(A/N): I decided to rename the martial art The Rising Tide Sword Arts Technique.
With an unwavering determination, I assumed a stance that felt most natural. My grip on the sword tightened as both of my arms clung to it. I slightly twisted my upper body to generate more force. I began in a well-balanced posture, my right foot thrusting forward. The sword rose gracefully, carrying with it a surge of pure energy. This strike, aptly named the "rising tide," seemed to cleave the very realm in two.
Without interrupting the flow, my body moved in harmony with the Qi coursing through me, like a stream running smoothly. Each motion flowed seamlessly, accompanied by streaks of blue light emitting from the series of slashes.
Unbeknownst to me, my eyes and aura underwent a profound transformation, casting a radiant golden hue. My movements quickened, radiating an overwhelming force that could crush even the mightiest empires in an instant.
Exhausted but exhilarated, I let out a sigh as the intense sequence of movements came to a stop. I landed gracefully on the ground, my muscles finally able to relax.
*Huff*
*Huff*
Breathing heavily, I asked.
"So, how was that?"
[I am impressed by your mastery of this fighting style. This session has provided enough data to create a honed footwork to perfectly suit the martial art as well as it being able to synchronize it seamlessly with your Qi flow.]
[Beginning technique creation]
"Great," I replied, determined to make the most of this progress.
"While you work on that, I'll practice with these kni—"
My sentence was abruptly cut short as an excruciating pain gripped my chest. I fell to my knees, clutching at my heart.
*AAAAAAAAARGH*
The pain was unbearable, and my breathing became erratic. I coughed up blackened blood, the situation worsening with each passing moment. The agony continued, and I kept expelling the dark substance, my eyes turning red from the torment. Just before my imminent collapse from the torment the excruciating pain was gone.
[The hosts Dantians have been completely cleaned, now you will have no problems acquiring the developed footwork]
Alex's message made no sense to me before I realized that this process was a result of her trying to prepare me for the perfected footwork.
"Why didn't you tell me about this cleansing process?" I inquired completely annoyed by her docility.
[The cleansing process is just a natural reaction when preparing ones' body for martial prowess. The hosts dantians were completely clogged]
"Are you gonna explain what that is?"
[Within all intelligent living beings whether mortal, demon or divine there are eight point through which Qi flows through to keep one alive. This design stemmed from the original structures of the two first celestial beings. There is one located within skull, chest, right arm, left arm, abdomen, spine, left leg and right leg. The chest particularly is where Qi flows into the body and is stored, particularly known as the core. For most beings the dantians get blocked and polluted by dead cells, but for martial artists the dantian needs to be cleansed so as to enable the complete unfiltered flow of Qi through them]
"Huh, so there should be lots of different ways that Qi can flow right?"
[Yes, there are hundreds of breathing techniques and footworks that correspond to different paths through which Qi flows in the body. However the technique I have developed shall be perfectly able to facilitate all martial arts with perfect energy flow]
I got up on my feet with vigor and decided to keep on training regardless of the inconveniences.
"Alright, give it to me."
[Initializing transfer of the perfect Qi flow technique "Separating Heaven and Earth" the completed version of Chayyliels' "The Power of Heaven and Earth" into the mind of the host]
In an instant an overflow of information rushed through my mind explaining in detail how to create a perfectly balanced and constant flow of Qi from my core to every other dantian and cell in my body.
Then I felt it, there were distinct energy types that was constantly surrounding me. The first was an extremely rapid yet harmonic form of Qi which I could only assume was of divine origins and a calm and nonreactive energy which came from the universe itself. Divine energy seamlessly flowed into my lungs with the air I breathed and then to my abdomen where it reacted with the normal energy that was collected from metabolism of food. This mixture then moved through every cell in my body while on its way to each dantian gradually depositing itself within them along the way. This continued until the residue then gets stored within the core as an emergency energy source in case the Qi within the cells were depleted.
[QI drain has been reduce by 50%]
[QI absorption rate has increased by 200%]
"This, this is incredible." I voiced my surprise at the efficiency of the technique, especially due to the fact that it can be used constantly to improve my abilities.
[I appreciate the hosts complement]
Marveled at the new found martial skill I had gained I set my sights on the battle ahead. All the while I was faced with twenty golden knights who only await my command.
"Begin."
In an instant they all lunged themselves towards my being, each with power that matched mine, all I could assure that I had an advantage in was skill and technique but it all comes down to raw power in the end.
6HOURS LATER
I battled for hours without break; it seemed that my stamina and endurance were also severely increased by the separating heaven and earth technique. With a final jab to the face I had successfully defeated all twenty of my sparring partners with a combination of my skills and fighting techniques.
[The host has received 100,000,000exp for slaying 20x golden knights]
[The host has leveled up]
[The host has leveled up]
[The host has leveled up]
[Name: Zephyr Everwood
Age: 16
Level: 18
Exp: 14,744,228.1/126,037,544.73
Rank: S-class
Stats:
Strength-35
Speed-35
Health-28
Dexterity-30
Intelligence-28
SP: 30
QI: 2800
HP: 50%
Skills: Bloodlust(0), Regeneration(2.5), Danger Sense(0), Hand of God(10), The Fist of God(25), Void Blast(50), Rot(50), Stealth(125), Detoxify(5)
Techniques: Separating Heaven and Earth, Rising Tide Sword Arts Technique
Inventory: Spawn Repulsion Heart, World Splitter, Box of Calamity, Bracelet of Transfiguration
Mission: Clear an entire Spawn field within the allotted time limit
Rewards- 1000exp, the active skill The King of Kings
Penalty- Death
Time Limit- 16hrs
Realms: Divine Training Room
Soldiers: 1]
Looking at my stats I was glad to have gotten stronger but I knew this still wouldn't be enough to beat him.
"I still need another ace up my sleeve to have a chance of victory." I said while taking a glance to the bracelet I adorned.
I then sat down on the ground with my legs crossed entering a meditative state. The bracelet began to glow an emerald green as I poured my inner Qi into it while envisioning the desired item. I felt the energy from my body drain rapidly as the bracelet morphed itself like clay into an emerald green shield that glistered under the light of the sky.
"Oh god that takes a lot of power to maintain." I was already more drained of all my strength from simply crafting a single item than a 6hr long brawl, just showing how much power was needed to actually wield the legendary tool.
Then I lost focus, cutting of the continuous Qi supply needed for it to keep shape resulting in the complete deconstruction of the shield back into a simple bracelet.
"Damn it!"
*Sigh* He sighed before continuing.
"I need to get more accustomed to this thing before heading into battle."
I sat down again and replenished my strength before trying to make the transfiguration more stable. The bracelet glowed green once again as it changed shape into what seemed to be a gauntlet. The item was a perfect fit for me, and just as I was about to fit it the gauntlet scattered in a massive burst releasing pure unfiltered energy that decimated the surrounding landscape.
"SHIT!"
He yelled out in pain clenching unto his left arm tightly. Upon closer inspection it seemed that the power from the failed process dismantled Zephyrs' left arm.
[The host is damaged]
[Regeneration Active]
"I guess I need to be even more careful when trying this out, it'd be bad if I got my head blown off."
[I confirm the fact that instant kill injuries will not be regenerated]
"Yeah, I expected about as much, but enough wasting time I need to try again."
And try he did, again and again and again, over and over he kept imbuing Qi into the bracelet until finally he did it. Zephyr had gained some level of basic control over the form of the bracelet, but he was still far off of using it effortlessly during battle.
At the end of the day I sat still on the floor, sweat dripped down my face as my gaze was filled with relief. My muscles lay limp and immobile, convulsing and aching like they never had before, even my dantians seemed sore from how much Qi was passed through them in a short time.
[The host is damaged]
[Regeneration Active]
"Ugh, I need to study more techniques within the next few days."
[I will do everything within my abilities to assist the host in his learning process as of now]
I simply nodded as I stood, going towards the Jade Library once again to learn more of its secrets.
In what felt like mere moments days had passed by, each of them being filled with rigorous training an exercise for hours on end. Zephyr took full advantage of the fact that there was a complete lack the need to sleep within the training room and worked tirelessly to master as many fighting styles and techniques as possible, he even managed to gain proficient control over the jade bracelet, especially during combat.
The realm was not spared either from the hellish routine; it had been reduced to a warzone filled with numerous craters and piles of rubble. The previously pristine white colored expanse was now thousands of acres of pure destruction on a scale unseen of before. The perpetrators of where no other than Zephyr and Naki who up till this point where still in the middle of their final spar.
*BOOM*
Sonic booms reverberated in all directions as two blurs collided with one another. They moved around like beams of light in a celestial clash that shook the very foundations of the land. The fight was set at a stalemate, Zephyr was injured with a broken arm and a few bruises while Naki had began to fragment. The two paused for a moment staring into the gaze of each other and without warning they rushed towards each other once again, at speeds which greatly dwarfed that of light itself.
Zephyr used the Consecutive Dragon Fist technique he had mastered, coupled with separating heaven and earth to match up to the martial prowess of his opponent. Naki on the other hand simply used the basic martial arts he had always fought with in an expert manner, making him capable of matching up with the angelic fighting styles. Their fists clashed in a brilliant display of might with neither side willing to back down. Continuous strikes were sent without stoppage, similar to that of an automatic firearm, countering each other and releasing great magnitudes of energy and pressure. Then zephyr began to falter, his fists slowed as he got pushed back by the warrior of light. Could it be that he had reached his limits in terms of this battle? That seemed to be the case, Nakis' fists moved with expert precision, each strike leaving a cut on the skin of Zephyr while releasing a massive shockwave that utterly obliterated the landscape behind him.
Zephyr was no longer attacking, he could only manage to hold up a defensive position while diverting the punches of the martial warrior, and with a scorn on his face a whisper left his lips. Right on cue archaic symbols enveloped the fists of the boy while his pupils became golden from their natural green shade; he had activated the fist of god. The bracelet which he adorned on his left wrist then transformed into a pair of jade knuckles on his fists, and with a mighty roar he let out a barrage of punches and kicks with near perfect execution that caught even Naki of guard. His movements swayed like that of a god; his fists were imbued with world destroying strength but they moved with agility and swiftness that could not be replicated by even a grand master of the arts. Surprise etched its way onto the face of the usually stoic summon especially when Zephyr gave him a direct hit to the chest launching him an unimaginable distance back.
"That was great for a while, but we should wrap this up."
I appeared right behind him as he was sent flying by my punch, and with a seamless flow of attacks I gave him a barrage of punches knocking him to the ground and creating a mountain sized crater in the process.
"Few, that was really tiring." I exclaimed wiping away my sweat.
Then the knuckles returned to their original state as I stopped pouring Qi within them. Alex then began to heal my body and I gazed towards the body of my only soldier at the center of the crater. Walking over to him I outstretched my arm, he didn't move at first but after a brief moment of silence he accepted the act and pulled himself up before I sent him back to rest.
"Oi, Alex is it possible for you to teach Naki some of the martial arts from the library?"
[It is, however seeing as Naki developed consciousness when he accepted you as his master]
Zephyr sweat dropped, mentally face palming himself for his interpretation of what she said.
"Please don't every say it like that again."
[Was there an issue with the terminologies used?]
"Yeah, let's go with that."
[My apologies, Naki gained a true existence when he became your subordinate]
"So what does that mean?" He further enquired.
[It will take some time to do, at least a few days]
"I can wait, but for now let's see just how much stronger I've gotten."
[Opening Character Profile]
[Name: Zephyr Everwood
Age: 16
Level: 20
Exp: 370,161,910.075/787,734,654.56
Rank: SS-class
Stats:
Strength-40
Speed-40
Health-40
Dexterity-40
Intelligence-46
SP: 0
QI: 4600
HP: 75%
Skills: Bloodlust(0), Regeneration(2.5), Danger Sense(0), Hand of God(10), The Fist of God(25), Void Blast(50), Rot(50), Stealth(125), Detoxify(5)
Techniques: Separating Heaven and Earth, Rising Tide Sword Arts Technique, Consecutive Dragon Fist Technique, Multi-strike Weapon arts
Inventory: Spawn Repulsion Heart, World Splitter, Box of Calamity, Bracelet of Transfiguration
Mission: Clear an entire Spawn field within the allotted time limit
Rewards- 1000exp, the active skill The King of Kings
Penalty- Death
Time Limit- 8hrs
Realms: Divine Training Room
Soldiers: 1]
I had been able to master two more techniques before my time here was up, the more powerful of them being the multi-strike weapon arts as it is the third of the supreme martial arts techniques developed my Chayyliel. I tried to complete the trio but no matter how hard I looked the first was nowhere to be found, even Alex had no records of what it was.
Finally deciding that it was time to leave I called forth the portal to the outside world, finally ready to face death itself.