Now I know what you are thinking. Why am I going to commit a crime that could get me thrown in jail?
Relax, I'm not stupid. All I will do is gently knock the person out and take some clothes and money. That is all I will do, I promise.
I hid in the bushes that were along this road. Now I don't know if there will be any merchants or random adventurers coming by, but people definitely take this road.
By the way, there are two reasons why I'm hiding. One is so I don't get spotted and two, I'm literally naked so… yes, that part is exposed.
A few minutes passed and the road was absolutely empty. Well, can't expect people to pass this road this early in the morning. Or is it the afternoon? I don't know.
I turned back to check if I was going to be ambushed by a monster or not. Luckily, I was in the clear. I noticed that my tail was waving around in the air. That's not good, it's almost like a beacon saying I'm here.
Maybe…
I grabbed onto my tail but that was a bad idea because it caused a shock through my entire body.
"Ah, ah, AHHHHHH!!!!"
I'd let go of my tail and the shock faded away. Ok, lesson learned, don't suddenly grab onto your tail.
I guess I'll just have to leave it.
Thump!
Huh? What was that?
Thump-thump!
I peaked through the bushes and there was an elderly man walking down the road with his walking stick.
Aww man, this ain't good. What is an elderly man gonna provide me with?
But then, there was something that caught my eye on the old man's waist. What is that? It's some kind of pouch and… is that coins I hear?
T-this man must be stacked! Maybe… I can just take those coins. That's all. I'm not an expert at pickpocketing but I've been pickpocketed before. Well, the only thing I lost was my house keys, which are easily replaced.
Maybe I should send a distraction. That'll keep the man's vision on my distraction.
I closed my eyes and summoned a fire lion and a water lion, then sent them to fight in front of the old man.
[Mp: 170,234/172,867]
I peaked back through the bushes and sure enough; the man was distracted by my summons.
Here I go!
I jumped out of the bushes and ran towards the old man, still distracted. I glanced at the pouch of coins and attempted to snatch it away until I was suddenly hit in the stomach.
"Oof!"
I looked down to see the old man facing his palm at me. Did he just do that?
I slid across the floor and stopped myself. I got up and rubbed my stomach.
What did he just do? I didn't even see him make a move until now.
"Impressive. Making a diversion to divert your target's attention, then steal from them while they are distracted." The old man said as he spun his cane.
I got up and clenched my fist. Whatever this man did, I shouldn't underestimate him just because he's old. I'll have to be careful.
The old man spun his cane and pointed it towards me.
"C'mon." He said as he beckoned me with his cane.
I dashed towards him and attempted an overhand. However, the man used his cane and knocked me off balance. I stumbled onto the floor and he pointed the sharp end of his cane towards me.
"That was a massively telegraphed overhand." The old man said as he stroked his beard.
I gulped as I looked at the cane which was near my eye. Am I really gonna get humiliated like this? Not if I say it.
I snatched one of his legs with feet and swept it. The old man noticed and he pulled his cane away. Here's my chance!
I went for the pouch once again but the old man hit me with his cane before I could do it.
"Ow!"
I looked back at the man who had caught himself with his free hand.
God damn it, I had enough!
I ran towards him but then he placed his palm on my chest.
Doom!
I was blown back by an invisible force and went flying. I scuttled across the ground and I was stopped by a tree.
I pushed myself up and looked up but the man was right there with his cane near my eye.
"Impressive, you almost got me there." The old man said, giving me a smile.
Damn… I couldn't even beat an old man. This is just embarrassing. But… I want to know what he did there. It was like an invisible attack.
"Now… I have no time to play with you anymore. Farewell."
The old man began walking down the road. This man… I think… I think I can learn something from him. If I recall, I gain skills whenever a random event occurs. Maybe this man can teach me.
"Wait!" I called out. The old man turned around and looked at me with interesting eyes.
"Yes?"
"C-can you please teach me? Teach me whatever you just did there, please! I'll do anything you want."
"Anything?"
"Anything!"
The old man stood there, stroking his beard.
"Alright then," He said, "Follow me."
I got up and approached him. He inspected me from bottom to top.
"Hmm, you need some clothes. Do you not have any clothes?"
"Uhh… no."
"I see, that would explain why you would try to rob me."
He'd begin walking down the road and I followed him.
"Where are we going?"
"To my home of course."
***
We arrived in front of this farmhouse. It was a two-story house that looked like any other farmhouse. The old man walked up the stairs and opened the door. He turns towards me and gestured me to come in.
I followed him inside and entered the living room.
"Wait here, I'll go get you some clothes." The old man walked into another room and closed the door behind him.
I looked around; it looks like the old man lives alone.
Well actually, he practically lives in the middle of nowhere. He has a small farm at the back but besides that, he's practically in an empty field.
A minute passed by and the man comes out of the room. He placed the clothing he took out for me on the table. I walked over to the table and took a look.
He got me boxer briefs, a shirt, trousers, socks, boots, and a hair tie. I wondered what he gave me a hair tie for, then I remembered I had pretty long hair.
"I'll be waiting outside so take your time." The old man said as he exited the house.
Hmm, I should tie my hair first.
I took the hair tie and tied my hair back. However, the hair tie wasn't enough as I still had some large bangs hanging from my forehead. Oh well, a few bangs won't hurt.
After putting on the clothes I was given, I walked outside and the man was sitting on a rocking chair.
"Thank you for lending me clothes." I thanked the old man and nodded.
"So umm… am I going to be taught that… what was it called?"
"Esprit."
"Esprit?"
"The energy used to perform this is directly taken from your core, not the energy already spreading through your body."
The man took a fruit from a basket next to him and lifted it. Then he threw it up and aimed his palm at it. Then the fruit went flying.
"Wow, I didn't even see any energy coming from your palm," I said, astonished.
"That's because the energy generated from your core is invisible until it is released throughout your body."
So energy is generated from the core? That would explain how I can suddenly regenerate Mp so quickly. It used to generate at a slow pace. I think it was 1 point every 5 milliseconds but now it's almost as if I can recover all my Mp in just a second.
"So when do I learn that?"
"Well, it requires training. First, you need to have wind aptitude."
"Uhh, I think I can do that."
"I know, I was just saying it. Second, you need to know how to draw energy directly from your core."
"And how do I do that?"
"Concentrate. Dig deep into the heart and find an opening in your core. Then, attach it to your own soul."
"Concentrate, huh? I'll try."
I sat down and closed my eyes. Dig into my heart. Find an opening.
"Think of the appearance of your core. That is how you will be able to find it."
The core. It was a small crimson red orb filled with energy.
Nothing happened for a few seconds but then I suddenly felt a sensation through my body.
"It seems you have done step one. Now try to find an opening." The old man said but his voice was a bit faint.
I was standing in a dark room. Where the hell am I?
[It's been a while.]
A familiar voice spoke and I turned around. There was a massive red glowing heart in front of me.
[You remember me, don't you?]
This voice, it can't be.
"Pharaoh?"
[So you do. Heh heh, I was wondering when you will learn to access your cores.]
"H-how-?"
[I am able to communicate with you face to face. Or should I say heart to heart? The matter is, we can finally communicate now.]
"I see…"
So I can talk to the cores I absorb? That is… a bit weird but makes a bit sense.
"So uhh."
[I already know what you need. You need to find an opening to my core, right?]
"But how do I do that?" I questioned and Pharaoh spoke.
[You are supposed to first challenge the core's original owner but since I willingly gave up my core to you, I will provide that opening.]
That's when cracks began to appear on the heart. Light spilled from those cracks, and it kept on cracking until the whole place was filled with light.
Shatter!
I looked away as the heart exploded and I couldn't see anything for a few seconds. Then, the ceiling, or should I say the skies were covered in crimson light. I looked around the room, no, it wasn't even a room anymore. It was more like I was in an empty wasteland.
[That should be better.]
A dragon stood in front of me with a large grin.
[I have now provided what you need. Come talk to me once in a while now, would ya?]
"Uhh… sure."
He's really easygoing, isn't he?
I blinked and I was now staring at an empty field.
"So, have you done it?" The old man asked. I nodded and he stroked his beard.
"Now this… is where the hard part comes."
.
.
.