Chapter 46 - Challenges Mount

The next several days passed the same as the previous few, with the only change being that Alex now had an easier time staying up into the late hours of the night, even with his exhausted body. The new [Sleep Resistance] passive allowed his mind to continue functioning through his sleep fatigue. Though he noticed that it didn’t actually reduce the amount of sleep that his body needed and his tired brain wanted, it just allowed him to function on less of it.

15 more days until we break out of this place.

Alex pulled up his Status Window and checked his progress. While his level and stats hadn’t moved, he felt like his progress over the last two weeks of being trained by the Celestial Lotus Sect’s Martial Masters was night and day. He had a newfound confidence in himself and his capabilities that he’d never had before.

After Eura’s explanation the previous day, Alex couldn’t help but let his eyes linger on the Mana Weaver title and think that he might really have a promising future in this new world.

As long as we make it out of this nonsense alive…

***

Status

Name: Alex Moore - Level 23

Class: Ritualist (Novice)

HP: 510/510

MP: 520/520

Traits: (1/3)

{Primordial Will}

Titles: < Mana Weaver >

Pathfinder

Unbound

One Against Many

Control Freak

Mana Weaver

Physical Stats:

Strength: 24

Agility: 38

Constitution: 51

Vitality: 26

Magical Stats:

Intellect: 39

Willpower: 306

Mana: 26 + 26

Wisdom: 65

Bond Skills:

[Mana Siphon] (Novice - Level 13)

Primary Stat Shared - Mana

Active Skills:

[Mana Thread] (Novice - Level 13)

[Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 14)

[Feather Step] (Novice - Level 5)

[Ritual Insight] (Novice - Level 15)

[Mirage] (Journeyman - Level 6)

Passive Skills:

[Efficient Rites] (Tier I)

[Sleep Resistance] (Tier I)

Bound Items:

Unique E Rank Growth Item - Heavenly Eye of the Celestial Sage

***

Alex knew that he was just trying to distract himself. He was in a different environment this morning compared to the previous two weeks. Rather than Eura’s offices, which were largely private, he stood in one of the lotus petals of the main training field. He wore his robes and the sandals provided to him, and his jian was strapped to his back.

I should probably be more nervous, all things considered…

He dismissed his Status Window and looked around the outer ring of the petal. Groups of people had gathered and more who were passing stopped to ask what was happening.

I hope Eura knows what he’s doing.

In the last two days, the Council had hounded Eura publicly and privately to allow a sparring match to occur between Alex and one of the other disciples. Eura had remained silent at first. But to Alex’s surprise, as the council began to make more and more of a fuss, he seemed to become more pleased rather than more frustrated. After the tension built, Eura put on his mask and addressed the council in a way that made it appear that he was caving into their demands.

It was clear that there was a deeper game, and Alex was frustrated that he was being pulled into the middle of it. While he was sure that the council didn’t like him, it was even more clear that he was not their target. Eura was.

Alex scratched his forehead, feeling slightly bored. While he felt some anxiety, he realized quickly that it wasn’t because of the upcoming spar or the potential to lose; he was just uncomfortable with this many people looking at him.

Before the fight, Eura had told Alex to agree to whatever terms were set for the spar. Alex had raised an eyebrow but just nodded. Since it was a spar, his life shouldn’t be in danger. They would be using practice weapons that were enchanted to feel the exact same as a counterpart blade. Alex clenched his fist around the hilt of the wooden sword as he waited.

After some time, a disciple walked up to the sandy area and bowed to Alex. Alex recognized the man as the Elder Brother who had come to him during his time in the cell. He was unsure if he should be frustrated that they clearly picked someone with a lot more experience in fighting than him or elated that he’d been given a chance at some revenge.

From behind the disciple, the same portly council member called out. Even though he was acting like he was talking to Alex, it was obvious he wanted the entire crowd to hear what he had to say. “This is a spar between a disciple and an outsider. A mock battle between warriors, you may not use your filthy beast.”

Alex felt some heat rise in his chest. Not at the fact that it was a dirty tactic to prevent Alex from using a big part of his personal combat kit, but that the man would insinuate Val was just a beast on a leash and not a bond.

Through an effort of will, Alex pushed down his rage at the silly politics and called Val out of his robe. He heard some people begin whispering as the blue mana wyrm rose in the air. At Alex’s instruction, Valtherion flew over to Sam, who was seated on the ground near Master Shen.

Sam laughed as Val flew around him and settled on his shoulders, though he quickly blushed as everyone’s eyes watching Val suddenly stared at him.

A few more pleasantries, insults, and conditions were set, and as the time to fight drew closer, Alex could feel his pulse begin to quicken. He watched the other man’s posture and where he distributed his weight as he paced. The Heavenly Eye did little to reveal new information to Alex other than the disciple’s name and most used ability, which was Qi Cycling. This was unsurprising; by now, Alex had realized that most sect warriors had this as their most used skill since it was something that they began practicing at an early age for many hours each week.

As the sparring match started, Alex fell into the Lotus Roots position. He allowed his mind to concentrate completely on the fight in front of him and to tune out the distractions of the crowd. His eyes followed every movement of his opponent, and he waited patiently. As soon as the man stepped forward, Alex transitioned into Flowing Water and shifted his weight to the side for the third Eight Petal Step.

He’s going to use a movement skill, I’ll use Will Branch Sways.

As Alex moved to the right, the other disciple launched forward with a movement technique that was common in the sect. His sword was extended toward Alex’s face. There was a split second where Alex’s body wanted to freeze up; seeing another sword travel toward his face frightened him at a fundamental level.

Just before the sword came into contact, Alex activated [Mirage] and weaved to the left, narrowly avoiding the wooden sparring sword. To his opponent, it would appear that he was going to strike Alex until the very moment that the blade passed through the illusion with no resistance. At that moment, Alex stuck out his foot, causing the other man to stumble and follow along with his own momentum.

As he passed, Alex tapped the back of his head with the flat of his sword.

Okay, maybe it was a bit harder than a tap…

Alex didn’t allow himself to lose focus as he knew that he needed two contacts to win the spar. However, when he saw the anger on the other man’s face, he knew how the rest of the fight would go and that it would end quickly.

Before the Elder Brother could finish gaining his balance, Alex used a [Mana Thread] to begin forming a foot-wide ritual several feet behind himself. He waited patiently for the other man to straighten back up and assume a fighting position, as was customary. When they were both set, Alex pretended to note the anger in the man’s face and changed his own look to one of panic or fear.

Immediately, Alex looked over his shoulder and activated [Feather Step] and jumped back to the far side of the sand pit. He held the jian at a slightly odd angle, intentionally letting it fall out of its normal position.

The Elder Brother, in his confidence and anger, took the bait. He smiled and, to his credit, did not use another movement ability to close the gap. Instead, he moved forward with perfect form, using a style that Alex hadn’t learned. Watching him move, Alex was impressed by his use of the form, there were very few openings to strike or counter.

And…there!

Alex turned his body to the side, right shoulder leading forward. His right hand, holding the sword, came up to his cheek, and he pointed the blade forward at eye level, passing his shoulder and leading his body. He bent his legs and activated [Feather Step] again, stopping the movement a few feet in front of his own ritual.

At the same moment, he sent a pulse of mana through the thread he’d been holding on to, allowing it to activate the small version of the Binding Ritual. This particular ritual was special in that the only material Alex needed to use as a Catalyst were additional [Mana Threads]. While the binding wasn’t nearly as strong as if he used a rope, it did work as a physical manifestation of the thread, slowing movement within as if held back by spider webs. He’d used the long cooldown of [Ritual Insight] to better understand how to progress the ritual. The results were astonishing, as the System seemed to pick up on his desire of how he wanted to progress the ritual, in this case, it was how to use the ritual without as many materials. The information had poured into his brain, and it became more clear that Catalysts, while a critical component of ritual arts, were not there for their physical forms but rather as a universal representation of their being.

Alex had to admit to himself that even after three hours of Eura explaining it to him, it was still a bit too esoteric for him to wrap his mind around. While he could regurgitate the knowledge that had been put into his head through the skill, he couldn’t quite understand it. He had wondered if it was because his Intellect stat was too low.

In the fight, the ritual worked perfectly. It caused the Elder Brother’s lead foot to halt for a moment. Thanks to Alex’s timing, this was the exact moment he would need to center his weight and prepare to receive the incoming blow. Unable to plant his feet firmly or reposition how he should, Alex’s sparring sword connected with a resounding crack as he stepped forward and stabbed it into the other man’s sternum with as much force as his momentum would allow.

Alex released a grin as he heard the sound, confident that the other man’s sternum was at least cracked.

Serves you right, dick head.

Alex had nightmares about the beating that had followed the Elder Brother’s visit. There was a special kind of torment that followed him, thinking that he had finally gotten someone to listen to him and verify his story, only to have that person order his beating. Worse yet, the reasoning behind the order was simply because he didn’t like the way that Alex looked at him.

Part of Alex wanted to let out more of the frustration and lay into the sprawled-out man. But, he felt that just as the Council was playing a bigger game, so was Eura.

He forced himself to step away from the man as he allowed his focus to return to all of his surroundings.

The scene that played out seemed like it was directly out of a television drama. Rather than take the loss in any form of grace, the Council member began to spout excuses and insults toward Alex and a few less-than-subtle jabs at Eura’s decision-making. This seemed to be the moment that Eura was waiting for. The celestial sect leader stood, and it felt as if a blanket of tension spread out over everyone gathered, causing them to fall quiet.

Is he doing that? What is this feeling?

Eura stepped forward, just like the Council Elder had done, and he addressed the man while speaking to the crowd. He pointed out how the Council called for the spar to ensure that he wasn’t wasting training resources and to see if Alex was prepared to lead an expedition of sect warriors. In that very same spar, Alex had won two to zero against the Council’s chosen participant. Yet, rather than accepting the proof, they would then try to blame the sect head’s character and leadership ability more directly.

Eura paused dramatically in his monologue and asked the Elder if he was issuing a personal challenge. That made the portly man go deathly white and shake his head fervently. Eura took his win with some dignity and told the man that the Council does not have a say in martial matters. The Council’s purpose had always been logistics and supplies for the sect.

“And it will stay that way unless you continue to push me or attempt to call my honor into question.”

Without waiting for further dramatics, Eura left with his head held high and a clear statement made in front of a large audience: The sect leader is back, and he’s in charge, not the Council.

Alex left with Sam and Valtherion, heading back to the Sect Head’s offices to continue with their daily training. As they walked, he was surprised to see Sam extending a mana tendril. Alex connected with a [Mana Thread] to hear the boy’s thoughts.

“That was a good fight. The ritual worked well.”

Alex smiled down at Sam.

Thanks, buddy. Yeah, it felt good to teach that guy a lesson. Did you know he was one of the ones who beat me while I was tied up when I first came to Tianluo?

Sam’s eyes went wide in response, and he shook his head.

Yeah, anyway… could you feel it when I started to use the ritual?

Sam nodded with a smirk.

Cheeky kid. Your sensitivity is getting better. What’s the level up to now?

There was a pause, and Sam shared the window with him rather than responding.

Alex squinted at it and nodded. The skill had grown a lot in the last two weeks. Since Sam’s captor had no knowledge of skills or the System, he had only forced Sam to use his healing ability over and over rather than finding out if the boy knew any other skills.

Hey, I’ve been avoiding this a lot, but things are going to change a lot when we go back home… I’d be very careful about who you show your Status Window to, okay? I don’t think people out there share that sort of thing, and with your healing ability, I think there are a lot of people who would want to recruit you.

While he didn’t say it outright, Alex knew that some people might take it even further than that. If they believed that Sam could cure diseases or save soldiers from battles, who knew what lengths people might go to?

Sam nodded somberly and walked a bit closer to Alex. They walked with the connection for some time, though neither spoke. Instead, Alex just sent through reassuring feelings of confidence and contentment.

They spent a few hours in Eura’s office talking about the fight in greater detail. Alex was pleased with the positive feedback he received and had expected more criticism about the moment he’d frozen up. To a Martial Master, something like that was very noticeable. When Alex mentioned the reasoning behind it, all three of the mentors just nodded after sharing a glance.

Eura explained that those kinds of wounds were normal in any seasoned fighter. Wounds were inevitable and healing from them often went deeper than the physical wound.

Thanks to modern medicine, Alex likely knew more about psychological damage than they did. If he took into account the second-hand knowledge he had from hanging out with Sarah during her college studies, he was above even more people on Earth in terms of general understanding.

Alex sighed.

Knowing about it isn’t the same as using it or making sure I can heal from it. I really hope Sarah is willing to chat for a while when I get home…

Their conversation was interrupted as a knock came through the wooden sliding door frame. When Alex went to the door, there was a note pinned to the softwood; he removed it and walked it over to Eura.

The sect head just sighed and shook his head.

“Rather than be humbled, it seems that the event from this afternoon has only made the Council more petty than ever,” Eura said as he passed the note to Master Shen.

After the note made it’s rounds, the three discussed the implications and sent Alex and Sam back to their small house. The paper was a notice of asset requisition and supply allocation. The Council had taken Eura’s lecture literally and realized that while they can not make martial changes within the sect, they had the ability to diver resources as they saw fit.

In Alex’s particular case, that just meant fewer magical supplements for training.

“Ugh, that’s going to make staying up and keeping this sort of training pace almost impossible. Even with [Sleep Resistance], I don’t think I’ll be able to stay up without those Stamina potions.”

For Val, this meant that he would no longer be receiving the promised Mana Stones from the sect’s treasury.

Back to burning through our personal funds, I guess. Val!

“Yes, Alex?”

Gah, stop that. You’re going on a diet, bud. Sorry.

“Diet?” Val asked, saying the new word slowly.

It means less mana for now.

“Noooo!”

His companion, who had been flying above and in front of the two humans, dropped to the ground like a rock. It reminded Alex of seeing a bird go limp and fall through the air mid-flight.

Sam, who hadn’t been privy to their conversation, called out in alarm and ran to check on the mana wyrm.

Alex just rolled his eyes and covered his face with his hands.

So dramatic…