Fonta felt at the new connections they were not meridians but they were quite close in scale. Though unlike his meridians these hadn’t formed a solid shape. He’d call what was in his head circuits. Each circuit merged near his brain stem and eventually connected to his center through a currently locked meridian.
Feeling at the chi in his body Fonta took the chi and formed a blade in his center. Oddly enough the blade felt like a sword in that he felt a good amount of control in his mental grasp, with that blade he cleared out all the gunk clogging his first and second meridian as he was wracked with massive pain in his heart and intestines right after as black ichor flowed from everywhere in his body, in mass. A bit of blood left him as well, as he fainted.
An hour later Fonta woke up in a puddle of his own filth, got to his feet, and moved to the bathroom. An hour later the young man left with a haunted look in his eyes as his body looked nearly skeletal. He was also starving more than he had while he was a stray.
Scratching his head, Fonta discovered the power of running water indoors and reached a better level of cleanliness as he left his room. He made sure to put the inn soap into his pockets and the free towels in his bags after cleaning up his mess.
Leaving his room Fonta came face to face with a pretty young woman with red hair that smelled of flowers. Her eyes met his and it clearly must have been love at first sight as she jumped from the guardrail and ran from the building. Screaming with her arms held high.
It was clearly love at first sight, as Fonta had never met a human like her before. That pang of familiarity must have been from that sensation and nothing else. “Didn’t even get her name. To think someone would literally fall for me.”
“Hey, Fonta, I’m headed to the auction house later to drop off some heirlooms. Do you want to come along?”
Fonta looked at Yang and then scowled as he had the same look on his face that the red-haired woman gave him. Fonta knew Yang was a little lustful but that look was odd.
“Fonta! You did not force your meridians to widen too quickly, did you?”
“Of course, this is much faster. Also, sorry friend but-”
“Fonta…focus on unlocking your next three meridians Do not widen those yet..”
“You are giving me very mixed signals.”
“Is that so? I thought it was very clear that I don’t date men with egos bigger than they are..”
“Right, right. I remember now, I may look like my sister but that isn’t a line you’re willing to cross.”
“What does ego mean? Is that like an egg?” Fonta asked.
“Why did I let Grandfather talk me into this?”
“No idea. Fonta then hopped from the third floor to the first, feeling his legs creek slightly before he stood back up and took a walk to a Bao stand. By the time he’d finished his weight had doubled, ending up slightly more muscular than his previous form with his muscles much more dense.
After a long meal, Fonta met up with Yang and the two went to sell things to the auction house. Fonta looked better than before he entered his room, though his expression was irritated as he pushed the young master’s chair toward the destination.
As Fonta moved past the street, a group of five led by a bald man with prayer beads around his neck bumped into Fonta.
“Oi brat watch where you're going!” The alleged monk said, as he did so the other four of his friends who looked nothing like monks, surrounded the duo on all sides.
“Are they cultivators?” Fonta asked.
“Fonta no, we can get out of this.”
“Listen to the cripple. I can still see the milk on your shirt from breakfast.”
Fonta did not get the jabs, but Yang did clench a fist.
“How strong are they?” Fonta whispered.
“The monk is Elpmeta stage 12 very close to awakened. Maybe slightly stronger than my father.”
“Oh, no problem then.” Fonta looked about noting a stick, a sign for a cabaret with a seductive silhouette, and a few cones to direct traffic. And a few bicycles, expensive and durable precursor items that had been getting mass-produced as of late. It was surprising to see so many in one place. The last item he saw however was a street sign that had fallen over.
“What did you say?”
“Ok. I’ll give you one chance. Turn around and walk away or face a fate worse than death.”
From Yang’s point of view, the large monk charged forward, then he blinked, and in a flash of purple hair bounced about like a hyperactive pachinko ball. He’d known the kid was strong but seeing him fight head-on was like watching a match between two cultivators. The fact that Fonta hadn’t been a cultivator when he beat him no longer felt like an insult to his pride. He was watching a tiger maul an opponent to near death. This was what his grandfather wanted Yang to understand. A power that bridges gaps in power is useful, but knowing how to use it makes it deadly. So Yang watched everything he could see.
From Fonta’s point of view, the man charged, leaving himself open, his chin exposed. He grabbed the stick and used the monk's speed and momentum against him as he slammed the stick into his open stomach like a bat causing the wind to break free from his lungs as he rolled forward and behind at the apex of the roll he pushed off the ground like a spring mid backflip he slammed both of his feet into the back of his neck causing him to bounce forward to the sigh towards the cabaret club sign.
The monk lay on the ground wheezing in pain as the world spun his friends were much too slow to react and didn't understand what had happened.
Fonta then slammed the sign into the downed monk's face guessing his face to pass through the wood where the head of the seductive woman on the poster should have been the blow adding another concussion on top of the blows that had been landed.
Fonta then took the sign off the ground and used it to hoist the monk up by his robes and left the large man hanging there by his supposed robes.
The whole exchange seemed like it didn’t last more than ten seconds. That was not the skill someone so low-ranked should have.
Scowling at his sleeping opponent Fonta scowled. “I expected this to be fun, but you’re way too slow. Do you four want to play with me?” Fonta turned towards the other four who shook their heads.
In unison.”We do not wish to trade pointers with a young master like you.”
“Young?” Fonta felt a blood vessel on his forehead boil as he took a step forward and the other four fled simultaneously.
“Uh, Fonta?”
“What’s their problem?” Fonta crossed his arms.
“Can you teach me how to fight like you do?”
“No. What I do relies on speed, acrobatics, strength, and talent. I also feel quite a bit faster than I had previously. These shoes are amazing.” Fonta looked down at his sneakers, despite not knowing what they were called.
“More than just the shoes but I get it. Opening up a meridian fully enhances your overall strength a bit more, since you were already strong it enhanced those talents.”
“Meh…When you adapt or get healed I’ll teach you, though I don’t think I can teach well. “ Fonta added.
“Fair is fair.” Fonta watched as town guards arrived and questioned the civilians. Many had stayed to give an account. The guards looked to Fonta and then looked to Yang. Then scowled and continued to talk to the witnesses.
After a while, Fonta finished giving the monk a full head of hair and a caterpillar mustache when the guard arrived.
“Young master, do you belong to a sect?”
“Not yet. I have a reco thing.” Fonta said in his tenor that made him seem younger.
“A recommendation?”
“Uh…Yes?” Fonta wasn’t playing dumb that's just what he was at the time.
“Which sect?”
“Azure Sea,” Yang added.
“Is that right?”
Fonta shrugged. “It’s all confusing. I fought this strong old man and he said to go there.”
“How strong was he?”
“Early awakened.”
“At two meridians?” The guard already seemed panicked, both were weaker than the troublemaker on the sign.
“I wasn’t even a cultivator at the time.” Fonta then watched as the guards looked at each other, then the downed false monk.
“This one apologies for the inconvenience.”
“I don’t care. Can I go now?” Fonta scratched at something in his ear and squinted at it.
“Are you his minder?”
“No, just a friend of his. Those five surrounded us after bumping into me. They then threatened to attack us then… well they stomped on a sea urchin.”
“I see, that one could not see Mountain Deux. Can we assist you in anything else?”
Fonta looked left and right then pulled out a case of socks. “How much are these worth?”
“A pack of socks, you can likely sell a pair for 200.”
“I see. Each of you gets six pairs. I assume that's enough to let this event stay quiet?”
Fonta turned and rolled Yang out from prying ears.
“D-did you bribe the guards?”
“No, I gave them a gift so that they'd look…”
“Uh-huh.”
“I just bribed guards by accident.”
“Sometimes your lack of common sense goes over my head.:”
“Call it selective intelligence.” The driver said as he conveniently arrived behind them.
“Where did you come from?”
“I was watching the show on my way back? Are you joining the main sect?”
“No. Maybe? I need to meet with someone first.” Fonta shrugged.
“Do you even know their name?”
“I don’t even know your name. I’ve been calling you, the Driver in my head this whole time.”
“That's pretty close to my name already. Drie Versalis.”
Fonta squinted. “That sounds like a name you came up with just to mess with me. I am not gullible.”
“All right, I’ll be sure to get you a juice box as an apology.”
Fonta felt his eye twitch when Yang interrupted them.
“Drie, Fonta, don’t you plan to visit the auction house?”
“I do like collecting the monies,” Fonta stated as he held his sack of weapons arrows, and items taken from the people he'd just fought.
“Money.”
“Aren't I supposed to act the age I look?”
“You look thirteen and are acting twelve.”
Fonta shot Yang a rude gesture. His thumb and pinky were connected together and pointed downward.
“There we go.” Yang clapped.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“All right then, where is this auction house?”
Fonta was led to a small tent near the center of the city. A red bird in a nest with various trinkets could be seen.
As they entered, the small tent and a wooden door shut behind them as various torches lit themselves all over the room that was much larger on the inside than they were on the outside.
A figure with black hair, red eyes, 7 long violet fox tails that stretched out behind him, and a white mask with red outlines stared back at him.
“Welcome valued customers to the Crimson Magpie. I am the branch director on Val.”
“Name?” Fonta asked.
“My aren’t you rude.”
“Never mind, I go by Fon, I got a price on these that said people would spend 200 ducks a pair for these.”
“Oh, socks. Precursor make, so extra durable. Hmmm, a tag on the back says it was purchased from Mal Dynamis. Do you have a source for precursor artifacts?”
“My master let me trade some things he gave me.” Fonta lied very easily and nonchalantly.
The owner nodded. “A shame, mayhaps next time your master would be willing to cut me a deal.”
“Are you a demon?” Yang asked, his arms crossed.
“By the laws of Val, yes. Though my kind goes by a different name. Not all of us demons get along. I’m what we call a Vulpin back home.”
“How can you be here selling things?”
“Not all demons invade and the Crimson Magpie is somewhat neutral ground. We sell nearly everything to anyone who can afford it.”
“So humans turn their heads to the side.”
“No, some end up attacking me or my people and become merchandise. My human counterpart does the same when demons act up as well. Though that's only if you attack me.”
“You sell people?”
“And demons, some nobles in other countries see having a demon servant as a sign of prestige.”
“That is madness.”
“Yet that is the world we live in. So, do you want to put anything else up for auction?”
Fonta pulled out the packages of undergarments and placed them on the table. From his experience, they felt nice and like the clothes they were self-cleaning which meant they were likely worth quite a bit. He bought some for every gender and in quite a bit of style. Using the money he borrowed from the false monk.
Fonta also put the prayer beads on the table.
The owner picked up the necklace and tossed it in a bin. “These are fake, not blessed. Not even worth getting examined.”
“So the monk was a fake. Figures. He did seem weak.”
“Defeated a false monk? My, my, isn’t this young master strong.”
Fonta squinted and leaned on the table with his left hand. He then scowled as he thought of all the ways the table could be used as a weapon and let go.
The owner detected the danger but didn’t react as the bloodlust wasn’t pointed anywhere. A younger person may have seen it as an attack. But based on what he’d heard and seen the young man wasn’t trying to use his talent.
“Passive, if you offer me your firstborn son, I’ll give you 5 million. Ducks.”
Fonta looked to Yang as if asking if it was a good deal.
“Fonta, while that's a lot of money, I don’t recommend making a deal like that.”
“What if I only ended up with daughters?”
“More tries. Oath bound to ask.” The man raised his right and a doorway began to glow a deep blue.
Moments later the door opened, and another Vulpin walked through with a cart. This one is a rather well-endowed Amazonian woman with orange hair and fur. However, something seemed off about when Fonta watched her walk.
“A shame. You passed up on that offer.” The black-haired Vulpin placed a fan in front of his mouth.”
Yang seemed conflicted and slightly guilty. “I should keep my big mouth shut.”
“Ah, that's what it is…They aren’t real.” Fonta blinked twice before looking at the owner. “So, is this where you put the items I'm selling?”
The Vulpine man snickered a bit behind his fan and let out a sigh. “Seems I misread you a bit. The young lady will take the items you're offering to the booth. Now then, for the items you’ve given me, I’m willing to offer you 100,000 Ducks for the whole lot in cash, or 125,000 in credit.”
“That seems a bit high,” Yang said with a suspicious expression.
“Please, if I’m careful enough I can sell just these for 20,000 a pack, with six packs, we get back our investment. Now the undergarments, are quite hard to come by, people on Val are rather spartan. But the rich will pay arms and legs for things like that. I’m quite lowballing you, but it will take time to sell it all.”
“So you're gambling…I know my math so I’ll be chaotic. What if I get 10% of the undergarment final sales in credit and 80,000 credits for the socks.”
“Hmmm…Interesting you are much smarter than that...90,000 in credits as well as an advanced look at our stock, and 9% from final undergarment sales. Basically, you can use those credits to pay for items before they hit the floor, though there will be a markup on items based on projected sale value.”
Fonta scowled, “All that throw in a clause that lets me put items on hold should I not have enough immediate funds on 2 items a calendar year. They do not roll over into the next, so If I miss a year shame on me, but, those items on hold will be maintained for that year with a 1% markup if not paid for by the end of the month using the credit percentage from undergarment sales. Notify me when a held item is paid for by my credits and I will come to a branch to pick it up. Your establishment will be the sole auction house I will grant the rights to sell undergarments to from Mal Dynamis, under the owner's discretion.” Fonta stated his golden eyes glittering as the words left his mouth in a monotone.
As the Vulpine listened his eyes widened more and more, as he listened to the contract given to him by what he suspected was a child. What Yang and the owner hadn’t known is that while Fonta couldn’t read, Ted had wanted to be an assistant to a magistrate and had read tons of his books aloud while he was around. Fonta had what doctors called, Dyslexia Val-Toan. The language most people used looked like scribbles most of the time and sometimes leaped off the pages or played tricks in his head. As though it didn’t exist, though it was said that the disorder could be overcome via skill cubes.
“Much smarter than you look. Are you a trained scholar?”
“I’d be useless at that. Most scholars can read, so I’ll also ask If I can get this in a verbal oath?”
“You can do math in your head pretty well, so I’m curious as to how you don’t know your letters.”
“That’s personal.”
The vulpine man swore on the verbal contract and Fonta did as well.
“With that done, do you have any preferences?”
“Something that can regenerate legs, cheap weapons, and skill cubes if you have them.”
“An item to regenerate limbs would cost over 1 million credits at the low end. Replacements would be cheaper, but would be something frowned upon by the orthodox sects of this planet.”
“Is that so? Can you show me that as well?” Fonta asked.
“We can, but…such a thing could be grizzly.”
“Start with that then,” Fonta stated.
“Very well.”
A red door glowed as the voluptuous Vulpine left with an odd look. Clearly not used to being ignored.
“Go through that door. I don’t like entering that area if I can help it.”
Fonta scowled. “Yang, care to wait here for a moment?”
“It’s fine. I have a few things to offer as well.” Yang added as he rubbed at his ring and various fruits and trinkets appeared on the table.
----------------------------------------
As Fonta entered through the red door he came face to face with a figure with two different eyes, one belonging to that of a human-sized snake, fit with a reptilian slit, while the other appeared to be that of a frog. His head was slightly misshapen his head appeared somewhat deformed. His left arm was that of a bear while his right resembled a cat’s paw, both of his legs were cloven like a horse.
“Hello, child of unknown origin. How may we be of service?”
Fonta looked about and scowled. “What are you, and what do you mean?”
“I am the organ and slave trader of this marketplace. Since you’re here early I assume you were given first pickings.”
“Slaves? I was told nothing about that?”
“None of them are human, don’t worry. I have demons, monsters, and various creatures of burden.”
“So you sell other demons?”
“I am no demon? Just a practitioner of the chimeric arts. I’ve grafted parts from all kinds of magical monsters to my own body to make myself stronger, faster, and smarter. Are you interested?”
“Chimeric arts?”
“Named after the demon hybrids with similar names. Demons inherit traits from both parents, regardless of species creating abominations and all kinds of combinations. Sometimes these can go feral and the practice is regulated mostly.”
“Feral?”
“De-evolution, when demons are born without the spark of sentience and go feral they are unrecognizable and little more than beasts. Used in war or as cautionary tales of mixed breeding by the pureblood demons.”
“Purebloods?”
“Unlike humans, demons can keep family ties much closer via selective breeding. After Two generations the bloodlines are different enough that they are capable of returning to a main family without the same deformities humans would face. This has allowed some high-ranked demons to specialize in things they call bloodline magic.”
“I think I'm going to be sick.” Fonta shook his head and turned away from the self-proclaimed unorthodox cultivator.
“Ah, must be the preservation vats. I’ll lead you to the pens, the smell is weaker there.”
“Just point please.”
The chimera cultivator's eyes went in two separate directions as slits opened on the sides of his head causing four more eyes each from a different animal to open and look about. “There.”
Fonta followed the pointed finger to an area where various monsters were held. Looking about, the young man quickly made his way past the animals as well. Fonta eventually ended up standing in an area where he saw various humanoid demons with collars.
Fonta had no need for servants, he’d just needed to get away from that creeper to screw his head on straight and think. As he looked through those in cages he noticed a small figure with long pink hair, curled into a fetal position wearing a potato sack. A small single horn protruded from her head.
“Serpents and Weasels!” Fonta swore as he approved the doorway stopping five feet away from the form.
The caged figure didn’t react as Fonta looked at the price. 45,000 Ducks. He’d be spending half his funds just to buy someone he didn’t want around him. But…
“Kid, why are you here?” Fonta squatted down and spoke softly.
“De—” The figure mumbled.
“De what? Speak up.” Fonta crossed his arms and spoke with the older brother tone he’d used for the other orphans he’d looked after.
“Defective defective defective defective defective.” The figure kept repeating.
Fonta’s pragmatic side said she’d be even less help in saving his sister, but said sister would be disappointed in him if he didn’t help her because of that.
Looking at the price of an adult demon mage, who was well into the 250,000 range Fonta did see that she was quite cheap in comparison. Though he could have gotten three horses for that price…
Fonta punched himself in the face and stumbled back. “There. Screw it. I’m strong enough already, who cares if I bring another weakling alone? Oi! Bug eyes! I require this one! What is her name!”
The cultivator appeared in a flash with a scowl on their face. “Why this one?”
“If I didn’t do it today and she ended up dead in a ditch or living a life of misery I couldn’t face my family.”
“Is that so? Your parents would be disappointed if you didn’t buy a slave?”
“Don’t have those. I couldn’t look my siblings in the eye if I decided not to help just because she is a demon. Though what makes them defective?”
“I believe she is from a clan of two horn fire demons or Ifrits. But this little one only has one horn and no fire elemental cores whatsoever.”
“Ah, sounds useless. Why not cut the price in half and let me take her off your hands to avoid polluting your fine wares' overall quality.”
“Full price, the only way I’d say half is if you were willing to leave the command collar and sigils in my hands. Which I advise against as an unbound demon could be seen as an easy target for cores and parts.”
“Cores?”
“Their magical organ, when a demon dies their mana is condensed into a small shape and can be used for all sorts of things, like granting an elemental aspect, to breaking through, obtaining a magic meridian, or as an ingredient.”
“So the collar will let her walk free to an extent.”
“It would mean people can’t attack her on sight outside of this place.”
“Fine. I’ll pay the price with store credit.”
“Where do you want the linking brand?”
“Who does it go on?”
“Either you or her.”
Fonta raises his right sleeve revealing a limb with various fading scars. “Did you crawl out of the depths to get those scars?”
“Nah, I get into fights a lot.”
“Should I numb—:”
“No, I can take the pain.”
Fonta felt as if the branding device was summoned from a spatial ring and pressed against his arm. It was warm but not unpleasant, though the symbol of a large osprey appeared on his shoulder.
“Curious.”
“Why?” Fonta put his sleeve down.
“Intent. Had your intentions been impure, you’d have been burned based on how impure those intentions were. Had you put it on her she’d be able to escape after being mistreated or abused. Instead, you will be filled with pain should you try to force your will onto her. You may also release her from her contract whenever. You are bound to the collar.”
Fonta sighed. “You’re testing me for some reason. I hate surprise tests, tell that to your master.”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“Oi! Kid, you coming or do you want to stay in that cage?” Fonta said as he exited the door.
“Y-yes master!”
“Name’s Fonta, use it. Also.” Fonta took off his beanie and placed it over her head, tucking her bangs into the hat as he examined her silver eyes.
Fonta’s hair fell to his shoulders after removing the hat and his purple hair stood out. Without the collar, one wouldn’t have been able to tell that they weren’t siblings though the fact that she was around his height irked him a bit.
“What is this?”
“Something to help hide your identity, for now.” Fonta sighed as he encountered Yang whose arms were crossed.
“Who is that and why does she have a slave collar?”
“New sibling.”
“Already replacing that fairy sister of yours.”
“That's it! That was the insult that made her cry!” Fonta accused.
“Huh… You both had no idea what that meant. Ugh…You know what, this is my fault. We lived in a backwoods city with very few decent cultivators. I should have expected a reaction like that.”
“Yeah yeah. You can apologize later.”
The pink-haired girl laughed and then looked around in panic.
“Oi! What's so funny! Kids should respect their elders.”
“You older? I’m sixteen.” The pink-haired girl scowled as Fonta had a disturbing smile on his face.
“Hi, Sixteen, my name's Fonta, and I’m seventeen years old.” Fonta lied as placed both hands on his hips and laughed maniacally. He had another four months to go.
The girl seemed confused, along with Yang.
“You’re really that old?” Yang asked.
“I’m waiting for a growth spurt,” Fonta stated.
“Now now. While you can talk here, don't you have money to spend?”
“Cheap gear, I need to spend the rest of my money on clothes and weapons. Also, that one needs food and a bath before she rejoins us.” Fona added.
“We can take care of her needs for ten which will leave you with 35,000.”
“Great.” Fonta was brought through another portal.
----------------------------------------
Yang and Fonta were brought to the weapons shop where a burly demon with a cow head and cloven feet but the proportions of a giant human. Silver vambraces covered both of his arms as a kilt covered his lower body.
“Welcome humans! What are you looking for?” The demon asked.
“Cheap weapons and gear for someone small. Light and flexible.” Fonta stated.
“Hmmm… I have a cultivator starter kit that I sell for 5000, it contains basic gear, equipment, and consumables to get a fresh cultivator a decent start. I also have the blade gacha. For 10,000 ducks I let you pull a weapon from a barrel. You can only keep one weapon per visit but if you don’t like your pull you can spend 6,000 to retry.”
“Sneaky, but fair. Two kits, that one-handed shield and let me see.” Fonta placed his hand in the barrel and let his talent guide his hand.
The barrel had weapons of all kinds of grades, mixed in. Fonta called them grades, but it was what his talent called them when he thought about them. Trash, Uncommon, Gold, Jade, Mithral, Oricalicum, Lost. He sensed 42 trash weapons, 4 uncommon, 2 gold, 1 Jade, and 1 lost.
Focusing Fonta dug deep into the barrel as his hand felt the potential of each weapon until he latched on a wrapped handle. He’d felt more potential in that weapon than he had in anything else.
Pulling with the strength of youth Fonta retrieved a curved handle like that of a cane with a very nice grip. Its heft was slightly long and quite maneuverable.
With awe, Fonta withdrew his prize and scowled as he held a sleek umbrella. Revealing it didn’t erase the sensation of the weapon's lost level or rarity, but it was quite odd that he couldn’t understand how he could use it yet.
“Ha, you drew the water shield! A shame you don’t intend to reroll.”
“Yeah, a right shame.” Fonta sighed as he strapped it to his side. Sensing something special about the weapon.
“Fonta, you didn’t leave enough for a skill cube.”
“A what? Meh. I will never regret what I’ve done today. Did you get the horses?”
“Drie already did that. I’ve bought some weapon manuals. I want you to practice them then show me the style slowly.”
“Alright, but why should I learn a style?”
“How strong is my gramps to you ?”
“Leagues ahead, like comparing a man to an ant.”
“There are people in the Elpmet stage capable of beating him. They have formal combat training and resources a mere branch leader in the backwoods can’t keep up with.”
“I beat someone at the peak easily I won’t lose–”
“So you’re the one who bested my subordinate.” A man in purple robes, with black hair and a sharp nose entered the shop.”
Fonta shrugged Rolled Yang out of the room and picked up their fourth member. From there he left the building and made his way out of the auction house.
They found Drie in quick succession and made his way into their carriage.
“So who's the brat?” Drie asked.
Fonta realized he never got her name. “Umm, what's your name? I assume it isn’t sixteen.”
The pink-haired girl scowled. “I don’t have one.”
“Why?”
“I was disowned. My name was passed onto my replacement before I was sold.”
“Yeesh, demons are rough.” Yang winced.
“So no family, do you want to choose your name or should you?”
“You do it.”
“What are your magicks? And demon powers.”
“Enhance others, positive summon, and barrier, and I have a somewhat large mana regen. That is all.”
“What is a positive summon?” Yang asked.
“I summon creatures of light that can sometimes help others, or do nothing. There is no middle ground. Very unreliable.”
“What does enhance others do?” Yang asked.
“It doubles someone’s speed, strength, or other physical capabilities for one minute.”
“Never cast that on this Fonta. He does not need double speed.”
“H-hey! Get back here! I am a peak Awakened Cultivator you will bow!”
“I mean…at best you’re early, and even then you seem weaker than a sack of potatoes. Why does one fight always lead to another? Don’t listen to Yang, let's test out that power.”
----------------------------------------
Fonta lay beaten, bruised, and broken, various bones had been shattered. Truly he had underestimated them.
Said the pink-haired girl seemed panicked as she summoned a small white ball with feathery wings and a single eye. The entity covered Fonta in white magic that healed his bones but didn’t fix the soreness in his mussels or aches all over.
The fight lasted less than two seconds. The Awakened cultivator was only at the 7th level of awakening and had hired the monk to act as one of his subordinates. Unlike anyone with good sense, they ignored the eyewitness accounts of Fonta defeating the bruiser.
All Fonta had done was slap him across the face, which nearly snapped his neck with the strength amplification. The boy’s bodyguards were subdued soon after, then Fonta ran back towards the carriage, tripped over his foot, and launched himself into a reinforced building. Fonta’s body gave out first though it would have a Fonta-shaped indent for a while.
“I’m sorry master Fonta! Don’t leave me! I’m so sorry?”
Fonta didn’t speak as his teeth were getting repaired and he even noticed that they were reforming straighter and whiter than before. A strange thought entered his head as he was healed. Was this the magic his sister used? Or was it thanks to that Angel right next to her?
“Angul?”
“Master I’m sorry don’t be angry.”
“Noh, Angul!”
The child hid behind Yang. “This is why you two need to listen. Fonta is already faster than someone of his rank should be. More speed while his body isn’t strong enough will be dangerous.”
“Oh. Is he that fast?”
“He’s using a movement technique that doesn’t rely on chi to cover distances that most people. Lots of hops and jumps to dart about, almost bestial.”
Fonta sighed. “Can’t deny that's quite true. It was developed for fighting multiple foes at once. I have also bitten something to death while using it. Though I will admit that it is indeed quite beast-like.”
“You bit something to death? Do you have fangs?”
“No, but I was fighting multiple Vits at once, my talent seems to grow the more types of weapons I learn and the more I use them the better I get. My body is one of those weapons.”
“How many were you fighting?.”
“Four at once, they tend to hesitate when you act like a predator instead of prey.”
“Why would you fight Vit’s they’re just mounts.”
“I’ll explain later. How far have we gotten?” Fonta stated.
“You were out for eight hours and these horses are faster than the others.”
“So 5 days until the next stop?”
“Two, there is another rest stop, though this one is smaller. The father of that brat you knocked out lives there, but based on his injuries I doubt he’ll be running home fast enough to matter.”
“I just need to stay out of trouble.” Fonta nodded and winced as he went back to sleep.