Chapter Sixty One, The Plan for Unity.
...
----------------------------------------
...
"To unite your entire people under one banner? Hundreds upon thousands, millions even... That's quite ambitious." An ape spoke, the campfire lighting up his face, and the cave they resided within.
"It's ambitious, but it is necessary. A race of people, divided and separated into countless smaller communities? Think of the possibilities if we were all together, using our countless communities to fight for one cause..." A human woman responded, her face now unhooded.
"But how is it even feasible? How can you, a measly, weak, hairless woman, unite millions of those under one ideal?" Wu questioned, tilting his head.
He reached into the fire, pulling out a piece of cooked meat.
The flesh of Sacred ones were his favorite.
"I have a plan for that one..." Vera smiled, grabbing a piece for herself. "I will use religion as a stepping stone!" She exclaimed happily.
"I will portray myself as follower of some sort of god... Some sort of mystical and all powerful entity. I will use my sorcery and magics to convince people of this. And, as I progress, my sorcery will grow stronger, I'll show off my physical prowess as well! I may not be very magnificent compared to the beastkin, but I am very well versed in martial arts and the way of weapons." She explained, Wu nodding rather slowly.
"That sounds... Annoying." He chuckled.
"Why not just cultivate. If you grow physically or even magically stronger than all of your people, then they will not be able to disobey you." He said, chomping down on a piece of meat.
"You've mentioned cultivating, what is that? Do you just mean tempering your sorceries?" Vera asked, throwing a chunk into her mouth.
Wu twisted his head, looking strangely at Vera.
"I do not know what exactly you mean by sorceries either..." He stated. "But, cultivating is rather simple. Using breathing techniques to absorb the ambient world energy. The Sacred Ones call it kreus, the energy of life and existence." He started.
"Cultivation brings forth heightened physical prowess, mental capacities, and even lengthened life span. There are many benefits." He lifted a hand.
Slowly, a milky energy left his palm, flowing around his hand.
"Once you reach a certain level of control... You begin to be able to manipulate the world around. Though it is rather hard, your control can easily be tempered as long as you train." The energy travelled up to his arm.
"The Sacred Beasts speak of there being seven levels of power." The energy travelled behind his neck.
"I myself am in the second." A smile appeared on his face.
He snapped his fingers, and Vera could hear a mumble beneath his breath.
A familiar feeling overtook her, her entire body freezing, not being able to move in any way.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
"By combining your kreus with your willpower, you get incantations. Spells that have unique effects on reality." The ape smiled, snapping his finger once more.
Instantly, Vera regained all control, her brows having furrowed.
"Your incantations sound like spells... Sorcery... Human sorcery is a lost art where you convert your mental energy into something tangible that can effect the world." She said. "But... I have never heard of cultivation, or... kreus." She tapped her foot.
"You are far more tolerable than most beasts... I wouldn't mind teaching you my ways of cultivation." Wu smiled, putting down his stick.
"We can trade... Perhaps I can teach you sorceries... And maybe... You can help me get strong enough to unite my people." Vera smiled cheekily, the ape across from her scoffing.
"That can be arranged..."
...
----------------------------------------
...
"Umph!"
"Harder. Faster."
"Umph!"
"Faster. Tighten your core. Twist your body."
"Umph!"
Wu sat atop a branch, the sunlight shining down on the two of them.
Vera was sparring with a tree, sweat dripping down her face.
She wore significantly less than what she had on nights before. She wore a chest covering, and a skirt of sorts, her belt of gadgets still equipped.
She paused, wiping the sweat off of her forehead.
"Cultivation is not just about breathing a certain way. Indeed breathing techniques are a way to get passively stronger, but exercise—mental and physical—are the greatest method." Wu explained.
"You may not feel it at first, but that is normal. The key to physical cultivation is to go beyond your physical limits, and let your breathing techniques carry you farther." He said, watching as Vera reluctantly resumed her tree beatdown.
"Remember! The farther into exhaustion you reach, the more you will grow after you have rested." He lifted a finger.
"Rest is key!"
...
----------------------------------------
...
"The key is to fill your mind." Vera explained.
"The easiest way is to formulate your own spells." She gazed down at Wu.
The ape was sat cross legged, his eyes open as he stared out over a cliff.
The sun was rising, and quite frankly, it was beaming in his face.
"The more complex your thoughts are, the more energy you are producing." She spoke. "Think, just continue to think. Create something complex in your mind. With great detail. An image, a concept, a false person even." She smiled.
"When you reach a certain point, you will feel it. An ache in your mind... Harness that pain and turn it into energy. Move it to your hand. Take that pain and try to turn it into something magical... Make your pain reality, but make your reality whatever it is that you wish!" She exclaimed.
Wu brightened, energy seeping out of every crevice in his body.
Slowly, the ape before her turned to stone.
His skin hardened, and in response she moved around.
She came to the front of the beast man, looking at his face.
She admired the carefree, fulfilled expression on his face.
He looked... calm.
...
----------------------------------------
...
"Ngh!" Vera was launched into a wall, sliding downwards.
Quickly, she got to her feet, moving on all fours for just a split second.
She dashed around, at a speed far faster than the average human.
"Immo-!" She tried to exclaim, but rather unfortunately she was cut off.
Wu appeared before her, his leg being thrown at her jaw before she could cast her incantation.
She faltered, but wasn't launched like before.
With a strong base, she turned her upper body, lifting her fist upwards.
Boom!
Her fist struck Wu's jaw, her body rattling.
Sadly, Wu had quick thinking.
His body turned stone, tanking the brunt of Vera's attack.
He stood motionless, unable to move, but fully perceiving everything around him.
Vera stepped backwards, bringing her hands above her, clasped together.
With her hands against one another, as if she was praying, she quickly brought them down, whispering a word.
"Cut." A spell escaped as she focused her energy on reversing Wu's stone skin on a small scale.
At a straight diagonal angle in which she had nullified Wu's defense, a line of blood started to emerge.
Wu's skin broke off, the stone layer crumbling to the ground as the ape bounced backwards.
"You're still within the first level but you're so skilled." Wu smiled.
Slowly, the red cut started to close, his blood returning to his body.
"But my control is still far greater than yours." He smiled brightly.
The two dashed forward, almost leaving an after image.
Boom!
They clashed, their hands meeting, vying for control.
"I'm just one step closer to being the human king! Maybe you can unite your people? That wouldn't hurt whatsoever..." Vera smiled, Wu chuckling.
Surprisingly, the two had become great friends...
...
----------------------------------------