"Bye then." Dustin left as Alicia was standing there looking at his leaving back.
"That guy, why did I feel that way about him? Is it love?"
This conclusion was then formed in the mind of the young, innocent girl. Not knowing it was just a side effect of a potion that will eventually be subsidized in the future.
"There you are, Alicia. Why did you run all the way here?"
"Huh, oh, I was just excited to see the results that are posted here."
"Why are you so excited even though our scores aren't there?"
"Because it's interesting when we surprise the previous high-rankers by surpassing them."
"Pft hahaha."
"Lady Aissa stops laughing. Lady Alicia always wanted to compete with many people and make friends."
"But still, I'm surprised she hasn't grown out of it."
"Oh yeah, Lady Alicia, you seem to have met your benefactor, huh?"
"What!? That guy was here, don't tell me he tried to take advantage of you?"
"No, he didn't. but to think he was my benefactor, I wasn't able to thank him then."
"No, he is not your benefactor!"
"Eh? But he provided us with the potion."
"Didn't it also state that it was for an apology? To me whom he tried to take advantage of."
"But still."
"Nope, he gave it to me, and I gave it to you so instead of him I am your benefactor."
"Mhm, okay."
Seeing her act like that, the three couldn't say anything back and accepted her words.
~~~~~~~~
It is now the weekend, and the first thing I did in the morning was to train in the technique that I had finally acquired.
And where better to do that than in a wide area where movable targets are moving?
So here I am accepting a request from the guild and considering it a good excuse for hunting.
"Alright then, let's start then." I said to myself as I opened the manual.
Is stated in the book at the library that Star impact is just a technique that produces heat in the user's body and would only make his strength increase.
The manual states that once mastered, their strength would rival a star, which is believed by many as a tall tale of the writer.
"But since I came from another world, I think it isn't far from the truth if I view it in a fantasy kinda way."
Here it explains the basic movements and energy flow to conduct it and contain it.
"It seems basic enough; I mean, it's not far from the theory of core creation."
As I read the contents, I was surprised because there wasn't any record of this part in the Academy's Library. Here, it is stated that there are three parts in the Star Impact to follow to be able to use it.
The first part is Heat Impact, a process that produces heat in the human body and gives strength, seemingly like Physical Enhancement. But the best part is that stocking those two is possible.
Next was Gravity Impact. Instead of producing heat that can strengthen the body, it focuses on pushing forces that generate heavy impact.
It doesn't really use gravity magic; that's too advanced, but it uses a similar concept. How? By manipulating the magnetic force of the heat using mana. And once mastered, it creates a magnetic field domain, which works like gravity, hence the name.
Although it is explained here that it will only be possible if one masters the first part, Heat Impact. It creates magnetic fields, which then starts the second process, which is controlling the magnetic field.
Strangely enough, though there wasn't a clear explanation of how to create the magnetic field in the books connected to this technique. And even in this book, the explanation is vague. Good thing I know the theory about the magnetic field since I was able to use a railgun.
Still, there are no records of people using this ability, even though it will be devastating when done right.
And if there was, then that is amazing. Let's look it up some more; maybe there are some who are able to use it.
Now for the Final Stage, The Star Impact. As stated, you will have the power of the star within you.
It says here that you must generate a lot of heat and use gravity which in here is a magnetic field to gather it at a single point.
'Yup, just like a star indeed.'
Let's not read the rest, the entry is already there to amaze me. Let's train the first half first. After all, I am from the Saga bloodline. Our heat is our main attribute even if mine is lightning.
And then I stayed there training for the technique until it was dawn.
~~~~~~~~~
In a bar somewhere, two people are meeting.
"Oh, here you are, Lady Gale."
"Stop calling me that, you were just one of my mother's previous students. Not her disciple, so please drop the honorifics."
"HAha. What are you talking about? I was still her student."
"Ugh, fine, what do you want?"
"Oh, I heard that you had a manual that I wanted. All the copies of it are just garbage, and the original is being kept by your family."
"Was there something like that?p
"Well, it's not a well-kept secret. It's just an old and forgotten history for many, though."
"Is that so? Well, here are the Manuals that I had on hand."
She then showed four books on the table.
"Hmm, this is the famous lightning blade you are well known for."
"Yeah, it's my signature move since it's my attribute."
"Too bad it's not what I was looking for, haah."
He sighs as he continues to read the rest of the books, looking for the manual he wants.
"It's not here? He said this as he tried to review it again."
"What do you mean it's not there? What are you looking for?"
"It's Star Impact."
"Oh, that one—wasn't it famous almost a century ago? Ever since one of Sir Ricardo's allies used it at that time."
"Yes, and It was, but that's not all. Did you know that another person also used it before and was written down in history."
"Really? Who?"
"The very first Barbarian King. And you should also know his feats, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. It has been told to us since childhood that I got bored of it. But it's just a fairy tale with an over-the-top description of the said person."
"Anyway, I hear you have the manual with you. I worked so hard at the frontline against the invaders just to earn money for an exchange with you. Ever since I heard about you selling some manuals, especially when I heard that you got the Star Impact from a raid in ruins."
"Well, you're too late. Someone already had it."
"Can you please tell me who? I would like to buy it."
"No, I won't; I don't trust you enough to make clean transactions with someone weaker than you."
"Please, I will not do any harm to him, and I'm not like most mercenaries."
"The answer is still no."
"Come on."
"What is so special about that manual that already has like a million copies?"
"Haah, like I said, all those copies are genuine garbage. They just insert their own pathetic views on it. Making its true essence lose its shine."
"Go on."
"Remember what I said about the barbarian king? What if I tell you his strength is real? If not, it is just being downplayed."
"Wait, you're saying that star impact is what he used. Wouldn't all of us be training it right now?"
"True, but there is this called compatibility, so over the years, no one was found compatible with training while some tried. And I believe I am the most compatible with it. So please help me."
"Uh yeah, still no."
"Ugh, fine then I'm going. But if you ever change your mind, please contact me."
Not giving up, he left a few words after leaving.
'He didn't say it quite bluntly but I think he was able to take a peek of the genuine star impact in our Tribe.'
'till, him saying he's compatible with it is not far from the truth. But I can't tell him since I don't like to break my promise.'
'Also I don't trust those who only passed my mothers training in the first part and failed in the latter half. '
'After the first Half is only about physical strength while the discipline of the mind.'
'He would surely do underhanded tricks to get his hands on something that he wants.I just hope Cole Anglos won't be implicated from it.'
Thinking so, she drank her cup and left the bar.
~~~~~~~~
At the outskirts of the Labyrinth City Dustin was training.
A huge hole was made in the belly of a monster which is classified as a troll.
"In just a day of training I was able to figure out the first stage of the technique. OW! Huhuhu SH*T!"
After training for a whole day I was able to apply the technique with just one try.
"Still I had to do some trial and error to do it. But I was still able to use it on a monster after all that."
'And damn it hurts. My arms are toasts. I gotta go back and heal.'
Although I can use it, the effects are still not refined. It will take some time to master it.
Saying I left the place as I stored the carcass of the troll I killed in my storage bag.