Walking Disasters and Me-[Meteoric Lunar Impact] – Ch 123

Walking Disasters and Me-[Meteoric Lunar Impact] – Ch 123

The next couple days pass quickly, a rhythm of progress and schedule ironing finally ironing itself out from the somewhat chaotic aftermath of everything that's occurred so far. I spent the first day with Gerra in the kitchens, focusing intently on how she expertly manipulated Qi into cooking, as well as picking up on the nuances of Mara based cuisine, simply though it usually is. Not that its not
delicious
of course!
In turn, I taught her some more Earth recipes' that I could remember from scratch. Breaded chicken parmigiana, garlic toast, chicken carbonara. Even something as simple as spaghetti with meatballs. Ios gave me shit for just sticking to Italian foods for now, but honestly they're the easiest to make with the Mara ingredients on hand and they always taste heavenly so she can suck it~. And to be fair, a lot of traditional American food - if you can call it that - is basically just a small step away from what they're already making. Steaks and red meat, baked chicken, stews, soups, plain breads. The occasional salad covered in dressing and bacon. Probably why there was so much heart disease and stuff back home, among other reasons.
However Mara, or at least the Village, seems to be in a bit of a culinary blind spot when it comes to most things outside of those simple preparations, something Gerra explained to me once while we were slaving away in the kitchen.
"I can see what you mean, little bird." She began after flipping over some large cuts of meat on the stone grated grill, "Most folk around here just go to the markets and make what they need to get by. Even at the food pantries and such down in the poorer parts of town, we simply distribute grain, salted meat, and various vegetables that are in season when we can. During times of crisis or scarcity, we'll also go the extra step and actually turn the pantries into kitchens to
make
said food for whoever needs it. The capitol has businesses that resemble these 'restaurants' you mentioned for the families and sects that hold power there, each of them employing spiritual cooks themselves, but nothing that fancy exists 'round these parts."
I mull what she says over as I try again to get Qi to move its way into the leafy greens of a salad, still a hurdle for me despite finding success in nearly every other aspect of the craft so far, "I guess that makes sense. Cultivators don't really
need
to eat after a certain point, after all. Or, well, they don't need to eat as
often
. Kind of a shame though, I liked going out to eat at a decent place with my folks and sister before I started having issues. It'd be nice to experience that again, once Sandra is back and we can all go together I mean..."
Gerra either notices my off tone or my struggling attempts at figuring out this freaking obstinate collection of greenery as she places a hand to my shoulder and tail around my waist drawing my attention. I turn to her as she says out kindly with smiling pink eyes, "That would be a grand time. Perhaps if we are ever at the capitol under...
well received
circumstances, we can make it happen." I give her a little smile back before she nods her head to the bowl in front of me, "I don't want you to think you can't figure this out on your lonesome, but want me to tell you what you're missing?"
I sigh in defeat, hanging my head down low to the sound of her chuckling softly, her hand swinging round to pat my back comfortingly. "There, there~. You're doing everything right for most things, but dealing with raw plant matter you intend to eat without cooking is a bit of a different process. You need to infuse Qi into the whole plant as your cutting and preparing it. That goes for fruits, veggies, and leafage like you got there in your bowl. Once its
been
prepared, there's nothing for the innate process to latch on to, so you're just trying to force Qi into something that doesn't need or want it."
The audible
*smack*
of my hand coming to my forehead only makes her laughter resume as I groan out, "... Seriously? Why didn't I think of that..."
"Oh, don't be so hard on yourself, little bird~." Gerra says caringly after getting control of herself once more, her tail reflexively coming up to stroke my cheeks softly, "Honestly, that is one of the trickier things to learn about spiritual cooking. How different methods and preparations require different approaches. But, like all things adjacent to cultivation, the trick is to be flexible and attentive. To always be testing what approach is the best course of action, and to be willing to follow through on that course to its completion."
With those sage words circling my mind, we opt to shred the failed attempt and leave it out for various critters and birds to come get a snack while I try my hand at the proper method. It works shockingly well, and that last little bit is what finally edges me into the next stage of the quest.
[Quest Completed! Become a Journeyman Level Spiritual Cook!
Gain enough knowledge to be considered a journeyman level spiritual cook on Mara.
Reward: 500 Ability Points, 1500 Shop Points, 75 Skill Points, 125 points into all stats except Charisma and Luck.
Rewards will increase as your crafting rank increases.
Progress: 100%]
Strength is now 17,925!
Dexterity is now 26,271!
Constitution is now 18,016!
Intelligence is now 18,848!
Wisdom is now 33,140!
Available Ability Points: 7,112
Available Shop Points: 45,050
Available Skill Points: 2,441
[Quest Started: Become a Master Level Spiritual Cook!
Gain enough knowledge to be considered a Master level spiritual cook on Mara.
Reward: 2500 Ability Points, 5000 Shop Points, 200 Skill Points, 1000 points into all stats except Charisma and Luck.
Single time effect of all stats except Charisma and Luck x 10% (After previous increase applied)
Rewards will increase as your crafting rank increases.
Progress: 0.38%]
After celebrating with a small cup of red body warming liquid, we chat and cook the day away. Nightfall descends and assembles us all under the pale moon and starry sky with the results of our days labor, happy chatter and flowing wine filling the silence of twilight.
The next morning finds me devoid of a meet up with Sandra yet again, much to my growing frustration. "Alright, 2 for 2. Ios, let's get whatever you think will work to knock my ass out properly tonight." I say between yawns, not waiting for her response as I step into the bathroom to get ready for training with Sam.
"Sorry to hear that sweetie, but I think I found
just
the item that can help you out~." She says as her projection follows me into the shower, something that has become quite a common occurrence over the past few days. I mentally shrug at the notion, finding that I actually kind of like the attention and closeness. It's
nice
to just have someone nearby while I think, and the proximity is actually kind of comforting. I bet my mornings would be a bit more dour if I constantly woke up alone and had to deal with all the craziness, even if it is subsiding a
touch
right now. Plus, its obvious she always takes this time to check me out, which is a huge ego boost so early in the morning~.
A system dialog box pops up into view as I'm washing my hair, back turned to the shower head as I cinch and scrub the soapy foam into my red waves. "Really? You couldn't wait until I got the shampoo out of my hair to bring that up?" I ask as I give the projection a deadpan. Ios merely gives me a playful shrug with a wink, making me sigh before stating, "If I get soap in my eye, I'm blaming
you
. Lets see what you got then."
[Draught of Sominium Tranquillum (Peak Earth Rank)]. Cost: 500 Shop Points.
[Draught of Sominium Tranquillum (Peak Earth Rank)]: This opaque crystal decanter holds a purplish liquid embedded with swirls of starlight. It holds 10 uses after which the decanter fades away into ash on the wind. Each use imbibed will softly carry the recipient to a restful, deep sleep that is guaranteed to hold pleasant dreams. If the recipient is struggling with mental afflictions, such as heart demons or a curse, the effects will still occur so long as the opposing force is at or below the Ranking of the item in terms of power.
Well that's...
biblical
sounding. "Uh, I think that will definitely work. What's with the Latin naming system out of nowhere though?" I ask out curiously after dismissing the info card, backing up a bit into the water to let it fully wash away all the remaining suds in my hair.
"Right? I thought that was odd too, but it looks like a good portion of dream related skills and items all have that naming convention. Maybe Ilya was super into Roman culture or something when she was making that portion of the system?" Ios replies unhelpfully. "H-hey! I didn't
make
the damn thing, so I'm just as confused as you are! Don't be snippy, missy!" She adds on ineffectually.
I feel my soul avatar's cheeks getting pinched, something that begins a rough and tumble wrestling match in the soul space that soon devolves into a
different
kind of wrestling~. Likely about ten or so real-world minutes later, Ios struts proudly out of the bathroom, leaving behind my weary husk of a body in her wake as I meekly climb back up to standing. One of these days I'll actually
survive
her constant attacks!! And she will
rue
that day!
Rue it!!
"Yeah, yeah." The chirpy voice of the victor says smugly from the doorway, "I'm sure I'll be
devastated
at such a surely disastrous outcome~. Finish getting ready sweetie, Sam should be swinging by soon."
"I'd already
be
ready if you weren't so insatiable..." I mumble under my breath, a soft press of lips on my cheeks that sends an unbidden shiver through my still sensitive body and her taunting giggles are all I get in response as Ios leaves me to my morning rituals.
True to her prediction, Samantha indeed comes to collect me pretty much right when I finish donning the freshly cleaned battle robe. We make our way to get some breakfast together, idly chatting about this or that or just walking in comfortable silence with held hands.
Once back inside the purple barrier at the center of the training room, I finally get the chance to show off my new techniques from my body path~! We both end up agreeing to just test them on some dummies for now, mainly so she can see how they work and help guide me in how best to use them in actual combat. I'm just jazzed to get to use them at all~! Sam darts out into the simulated fields and places a handful of targets for me to practice on, returning to my side with her own restrained eager energy.
I send her a wink before moving forward a few paces, taking a deep breath once I'm far enough away from her and begin pulling in Qi. The energy flows like a raging torrent inside the newly worked over flow model, my eyes springing open at the absolute
insane
quality jump just from touching up a few spots here and there. A smile breaks across my face as I look down and flex my hands a couple times, my vision turning back up to the first unfortunate inanimate object before the fun begins~.
"
[Moonlight Body Strengthening] [Unending Flow of the River]!
"
Power and strength surge within me, even deeper and more profound than the last time I used them against Sam. I quickly check the numbers on my system page, but aside from the ticking down of the stamina pool, everything still seems to be how I expect it. So, I guess this is what Ios was saying a while back, that sometimes techniques don't quite
elevate
numbers so much as make those numbers have more of a quality to them.
I get out of my own thoughts, turning my gaze back to the target probably 50 or so feet away from me. The ground creaks and cracks as I bend my legs which are coated in silvery and void hued energy, shattering into a crater the length of a bus with a
*
Crrk-Boom!
*
when I launch myself into the air. Wind whips and whistles past my wild strands of hair and against my face, robe fluttering in the turbulent throws of momentum before I maneuver to the arc of my jump.
There, roughly a hundred feet below me lies my soon to be victim, the increased pull of gravity even in this adapted space tugging my viciously smiling face toward the target as I cry out, "
[Meteoric Lunar Impact]!
"
My tepid trajectory becomes a streak of pure silvery white, icy energy coalescing around my form before creating a comet trail behind me as the
*BOOM!*
of the sound barrier nearly instantly being shattered sounds out around the space. Inside the bubble of moonlit Qi, I raise my hand like I'm going to shadow box the poor stick man below, even more chilly energy coating my forearm, wrist, and hand as I pull it back in preparation.
Guided by the technique and my own intuition, I let myself rocket down to the ground and choose the moment
just
before landing to make the augmented strike. My fist collides with the torso of the target, shattering it into millions of pieces in a
millisecond
as the accumulated Qi explodes out in perfect synchronization with the impact.
The entire training area is momentarily bathed in a flash of pure white as my fist lands, a silent fog muting any and every sound for a scant moment before the chaos of destruction kicks up violent whirlwinds of force and debris. The
*WHOOSH*
of the shockwave thunders violently across the entire meadow, flattening and freezing all of the simulated trees as it passes, the grass and shrubbery either ripping from the earth from the wind or freezing solid from the explosive release of moon Qi.
Thankfully, my eyes don't need to adjust at all, and I watch in fascination as the ground below the now thoroughly deceased dummy fractures into cubes and mist, digging deep into the earth as my trajectory carries me ever downward into a pit of my own making. When all is said and done, and the roar of devastation wanes, the dust begins falling to the ground as miniature hail stones frozen by the massive release of one of my natural elements. The crater I'm left stunned and standing in has to be more than 500 ft in depth, and who knows how wide around the rim...
As I'm standing in the center of the new landmark, my mouth hanging open in awe amidst the faux snow fall and freshly made frozen ground, I hear the faint sound of crunching ice from far off in the distance. Still somewhat stupefied by my own strength, I tilt my head towards the echoing footsteps to see the faint outline of who I assume to be Sam standing on the rim of the crater. It looks like she turns her head this way and that to take in the scene herself before she jumps into the air, her feet landing on the icy surface next to me merely a few seconds later.
"Amelia." She begins in a serious tone, her emerald eyes hard to read as my stun locked brain finally comes back online. She continues, her voice carrying a bit of wariness to it that unnerves me, "This is the power of your second technique?"
I nod my head in affirmation, wringing my hands together nervously as she continues to take in the destruction. As the tension builds, she finally lets loose a small breath, the words carried on it in awe saying, "
Incredible
..."
My breath wheezes out of me as my hands fly to my knees, my leaned over torso exhaling breaths of relief before I turn up to look at her in a glare, "Why did you freak me out like that?! I thought I was in trouble!"
"I apologize, little pup. You are not under any form of reproachment however..." She begins as she scratches her cheek awkwardly, my heart sinking yet again but without a target or reason readily apparent.
Sam sighs as she helps me back to standing, releasing some sun Qi to begin warming the environment around us back up to a reasonable degree even if I strangely don't find the cold too offensive. "Perhaps it would be best to show you what lies outside of this impact area. Hold on to me and I shall deposit us to a better viewing angle."
She opens up her arms in offer to which I take, sweat nervously forming on my brow as she scoops me up and then vaults out of the cavernous pit. As soon as we crest the rim, my eyes go wide, my breath catching in my chest as my hand flies up to cover my astonished mouth. The entire space, something that seemed to go on for miles and was full of hills, grass, bushes, trees, and flowers is now nothing but a pure icy tundra.
The rolling hills have spikes of ice formed between the snap freezing of moisture and the chaotic winds that blew past, stabbing horizontally around their edges like frozen knives jutting into the air behind them. The patches of forests are similarly razor-sharp talons stretching towards the sky, a few crystalline pillars broken and leaning amongst themselves symbolizing broken trunks and fallen arbor.
The rest of the space is a completely sheen layer of ice, any smaller form of foliage likely either being ripped from the earth due to the winds or snap frozen and then shattered by the shockwave. And amongst it all, the air literally shimmers and sparkles as the frozen particulates left behind softly carry themselves on the wind, creating an almost... enchanting view. I gasp in a mix of dawning horror and astonished pride, torn between imagining this happening in the real world to some poor unsuspecting forest and the absolute
delight
of
finally
reaching a tangible level of power without relying solely on the Empress.
I shake my head a few times as something clicks into place, jumping out from Sam's grasp as I dart around her, inspecting every inch and speck of her body while rapidly saying out in worry, "Are you okay?! You were out during the impact and stuff, you didn't get hurt? Or like, frostbitten? Wait, can that even
happen
with your sun attribute? Doesn't matter, are you okay Sam?!"
A pair of strong hands latch around my arms on my latest frantic passing inspection, raising me up in the air with ease and just enough so that my feet can't connect to the ground despite their best efforts to keep running around for a second. "I am
fine
, little pup~. Thank you for your worry, but I was indeed sheltered from most of the effects after erecting a defensive sun technique as you posited." Her green eyes fix onto me, the touch of calm bleeding through my anxious brain finally as she lowers me back down with a smile, kissing my head before letting me go fully.
"This level of destruction..." She begins as she moves us into a hug overlooking the frozen wasteland, "It is something I would expect to see from a lower Realmed Apogee Ranked cultivator. While I understand you are nearly at those echelons when aided by your strengthening techniques, it is simply
awing
to witness that reality in such a tangible way..." She trails off before turning down to regard me again, "The Mistress will be quite pleased with your results here today, just from this revelation alone. Now, you said you had learned another technique?"
I go to answer her question before I remember the devastation around me, my voice coming out sheepishly as I turn to face her again, "Uh... we may need to set up more dummies... and also the whole scenario in general. The second technique looked more destructive in the manual..."

[Meteoric Lunar Impact] – Ch 123