Duck's head or neck were kind of small targets, yet great ways to damage any living beings. Ducks had a significant point of weight and mass in their torso alone, obvious by their physicality that had small legs protruding from hefty rest. It was where most at was, followed by a head with beak, skull, and longer neck.
For Anatidaes, even if they were strange creatures, they looked like ducks, so what was commonplace to na them as such? Well, the truth stemd from the Anatideamons, reaching from the Bloodline of beasts from the Endless Skies. It was about the origin. A broadness that Gods touched a long ti ago above this world.
Anatidaes had so differences that no ducks could bear. Their feathers were intricately connected to the rest of their body, going deep, acting like armor, second skin, and most of them were layered upon each other. In this sense, the Anatidae Golem that Murai had the privilege to fight had so clever imitating ideas that Levandis tried to copy, apart from the way layers shed and changed the golem. No Anatidaes could lose their feathers and get more powerful in return. That wasn't how theirs worked.
Visible feathers were most sturdy and clear by the naked eye, with others below being much softer, but still being part of the whole package. So carried softer defenses that absorbed damage, whereas the outer ones took care of more direct hits. It was a neat defensive and natural formation that worked from birth and it was also getting better the more their Vitality and age rose.
As for the rest of their physical aspects, their necks were much more flexible and stronger than normal ducks. Then, their beaks were their most prized possession, indicating power, sturdiness, sharpness, and most notably strength and power to smack things apart. It was on par—if not much more powerful—in physicality alone to so of the prominent beasts like eagles.
Unfortunately, not everything was a blessing in disguise. Feet were their shortcomings that were almost impossible to resolve besides so significant care, training, technique, Influence Item, or evolution choice that would potentially change such shortcomings for sothing else. It wasn't worth gambling most of the ti because most Anatidaes learned to work with them in so way, opting to focus on what actually mattered. Murai was no different, although his options and life were a little bit different from the normal one.
Evolutions were powerful choices and research within most potential sub-species or species in general. Will of the Battleworld would know about them, as it was the defining factor to every beast that was about to undergo evolution, closed onto so Wall, or touched upon so Influence Items. It was sothing integral for beasts of this world, as evolutions weren't sothing one forgot. People could because it wasn't important to them.
Murai felt it before his fateful first choice, waiting, speaking, and doing its things at a ti when he had no ideas about this world or how things worked. Now he did, and he figured his next choice would be extrely crucial. It was curious just which choices he recently uncloked and what they ant. He didn't ask questions or demand so significant clarity.
He could have.
Every evolution was predetermined by nurous requirents and stakes. That was the rule of everything this world touched. Even attributes were the sa, and many things had the sa basics of giving tools for sothing in return.
But what about completely new evolutions? The already established species, or sub-species had its Bloodlines and things to work with, but the world was large, and possibilities and changes were even more extensive. There were many things sothing could touch and change. Even a simple stream could turn into a massive river.
Creation would bring possibilities that few ever felt, as it ant establishing completely new variables within a species, Bloodlines, and Codex, which was the requiem to the changes.
It was about a force of change and acceptance. It had to be reviewed, established, or forced into the creation. Such occurrence would establish a new line within the Bloodlines of a species, or a new diversion in the subspecies. Requirents would shift, ways of evolution would then fall on the Will of the Battleworld, and species would advance ever so slightly.
Being the forefather of a brand new sub-species was seen as an incredible achievent. It could also give Titles, such as Forefather, Pioneer, or Bloodline Creator, so being such a specin was full of pride and completely new possibilities. Those weren't available under the Battleworld's Codex under any other circumstances.
On a broader scale, this idea about forcing things onto a new page ant higher heights, Breaches, or limiters never seen before under millions of beings, if not more. A lot of it mattered to what kind of species worked was like, or how a new choice would fit onto those Bloodlines.
The more limited the species, the tougher the requirents for new evolutions beca. The more widespread a beast was, the more such Pioneers appeared, and fewer new choices beca possible. At so point, it would be straight-up impossible, yet with already widened scales, a new choice wasn't as hard as one would expect. It was a matter of perspective and what a new choice would handle or do.
Most such beasts or species would have a very sensitive situation around them, or factors such as souls, teachers, or influences. Becoming one with creator-level Titles ant a certain pride, protection, and also hunting possibilities. So nasty hunters would spend unimaginable effort to catch new Bloodlines, which was a one-of-a-kind prize.
And since the already established new evolutions ant future ones anyway, killing them was fine. Endangered species were hardly a problem in the Battleworld when the flow of evolutions evolved many beings regardless of distance or families. It was a factor that made this whole evolution system attached to this world, locked and loved by the users and Gods, and giving weight and rules in more ways than one would see.
Even completely unrelated sub-species, families, or tribes could get the sa Bloodline evolution choice that was created continents away. Of course, that ant as long as requirents or compatibility were feasible. That was the first law of this commanding evolution.
Uncovering a brand-new evolution was nearly impossible for so species. Divine Beasts had even worse, for their Bloodline was already strong, and giving it sothing new might create more headaches than gifts.
Way too many things made such an idea feasible. One wouldn't find it. One had to crack it like a code or Law and establish a new legacy. Only great tribes and soaring beasts would willing to do it, experint, see failures, or mistakes, and even then, they had their significant history, so why try to force it? Finding passable conditions might be rare.
New heights, limiters, or taking a variety of powers made a myriad of changes, which might suggest mistakes or sha. Prerequisites and usual concerns were Affinites, unique combos such as body, soul, or ability, and elents, Laws, or creation of brand new techniques, spells, or abilities. There was a near-endless web of interest when it ca to Bloodlines and evolutions, and Influence Items were another pivotal and weird variable, but it was subjective to luck and Bloodline purity or quality, and getting a great Item was sotis harder than looking for Laws.
Paths were similar in this creation, yet stone-cut into the already established powers that ruled the universe in much clearer acts.
Beasts weren't important. They were almost regarded like animals.
Paths ruled supre and beasts rarely had them.
Creating a Path was different from the fundantal principles. Pathways made them all possible. One can't create a Pathway. Only Paths that had to nd towards the Pathways.
That one single factor made already predetermined Paths much better, since complications when establishing brand new Paths were heavy, unlike with evolutions that held at least so clarity since it involved bodies mostly.
Paths could be anything.
Murai was pretty much sure about the way Paths and Pathways worked. He created and handled so Paths a couple of tis, in different lives and worlds and tis, so he got the gist of their hikes and rules.
Not in this life so far, however.
There were so ntions and aningful glances at the Soul Pathway from so bits in his mory. It seed his Robust Spirit was so sort of mysterious power that happened and changed according to his soul, this world, and it didn't happen by his choice. It didn't happen on its own either, so that was curious. Battleworld granted it to him, giving him benefits that were at Grade SS at their core.
That was the most insane thing out of anything he had, which poised as variable and distrust. Since he got it, he wasn't sure how to think of it.
Lisa changed that a little bit because she knew this world and what such a grand gift as Grade SS ability ant. She told him how crazy it was, and how he should think of his potential duality or triplet of powers.
Soul, evolutions, and a Path.
This triplet sounded very intense, but not everyone would be willing to follow them at the sa ti. Bit by bit, the consensus on how one touched and viewed the Paths and evolutions were the sa. Souls were much weirder, almost unattainable by anyone because of their sheer complexity.
But it was true that one could try to walk it all.
Souls were just not viable, even when those with second lives walked around this world. The kind that Murai held was of a different kind even then, thanks to his Cursed Living. Lisa thought variable Breaches happened with him and the Codex, so so things transpired along the rules, while others had no way of happening because of sothing.
Answers won't co. Why? Lisa figured many things didn't make sense because of unclear conditions. She had no answers, so she couldn't give Murai what he sought. Hoping for it was all they could muster.
Soul Pathways was one of the weirdest Pathways in the universe, so thinking about it and him at the sa ti was kind of tough. But it was true there was so potential and his soul guaranteed so safety or interest. Lisa was more confident about it than ever.
Getting anything about souls was difficult. Lisa ntioned how their requirents were heavy and strict because this world touched it in much more elevated patterns than any other power. Blessed usually had so policies, thanks to their second-life nature, so they were usually the causes of so strange happenings.
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It went without saying that soone like Murai was within and far from this norm, which ant insanity for regular mortals, and sothing unnatural for others. Maybe even for Gods? Lisa found so oddities with him, this world, and how Levandis, Lordis, and Vermillion hovered like shadows over them.
The potential use of different Paths was also suitable, even if it was potentially troubleso if too many things fused under one's grasp. A nice duality was often better than a questionable triplet of powers.
For now, Murai had no grasp of any Path in the Soul Pathway, even though so bits of his soul proved to say otherwise. The soul could be quite separate, while the body could handle so magic and the body could do the sa.
For once more, his soul had its benefits that ca off from the Codex or sothing else. Strike of the Will was an ability that he had for a long ti and it worked with his Will alone. That was an aspect of Soul Pathway. He could also count other things such as Soul Manifestation, Soul-Lock, Robust Spirit and its three Identity Skills, and their respective soul attributes.
It made a clear picture that his soul was sturdy and this world couldn't change it. However, none of this changed much since he got his evolutions or even soul abilities.
Robust Spirit arrived fairly quickly into his life, acting with his soul itself and turning it close to the flesh and a bunch of other things.
Lisa and Murai went through so ideas about how it was possible. Lisa suggested that since his soul was so ridiculous, Battleworld accepted so Breaches by his re presence or so readings, thus an inevitable happened.
Or it could've been a mistake, which Lisa doubted was possible, but what if it wasn't a joke?
It happened rather naturally, so she had her suspicions. So far, everything he held acted like official power that one would expect after eting so requirents. Sotis, it even increased via Boosts while more than likely disregarded Paths or Pathways altogether because he was still a Child.
In any way, Murai had so interesting soul powers without any ntions of a Soul Pathway. Murai personally didn't know what he wanted either, and since it happened out of his reach, what's the point in worrying?
Lisa was a bit frustrated because of it. If a Breach hadn't happened, then what?
Could this all be just one massive blunder like his living?
Murai held interesting influences. His soul powers were clear and hard to increase besides the Will. Soul Read was relatively decent as well, and one of the rarer ones that he got the hang of. Robust Spirit was more bizarre, as he wasn't sure how to think of its Grade SS and all of its mysterious effects. This followed Strike of the Will which he hardly used because he couldn't bother thinking of it as sothing decent. From the description, it was lacking even if it was an offensive push of his Will. For now, he thought of it as auxiliary power that might co in handy after other things.
He used to have Soul Essence and Soul-Body, while Soul Power and Soul Force all revolved around the soul and Robust Spirit that he awakened after so luck or fusions.
Lisa never heard of Robust Spirit, so she could offer him her ideas alone.
Murai wasn't as curious as to how or why it happened. Lisa had her theories, but in a sense, it wasn't anything terrible.
Once soone got any power, it was impossible to take it back after accepting and finishing their readings and Boosts. Blessings gifted by a God were the sa. It was kind of helpful in so comforting and disturbing sense.
Murai was cold towards most of it, thinking that what happened, happened. That was all about it.
The sa idea went towards an incoming arena at the bottom of a dark chasm. However, unlike with things outside of his reach, Murai cherished his chances of giving training more weight and so soul powers were redundant. They could change sothing, but physical things were more up to his tastes when his blood and body heated up. His mana kept on flaring without any form. For now, Murai wanted to taste the power of his flesh.
One Grand Rhiner was right before his face, bearing its spike towards his chest. So Murai angled his clutched beak, thrusting against that spike in the middle of its forehead.
Murai stepped a single step backward without even using Beak's Blitz or anything else. What was around his body was mana and the beginning of his Heavenly Shaping, which was different from regular Shaping.
As he figured, this fundantal technique changed him like a curse. Reclaiming clarity was tough and fighting in the heat of battle was different than staying on a bed or Bagus. Mana Flow was more fierce and stability and control were up to mind. For so factors to co out of the Codex or Will of the Battleworld, he had to reach certain families and discover their effects. Or co to terms with Pillage or his Heavenly Shaping Manual, which was a key to a lot of things, but a surge of intent and knowledge from Boosts was kind of quick and easy. Pillage argued that taking that voice for a helpful scrutinous bastard was better than ignoring it and calling it a senile useless piece of shit.
Heavenly Shaping already moved onto his flesh and mind, so it was too late to regret what it caused or played with.
Around him was a small manifestation of the Heavenly Shaping technique, which was sothing new that regular Shaping didn't have.
Calling it an aspect wasn't very wrong. He could call it anything he liked, and even Pillage called it many things. A Surge, Mana Waves, Conjuration Flow, or others, they made nothing concrete, yet it could change in re monts. A simple Shaping would change this entire mana. It was closely resembling the fleshly powers that Anatidaes had.
Ever since he got this new Shaping, whenever he turned into his Conjuring, mana flew out of every inch of his body like a torrent that was hard to stop. Since he had his hoodie all the ti, this flow ca from his neck, tail, belly, ass, or face. If he had his hood on, it truly made his face shine and eyes gleaming.
A lot of it seed to have so stages. Murai discovered it by flooding the Heavenly Shaping Manual a few tis in the last few days. Mana Flow affected it in so way, and everything was closely related to what Pillage ntioned in their first eting.
It was beastly magic at the core, working with Beast Core and its aspects, and wilderness, mana, and Bloodlines followed it behind, creating a way into the Manual's truths. In so ways, the Codex should see it as well, but Pillage promised that the individuality of his technique was reliable and nothing should stop it.
This pointed to a question that so things could be stopped, but Murai was too busy thinking about his Shaping and didn't ask about it.
That idea wasn't all happy news for everyone. A lot of things worked better when Will of the Battleworld catered towards a beast.
So... in his case, it was kind of lacking for others, but Murai would call it a blessing. He hadn't gotten a single word from Will of the Battleworld since he got this technique, for obvious reasons.
Right now, he was hoodless, hoping to seek his physicality against the flesh of a Level 41 Grand Rhiner. He lacked clear defined boundaries after enduring his training.
He tried sparring against Bagus, David, or Itrosh, but those were all too strong against him, so he wasn't sure if he should feel sorry for himself or them.
Being happy that he finally t a way to find answers to his ideas brightened his soul. He should've forced so fights against those pesky Hunters a long ti ago, but Lisa either refused him or compelled Bagus to fly away. Back then, Murai found that he could push his Will to Bagus fairly easily, but even then, that silly Grifthart didn't listen to him.
Being careful was why and so things pushed so of his boundaries, while others didn't. Lisa might be both. Sotis.
They were Hunted, so having a plan or a steady way ahead was more important than being stubborn beasts that wanted to fight.
It would be a start of massive blunders if they would stop for Murai to fight and train thrice a day.
So when their rest ca with unexpected troubles, Murai was more than happy.
He clutched every fiber of his body under his hoodie, stepped onwards, and pushed against that spike with his beak alone. Grand Rhiner clashed against him, but Murai gnawed at its spike, stumbling this foolish beast aside as he sidestepped and forced the spike aside, twisting its feet and center of balance.
An unsteady footing was a clear problem for most beasts with a limited center of balance or way too much forward montum. Murai knew it himself, so he pulled a strategy card ahead first. Grand Rhiner stumbled but got to its feet quicker than Murai expected. Painful ferocious anger was in its face, growls ca from its mouth, and its expression lingered like defined howls.
In Murai's Soul Read, it felt like a beast that got slapped by a child.
It desired this clash again.
Too late for that.
Murai won't give this little beast such taste for free.
Grand Rhiner pounced anyway, and Murai backed away because other beasts reached the ground. This move stumbling the first Grand Rhiner onwards when Murai sidestepped half a dozen steps like a coward. It went onwards, clearly unable to change the direction all that well because of its hefty spike.
It exposed its neck. A chance! Murai wasn't close with his beak, so it was ti for his Heavenly Shaping.
Mana around him looked like a thin azure mist followed by a dozen patterns of waves. It was pure, without any Affinity, but it could be one with Fla. He tried it briefly so days ago, figuring that most of his Affinities had so neatness to them and Heavenly Shaping could use them. He hadn't discovered specifics even when he ntioned this to Pillage, so this was either advanced stuff or potential trouble.
Heavenly Manifestation, as Pillage nad this mist after struggling to force Murai's nas away, worked for the benefit of Beast Core and this technique. It wasn't a foundation, but a good beginning to handle a large amount of mana. It was far from being efficient if mana swirled all over his body like fool odor.
For now, having basic purity was better than complex foolishness, or turning attention to other types of Heavenly Shaping. It had many faces like most legacy-level manuals. Affinities often changed mages across the board, giving options, Paths, and a multitude of options and spells.
Murai had three affinities in total if one didn't include the pure one, which many disregarded as full-fledged affinity. His three tools didn't surprise Pillage at all. He knew how Anatidaes had and owned their Universal Affinity like a curse, giving them the option to possess what the universe possessed.
Murai wondered if it included his soul if he ended up like one, or if Pillage exaggerated his words like usual.
Anyway, he hadn't spoken to him much about Anatidaes to this day because of various reasons. Ti might be that, followed by limits inside the Manual, or Pillage's odd personality. Murai wasn't willing to give up that easily, and he had more questions than willingness for answers.
Waves of mana turned and twisted, forming a technique in the Heavenly Shaping called Insta Cast. It wasn't a Surge. That stage was subject to more imdiate, quicker, and specified movents of mana akin to large play of spells. Things like many Sharpblades worked the best with it, as it was more about control and pushing power.
Insta Cast worked best with spells that needed aiming, care, and less attention to detail and force. Since Heavenly Shaping worked with speed and efficiency the most, there was an incredibly high ceiling and work for accuracy. Without any surprise, so problems went along with Beast Core, and Heavenly Shaping, and this wilderness seeped into his flesh and mana.
Being accurate while maintaining a balance between Conjurign and Shaping was essential to any mage. No one wanted to lose their mana and use their spells for nothing. So, if one succeeded with Shaping and arranging a spell onward, one should also be accurate in their attacks afterward.
That was what magic was all about. A fickle play of control, power, and touch over mana.
Finding a way to handle everything that made magic was a work of failures or success. Murai got that idea long ago. He accepted his failures and shortcomings with ease and never thought so shortcomings were worse than deaths on the battlefields or in the hands of loved ones.
This was new to him regardless of that, which he didn't take with arrogance or a surprising amount of wisdom.
He was still a little scornful. Perhaps it was his soul and personality traits that made him like that, or his confidence about finding new things was off the chart, or his so-called stubbornness was the answer to everything.
There were many things to magic, people, and Curses walking, flying, dreaming, or drowning around the universe.
With his Beast Core on hold, there were nurous Conjuration problems that Murai understood quite easily and quickly, shaking Pillage's understanding of what an Anatidae could do, and what his forr species and students had.
It was almost laughable by now, but not poor, or sad. Pillage realized that ti must've passed a lot since his passing and everything about his little blissful locked prison was a work of art and sadness. It was a sha to admit it, but he would call Murai a master any day. It was an acceptable idea that ca from Pillage's shattered convictions, locked prison, and hope.
Murai didn't think much of it; he had seen far too many things out there for one more to matter too much. His mana was the sa. It will work or he will force it to work. The waves of azure mana turned and pointed onward like a wavering hand that changed to a bunch of rough arrows. It happened within a second, straight out of the Conjured mist. Mana Arrows barely ford at their full length, but Murai sent them anyway, piercing the neck of this unfortunate Gramd Rhiner who took this sudden barrage like a seastorm.
He failed.
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