Beyond The System
Chapter 139: First Skill

I felt the weight hit, pressing down, but it wasn’t much worse than before. Noticeable, yeah, but not debilitating.

The roots pulsed with life… stronger than usual. Like a heartbeat.

Well. Not much to do there. I guided my force as usual, directing it toward my Nexus. About a quarter of my Internal Force drained before a wave surged through the main branch and another bud shot out.

It was starting to worry me a little. I’d have to ask Marcus. This felt different from the root I’d experienced through Kazriel. Even if the transformation increased the amount, shouldn’t there be more going on by now too?

That was how it felt when Synthia described it.

While weaving the new branch into place, I started drawing in energy and—Whoa.

Uhh. Hmm. That seemed faster than normal. Actually way faster.

World Force flooded in, slamming into my Grand Channel with such force I half-expected it to crack further. Thankfully, it didn’t.

Let’s hope no one explodes from this...

I cracked open an eye, and everyone except the two still sleeping hadn't stirred.

Sooo they’re probably fine.

Back to work. I started channeling energy toward the top of my head, building up an excess. It was awkward, I'd never constructed anything there before, but it felt like the last unclaimed outpost in my structures.

I split my power, one part of it focused on anchoring the new branch, while the rest worked on building pathways up from the fractured channel to the forming scar.

Once that was done, the last of the chest reconstruction should be complete.

Rotating my core to blend the two forces took longer than expected, but eventually I was ready. I absorbed even more force to sear the scar into place, letting my Precursor Sense fine-tune the process.

When the root stopped short of extending fully into my opposite shoulder, and the scar’s web of venules finally locked into place, the rest was just routine.

Pull in World Force until the queasiness hit. My skin blistered with energy, but it passed faster this time, likely thanks to the Voidseed still working.

When I opened my eyes again, dawn had broken. The sunlight was faint and orange. The cart was quiet behind me, but I could hear voices from the front, just some light conversation and casual laughter.

I headed over, ready to ask someone to help lock in my progress.

“I want a spear too!” Velea was pouting. “He won’t notice. Just show me how to make one.”

“You should pick something that suits you,” Lyra said, gently holding her in her lap.

“It’s so sweet that you want to be like your big sister,” Miss Star added with a chuckle. “Sia never wanted to imitate me even though our blessings are nearly identical.”

“Do you want me to copy you?” Sia asked flatly, just as I popped my head into view.

“Hmm. Maybe just a little.”

No one noticed me, unfortunately.

“Maybe I can teach you,” Thea offered, trying to appease her sister.

“Thea, how could you?” I stepped in dramatically. “Trying to poach my very first student?”

“What’s wrong with your skin?” Velea asked, tilting her head.

“Bad sunburn,” I joked.

“…What?”

“Thea,” I said, putting on my best mock-accusatory tone, “why are you stealing my apprentice behind my back?”

She tilted her head and raised her voice an octave in fake innocence. “I’m your teacher, as you love to say, the Grandmaster. Isn’t it only right I share a bit of wisdom?”

Have to keep Sia’s mom’s advice in mind. Breathe.

“Yeah. Well… where’s everyone else?” I asked, finally noticing the absence of the four guys.

“Keeping secrets,” Velea grumbled. “I tried asking what they were talking about, but they kicked me back here. Their loss, plotting isn’t even exciting.”

I was still struggling to pin down her mental age. “Well, I need to do some serious exercise. Any volunteers?”

Velea’s hand shot up. “I need to train too.”

It was hard to say no, but she wasn’t exactly what I needed right now. I glanced toward Thea for backup.

She sighed and shook her head. “I’ll come too. We can explain the foundation to her together.”

“Thanks.”

I turned to the remaining girls. “Anyone else want to join?”

“Why n—” Sia started, but Lyra clamped a hand over her mouth.

“We have some things to discuss, actually,” Lyra said smoothly.

Sia gave her a confused look. Then Lyra whispered something into her ear that I couldn't catch. Whatever it was, Sia’s eyes widened like someone had hit her with a revelation.

Lyra waved us off, and I finally understood a bit of Velea’s frustration. Fine, keep your secrets. “Have fun, you three.”

“Elric! Get over here!” Sia called suddenly as we stepped out of the moving carriage. Her voice wasn’t angry, but rather, more urgent.

“Wonder what’s up with them?” Thea asked.

I shrugged.

“Forget them. First, can you teach me an actual skill? One you use in real fights!” Velea demanded, bouncing back to full energy.

“She hasn’t stopped talking about your fight with Mister Ironscribe,” Thea said with a smile, then mimicked her sister’s tone: “He was so fast, I couldn’t even keep up! How did he—”

Thea was mid-sentence when Velea tackled her. Not that it did much since Thea only took a small step back.

“I did not say that!” Velea huffed.

I scanned the area. No sign of Bristle or the others at the back, front, or side of the cars. They weren't in the carriage either. “Where are the dogs?”

“Elric said they were with you for a while when…” Thea nudged my arm, clearly referencing what happened during my cultivation. “You’ll explain that later, right?”

The cart had already rolled a fair distance ahead while we chatted in the morning air.

“I’ll explain,” I promised. “It’s something I got from a trial.”

“Okay. Well, Marcus said they all took off as soon as… whatever you did stopped. He’s not worried. Said he can keep track of all of them except Bristle, but since they went off together…”

“Got it.” I nodded, relaxing. If Marcus isn’t worried, I don’t need to be either.

I turned back to Velea. “Alright, let’s start with some movement. Once you warm up, I’ll teach you a battle skill. Deal?”

“Deal!” she said without hesitation.

It went about the same as last time. I let her run drills until she broke a sweat, then kept her going a little longer. I didn’t get much out of it, of course, but it was nice seeing her improve.

Not that she’d made some massive leap, but her circulation had definitely gotten better.

Then Thea and I paired off. She didn’t summon her new spear, no need when this was just casual match.

Still, a problem was becoming obvious. By the end, things were starting to feel too easy. My dodging wasn’t limited by power anymore, only by perception.

And then it happened. My kick landed on Thea’s guard, broke through it, and pushed her back hard.

“Ah—” she gasped, catching herself quickly.

“You okay?” I stepped forward, already ending the match in my mind.

“I’m fine,” she said with a smile.

Still, I rushed over.

A dark bruise was already blooming on her arm.

“Geez. What’s that look for? Don’t act like this is the first bruise we’ve given each other,” Thea laughed it off.

“Abuse?” Velea asked innocently.

Seriously, where does she learn this stuff?

“It’s been a while though…” I glanced at the bruise again. Do I need to start holding back? It wasn’t much, but I still wasn’t anywhere near finished with Water Refinement.

“Well, guess we just have to take training more seriously right?” Thea smiled and lightly punched my shoulder. “The Commander could teach us that shield technique.”

I rubbed the back of my neck, staring into her calm, steady eyes. She was right. A bruise really was nothing. but I would still progress more. Moving ahead of her, at least not until we figured out how to form essences without relying on some weird crystal orb.

“Alright. Time to teach your sister.”

“Skill?!” Velea practically vibrated.

Another battle maniac.

“How about we start with the foundation first?” I offered.

Her excitement dipped immediately, but she still nodded. “Then skills after, right?”

I nodded. “Of course.”

“Marcus already explained your process to us earlier,” Thea said before I could begin. “Why don’t you let me take this part?”

I heard something that sounded suspiciously like a grumble.

“Sorry, Vel. She’s better at breaking it all down, and this time, the details matters. Pay attention, alright?”

She nodded again, dropping back to sit in the grass, leaning on her arms.

I listened to the start of Thea’s explanation, and of course, she brought up something I hadn’t even considered. Vel would be stuck managing her Internal force with just her reservoirs for a while, which would train her control, but it would also divide her focus during battle. No Grand Channel.

I shifted from the lecture to take the chance to follow up on something else.

Wyrem, you know about different flavors, right?

Yes, of course! he replied, voice almost smug. I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing every type of force individually, and in rare cases… oh, the memories. He trailed off, lost in nostalgia.

Yeah, great. What about essences?

What? he snapped back, confused.

You know, the things that let you manipulate or absorb different force varieties. I got one that was a crystal orb.

You can just be like me, Luna chimed in. Born with it. Like the spirit dogs too.

True. I mentally nodded at her not-so-subtle brag. Maybe the hounds formed their essence, since they weren’t born with Water, or it could’ve been from my Beast Force.

Maybe, but you can’t share my mix like they could with yours, she added cheekily.

I have heard of something like essences, Wyrem replied, more serious now. They’re tied to Spiritual Sense. People or beasts with strong perception can forcefully connect to another element. But more often then not, it's about affinity. That makes the bond easier to form. A treasure though? An orb? I won’t say it’s impossible… but I’ve never seen one.

'What is that?!' That monster shouted when I pulsed. Something deep inside my Nexus, hidden from view. I’d assumed it was the Voidseed before, but with Wyrem’s reaction, I started feeling more confident in a theory I had back when I first got it.

And honestly, Asmund didn’t strike me as someone who’d experienced a vision of a cosmic monster. Not that I knew him well… but still.

They kept talking, and by the time Thea finished her breakdown, I shifted my focus again back to Velea.

Those eyes were just too expectant to ignore.

“Alright. I’ll teach you a skill I invented myself, two of them actually.” I walked over and sat with the girls. “One is an attack skill, the other shuts down systems, but really, their use is only limited by imagination.”

Velea leaned forward, eyes locked on me. So of course, I continued, explaining both Blasting Wave and Silencing Current. Compared to other techniques, they were relatively easy to perform.

Thea chimed in, adding that Silencing Current could technically be registered in the system if it were modified to inflict damage, but that would remove its original effect.

As soon as I finished, Velea jumped to her feet. “I’ll try it now!”

Thea and I watched her. That’s when I noticed how far the carriage had drifted. Now, it was nearly out of sight.

Time passed as Velea waved her arms around, struggling to activate even a hint of the technique.

Just like my first attempt, there were injuries too. Small, surface-level things, but nothing serious enough to make her stop.

Thea occasionally stepped in to correct her stance or offer pointers, checking on the bruises, but otherwise we just exchanged a few quiet words.

Is it bad that I’m kind of happy she didn’t instantly master something I created?

More time slipped by, and the carriage was long gone. I wonder how high I could jump now?

“Want to see something cool?” I asked Thea.

“No.”

“Wooow.”

“Just watch me,” Velea pleaded. “You don’t want to miss my first time using your own ability, right?”

Yep. Later… she was right. “Alright, show me what you’ve got. Doesn’t have to be perfect.”

She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and visibly tried to clear her mind. Then, she raised a hand and pointed it at a nearby tree.

She succeeded.

A stiff breeze shot forward, shaking the low-hanging branches and scattering leaves.

“YES!” she shouted, bouncing with joy.

“Thea?” My voice cracked a little.

“…Yeah?” she replied, matching my stunned tone.

“How?”

Velea didn’t hear us or didn’t care. She was still cheering for herself.

“I was hoping you’d know,” Thea admitted.

Oh, of course there’s no need for an essence, or whatever you call it, if it’s the first World Force they absorb, Wyrem offered, right on cue. Though I do wonder… how is a Natural Force essence formed in the first place?

The two of us stared at the tree.

There, just barely visible, was a delicate layer of frost, coating a single leaf.