Chapter 6: [Indomitable Will]
MC POV:
"One!" *Clank clank* *Swoosh*
"Two!" *Clank clank* *Swoosh*
"One!" *Clank clank* *Swoosh*
"Two!" *Clank clank* *Swoosh*
I kept repeating these two words like a mantra while dragging a giant mental cube through a desert. It was attached to me by several chains whose clanking accompanied the sound of the sand moved by the cube.
My mind was empty. The only thing I could think about was reaching the two giant towers in the distance that denoted the finish line.
I could no longer tell how much time passed since I started dragging this cube. Every muscle in my body screamed to stop and take a break. I felt my sweat evaporate the moment it formed, while the sun above and sand below made my skin and feet sizzle, causing me a great deal of pain. Worse than that was the pain I felt in my lungs exposed to the dry and hot air of the desert. It made breathing hard and left a bloody aftertaste in my mouth, showing me how bad a condition they were.
Despite all that, I kept moving forward.
In the past, I wouldn't be able to walk around here, not to mention dragging a cube with each side measuring 10 meters and weighing around 500 tons.
"One!" *Clank clank* *Swoosh*
"Two!" *Clank clank* *Swoosh*
But now, it's different. It's been five years since the day Matrucksa sent me to this world. I kept working hard, not wanting to waste my second chance at life. I still remember how it feels to be average. My whole life, I was such a person. Now I can, and I will be more than that! I have to!
"One!!" *Clank clank* *Swoosh*
"Two!!" *Clank clank* *Swoosh*
I kept walking with even more resolve than before, and as I did, I felt something deep inside me stirring awake. It started small, like a drop of water before the rain, but then it became more powerful. It kept growing, turning from a single drop of water into a rainstorm.
My body still screamed in pain, but it became a lot easier to ignore its wails. I also noticed that my body moved far faster than before, while the cube behind me seemed lighter.
"Aaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!" releasing a primal scream, I no longer counted my steps. I went ahead as fast as possible without thinking about anything other than reaching the two towers and being done with it.
As if all my previous struggle was a joke, It didn't even register with me that I passed the two towers before going for 20 more meters and planting face first into the scorching sand.
Just as I was about to groan from the pain and sand getting into my mouth, nose, and eyes, it all disappeared like a bad dream, the familiar white floor of the Training Room underneath me.
After getting my powerless body rolled on my back, I was greeted by Selen's formerly expressionless face, now presenting a slight smile and the softness possible to describe only as heavenly, coming from beneath my head.
"You worked hard. Now rest," Selen said, leaving no room to argue.
She no longer looked like a child looking more like a teen instead. She was now roughly 155 cm tall and still had room to grow. Her figure despite being quite lithe, as could be expected from a person with feline features, didn't lack the womanly charm, being curvy in all the right places. She still sported the same set of clothes and hairstyle, but due to the change in age, she looked more charming than cute. I came to see her as my sister, but my resolve keeps being tested every day...
I was more than a little surprised when I found out that her appearance inside The Orb wasn't set in stone. Contrary, she would keep growing like a regular human until she reached what could be considered her prime.
As for why I was surprised, there are two reasons. One is that, At first, I thought she was more like an NPC rather than a person, but the more time I spent around her, the more assured I got that wasn't the case.
Despite hiding them well, she showed some of her emotions from time to time. It was also apparent that while she enjoyed staying on her own, she needed my presence from time to time.
My second reason is that the way I look inside The Orb won't change and is what my body outside will look like once I mature. Once It does, it won't age a day more unless I want it. Selen told me this during one of our breakfasts after she was tired of me whining about it. It was supposed to be one of the surprises prepared by Matrucksa, but I guess she couldn't stand it anymore. Perhaps her mental health was set as a higher priority.
Curious about the sudden surge of power I felt moments ago, I decided to check out my Status Window.
"Status," I muttered, causing Selen's right ear to twitch in annoyance, but she said nothing.
----------------------------------------
///Status///
Name: Arthur Yuki
Race: Human
Title: -None-
Mental Age: ~25
Physical Age: ~25
Potential: Lvl: 2, Grade: EX
Existential Level: Lvl: 2, Grade: F
Affinity: All
State: Wasted, Curious, Hopeful
///Attributes///
Vitality: Lvl: 2, Grade: SS
Toughness: Lvl: 2, Grade: B
Endurance: Lvl: 2, Grade: A+
Strength: Lvl: 2, Grade: A+
Agility: Lvl: 2, Grade: A+
Dexterity: Lvl: 2, Grade: B
Energy Reserves: Lvl: 2, Grade: D
Energy Quality: EX
Luck: Lvl: 1, Grade: E
///Skills///
//Passive//
[Perfect Memory: Lvl: 7, Grade: EX], [Negative Status Effect Immunity: Lvl: 7, Grade: EX], [Drawing: Lvl 1, Grade: A], [Information Processing: Lvl 2, Grade: SS], [Cooking: Lvl: 1, Grade: S], [Body Control: Lvl: 2, Grade: B], [Energy Perception: Lvl: 1, Grade: EX], [Inner Energy Flow: Lvl: 2, Grade: S], [Outer Energy Flow: Lvl: 1, Grade: A], [Swordsmanship: Lvl 1, Grade: SSS], [CQC: Lvl 1, Grade: SS], [Pain Tolerance: Lvl 1, Grade: EX], [Instinct: Lvl: 1, Grade: S]
//Active//
[Clean: lvl: 1, Grade: C]
//Special//
[Breath of Heaven and Hell: Lvl 2, Grade: S]
///Innates///
Name: [Orb of Desires], Type: Gift, Lvl: 7, Grade: EX
Name: [Indomitable Will], Type: Spirit, Lvl: 2, Grade: SSS
----------------------------------------
"Eh...!?" I muttered, 'nearly' sitting up due to the surprise. Yes, 'nearly', because my body still couldn't do even that. The reason was that, at the very bottom of my Status Window, right under The Orb, something new appeared.
With something as ridiculous as The Orb being in that category, even with its level and grade denoting it was the top, I never imagined something being added there.
Are innates by any chance the key to increase my existential level?!
Such thought appeared in my head after realizing that my Potential, until now stuck at Lvl: 1, Grade: EX, increased by a whole Level, while my Existential Level increased to Lvl: 2, Grade: F.
The first parameter denotes a 'modifier' to my learning speed, as instead of being the limit for all my parameters and skills like I thought at the beginning, it simply shows my learning speed.
The second one shows my current Level among other beings.
Deciding to look for information about innates later, I focused on the [Indomitable Will] inside my status, and another window promptly popped out.
----------------------------------------
Name: [Indomitable Will]
Type: Spirit
Lvl: 2, Grade: SSS
Passive: The user's will can't be influenced by external sources. If put under pressure, willpower will keep increasing to match the oppressive force.
Active: [Even Further Beyond] - Gives the user the strength to move forward even if the body isn't strong enough.
Active: [Domination] - The user can dominate creatures with weaker will and/or render them unconscious.
Active: [Telekinesis] – You are able to move people and objects with your willpower alone.
-WARNING-
This description is based solely on the analysis of the user's feats up until now. Skill can improve and change freely based on the user's perspective and mentality.
----------------------------------------
This explains the burst of strength, but… Why can I hear Goku while reading that active skills name?!?
It has a similar effect to the [Limit Breaker] skill I have seen in some games and novels. There is also [Telekinesis] and a [Conqueror's Haki]-like component. I have to test how exactly it works, for example, what's the range of this ability, but It will be awesome no matter the outcome.
I truly came a long way...
Soon after starting my study sessions in Library, I became aware of yet another terrific aspect of possessing The Orb. From the moment it became one with me, I acquired the ability to remember everything perfectly. I could recall at will and without any problem everything I witnessed.
My 'status' displays it and my body's unique constitution, as [Perfect Memory] and [Negative Status Effect Immunity], respectively.
If that wasn't enough, I never got tired mentally, and my mind stayed clear inside the Library. As a result, my head instead of turning into a messy storehouse became a neatly arranged library.
Despite its name, [Perfect Memory], there were certain exceptions. I remember the stories and activities I enjoyed. I possess all the 'knowledge' from the day I died, but I can't recall things like my name or family.
It's like having two memory discs, one that can store any data without limit and one whose files got partially corrupted. Before I can put the files from the corrupted memory disc into the good one, I need to recover them.
Honestly, that may be a good thing. I was curious about who I was, but without the memories, I also lost the emotional attachment to my past. I could focus on living here and now. I could keep improving and enjoy the life I envied for so long, leading me to this very moment.
"Once I can move again, we are going to throw a party," I said with a happy smile, receiving a nod from Selen as a reply.