[ "Patience is something not easy learned but invaluable to growth. It's been said that the first beasts to attain the use of source energy spent 1,000 years to first sense it, then 10,000 years to be able to use it. So, don't you think it's foolish to keep expecting that you'll be able to attain enlightenment after only spending so little time grasping this new strength?"]
Kaid lay sprawled on the floor of the mind space, recovering after his most recent attempt to control the flow of his source energy. Even though only a few days had gone past in the real world, he'd spent what felt like a few months within the mind space. Despite all that time he'd spent here, he barely made any progress in regard to his training. The Source Energy {LV 1} training was nothing to laugh at.
"Sure, it might be arrogance that drives me but I'm not looking to spend a millennium trying to cover the basics," said Kaid to the unusual man who he'd now come to call Elder. "I do have two thing that those beasts didn't have, knowledge and you." Kaid confidently got back onto his feet as he said those words, determination engulfing his mind and spirit.
[ "Indeed, you have the knowledge, but knowing doesn't acquaint to understanding. The roots of wisdom must therefore be bathed in knowledge and experience. Time will give you experience."]
"That's nice but I don't think I have much time. How about sharing some of your experience to substitute for my own?" This was a twofold question for Kaid. The first purpose was to get a bit more guidance in regard to controlling source energy, and the second was to learn more about this mysterious teacher the program had placed within his mind space.
The Elder stood there looking at Kaid with his routine blank stare for a few moments before reply, [ "those experiences I cannot share with you yet. You would not be able to understand them. As you get stronger I will share with you the secrets of this world and through them will you find the path to absolute strength. Until then you must endure."]
Kaid was disappointed by the response even though he wasn't expecting much to begin with. Noticing this the Elder offered a bit of respite.
[ "Controlling Source Energy can at times be equated to controlling a raging storm with only your breath. However, there is fault in this reasoning. Rather than seeking to quell the storm you must come to fuel it, let it rage and destroy everything. Only through destruction will you gain understanding."]
The type of training he'd been doing up to this point was certainly in line with the Elder's philosophy but Kaid was finding it hard to figure out what that 'understanding through destruction' meant.
He closed his eyes and assessed the damage his source energy had done to his body. He used all his focus to follow the path of destruction the energy left inside him. He meticulously marked every deviation in the path as he reconstructed the map of destruction in his mind. This was what he'd been doing for the past few months. Activating his source energy, trying to control it as it flowed throughout his body reaching every part, failing causing his energy to rampage, and mapping the path his energy had taken.
Kaid was constructing a finely detailed map showing the natural flow of source energy withing him, and periodically strengthening it by continuously sending energy through this path. The reason his training had been taking so long was because of the map. This map would serve as the foundation for his ability to control source energy, so it became imperative to have it as finely detailed as possible in order for him to have greater understanding of his source energy. He continued to spend the remainder of his time in the mind space like this until he'd exhausted his source energy and had to return to the real world.
Kaid opened his eyes slowly and let himself adjust to his surroundings. Although it'd only been 9 hours since he closed his eyes to the scene of the sparse hotel room before him, Kaid felt like it'd been ages.
Once he'd adjusted well enough he went over to the communication array by his night side table and ordered some food for himself. He turned on the TV, switching to the news, before plopping back down on to the bed.
{ "it was truly astonishing. Although not much footage was recorded of the event, the bit's that we do have certainly display the full capability of the Leviathan Corps."
"Yes, I couldn't agree more," replied the anchorwoman to her fellow colleague. "But I wonder how they're planning on reimbursing everyone for the damages suffered because of the attack from the [ ]?"
"I'm not sure myself," replied the anchorman. "But we do know that Leviathan has already been reimbursing many victims of this tragedy so it's very likely that the empire will follow suit and compensate the many businesses that fell victim as well."}
Kaid watched the broadcast in silence. The whole galaxy had been in an uproar over the capture of the Seval yesterday. Unfortunately, the worst had come to pass, the beast matured into a fully grown Seval and went on a rampage. It had still been on the same world Kaid had left so once it matured it immediately went to turning everything upside down. Kaid had watched some of the scenes from the destruction marveling as the world he once spent 3 years on was so easily being reduced to rubble by the Seval. Even with most of Leviathan being on the scene including the leader of the group, rank [RS-02] Donnavon, they were unable to take down the beast immediately. They ended up losing a third of their people before the beast was finally incapacitated. They ended up sealing the Seval within an enchanted container since that was the only way to deal with beasts that have such astronomical regeneration ability. Even if they wanted to kill it, they didn't have the firepower to completely destroy it, just incapacitate it. The beast truly deserved it's ranking of [RS-01] beast.
Kaid remembered how he felt during his encounter with the beast, it had truly been his destiny to die that day. There was nothing he could have done to survive.
{Let's hope so. A lot of innocent people become helpless victims yesterday, today the empire has the opportunity to show how it takes care of its people during a time of need. But the responsibility doesn't have to solely rely on the empire. If you're someone who feels the need to help these victims through this terrible time, please feel free to offer your support through the Scion Foundation. They're currently actively working to help the victims--}
Kaid turned off the TV, he didn't feel like listening anymore about the tragedy. A little while shortly his food arrived, and he immediately scarfed it down as the weight of his hunger finally hit him. While he was eating he regained some level of civility and decided to check his newly purchased C-Comm (Connective communication tool). It appeared that Arcadia had called a few hours earlier and left a message.
'You've been registered to take part in the ranker qualifications. It'll be happening in 5 days so I would recommend you prepare yourself appropriately. I look forward to your success Kaid. Well wishes. -Arcadia'
'Well there's one piece of good news at least,' thought Kaid. He had contacted Arcadia as soon as he left Frisha asking her to get him registered as soon as possible for the Ranker qualifications exams. He needed to become an official Ranker as soon as possible because that would be the quickest way for him to build the connections he needed and have access to a wealth of information which would make his own investigations easier.
'Five days huh. That's not much time but it's also quite a lot of time. I'll need to pick up the pace from my training. System show me my training progress.'
[Training-
Hand to hand combat {LV 1}: 0.9%
Weapons {LV 0}: 0.0%
Source Energy {LV 1}: 37.9%
Tactics {LV 0} 0.0% ]
Although his training was going at a rather steady pace Kaid wasn't very satisfied with it. At his current pace he'd complete the First level of Source Energy training but that wouldn't leave him enough time to train anything else. Right now, he was trying to figure out if he should train in hand to hand combat, improving his current combat power, or continue on with his source energy training. Previously this wouldn't have been a difficult choice for Kaid as he would have just selected source energy training, but after having gone through the introduction level of hand to hand combat training Kaid came to realize how crucial this training would be. Although the systems naming made it seem like it was merely training his combat skills but after experiencing it he came to understand its true nature. The training not only focused on giving him the necessary combat skills and experience, but it also taught him everything from how to read an opponent, how to counteract different move sets, basic physiology of living beings, and how to strengthen his physical body.
The amount of information he'd had transplanted into his head was astounding, further still the small progress he'd mad in hand to hand combat training gave him the insights he needed to modify his current abilities and effectively utilize his source energy.
Kaid was confident that he could pass the Ranker qualification, but he wasn't looking to just pass, he wanted to be get an advanced ranker qualification. Rankers are generally divided into five different categories based on their strength. They are Novice, Advanced, Expert, Master, and Grandmaster corresponding from weakest to strongest. The Novice category usually housed individuals with ranks of [R-01] to [R-02], the Advanced has [R-03] to [R-04] ranked individuals, Expert [R-05] to [R-07], Master [R-08] to [R-09], and Grandmaster with [RS-01] to [RS-03] ranked individuals. Getting put into the higher categories gave one even more access to important missions and gave access to exclusive information that's usually highly guarded. The higher a category someone could get into the better. Right now, Kaid wanted to ensure that he got into the Advanced category no matter what.
'System, do you have any information on the tactics training,' asked Kaid. He'd been curious regarding this training option. He'd originally decided to overlook it in favor for hand to hand combat training but now he was wondering if there was more to it.
[Analyzing...]
[No information available.]
Kaid sighed it's pretty much what he expected. The system didn't have access to the information for the training program which Kaid found a little curious. He sat there quietly weighing out his options for a few minutes before asking the system for its suggestion.
[Recommended candidate begins Tactics training.]
'Why is that?' asked Kaid a little surprised by the choice.
[Information unavailable. This is the current Artemis Program recommendation.]
'Wait, the program suggested this?! When did it start doing that?'
[Artemis program has begun to evolve. It will continue to evolve accordingly offering more options for growth.]
'What kind of program is this? Is it separate to you?'
[Correct. Artemis program is a forbidden training program used by the dead God Lushas. It bypasses user potential and allows for unlimited growth if users soul and conscious can survive it.]
[Program was erased from existence, but access was given to bring it into this universe.]
Kaid took a second to take in this new information. 'So, this program is a separate entity that you brought solely to train me.
[Correct. Only suitable program for candidate was Death God LV. 5. However, training potential unsuitable for long term ascension.]
'Are there issues I should know about it?'
[Artemis program will not kill candidate, but it will harm candidate in order to make candidate stronger. As program evolves more functions will become available.]
'I figured as much.'
Kaid took a second to take in all this new information. He honestly could not understand any of what was going on but unfortunately he didn't have the time to try and solve this mystery. Right now, he still had his issues at hand.
If the program suggested he do tactics training then it's very likely that this was the best option for him right now. He didn't trust the program, but he certainly knew that it'd give him the best options for getting stronger effectively. With that he'd made up his mind, he'd complete the tactics introductory training then if he had anytime left he'd use it for source energy training.
'System. Begin Tactics {LV 0} training.'
[Artemis program online. Training selected.]
With that his consciousness started fading once more.
--------------------------------
The jungle was shaking at the strength of the typhoon. The trees were fighting against to stay on the ground as the winds ripped them off their roots. The night sky was illuminated by the impossibly large moon above and the occasional lighting that skirted across the sky. Kaid was running through the jungle trying to maintain his balance, fighting to stay on his feet while pushing forward dispute the ungodly storm doing its very best to push him backwards.
Kaid didn't understand anything about the situation he was currently in except for that first, he was inside the mind space right now, and second, he needed to get away from whatever was chasing him. He hadn't seen or heard it but every fiber in his being was telling him he needed to get away from it.
For what felt like three hours he'd been running progressively getting weaker as the time went by. A few times he'd thought he escaped his pursuer only to feel its presence not too far from him at which point the chase would begin again.
Kaid didn't understand the situation completely but he understood that the he needed to escape from his pursuer in order to progress his training. This might have been easy if he had access to his full strength but right now Kaid couldn't feel any strength within himself. He couldn't even sense his surroundings, the only thing he was able to detect being his pursuer.
As he continued to run, the storm kept getting stronger, impeding his progress. He could now barely move forward as the wind produced an impenetrable wall before him.
'Shit. What now?' though Kaid.
He looked around trying to figure out his next trajectory. He'd decided to run north after he woke up because his pursuer had come from the south. Additionally, he had the feeling that if he went further south he'd only run into more beings like his current pursuer. Unfortunately, he couldn't go west because a raging river, a few hundred meters away, blocked his path for escape. He could go east but the jungle got progressively thicker making it almost impossible to maneuver through.
Kaid could feel his heart beating progressively faster as his pursuer approached at a rapid pace. In his desperation he decided to run east in order to escape his purser.
As he was making his way through the jungle, Kaid came to know how terrible of a decision he'd just made. He could barely maneuver through the jungle and was practically coming to a standstill. His pursuer on the other hand was still approaching him at a relatively fast past despite the thicket of the jungle.
His clothes were getting torn up and blood started to be drawn as he desperately pushed himself through the wildlife. He could now feel the pursuer right behind him. He didn't dare look behind but kept desperately pushing forward.
All of the sudden everything got quiet, and the world seemed to be spinning. Once everything stopped moving he noticed that he was now on the ground. He tried to move but couldn't, it was then that he noticed the strangest thing. His body seemed to be standing 5 meters away from him. The moment the realization of his own decapitation dawned on him; a silent horror filled scream made its way into his mouth. But before anything could escape, Kaid lost consciousness.
--------------------------------
He woke up to a jolt as the lighting struck a tree not too far away from him. He stood up trying to regain his only to keel over and immediately start throwing up. The reality of what had just happened to him was hitting him hard.
He quickly wiped his mouth and checked to make sure his head was attached. He then checked his surroundings. He immediately recognized this place as where he first woke from. He was back to where he'd started, and it was very likely that the same could be said for his purser. As he stood there in the pouring rain, with the wind beating against him, Kaid could only think one thing, 'I need a bubble bath.' And with that his pursuer emerged from the darkness and the hunt was on once again.