Akiko, bless her, finally gives a soft sigh of acceptance before giving
another nearly bone crushing hug that I'm eager to return with gusto. I never knew hugs could feel so amazing, honestly. I think the tails add an unfair advantage to the overall comfiness of the hug that re mortals couldn't hope to contend with. Maybe if we can sohow get Ios a body, we can see how the 4 arms compare...
Before I get too lost in distracting myself from committing to the most dangerous path imaginable, Akiko speaks up quietly with her downy soft voice, "Very well, dear Alia. I shall begin making the talisman when we are ready. It shouldn't take
long to produce, rely an hour's ti give or take. I will also offer you several pills from my collection and creation that should aid in your formation of your dantian, body refinent, and soul refinent. One of the perks of being a spiritual cultivator, it seems, is that we must train all categories to a degree, so while they may not be as focused as other paths would create these pills should be more than enough to start you on your journey."
She pulls back with a soft smile once again on her features, but even I can tell the good bit of concern it's masking. I nod back with my own thankful smirk, "Thank you Akiko, I'll definitely be needing all the help I can get it seems! Can either of you think of anything else I may need? And what exactly do I do during the tribulations? If I have to fight clouds, we may be in trouble." I say while stepping back a couple steps to regard both won.
Ios is the first to pipe up in her usual chirpy, high-pitched tone, "Akiko's gifts are quite a good offer indeed Aims, I would have suggested we go ahead and buy those pills before you started anyhow even with our tight budget! And no silly, you're not going to be fighting clouds!~" She laughs into one of her hands for a couple breaths before looking back at , "You're going to be fighting lightning coming down from the clouds!"
I can tell she isn't ssing with
per say, but it was still an obvious attempt to rile
up, this little troll! Well, I'm fully awake now and not trying to recover from bouncing between panic attacks like a pinball, so she'll have to step up her ga if she wants to rattle !
"You do realize how that's equally as impossible for
as I am now, right? You obviously have an actual plan for
to use, right Ios?" I say with my best deadpan expression and flat tone I can muster. I even go the full monty and cross my arms over my chest while leaning back slightly. I can tell it lands a good hit on the eldritch nace, because she instantly pulls out her adorable pout and looks away. My low voice laughs out into the room at having finally stumped my torntor and new friend for the first ti.
"Tch... Of course I have a plan. You're more fun to tease when you're ntally exhausted and trying to adjust to a new reality. I'll have to try even harder now going forward..." I can vaguely hear Ios mutter in a hushed tone as she's looking away, a small bead of sweat forming on my face from the implied threat. Before I let her linger too long on various new forms of shattering my world view, I turn to Akiko for confirmation.
"Akiko, is that true? I'll have to sohow fight lightning, which, inherently, moves at nearly one-third of the speed of light. Which is fuck off fast. I don't care how many points I put into Dexterity, that is not sothing I'm going to be able to do right now."
Akiko, who had seed to be rather enjoying the show in front of her, responds back with a bit of stifled laughter in her voice, "But of course dear Alia, unless you wish to just lay still and let Heaven have its way with you~." She says with a wink, which for sure effects
more than Ios' attempt at being cheeky, "Which, I would not recomnd, of course. Even single path cultivators like myself need to fight and push against Heaven as much as possible to survive the later trials it sets for advancing through the Realms. However, worry not. In theory, all trials should still be able to be overco, it is simply a matter of preparation and determination to do so.
The earliest trials normally are not close to being lethal power wise, and the speed of the Heavenly Lightning is greatly reduced in order to accommodate fresh cultivators. The power and speed increases drastically as you advance your path, which is a given, but so long as you can deflect so of the strength of the lightning you should be more than fine. Although, I base this off of previous experience with myself and training new mbers, I truly have no comparison for soone in your position or with that... extre title you possess in your system." Akiko further clarifies to , her arms rest lightly in front of her as her snowy, ice tipped tails wave lazily behind her.
I think about it for a couple seconds, my chin resting in my hand briefly before I nod once again, "Well, sounds like I won't be totally up the creek then. But I figure I should voice this part too, I have zero idea of how to fight, like at all. The only weapon I was ever familiar with back on Earth was sothing that apparently isn't allowed to exist here either, and I only got lucky with the spear because its hard to fuck up using a spear. Just... Stab them with the pointy end. So if I'm going to be trying to poke literal lightning bolts, I may need to learn how to use the pointy stick a tiny bit better."
Ios is the first to respond again, probably figuring this was going to co up. "You're right Aims, and usually I would be the first one to suggest Akiko take you about back and give you so top-of-the-line training montage, but to circle back to Akiko's earlier statent, I want you to buy the manuals as soon as possible. Preferably when we are done with this conversation, if I'm being honest. The longer we wait, the longer you have to reconsider and second guess yourself, or for sothing else crazy to happen around here."
Probably noticing my annoyed and hurt expression, she quickly explains, "I'm not saying you would back out honey, but you and I both know your brain is a piece of work, you even ntioned it yourself a few minutes ago. The last thing you need when cultivating, especially when you're just starting out is to be distracted or doubting yourself. It's even worse for what we are planning to do, since you will need to be as focused and locked in as you possibly can be to decipher the first steps of the manuals as quickly as you can. Akiko can back
up on this too, I promise I'm not using your ntal or emotional situation as leverage or sothing."
I still feel a little called out and slightly betrayed, even if I know deep down that Ios wouldn't ever do that to . Which, kind of proves her point. I am a piece of work upstairs, and
being defensive about soone acknowledging it just adds fuel to the fire. I breathe for a second before catching Akiko's attention again, and she takes the hint and places a hand on my shoulder.
"Sprit Ios is correct, Alia. What she is describing is in and of itself often the hardest obstacle for mortals to break through into cultivation. There are a myriad of techniques and manuals across the world and beyond, but if you cannot learn to keep a still, focused mind during these initial steps then you will never progress. Or, at the least, not properly. I also highly doubt that sprit Ios was attempting to use your conditions against you, nor would I have stayed silent if I thought that the case. We both want you to be successful, especially with this dangerous path you have decided to embark on." She gently squeezes my shoulder with her hand before after finishing her defense of Ios.
Ugh... Fine... I get what they're saying, but she could have worded it better. I sigh ntally before looking at the both of them again. "Fine, I get it. I know you ant well Ios, but it was the way you phrased it that got
upset. Let's just move on for now." I say before shanking my head a few tis to knock the thoughts off, "So! We need Akiko to make her talisman and so way for
to learn how to use a spear that doesn't look like soone 5 beers deep at the batting cages. Thoughts?"
Ios giggles slightly, followed by a warm apologetic look to her face when she answers
back, "Although it would be fun to see you do your best Babe Ruth impression against so lightning bolts, I have an idea that will help out. And you're right Alia, I could have described what I was trying to get across better. I'm sorry for even implying it. Forgive ?" She says with big, puppy eyes that instantly make
forget even being upset at her. Am I too weak to cute won? Is that even a weakness?
"Okay okay fine! I forgive you, just put those lethal weapons of cuteness away!" All three of us laugh, trying to bring the mood back up just a bit. Been too much doom and gloom talk over the past few minutes; we need so kind of break. I continue on after we all calm down a bit, "So what's your plan then Ios? Beam spear fighting knowledge directly into my brain or sothing?"
Ios looks at
dumbfounded for a second, her mouth slightly open before she snaps it shut and goes back to her pouting for so reason, "You're just taking the fun out of everything today Aims!" She says before glancing back to , a small smile pulling on the corner of her lips indicating that she's just joking around, "Yes, there are training programs in the store that you can buy, and the basic spear one is pretty cheap. We will need 2300 of your points for the four manuals, and then the spear program is 75 points. We have barely just enough for it all, those quest completions coming in clutch.
Also, what I had ant to say earlier regarding Akiko taking you out training was involved with this too. While you can buy programs for learning how to use weapons or crafting tools or basically anything really, I would always advise you to learn it on your own. Especially for combat related things, there is an ocean of difference between knowing how to use a spear and knowing how to fight using a spear. After you break through and start cultivating, you'll need to throw yourself into learning weapons and crafts since you'll be so behind everyone else at your level for a while. But, this ti it can't be helped. We simply don't have the ti to train you properly." She looks over to Akiko after finishing her thoughts.
Akiko nods and stands up off the couch and stretches, a couple of her tails brush across my face and tickle my nose in what I assu was totally an accident as I shoot her a playful glare. She seems not to notice my staring, but that smirk on her face seems awfully suspicions... After she gets comfortable, she nods to the both of us. "Very well then spirit Ios, I shall go begin construction of the talisman. I would suggest you both go to the Qi Gathering Array room, which I can lead you to as it is on the way to where I perform talisman creation. It has a formation that insulates the Qi inside the room from the outside world, and a runic array that aids in the collection of ambient Qi. Ideally, this should help Alia quickly move into the 1st Realms of her paths."
Both Ios and I agree that sounds like a good idea, and I pick up her communications box and follow Akiko out of my new room and into the hall. The interior of the estate is surprisingly well lit throughout, and I notice its from those tiny crystals that are hanging every so often. Hippies would love this place, the crystals here actually do work! Follow current novels on NoveI(F)ire
Thankfully we arn't wandering too long, even with my buffed strength this box is awkward as shit to carry around through the halls and turns. Next ti we're buying one with wheels damn it! My angry ruminations stop as Akiko slides open another wood door and leads us into the special room. Instantly, I can feel a heavy pressure that descends in this space, like the air is almost thick enough to swim through.
I throw... *ahem* gently place Ios' bulky ass box down once I shake my head and try to get used to the literally oppressive atmosphere in here. The projection of Ios reappears with her eyebrows quirked at , to which I just shrug. "Next ti get one with wheels." I say as I stick my tounge out at her playfully as Akiko giggles at my display.
On our little midnight stroll through the mini mansion, I had been thinking about sothing that I think the other two forgot. Now that we're here and I can feel just how chalk full of energy this place is, I check my status page again just to be sure, before voicing out "Hey, I just rembered and checked sothing about my system. Don't I already have a massively increased Qi gathering rate? Is that going to fuck up the array or like... I don't know the surrounding area? Since I'm assuming all of those lights are running on Qi, not to ntion if you have any other things like in the bathroom that need Qi to run, if I hoover it all up on accident then wouldn't that be bad?"
Both won pause for a mont, obviously showing the idea or thought slipped their minds. Akiko frowns slightly before giving
an answer, "Truthfully, dear Alia, I am not sure. The formation I ntioned should prevent such a thing occurring, but if you were to over draw the ambient Qi that the array has gathered then it's possible that it would beco inactive for a ti until it has recharged, so to speak. At any rate, you shouldn't need to worry about effecting the surrounding area so long as that formation holds, which it should in my opinion. If not, then I shall simply have a better version constructed in the future."
Ios seems satisfied with that answer as she adds on, "I agree with Akiko, the air here is filled with Qi but even if you do end up drawing it all in sohow, the overall protections on this room were pretty solid~! Now! Akiko, go make your talisman! I gotta show our dear Aims here how to use her stick properly~ Hehe!"
Akiko laughs loudly as she exits the room with a small wave to the both of us as I turn to this perverted little nace, "You're a child, Ios." Sadly, even though my words show my disappointnt, the smile and unserious tone I say it in has the opposite effect. She gives
a wink while sticking her own tounge out this ti in an adorable display, before moving on.
"Oh c'mon, that was funny!~ Right, let's get you learned up on the spear then. Take a seat and get comfy, it'll take about 30 minutes to fully download everything into your noggin honey!" I do as she asks and find a comfortable space on the floor since this room seems to be completely empty except for a pillowed cushion in the middle of the room. That feels like a trigger to a boss fight, so I avoid it like the plague for now, I'll take resting in the corner of the room instead~.
You have purchased [Basic Spear Fighting Knowledge (No Rank)] for 75 Points!
Available Shop Points: 2325
Hundreds, maybe thousands of images flash throw my mind. n and won wielding spears of various lengths and fixed heads to stab or slash at other people or creatures. Using their spears to block swings from swords or axes, before using the long shaft of the weapon to shift montum and dig the spear point into their assailant. Images of hundreds of people all lined up in formations, drilling over and over the sa thrust of the spear, until the re action of it takes but a flick of muscle mory. All of these scenes play out in various forms for who knows how long, until I once again find that I am in the Gathering room with Ios, who seems to be looking at sothing only she can see in her projection.
"Ugh, what the hell... You could have warned
that that was going to be fucking intense Ios! I feel like I just watched the entire human races history with pointy sharp sticks all wrapped up into a short, shitty docuntary." I rub my eyes as I co back to, having apparently leaned against one of the walls during my spear-based fever dream.
Ios chirps back to
after a beat, "Ah shit, sorry hun I should have ntioned that. Thankfully it was the basic version, if we had had enough points for the advanced then you would have been out for like, 3 hours I think. But! All the more reason to learn these things the natural way, right? Or, as natural as you can for you, since your titles and skills will be power leveling you through it all~! While you were out I double checked the manuals and their higher ranked options just to make sure we are ready. Do you want
to go over them while we wait for your 'foxy mommy' to co back~?"
I cross my arms in a huff quickly as a blush fiercely forms across my face at this cheeky monstrosity, "I leave you alone for 30 minutes and you turn into an even bigger troll! *Sigh* Yeah let's go over them real quick while we have the ti."
"Hehe~! It's your fault for not playing along earlier!~ Now I have to try my best to rile you up honey! Okay! So first up is your body cultivation path. I found one called [Moonlit Midnight Sovereign's Body (Peak Heaven Rank)] for 500 points that, if our calculations are correct, will turn into [Eternally Moonlit Midnight Sovereign's Immortal Body (Peak Transcendent Rank)].
Aside from the much longer and imposing sounding na being different, it's a moon attributed path and the level of techniques and overall power that upgraded version will offer you is insane. Between your points from quests, leveling up, and advancing cultivation, you honestly may be able to give a lower tier 6th Realm a run for their money strength wise when you hit the half step of 5th."
I hardly get anyti to process that knowledge bomb before Ios keys up the next slide. It's honestly kind of nice, it reminds
of our ti in the clearing when she just machine-gunned knowledge at .
"So! For soul cultivation I was a bit torn between a few, but one of them just... called out to . Like it fit you perfectly, sohow. Honestly the other two had the sa effect, but they made more sense on their own that I didn't notice it... Oh well!~ I'm sure its fine! The soul cultivation path I picked out for you starts as the [Soul Guiding Ferryman's Monarch (Peak Heaven Rank)] again for 500.
This one should get bumped up to [Dominating Empress' Soul of the River (Peak Transcendent Rank)] and is also quite insane. The power suppression, auras, and buffs that co from this path are wild Aims, and it seems like it naturally plays into and upgrades your soul incubation ability as you progress it. It is also directly soul attributed, which is beyond rare.
And lastly, the most important and expensive one. Spiritual cultivation didn't have many options with void attribute, which was a sha. I wanted to make sure that your strongest attribute was based in your spiritual path, as that one is the basis for your other two paths to work in harmony going forward. However, after so digging around while you were hanging out with Akiko yesterday, I found the perfect one~! [Spiritual Embrace of the Endless Void (Peak Heaven Rank)], and it will transform into one that sounds just as badass as the other two in my opinion, [Imperial Spirit of the Unending Void (Peak Transcendent Rank)].
Like I said, this one is pricer than the other two coming in at 1000 points, but it will be the backbone of all of your paths. Not to ntion, it is beyond powerful in its own right, the void attribute has no match or counter other than other void users, and even then its not a counter really. Both void powers just rge and beco even more deadly to the surrounding area, like almost black hole level shit."
As I'm stuck processing all of this with a slightly dazed expression on my face, the sliding door opens once more to reveal Akiko who has changed into a much comfier looking set of clothes that nearly resemble what a kimono and pajama pair would look like if they loved each other very much. Seeing
dazed and helpless on the floor, she gives
a curious look before coming over and picking
up with her tails. Oh shit, does this reveal so fantasies for ... Sadly before I can daydream about that any further, Akiko rubs the top of my head slightly before announcing to the room,
"I have completed the talisman a little earlier than anticipated, and the effects shall be as I had described previously. Alia, if you're ready to begin then I can hand you the pills and spirit Ios shall begin purchasing your manuals."
Reviews
All reviews (0)