nod of what’s spoken. Apparently, the angel with dark wings is actually something that resurfaces at time in Harpies’ recorded history if his brother’s research has pointed anywhere meaningful. And the figure remains integral toward the Harpies’ culture despite the lack of presence.
But there’s one thing that connected all these individuals who perceived ‘the angel with dark wings’ together. They resonated to any instrument that isn’t the woodwind. This isn’t of any significance to the Harpies, not until the current Matriarch and her daughter.
Surprisingly, even the Matriarch is also unconventional herself with the unprecedented mastery over numerous non-woodwinds with the keyboard instruments being her best. But because of her undeniable authority and talent that she displayed surpass all her peers at the time, no one could say anything about it. All criticism silenced before they could be voiced.
Not many even realize it, thinking it is just simply heaven-granted talent that the best of the Harpies would be given. And it is possible that she too has some connection to this ‘angel with dark wings’ though the exact can’t easily be said.
“So… this affinity for non-woodwind isn’t just a quirk after all?” Jihoon spoke about it in a tone slightly below whisper itself.
“The current Matriarch and Alvorna aren't the first to display this trait, but they're certainly the most prominent examples in recent memory." Karim too lowered his voice, in a paranoic measure of just in case.
"What about the Matriarch's rule? You've mentioned before that she was a benevolent leader." Jihoon leaned his body forward, his curiosity piqued.
Karim nodded slowly, a conflicted look crossing his face. "For years before my brother’s fall, I believed the Matriarch's rule was beyond reproach. Kind, responsible, the envy of other leaders. But now, hearing your experiences of this recent incident… and reflecting on my brother's censured research... I'm beginning to question that narrative further."
"My brother's entire life work, which was dismissed and suppressed by her, doesn't seem so outlandish anymore. There may be depths to the Matriarch's reign and the Harpies as a whole. One that we've barely begun to understand."
Karim looked directly at Jihoon, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and determination. Jihoon simply returned the same gaze of solidarity. They both knew that pursuing this path required careful planning and preparation. And utter perseverance to pursue to the end.
The angel with dark wings still lies center at all of these conspiracies.
[86 days left until Alvorna’s Rite of Ascension]
Today is training as usual, Jihoon performs the set of daily training that Karim provided with the equipment that he conjured and made out of his Intermediate-class Wood Magic. It isn’t much but they all do their designated job. Working all his limbs and his body until his own physique gave out on its own against his will.
Karim’s expertise with plants allows him to concoct medicines that accelerate his natural regeneration. Of course, not as fast as Alvorna’s healing Wind Magic but it is a lot more thorough so that his training won’t ruin his body more than improving it. Something Karim spoke that a lot takes the advanced medical development of Absence incorrectly.
Through numerous sets of training later, Jihoon quickly checked up on his status panel.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Name: Jihoon Hyunwoon
Level: 38
EXP: 322/511
Class: None
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 8.4
-END: 8.3
-AGI: 8.4
-DEX: 8.2
+Non-physical Attributes:
-INT: 10.2
-CHA: 4
-MAG: 30
Attribute Points: 8
+Musical Prowess: Early-Expert
+Active Skill:
-Doppelganger (Expert)
-Mana Attunement (Initiate)
-Light Magic (Innate)
+Passive Skill:
None
+Song Magic:
-Forgotten Melody (Intermediate)
-Glint of Cold Steel (Intermediate)
-Belief (Intermediate)
-Exceed! (Intermediate)
-RiET-949 (Intermediate)
-SPIKA (Intermediate)
-Alvorna (Expert)
-Restia. (Expert)
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
Jihoon noticed that his Physical Attributes have all exceed 8 and that he is probably the equivalent of a strongman in his world. Not yet the peak of unattuned human but very close. Now that he is approaching the limit of 10, Jihoon wonders if there’s any method to surpassing it.
“What? Worrying about limitation of physique? Trust me when you hear that a lot of people worry about that when they developed their strength too late. But since you asked, I also got something for you too”. Karim said as he presents what looks like a vial of dark green liquid inside. Simply titled as ‘Body Restructuring Liquid’ and its origin coming from Atria.
“Heard this thing is rather popular with the combat Yokais in Atria since it allowed them to increase the max limit of their strength and development speed. Works for other races too”. Karim said as he examines the vial.
“Where did you even get something like that?”. Jihoon asked as he thought that Karim’s network of connection seems too vast for something like that.
“Alvorna purchased it for you. Would have cut sizably into our budget otherwise. Better thank her when you get the chance, kiddo”. Karim said with a smirk on his face, seemingly proud of Jihoon’s relationship with her.
He then explained the process of using the Body Restructure Liquid as casually as talking about a simple herbal remedy. Apparently, using it is simple as just pouring into a hot bathtub of water and soaking in it. The body then absorbing its properties and the heat would open the pores, facilitating better absorption.
The Body Restructure Liquid works by breaking down the muscle and bone at cellular level. Quite ingenious of how a blend of alchemical compound and rare herbs synergize with one another to push the body beyond the natural limit.
After thorough preparations, Jihoon stood before the steaming bath, the dark green liquid swirling ominously in the water. He took a deep breath, ready to step in and begin the process of transcending his physical limitations.
It was only then, as Jihoon was about to submerge himself, that Karim offhandedly mentioned outside the bathing area.
"Oh, by the way, I may have forgotten to mention one small detail. The Yokai's unique constitution allows them to endure this process with minimal discomfort or complication. For everyone else... well, let's just say it's a bit more intense."
Before Jihoon could fully process this information or voice any objections, he had already stepped into the bath. Almost immediately, an agonized, guttural scream erupted from the bath area, echoing through their campsite and likely scaring off any nearby wildlife in the vicinity.
Karim, seemingly unfazed by the sounds of extreme distress, casually went about his business, intentionally turning a deaf ear to Jihoon's plight. He hummed to himself, arranging supplies and reviewing notes as if the horrific screams were nothing more than a mild inconvenience.
"No pain, no gain," Karim muttered to himself with a slight smirk, knowing full well the ordeal Jihoon was enduring would ultimately make him stronger. "He'll thank me later... probably."
[85 days left until Alvorna’s Rite of Ascension]
Today, Jihoon has adapted himself well to the training regiment that Karim put him through. The Body Restructure Liquid did wonder for his growth but the agony he underwent was so much that Jihoon screamed like he got put into a femur breaker. Except it isn’t just one of his femurs but his entire body.
It was bad enough that he received a Skill for this ordeal.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Agony Resistance
Classification: Mentality (Passive)
Rank: Novice
Effect:
+20% to END
+Lightly reduce the effect of pain and agony on mental capacity.
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 9.6
-END: 9.4 (+1.8)
-AGI: 9.3
-DEX: 9.4
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
While thinking that today would be no different than usual, Karim himself has come to bring something new to his training. After that incident with the Body Restructure Liquid, Jihoon is skeptical about what kind of new pain that this merchant is about to inflict upon him for the purpose of training.
As Karim approached with a bundle of wooden accessories, Jihoon couldn't help but eye them suspiciously.
"What new instruments of torture have you brought today, oh wise mentor?" he quipped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Perhaps some wooden thumbscrews? Or a lovely rack made of oak?"
Karim merely chuckled at Jihoon's snark, laying out the items for inspection. Upon closer look, Jihoon saw they were indeed accessories - bracers, a circlet, a belt, and ankle bracelets, many minor pieces, all crafted from a rich, warm-toned wood.
Jihoon used his [Observant] on them, again… Don’t make stupid mistakes that he gets away with luck.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Livingwood Training Gear
Classification: Enchanted Accessories
Rarity: Mortal
Effect:
+Adjustable weight and resistance, grow with the trainer
Note: No hidden traps or tortures detected.
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
Relieved but still wary, Jihoon began to don the gear pieces one by one. It was only as he fastened the last ankle bracelet that a realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. Karim's Wood Magic. The "Livingwood" part in the name. He had just willingly put on his own shackles.
"Oh, you crafty old..." Jihoon began, but his words were cut short as he felt the gear suddenly become heavier, pressing down on his limbs and torso.
Karim's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Ah, I see you've figured it out. Yes, these are your new training weights. They'll adjust as you grow stronger, ensuring you're always pushing your limits."
Jihoon groaned, both from the weight and the realization of what his new training regimen would entail. "You know, when I agreed to train with you, I didn't expect to become a walking tree."
Karim laughed heartily. "Just think of it as becoming one with nature. Now, shall we begin today's exercises? I think a nice 10-mile run through the mountain trails should be a good warm-up."
As Jihoon struggled to take his first steps under the new weight, he couldn't help but wonder if he should have read the fine print on this whole training agreement. But deep down, he knew this was necessary for his growth, no matter how much his muscles might protest in the coming days.
[84 days left until Alvorna’s Rite of Ascension]
After a brutal day of training where even the simplest task becomes atrocious to even do with the Livingwood weight. And Karim even has the confidence to suggest that he should keep wearing the said things even through the night to continuously develop his body.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
And with the amount of frustration that he has, Jihoon just can’t fall asleep as his glare pierces through the darkness of the wooden hut they’re in. In the dead of night where his exhaustion should have just taken him to his peaceful rest, he was so spiteful that all the fatigue of the day failed to get it out of his system.
For some bizarre reasons, Jihoon decided that ‘Yes, this is a good time to practice my Light Magic’ and did just that.
With his Light Magic being at Initiate, it couldn’t even be useful at anything with its current state. Alvorna arrived during the day to teach him about the basis of spellcasting and what she found about Light Magic in the Citadel’s archive to teach for him.
The general gist of what determines one’s understanding of their own element is the imagery that they conjured of said thing. Alvorna being a Harpy has such attunement with the wind that her rank of Expert with her Wind Magic is achieved within just her early adulthood.
So… Jihoon wonders what his imagery of Light is. There exist many forms Light taken and distinct. Like the sun hanging above the sky, or sliver of light in the deep darkness.
But by some twisted line of thought, Jihoon’s first idea of Light imagery goes toward the Genesis myth of Christianity. When God first created the universe… When there was absolutely nothing but darkness and untamed chaos.
And the next stupid thing that he did… is to mutter that phrase…
Let there be Light.
In an instant, his Light Magic surged from Innate to Initiate rank, the power of his chosen imagery resonating deeply with the very essence of light itself.
A pinprick of light, no larger than a grain of sand, materialized in the center of the dark hut. For a split second, it hung there, deceptively small and innocent. Then, without warning, it exploded into a blinding flash of pure, white light.
However, this sudden leap in magical prowess came with unforeseen consequences. The tiny mote of light Jihoon had intended to create exploded into a brilliant, blinding flash. The entire interior of the wooden hut was instantly illuminated as if struck by lightning, the intensity rivaling that of a military-grade flashbang.
The peaceful night was shattered by twin cries of shock and pain. Karim, jolted violently from his slumber, tumbled from his cot with a string of colorful curses. Jihoon himself, unprepared for the magnitude of his spell, was momentarily stunned, his vision filled with dancing spots and his ears ringing.
As the initial shock subsided, leaving them both disoriented in the now pitch-black hut, Karim's voice cut through the darkness, a mix of irritation and begrudging admiration.
"By all that's holy, what in blazes was that?" he demanded, fumbling to light a lamp.
Jihoon, being the source of the light, was hit even harder. The sudden brightness seared his retinas, leaving him seeing nothing but white spots dancing across his vision. He yelped in surprise and pain, instinctively trying to shield his eyes far too late.
As the initial flash faded, leaving behind a lingering afterglow, both men sat in stunned silence, blinking furiously as they tried to regain their sight.
"Jihoon," Karim finally managed, his voice a mix of exasperation and begrudging admiration, " Jihoon! If this is your idea of a midnight prank, I swear I'll double your training weights tomorrow! When I said you should practice, I didn't mean in the middle of the night, and certainly not by trying to recreate the birth of the universe!"
Jihoon, still seeing spots, could only offer a sheepish grin in response. "Sorry," he mumbled, "I guess I got a bit carried away with the whole 'Let there be Light' thing."
As their vision slowly returned to normal, Karim shook his head, a wry smile forming on his face.
“Well, I’ll be damned. Ranking up in the middle of night. Something that normally would take weeks or months on end for new practitioners. And you’ve gone up in the middle of night. Impressive feat even if disruptive”.
Jihoon couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and embarrassment. "Sorry about the rude awakening. I guess I underestimated the power of divine creation myths."
Karim waved off the apology. "No harm done, my boy. Though perhaps in the future, we should schedule your magical breakthroughs for more sociable hours, hmm?"
Surprisingly, it gets the spite out of his system very well and soon he falls asleep much more comfortably than before despite the weight.
[82 days left until Alvorna’s Rite of Ascension]
So… about the details of the training regiment that Karim devised. Because of the limitation of resources, he had to be very prudent with it. No high-tech simulation ground or prestigious instructors from all over of Absence. Just pure grit and the nature around them.
This method… is called the ‘Prohibition Shackle’. Where the training involves making the simple training session as agonizingly difficult and brutal as possible to push the limit of the physique upward. Like doing push up not just the one’s own weight but multiple of their own together.
It is brutally effective and deceptively simple. Because each session is bound to push him to the utter limit of his current self every time.
During push-up, a living tree is strapped on his back and for each repetition, the tree would become larger and grow its branches. What starts as a manageable exercise become a different brand of Herculean Labor and at the end of it all, he is practically trying to push up with a grand tree on his back whose entire weight eclipsed him by multiple times.
Running exercises were transformed into grueling obstacle courses. Karim would manipulate the forest itself around the trail, causing roots to spring up from the ground, forming hurdles and tripwires. Trees would bend and sway, their branches becoming swinging obstacles that Jihoon had to dodge or deflect while maintaining his pace.
The further he ran, the more difficult it naturally was along with his Livingwood weight.
Even simple stretches became tests of endurance. Karim would create wooden bonds that gradually tightened around Jihoon's limbs, forcing him to resist the increasing pressure while holding difficult poses. The living wood responded to Jihoon's movements, constantly adjusting to provide maximum resistance.
Perhaps the most challenging amongst them were the balance exercises. Karim would conjure narrow, unstable wooden beams for Jihoon to traverse. As Jihoon struggled to maintain his footing, the beams would shift and warp beneath him, forcing constant readjustment and engagement of stabilizing muscles.
But what made this training regiment particularly relentless was Karim's mastery of herbal medicine which comes naturally with his Wood Magic. Any time that Jihoon collapsed in exhaustion, Karim would apply poultices and tinctures crafted from his Wood Magic. These treatments accelerated Jihoon's natural healing to an astonishing degree. Muscles that should have been sore for days recovered in mere hours and fatigues supposed to accumulate all swept cleanly in one night.
This rapid recovery meant that Jihoon never truly got a "rest day." Each morning, he would wake to find his body refreshed and ready - much to his mixed relief and dread. Karim was always there, a glint in his eye, ready to push Jihoon even further than the day before.
"Your body is adapting," Karim would say with a grin as Jihoon groaned at the sight of new, even more daunting wooden contraptions. "We must keep challenging it if you want to surpass your limits."
Jihoon had mouth but his screams were silent.
[79 days left until Alvorna’ Rite of Ascension]
Wind swept through the hill as he spars with Alvorna again. Thankfully that she is in control of her own self better than the last time. The purpose of the spar is like usual, trying to improve Jihoon’s proficiency of his Light Magic.
In the end, Jihoon never figures out what makes the angel of dark wing arises from Alvorna’s subconsciousness. But she too didn’t stay still or stall her own progress at all.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Daughter of the Matriarch
Name: Alvorna (Absence) Lucifera
Level: 105
Class: Royalty
Job: Overseer
Race: Harpy
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: ??
-END: ??
-AGI: ???
-DEX: ???
+Non-physical Attributes:
-INT: 9
-CHA: 19
-MAG: ???
-Active Skill:
+Wind Magic (Expert)
+Unfettered Flight (Advanced)
+Mana Attunement (Advanced)
+Celestial Connection (Intermediate)
+[??????????????] (Innate Racial Ability)
+Musical Prowess: Early-Expert
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
He remembered that she was just level 91 last time that he saw her or used [Observant] on her. He had no idea how someone like her becoming stronger at all and Jihoon simply knows too little of this world to make any meaningful discussion about it.
Someone who had access to the System grows slower than the normal inhabitants, a kind of twisted joke that played the cruelest on the designated protagonist.
This spar is without weapons, both are just hurling basic Magic spells of their own elements at one another. In Jihoon’s case, it isn’t even capable of harm in the slightest at his Initiate rank. The little particles that exploded into blinding, but harmless flash can’t exactly penetrate into someone’s whose proficiency far exceeds him.
“Jihoon, do you know how Wind Magic can cast lightning?” Alvorna asked question to him, subtly guiding toward him as to how he can proceed.
He knows how basic physics works. Electricity occurs through static friction between air flows. Once static electricity reaches a critical point, it is immediately released and projected through the path of least resistance toward the ground. That’s what his understanding of his world’s physics told him.
But of course, Alvorna didn’t expect any answer from him. She just spoke about that question to make him rethink his approach toward his Light Magic. His chosen imagery is no doubt suitable for his affinity but that alone won’t be enough.
The next approach required would be his application. Maybe creating focused ray or hard light is beyond him but any tiny step forward might be meaningful for him. Something simple but effective.
As he continues to ponder with the received question, his mind raced to question and research on the key physics knowledge that he has. With INT 10, the peak of unattuned human ingenuity. He quickly recalls and synthesizes the information he had in mind much more clearly. Drawing upon the connection between his world’s physics and the magical applications.
Light… at its core is electromagnetic radiation. Just like lightning, it’s also a form of energy that can be manipulated and directed.
"Light isn't just illumination," Jihoon muttered to himself. "It's energy, it's particles, it's waves..."
He thought about the nature of light itself, how it refracts and reflects, how it can be focused and dispersed.
Then, he considered the various phenomena associated with light in nature: rainbows, mirages, auroras, and even the simple act of sunlight warming the earth.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the imagery of creation that had served him well before. But this time, instead of just willing light into existence, he envisioned it as a stream of particles, each carrying energy.
Opening his eyes, Jihoon extended his hand, concentrating on channeling his mana into this new concept of light. A small orb of incandescent light formed in his palm, but unlike before, it didn't simply flash and dissipate. Instead, it pulsed with a steady rhythm like that of a miniature heartbeat.
“Pulse of Light”. Jihoon whispered, giving the name to his newly made technique.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent the orb flying towards a nearby tree. Upon impact, the orb burst into a shower of light particles. While it didn't cause any visible damage, the bark where it hit seemed to shimmer slightly, as if the very molecules had been excited by the energy.
Alvorna's eyes widened in surprise and approval.
"That's it, Jihoon! You're starting to understand. Light isn't just about illumination. It's about energy transfer, about influencing the world around you on a fundamental level."
Seeing his minor progression in action, suddenly, an idea struck him. If wind could generate lightning through friction, perhaps he could use his Light Magic to generate heat. After all, light and heat were closely related in many natural processes.
Jihoon closed his eyes again, concentrating on the imagery of sunlight warming the earth. He imagined the light particles not just illuminating, but transferring energy, creating warmth. As he opened his eyes, he extended his hand, focusing his mana into his palm as unleashed is a small, concentrated beam of light.
To his surprise and delight, he felt a warmth emanating from his palm. It wasn't much, just barely enough to be noticeable but it was a start somehow. The light wasn't just illuminating anymore, it indeed was carrying thermal energy.
Jihoon's mind raced with other possibilities seeing this success of his. He then thought about how light could be refracted through a prism, splitting into a spectrum of colors. Perhaps he could manipulate the wavelengths of his light magic, creating different effects based on the color he chose to emphasize.
He also considered the concept of photosynthesis, the idea of how plants convert light energy into chemical energy. While he couldn't replicate such a complex process right now, it gave him ideas about how his Light Magic might interact with living things, thus its potential for his own version of Healing Magic.
Lastly, he remembered how light could be used for communication. From ancient signal fires to modern fiber optics of his world. This sparked thoughts about using his Light Magic for long-distance signaling or even as a form of non-verbal communication during intense battle.
As these ideas flowed through his mind, Jihoon felt a shift in his understanding of Light Magic. It was no longer just about creating flashes of illumination. He was beginning to see it as a versatile tool with a wide range of potential applications.
"I see you're starting to understand," she said encouragingly. "Light is so much more than just brightness. It's energy, information, and life itself. Keep exploring these concepts, and you'll find your Light Magic growing in ways you never imagined."
Invigorated by this new perspective, Jihoon resumed his sparring with renewed enthusiasm, eager to put his budding ideas into practice and push the boundaries of his Light Magic even further. He hasn’t yet advanced to the next level of proficiency, but he is certain that day isn’t too far away.
[75 days left until Alvorna’s Rite of Ascension]
Today is his treatment time, again. After roughly 2 weeks since the beginning of this training regiment, Jihoon thought that it would only be a continuous cycle of self-torture and treatment until the day they departed for Calphennis for the Odyssey.
But it is different now a bit as Karim brought himself what looks like acupuncture kit with him.
“So, kiddo. Let us try something a bit more different now that your Attunement has become much more fluid and cohesive than before”. Karim said as he opens the small box.
Jihoon eyed the acupuncture kit with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
"Acupuncture? Where did this idea come from all of a sudden?" he asked, his voice tinged with both interest and slight apprehension.
Karim chuckled, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief.
"Ah, this little technique has its roots in Atria," he explained, carefully laying out the needles, some of them made out of what seems like esoteric wood for his manipulation, yet its sharpness is match with the metal needles either way.
"It's quite popular among the Yokai, especially their warriors."
"Atria?" Jihoon's eyebrows raised in surprise. "I thought they were more into... well, whatever it is Yokai are typically into."
"You're not wrong, but Atria is a fascinating melting pot of cultural practices, many of which you said reminded you of various East Asian traditions from your world. The Yokai, true to their name, have a constitution that's naturally more attuned to spirituality and inseparable from their physicality. For them, these acupuncture techniques to open spirit channels in their bodies work like nothing short of a miracle." Karim nodded sagely.
In gaming terms, if everyone else has HP and MP bars, the Yokai merged the two of them together into something called Lifeforce. This enabling them to display greater power at its expense yet at the same time walk the thin edge of life and death where exhaustion of lifeforce instead of Mana is understood to be lethal unlike other races.
"So, you're saying that all those spiritual practices I've heard about them like qi manipulation, meridian theory, and the like they're actually real and work there?" Jihoon considered this for a moment, recalling what little he knew about Atria's diverse cultural landscape that resembles of his world’s East Asia.
"More real than you might imagine," Karim confirmed with a nod. "In Atria, the line between the physical and spiritual is often blurred. What might be considered esoteric or pseudoscience in your realm can have tangible, measurable effects there."
Jihoon's mind raced with the implications. If acupuncture could have such dramatic effects on beings as spiritually attuned as the Yokai, what might it do for him, especially now that his own Attunement had improved?
"And you think this will work on me?" Jihoon asked, a mix of excitement and hesitation in his voice.
Karim grinned. "That's what we're about to find out. Your attunement has improved significantly over these past 2 weeks. I believe you're ready to try more advanced techniques. And besides," he added with a wink, "after everything else you've endured in our training, a few needles should be a walk in the park, right?"
Jihoon couldn't help but laugh at that. "Well, when you put it that way... Alright, let's give it a shot. Just... be gentle with those needles, okay?"
He couldn't help but marvel at the strange journey he was on, learning techniques from cultures that existed only in mythology or fables in his own world. It was yet another reminder of how vast and wondrous Absence truly was, and how much more he had yet to discover.
As Karim began the acupuncture session, Jihoon closed his eyes, focusing on his breath and the subtle sensations in his body.
[71 days left until Alvorna’s Rite of Ascension]
On the last day of the training regiment, Jihoon never thought that he would come toward a day that would miss the stupid Livingwood weights that he has strapped on him for so long that it felt wrong without the pressure placed on him.
The last day of the three weeks where they would set toward Calphennis to the far south of Absence to enter the Odyssey. The coastal sea where the merfolk resides.
After all the brutal training, Jihoon has made farther than what he would have imagined. Honestly, he never thought that becoming a real-life minmaxer but he should have seen that coming from the moment he received the System.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Name: Jihoon Hyunwoon
Level: 44
EXP: 284/592
Class: None
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 13
-END: 14 (+2.8)
-AGI: 14
-DEX: 13
+Non-physical Attributes:
-INT: 10.2
-CHA: 4
-MAG: 30
Attribute Points: 14
+Musical Prowess: Early-Expert
+Active Skill:
-Doppelganger (Expert)
-Mana Attunement (Novice)
-Light Magic (Initiate)
+Passive Skill:
-Agony Resistance (Novice)
+Song Magic:
-Forgotten Melody (Intermediate)
-Glint of Cold Steel (Intermediate)
-Belief (Intermediate)
-Exceed! (Intermediate)
-RiET-949 (Intermediate)
-SPIKA (Intermediate)
-Alvorna (Expert)
-Restia. (Expert)
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
His innate Physical Attributes have broken through the 2-digit limit of unattuned human. From here on out, he is post-mortal. But seeing just how lop-sided the stats of various races of Absence, this is probably still inadequate compared to actual powerhouses of Absence and those that may participate in the Odyssey.
Before their departure from this mountain forest, they both sat down at the campfire for one final discussion about the challenges that lay ahead of them. His expression remains serious as he begins outline the diverse arrays of challenges that Jihoon will face at the Odyssey.
"The Odyssey isn't just a test of strength, Jihoon," Karim explained, his voice grave. "It's a gathering of the most promising individuals from across Absence. Think of it as a grand Olympics of your place, where each race sends their best and brightest."
Jihoon nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. "What kind of races should I expect to encounter?"
"Well, you'll certainly see more Harpies like Alvorna. They excel in aerial combat and wind magic. Then there are the Merfolk of Calphennis itself, masters of water manipulation and underwater combat."
He continued, ticking off races on his fingers. "The Dwarves of the Magni clan will likely send their sturdiest warriors, skilled in earth magic and craftsmanship. The Elves of Alberenth are renowned for their archery and nature magic. And don't underestimate the Beastfolk from Solros with their keen senses and natural instinct".
“Is there more that I should know? Like the Yokais or many more major races?”. Jihoon asked as he leaned in toward the campfire, listening to him attentively.
"There’s also the Yokai from Atria are wildly unpredictable with their abilities can range from shape-shifting to elemental manipulation. And not only with their heightened physical power through unification of spiritual and physical.” Karim further elaborates on the future adversaries that he might face.
"And where do I fit into all this?" Jihoon said as he finds the line-up that he is placing himself… lopsided.
Karim gave him a measured look. "That's the challenge, isn't it? As a human with your unique abilities, you're something of a wildcard. Many will underestimate you, which can be both an advantage and a danger. You'll more likely find yourself in situations where it's you against representatives from multiple races, each with their own strengths that far surpass normal limitations of even their own races."
"So, it's me versus everyone else," Jihoon mused, a hint of worry in his voice.
"In many ways, yes. But remember, your strength lies in your adaptability and your unique Song Magic. While others may have overwhelming physical advantages or innate magical abilities, you have the potential to surprise and overcome through creativity and strategic thinking." Karim nodded, seeing how Jihoon managed to overcome even an Expert-class Magic spell despite the disparity of power.
It isn’t Jihoon that should be afraid of others, it is everyone else that should be wary of him instead.
Karim placed a metaphorical hand on Jihoon's shoulder.
"This Odyssey will test you in ways you can't even imagine. But I believe the trials you've faced and the growth you've achieved have prepared you better than you realize. Trust in your training, in your music, and in yourself."
Jihoon took a deep breath, steeling himself for the challenges ahead. "I understand. It won't be easy, but I'm ready to face whatever the Odyssey throws at me."
Karim smiled, pride evident in his eyes. "That's the spirit. Now, let's get moving. Calphennis awaits, and with it, the true test of everything you've learned."
As they gathered their belongings and prepared to leave the training grounds, Jihoon cast one last look at the place that had pushed him to his limits and beyond. Whatever lay ahead in the Odyssey, he knew he was stepping into it as a changed man, ready to prove himself against the best Absence had to offer.