A much-deserved reward lost because of a technicality.
Any soul who has bled for their dreams understands the pain behind this ludicrous turn of events, but Tetsu stayed indifferent. Because he didn’t like the system’s insinuation of those pathetic bugs being worth enough to be called a bonus.
Be it level five or level seven, squashing a pathetic bug should not be regarded as an accomplishment.
On his way back, Tetsu found more pathetic bugs. This time around he avoided them, not wanting useless XP points.
Striding through the forest like a king, Tetsu practiced with air affinity.
Info gave little information on air affinity, simply stating air affinity has the mana essence of ‘Breathe’ stationed inside the air.
Breathe is a fancier term for air, wind, breeze, and you get the point.
Despite the vague and obvious secrets encircling the affinity, it played a huge role in Tetsu, creating the all-seeing eye of providence, and the aura level system skill.
Air affinity helped Tetsu awaken an innate knowledge that increased his range and control over mana. Now, even though he leaked mana from every spore, Tetsu can manipulate it to flow in a direction of his choosing.
More theories and experiments followed suit and Tetsu discovered other mana signatures devouring each other; the same way he used devour to convert other mana affinities into his unique signature.
This meant every mana affinity had a will of its own. An innate sense to multiply and make more of their kind. Similar to how every race, species, and pretty much every cell’s basic function: Multiply.
In understanding the basic function, Tetsu also realized the missing component among the detached mana string.
By imbuing his mana with more willpower, the string lasted longer and functioned much more efficiently than ever before.
Tetsu tried using ‘Pave Paths’ with this application of mana, borrowing some pieces from the previous puzzle to form a new theory but failed.
While the borrowed pieces formed a perfect puzzle, Tetsu could not use ‘pave paths’ unless the mana was directly connected to him. Sure, he can extend his mana, control its direction with air affinity, touch any object, and use pave paths, but imagine throwing wisps of mana and using the skill over multiple objects.
If accomplished, he can zoom around better than any magnetic field user or the conditioned runes, by using much less effort and mana.
A slight but very efficient upgrade to ‘Tenco ten.’
His current fighting style works best in short bursts. To be specific, five minutes. If the battle prolongs, the mind overheats like a processor built inside the wrong computer, threatening to erode Tetsu’s eye sockets.
One has to remember the technique includes predictions to foresee an event/attack. This meant he had to plan for the future, manipulate the present, and constantly learn from the past. Something tailored to an overthinker.
Pieces of the puzzle clicked, yet the expected ding of accomplishment never occurred.
"I may be looking at the puzzle the wrong way. " Wondered Tetsu.
While he tried to rearrange the imaginary puzzle, an unrelated notification interrupted and grabbed his attention.
[Ding! Crimsonfae fangs have reached level 07.]
Intrigued by this sudden development, Tetsu checks his status and finds the system still calculating. It almost sounded stuck, looping within itself like a broken tape recorder. Yet he attained the stats until level four.
Name: Tetsü .K .Tenco.
Race: Human {---} Level: 04 | Initiate |
Class: Artificer & Tracer
Affinity: [Rune Force]; [Arcane Knot]; [Earth]; [Wind].
Bond: N/A
--*--*----*--*--
[STATUS]
Health Pool: 106/398
Mana Pool: 191/610
Fatigue: 77
-*--*----*--*--
[INDIVIDUAL STAT’S]
Dex: 25 :: Flex: 16 :: Flash: 12
Stamina: 14 :: Rex: 16 :: Fort: 28
-*--*----*--*--
Senses: 24 :: Regen: 28 :: Tork: 25
-*--*----*--*--
Will power: 39 :: Perception: 77 :: Intellect: 65
Luck: 44
Free Points: 16
-*--*----*--*--
Titles--: [Solitary Vanguard]; [Fanatic Rever]; [Saint RÆ]; [Rushmore]; [Prodigy Visionary]; [My Way]; [Valedictorian].
Dungeonier Title: [Xanvic Five].
-*--*----*--*-
Creation -X-
Artifact I -VI;
-*--*----*--*--
Skills: [Resource Radar (Unique)], [Echo Vault(Warrior/Rare)[01/01], [Smoke orb(Initiate/Common)[01/01], [Etched Rune(Monarch/Common)], [Tracker(Initiate/Uncommon)], [Overlay(Monarch/Legendary)], [Conqueror’s Stride(Conqueror/Epic)], [Rune Curve of Resonance(Warrior/Uncommon)], [Razor Edge(Initiate/Epic)], [Mana Injection(Initiate/Common)],
[System Command (Unique)], [Artifact Prober (Initiate/Uncommon)], [Leech Over (Warrior/Uncommon)], [Pave Path (Initiate/Omni)], [Earth Meld (Initiate/Legendary)], [Vertical Jump (Initiate/Common)],
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-*--*----*--*--
Sian Ru’nic Skills: [Quantum Harvest(Warrior/Uncommon)]:{Commandment: Har/Mev/Slu/Dal}
-*--*----*--*--
Racial Skill: [Tenco Ten (Unique)], [Fear Fea (Warrior/Epic)]
-*--*----*--*--
Ru'nic formations: [Info(Unique)]:{Condition: Intent}, [Devour(Unique)]:{Condition: Will/intent},
[Pluck & Fixed point(Warrior/Epic)]:{Conditions: Fix/Remove}{Semi-condition: Approach}{Alternate-condition: Seperate}, [Syphon(Warrior/Uncommon)]:{Condition: limited source/intent},
[Lightweight(Initiate/Common)], [Speed(Initiate/Common)], [Target(Unique)]:{Condition: Love/Hate}, [Overload(Unique)]:{Condition: Contain}, [Launch(Unique)]:{Condition: Impact}, [Escape(Initiate/Common)], [Vapor(Initiate/Common)], [Spark(Initiate/Common)], [Breeze(Initiate/Common)], [Fire(Initiate/Common)], [Swirl(Initiate/Common)].
Divine Seal: [Eye of Providence (Partial)],
-*--*----*--*--
Bound Items: [Crystal Mold Pants {Gift}], [Crimsonfae Fangs {Karmic Bond}], [Exemplary Token {System recognition}].
-*--*----*--*--
Increment: [By pants (Initiate/Rare): Dex: +13. Flex: -7. Flash: -10. Stamina: -10. Fort: +20. Level: Initiate. Rarity: Rare.] <>{half: Dex: +7. Flex: -4. Stamina: -5. Fort: +10.}
[By Rune Tracer class: Perception: +7. Tork: +4. Regen: +4.], [By titles (Solitary Vanguard & Fanatic Rever: 2% Bonus to all stats.], [By Saint Ræ title: Wisdom: +30. Perception: +20. Intellect: +20.],
[By Artificer class: 2% increase on Mana & Health pool.], [By Crimsonfea Fangs: Toughness (Body/Mind/soul): Level: 07.] [Title: My way; 4% Bonus to all stats.], [Title: Valedictorian; 1% Bonus to all stats.]
-*--*----*--*--
Info did not work on anything, so Tetsu took his new body for a spin instead.
He dashes forward, above a tree, holds a branch, uses it as an anchor, and does a three-sixty around the branch, lets go, sores through a gentle wind, and lands with utmost grace.
His pants seemed lighter. He flew like a feather, drifting along the wind’s mood swings. He forgot his burdens for a moment and enjoyed the wind teasing him.
If level one Tetsu is equal to a pre-system athlete, the current Tetsu can take on sixteen athletes at once and dominate the fight with raw power. This realization of power snapped Tetsu back.
By embracing the darkness he buried deep within him, Tetsu broke through his previous shell and claimed a pinnacle.
Even his fangs leveled up with him, sharing the accomplishment and creating a stronger bond.
It felt like getting up after slumbering forever.
Tetsu clenched his fist and rammed it into a tree trunk.
With a thud, a small dent appears at the place where Tetsu’s fist lands.
“More.”
Tetsu uses runes and skills, beating at a single spot, until he drilled through a section of the trunk.
A sharp pain kept reminding Tetsu of his current state; Broken wrists, shattered bones, splinters breaching every layer of skin, and heavy blood loss. Yet Tetsu smiled, repositioned his bones for them to heal properly, and dreamt of power.
What can a single, level-hundred punch do?
The three basic powers were the foundation, and a proper foundation was enough to breach the confines of a mortal shell.
Heart: vital force.
Mind: subconscious force.
Mana; spirit force. Or the essence carried inside and around every object.
After three months of searching, theorizing, and experimentation, Tetsu finally found the foundation, the origin, and now, he can build toward true power.
A strong gust of wind carries heavy sand into Tetsu’s eyes. He shoots to rub it. Close to the eye, the hand stops. Remembering any friction will only make the situation worse.
Even with no help, the rusty, sharp sand sliced through the eye, the grains digging into his eye sockets.
Tetsu curses and shields his face with an arm. "Who the fuck–"
He stops as a familiar stick crashes into his feet; A broken artifact, beyond recognition, except for a crimson tooth protruding at its head.
He made it back... and these were the ashes of his friend… A friend he forgot to bury.
Blinded by rage, he forgot to treasure a memory, a face.
He never buried, he never gave a proper send-off to his friend.
"What the fuck am I doing? A daunting realization settles on Tetsu’s shoulders.
For a second, he couldn’t recognize himself. A gap, a question, had no answer.
"Why didn’t I bury her?"
Tetsu opens his clenched fist, letting the remains of RJ in his hands rejoin the wind, along with wisps of his mana.
The sand tornado bends to his will, encircling and keeping Tetsu at its center.
Tetsu bows closer to the mighty oak, fighting against his pride. He asks for forgiveness and wishes for a miracle as he digs a grave.
With a simple gesture, a swirl of his wrist, pointing at the grave, Tetsu commands the sand tornado to settle down in its confines.
Unable to look straight at his friend, Tetsu closes his eyes, bleeding tears.
He stretches his hands in both directions and summons the broken artifact, plucks out the tooth, and places it inside the tomb, hoping to drive away any potential threat.
The whole gesture was silly, yet he hoped and did it, anyway.
Tetsu placed the grave right below the mighty oak with the artifact making a cross and marking the grave.
Oak did not interfere or snatch away the artifact, respecting Tetsu’s grievance.
Tetsu bowed to the floor, his head panted into the mud. “Thank you.” He whimpers. “Please...” He trails off, gasping for air.
“Please help.” He begs the mighty oak to pull one more miracle. “Take my life instead. Please... Help me.” Tetsu howls for a miracle.
Even the sun hides behind the horizon, not wanting the world to find Tetsu in his current state.
A law, a stupid code, forces the sun to rise again. The sun marveled if it gave Tetsu enough time to mourn, so it first crept a little over the horizon to peep.
With many obstructions blocking its vision, it waited to rise above and instantly regretted getting a good vantage point.
For Tetsu still lay lifeless. His palm facing the heavens begging for one last miracle, hoping to have his friend back.
The sun wept alongside Tetsu until they forced it back down and then forced it back up to witness the same heart-wrenching sight, again and again... until one day, it saw Tetsu soaking the ground beneath him with more than just tears.
If only he could perform blood arts. Then, the spilled blood could drown his sorrow.
Tetsu flips his solemn vows. “Cost be darned. I will repay you by any means possible.”
Tetsu retreats and offers the lower half of the pants. “Want my life? You can have that too.” He said in a low, beaten voice. “I am a great slave and a test subject.”
Tetsu waits for a reply from the mighty oak and the system. Two entities who could bring back his friend.
Two who choose not to.
Ding!
A screeching sound, a gut-wrenching pain, pulls Tetsu’s very being apart.
His nerves wanted to creep out, while the blood boiled the organ, cooking them from the inside out.
A sharp knife ran across his skin, through his bones, taking its time, and peeling them with care.
Tetsu recognized this intensity of pain. It’s the same pain he felt before collapsing, before losing his friend.
The pain started at a similar magnitude but soon rose to a new level if that’s even possible.
While the walls closed in, Tetsu acted on pure instinct, stretching his palm to reach his floating, transparent screen.
A desire burnt inside Tetsu to know more about the unknown, to touch and plead with them to help.
A puzzle sat in its place, a loss fueled his will, and Tetsu reached to attain the unattainable before the abyss claimed him.
One technicality that was calculated or hastily planned? These secrets lay between two individuals, while the others shuttered to relive the memory.
Tetsu heard a voice that demanded respect as it carried out an order, treating everyone else before it as slaves, worthless piles of disposable waste.
— — — —
"What can you offer me?" The voice demands compensation.
Based on the disappointed crowd it spoke to, the task was menial, and yet the voice demanded a huge favor.
"Such feeble, pathetic being that can’t even die right."
It mocked someone.
Me!
The voice had a harsh undertone, which made discerning the gender impossible. Yet it reminds me of my rampage. The hate that I swallowed and the distaste I portrayed for others.
Is it hurting like I did? Or lost someone…
"Tetsu!" Another voice jerks me from my stupor, forcing me to open my eyes.
"Kile?" I exclaimed in doubt, in hope, but I found myself back in the nightmare I left behind.
The grave remained marked by a cross, made of two pieces of a broken artifact.
My wounds healed, either by the tree or the damn system. Yet in my eyes, they both were failures, frauds, who could not perform a full recovery.
— — — —
They both failed to heal his heart, and both of them chose the wrong soul to heal.
"You both placed a lousy bet."
Tetsu stared up at the sky. The stars were visible even during the daylight and reminded him of the Dandralith.
“You didn’t...” He lowers his gaze to RJ’s coffin. “I will avenge you.”
As the darkness faded and Tetsu realized the depth of his situation, he changed the rest of the solemn vows he took.
Apologizing once again, Tetsu modifies the vow made to the mighty oak.
“Never doubt this...” He makes a fist. “I shall repay my debt.”
Kiles’ words flash to reality. “While apologizing to others is hard, the same apology weighs a ton when you gotta apologize to yourself.”
Not dwelling too deep into the memory, Tetsu changes the terms he wants to live by with one exception; his revenge and vow to avenge. His promise for revenge never wavered once, during the dark stage or after.
The simple-minded, no-violence, and being pure bullshit mentality was gone.
Now, he practiced self-defense to an extreme, where crossing the line meant one survivor.
A peace treaty, arguments, and a chance, that’s before violence, to leave will be offered. Cross the line and no regret will dare linger after the fight.
The world is a manipulative place and he will protect a criminal only once his inner Razz deems it worthy.
Let the world be dammed, Tetsu vowed to live on his principles or die trying.
After finally finding his resolve and polishing his rules for one last time, a beaconing realization dawned on him.
An emotion he feared and misunderstood the most played this game better than he ever could, and if he had any chance to avenge RJ, it was hidden inside that state.
He somehow had to tap into that state of hate, pride, and superiority, even just for a minute, and the Dandralith would pay for crossing the line.
This wasn’t overconfidence or his hate speaking. Even if the Dandralith attacked now, all Tetsu requires is a minute in that state of mind.
The stag beetle met its demise in under a minute. Tetsu played with it for the rest of the time, hoping some other opponent might take its place, but every other creature bolted because of the pathetic wailing of the larva beetle.
Five minutes isn’t necessary with the Dandralith, though. After it is incapacitated, Tetsu does not require any help from a different state of mind. He will take his sweet time, torturing it to death.
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