Ch. 16 Dead-End

"Please, Sir Clove. Give me a clue, and I won't bother you again before I unlock my three basic points."

"Okay. I will help you if you answer my questions well."

"Okay!"

"Why are you looking for me?"

Ha? Hadn't he explained his intention of looking for Sir Clove? Why was the man still asking him? Or maybe the question's intent was the real reason behind wanting to see his teacher?

"I learned when I train in the morning to build a strong physical condition—it will only help me unlock the second point. My heart beats fast when the time comes, and running helps me get used to the rapid pulsing."

Paskha paused to investigate Sir Clove's expression, and when he found no significant change there, he resumed. "But my morning running practice won't help me to open the first and third points. So, I wondered if you have a solution?"

Paskha could only wait helplessly for the man's reaction. A crooked smile appeared on Sir Clove's face the next second. "Very good. Finally, you noticed it. Why didn't you see me earlier?"

"…" Actually, Paskha had also realized it on the first day. But he was confident he could gradually regulate the flow of his mana and find a way out of this problem.

Who would have thought that Sir Clove was waiting for him to ask for his way out? Had he known this, he would have looked for Sir Clove earlier.

"So, do you have a solution?"

"The first point is centered on the coccyx. If a person's tailbone is damaged, then there is a possibility that the person may experience paralysis. So to increase the ability to withstand the gravitational field, do activities that also strengthen the spine. Running is one of them, but you must also do push-ups, sit-ups, and squats."

That's right! Why didn't he think of it?

Oh, what a shame. When Paskha unlocked his points in the past, he got the help of a boosting pill from Sir Clove. However, he did not expect or want to take the pill—he wanted to do it with his own strength. That's why he never knew how to safely unlock his three points in a row.

"The gravitational field will attack not only your muscle nerves but also all of your bones. For the second point, as long as you do what I said earlier, you can open the second point more comfortably without being pressured."

"I understand." the second point was centered on the blood flow in the heart, and Paskha would be fine if his heart could handle the excessive throbbing caused by gravity. "Then what about the third point?"

The third point was centered on the brain and the heaviest of the three basic points. If someone had an accident in the process of unlocking this third point, either that person would be in a coma for life or become an idiot.

The brain plays the most crucial role in the body's work system. Without the brain, the body would not be able to function as it should.

Paskha remembered that he almost failed while unlocking this third point. If it weren't for him eating boosting pills and Sir Clove's thousands of year-old ginseng before performing this opening ritual, perhaps he would not have survived.

This time he hoped he would get the same ginseng from his teacher. He didn't need boosting pills, but ginseng could protect his brain.

"I have a way to train you. Meet me at my residence tonight. I will send Asher to fetch you."

Even though he was a bit disappointed that his teacher didn't give him ginseng, Paskha still obeyed and wondered what kind of training his teacher would give him later.

In the evening… Paskha waited in front of the dormitory door, and as soon as he saw someone's figure, Paskha's face became radiant.

"Sharleen!!"

Tired from training in the Opening hall, Little Sharleen raised her head and smiled broadly as she saw her seatmate running up to her.

"Are you okay? You look pale."

Sharleen shook her head lightly as if she was exerting all her strength to move her neck. "I'm just exhausted. Today I was in the second-level gravitational field for half an hour."

"Level two? Half an hour? You… that's amazing. But don't push yourself."

Sharleen felt her heart warmed hearing the worried tone of her friend's voice. "The hall guard said the gravity field below level three was not too dangerous and safe. I only need to rest, and tomorrow my stamina will recover."

Paskha wrapped one hand around Sharleen's slender waist to help her walk and let the girl's hand circle his neck.

"I have prepared herbal soup for you. I'll reheat it for you."

Paskha knew Sharleen had been training inside the Opening hall all day. He specially asked the cook to make a herbal soup that could increase one's stamina and physical strength.

"Thank you, Paskha," replied Sharleen softly, resting her head on her friend's shoulder.

Paskha accompanied Sharleen to eat in the dining room. After that, they chat casually, and occasionally they laugh when talking about funny things.

"By the way, how was your practice today?"

Paskha sighed sadly at his friend's question. "No progress. I still can't run more than my time limit."

"Why don't you try it in the Opening hall first? If you get used to feeling the pressure of the field, you will last longer as time passes."

"Ah!" Paskha suddenly gasped in surprise when he remembered something.

He remembered the first-level field would not affect his body, considering he had full innate mana and could only feel it on level five. How would he explain this to the guards when he suddenly asked for increased field pressure?

Since he had full innate mana, he needed at least an eighth-level field to unlock each of his base points. The guard believed he had a seventh-tier innate mana and would need clarification if he needed a field one level above to open his base point.

"Paskha? What is it?" Sharleen, who didn't know what was going on in Paskha's mind, was confused by the strange change in her friend's attitude.

"Nothing," answered Paskha awkwardly. Then Paskha steered the topic of their conversation to move away from the main subject. Later that night, he would ask Sir clove about this problem when he met with the older man.