It was the anthropomorphic horse man that was giving the most detailed account of the group that had driven them from their homes. The most shocking thing was that many of them seemed to have a regeneration ability on par with Maik's own.

"We would make a clean hit on them. Bullet right in the chest and then... Just a couple minutes later their back up and spitting the fucking thing out with a smile. They know no fear and just threw themselves at us without regard for life or limb. It was fucking crazy man Like fighting modders in Report for Duty."

The guy was clearly shaken by the experience and Maik couldn't blame him. He had been one of the worst wounded when they arrived. In fact he probably wouldn't have made if they had arrived just one day later and he had the scars to show for it.

David took the reins of the meeting to inject some hope after such a despairing report. "We have already run into a similar situation with the Neon Lights. The answer, oddly enough, is overkill. In fact..." His eyes pointedly looked at Maik, directing the assembled groups attention their way. "Anyone who gains physical boosting Chi skills seems to be orders of magnitude harder to take down."

The squad leader went on to detail a battle plan. He had been working with the farms patriarch to get the lay of the land, literally. He described every bush and tree for the members of his squad and the movements and tactical layout for all those gathered so that everyone was on the same page.

Maik found the answer concerning when someone asked about aid from the city. "I've contacted the mayor but the various militia already have their hands full now that many of their core members have departed to answer the military summons. They say that national guard aid with arrive in another week or so."

The members of Townly farm had no interest in waiting a full week to get their wives, sisters and daughters back. One of then let out an outburst that summed up the groups feeling perfectly, even if it was singularly focused. "We cant wait that long. There's just no telling what those bastards are doing with Tammy."

David was quick to reassure them. "And we're not going to wait. We're all geared up and ready to move out. We know the plan. Everyone knows their part. I would like more for time of you all to establish and level you Chi skills but... As a certain someone pointed out to me earlier, waiting to consolidate or train our skills isn't something were likely to have any time for within the foreseeable future."

The patriarch spoke next and his words shocked everyone. He spoke of the opportunity to learn directly from the famed Chi instructor. To get a grip on the new changes to the world and how a single day of training under such guidance followed by a single night of consolidation could turn them from sheep in need of shepherding to a pack of wolves that protected their own without fail.

Heated arguments followed that culminated in a single pointed question from the patriarch to David. "Yong man. In your experience, how much help would the majority of us really be against those who took our homes ? Would we be fodder or actually of aid ?"

The look the squad leader gave him made it clear he didn't like being put on the spot like that. You could actually here his knuckles crack from how tightly he clenched his fists in the quiet of the tent while people awaited the answer.

That sudden sound prompted the squad leader to speak and he held nothing back. "At best, the majority of you would just be fodder and that's only if they don't have any casters. If they do have casters then you wouldn't even be good fodder and they would just mow right through you without even slowing down."

It was a harsh pill for proud men, men who thought of themselves hard from years of working the land, to hear those words. But none could deny that the green skinned attackers hadn't really been trying to kill. Only steal and kidnap. Even then, the only person to have actually fought them long enough to take their measure had been the hulking horse man. Everyone else was either bowled over with minimal effort or was dead and reportedly he hadn't even been on guard duty at the time.

In the end they agreed to prepare and everyone returned to the large horse barn to start the montage. Maik was once again relegated to that of instructor. They were the Chi instructor after all. Chi data packets were distributed and the lilin spread their Effective level aura projection out to the max of 46 feet (14 meters) from themself. The wide area allowing them to apply the auric effect of sending for an absolutely massive groups shared mental space.

It was like giving a lecture only the lecturer was sending thoughts, sensory information and concepts to the audience rather than just words and images. Hours of this pushed Maik to greater understanding of their skills.

Tier 4 skill advanced - sending - Intermediate

Lunch was a surprisingly tasty serving of mushroom stew but that wasn't he only surprise. Eugene was the first to make the proclamation. "I've decided. I'm gonna take the race evolution tonight."

Maik nodded in approval and that sparked a fire storm of conversation about the topic. All the rest of Maik's friends also coming to the same conclusion.

Naturally it was that same teen, the one who called Maik and adventurer, who asked the important question. "Whats so good about changing your race ? And will we still be human ?""

Maik explained that their were different tiers of races and species. That there were different requirement to unlock the ability to choose any of the higher tier races. Some of the bonuses Maik got were described, though not all. More like a general outline of what special traits were. The lilin wrapped things up with stat affinities and finally the extra alteration points one could earn.

The boys eyes were alight with the possibilities. "So that's how one becomes an adventurer. Instead of gaining an adventurer class you need an adventurer race."

Maik let out a laugh, as they had found the boys reasoning funny but the serious and thoughtful looks on many of the farmers faces made it clear that they didn't find it so funny.

It was the horse man who summed up a sentiment that hadn't really occurred to Maik until that moment. "If race evolution has such benefit, why isn't it something discussed in the introduction instructions you produced ?"

The original instruction sheet make had wrote up a short life time ago was being narrated over the radio on the regular for anyone who asked for it and these people had, of course, heard the broadcast.

The Chi instructors answer was instant. "Those special traits. I know form personal experience that they can cause social complications. And that's not even taking the unsettling nature of physical differences into account. In the end, changing ones race is a very serious choice with far reaching consequences beyond our knowing..... So I guess what I'm saying is.... at least for each individual person any way.... Do you really want to roll those dice ? Is the risk really worth it ?"

The happy go lucky look on the teens face gave way to a mile long stare. "Me, Joey, Becky and Timmy are the ones that found the hornets. We had just been teasing Russel about his horse features. We ran off into the woods to avoid being scolded, but we didn't realize how big they were when we first spotted them. Joey ran off as soon as we saw them. Said he would rather get scolded then stung. I actually called him a coward."

The look on his face became more haunted as he swallowed before continuing. "We starting planning how to circle around, maybe spot where their hive was so that the adults could burn them out later, instead of scolding us. But Timmy ran ahead. He teased me, saying I wasn't much better than Joey sense I was scared of some bugs."

Tears were now freely flowing down the youths face as the memory took hold, like a lingering curse that ate away at the soul. "They didn't just sting him. He cried out from those but after 2 stings he just stopped being able to run. He fell... And they started swarming him. The sounds he made while they bit chunks off of him.... I couldn't help him. Couldn't do anything but stand there and watch while Timmy died. We could only run for help. But I already knew it was too late."

His eyes gained an edge, a sharpness not born of text books or history lessons. No video game, no book, no movie and no scary bed time story could break ones childhood so jaggedly as too leave such a sharpness in those eyes and they were filled with more conviction than a thousand shit talking fortnight gamers as he spoke. "Its absolutely worth it."

The teenager wasn't the only one to hold such convictions but it was far from the majority. In fact there was a woman who made it clear that she was one such objector by standing and voicing her opinion on the matter. "Don't you go talking such foolishness boy."

A man reached for her hand but she jerked away from him, unwilling to back down. "Things may look bad right now but that's no reason to go throwing away your humanity. You really want to wind up some freakish abomination like the Townly boy ?"

The man from before lunged forward and gripped her by both arms to hold her fast. Once he had her in hand the man looked to the old patriarch of the Townly farm. "Shes just grieving over Larry's dead Mister Townly. She don't mean it."

The aforementioned anthro horse man stood with a resolute expression just as the woman had started to protest and his herculean presence quieted the woman's struggles. "Larry fell by no fault of his own and I was already and abomination before magic became a thing. The difference is that back then I was an abomination that everyone pitied, crippled as I was. Where as now I can at least be of use. I can matter."

He took a moment to gaze over the mass of people, clearly unused to public speaking. He almost shy's away from those collective gazes, actually taking a step back. But then he stomps with that leg, and it seemed as though that act alone was a foundation upon which to build his courage.

"Now I can walk." He stomps again as his tone grows firmer. "I can fight." Another stomp as his words become louder. "I can protect my family." He takes a moment to calm himself. "But even this is not enough. I know what true helplessness feels like. I know what the young man here must have felt... And I know what I was willing to give in order to Never feel so helpless ever again."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Russel lowers his head and slumps back down into his seat with a sigh. "That's no way for a man to live. Such an existence of... helplessness. Its not living."

The woman collapsed, the man beside her going down with her to hold her and comfort her. The patriarch stood and made a short speech about the need to retain our humanity in spirit, in action and through the lords word. This produced a mixed reaction as there were those present that looked upset by the old man invoking gods will for guidance while also advocating the use if magic but they seemed to be a minority.

After the meal Maik was afforded another chance to cultivate and the lilin reluctantly informed David that they would be attempted to improve their cultivation technique again. He was, of course apprehensive and wanted to know everything that Maik was about to do.

Maik first explained how they already had a cultivation technique before magic was a thing. They then explained how the previous problem occurred when Maik deviated from the previous pattern."But clearly I'm not ready to handle those levels of energy... yet. So what I'll be doing this time is first adding on the next layer of the cultivation technique I had already formed. Then second I will be working on my Chi pathways to advance the mind & body skill."

The squad leader spent 7 minutes outlining the stipulation and safety measures that Maik was to follow and the lilin agreed.

Single cones pulled in everything to the crown and base Chakras, condensing gas to mist. The mist was condensed into liquid by swirling the 2 streams of energy into Maik's center. Maik made sure that the center was practically overflowing with energy and all 4 conical vortexes going to produce more Chi thread before they started unraveling the ball of yarn.

The thread was taken and used to make a ring that was about 1/4 the width of Maik's center. This would be the diameter of the lilins Core. More thread was used. and a weave began to take form. One ring became 2, then 4, 8, 16, 32 and on it went with each ring taking place at a slightly different angle.

Maik had used up a bout 1000 Calories of Chi by the time they were ready to start weaving all the rings together properly. And it took another 1000 before the pattern was complete. A sphere, weaved out of Chi threat hung suspended in the middle of the lilins center and the core was properly finalized.

Tier 4 skill advanced - Cultivation Chi - Effective

To Maik it had felt like hours had passed but when they opened their eyes to look around and ask, David said that only a little over an hour had passed. "Are the others ready of another group sending session ?"

The squad leader was hesitant about that. "There has been a lot of discussion over the past hour. People want to know just what they are getting themselves into with this Chi skill business and frankly, you haven't been the best example."

Maik was compelled to defend them self in the face of that statement. "Well this less than optimal example is THE reason that Botala isn't over run with genocidal drugged out maniacs at the moment. So excuse me if I don't live up to these folks fragile sensibilities."

The 2 just stared at one another for a long moment but it was ultimately David who broke first. "Okay... Okay... Point. You know, point taken. But these people..."

He makes a circling gesture to indicate the local populous. "Hell, all people, for that matter."

Now he gestures far more expansively with both arms spread wide. "They need a hero they can look up to. Someone to inspire them to be more then they are. Can you at least try to be that for them ?"

It is most likely true that everyone would best be served if we adopted such a persona. Can we be that ? It is an interesting challenge. I mean sure, we have clearly fucked that up from time to time but its not like we haven't been doing good. I would give us a solid B, B minus at the very least.

The sudden intrusion of the body politic brought the core of the matter into new focus. Not our nature. You think so ? Know so. But we've been so helpful to everyone. We have shared so much and helped so many. Those are heroic deeds. Not what a hero is. Even so. We should at least try to be a hero ?

Maik had apparently been staring off into the distance a little to long, deep in thought. David was prodding them for an answer. "Come on now. Is it really that hard a decision ? I mean, who doesn't want to be the hero, right ?"

He not get it. No. He does not. Not sure if I agree with you 2. I say we give it a try. Seconded. helping our neighbors is objectively the right thing to do. And if its not ? Remember Boyd. Remember those corrupt. To be American is to be for others what we once wanted another to be for us, back when we were small, weak and dumb. Well said. We shall try. But how do we do any better ?

Maik regarded the squad leader, their gaze finally focusing on the man. "And just what do you suggest that I do, that I'm not already doing ?"

David rubs his neck and groans. "Well the eyes thing is a big one. Can you not do that ? Or maybe even only show the golden eyes. Like they were when you first opened you eyes up a few minutes ago. They were both that glowing gold, and that's fine. If your eyes have to change try to stick with those."

He points right at Maik's right eye with both his index finger and an intense stare, like he were aiming a gun instead of a finger. "But right now your right eyes is that sinister bluish green and all blood shot again. While you were lost in though they both went like that and I actually though you might attack me for a second. Why do they do that anyway ?"

Maik shrugs. "It seems to be a side effect of my evolved race when I buff any of my stats." The squad leader raised his eye brows in and expression that clearly stated that he was waiting for a more extensive explanation and Maik finally caved. "They may also reflect our mental state. So don't expect me to look all angelic while in the middle of battle, But, Ill see what I can do the rest of the time. Alright."

David just stayed there squatted down on one knee and staring pointedly into Maik's right eye. After 12 seconds or so he shook his head. "Well ? I don't see it changing."

The look on the man face let Maik know that his little comment was apparently having the opposite effect and Maik closed their eyes to calm them self while trying to slot Analytical into the drivers seat.

Not our nature. Yeah I can see how this might become a problem. People had better just learn to deal with it. I would have to agree. It has been demonstrated that I am far too gullible to retain primary control of our faculties during most social interactions. That was then. Now we have power and knowledge that everyone wants. Maybe it will be different from now on.

It was difficult, but Maik eventually managed to enter the pure and sterile mental state of Analytical mind and when the Chi instructor opened their eyes they were both the gleaming honeybee yellow with radiant white sclera.

David was elated. "Great. Now come on. I have an idea on how to help Mister Townly rally these folks back to focusing on advancing their skills." Both of them got up, David leading the way, but behind those calm eyes 2 deep aspects of Maik's collective consciousness prepared to handle the backlash of deceit and betrayal.