David leaned in to whisper to the lilin before they had even taken more than 3 steps. "So, many of these folks have been sorta following the same path that one religious kid was on. You know, that one from your school, got on the radio to preach about guidance from the will of god and all that."

Maik recalled the bright eyed and dark skinned youth who practically radiated faith. "Uhh, Smalls. Yeah..... I forget his first name.... Darnell ! Yeah, Darnell Smalls." The Chi instructor furrows their brow at the squad leader though. "But if they were following the same path they should have multiple Chi skills related to health and restoration. What gives ?"

David nods in agreement. "That's where the sorta part comes in. Its seems that a significant percentage of their number were advocating for burning the horse guy at the stake before the attack and have been strongly apposed to the use of any Chi skills. In fact that seems to be a significant part of why the farm was so thoroughly overrun, though they wont admit it."

Maik takes a deep breath to retain calm. "So there was infighting on top of the distraction by the hornets. And now, even after loosing their homes, they are still willing to fight us on using Chi skills ? Where was this yesterday when we were patching up their wounded ?"

David smiles but it never reaches his eyes. The kind of smile one has when they've found something so fucked up they can only laugh at it. "Well that's the thing. None of them wanted to raise a stink while we were literally saving peoples lives with miracle healing. But then the subject of race changes came up and they got right back to espousing draconian measures against any temptation from witchcraft."

Maik gave the man an incredulous look with wide eyes and and mouth slightly agape. David holds both hands up in a helpless gesture before shrugging. "Regardless, we need to regain the image that we had when we were healing the sick with these people. That's where You keeping your eyes all divine and pretty like comes into play. Now then. Lets go make a good impression, yeah."

There were 5 of them huddled together and they were clearly the ones leading the movement against the use of Chi skills, as was evident by how one of them was preaching fire and brimstone to the assembled mass.

True to form the speaker didn't miss a beat when Maik approached. "And the leader of their coven comes to grace of with their presence. A clearly androgynous sinner of the flesh if I have ever seen one."

There were aspects of Maik's collective consciousness that wanted to comment on that statement but they had already collectively agreed to let Analytical remain in the drivers seat for this encounter.

Maik observed that the man was standing upon a box that he used as a platform but there wasn't enough room for 2. Fortunately there was another, even larger box not far away. Maik lifted the heavy crate without much difficulty thanks to boosting the strength attribute and set it up about 10 feet to the right of the speakers box.

Of Course, once the speaker realized what Maik was doing they resumed berating the Chi instructor. "You think to stand as an equal with the faithful heathen ? Do not think that we will be swayed by your tainted temptations. Our will and resolve are.."

Maik kinda started tuning the guy out at that point and simply hopped up on top of the crate to have a look around. Maik's eyes met many of those gathered with a slow and deliberate turn of their head.

The Chi instructor breathed deep and bellowed their words from the base of their chest. "Actually, I was more curious as to why you were standing on a box to address everyone. I have to admit it does offer a good view but it also makes it feel like I'm looking down upon them."

Maik hopped down off his crate and walked out into the middle of the crowd before turning back towards the speaker. The Chi instructor leans their head back to bellow a response up onto the air loud enough that the speaker and the gathered audience could clearly hear Maik over the speakers complaints. Something about how it was improper for the heathens to barge into the midst of His flock or some such nonsense.

"Last I checked this was a gathering of humans. Free thinking sapient beings, endowed by their creator with inalienable rights. Not some herd of dumb animals which needs some shepherd to herd then around with a stick." Maik tuned back in as the debate would probably require more refined nuance from this point.

The speaker was clearly angered but maintained enough composure to retort. "We are all but sheep before the greatness and wisdom of the lord. Without his divine guidance we would all be lost in the depravity of sin. Much like a certain androgynous brat who was meddling in powers beyond their understanding not much more than an hour ago."

A faint smile crept onto Maik's face. "While it is true that I over reached, I had faith that so long as I proceeded with good and pure intentions that no great ills would befall me. And look. I am fine, standing here whole and healthy just an hour later. Much like many of these people standing here, are standing whole and healthy despite the wounds they were suffering from yesterday."

There was a noticeable ripple that ran through the crowd as they looked at one another but the speaker wasn't ready to give up just yet. "Don't speak as though your actions were anything more than a bribe, offered in our moment of weakness. Something to lower our guard while you tempt the younger generations with these Race evolution's and witchcraft. With god as my witness, I shall not allow it."

Maik started to think for a moment but the speaker was starting to open their mouth when he sensed hesitation so Maik just spoke their mind and the truth. "I had the power to help. We had the power to help and were happy to help good people in need. Having said that I do not wish to stay here. Our families are back in Mellveiw, witch is even further from here than Botala."

Maik shifts from addressing the man on the box to the crowd around them. "But the way is blocked by those who have driven many of you from your homes. I am willing to help you take back your homes and the loved ones taken from you because I have the power to do so. I am willing to share the knowledge of that power, if it will help me get home. If you don't have faith that you can handle that power then don't learn it. For those of you that do, I will be starting the next training session in another hour and a half."

The Chi instructor began walking out of the assembled crowd and back over to the barn where they had been cultivating earlier. The speaker tried to start the discussion back up again but Maik only looked back over their shoulder once outside the collected mass of people tall call back. "One and a half hours." Before fully departing.

David seemed pleased with how that debate went by the way he gave Maik a pat on the shoulder. Then he sent Chase to keep and eye on Maik while he went back to mingling with the patriarch and his inner circle.

Several of Maik's friends congratulated them on the discussion and how decisively they concluded the debate. Maik just kind of laughed sheepishly. "Ahh Hehh Hehh. Well.. I was pretty much stuck at that point and it felt like the guy was starting to get the upper hand. So I figured that the longer I let the discussion go on the more chances he would have to twist my words. I just made sure to point out what we had done for them, what we were still going to do for them, uhhh, emphasize what we can offer them and then got the hell out of there."

The others agreed that was a good strategy and asked what he was up to next. Maik informed them that they would be working on furthering the development of their mind & body connection. This ultimately lead to Maik passing around a data packet to the others outlining the lilins current progress on this skill and a detailed explanation of what they intended to try next.

So far Maik had Chi flow highways running through the torso, 2 going back and forth up to their head and 1 going to and from each limb. All of those Chi flow highways were built over Maik's blood vessels. Finally there were the Chi conduits built over central nerve pathways running down each limb. Maik really should have stared with either the brain or the spine but that would have taken far more singular focus than they had available back then.

The Chi instructor decided that they would correct that by working on the brain and began the arduous process for layering Chi conduits over and throughout their brain. It was disorienting and Maik felt dizzy. In fact the dizziness got so bad that by the half way point Maik would not have been able to remain seated upright if they hadn't had their back and head supported up against some pillows packed between the lilin and the wall.

It felt like ages passed while Maik was immersed in the task at hand. The outside world ceased to exist for the lilin while they went over every wrinkle, crevasse, section and area of their brain. All the while more and more Chi was used to form the metaphysical structure that overlapped the physical one. Thankfully the dizziness didn't effect Maik's concentration while in the trance like state.

At least not the majority of their mind. The Body politic was utterly miserable while performing its task of keeping Maik's body going while the other 3 aspects worked on building the Chi conduits throughout Maik's mind.

At last the short eternity passed and the lilin slowly roused from the trance state with a deep shuddering breath.

Tier 3 skill advanced - Mind body connection - Effective

The lilin rose and stretched to relieve the stiffness from being seated for such a long time. They felt a little better already but knew that they would need a good night sleep before seeing the real benefits of advancing the skill.

Chase was there and informed Maik that about an hour and 10 minutes had passed. Maik frowned at this. "I had figured on the advancement only taking 45 minutes. That's a lot longer then I thought it would take."

Chase just shrugs, so Maik decides to look over their stat sheet and Check current progress.

Name : Make Alphonse Daley

Species : Human / Race : Tier 6 - Lilin Bio-morph

Level : 7

Age :18

Gender : Hermaphrodite

Height : 190 Centimeters

Weight : 80 Kilograms

Master : Stanford Francis Boyd

Strength : 156

Flexibility : 113

Dexterity : 188

Endurance : 170

Durability : 264

Intelligence : 247

Smarts : 179

Wisdom : 141

Perception : 194

Charisma : 127

Chi : 454

aura : 308

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

Special traits / tier 4

Adaptive physique – Capable

Supernatural Charisma – Intermediate

Enhanced biological resource processing – Intermediate

Magic sense – Capable

Enhanced soul connection – Beginner

Special traits / tier 5

Flesh molding – Capable

Minor regeneration – Beginner

Skills / 3ed Tier

Bio chemistry – Intermediate

Calculus – Beginner

Mind & body connection – Effective

Aura projection – Effective

Magic resistance minor – Intermediate

Chi data packet - Capable

Chi data reader - Intermediate

Stills / 4th Tier

Chi body infusion. - Intermediate

Chi projection – Intermediate

Sending – Intermediate

Minor healing – Intermediate

Chi sight – Intermediate

Auric effect – Intermediate

Cultivation, Chi – Effective

Skills / 5th tier

Chi binding - Beginner

Chi Item infusion - Capable

Chi Force projection - Capable

Skills / 6th tier

Chi Force jump - Capable

The master title had faded somewhat and that was curious but something to look into later. Maik also had 1,340 Chi calories out of the max pool of 4,540 available to use. They had a good 15 minutes left so Maik asked Chase to let them know when there was just 5 minutes left until the appointed time before sitting back down to cultivate and recover some more energy.

The majority of the people in the camp showed up for the shared meditation session that Maik was hosting. The strong showing filled Maik with optimism for the future and they got started. They were about 15 minutes into the session and Maik had to wrap the lecture up due to running low on Chi but they had already gone over the skill at length and answered many questions at that point.

People took their time to practice what had been imparted unto them after that. Maik had hosted sessions like this for Chi manipulation, Mind & body connection and now magic resistance minor today. On top of that Chi data packets had been shared on Minor healing, Chi body infusion and sending. It was essentially the standard load out of Chi skills at this point.

The evening meal lacked the chaotic variety of emotional turmoil of the previous night but there was a distinct divide between those who had chosen to embrace the Chi skills and those who still looked at Maik as though they were something that needed to be exterminated. Thankfully that later group was firmly in the minority.

Mister Townly offered a speech to commemorate the light feast they enjoyed that evening. He spoke passionately of his pride in how the gathered people had finally come together. He praised their bravery for volunteering to strike back at those who would drive them from their homes.

But he also made it clear that this meal was to be treasured. "For it is all to likely that not all of us gathered here tonight shall be joining us for another such supper. So eat hearty. Live. Love. Laugh and make marry. For tomorrow, we march to war."

The old man downed his shot of beer and so did every other able bodied member of the forces who would be heading off to battle in the morning, Maik included.

Maik and their friends sat together but then again, protected space was at a premium so everyone was eating together. The barn was packed with both people and live stock. A strange flirty atmosphere swept over the group of friends and it was Sara, with her poker cards, who moved things along with some card games.

They played bullshit, with the added caveat that if you correctly called bullshit on someone then you got to ask them a question that they then had to answer. But if you were caught bullshiting then the one that caught you got to ask you a question which you had to answer. Not answering meant you were kicked from the game.

James was the first, he called bullshit on Jose but Jose really had put down a 5. Jose asked what James's relationship with Leavery was about and James answered after giving Maik a sheepish look. "So I was already on the football team but sense I also knew Maik Leavery figured that I would get better access to the Chi skills. He promoted me to a fire team leader provided I didn't fuck up and I kept an eye on Maik. I figured that they were going to have someone do that job anyway but this way I could at least affect the outcome."

Maik didn't mind and told James as much. Next it was Sara. Stacy accurately called bullshit on her before asking which person in the group she found the be the hottest. The New York born girl went beat red and huffed before pointing at Jose. The Spaniard was, unsurprisingly, giddy and Sara was teased multiple times about the answer.

Eugene was caught after that. He had misread Maik when the lilin put down a jack and Maik decided to ask the super sized Mexican if he liked the idea of a smaller partner or if he would prefer a bigger woman. The big guy had too dark a complexion to blush but the facial expression he made still said that he would be if he could. "I don't think it would work out with a small girl. I think there would be compatibility issues, you know. Besides. I like big butts and I can not lie." The whole group had a good laugh.

Maik was caught then, When Jose called bullshit on the lilin for putting down a 4 instead of a 7. He asked Maik what the deal was with Maik's androgynous appearance ever sense the 2ed day. Maik sighed, having suspected that this question would come up. "Sigh.. So I didn't have any opportunities to advance my race past a tier 3 at first. Not unless I made a particular alteration. Then I had the option to advance to a tier 5 race. That alteration was to change my gender to hermaphrodite."

There were somewhat blank looks of incomprehension so Maik elaborated, despite the seal Boyd had put on the lilin trying to enforce its will over Maik. It didn't stop the lilin. "I have both male and female genitals. A plug and a socket, a peach and a banana." Everyone had pretty much the same reaction, at first.

After everyone got over the Wow phase Skip elbow nudged Maik to ask. "So can you like, get pregnant ?"

Maik chuckles and nods. "I think so yeah."

The game went on. They learned that Jose had apparently had wet dreams about Sara, Stacy, Elisha and Maik but had never actually masturbated before. "Its just... Wet dreams a just so much better and wanking just feels like a cheap thrill, you know. A waist of time."

It also turned out that skip was a 4th tier high elf, but everyone know that to look at his ears. he was also working his way towards becoming a lesser fay. tier 5.

Stacy actually had a boy she had liked before magic was a thing but the guy had turned into a total ass hat the moment things started going weird. Maik knew him as mister over priced shoes. "You liked that ass hat ?"

"Okay look. He was different before magic was a thing alright. More confident and centered. Tristyn seemed like such a great guy until.... all this."

The game lost some of its luster after that and Sara won a few rounds later before they helped clean up and then everyone went to bed at the same time. They had too as the dinning hall needed to be transformed. Tables and chairs stacked up to make way for hammocks and bedding for both animals and people.

The mental construct was there, waiting for the various aspects of Maik collective consciousness when they arrived. Creative was ready this time and looked for Body politic Making sure to spot them and point them out. Hah. Not sneaking up on my tonight. The other aspects paid it little mind and got to work going over the notifications eager for rest.

Tier 6 skill acquired - Chi Force jump - Beginner + 9 alteration points.

Tier 6 skill Advanced - Chi Force jump - Capable + 18 alteration points.

Tier 5 special trait advanced - Minor regeneration - Capable + 16 alteration points. + 3 Wisdom, + 3 Durability.

Tier 4 skill advanced - sending - Intermediate + 21 alteration points.

Tier 4 skill advanced - Cultivation Chi - Effective + 28 alteration points.

Tier 3 skill advanced - Mind body connection - Effective + 24 alteration points. + 14 to all stats.

116 alteration points to distribute. 20 into durability. Once again Body makes an unrelenting demand. Well I say we also put 20 into strength. Another 20 in intelligence would be helpful. I'm feeling the need for more endurance. 20 sounds good. The remaining 36 were put into Chi and with each alteration point being worth 2 attribute points, thanks to the lilin Bio-morphs, that meant a boost of 232 to Maik's attributes.

Advancing the Mind & body connection added another 168 stat points all by itself. That skill was just so OP, even if it derived much of its effect from the lilins high chi manipulation skill. The other 6 stat points from advancing the special trait was just a drop in the bucket. Now Maik had a staggering total of 2,947 attribute points and they faintly wondered if there would ever be a limit to how many points a given being could posses.