It was a strange behavior to see someone performing but it was still what any rational person would do. The attendant was sure that things were different, he stood quietly as Isek flipped through pages quickly.
Wanting to applaud his diligence and the dedication to his interest, the Attendant watched as more and more of the training methods and weapon techniques were flipped through. Isek held onto a book in his hand for no longer than a few breaths before putting it down. Reading it's cover, the AI system chirped in the background.
[Spirit Weapon Forging Basics]
"I see you like Forging Manuals, he-he." The Attendant saw that perhaps the performance from before was actually a normal occurrence. If the man was indeed a blacksmith, then it would only make sense that treasures with a flaw, any flaw at all, would lose all glimmer in his eyes.
After finishing the books, he moved onto the scrolls that laid in piles among the shelves. There was no established stacking or sorting order for them, except for their grade, which was marked by a tag that hung on them all. The Treasure Hall found that when people were searching for techniques, grade was among the most important of basics to consider when choosing.
The first scroll in his hands was one of the brightest among the pile, "Seven Strokes." Isek handled it and read its contents quickly before setting it down.
"It seems you're also familiar with the move, it's one of the Sect Foundational Skills. Anyone can purchase it with enough contribution points." the Attendant pointed to the edge of the scroll, there was a tiny mark, like an indentation on the spine. "These marking are only made by our sect, only the Grandmasters and elders would be the ones making them officially, the markings change with every generation but they've much remained the same. If you see these markings, it is likely someone's heritage or legacy. With so many however, how are anyone to choose?"
"Is there a different section for Research?" Isek stopped what he was doing, put down the scroll he had just picked up and stared the man down.
"Yes. If you'd like to go there, I can take you now." There was an overbearing rush of air that seemed to come down from the ceiling, it felt like Isek would crush the Attendant with a but a whim, though, in reality, nothing had happened at all.
It was all in his mind, the Attendant felt weak and held himself against the wall. When he noticed his current and public appearance, he straightened himself up and escorted Isek down the hall.
There was a counter and everything about the vibe of the space said that it was a records room lobby.
"Requests for information are met here. If you have any questions, feel free to ask for help."
In the Center of the room there was a touchstone, much like the love-detector machine that they had used to measure power. In the center of the touchstone there was a small slot for a tile, Isek flipped over his hand and put the identity badge into the console.
The whole room lit up with runes.
"System, Record everything." The door closed behind him, the Attendant would have to wait outside. Even though the information had to be requested, it was still for the seeker's eyes only.
֍ꟷꟷꟷꟷ֍
Martin was hard at work, despite his blank stare he was actually in deep thought over what he was reading. It was like a memory device but for the body, a physical training method that incorporated the energy organ and even the connection is shared with the rest of the body. He felt like he was on the verge of something and then it was chaos.
The HUD was cluttered.
System Announcements, techniques and cultivation methods appeared briefly but after each one, another would appear. It was so rapid that no matter how fast Martin was able to refocus, his attention would be broken in the very next moment.
It was like a migraine but there was no pain, only constant interference and an undermining annoyance. The System wouldn't stop scrolling. "System, Where is Isek?" Martin asked.
[Location: Blimare Heritage Sect Treasure Hall]
'So that's it. He's gathering everything in sight..' Martin understood what was happening but he was at a loss. "System, can you pause the system updates on my HUD while I try to cultivate?"
[Clone Cultivation Protocol 9227, Enabled]
Martin sighed. He wished that he had thought of it sooner but he wondered if he would have had the question in his mouth.
Looking back at the page, he sank into it and started to repeat it in his mind endlessly.
֍ꟷꟷꟷꟷ֍
The Records Room was lit up like a hologram, it's convenient interface was easy to master and somewhat easy for the System.
[Access Granted]
[Accessing]
A stream of energy flew around the room in patterns and a number of patterns formed what appeared, at least optically, as words. They strung together in great strands and flowed continually.
Research, it was such a broad word. No doubt the reason such a storage device for their records was created. The formations and skills required to create such a function were well out of reach but such things were not impossible in time. The information was profound, within the archives of the research materials, many ideas about how things might work within the world were pulled into the System's Databanks.
He had flipped through all of the information that was available, it took almost four hours just to scan.
After the system sorted through the information from the research and information terminal, Isek continued to go through scrolls. It was the same as the research materials, the older the material was, the more it's methods varied, as if the magic of the world had gone through a point of evolution and the way things use to be, no longer needed to.
The Attendant was waiting outside, he was happy to see him come out and led him back to the Technique Room that was filled with scrolls.
Isek found older scrolls the deeper he went into the piles, the Attendant was unsure what they could offer. Most of the older scrolls were the leftovers, unchosen for so many generations and left behind. There was little value in them and they took up a lot of space.
The Attendant coughed gently, "If you like, these older scrolls can be bought or taken away at a discounted rate." Rubbing his hands together, he looked pleased at himself at thinking of such a thing. The Treasure Hall had been sitting on those scrolls for a long time.
While the Attendant waited for a moment, Isek picked up a few scrolls and set them on the table before spreading them out.
"If you like these, I can have the bill tabulated.." The Attendant tried his best to hurry things along.
"That won't be necessary." Isek had all the scrolls unrolled on the table, he took one long look at them and rolled them away, into a basket at the end.
'This guy.. is he really only here to browse?' "Sir. Sir. Please, if you like something just say it, I will have it written up immediately. The attendant felt a creeping sensation coming up his back, Isek ignored him and burrowed into the pile.
[Analysis Complete]
[Scanning]
"Designate intersections within the energy channels as Meridians, Map pathways and optimize." Isek started speaking to himself while rummaging through the pile and collecting as much data as it could.
[Warning: Body Alteration will result in damage]
"Pause." Given his current situation, even the dumbest of characters in any light novel that Martin had browsed knew not to undergo such processes around others if possible and to definitely avoid doing things like that in sensitive areas. Isek called the system to pause.
[Paused]
The Attendant thought that Isek was mumbling and his mood turned sour quickly like a manic-depressive Hamster. His face changed and he was about to blow.
"I'll take the Forging method and this." Isek held up a manual for a Hammer Technique.
"Ah. Well.. Very well." Sighing like a deflated balloon, the Attendant walked with Isek down to the receptionist with the Items. 'This guy really got off cheap. Next time I won't be so nice.'
"Here is your bill." A cute girl behind the counter passed a tablet over, the in-house network of information was quick, it had spread before they even arrived.
Isek pulled out his contributions token and passed it over.
"Is there a problem?" The Attendant seemed eager to end the sale and rush out of the building. It was long past his shift and it was a slow day.
"No. No problem at all. Thank you for visiting the Blimare Treasure Hall, Come again." The Girl passed the tablet back to Isek and smiled.
Isek nodded like he had gambled well. He everything into the storage ring and turned to leave.
Outside of the Treasure Hall, some of the Sect's cultivators had gathered. Isek was on the top of a list of potentials, his actions had angered many.
[Hostile Actions Detected: 40 Targets]
Dozens of Target boxes came up on the HUD. Isek pulled out his saber.
"Oh. Look ..he thinks he can fight us all." One of the students at the center of it all shouted loudly for everyone to hear. He was mocking Isek and his weapon appeared in his hand. It was a poleaxe
Others followed suit and more than twenty swords appeared.
Isek flipped his wrist and the Saber began to sing. It's choir rushed out in a wave and the swords that were nearby began to hum along. They began to vibrate and shake themselves free, most fell with a clang but three retreated from their owners hands and circled in the air once before rushing toward Isek like pet dogs.
"What the fuck just happened? Attack!" The student with the poleaxe wanted to teach Isek a lesson. "You will learn that power dictates everything!" He rushed out with his back arched slightly and thrust his poleaxe toward Isek.
Isek stood still and the three swords that had been humming sword songs stood in his way. Raising his saber, a strange tempo change occurred in the cords of the song. The Ugly Saber was named 'The One' but that was nearly the full summary of it's information. Isek had chosen it because it seemed special and indeed it was.
The three swords flew together, joining as one then flying into the saber itself like a stream of light. A tiny chip along the edge of the Saber seemed to reform and the volume of the saber folded.
[UNKNOWN ENERGY REACTION]
Isek saw the power around his body swelling and licking in the wind around him. The system announcement left him grinning and he slashed down the stairwell that led into the street.
Orange Saber Beams flowed out and snaked down the stairs. The beam scatted the tiles and broke through the pavement for dozens of meters but Isek had not stopped slashing with a single stroke. Dozens more came flying from his position and a ray of light came down from the sky.
It blocked the last saber beam but had shattered the barrier, revealing one of the teachers who had come to watch the student's establish a pecking order, "Enough." The Teacher shouted.
The Saber Song continued even after Isek put his blade away and below, what was left of the street continued to crumble.
When the sounds cleared and the dust began to settle, the Teacher landed and stood between the students who had come to hassle and the newest core disciple. "You cannot act like this, they were coming to challenge you. Yet, you intend to kill with your strokes."
"I've defended myself, stand in my way and I will continue to defend myself still." Isek gave some calm yet threatening advice toward the Teacher and walked past.
A cold drip of sweat ran down the Man's back, he watched as Isek vanished into the street vendors and then turn a corner. 'what a wicked fellow!' "Get up, none of you are dead. Only your pride is missing."
"No.. he took our swords." Three of the students cried out but the Teacher just turned his head like he didn't hear it.
֍ꟷꟷꟷꟷ֍
Martin sat up when the door opened.
Isek came inside and bolted the door, he threw a scroll and book at Martin's feet. "I've been updated on your progress. Read those, when you understand it and can perform at least the basic hammer throw, you'll head to the Blacksmith and start as an apprentice."
"Why do I have to become a Blacksmith?" Martin moved to grab the techniques from the ground.
"Because you have no understanding of combat, your clone body has an equal amount of strength, if you can't control just that much, you have no reason to think you'd survive actual fighting." Isek sat down in the corner and closed his eyes like he was cultivating.
"System. Resume."
Martin didn't quite understand why Isek would need to continually cultivate but he was happy to have more to study, in a way, he felt included even though he was sent to perform what could have easily been automated as what outwardly appeared to be busy work.
The Forging Manual and Hammer Technique were not much of a shock when he started to dive into them. Angles, light implied math and a repeated strokes with varying pressure during the strokes. The Hammer Techniques described in the book were more complicated as the book went on but the forging manual was basics, things, like lamps and work-tools, shovels and pickaxes.
'Basics.' Martin laid down and kicked his shoes off. He was diving into the manual but when he looked over at Isek cultivating, he could feel rapid changes happening.
After a period where Isek looked like he was struggling in pain, Martin saw him pass out with beads of sweat rolling down his face. It was unlike the behavior usually associated with an AI, so much that Martin started to feel some admiration toward him.
"System, Is Isek alright?"
[Host is asleep.]
It was better than hearing nothingness from the System but Martin wondered if everything was really okay. More and more, each day, the AI seemed to be taking on traits of a human.
The night passed quickly and when dawn came, there were rousing noises from the flying creatures nearby that spread throughout the Sect.
One particular cry was from a large species of fowl, they carried messengers and primarily fed on spirit fish or energy supplemented from their riders. Usually large beasts were often tamed by Sects and Kingdoms. The Beasts that trouble one region or another quickly became beasts of burden and their offspring became a high priced livestock.
Isek woke up. He found Martin crashed out like a drunkard and spread across the bed. When he realized that his body stank, he took took a bath and got dressed and left long before Martin started stirring in the bed. He was surprised that the Clone rested at all but it was better than being interrupted or bothered by the man during the night.
[System Update: Clone has turned off emergency warnings.]
"OH?" Isek kicked Martin in the chest lightly. "Wake up."
"Dude.. Oww. That hurts.. don't do that." Martin pulled the blanket over his head and rolled over, trying to hide the pain in his ribs.
"I didn't kick you that hard, get up." Isek dropped some of the spirit fruit onto the table by the bed. "There is a lot you need to catch up on. For starters, this body, even with my control, is powerful and growing. Secondly, since you're familiar with light novels and drama, I'm sure you'll understand how much I'm hated by those less powerful. Third, you are not equipped to defend yourself properly."
"Do you have anything constructive to say in there?" Martin had his eyes half closed when the blanket came down. He sat up.
Isek shook his head, "It's been one day."
"The notion hasn't escaped me. But why a Blacksmith?" Martin's questioning seemed to provoke a response in Isek.
"You asked me to keep you alive, if you don't want to contribute, then you can stay in the Mindspace." Isek put his fingers on the Clone Ring.
Martin hesitated but still ended up nodded in submission. "I will contribute. Boss."
Isek left to continue on, he was interested in seeing what the Training Ground had to offer. Having only spent a few minutes there at a time, the scans had picked up a lot of data just by casual observations.
Martin sighed when Isek closed the door, a seal wrapped around the doorway and isolated the building like a shield. He could easily leave but the barrier would keep out prying eavesdroppers. "Exactly how am I suppose to practice hammer techniques without something to hammer, System?"
[System Functions Locked]
Thinking outside the box, Martin decided that he could only do his best to understand the movements of the first technique.
The Hammer was weighted nicely and Martin had little trouble holding it up.
His movements were sloppy but even in his first swing, he felt the cutting of air. The hammer slammed against the floor in the backroom. It vibrated and Martin nearly lost his grip, if it were not for the stats that were shared by the main body, he would have had it rebound or broken his wrists.
Tending to his sore hands, Martin sat down and took a bite from one of the spirit fruit. His eyes lit up in surprise.
He swallowed it's flesh and for the first time, he felt a burst of energy that was all his own, culminating from inside. His energy organ and meridian channels hummed. Martin closed his eyes and focused on the basic Blimare Heritage Cultivation. The loose energy started to actualize in the direction he was choosing and the more he applied himself, the faster the metabolism rate seemed go.
For nearly half an hour he slowly stripped the fruit down to nothing but a seed. The seed was hard, like a rock but sucking on it gave a sweet taste. Martin held it under his tongue and concentrated on the cultivation for a while longer then stood up to try the hammer techniques again.