After resting for just 4 hours. I began to ponder how I will leverage my abilities to be able to survive in the tower.
I also discovered how to use the |System Skill|: [Storage Space], simply by thinking about it, I could put something inside a pocket space available to me only. I could bring objects out the same way, or use the system by clicking on the skill and selecting the object.
The limit is determined by the total amount of cosmic energy I had. 1 point of cosmic energy = 10 square meter of space. And the more cosmic energy I gain, the more my storage space will grow.
Then after that what I did was to comb the Forum for relevant information. I found one exciting info about the 2nd floor from the tower master's posts.
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@Tower Master: A must read for every new explorer!
Greeting to the newbies in the house. If you find this post this means you are trying to survive with all you might, and this good Tower Master will gladly support you. You will receive a free 50 DC to motivate you to know that, in this Tower. Hard work is grandiosely supported and rewarded.
The first thing you need to do is to know yourself and then choose your path. Everyone has weakness which can be eliminated with their strength but it is up to you to do your best.
Another freebie is that since you read this post, the next floor you will climb will get a 50% increase in difficulty. Don't thank me. It is also a lesson for you to know that nothing comes for free~.
So always expect to pay a price for everything.
Yours faithfully: Tower Master
_"50 DC? 🪙 That's barely enough to buy a custom made loaf of bread at the store! 🥖 What a joke! 😂"
_"Another difficulty increase?! 🔥 This is just a sadistic power trip from the Tower Master! 😈"
_"So, in essence, he's rewarding us for reading his condescending lecture with a harder climb? 😒 Thanks, I guess? 😑"
_"This 'support' is an insult! 🧝♂️ I'm climbing this tower to escape this miserable existence, not for his twisted games! 🤬"
_"Freebie? 🎁 This is a blatant bribe! 💰 He just wants to see us struggle, the heartless fiend! 👹"
_"50 DC? 💰 I could have gotten that by selling a single rat tail from my 5th floor expedition! 🐀 What a waste of my time reading this drivel! 🤮"
_"This is outrageous! 😠 I'm already risking my life, ⚔️ and he's throwing obstacles in my way? 😤"
_"This 'support' is like throwing a starving man a single crumb. Crumbs Insulting! 😤 Just wondering what would happen if he had given us 100 DC instead?"
_"Dear Upstairs I guess I will have to revive then. Since minimum revival starts from 100DC"
_"He calls this encouragement? 🤨 It's more like a threat! ⚔️ I'm starting to regret ever reading this!"
_"This is a disgrace! 🧜♀️ I'm climbing this tower for my own reasons, not to entertain some sadistic overlord! 👿"
_"What a load of nonsense! 🤪 This 'support' is an insult to my intelligence! 🧠"
_"This 'lesson' is nothing but a cruel joke! 🤡 I'm climbing this tower to better myself, not to be toyed with! 🧸"
_"This is an absolute outrage! 😡 I'm not a pawn in some sick game! ♟️"
_"50 DC? 💰 Ha! 😂 That won't even cover the cost of a single potion! 🩹"
_"This is insulting! 🤬 I'm not a child who needs to be bribed and manipulated! 👶"
_"This 'support' is a slap in the face! 🤚 This 'support' is a slap in the face! 🤚 I'm climbing this tower to prove myself, not to beg for scraps! 🦴"
_"This is a disgrace! 🤬 I'm not a pet to be rewarded with a measly 50 DC! 🐶"
_"This is a joke! 😂 I'm climbing this tower to escape this miserable world, 🌎 not to be tested by some sadistic overlord! 👿"
_"50 DC? 💰 That won't even buy a single seed for my crops! 🌱 What a useless reward! 😒"
_"This is an absolute insult! 🤬 I'm climbing this tower to prove myself, not to be patronized and molested! 😤"
=====
"Huh… so I can't even read forum posts in peace" I said feeling a little heartbroken. "Might as well make the best of it"
I checked my Dc balance and appreciated the increase of 50DC before clicking the store button. The system store is actually a very wide type of store. Earlier in the day, I had gotten a meal but I could also buy that same meal on the store. Only for a little bit higher since it cost 3 DC instead of 2.
I could even buy almost everything I could think off, there was even a section for Adult toys and the like. I swear I did not spend up to 1 minute before moving away from that section. Inputting the key word of "Cosmic Manipulation" and "Cosmic energy" in the search button did not give me any tangible result, all I got was a request item button which I ignored.
Inputting Energy manipulation brought a lot of results which I was delighted with. Using the filter feature help me to get books like this:
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[A Beginner's Guide to Mana Sensing by Elara Nightshade]: This introductory text is perfect for those new to the world of Mana. Elara Nightshade, a renowned Mana theorist, guides readers through the basics of Mana awareness, including:
* Identifying your Mana signature: Learn to recognize the unique energy that flows within you.
* Simple Mana sensing exercises: Develop your sensitivity to the ambient Mana in the environment.
* Basic Mana manipulation techniques: Learn to control the flow of Mana within your own body.
Price: 100 DC
[Aura Fundamentals: A Practical Approach" by Master Kai]: This book provides a clear and concise introduction to Aura manipulation. Master Kai, a renowned Aura master, covers:
* Understanding the Aura: Learn about the energetic field that surrounds all living beings.
* Aura sensing and diagnosis: Develop the ability to perceive and analyze the Aura of others.
* Basic Aura cleansing techniques: Learn to purify and strengthen your own Aura.
Price: 150 DC
[Dragonfire 101: An Introduction to Dragonic Energy" by Ignis Drake]: This engaging text introduces readers to the powerful energy of Dragons. Ignis Drake, a renowned Draconic scholar, explores:
* Understanding Dragonic energy: Learn about the unique properties and characteristics of Dragon energy.
* Basic Dragonic energy absorption techniques: Learn to safely absorb small amounts of Dragon energy from the environment.
* Simple Dragonic energy applications: Explore basic applications of Dragonic energy, such as minor healing and fire manipulation
Price: 1000 DC
=====
Even the so-called beginner books were not what I could buy with my current balance. There other beginner books were more expensive than the 3 I considered. But notwithstanding, I have confirmed two things:
* Items in the store may also exist physically too.
* I could actually use the request function to get custom made version of anything as long as I have the money
Then I left the room and tried my luck at the explorer guild library. I was able to find them all for just a fee of 1 DC as library fee. I paid an addition of 3DC to borrow them.
Returning to my room gave a little sense of security. Being an introvert such is good.
I sat down at the desk before diving into the first book. I also bought an empty notebook and pen sold together at 1 DC to jot down. True to its name. Even a nobody like me understood it on the first trial. With the knowledge from the book, I was able to get some explanations done.
"Mana is the invisible energy that flows through all things. It's like life blood of reality, nourishing everything from the smallest blade of grass to the mightiest creature." I read out my summary
"Since I don't have Mana at all" I had to improvise to fully understand it.
Cosmic energy is just almost like Mana except in a more complex form, Aura is just forcefully fine-tuning Mana to match your body wavelength to boost physical status. The fine-tuned Mana becomes Aura which can be used to perform martial and various weapon arts.
Both Mana and Aura is suited for specific purpose and choosing one path usually closes the other. The method of awakening both is different. While people trying to become mages, will try to make the Mana flow into their hearts and form a Mana core. Trying to awaken Aura involve letting the Mana flow throughout the body and create an Aura core in the lower Dantian.
Both can also be used to strengthen weapons but the biggest difference is the ability to perform ranged attacks more easily with Mana and close combat attacks with Aura. There were also exceptions whereby many people were born with aura after inheriting genes from their parents. But in most cases, children are usually born while have their path free and they will make the choice themselves.
I was able to assume that:
If cosmic energy is a vast, primordial force that permeates the entire universe: then it is present in every dimension but very difficult to control and is also dangerous to biological life. While Mana is a more localized form of energy that is associated with life and magic. Nothing can exist without cosmic energy but life can still survive without Mana.
A very definite proof is my dimension, from the information I got on the forum. A normal dimension should have nothing less than 100 habitable planets with teeming life, while my dimension is struggling to sustained just a single planet. After all a single meteorite is enough to destroy the planet.
The presence of Mana make life forms easily outgrow the limits they were born with. But the absence of Mana make crossing a certain level difficult. After all even with full time body builders, no matter how much time is invested, it is impossible to lift up a mountain while it is possible with the application of both Mana and Aura.
This also explained the reason why Transcendent souls were able to survive in our dimension. Since we already have a fixed limit on our body in our genes, the latent power in the soul could not do anything except to remain sealed. If I had not been summoned, I would have lived and died like a normal person in our dimension.
Dragonic energy is a special energy that only species like Dragons can use. There were other forms of energy but I was not interested in them for now.
After watching some videos on T-Tube, I was finally ready to attempt it. Don't get me wrong. I could already feel the cosmic energy in me but that was the extent I could do with it. Sure I understood how much energy I needed to open portals too, but I was unable to successfully open one.
Which led me to trying to awaken my control over the energy in the first place. I did not have any swordsmanship training, neither did I do any physical training other than the exercises in secondary and primary school.
I agree with whatever thing you say about the impact of exercise on health. I just thought of it as a pain. After all my dad visits a gym at least once per month. Looking back at the way I have lived my life, I can also say: it sucks.
I left the desk and chair and sat down in the lotus position on the ground. Since the floor was neat, I had no worry about my clothes getting dirty. Who knows if there is a dry cleaning service in this place? I would need to change this clothes soon too. Even though after the tutorial, the clothes were returned to their original condition looking at it gave me slight unease.
"Focus focus." I told myself as I assumed the position believed to promote physical and mental stability during meditation.
The words of Elara Nightshade words echoed in my mind: "Visualize the energy flowing through your veins, as a river of pure light, guide it and the reins shall be yours"
I closed my eyes, focusing on the sensation of my breath, each inhale and exhale a deliberate act of will.
Slowly, I began to visualize, picturing a shimmering river of light coursing through my veins.
The energy reacted violently and I welcomed it.
But as I delved deeper, a flicker of fear, a primal instinct of self-preservation, seized me.
The visualization faltered, the river of light shrinking, sputtering, and finally extinguishing. Disappointment washed over me. I had failed.
Undeterred, I tried again.
This time, I pushed aside the fear, acknowledging it but refusing to let it consume me. I focused on the sensation of the breath, the gentle rise and fall of my chest, the cool air entering my lungs, the warm air expelled.
It took me up to 5 minutes to get myself into that realm of mental stability.
I imagined the river of light, not as a forced torrent, but as a gentle, meandering stream, flowing effortlessly through my veins. And then, I felt it. The energy once violent now steady and calm
A tingling sensation, not of fear, but of exhilaration, spread from my core. It was like a thousand tiny fireworks exploding within me, a symphony of light and energy. The river of light, once a flickering ember, now flowed freely, a vibrant, pulsating stream of energy, not just within me, but extending outward, a gentle hum resonating through the very air around me. I had done it.
I felt the very atmosphere resonate with me. Cosmic energy from me began to spread out to the surroundings as I felt the total amount I have increased. My body achieved a state of circulation with the environment. I became aware of the presence of the cosmic energy which make up existence. The force of the cosmic energy outside my body was not crushing me but instead embracing me gently.
Then the system screen came to life
[Ding!]
[You have achieved control over cosmic energy as a mortal! Your proficiency of [Cosmic Energy Manipulation] has increased to 5%]
[Achievement Rating: SSS]
[You have received 999 achievement Points! Convert achievement points to Dc with a ratio of 1:100]
"Whoa" I felt exhilarated and a sense of omnipotence. No not omnipotence just a feeling of being over the top.
The same feeling made me to push cosmic energy into my eyes to experiment. As I use up the cosmic energy in my body, more flowed directly from the surroundings into my body to replace it. Maybe that was why I could not accurately prevent excessive energy from flowing into my eyes.
"Voom!!!" a large divergent beam spread out of my eyes. The beam effortlessly passed through the wall of my room in front of me turning the supposed obstacle into nothingness.
I immediately cut the flow of energy from my eyes.
Just a little experiment from me had resulted to the destruction in front of me.
"Oops" I think I may be in trouble.
Little did I know the magnitude of what I have done.