Walking Disasters and Me-The First Steps, Defiance – Ch 22

Walking Disasters and Me-The First Steps, Defiance – Ch 22

Akiko's declaration shakes me out of my growing fantasies and brings my attention back to the fraught with danger tasks ahead of me. I swallow nervously, as I slightly wring both of my now slightly clammy hands together. While all of that determination that I had when trying to convince Akiko about going forward with this plan was genuine, I can't deny that the closer we get to the starting bell the worse I'm beginning to feel about it.
Damn it, Ios was right to have me do this as soon as possible. I'm still deeply committed to going through with it and I'm
still
starting to get panicky about what I am about to do. Who knows if I would have had the guts to feel the same way about this if I had gotten more time to psyche myself out. I owe her an apology later it seems...
Speaking of Ios, she chimes in to Akiko and me as I'm trying not to go further down that dark tunnel of thoughts and emotions, "The last thing Aims needs to do is allocate her free Ability Points. Like I said earlier, I think investing at least 150 into your Constitution would make all of us feel safer about this. Ideally, I'd even suggest you throw in 200 and then drop the last ones into Intelligence to help your comprehension when you get the manuals. Its ultimately up to you, sweetie, but I think that is your best option going forward." Her projection ends off with a calm, serene look about her. Probably trying her best to keep me calm, since she can see no doubt see my brain lighting up like a Christmas tree as the unease grows inside me. She really is the best when she isn't being an adorable troll!
"Okay, I trust you Ios. Let's do that then, 200 to CON and then the last 40 into INT." I say back to her with a firm nod, marshalling my courage as best I can. At least I get to do the fun part of watching numbers go up before I have to fight some spicy clouds~!
You have used 200 Ability Points on Constitution! Constitution is now 400!
Health Pool is now 5395 / 5395
(Base 150 + 10 per CON = 4150) (+ 30% from Titles)
Health Recovery Rate is now 45 pts per hour (Base 5 + 1 per 10 CON)
Stamina Pool is now 7930 / 7930
(Base 100 + 10 per DEX and CON = 6100) (+ 30% from Titles)
Stamina Recovery Rate is now 65 pts per hour (Base 5 + 1 per 10 CON and + 1 per 10 DEX)
You have used 40 Ability Points on Intelligence! Intelligence is now 65!
Holy shit, that is quite the jump. And apparently my pools will get buffed as I progress through all three paths too. Ios was right, I am going to be a
monster.
I breathe out a sigh of relief at seeing such large digits representing how much pain I can take before I lose the game of life and turn to find Akiko and Ios looking over my status sheet with the local script on it. "I gotta say, the part where we just dump a shit load of numbers into a stat is always so fun to do~! What else do I need to do now? Just sit on the fancy pillow over there and then give Ios the go ahead?"
Jeeze, even still talking about kicking this off is enough to offset my newfound comfort in my big numbers. I have no doubt I'll need to use some stamina to block some effects by the time I reach the damn pillow...
Akiko smiles warmly at me as she gently gives me a hug, which I latch onto with a sudden forcefulness that I think surprises both of us. She rests one arm behind my shoulders to pull me in close as the other one raises up to softly stroke my hair, and I can feel her rest her face against the top part of my head thanks to her height. She holds me like that for a few moments before I feel her voice breeze lightly against my crimson locks, "You are very brave, my dear Amelia. I would wager even disciplined cultivators would balk at the challenge you are about to undertake, provided they were not blinded by greed or arrogance. Just remember that you are doing this for yourself and the people you care for.
While I was not for this path originally, your words and logic were sound enough for me to admit that you have the right of it. This world is filled with dangerous people, creatures, and lands that will not shed a single tear if they were to rip you from your life or do the same to those you cherish. I have done my best to stamp out those forces where I could and always strive to not fall into the trap that the powerful here often succumb to, namely pride, arrogance, and cruelty. However, the path of cultivation is long and arduous, and you were correct in saying that I cannot always be at your side to shield you from those forces that would seek your death or destruction."
She steps back slightly from the hug while still having ahold of my shoulders, her tails still slightly dancing around me and making me focus on her dazzling amethyst eyes as she continues, "I believe you can do this Amelia. For all your faults and shortcomings, you possess a tenacious drive like few I have seen in this world. Any other mortal cast aside from their home reality, forced to face new, fantastical, dangerous situations and abilities while also being responsible for a loved one's soul in the process would have shattered the will of many. And even though you may stumble or feel the fear of the unknown, you always pick yourself up from the ground and continue pushing forward to see your Sandra again. I will say it again, I think this is the right choice my dear. For both you and Sandra's futures here in this reality. You can do this."
And with that, she leans in and gives me a gentle, lingering kiss on my forehead as I feel a prickling heat behind my eyes and wetness slide down my cheeks. I choke out a small sob as I hug Akiko again and we stay locked into our embrace for another minute or so as I let out all the panic and fear. Or, as much as I can. I sniffle a few times as I pull back, using my super amazing, out of this world battle dress to wipe my eyes and dry off my cheeks.
My slightly hoarse voice comes out with a small laugh, "Jeeze Akiko, you really have to warn a girl when you're about to melt her heart like that~!" Both Akiko and Ios join in on my attempts at humor with their own laughter before I press on, "Thank you, Akiko. Truly, that was probably the sweetest and most amazing thing anyone has ever said to me. I think... I think I'm ready."
Ios nods once smartly while shooting a kind look toward Akiko. I can just make out her lips forming out the words "Thank you" before she turns to me fully and says, "Okay honey. Go sit in the middle of the array, on that pillow, and then get into a calm state. As soon as you feel at peace, pop those pills Akiko gave you and let me know to buy the manuals by activating
[4 Leaf Clover]
and then Akiko will slap the talisman on you. I'll directly place the manuals in your soul as soon as the paper tag starts burning, you should feel something foreign and strange enter you when I do. Focus on those sensations until you find the scrolls and begin learning their Qi gathering techniques. I'll also let you know that this is a quest target, you really should check your journal sometimes~"
[Quest Started! Become a Spiritual Cultivator!
Reach the 1st Realm of the 1st Rank of Spiritual Cultivation!
Reward: 20 Ability Points, 2 Skill Points, 100 Shop Points.
This quest will repeat with greater rewards as you progress through the realms and ranks of cultivating.]
[Quest Started! Become a Body Cultivator!
Reach the 1st Realm of the 1st Rank of Body Cultivation!
Reward: 20 Ability Points, 2 Skill Points, 100 Shop Points.
This quest will repeat with greater rewards as you progress through the realms and ranks of cultivating.]
[Quest Started! Become a Soul Cultivator!
Reach the 1st Realm of the 1st Rank of Soul Cultivation!
Reward: 20 Ability Points, 2 Skill Points, 100 Shop Points.
This quest will repeat with greater rewards as you progress through the realms and ranks of cultivating.]
Well, at least there's some more motivation for all of this self-inflicted madness. I take another couple of deep, calming breaths while pushing the unease and panic as far back as I can mentally. Instead, I focus on Akiko's words and how I could feel the steadfast belief in me wave off of her as she spoke. I can do this, and I have to. Not only for me, but for Sandra and our tag along nightmare beings. For Akiko and the Sect Leader, so that they can have whatever relationship they had back when they were here on Mara again. For Samantha, Jun Li, and Gerra as I'm sure they will be a big part of helping me get stronger, as well as new friends and companions while I'm here. And for all the other people I have yet to meet in this new, insane world.
I have every reason to succeed and prevail. Ios and Akiko have pulled out all the stops, gave me every piece of information they could to prepare me for this. The only thing that can hold me back from this now is me, and I
refuse
to be my usual weak, cowardly self when the person I love most in all of existence is still wounded and hurting. Who is depending on me to be the best I can be and for the first time in our lives be the one to protect and care for
her
. And I will be
damned
if I let her down now, when she needs me like this.
Active Effect Gained [Resolve (Absolute)]
Huh, I guess I skipped straight past Determination this time. Good to know that pep talks continue to work in this world! I take one final breath, much more confident in myself now and I step back from Ios and Akiko. I'm sure Ios knows the situation since she probably saw me get the effect, but even Akiko looks at me with a hint of pride in her eyes before she nods once and then leads me over to the pillow. I follow her with sure steps, my own heartbeat roaring in my ears as we quietly make our way to the center of the room.
The anticipation weighs on my heavily, and I can feel my anxiousness still starting to creep up but... It doesn't feel like my normal nervous, panicky energy. It feels almost... electric. Like the excitement of finally getting started is pushing a live wire through my body. My analyzing is stopped as I realize we have arrived at the, admittedly very comfy looking now that I'm closer, sitting pillow.
Akiko eases me down into it, showing me the best sitting form to relax my body and help with meditation. She looks me up and down one more time, her snow-white hair framing her face that holds a mixture of emotions before speaking up, "I can sense and smell your excitement from here, young Amelia~ While it is natural to be anxious, even more so in your unique position, keep your mind still and calm. I am proud of you for going through with this, and for facing your own faults with such bullish heart that only you can possess. I will be waiting for the key words to apply the talisman. I wish you the best of luck, my dear, from the bottom of my heart."
I give her a small smile back with more than a bit of warmth in my eyes. "Thank you Akiko, I couldn't have done this without you, and not just your items and knowledge, but your kind and thoughtful words too. I will succeed, and then we can get on to healing Sandra. I'll be back before you know it~" I finish with a small wink before closing my eyes and emptying my thoughts as best as I can.
I can still feel and hear my heartbeat drumming deafeningly loudly in its rhythmic pattern. I can feel my fingers close into the relaxed shape that Akiko showed me when she sat me down, the tactile feel heightened as I'm trying to focus. It feels like every little distraction is another obstacle to beat back and overcome. I begin to get frustrated, but Akiko and Ios' words start to play again in my head, their steadfast conviction in my abilities even with my all of my flaws. As their words sink in again, I begin to feel a sense of calm start to wash over me, drowning out the beating rhythm of my blood through my ears and the feel of skin on skin and all the other nuisances that were plaguing me.
Maybe its just this world, or the amount of Qi around me influencing my mind somehow, but as soon as I reach this peaceful state something clicks and I know it's time to start the show. I smoothly swallow the different colored, candy like pills that Akiko gave me and can feel their energies starting to stir within my body.
With a small breath, barely spoken with enough force to be audible, I voice out in a whisper,
"[4 Leaf Clover]".
This dear, empathetic, reckless human who I have grown to cherish deeply even though our interactions have only been for a short time speaks the words that will start the chaos about to unfold. I quickly look to the spirit Ios who nods back to me almost faster than my enhanced vision can track, before placing the talisman onto Amelia's back and then jumping backwards, next to the contraption that projects the spirit.
Now that Amelia is lost in her trance and under a significant time dilation, I turn back to the beautiful spirit with the pent-up worry spilling out of my rushed voice, "Surely young Amelia should be fine, you said that peak 2nd Realm cultivators only had 200 or so of those stats, correct? With her nearly doubling those figures surely she can withstand whatever Heaven would rain on her for simply breaking through into cultivation."
I resist the urge to grab one of my own tails to wring as I speak out to Amelia's benefactor, the image of the new Shadow Branch Elder popping into my head. Well, I suppose it is a natural reaction for us fox beast humans...
"Honestly Akiko, I'm not sure. Her title that is going to buff the Heaven's isn't really specific. Aside from figuring out which cultivation manuals to get her, I spent
a lot
of time trying to dig more into that title but it has some kind of protection on its data. The most I could glean is that it is powerful, that's why I wanted Aims to double her Constitution." Spirit Ios responds with her own trepidation shining through. I am glad to see that I am not the only one, and the spirit even goes so far as to wring one set of her dainty, nimble hands together in worry. If she were corporeal, I would immediately administer tail pats and hugs for comfort!
Both of our attentions are instantly directed upward after our brief exchange as we hear the faint sound of thunder begin to roll through the valley. Shocked, I look back down to young Amelia and focus my Qi reading on her meditating form. "Spirit Ios! She is about to breakthrough on
all
of her paths already?! Even with the dilation, it can't have been longer than 2 minutes!"
Before the phantasmal force can respond, the rumbling of Heaven stops before we are blinded by a series of flashes as deafening cracks of thunder echo through the room. Nine times I count the clap, marking nine times that Heaven has assailed Amelia. For anyone else on Mara, breaking through into cultivating is usually met with only 1 bolt! Not to mention that they should not be this fast or powerful, this is closer to a 3rd Realm breakthrough than what Amelia is doing!! After the final flash and roar of thunder, an odd quiet calm descends upon the room that is broken up periodically by the still present rumble of Heaven above.
I quickly scan the ground where Amelia was sitting, my own panic beginning to bubble up and cloud my judgement. Unfortunately, the dust created from the explosions of repeated lightning strikes hinders my vision, but I can tell with my senses that Amelia is okay, if a bit wounded still where I left her back in the center of the room. Relief starts to pour into my being, the gamble of these two other worlders having paid off. Even if she has just broken through, I can feel the power that Amelia has gained from this. I would easily pit her against a fresh 3rd Realm and expect her to win, provided she had some further weapon and skill training!
Just as I turn to the projection and am about to congratulate Amelia and her companion on a job well done, spirit Ios finally speaks again with the loudest voice I have ever heard from her, "God damn it Amelia Aims Dufort!!
Do not break through to the 2nd Realm!!"
Terror grips my heart, as I rip my vision from the spirit back to where a huge gust of wind clears the remaining dust and debris away from the middle of the room revealing a slightly bleeding and burned Amelia. She is standing there with a frenzied, almost manic look to her face as the force that cleared the room was indeed coming from her. Her usually soft, caring smile is twisted into a jagged, almost too wide thing as her gorgeous azure eyes are dancing with some crazed delight only she is privy to as she stares upwards toward the ichor black clouds above.
Her burned and bleeding body stands firm in the center of the room almost as a challenge to the Heavens, with her dress waving around her as she steadily absorbs more and more Qi from the surroundings. In one of her hands at her side she grips the beautiful ornate spear, its form still having wafts of smoke rising from the metal points from interacting with the lightning and yet none the worse for wear.
Aside from the Qi she is naturally absorbing now, the golden energy of Heaven's defeated bolts is rushing into her, almost creating a small golden whirlwind around her battle lust lost form as it begins to heal her and return her to her pristine, voluptuous condition. It is... achingly beautiful to watch. However, I cannot let her continue on like this, she is utterly not prepared to face a true tribulation if this is the kind of response she received for breaking through to begin with!
"Amelia!! Listen to spirit Ios!
DO NOT BREAKTHROUGH INTO THE NEXT REALM!"
I shout out, using my auras and bloodline to enhance my voice just enough to hopefully snap Amelia out of her trance. Thankfully, the sudden room shaking volume of my enhanced voice seems to do just that, as Amelia jumps slightly as it rings out around her. Her eyes regain some clarity, and her twisted visage finally relaxes into a somewhat confused, scared frown as she turns her head to regard both spirit Ios and myself. I glance briefly upwards and use my Qi sensing to try and confirm that she is not in any more danger.
Thankfully, with her challenge to the Heaven's ended, the sound of rolling thunder finally recedes from the space and I can sense the dark as night clouds above us dissipate. I turn my gaze back down to the always surprising human as I let out a long breath of relief. I watch as the last bits of golden energy flow into Amelia, she sinks down to the ground breathing heavily while using her spear as a support to lean against. Before either spirit Ios can voice any concern, or before I can rush to her side, we watch as her head lulls forward and she fully collapses onto the ground, her spear clattering loudly next to her prone form.

.
!
The First Steps, Defiance – Ch 22