CH6: Price of Power
***
He had seen both methods in action in the hands of their creators. He knew how strong they both were.
One tempered the body while the other tempered the mind, both into the ultimate platform for power.
The choice was now his to make.
**
[Option 1: The Martial Sovereign's Ultimate Martial Body Tempering Manual.]
[Remark: 'Only through destruction can the body be reforged stronger'
The body is the foundation of all martial arts. Strength, speed, endurance and reflexes are all meaningless without a properly forged body.
The Ultimate Martial Body Tempering Manual is a sacred scripture that pushes the human body beyond mortal limits to superhuman mastery.]
[Warning: The Ultimate Martial Body Tempering Manual follows the principle of absolute tempering. Unlike other methods, it doesn't rely on direct manipulation of energy but instead uses energy to forge the body itself into the Ultimate weapon.
Each breakthrough involves near-death levels of body destruction and reconstruction involving immense levels of pain. Also, due to the excessive energy requirements, the user will require enormous quantities and quality of food and nutrition with each breakthrough.]
[Price: Sacrifice of Self – The User is not allowed to take on any other Master throughout his life.]
*
[Option 2: The Grand Space Pirate King's Eternal Mind Codex.]
[Remark: 'The body is the chariot, but the mind is the driver. To command reality, one must first command their own thoughts '.
The Eternal Mind Codex is a supreme mental cultivation designed to refine, expand and weaponise mental energy to superhuman levels.
This method tempers the mind itself through meditation, visualisation and absorption of mental/soul energies from the environment– or from others.]
[Price: Sacrifice of Self – The User will have their emotions suppressed, making them cold and rational.]
**
The young boy now had to make the most important decision in his life.
Both techniques were equally powerful as they could take him to the top of power in his world.
When he looked at the technique's descriptions, he couldn't help thinking back to their creators.
Each technique mirrored the nature of its creator.
The Martial Sovereign was an upright and hardworking person as seen in his Ultimate Martial Body Tempering Manual. On the other hand, the Eternal Mind Codex was a pragmatic technique that used everything at its disposal to attain power just like the Grand Pirate King.
The Ultimate Martial Body Tempering Manual even included a warning informing its user on what to expect from the technique.
Although Leo was still a child, he wasn't naive to believe a technique that stole from others didn't have a flaw.
And a significant one at that.
However, the boy didn't discount the technique.
While the boy wanted to be an upright person like the Martial Sovereign, the boy had seen enough in his short life to know that such a personality could be a weakness.
This horrible world was one that favoured pragmatism over 'innocent' idealism.
The boy was incredibly torn.
Then an idea struck him.
"Can I get both?" He asked.
[...] The Sanctuary didn't reply immediately.
It was the silhouette of the Martial Sovereign and the Grand Pirate King that reacted first.
Although Leo could see their features and expressions, the two were so powerful that their actions influenced the world around them. As such the boy was able to tell what their reaction was.
The Martial Sovereign's imprint gave the boy his blessing to acquire the power of the Grand Pirate King, a fellow past user of the Arcane Sanctuary without a successor. While the Grand Space Pirate laughed out in appreciation at the boy's 'greed', believing it was fitting for his successor.
The Arcane Sanctuary finally reacted.
-
[Unanimous agreement obtained.]
[Recalculating causality...]
[Error! Interference detected.]
[Calculating a workaround...]
[Work around found.]
-
[User, be advised, your request has met significant interference from the fundamental principles of your home world. The workaround solution will increase the price of both techniques to an unknown level.
[The process cannot be stopped or reverted should you still choose to continue. You must be prepared to bear an unknown cost.
[Do you still wish to continue?]
'Again? The cruel world is interfering again?' Leo gnashed his teeth.
Then he grinned in an expression unbecoming of his age, 'The more you wish to interfere the more I wish to continue.'
A crazed glint flashed in his eyes.
'Do it, Arcane Sanctuary!'
[Order received. Activating work around...]
[Please standby...]
-
Leo felt the imprints of the two past users look at him appreciatively for his decision.
They suddenly flashed and disappeared as if heading somewhere.
-
A few nervy moments later, the silhouettes returned.
And so did the messages from the Arcane Sanctuary.
[Negotiation with the World complete.]
[Causality calculation complete.]
[Request: The Ultimate Martial Body Tempering Manual and Eternal Mind Codex.]
[Price: 1. Sacrifice of Self for each technique is increased.
2. User will die if he spreads the methods without approval from the world.
3. User is unable to progress from the 1st level of both methods until he is 15 years old.
4. User will face a Fated Misfortune event when he turns 15.]
-
Leo was a little stunned when he found out that the Sanctuary and the imprints had gone to negotiate with the World on his behalf.
It made him wonder just how powerful the Sanctuary and the imprints were that they could negotiate with the World itself.
Also, how powerful were the Martial Sovereign and the Grand Space Pirate King that their mere imprints had enough standing to negotiate with an entire world!
When the boy saw the price conditions attached to his request, his eyes couldn't help flashing a cold light.
He knew without a doubt that they were conditions put forward by the world.
Even now, it wouldn't let him grow peacefully.
-
[Recalculating Prices for each Method. Standby...]
[...]
[The Martial Sovereign's Ultimate Martial Body Tempering Manual.]
[Price: 1. Sacrifice of Self – The User is not allowed to take on any other Master throughout his life.
2. Pain induced is significantly increased
3. Exponentially increased food and nutrition requirements.
4. Training too fast without proper adaptation and rest could lead to significant injury and temporary crippling.]
-
[Imprint of Martial Sovereign's interference detected!]
[Ultimate Martial Body Tempering Manual is being modified!]
[Accompanying Technique added!]
[Accompanying Technique: Curse of Gluttony!]
[User is able to consume and digest a massive amount of food in one sitting. Consumed food is digested to maximum efficiency and stored. Stored nutrition is released as needed by the User.]
[Limitation: User must eat massively on each sitting with every use.]
(To be continued...)