“Are you sure?” Fatania asked the next day. How had her spies missed this? How had this deer-kin, Nicola, found it? So many questions. She didn’t like it.

“I’m sure. In two weeks the elves and the Dageth mages will be gone,” Nicola said.

"Where did you get this information?"

"A merchant my herd does business with," Nicola said with a shrug. "He's leaving Deepmere and suggest I do the same. I thought you might be interested."

Fatania mumbled as she paced about. If this was true, then it was the best chance they could’ve hoped for. She’d have to put some of her rat-kin on it to verify the information. Her distraction was so great that she didn’t notice Azura arriving with the others for a long moment. When she did, she got a predatory smile. Deepmere lightly defended and soon they would have five liquid stage cultivators. It was almost time to put plan EXODUS into action. She had to consult the other Mothers.

“Hey,” Azura said. “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing,” Fatania said. “Just the opposite in fact.” She regarded each of them. “It’s time then?” Plans and worries fell away in her excitement.

“Yup,” Azura said. Fatania noticed the excited energy of her four companions. Tabatha was bouncing in place, unable to hold still. Her wonderful Hamal didn’t let his excitement show, but she could tell it was there. Gwen had her standard confident smirk in place. Gerald seemed punch drunk. That would’ve been concerning, except she had heard about what happened at the forge. He’d pound more than hot metal that day. She tried really hard not to smirk at that.

“Congratulations,” Nicola said as he bowed to them. “May I watch? I’m eager for my own advancement.”

“Nope,” Azura said cheerfully. “Trade secret until it’s your turn.”

“Of course Magebane,” Nicola said bowing again.

“Fatania we’re using the private sparring arena. I don’t want to be disturbed, unless it’s an emergency,” Azura said.

“Huh, oh sure. Most are busy cultivating anyways. I’ll ask you mother to keep an eye out. She can also help with any emergency healing.”

“Good idea,” Azura said.

Fatania took off to find a few of her family. She needed to follow up on Nicola information immediately.

Nicola watch as the Magebane led the cultivators away. He’d hoped for a live viewing, but knew better to expect it. Instead he found a nearby area and prepared the artifacts Calvore gave him. He took a calming breath. This was it then. He did everything possible to limit the risks. The piece of information he gave Fatania would keep her distracted along with the excitement of today’s events. The board was as stacked in his favor as much as he could possibly manage it. He needed to know how to advance. From depths of his cloak he pulled out a small plain talisman that was powered by the ambient mana. Nicola pressed it to his forehead after taking a lotus position. Hopefully if anyone found him, they would think he was deep in mediation for his cultivation.

“Activate,” Nicola muttered as all his senses magnified a hundred fold focused in a single location. When the Magebane spoke it was like she was right next to him.

“Is everyone ready?” The Magebane asked.

Oh, indeed I am, Nicola thought as he listened in.

“Is everyone ready?” Azura asked getting affirmative nods all around.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“This next part will be your greatest challenge so far. You must push yourself beyond your limits. Compress your mana with the full might of your will. Hold nothing back.” Azura raised her hand at the start of their protests. “I know you’ve been trying, but here’s the secret. Your will isn’t strong enough. So make it stronger. Use your mana to empower your mind. Enhance your will power to the point where it can crush diamonds! Compact your mana! Don’t let up for a single instant. This is why training with your mana is so important. Without the strong will and control you’ve developed these past two years you wouldn’t be able achieved this step. Now show me your resolve. ADVANCE!”

Azura held her breath as the cultivators obeyed. Hamal’s face was a mask of concentration. Tabatha had a bit of her tongue sticking out of her mouth as she focused. Too cute. Gerald was still, like he was working on a particularly difficult problem. Gwen had a silent snarl on her face as if she could intimidate the mana into compliance.

A minute passed by. Then ten. Azura started getting nervous. How long did it take her? She couldn’t recall. Not that she paid any attention to such a minor detail back then. It wasn’t until the twenty minute mark that she felt the first hint at a change. Hamal’s mana was vibrating. That was the best description she could find. It was getting physically smaller yet at the same time its presence became bigger. Bigger than what should be allowed in the world. Was that ki forming? From the outside it felt pretty weird. The sensation now began to her right as Gwen’s mana began copying Hamal’s. Soon enough Gerald and Tabatha started down their own path. It was like once the limits of reality were weakened the change became easier. She could feel the world straining to contain the newly formed ki. That was a bit worrying… It could just be her imagination. Then again the formation of such concentrated power was bound to have side effects. In the future she would have to limit such advancements to a few at a time.

The changed happened gradually over the next several minutes. When her friends opened their eyes. Azura beamed at them. She couldn’t feel any mana in them at all. Instead she felt the raw warping potential of ki. They’ve done it.

“Congratulations!” Azura cheered. The four new liquid cultivator’s expressions were that of pure wonder. Azura quickly went on not wanting them to lose focus. That was for the party later.

“Now you have one last step to perform. Mana must be still to use. Ki is the opposite. It must flow. You need to spin your ki. Create a ki spiral. Spin it as fast as you can. Once that is done the power is yours.” Azura said excitedly.

She grinned as each of her eager students closed their eyes once more starting their ki spirals. Around the same time their eyes opened reflecting the absolute joy they felt. Then their expressions began to change. Suddenly Hamal doubled over as he vomited out black sludge.

The smell! It was like inhaling deeply with your nose pressed up to a skunk’s ass. Gods below… how had she forgotten? It was the purge…

The others looked at Hamal in horror, but soon had their own concerns. Gwen simultaneously spewed black sludge from every orifice. She collapsed on the ground twitching. Her trousers turning black from her lower releases. Fuck! The smell just doubled in intensity. How!? How was that even possible!? Surely such nastiness had a limit. Apparently not, as the smell took away what control the others had intensifying with each release. Tabatha fell over backward spewing in every direction. Gerald stumbled forward tripping over Hamal. He then discharged all over the poor rat-kin. Azura felt her own bile rising. She wanted to vomit herself, but her ki powered body made that impossible.

“Ah… yes… umm, that does happen…” Azura said backing away. The stares she got were a potent combination of begging and a promise of a long painful death. They couldn’t maintain the eye contact for long as more sludge was expelled. The stuff was everywhere. Azura backed away not wanting to get any on her. The others were almost covered.

“It won’t last too long… I think…umm, let me… umm,” Azura panicked. What she should do? Another round of noxious secretions suddenly inspired her to action.

“MOM!” Azura called racing out of the sparring ring. She burst out of the private area finding her mother doing a bit of cultivation as she waited for them.

“What’s wrong?” Coralline asked.

“Oh, um nothing… Nothing at all. Just a very, very small mishap. I’ve got to go. Fate of the kin race is at stake. Heard the mists were approaching,” Azura said not daring to look back.

Her mother narrowed her eyes. “I didn’t hear that.”

“Oh, it was umm… from my super advance cultivation technique. Gotta go! Oh, umm can you get a bucket of hot water and soap for the others. Thanks, bye!”

Azura didn’t wait for a reply as she raced off, past a violently vomiting deer-kin, away from the crime scene. Despite the distance she could still hear the shocked reply from her mother.

“GODS BELOW! WHAT IS THAT STENCH!?”

Perhaps she could hide in the mists for a while. It would be far safer than here.

Nicola was in hell. WHY THE FUCK DID THE CHARM INCREASE HIS SENSE OF SMELL TOO! IT WON’T SHUT OFF! He clawed as his face, shoving grass up his nostrils in a vain attempt to end the torment. Tears streamed down his face as he slowly dragged himself away, a trail of vomit marking his path.