The first seemed the simplest. It involved connecting complex Source constructs to one’s nervous systems. The connected example especially excited Nil. Source Tail’s name spoke for itself. He liked the idea of constructing a Chaos tail encased in Balance. The appendage wouldn’t just act as an additional weapon and grappling tool, but once Nil got used to the tail, he imagined it improving his balance and enabling him to push supercharged speed even further. Best of all, it felt like the first step toward copying Iris’s technique. He had meant it as a joke, but mastering the tool felt like the first step toward more Source Arms.
The second technique was built on the first. It expanded one’s connection to their Source constructs, making the link metaphysical. It wasn’t as excellent as the first’s fine control but it was better for mass control like Burning Sands and Daughter of Venice had over their sand and brine, respectively. Nil didn’t foresee himself using the example much. It involved filling one’s surroundings with identical Source constructs and using them to trap or attack opponents. The manipulation and energy demands felt well beyond what Nil could afford or achieve. It was something he would try for training and improve his fundamentals, but not use in combat. It seemed better for someone who specialized in standing one’s ground.
Maybe if I ever figure out a way to weaponize Balance.
Nil’s mouth literally watered as he read how the previous two processes combined, and the technique that waited for him at the end of what would probably be an incredibly long journey was incredible. It had a simple name: Source Clone. It wasn’t spelled out, but Nil suspected that all three together could also lead to Watcher’s domain technique.
The link between Nil and the primordial had deepened because of the Source Gauntlets’ upgrade. He couldn’t tell whether that meant Watcher could peek into his mind or see things Nil wished to keep secret. The chances felt high because of how the first technique started—nerve impulses and synapses.
Selia’s stolen scroll had seemed out of Nil’s reach at first. Even though all Qi started as Source, their functionality, uses, and the possibilities surrounding them weren’t the same. Nil couldn’t figure out the beginning steps of Lightning Wrapping, which involved turning one’s Qi into lightning. Master Seer’s scroll helped him find a way.
Thus far, Nil had only externalized the Source and relied on Brutal Battery to empower his body. The two seemed closely related but weren’t quite the same. Master Seer believed it possible that Brutal Battery gave the Qi purpose, converting it into a form he could safely process. Expend’s secondary function converted the energy to a form closer to the original, which was too volatile to handle and therefore burned Nil.
The process started with Nil pulling the Source into himself. Chaos would undoubtedly ravage his insides. Meanwhile, Order was too rigid for the task. Nil started with Balance. It refused to remain stable without one of the other two forms but obeyed as long as he maintained focus and control. It was still an uncomfortable process, and it reminded Nil of the time he got stung by a wasp as a child. Careful cultivation techniques helped keep the Source from entangling with the rest of the energy circulating around his body.
It took several hours of deep breathing, concentration, and careful control before Nil figured out how to contain the Balanced Source to just his nerves. The pain receded. Only pins and needles remained. Sweat dripped from Nil’s forehead. His neck, chest, and back were damp while his wild, messy hair hung matted around his face. Then, he felt it. The Source adapted, adopted, and changed.
Before drawing the energy out of his veins, Nil manifested a basic knuckle dagger. A sudden change followed when he wrapped the Chaos in the adopted Balance. He didn’t just feel the invisible Source buzz and crackle. The crimson reacted, and red lightning danced around the dagger and knuckle dusters.
Wield the Source has progressed to Bronze 1!
Energy Instinct has progressed to Bronze 1!
Expend has progressed to Bronze 1!
The list didn’t surprise Nil. Given the pain and discomfort he had endured for the past several hours, the progress felt deserved.
Unlike the normal Source weapons made of Chaos wrapped in Balance, the energy levels didn’t remain constant. Nil felt the crimson slowly trickle away. It felt as if Balance acted as the catalyst, making Chaos gradually change to match the desired form.
I suppose it would be too powerful if I could maintain Chaos-lightning weapons with no energy drain.
Now that Nil had a feel of the process and how he needed to go about it, replicating the process a second time was easier and took significantly less time. The first stage of burning and pain only lasted a handful of minutes. Once he concentrated the Source in his nerves, the rest was easy. They mimicked the electrical impulses of his neurons. Nothing happened when he drew the charged Balance out alone but lightning blossomed around his hands when he emitted pure Chaos. Shaping the altered crimson took considerably more effort.
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The scroll suggested the exercise until one could straight away infuse their nerves with the Source bypassing the painful burning stage and going straight to the pins and needles. Then, it instructed the creation of the tail construct attached to one's coccyx and extending the ‘nerve energy’ through it. Nil felt nowhere near ready to attempt either. However, training the process by wrapping weapons I'm lightning felt like an excellent first step and training exercise. Ideally, he wished to get to a stage where the nerve infusion was unnecessary and he could directly electrify Balanced Source and then combine it with Chaos.
One month. It will be a decent trump card for the Hunt.
“Honestly? You should be teaching me.” Isabella's tablet played multiple clips of Nil's performance during the Chase. “I specialize in teaching people how to use their abilities to their full extent. This past year’s training has made your mastery well past that of an ordinary Bronze Realm fighter.” She replayed the clip of him fighting the Canadian axe-thrower. “You’ve got Anti-Friction Lattice and Brutal Battery’s base abilities pretty much mastered. At this point, it is just about reaction time, which will improve with Finesse. Your mastery of Wield the Source is also well beyond my understanding.”
“Master Seer was an excellent teacher, but there’s still a lot I can do to improve,” Nil protested. “I need to figure out how to improve my energy weapons, get better with Lightning Wrapping, nail the Source Sphere, and—”
“And I can’t help you with any of those,” Isabella said. “You’ve gone well beyond my realm of understanding and expertise. The only thing that’s going to help you get better now is repetition and practice, and I don’t know what else. If you need a sparring partner who’ll give you a run for your money, I’m more than happy to help you out. I don’t see what more I can do.”
“If you want to figure out cultivation, I can help you out. I’m sure it won’t be any trouble for you.”
“Maybe, but what’s the point? I’m done with the arena and only take on quests with a low danger-level. Teaching is my life now, and there aren’t a lot of people who’ll benefit from this. At least, in the short term.”
“I think you’re wrong,” Nil said. “I saw children as young as six learn to detect Qi, cultivate it, and push to the peak of six of Mortal Realm while away. Ten-year-olds ascended to Iron without ever going on a quest, fighting in the arena, or facing a mortal threat. I met more sixteen-year-old Bronze Realms who’ve never been in real combat than I care to count. Thanks to all of these plants, my father unknowingly spread them around the Forge, and the same Qi is now here. It might be worthwhile to learn and help other arena aspirants do the same. Maybe even non-Summoned. It’ll give them a chance.”
“A chance at what?”
“Surviving whatever shit storm is brewing with the people behind Symbiotech,” Nil answered. “This is probably just paranoia but it feels like there is something big and ugly coming. I want my friends and family ready for when that happens. You’ve just moved your kids into the ludus, right? If this works, it could be beneficial for them.”
“Fine.” Isabella sighed. “Send me the manuals. I’d rather have a go at it myself first. I don’t want my children becoming Summoned, let alone getting into Apocalypse Arena, but if this will make them stronger and safer, I’m willing to give it a shot.”
A strange, alien sensation interrupted the conversation. Nil struggled to place it. Then, a familiar empathic spike shook him.
Meatball!
“I have to go,” he said, taking off at a sprint before Isabella could say anything.
Worried Nil might bump into someone and hurt them—especially the civilian staff—he only used the base supercharged speed. He reached the green patch by the obstacle course within seconds. There were more people in it meditating, but Nil ignored them. He rushed to where the whelp had buried herself.
The dirt vibrated where she slept, rising and falling, making it look like the Earth was breathing. A seedling burst through the soil. The tiny leaves lined with luminous gold barely clung to the green stem. Then, everything kept growing in size and height. He had to hop away as the trunk thickened, gaining centimeters, and the newborn tree rapidly grew to a couple meters in height. New branches appeared, and young leaves came with them.
Meatball emerged a moment later, still the size of a bowling ball, but her carapace was the same light brownish grey as the tree’s steam. Faint gold peeked through the peeks, much like the new tree’s leaves.
Your Ironroot Whelp has grown into an Ironroot Drakeling!
The Ironroot half of her lineage has intertwined with Yggdrasil and her lineage, enhancing existing abilities.
The name Meatball has been scribed into the multiversal ether.
Meatball has progressed to Bronze 0!
- Regenerate has progressed to Bronze 0!
Meatball may now generate a regenerative aura, affecting people around her. She may also focus it on a single target, concentrating its power.
- Reinforce has progressed to Bronze 0!
Reinforce now enhances strength on top of toughness, and the boost lasts longer.
Meatball has learned Accelerate!
Quicksilver Burst: Meatball has gained the power to accelerate to 1.5 times her base speed instantaneously and simultaneously coats herself in a field that reduces the effect of resistances for fifteen seconds.
Meatball uncoiled, stretching and yawning. Her eyes had deepened. She looked and felt more intelligent. The Ironroot Drakeling’s hide appeared thicker, and tiny dark-green metallic scales covered her limbs and underside. Her claws had a similar sheen.
Did Meatball just sow a world tree?
The word drakeling also intrigued Nil. Whelp, being a generic term, didn’t tell him much about her non-Ironroot half. During his time in Ashe Fall, Nil had learned about dragons and subspecies.
“Drakes have four wings and no legs,” Nil whispered. “Why didn’t you tell me you were a drake, girly?”
Meatball chirped, nuzzling his hand.