Shinji drugged himself, now he is energetic again.
It's another day, the fourth day and the impending doom comes closer.
Our main character defies biological rules once again and pulls an all-nighter to train in several martial arts.
Fear not for mental strain is just a minor hindrance to someone constantly at the break and cull of the massive amount of terrorizing souls haunting him.
Of course, sleep was still vital so he took 1 hour of sleep. He woke up when 'shadow pains' acted up, he felt like he was cut all over frequently.
Immediately, [Death Reversal: Einstein] activated as he woke up, he couldn't relax one bit. Once again he saw everyone doing their own things.
Dongmei was teaching the royalty on swordsmanship. Prince Lin listened in earnest though he already has a spear, he thought of finding counters to swordplay with his spear. Prince Albert listened with knightly zeal, such is his burning desire to wield a sword. Princess Adalinda still wanted to refine her swordsmanship after reaping the initial benefits.
Audelia was giving more spells to Drax while Sirena suddenly became interested after finding it beneficial to help me after deciding to become a much more helpful support.
"Shinji, do you know what happened to Drax? He seems more...determined or pressured... I can't read into it too much but it looks like something was ignited in him.", Kaitlynn asks Shinji who stretched and went to Quad who was cooking up a breakfast meal for all of them.
"Maybe he's just racially motivated. He probably got pissed cause he can't handle Asian Difficulty[1]. As expected of an American[2].", Shinji answered with exaggerated patriotic fervor
"You're the racist, geez, never mind then.", Kaitlynn seemed exasperated but noted down that Drax may be an American in his past life. She turned to look at another notable thing.
She has greatly enhanced her mind processing ability which was able to process most if not all the information that her senses are transmitting. But don't misunderstand as [Cold Mind] doesn't have anything to do with strengthening the sense but the processing, memory, and control of the brain.
Her mind has reached the point where she can control the chemicals in her brain which are responsible for different functions in her body. The increased speed of her thinking ability and processing ability. Normally human senses are capable of 'sensing' more than what they normally sense but due to the mind's low processing capabilities, the senses are 'dampened' or filtered so as not to overwhelm the brain.
Now she can hear faint sounds, differentiate them, and have a distinct spatial hearing. She can see clearer, minuscule details, colors, and a wider range of view. Re-experience taste just by using her long-term memory, smelling distinct smells from one another, and sniffing them from afar off.
She could hear both the words of Dongmei and Audelia simultaneously, the conversations happening, their pattern of breathing, and the dust, dirt, and grass being blown by the grass.
Not only could she process most of this information, but she could also brainstorm, assimilate, and simulate the info in her mind such as applying Dongmei's techniques to her weapons or countering the basic swordsmanship.
She also processed the discussions between Audelia, Drax, and Sirena. With this information, she could try predicting the runes that appear on an enemy's spell circle.
Shinji slid to the side of her vision, "Sooooo... needing any of these~?", he takes out several books that were most likely borrowed from the library. Kaitlynn sighs but thanks him nonetheless.
With the thought of Shinji's peculiarity and her current action of assimilating knowledge, she also opened up another thought process of Shinji's battle tactics, which would soon branch to everyone's fighting styles later this very day.
Shinji went over to Quad and commented on the dish. They finally had meat after a horde of [Meat Barks]. They look like Doberman dogs with wood-like skin but they have real flesh. under their skin which Shinji affirmed the Chinese[3] would like.
After a few more minutes, the splendid meal was served. Once again the groups split apart again, going in different directions, Shinji also mentions a few locations they can go to which have fortuitous encounters.
Quad, Kaitlynn, and Shinji headed out together. Quad wanted to get stronger faster and after Kaitlynn recounted the events, he decided to go with Shinji. Kaitlynn also thought of going with Shinji again as he currently shares a massive amount of books he borrowed from the library.
While on the journey he began relaying the words that Audelia and Dongmei are currently saying out of their mouths for Kaitlynn to digest. Quad was also given Shinji's demonic strengthening strategy.
He was quite confident with enduring this training as he was the most outstanding of the three, with Adalinda and Audelia, under Dongmei's tutelage. Shinji picked out a technique for him that was surprisingly compatible, no, it was the absolute best for his situation right now after Shinji's trial and error.
Quad's strong will was comparable to Lin's iron will and his physically big physique gave him a great advantage for this path of cultivation. Growing up with thicker and stronger bones than others, and with bigger muscles too. He only needs to strengthen his body to be more compact and sturdier and he would become a talented body cultivator.
From now on, Quad Rupees' strength will soar significantly fast to the point where he might not necessarily need to be crowd-control support. With this, it is clear there was a reason why he wasn't told about the body technique yet.
Now the issue with body cultivation techniques, that is to say, why did the Rupees Knights not give anybody technique to their descendants, the first and most important reason is the expensive amount of resources needed for a body cultivation technique as herbs and treasures are used to supplement the torturous and hard path.
Plus, being one of the most strongest physically doesn't automatically mean a person is talented or fit for body cultivation, it would be a waste to catalog a large number of resources to the strongest young Rupees only to find that they are a waste when it comes to body cultivation.
Most importantly the Rupees Knights are a Knight family which values the tradition of training everyone with utmost priority, there may be some being given special treatment but there will never be one untalented Rupees who isn't trained badly.
Shinji and Quad focused on the vanguard while Kaitlynn was the support. Quad fought most of the time but Shinji also took part to master several martial arts.
[Snow Shuffle]
A quick-footed technique that makes the practitioner lighter and quicker, focusing on agility while costing a bit of stability, it relies on quick speed to be balanced. It's quite easy to get in a bad position if they aren't quick-witted enough to adapt to the situation.
[Steady Pace]
A strong technique that focuses on not only balance but also improved defense. It focuses on a steady balance all the time to reduce body restrictions and getting trapped. Unfortunately, it costs the speed as it takes time to get into the technique's position, much more on unstable ground.
Both movement techniques were opposed just like the Ukrainians and Russians[4]. It was impossible to use them at the same time.
But it didn't mean that they couldn't be switched around. They were a good combination to deal with a lot of situations, each technique covering the situation where the other technique would become useless. Not only that but [Snow Shuffle] can be used with [Confucius Steps] to make the feet flicker in chaos making the latter's effect stronger. [Steady Pace] can be used with [Doubt Movement] to make feints more convincing, making the latter's effect stronger.
Other combinations such as [Spring Step] and [Steady Pace] can be used together to move around and be unhindered in rocky terrain. [Doubt Movement] and [Spring Step] can also be used to make a person think the practitioner will go in one direction but instead the practitioner has leaped away on the other.
And if Shinji switches between those latter 2 combinations, he would be a slippery foe to those who can't traverse weird terrain. The former 2 combinations are even better as an all-rounder use for all. situations.
Shinji also mastered several offensive martial arts.
[Shock Point]
A technique focusing on speed and accuracy which translates into its lethality. Unfortunately, it is ineffective if one of the two standards, speed or accuracy, isn't met.
[Flame Fist]
A technique that focuses on small bursts of speed and power, making strength rise by a fold. Unfortunately, it costs accuracy as the direction can't be changed after executing the technique.
[Shock Point] and [Flame Fist] could be used together if there is a big weakness that could be exploited. Its strength would be very great due to speed and power but it shouldn't be interrupted else the effect would diminish greatly.
The combination of [Swiss Palm] and [Shock Point] is the quickest synergy that Shinji has having both the deadliness of the former and the pinpoint accuracy of the other. To make it even more deadly, he changed the combination from a palm to 2 fingers that could stab through weak points.
[Disruption Palm] and [Flame Fist] work together very well. The force and power generated from the second enhance the internal destructive power of the first. It was tricky but Shinji was able to change his fist into a palm while executing the latter technique.
Unfortunately, [Disruption Palm] focuses on internal damage while [Swiss Palm] focuses on external damage which is conflicting. The other technique on the other hand focuses on the practitioner instead of the enemy.
All of these techniques are the synergies that Shinji made for peak mobility and strength. His arsenal of combinations, just to bridge the gap of weakness.
'Heuk!', Shinji vomited his morning breakfast and crouched down. It was a good thing he brought extra food. Nevertheless, he could have whipped up a meal after all the hunting.
His body wasn't feeling very good. The pain everywhere on his body didn't leave him. Shinji still kept running his strengthening method.
He began eating all the food that was packed, his body was starving of nutrition, his body was working overtime, and only the magic he kept applying on himself was keeping him from certain death.
Kaitlynn saw this and said "This is very worrisome so for the sake of your life, It will be best for you to rest an hour more"
"Denied, I'm going full-on workaholic Japanese[5]!", Shinji replies while being pulled back up by Quad who offered a healing potion to him. Shinji accepted as potions have a more natural and permanent effect than magic spells.
"Thanks, comrade. I buy you drink for help.", Shinji chuckles a Russian[6] way of talking between coughs. His nose bled again but he wiped it out like it was nothing.
They arrived near a field full of very tall grass. By comparison, it reached the hips of Kaitlynn and Shinji who were about the same height.
"Well, here it is Kaitlynn, a whole battleground made for you to kill to your heart's content.", Shinji waved his hands while leading the two.
"Huh? Oh, I see. That is a lot of monsters.", Kaitlynn noticed the peculiarity of the place while Quad stayed hopelessly in ignorance, but it wouldn't be for long.
"I call this the Secret Burial Field because you'll die here without knowing how and don't even talk about telling anyone because you'll definitely die", Shinji laughed but shifted his gaze to a human figure.
Normally the instructors of the academy won't show themselves but it's not like there was a place for an instructor to conceal themselves other than crouching...which wasn't the style of this specific instructor.
"Oh, you came from that direction? Wasn't there a horde there? I remember the headmaster was in charge of that sector. He hasn't evacuated you guys? Interesting, I'll keep a close eye on you young ones.", Instructor Ambrosio approached the trio with specific intrigue to Quad and Shinji as he could see them running their training methods.
"I must warn you though, you need keen sense to hunt in this place. If you haven't noticed already then it's best to stay back", he said with a serious tone.
Quad was about to open his mouth but then Shinji said, "The insects, snaked and hidden plants right? All hard to sense and they're quick and hard to catch."
Instructor Ambrosio nodded with a smirk. Kaitlynn smiled knowing this was perfect for her to train with.
When the group of three was further into the field, Quad asks, "Uh, I didn't notice the danger. Is it really fine that I come along?"
"This is exactly why you're coming along. A strong body needs to also have a keen sense else it becomes useless if you can't find what you're trying to fight.", Shinji remarks calmly and then turns to Kaitlynn, "Well, you can go on right ahead. This meat shield isn't going to forge itself.", while knocking his back palm on Quad's chest.
He also gave a wink.
Kaitlynn nods as all this time she had already been doing that, silently killing the monsters approaching them. This also reveals the fact that Quad's senses need to be trained.
She walks away while Shinji whistles and says, "Welcome to Australia[7], buddy. If you would look around you for any corpses then it would be great."
Quad looks around confused, he had been looking around for a while now with nothing in sight but then he saw a patch of blood not far from where he was standing, "What is tha-", Immediately he punched out as he sense something lunging at him.
What surprised him was a slippery emerald-eyed snake-like vine monster that avoided his attack and wrapped around his gauntlet. His fist only smashed against its tail which did little damage overall.
[Shock Point: Swift Bolt]
[Swiss Palm: Screw Palm]
Shinji's arm went as straight as Qatar[8], stabbing right through the eyes of the monster. The gem-like eyes lost their luster.
"Thank-", Quad was about to thank Shinji when the latter dashed past the former.
[Snow Shuffle: Sleet Shift]
[Flowing Kick: Stream]
Shinji stomped heavily on a mosquito the size of a palm, Its ruby-like eyes that were ready for a kill degenerated to lifeless stones.
[Steady Pace: Earthen Foot]
[Shock Point: Flash Point]
Because of the reaction of the force, Shinji steps back with a suddenly heavier foot that took control of his center of balance. The next second, the same foot twisted, rotating Shinji as he swung his hand. It cuts apart a Sapphire-eyed bunny-like monster whose speed was even faster than the first 2 monsters.
"Pay attention Quad!", Shinji shouts at Quad.
Quad doesn't say anything but answers by going into a fighting position, right now the only thing he could rely on was his danger sense but it shouldn't be the only thing he needs to rely on. He joins in with Shinji and fought the several small, plants, beasts, and insects crawling around.
Usually, the monsters would be under the grass but some would jump from farther away at great speeds and others would fly above to attack them. They were all deadly enemies as they either had very strong strength to make up for their weak bodies or potent poison, not to mention the unique mobility that helps them avoid danger by utilizing their quick speed.
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Kaitlynn was standing on top of a levitating shield as she controlled several different kinds of weapons. She was currently having a hard time controlling a dozen weapons. Peculiarly the beauty became a nightmare to anyone who could see her because her eyes were moving independently from one another. Her mind was able to improve her control over her body very well unfortunately it did not benefit her much as her physical capabilities was about the same as Serina, who for your information is one of the weakest among this cast of students.
Blood of beasts and insects splashed around dying the tall grass a shade of blue and red from the kind of monsters respectively. Unfortunately, Kaitlynn was dissatisfied.
All these years she has only had these 2 abilities, [Shadow Manifestation] and [Cold Mind] [9].
She didn't know why it was so hard to get new abilities. Right now it would take too much time to strengthen her powers, it would be best to get new ones the support the old ones, or even better have them as trump cards.
'I've already suffered so much. What do I need to get stronger? Is this really enough? I did ask Shinji about it but...', Kaitlynn thought of an earlier conversation
{Oh? That is pretty easy actually. Just think of a concept of some sort. And if my theory is correct, make it related highly to your near death situation. If I ever find someone who awakened using a [Mind-Cleansing Pill], I'll be interrogating them on their method of powers. As for Sirena, she is a special case... but talking about that person who took a [Mind-Cleansing Pill]... }, Shinji then went on a tangent about torture to manipulation.
'A concept related to my near death situation. So I just think of my new power? But then would have to think of a really strong one...', This was the point where Kaitlynn was struggling.
'Well my first psyche is related to shadows. My deaths were dark, at night, and dying alone... My second psyche is related to the mind... or maybe how cold I felt at those times. It was an unnatural coldness where even my feelings froze, the only thing keeping me human was fear, so to say.', She though on.
{Get a primal feel on what the elements of your death mean to you. Then project them into your [Psyche] and make them represent what your death was all about.}, Shinji's tips resurfaced in her head.
{My death was an endless insanity of ignorance. Not knowing every time it was a simple poison plot not even directed towards me. It made me feel so useless. [Poison Sense] was my unabated despair of never finding out why I kept dying all the time. [Poison Resistance] was a given since I ashamed, I felt angered that I was toyed by such simple poison, my pettiness gave rise to an ability that will grow to even ignore the strongest of poisons.
For [Poison Fluid] it came from a few ideas. Mago Drink was my life in a way, I've been with it through my first 100 deaths. but Mago's Poison was also my death, It had been responsible for most of those 100 deaths. So as the concept of poison being part of my life, my blood became part of death.}, Shinji expounded about his methods.
[1]: [Asian Difficulty is a joke from Steven He's YouTube videos which have an even bigger joke about Asians having in very hard cause, Failure apparently]
[2]: [Yeah no, its not targeted (maybe it is) but Shinji was joking about how American always seem to be a problem (even though most of them don't, karens, vegans, and racists somehow always find a way to drag down the whole race), so don't take it personally. pls. I don't wanna die]
[3]: [So the Author remembers that Chinese eat dog meat so :P Fun Fact]
[4]: [Yes, it was a Ukraine vs Russia Joke]
[5]: [Japanese are super workaholic. Like damn, get some children pls and settle down.]
[6]: [A way of talking in Russian, the funny kind that people meme about. Author has no credibility if this is fact checked as false.]
[7]: [Australia is dangerous from what the Author heard. like seriously dangerous animals are there... I mean look at those forest fires]
[8]: [Qatar bans Gay. Is the Author getting cancelled for this? (I hope he does)]
[9]: [Dark Mind] is [Cold Mind] from now on (if I ever said [Dark Mind] before)]
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Author's Note:
I wanna curse badly, like its 11 in the evening and I'm like, "Dude, wth. You've forgot to write for more than a week."
And then while writing my novel I just saw [Cold Mind] and was like, wait, [Cold Mind] or [Dark Mind]????
I was so confused. How am I even an Author at this point?
Oh, and about that title? Yeah, its both a reference and a click bait. you know how Filipinos are baited or something, I don't know the full story but like lmao, use it as a joke cause its my country.
Yep, definitely licensed to insult my country HAHAHAHHAHAH.