Chapter 10- Flawlessly Flawed (Part 1)
For the next several hours, Jack bombarded Lune with questions, jotting down every idea, every scrap of information, and every fragnt of a plan that surfaced in his mind. His brain was firing on all cylinders, weaving together possibilities and hypothetical situations at an exhausting pace. anwhile, Lune simply hovered beside him, guiding his thoughts with asured insights and careful corrections whenever necessary.
There were both upsides and inevitable downsides to their long exchange. On the bright side, Jack now possessed knowledge that few others in his position would ever dream of having. After all, not everyone got a personal crash course in Aevum survival before being tossed into an alien world.
The number of people who actually knew anywhere near as much as Jack were all parts of clans and families who were to Aevum before and have Chronists under their belts. The majority are, unfortunately, completely clueless.
Then there was Lune herself. Perhaps the greatest advantage of all. Her presence was invaluable—like a living encyclopedia, combat strategist, and guiding ntor all in one. If they encountered a dangerous situation, Jack knew he wouldn't be left stumbling in the dark. Lune's advice could very well an the difference between survival and an early grave. Her involvent minimized risk, amplified preparedness, and elevated Jack's chances of not dying a humiliating death on day one.
But the problems... they ca quickly too.
The first—and perhaps most brutal—was the realization of just how weak he truly was compared to the monsters he'd face in Aevum.
Even with his background in multiple martial arts and above-average physical condition, he was still light-years away from being able to fight the nightmarish creatures that road that world.
"You ntioned those clan-trained individuals who end up in Aevum," Jack said, breaking the silence as he wrote. "How do they even prepare for this? You said they can't use Ti Essence before arriving, right?"
"That's correct. The Essence only bonds with your body once you're in Aevum," Lune replied, her tone calm but serious. "So their training doesn't revolve around brute strength. Instead, they focus on combat techniques—thods specifically designed to deal with monsters. Techniques that give them a tactical edge."
She paused, then added gravely, "But even then, Jack... those techniques only increase their chances of survival. There are no guarantees in Aevum. Talent, intelligence, and luck—those are what really determine whether you live or die."
"Hm. I see..."
'Makes sense,' Jack thought grimly. 'All they're doing is stacking the odds in their favor. But if they et a creature way beyond their level, all that preparation ans nothing. They're just dead.'
He hated it.
Situations governed by chance—by random factors beyond his control—gnawed at him. He didn't like rolling dice with his life.
The second issue was perhaps even more maddening. There was no way to know what part of Aevum he'd arrive in. No way to predict what ability he'd receive once he awakened his Ti Essence. Both factors were absolutely critical to the success of his plans.
So, naturally, he grilled Lune about all the known regions of Aevum and tried to sketch out contingency plans for each of them.
But even that was a fool's errand.
Each region was incomprehensibly vast, containing countless unknowns. Even if he spent a year studying them all, he still wouldn't be able to prepare for every variable.
In the end, it wasn't even a problem he could solve—just a black void of uncertainty he had to accept.
By the ti the clock struck 4 a.m., Jack was surrounded by a thick stack of scribbled papers—filled with diagrams, notes, contingency trees, and strategic breakdowns.
'I've already morized most of this. But it's better to write everything down, just to be safe.' He glanced over the sheets one final ti before turning to Lune.
"This is good enough for now," he said. "Thanks for your help."
"Absolutely! You can ask anything, anyti." Lune bead with delight at his words.
"..."
For a mont, Jack just stared at her. There was a glow to her—an ethereal beauty that made it difficult to hold her gaze for too long. It wasn't just her features. It was the serene warmth in her smile, the way her eyes held a light that felt almost too pure.
'This explains why people like her don't exist in our world. We're flawed creatures,' he thought as he rose to his feet.
"Now," he said, shifting gears, "like we discussed before, I want to learn one of those fighting techniques. You said there are many, but I need one that's easy to pick up, doesn't require special talents, and is effective against monsters."
Lune tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hmm... that's a very specific request. But—" Her eyes lit up as sothing clicked in her mind. "Oh! I know the perfect one for your situation. Well, maybe not perfect, but it's definitely the best fit considering your criteria."
"What is it?"
"Long ago, I learned a combat technique that I haven't used in ages. I moved on to more advanced thods, of course, but this one... It's straightforward, useful, and easy to grasp. You should be able to learn the basics in just a few days. And once you've awakened your Ti Essence, you'll be able to use it to its full potential."
"That sounds good enough," Jack nodded.
"It's called Tiless Ripple. It's a palm-strike technique that focuses Ti Essence into a precise point to deliver massive internal damage. Think of it as a distant cousin to the Golden Lotus technique I told you about—only... infinitely less advanced."
"A palm-strike technique, huh? So... kind of like kung fu?"
"Kung—hmm?"
"It's a fighting style from Earth. Don't worry about it. Just keep going."
"Right. Well, Tiless Ripple consists of three core moves: a singular palm strike, a fast one-two combo, and a defensive stance that turns your palm into a shield."
"I can use my palm as a shield?"
"Yes, if you channel Ti Essence correctly, your palm can form a barrier strong enough to block weak attacks. But I highly recomnd not trying it against stronger strikes. You'd lose your hand." Her voice was deadpan serious. "Now, stand in front of . I'll show you how it works."
With a gentle glide, Lune descended from the air and landed on the wooden floor.
"Focus on three things," she instructed. "My footwork, my body movent, and my palm. To execute the strike properly, everything must move with precision and flow."
She slid into a stance—calm, balanced, focused. Then, in one seamless motion, she stepped forward and struck the air with her palm. The motion was so fluid, so natural, it felt less like a technique and more like a ripple passing through water.
'Perfect technique. Not a single wasted motion.' Jack watched, srized. 'Even the best fighters have small imperfections in their flow. I couldn't see a single one in her movent.'
"You just align your body and deliver the strike like so—hm? Jack, are you okay?"
"Huh? Yeah... I'm fine. Go on." He blinked, shaking off the trance.
"I'll do it again, slower this ti. Pay attention."
She repeated the form, this ti explaining each movent in detail—how her hips rotated, how her center of gravity shifted, how her breath aligned with her step. Jack absorbed every detail like a sponge.
"You want to try it?"
"Yeah. Let give it a shot." He turned to face the other direction. "Not sure if I nailed it, but..."
Taking a deep breath, Jack slid into the stance.
His body adjusted without hesitation, responding to the visual blueprint his mind had stored.
Lune's eyes widened.
'What...?'
"Is this the right stance?" he asked casually.
There was a long pause.
What she was seeing wasn't just close—it was flawless.
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