“I’m almost a hundred percent sure what she used against you was a technique. She probably partially ascended to Silver like the other Wilson Luduses fighters, too. We’ve seen dozens of Lucy’s matches, and she hasn’t done anything like that before.”
“Thank you.” Nil broke the seal and scanned the contents. His eyes widened. “Lightning Wrapping technique?”
Selia nodded. “The Schema gave you the option to turn Brutal Battery’s energy into fire or lightning, right? Maybe you can find a way to do it on your own.” She yawned, nuzzling into his chest. The pair lay tangled in Nil’s sparse bedding. Neither minded the straw floor after a year on Ashe Fall. In fact, Nil believed he’d struggle to get used to the soft mattresses after he returned. “My mentors said that the Schema just assists in the evolution and growth of our power seeds, guiding us on our natural progression. We should be able to take the reins and accomplish some of it on our own. It's no different from cultivators learning and developing multiple techniques.”
“I recognize some of the processes in here,” Nil said, scanning the diagrams and the segments beyond his understanding. “I don’t know if I can pull it off, but giving it a shot might be fun. Even if I fail, this should help a fair bit with my energy control and manipulation.” He kissed the top of Selia’s head. “Where did you get this?”
“I stole it,” she stated matter-of-factly. “It’s the first time I’ve been allowed to keep any loot for myself.” Selia sat up and grinned. “I nabbed a bunch of materials for when I can my power seed and a technique for myself. There was a bunch more to pick from. After scanning them with Arcane Eye, I decided to get one for you. Don't worry about getting caught with it. All enchantments and wards have been removed. I disguised it as something you can purchase from the mountain store.” She paused, studying Nil's expression. “Indulging in stolen goods isn’t a deal breaker, right?”
“Depends on who it was stolen from.”
“Don’t worry about that. It was no one good or worth your sympathy.” Selia unentangled herself from the bedding and Nil. She peeked out the window and swiftly started getting dressed. “There are plenty of bastards on the Control World, and it's the Weave’s job to keep them in check.”
“Fair enough. I trust you.” Nil paused, watching his girlfriend as she moved around his quarters. They were comfortable, and he worried that a question that had been lingering since the qualifiers would ruin the mood. But curiosity got the best of Nil, and he believed they were in a place where an uncomfortable query wouldn’t ruin things. “You don’t have to answer this if you don’t have to, but I have something I’d like to ask.” Selia gave him an almost concerned look. “Why don’t you go by Selia Murphy? I remember seeing your last name during the Symbiotech investigation, but—”
“It’s not my real name,” Selia interrupted, returning to resting her head on his chest. Her fingers twirled the curly hairs on his pectorals. “Symbiotech needed something to make their test subjects look above board and not like kidnapped children. They stuck me with the last name, and I hate it.”
“Selia Specter it is.”
“No.” She plopped down on Nil and kissed him. “It's Rios. My real name is Simone Maria Rios. But that’s for your ears only. I’ve been Selia for so long that it feels more like my real name. It's for the best if we stick to it.”
“Simone.” Nil smiled. “That’s beautiful.” He tried pulling Selia back into bed, but she slipped out of his hold and playfully tutted. “Do you have to go? Our time is here almost over. Aren’t you done with the Weave?”
Selia shook her head. “There is one job left. Don’t worry, though. I’ll see you at the exit port.” She stepped toward the window and paused. Selia darted back to Nil, wrapped her arms around him, and squeezed tightly. “I—” She hesitated. “I really care about you, you know? This year hasn’t been easy, and we were barely a couple when we arrived. The separation hasn’t been easy. Thank you for sticking around. Thank you for being patient.”
“Of course.” Nil smiled, his heart fluttering. “I really care about you too.”
Selia departed, leaving Nil grinning from ear to ear.
- Might: Bronze 9
- Finesse: Bronze 8
- Mind: Iron 6
- Spark: Bronze 9
Brutal Battery: Bronze 8
- Absorb: Bronze 8
- Expend: Bronze 8
- Toggled Supercharging: Bronze 1
- Energy Instinct: Bronze 0
- Anti-Friction Lattice: Iron 7
Feats:
- Armmaster’s Disappointment
- Through Sheer Grit
- The Power of Belief
- Primal Origins
Source Gauntlets: Bronze 0
- Wield The Source: Bronze 0
- Galvanized: Bronze 0
Ironroot Whelp: Iron 9
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- Reinforce: Iron 9
- Regenerate: Iron 9
Nil hoped Meatball would ascend to Bronze after consuming the quicksilver fruit, but nothing changed in the final days leading up to the departure date. He was eager for the little whelp to ascend and gain additional mass, defenses, speed, or ability. The whelp had proven her value and usefulness twice over during the Chase and also in the tournament final. Nil’s trust in her increased day by day. Their understanding of each other also increased. It wasn’t on the same level as that of a summoner and their minions, but enough for them to get by.
Ashe Fall had proved an incredible growth and learning experience for both of them. If not for his family, Nil wouldn’t have minded staying on the rogue planet for the rest of his life. It was peaceful and a far more functional utopia than anything he had encountered in sci-fi or fantasy. However, he felt obligated to do more good for his home. The possibility of moving to a Control World with all the people important to him was tempting. But Nil believed it was too early to give up on his Earth despite all of its problems.
The soulsmiths studied the Soul Gauntlets’ new chassis every other day. Watcher’s essence still mystified them, and they hoped to see some change before Nil returned home. Andrew would still get to observe the developments, but he lacked Samara’s experience and depth of knowledge. She worried that he wouldn’t understand most of what he saw, especially in the context of the Source.
Nil used his final days to practice cultivation and the fundamental techniques as much as possible under Watcher’s supervision. The entity had agreed to occasional lessons in exchange for pay. It wasn’t because of greed, but communing and conversing across universal barriers demanded considerable resources. Watcher believed payment came with commitment and no one’s time or efforts would go wasted.
The primordial believed Nil’s grasp on the fundamentals was sufficient enough for him to expand his training. The advancement of Energy Instinct marked his progress in emission, shaping, and manipulation. Nil received no questions regarding where he got his scroll but believed it was a start and would be a good development on how he utilized Balance. Watcher believed that the third, invisible form of the Source had the potential for more than just the outer casing of Nil’s weapons. Even if Nil failed to adopt the ability, practicing it would push manipulation to its limits.
The final days went into outlining several different possible techniques and paths for how he could further develop Chaos and Order constructs. Imagining the first proved easier than the second. Order’s rigidity didn’t leave room for much experimentation and creativity.
Three days before Nil was due to leave Ashe Fall, he found himself alone in the kitchen with Iris. They stood in the kitchen late in the evening, preparing for the following day’s feast. The oldest teenagers in the mansion were due to finish their tutelage under Master Seer. Besides several vital figures from around the mountain, the pair’s parents were also due to attend. Preparing food for more than thirty people alone was too much work for one person, and he was glad for Iris’s help. They were almost done and in the middle of clean up while stocks boiled and fish cured when she abruptly stopped.
“I know we’ve discussed this before and laid the matter to rest, but it's vital I give this one last try,” Iris stated. “You and I could be great together. It's foolish to turn back on the possibility of it.”
“What are you on about?” Nil frowned, focusing on slicing the last of the scallops and nearly arranging them on a cloth-lined tray. “I’m leaving in a few days—”
“That’s not what getting together entails. It means you’d move to my world with me. You get to bring your family, and they’ll all live comfortable lives full of luxury, security, and opportunity. I’m not kidding when I say we’re as good as royalty.” Iris put away the last of the sliced vegetables. She washed her hands and sat on the counter next to him. “My world will ascend to the level of Control World in the next couple of decades, if not half a century.
“Failing that, we have the invitation to move the entire clan to Ashe Fall. My grandfather would become one of the masters of Onyx Dragon Academy. They require more Immortals. You and your family would get to accompany us.”
“Honestly, Iris, I appreciate the offer,” Nil said, keeping his focus on the knifework. Slicing scallops demanded single, smooth, long slices and, more importantly, speed. Nil already had the processed and unprocessed products on ice trays, but they needed to be covered and in a more controlled environment as soon as possible. “You’re beautiful, an incredible warrior, and your arena performance is also extraordinary. My family would also be happy with the opportunity. But I’m committed to Selia and have no intention of leaving her.”
“Who said anything about leaving her?” Iris frowned. “Bring her with you.”
“What?” Nil paused work for a moment, eyebrows raised. “You’d be willing to share me?”
“I expect you to reach Silver soon, and it's not uncommon for married warriors of the realm to have concubines. Once you ascend to Gold in a decade or so, even a harem will be perfectly acceptable. I’ve watched Selia’s matches. She might not have access to the Source, but her power seed is rare and powerful. You need people like her for group arena events and quests. It would be silly to lose out on an ally like her.”
“That’s insane.” Nil sighed, returning to work. “Why would you be willing to put up with all of this for me? It's a lot.”
“You mean besides your talent, work ethic, and insanely rapid growth?” Iris asked, chuckling. “Those alone make a desirable partner in life and a position of authority. But I don’t think you realize how rare it is to encounter people like you. Individuals who tap into the Source are few and far between.”
“It's not me, though. It's the gauntlets.”
“You picked the chassis, but the Source is never an option. It only comes to the people with the ability to wield it. Then the Source binds itself to their very being, to the essence of who they are. You either earn the Source’s power, or you’re born with it. It's incredible that the Source came to you only after a year of being summoned, and the amount you’ve progressed in the little time since is nearly incomprehensible. If you and I were to get together, we’re almost guaranteed to produce children who are also linked to the Source. They’re bound to be talented cultivators.”
“Is that what this is about?” Annoyance replaced the flattery that accompanied a beautiful woman’s insistence. “I’m sorry, but it's still a no. The idea of concubines, harems, and breeding super cultivator babies doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest.”
“Don’t just shelve the idea yet,” Iris said. “Think about it. We’ll see each other in quests. You’ll get the opportunity to tell me if you change your mind.”
I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.
Love JP and Caitlin
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