289 Putting My Body On The Line
After such a humiliating experience, Adam cast aside his clothes and bathed in the rain. He decided to restart everything, so he went around bare naked.
("I feel so liberated!") [Adam]
"And cold?" [Krino]
("...Yeah.") [Adam]
His motivation was short lived, but he refused to go back for his clothes.
("I need to make clothes. Or some form of it. Let's do it like some of those survival shows.") [Adam]
Adam went around gathering suitable leaves for making clothing, which ended up as misshapen crafts. It took more than just several tries to keep the leaves from tearing or falling apart.
("Damn, this is harder than I thought…") [Adam]
"To think my vessel can't even make a simple article of clothing. Pathetic and disappointing." [Astos]
("I don't think you can do it either.") [Adam]
"Impossible. I've witnessed the birth of man. None of their crafts have escaped my eyes." [Astos]
Hearing that, Adam had an idea.
("If you're not lying, why don't you try showing me? Give me some instructions and I'll see if you're right.") [Adam]
The plan was to egg the god on. Considering Astos' pride, it shouldn't be too hard.
"No. It would be too easy for you. I know those of your ilk. Scheming like the rats of an imperial palace." [Astos]
The plan was foiled before it even began.
"Beating around the bush isn't for the likes of you. Be straightforward with what you want. As a matter of fact, how about you let me take over for a moment and I'll make it for you? I promise I'll give it back." [Astos]
("My body? Who was the one who was looking down on schemes just a moment ago? I'm not letting you take over.") [Adam]
"I am a god of my word." [Astos]
("No you're not.") [Adam]
Astos did not reply.
("Okay, look. I'll be straight with you. I need your help.") [Adam]
"I am not one to do favors." [Astos]
("How about a deal?") [Adam]
"You can't be serious? I've been listening for now, but this may be the most insane thing you've ever said." [Krino]
Even Adam's sword was in disagreement.
"Oh? What do you even have to offer other than your body?" [Astos]
("You're right, Astos. I don't have anything else. I will lend you my body once in exchange of your total assistance at all times.") [Adam]
"Once? You talk as if you can take it back!" [Astos]
Adam had to agree with that.
("True. However, you can't say that Askyros' soul will allow you to keep control. And so, I will stop him only once.") [Adam]
"You don't even know how to manipulate your own soul. What makes you think that you could possibly stop something even I cannot?" [Astos]
("That's part of the deal. You will offer me FULL support. That means teaching me all you know. Who else can teach me how to manipulate my soul?") [Adam]
As long lived as he was, Astos had never seen such shamelessness before him. Or was it boldness?
"My full support. Do you know what you are asking of me? To a god? A mere mortal dares?" [Astos]
("Spare me the intimidation act. Are you in or not? You may not have another chance like this.") [Adam]
Truly shameless.
"Ha… HAHAHAHA!!! You're such an amusing mortal! Is it insanity? Is it a lack of common sense? You're so unorthodox that it is almost appalling!" [Astos]
The god of chaos had found a new toy.
"So be it! You have my full support! Show me your worth! I will polish you until I grind you into dust!" [Astos]
Adam let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. Making a deal with a god as whimsical as Astos was more difficult than he thought. The most worrying part would now be if Astos would use his part of the deal at this very moment. His heart raced at the very thought of losing on his end of the deal. After all, he didn't know if Askyros would actually stop Astos from controlling him.
"I can sense your fear. Worry not, I will have you surrender your body in time. For now, let's begin the first lesson." [Astos]
Luck was on Adam's side. As distrustful as Adam was of Astos, the god's teachings were thorough. Within just two hours, Adam was capable of creating fine articles of clothing with just leaves.
("How's this?") [Adam]
"...Passable." [Astos]
("Don't say that. Look! It stays on even when I run!") [Adam]
Adam had crafted a T-shirt and shorts with leaves. Now that clothing was out of the way, he had to go back to the three basics.
"The problem of shelter, food, and water. It's a simple matter." [Astos]
("Really?") [Adam]
"Really." [Astos]
All it took was a few lessons on magic. Using earth magic, Adam learned how to build a simple dirt home. With water magic, Adam could summon drinking water at a moment's notice. As for food, Adam learned mana detection to determine possible foods.
"Remember. When you detect mana, it could either be fruits or an animal. If you master it, you can even detect those who are hiding their presence as well." [Astos]
("Yeah, I can feel it. I can probably feel a bunch of fruits north of here. This is much better than Scout.") [Adam]
With this, Adam cast aside the skill taught by Aurora.
"Of course. There are not a lot of skills on par with a god's." [Astos]
With all these results, Adam believed that Astos really was giving his full support.
"...I can't believe this is actually happening." [Krino]
"I am a god of my word." [Astos]
"You're a schemer though." [Krino]
"Which means I am no fool. I know full well that if I do not help in earnest, Adam can easily not hold up his end of the bargain." [Astos]
"What makes you so sure Adam won't just let you take over anyway?" [Krino]
Such a question seemed silly to Astos.
"The boy is pure and honest. That is how I know. If he wasn't, I would have been able to corrode his soul." [Astos]
That was worrisome news.
("What? What do you mean by that?") [Adam]
"Nothing you need to worry about. A god's presence has an influence on its surroundings. However, you are immune since you have no compatibility with my essence." [Astos]
("Essence?") [Adam]
"It's too bothersome to explain. You will learn in due time." [Astos]
The next lessons Adam received were not of survival, but of how to increase strength. As of now, Adam had been living on fruits. However, he still yearned for meat.
"You are not strong enough to defeat the weakest of prey in this jungle." [Astos]
Those words struck true. Adam had no choice other than fleeing when encountering any kind of animal. He even had close calls with a few predators.
"Let us start with strengthening your body." [Astos]
("Uh-huh.") [Adam]
"From what you know, your body is already quite durable." [Astos]
("Yeah.") [Adam]
"Do you know why?" [Astos]
Adam took a moment to think.
("...Boosters?") [Adam]
"That does have a part, but that is not it. It is from you compressing your mana organ every day." [Astos]
("Really?!") [Adam]
Adam felt happy knowing his daily toil gave such results.
"Your compression is forcefully blocking mana from leaving your body, causing it to run rampant. Therefore, forcing it into your flesh. This makes you stronger than the average man." [Astos]
"Oh…" [Adam]
"This method is inefficient. Right now, only about seven to ten percent of mana running rampant is actually settling while the rest goes nowhere. From now on, you will consciously manipulate the mana into your flesh so that one hundred percent of it will add to your strength. Do you understand?" [Astos]
"Kind of." [Adam]
Astos mumbled something in a language Adam couldn't understand. From the tone the god was giving off, it was probably cursing.
"This will be a long lesson." [Astos]
