Chapter 11 - Disbelief

Daron didn't know how to feel as he read their names on the booklet. If it wasn't for the system, he wouldn't have even known their full names, even with knowing them for years. For the system to have acknowledged both of them, and then for both of them to have worked on a physique technique together, which then ended up in his hands, was it all more than just a coincidence? He didn't know, nor could he get an answer any time soon, which seemed to be the case many times in the last few days. Daron wondered if others had system powers, if this was a common occurrence for them.

Opening up the booklet, he started to read the technique within.

"For learning this technique, one must be proficient in combining other techniques together as a baseline. This will make it easier to learn, as this technique is about combining the different aspects of a physique."

Now Daron understood why this was the technique that Mr. Gail had given him. He supposed maybe all the books in that bookshelf were for the students who had progressed to the point where they could learn them. After all, he taught students specific techniques for their physique. Why wouldn't he have books for their further progression? Even so, having that many advanced techniques would be quite difficult for a teacher. Daron began to think the title of proficient researcher of power artifacts given to Mr. Gail had more importance than he thought. He continued reading the booklet.

"The first step in learning this technique is the separation of your energy into its different aspects. To do this, you must create separate flows of energy, one for each aspect of your physique, in one energy path. It is best to have this energy path be along the natural energy path your body already has. But learning a new technique always creates new energy paths in the body regardless of whether old ones exist in the same place. This is what gives physiques an advantage over ability domains, but too often, it isn't enough."

"However, physiques can be as powerful, or even more powerful as ability domains. This technique is the first step in starting that process. But there are many more steps ahead of this technique as well. Learn the step above before continuing to learn more of the technique."

Daron felt there was a shift in tone between the first two paragraphs versus the third one. From what he could guess, he figured the third paragraph was written by Director Aaron, but the only evidence he had was it seemed similar to the note that he had sent Daron.

Closing the booklet, he decided to try the first step of learning the technique. Focusing on his energy, he felt along the natural flow of his body. He decided to just try separating the energy in one part of his body for now before expanding to the rest. Deciding on his right arm, he tried creating three separate flows in one single energy path. The booklet hadn't given him much information on how to do it, so that was all he could go on.

He felt his energy go into three different flows, but he knew it had created three energy paths as well. Restarting, he started to think about how he could make three separate flows in one energy path.

Starting the process again, he decided to make each of the flows separate sizes so that they overlapped, one being small and fitting in the mid sized flow, with the mid sized one fitting in the largest flow. This seemed to work as Daron felt three different flows being confined to one energy path.

With the initial success of having three different flows in one path, Daron expanded the path along his body, overlapping where his normal flow of energy would usually go in his body. After forty-five minutes, an energy path with three flows was completed throughout his body. As soon as he had finished, a notification appeared.

[Technique "Aspect Combination and Supplementation" is being learned]

[Progress added in Physique tab]

Clicking onto the physique tab, Daron went to the technique.

[Aspect Combination and Supplementation]

[Progress: 2% Learned]

Closing out of it, Daron grabbed the booklet again. It seemed he would not learn this before the competition, but it was still the best choice to continue learning it. He could practice his other techniques without much focus throughout the entire day tomorrow before the day of the competition was upon him. He already thought he had gotten as strong as he could before the competition. Learning what was in this new technique further could help his other ones as well. Perhaps he could separate the healing energy flow while still keeping energy flowing into his limbs?

As soon as that thought occurred to him, a notification appeared.

[Quest Updated]

[The system has changed the time limit]

[+1 Point in Intelligence]

Looking at the notifications, Daron had a bad feeling about how much the system changed the time limit.

[Quests]

[Find a way to move while keeping 80% of the healing ability of the Life-Saving Energy Focus technique]

[Time Limit: 2 Days]

[Reward: +10 Healing Power, Increase Understanding of Energy flow in the body]

[Progress: 55% Complete, All Limbs Unlocked, 44% Healing Ability Kept]

Daron sighed and shook his head. If he thought the system was underestimating him before, now he felt as though it was overestimating him. But thinking about who the booklet was written by, maybe the system wasn't wrong in its updating of the time limit. He wished he could ask the system more specific questions, but it didn't seem to be that intelligent. Opening the booklet, he continued on.

"If you have learned the first step, the next step is now imparting the different aspects of your physique into the separate flows. To do this, you must focus one aspect you are very familiar with into one of the energy flows first. If you have two aspects, then you should be done fairly quickly with this step. If you have more, it shouldn't take much longer. Focus on the one you are familiar with, and then the others should be able to be focused upon and separated without much trouble."