I woke to the cold embrace of the training spot. The Dae Iron had borne several aches into my sides where I lay unconscious. Groaning and moaning I rose for the second time that day feeling like I had been wrecked by a train. It was ironic how I knew what it felt like even if it was a split second or minute of awareness.
'Now I'm the only person that can ever use that phrase correctly'. I scoffed.
I looked at the position of the video hologram to realize that Adam had long stopped it. The floor was damp with my sweat and my new camo was soaked through.
"Hey Adam, am I gonna go through this for each of the remaining classes?"
[I assessed a total of one or more rounds of pain. Unit advices Medes to brace and bear as the benefits are immense].
I sighed then picked myself off the floor. Walking back to my room like a kicked pup I brought up the blinking notification to the side of my vision.
[Daily Quest]
[Your A.I. Adam has instilled the blessings of training and practice. Follow it's advice or ignore]
[Spend 1 hour Using Energy - Conpleted]
[Rewards - 50Exp]
[Spend 1 hour using Psychae]
[Spend 1 hour in a simulated spar]
[Follow up quest]
[Nexal Pathways I - Completed]
[Forge your Nexal pathways. Create a route easily accessed by your source]
[Rewards - 500Exp, Skill Proficiency]
A glance at my status had me laughing with mirth, the villainous laughter that escaped me making me laugh even harder. I was so close to a true level up and yet my attributes were so high that it didn't matter. Whatever low leveled creature the moon had I would just be one-shotting them.
'Unless I meet astral beasts' I shivered at the prospect. It was something I could see the system doing. The thought ruined my mood as I cleaned myself up before returning. I had Adam reactivate the tutorial video.
"Ah. This stage fills me with joy" The voice of the female had me forgetting my annoyance and focusing on learning.
"Welcome my young Ergos to the true world of Energinesis. For most of you who have come on this part, you have received the skill. Use it well. Skills are formed by applying your source to your activities. When done well enough and with enough repetition that it is recognized by the system it gets added to the repertoire of Energy skills that we the Ergos can use. Please feel free to send your skills to the Wider Net for all to partake. Now to the next, we have Basic Energy Manipulation". She cupped her hand and then tightened it into fists before punching the ground.
"You wonder how I did that and what it has to do with manipulation". With a nod like she actually knew it was something we were asking she continued.
"Manipulation unlike control is the finesse over your source. Most sources possess these four basic parts of source use. Sensing with Breathing, Control, Manipulation. and Manifestation. While manipulation gives you more range in the effects and uses of your source all control does is keep you dominant over the source in use. Both work in tandem to ensure a better Ergo user".
I nodded as I remembered myself pulling on my source. It felt more like keeping an energetic and troublesome child in check than actually manipulating it.
"Now it begs the question of how do we manipulate?". The recording seem to move back bringing the girl to full view as she rose to her feet. Dropping into a stance she faced to her right and then threw two punches. Then another punch with her left fist. Jumped and with her landing slapped the floor.
"Interesting right?" in all her movements I was able to pick up on the waves of energy she sent out through her fists and her legs.
"Manipulation is simple. Like the mana wielders tell mana what shape to take. Like they bend their elements to do as they will so too do we. The only difference is we have to do it within the parameter of the Source rules". She jumped once more and this time she came down with a blast of fire that smoldered the ground.
"Because we lack doesn't make us less magically inclined. It isn't our strong point but we are not weak in it".
'Go straight to how we manipulate woman. I fidgeted.
"Energy is converted from one form to the other. From heat to cold and back to heat. From fire to light and plasma and back to fire. Everything has its result". She clapped her palm creating a vortex of fire that billowed to the recording. In a blink, she was in between the recorder and the flame but tilted aside so the viewer could see what she did to the flame.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
I watched her palm catch the fire and in lightning-fast accuracy I watched it melt into her palms. Then with a whip, she spun and flung her fingers to the right. I heard the crackle and the sharp flash of lightning escaping the tips of her fingers.
'She just threw lightning!'
"I just threw lightning indeed". A grin so vast it made her cheeks look endless stretched on her face.
"And you can too. Manipulation leads to manifestation yet none are the same. Find the flow of energy in and out of you, aid and will it along. Imbibe your will and desires, especially imagination into the energy and as long as it remains within the rules of the source..." she raised a palm to her face palm faced upwards. Lightning danced across her fingertips before escaping and disappearing upwards. "...then you can do anything".
My eyes left the recording as the video froze courtesy of Adam. He seemed to have locked unto the moments to switch off or pause the video for me to enter the practical application.
My eyes locked on my palms as the elf's last words played in my mind.
"I can do anything".
[Medes is showing crazed status. This Unit advises calm exploration of power and focus on maintaining a steady improvement]
I shook my head and nodded.
"Yes. Yes. I'm just so excited. Didn't you see that. She threw lightning from her fingers. This is like a dream come true for me".
[With great opportunities come many with rivaling power and intent. The presence of great strength is not a triviality Medes. It is responsibility or injustice. Which will you be?]
"Okay. You went a bit heavy there on the Sensei thing". I exhaled and rose from my position. I checked myself over mentally while ignoring Adam's silent waiting.
No way was an A.I getting me to choose between playing hero or Villain. Not happening. I didn't get this body to enter near-death situations. Quite the opposite. I figured if I can't fight then run. Something a false sense of ego in some people would totally blind them to.
"I believe a test of the capabilities of Energy in manipulation and manifestation are imperative before I begin training my psyche".
[This Unit finds this thought positive. Knowing your limitations and capabilities aids in all-time for effective training and growth in each affinity]
"Not my exact thought. But works the same I guess".
I attempted entering my Nexus only to remember that the elf had not done so. Hopefully, it wasn't a high leveled or tiered skill. With an inhale I perceived the energy in the air. I tasted and felt it. Warmth, from the ground a bit of heat. I drew on it urging it into me. I realized this was something doable since I had expended quite a lot forging my Nexal pathways.
The heat crept up my foot and into my calves as I watched them, the red tendrils that represented heat following the paths I had laid out. The ground slowly took on a blue sheen and as I took more and more j realized the ground was freezing. The heat still remained in my calves as I halted them from going any further up. I could feel their warmth, warmth not burning heat. More like a slight temperature increase to tell me that it was there. Fire energy in my body.
'Will it'.
'Most importantly, imagination'.
I raised my right foot almost like I was attempting to strike an invincible opponent with my knee. Then with a stomp I brought heel, and energy to bear. The fire energy already rushing down to the soles of my feet erupted out of my heel the moment it smashed into the Dae Iron leaving a wave of fire at a 180° angle ahead of me.
Panicking I quickly breathed in sharply and drew on the energy outside. The half ring of spreading fire turned like a rising wall of water and retracted back to me. The flames dispersed into red flecks that vanished as they melted into my skin.
I felt the rush of warmth within me as the energy flooded into my body.
'The energy in the air empowered the flames'. I was sure because the amount I had absorbed was more than that discharged. It wasn't a numerical increase the system informed me of but more of a sense in my body.
I pushed off my left foot and pivoted on the right I had stomped on putting my back to the front. With a sharp kick all the while pushing the fire energy to my soles I released an increased blast of flames.
"Adam, can I make notes with you?"
[This Unit already keeps notes of all Medes affairs]
"Good. Record and add this. Calculate and simulate any new styles and effective modes I can use to incorporate this into my battle styles. Oh and please do create a formal battle style for me which I can learn ".
[Would you like this battle style incorporated into the simulation training?]
"If possible, please. Now let's move on to Psychae. I do have two more daily quests to complete*.
[Affirmative. Beginning tutorial video]
¶¶¶¶¶¶
[Status].
[HP - 150/150]
[Source - 300/300(1304.96/1304.96)]
[State - Healthy]
[Sun Heart - 122.84150]
[Name - Medes Luminare]
[Race - Erizian]
[Age - Body - 0, Soul - 21]
[Level - 0] - [Exp - 980/1000]
[Affinities - Haendro, Aestro, Sol, Psychae]
[Class - Unlock Level 10]
[Vitality - 15] - [65.248] - Health, Skin Durability, Regeneration and Healing rate. Strength against poisons and status effects.
[Might - 15] - [65.248] - Bone strength, Muscle mass, force exertion, and velocity application.
[Agility - 15] - [65.248] - Speed, Dexterity, Flexibility and Acceleration. Strength against Status Effects.
[Mind - 15] - [65.248] - Mental acuity, concentration, speed of thought, will, and imagination]
[Source Energy - 30] - [130.496] - [Your source holds weight due to the amount you are capable of harnessing and storing within your body]
[Nexus - The Metaphysical sector within your soul housing the core of your Source and other affinities.
Cores - Energy, Unfound, Unfound, Unfound.
Nexal pathways - Energy]
[Skills
- Basic Energy Sensing I, Focus, Basic Energy Control, Basic Energy Manipulation, Basic Energy Manifestation, Pain Resistance I.
- Aestro - Null.
- Haendro - Null.
- Sol - Energinesis.
- Psychae - Mental Touch.]