As the beast lunged at Alan, he managed to dodge just in time. His heart raced as he tightened his grip on the heavy katana, his muscles straining under its weight.
"Ellen, any ideas on how to deal with this thing?" Alan asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his insides.
["Analyzing the beast's behavior. It appears to be territorial. If we can find a way to assert dominance or show that we mean no harm, it might retreat."]
Before Alan could respond, the beast attacked again. This time, he wasn't quick enough to dodge completely, and the beast's claws grazed his arm, leaving a painful gash. Alan gritted his teeth, trying to focus through the pain.
In a desperate move, Alan reached into his pouch for anything that could help. His fingers closed around a small, familiar object—a compressor. Without thinking, he threw it at the beast.
The moment the compressor made contact, it disintegrated the beast into nothingness and blasted off a huge chunk of the land! Alan stared in disbelief, his heart pounding.
[Compressors] were used a lot in the past for people to train and enhance their power, but nowadays people don't use them much. They essentially compress your power, leaving you with only a little bit of mana. The basic theory was that after you have a small amount of mana left, if you use and exhaust your mana, your mana capacity will grow.
Later, it was proven that the compressors did indeed work, but the differences in power were so minimal that people labeled it a failed project, and it became a relic of the past.
Alan stood amidst the remnants of the disintegrated beast, his mind racing with questions. The scene replayed in his head: the beast lunging, the desperate throw of the compressor, and the instant disintegration upon contact. Something about his power was far more complex than he had initially realized.
"Ellen," Alan began, still staring at the spot where the beast had vanished, "what just happened? Why did the beast disintegrate like that?"
["Analyzing data... It appears that when the compressor made contact with the beast, it applied your weightless ability to the creature. This caused a catastrophic breakdown of its molecular structure, resulting in disintegration."]
Alan frowned. "But why would that happen? Shouldn't it just become weightless?"
Ellen's orb floated closer, humming with energy. ["In theory, yes. However, there seems to be an anomaly. Your power does not simply make objects weightless; it interacts with gravity in a way that breaks the natural laws of this world."]
Alan's eyes widened as he started to piece it together. "You mean, my power isn't just about making things weightless. It's about something deeper, something that defies the very fabric of this world's physics."
["Precisely. My analysis suggests that you yourself are weightless in a way that shouldn't be possible under the natural laws. This weightlessness creates a paradox when applied to other objects or beings, causing a violent reaction as the laws of nature attempt to rectify the inconsistency."]
Alan felt a chill run down his spine. "But why hasn't anything happened to me? If I'm weightless, why don't I disintegrate?"
Ellen paused, her light dimming slightly. ["That is a question I cannot answer with the current data. It is possible that your body has adapted to this anomaly in a way that others cannot. Further investigation will be required to understand the full extent and nature of your abilities."]
Alan took a deep breath, feeling both relieved and apprehensive. (So I might have some cool powers heh heh heh) Alan started to drool about using his newfound powers "Ahem. So, we need to be extremely careful with how we use this power. It could be incredibly dangerous if not controlled properly." Alan started to talk as he understood his power's destructiveness.
["Agreed, Master Alan. I will assist you in managing this ability. We must also seek more information about the origins of your power and why it behaves this way."]
Alan's mind raced as he processed this new information. He realized that his power, while dangerous, could be harnessed in new ways.
"We need to use this power strategically," Alan said, an idea forming in his mind. "But first, I need a weapon that can utilize it effectively."
Alan and Ellen spent the next few hours discussing how to create a weapon that could harness his power. Alan reluctantly sacrificed his katana, knowing it was too heavy and cumbersome for his current condition.
"Ellen, can you use the materials from the katana to create a bow?" Alan asked.
["Yes, Master Alan. I can disassemble the katana and use its materials to forge a bow. However, we will need additional resources to complete the process."]
Alan nodded, determined to make it work. "Do what you need to do."
Ellen began the intricate process of disassembling the katana and reassembling it into a bow. The blade's metal was reforged into a sleek, durable frame, while the hilt was reshaped into a grip. The resulting weapon was both elegant and deadly.
"We'll attach a compressor to the tip of the bow," Alan said, examining the finished product. "This way, we can fire concentrated blasts of my power. But we'll need to be careful—the compressor takes a long time to fill."
["Understood, Master Alan. I will assist you in managing its use effectively."]
Satisfied with his new weapon, Alan continued his journey through the dense forest. The sounds of the wild echoed around him, a constant reminder of the dangers that lurked within. His arm still throbbed from the earlier encounter, but he pushed on, determined to reach his destination.
After several hours of trudging through the underbrush, Alan stumbled upon a small, makeshift market stall in a clearing. Behind the stall stood a mysterious figure, cloaked in shadow. The clearing was a stark contrast to the surrounding forest, with a sense of calm that felt almost surreal.
"Welcome, traveler," the merchant said, his voice smooth and inviting. "I am a purveyor of rare and valuable goods. How may I assist you today?"
Alan approached cautiously, his eyes never leaving the shadowed figure. "I'm looking for information. Specifically, about where I am and how to reach the Realm of Beasts."
The merchant's eyes gleamed with interest, though his face remained hidden beneath the hood. "Ah, information is indeed valuable. But as a first-time customer, I will grant you one piece of information for free."
Alan nodded, feeling a surge of relief. "Where am I, exactly?"
"You are in the Realm of Waterfall," the merchant replied. "The Realm of Beasts lies just beyond its borders. It seems you may have been misled in your journey."
Alan cursed under his breath. "So, Albert made a mistake. Just my luck!"
The merchant chuckled softly, a sound that sent a shiver down Alan's spine. "Or perhaps it was fate that brought you here. Regardless, I can offer you many things, for the right price."
Alan thought for a moment, weighing his options. "What else can you tell me about this place?"
The merchant leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The Realm of Waterfall is ruled by the Empress Mei-Ling. She is a formidable leader, known for her strength and wisdom. However, this realm is also full of secrets and dangers. Tread carefully, young traveler."
Before leaving the merchant the merchant gave Alan a mysterious card "I am sure you will need this"
Alan looked at him cautiously and thanked the merchant and continued on his way, now armed with crucial information. The forest seemed to close in around him as he pondered his next move. He needed to find a way to cross into the Realm of Beasts and continue his quest for the legacy.
As he walked, Alan couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He glanced over his shoulder but saw nothing out of the ordinary. The forest was alive with the sounds of nature, yet an eerie silence seemed to hang in the air around him.
"Ellen, do you sense anything unusual?" Alan asked quietly.
["There are faint traces of magical energy nearby, Master Alan. It could be an indication of someone—or something—following us."]
Alan's grip tightened on his newly crafted bow. "Stay alert. I have a feeling we're not alone."
They pressed on, the tension in the air growing with each step. Alan's mind raced with thoughts of Empress Mei-Ling and the mysterious merchant. There was more to this realm than met the eye, and he couldn't afford to let his guard down.
As dusk began to settle, Alan and Ellen came across a small stream. The water was crystal clear, and the sight of it brought a welcome relief to Alan's parched throat. He knelt by the stream, cupping his hands to drink.
Suddenly the air around them seemed gloomy "Huh what th—"
The sudden pink mist got Alan off guard and put him into a deep slumber!