A figure stood at an opening. Like a shadow casted by pale, dawn light.
Slowly and surely, darkness made way for the light. Only present in tranquil quantities. Making the sky look bleak. Well, neglecting the beautiful clouds of course.
Haruto had slept very late and woke up early. Shame on that saying…he who sleeps early wakes up early.
Although, he could simply have woken up late, he would've missed his chance, the chance to master the second technique.
Oh, how ecstatic he was. Surely, that would've been dire, wouldn't it?
He stared into the large expanse of the white heavenly blockade just outside the window. The sight of it looked reserved and tranquil. As if hiding the horrors of midnight. The fog was rather beautiful.
He had chosen to put out the lamp light before he slept. So, there was currently no source of light in his room. Not that it mattered.
The Astral Oracle was a simple, yet complex technique. First, he had to guide energy towards his cornea and his mind.
Well, in this case. He was using mana from the system.
By sending mana to his cornea, it deepened his perception of the world by a considerable degree and also by sending it to his mind, it gave him concentration and comprehension. After all, even if one was showered with all the mysteries in the world, one wouldn't understand while actually concentrating on it.
Next up, he had to try and see through the fog.
That was a really arduous task for him. Since he wasn't even being tutored. He had only read a manual.
After concentrating for a while, he could sense the change in his line of vision and field of view. Cold sweat tainted his forehead.
And no sooner than later, he felt the fog start to dissipate, not that it was…he could just see better. Then he saw a bird transversing the sky, a hanger full of clothes, a luxury ride parked at ground level, a hawk…very beautiful, then the other building.
Well of course, it stopped there. But, he had achieved his aim already. Lastly, he had to chose his sign.
That wasn't hard, all he had to do was stop the flow and start all over immediately he performed the sign, which in his case, was blinking.
He had specifically chosen blinking because…why not? Who said one couldn't choose it? Even if it was complex to use, gaining mastery over it would be extremely beneficial to him in many ways.
But, why the sign? As long as one was concerned, he could just keep pouring energy into the cornea and the technique would be activated.
But no, it took time. And time, even down to the tiniest millisecond was important.
The brain was such a complex element such that, it evaluates specific actions for at least a split second before performing them. Then the time it would take to transfer essence or mana to the cornea and activate the technique. All of it, would take up to three seconds. Three seconds was more than enough to be eradicated in front of an horror.
So, the technique should be activated as a reflex. And the sign helped with just that.
According to what he had read in his former life, there were Neuro paths as well as specific fluid like myelin and dopamine that helped facilitate reflex. That way, immediately one performed the sign, the brain automatically worked out the technique. Because it just knew that was what you were going to the next.
That was how the brain worked. With each successive action, your brain knew what to do next and does it reflexively.
He had to give it to those who came up with it, their ancestors to be precise.
'What precise thinking…'
Ting!
[You have mastered a silver combat technique]
'Bingo!'
Haruto grinned.
Cleaning cold sweat from his forehead and trying his best to suppress his excitement, he sat on the fluffy bed and called on the system interface. The blue grid willed itself into existence.
[Status
Name: [Gensei Haruto] Age: [19] Level: [5] EXP: [0/1600]
Strength: [30] Intelligence: [20] Agility: [20] Health: [1600] Endurance: [10] Spiritual Level: [10] Stamina: [18]
Title: —
Stat Points: 0
]
All these weren't of his keen interest right now.
Smiling brightly, he focused on what was just below the stat points.
It read:
[Techniques
Thousand piercing punctures: [Rank: Gold] [Mastery level: 1]
Quantum Malevolence: [Rank: Epic][Mastery level: 1]
Astral Oracle: [Rank: Silver][Mastery Level: 1]
]
Haruto grinned even more darkly.
As to how he had learned the thousand piercing punctures and Quantum Malevolence, it was a matter of mere coincidence.
The thousand piercing punctures was a very complicated skill, it required one to heal oneself with the help of needles embedded with energy…or mana.
Of course, it could be used to increase one's overall power…augment in simple words. But, it would have been a waste of energy to do so.
Haruto, thinking reflexively, had concluded that carrying needles everywhere wouldn't be the best of ideas. Merely thinking of being stabbed by one mistakenly after putting them in his pocket made him flinch.
It was then that he discovered the true use of the power to control atoms.
Of course, he had ample control over it, even though it was meager. Creating a bunch of needles wasn't out of the way for him.
And just as immediately, the system had notified him of learning the Quantum Malevolence too.
He doubted that was its only use. And he was curious and anticipating for more.
Sitting on the bed, he smiled.
Being stoned to death — yeah,not exactly a memory worth keeping.
Being stabbed by jagged rods too and having to experience the ruthless death of countless souls.
But what was even more harrowing was the countless years he had spent in absolute poverty. It wasn't the best of memories, really.
And Lily was still going through that same ordeal.
He didn't feel good about it. Enjoying life while his sister suffered there. It panged his heart.
It went without saying that he had to grow stronger, he had to rise up to his challenges to save Lily.
Thinking about the countless Sentinels laying down their life for the world, he scowled.
Fools, they were all fools.
Sacrificing yourself for the world? What kind of stupid thing was that? To hell with the world. They could burn for all he cared.
Where were they when he was suffering in nothing? They condemned him. Or when he was always at the brink of death? They were nowhere to be found.
Well, he was a fool too, but for an entirely different reason. He had only decided on going to the expedition because he wanted to grow stronger and save his sister.
But, was he even strong enough to embark on such a foolish journey? No. Then how exactly would he be prepared.
Well, he already had an answer.
Looking at the system, Haruto navigated to the quests panel.
[Quests
Daily Quests
…
Short Term Quests
Undead Slayer
Description: Rid a floating island in the endless abyss of nothing from undead creatures.
Rewards: Unknown
Rank: Grade 3 (89%), Grade 2(10%), Grade 1 (1%)
…
Haruto stared at it without a sour expression, cold sweat running through the line of his spinal cord.
'How scary could it be?'
Lingering for a moment too long, he gritted his teeth.
Throughout the night, he really couldn't sleep at all. He was thinking, he did not want to admit it. But he was scared.
But then he thought, surely the system wouldn't kill its heir…right? Why not become stronger through it?
And here he was….
'But why is it so hard? Damn it!'
Gathering enough courage and muttering to himself a few times. He accepted the challenge.
'I'll be fine, I'll be fine, I'll be fine'
Ting!
[Your short term quest would begin in 5…]
Haruto stared at the panel with a bleak expression.
'What did I just do?!'
He gritted his teeth all the more, his heart skipping a beat amidst rhythmic pounds.
'Damn it! There's no going back now'
[3…2…1]
[Sentinel, your quest has begun]