Chapter 28 Careless
Yuelian
Veins, muscles, tendons, bones.
Every time mana passes through, I feel that part of my body responding, like a flower reacting to the morning sun. Using a basic version of Mali’s Echo, I began to inspect the inside of my body through the mana web, my muscles, tendons, veins, bones, and lastly, heart. No issues were detected. Preparation for rune engraving is complete.
I started by carving protection runes on the bones around my body. Tingling feelings vibrate around my bones. Beautiful, foreign runes slowly appear, connecting and weaving together into long minuscule blue lines along my arm bones, then the rest of my body. I wasn't sure how much time had passed since I started the engraving but I could not afford to stop. The runes needed to be weaved together in one string for the best effects. If I want to carve these runes on every bone on my body, it needs to be done all at once.
A normal human has one set of mana veins that run through their bodies. This procedure will create three additional sets of artificial mana veins. Protection runes connect to regeneration runes that connect back to other protection runes. The bone rune weaves are slowly coming together. Bones connect to muscles, muscles connect to veins, and finally, the entire rune weave connects to my heart.
The heart is the most important component of this process. Mana-enhancing runes connect to acceleration runes and a single-sealing rune in the middle. Profound lines of runes coalesced around my heart. The entire rune weave will act as mana conductor and my heart, the mana engine.
Human electrical engineering techniques combine with dwarven rune magic. This is the type of hybrid technology our city will research going forward.
Time passed
Trait [Mana Circuit] was created
Trait [Rune Skeleton] was created
[Mana Circuit]
Artificial mana veins enhance the host’s mana control and output.
Effects can not be turned off.
(The Mana Circuit passively reserves 50 percent of the user’s mana)
[Rune Skeleton]
Artificial Skeletons that have various functions depending on the runes.
Effects can not be turned off.
(The Rune Skeleton passively reserves 40 percent of the user’s mana)
The new traits passively reserve my mana and it could not be turned off.
Damn.
I was too eager to experiment and did not consider the side effects. My lack of experience with electrical engineering shows itself. An electrical circuit usually has a breaker to control the flow of electricity. My mana circuit is connected directly to my heart and has been turned into a mana engine. I also don't know what would happen if I forcefully turned off the engine since it's my heart.
Fuck!
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Miyong
“Uncle Hei! Did Yue tell you about our task?” I came to see Uncle Hei after Yue locked himself inside. The princess seems to find her uncle interesting, she keeps staring at him.
“Lady Miyong, please come inside” It's still embarrassing to be called a lady, especially someone as rough as myself. He has never called me that in the past, but ever since we came out of the flood, his family has started to call me lady.
Uncle led me to one of the giant trucks. The inside strangely looks like a traditional Eastern house. The princess floats around excitedly, she seems to enjoy the human culture.
“What a beautiful princess.” Uncle stared at the princess flying around. “Dragons are worshiped in our culture. I never thought that such a fantastical creature existed. What a blessing.”
“This must feel surreal for you.” Uncle Hei looked happy. He was always so intense before, perhaps it's because of his regained youth that made him seem more approachable.
“Unlike Western legends, dragons are gods in our culture. They are not monsters to be slain or subjugated. Dragons are said to give blessings and good fortune just by seeing one.” Uncle Hei bows low to the princess. She perked up her neck as he spoke like she was intensely listening.
“Is that why Yue thought to serve the queen instead of running away?” I had always wondered why Yue seemed to take to the queen so easily. That guy doesn't even trust other humans.
“Perhaps, the prince saw something we did not.” Uncle watched as the princess floated around him.
“We can go over the applicants together and after that, you are supposed to introduce me to a martial teacher. Is that person already in the city? Or do we have to send an invitation?”
“The lady is so eager to learn. Let's complete the task that the prince has given before we talk about that.” Uncle Hei pulled out a tablet and we started going through the list of applicants. The princess came over, interested in what we were doing. Her eyes lit up with crimson fire.
The selection process that should have taken all day finished after only three hours. The princess selected fifty applicants out of thousands. Yue had mentioned that dragons could see the truth of things. Perhaps she could see the potential of these people.
“Is it ok to allow the princess to decide everything? She is still very young, even if she is a dragon.” Uncle Hei scrunched his eyebrow. He is still using old-world logic to make decisions in this new world. That is a big mistake.
The princess made angry noises, flew up to his head, and started to smack his forehead with her small tail. It's very cute. Uncle looks at her lovingly but he doesn't realize that she would have killed him if she did not control her power while hitting him.
“Uncle, you need to train your mana sensitivity.” If he could feel her mana, he wouldn't say she was just a baby. “So? Where is my teacher?”
“Let's find an open space so we can start your lesson.” He smiles and walks out the door. The princess chirped happily.
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“Is this the training area? Amazing.” Uncle looked out at the vast training area in front of the queen’s tower. Various orcs and even dwarven warriors can be seen sparring here. We have recently built this training area in front of the queen’s tower, an open area layered with the elf’s protection magic. Since the orcs spend almost every waking moment training, Yue suggested building a training area here as a way to tighten security even further. If anyone wishes to enter the queen’s tower, they would have to pass this training area that is always filled with hundreds of orcs training every moment of every day.
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“Are you going to be ok, uncle? I don't want to be rude, but I am really strong.” I am not looking down on him, but he could die if he doesn't know how to use mana very well yet, not to mention my physique. The princess patted my head a few times, she looked a bit smug.
“If you want to learn martial arts, then don't use your skills or mana. No weapons either for today.” Uncle stood tall without getting in any particular stance. I thought martial arts were supposed to have all these elaborate stances. I felt a bit disappointed.
“....” The Green Knight stares at Uncle Hei like a hawk. All the orcs in the area came over and surrounded us. Even the other orcs' captain came to watch. Somehow, this training has turned into an event. The tension in the air could be cut with a knife. Strangely enough, the source of that tension is between the Green Knight and Uncle Hei. They are not even looking at each other, why does it feel so heavy?
Yue’s family came over to watch as well. Jackie and Jason stood next to our parents like personal guards. Did Yue tell them to do that? My mom laughed happily while playing with the princess. Is this a picnic? She should worry about her only daughter more.
“Why are you guys here, Green?” I tried to break the tension by talking to that scary hulking orc.
“........Don't mind us. Proceed.” He seems more polite than usual.
“Come” Uncle smiles but I can see sweat on his brow. I guess he is also not immune to this tension.
I broke into a sprint, even without mana our bodies have changed into the realm of superhuman. Uncle Hei’s eyes were able to follow my movement which surprised me. A light jab, followed by a leg sweep, a simple test to see his reaction. My assault hit only air. Uncle dodged by slightly leaning away from my fist and then jumping backward slightly from my sweep. I expected as much. Dashing into him again, I bend my body low, grabbing dirt on the ground as I charge. Uncle was surprised that I did not stop my charge and tried to ram into him. He danced around my charge but I threw dirt at his face as I passed him. He turned his face away just for a moment to avoid the dirt from getting into his eyes. That was enough time for me to turn around with a back fist towards his face. Without turning his head, his palm pushed my arm upwards weirdly breaking my posture. I immediately dash backward to recover my broken posture. In front of me, Uncle Hei looked down at his own body like he was impressed.
“.......A youthful body..... It's almost unfair how different old and young bodies are.” He muttered to himself. “Lady Miyong, you have never learned martial arts. That much is apparent. Yet, you have picked up a trace of something. Not quite martial arts, more like brawling.” He looked towards the Green Knight for the first time.
“Hahahah.” The orcs all around us broke out in laughter. The green knight was smiling. At least I think that is a smile.
“You are strong.” The Green Knight walks forward while throwing his various weapons and the giant brick of mana steel on his back to the ground. I have never seen him say that about anyone before.
“I guess we will postpone the sparring lesson for today. Your next lesson is to watch.” Uncle took off his shirt and faced off against the gigantic Orc. Uncle Hei is not a small man, but the Green Knight towers over him. Both of their smiles are creepy. I retreated to the side of the arena. The princess suddenly appeared from somewhere and sat on my head again. She was intensely looking at Uncle Hei.
The orcs swung his fist towards Uncle’s midsection. A hit to the head or face would do more damage but a giant swing to the midsection like that is harder to dodge. Uncle had no choice but to dash back, simply leaning back was not enough against that reach. The orc followed him with a kick push, again aiming for his midsection. Green is using his longer reach and bigger body to his advantage. No matter how skilled a fighter, no one could dodge forever. The next move I couldn't even see, uncle did something weird with his hands as the orc’s feet were near his body, the next moment, Green’s body spun in the air. However, Orcs have an animalistic way of movement, and Green landed on the ground on all four. He smiled before charging at Uncle again.
The two continued to spar for hours, but not one audience member left their spot. The orcs started out cheering and hollering, however that excitement soon turned to awe. The human side simply watched with our jaws open.
“I heard he was a great martial arts master but this is more than I expected.” My mother said as she watched the fight. Yue’s parents simply smiled.
“I also didn't expect him to be able to fight the orc, and definitely, not to win,” Jason said.
“Only because the Green Knight is not using mana, skills, or weapons,” I said a bit indignantly. I had been training with the orcs for a while, these guys are insanely strong.
“Still, in terms of pure physical technique, it seems Uncle is far above him,” Jason said. I sense a hint of pride in his voice.
Uncle seldom goes on the offensive, due to the orc’s relentless assault and the difference in stature. The green knight kept charging, punching, and kicking. When all his attacks did not land, he started to fight like an orc. Dirt, rocks, and nearby trees were used against that evasive old man. However, regardless of what came at him, nothing hit Uncle. From time to time, Uncle would grab the orc’s arms or legs and spin him using his momentum. It was almost like a dance. Finally, the two sat down on the ground, too tired to go on.
“How extremely impressive. If you had used your weapon or mana, I would have been meat paste from the beginning.” Uncle said, laughing. He was untouched by anything this entire evening. Yue said before that he has a grandmaster martial artist in his family. So it was this old man.
“What is that call?” Green lay on the ground, looking up at the sky turning purple. He seemed tired despite not even breathing hard after hours of fighting.
“Martial arts? You don't have that?” Uncle was surprised.
“No. Our bodies are strong enough to crush all in our path, there was no need to learn such elaborate movements to fight.” Listening to Green talking, I guess it makes sense. Orcs are not only super strong physically, but their endurance and regeneration could be considered a skill by itself. Even low-ranking soldier' broken arms heal on their own within a few hours. We have seen other races and even monsters in this new world, but no other race could compare to orcs in raw physique. Dragons might be the only exceptions.
“That's a shame. Strong bodies are the most suitable for learning martial arts.” Uncle said as he stood up.
“I am disappointed. I thought martial arts would be more flashy. You were just dodging and pushing him around.” Maybe I was expecting something like those fancy martial arts moves I saw on TV.
“Real martial arts is not magic. There are no stances or special moves. The essence of martial arts is just the study of how to move and control your body efficiently for fighting. Learn how to use your own body and your opponent’s body. For bigger and stronger opponents, use his weight and power against him. For fast and agile enemies, observe and watch for a chance to strike. That is martial arts.” A grandmaster is different, even their thoughts.
“Teach us.” The green knight said to the sky.
Looks like I will not get a private lesson.
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????
“Are you sure about this?” A young woman looks at the red portal in front of her. The portal had been blue only yesterday, but it had gradually turned orange and then red.
“Do we have another choice? We don't know what will come out and we don't know if they can be baited. But we have to try.” A giant of a man patted her on the head. Germain did not have his usual smug smile on his face. In such a situation, even someone like him was grim.
“We have placed our people near all the portals in the country. They are ready.” The woman slapped her knees to stop the shaking of her legs.
“We go after the military fails to contain the wave.” Lotus did not think for even one second that any government in the world could contain this threat. Their only chance to save even a few cities is by funneling the wave toward Nevani.
“E! Time?” The young woman yells to one of her people, a fit young man with dark skin.
“Around 5 minutes.”