Walking Disasters and Me

Blood hammers in my ears from the drum solo taking place in my chest, mouth dry as I do my best to bat away the lingering worry. The thundering of my heart only matched by the rumble of the ominous dark skies above as Qi continues to push into me. The particles engorging my dantian and soul, filling my voided rivers to the brim with silvery energy as I stare steadfastly upwards. I nearly unconsciously begin the process to start transmuting that particular section of Qi into its voided variant, making sure that I can activate [Aegis of the Void] on a moment's notice.

I also skip the pleasantries this time, not waiting for a single bolt or fucked up clone to appear as I chant out my opening salvo with only a faint sense of trepidation. "[Precognition] [Quick Thought] [Moonlight Body Strengthening] [Unending Flow of the River]."

Time slows as my power surges, the drastic change to my Constitution being compounded into the stratosphere... stratosplane? Fuck it. Into the clouds as I feel myself become sturdier than a mountain. Intrinsically, I know I'm not immune to pain or damage in this state... but it certainly feels like it would take a shit load of effort to make me bleed after activating my initial buffs. Though I'm... hesitant to activate the remaining two.

My other stats of course also prosper from the techniques, and when coupled with the time fuckery of both the mental skills... I do start to understand some of what Akiko, Ios, and the others have been saying. Two months... Two months of the wildest, soaring ups and nearly soul crushing downs. Two months of regret, and love, and anger, and hope. A timescale that seems trivial, even for me as a transmigrator. And yet...

I form the bladed scythe with one of the silver bands on my wrists, my reflexes lighting fast between the stats, techniques, and skills. With a flick downwards into a battle-ready stance, the air *Cracks* behind me and I realize that that one, small motion... broke the sound barrier.

Two months. And I am already like this. About to step into territory that folks native to Mara take 50 years to reach if they are beyond talented geniuses. Maybe a little sooner, maybe a little later. Eight weeks of my own personal tribulations and growth and recovery... And I'm still going to be in the wrong weight class.

As the clouds begin to form their first response, I take the last few moments before the fight to still my mind and push away those kinds of thoughts. I think... its good that I'm getting more confident. Or at least realizing some things about myself as truths. But if I let that get to my head, all of that promise will be for naught. It's an odd feeling, one that I'm still not quite used to. Having to stop myself from building me up in my own mind, instead of from tearing me down like I would back on Earth.

But, I suppose, that is the whole point of cultivation in a way. Discovering more about the universe, Qi, and yourself. Always searching to find that inner balance and peace that lets you grow the fastest and with the most results. And part of that is both tempering your mind and emotions as well as accepting your faults while you work to improve or erase them. Or, that's what I'm taking away from it. At least, for now.

As my mind settles on that peaceful yet growingly certain notion, the clouds above produce a dazzling assortment of prismatic lightning. Their births sounding out on their own destructions of the limit of sound as weighty oppression levies its gaze down to me. I swiftly dart my eyes to each and every one, my neck beginning to sweat as I count out 81 in total. Triple the supposed number from last time, even if nearly all of them merged into the doppelganger instead of coming at me directly.

Both the Heavens and I wait for the other for a few long moments. The passing of time even more unnerving on my end due to time being stretched and lengthened before eventually, the clouds make their first move.

With barely any warning, the multitude of rainbow-colored bolts shift and merge together, a roaring *CLAP!* of thunder from their union sounding out along with a nearly blinding flash of multi-colored light. As soon as the lightning's movements began, I reformed the other bracelet into a shield and raised it in front of me, the silver metal shielding my eyes just enough from the following technicolor display to witness its results as wind violently whips around the garden courtyard.

As the bolts shift and press together, they once again begin to take on a humanoid shape floating high in the sky amidst the turbulent pitch-black clouds. Almost like some deity coming to life, looking down on mortal-dom from its lofty and unreachable place. I begin to think that they're going to throw another copy of me at me again, a small growl of anger rising to my lips at the memory of what their last attempt did, before another change takes place.

As I'm viewing behind my metal protection, crouched low just in case they try anything funny, the silhouette of the combined rainbow sparks shifts and grows. From a vaguely human shape to that of a broad shouldered knight. Energy cackling down one its arms to produce a large tower shield, the gradient of ever color ebbing and rising in pulses on its surface. In the other hand, a long and pointed sword. Somewhere in length between a greatsword and an overzealous longsword.

All along its genderless body, stout plates of electric and Heavenly armor form and solidify. The protection coalescing until the being is entirely encased in a full plate armor of lightning, color, and power. A helm with a flowing ribbon of Heavenly 'fabric' protruding out of the top and flowing all the way down to its waist. An intimidating presence for most, I'm sure. And I know I'm still getting used to things here, but even after all of those theatrics... I still don't sense any threat from it.

The being wordlessly looks down to me before teleporting on the sound of thunder to the ground some hundred feet or so away from me at the other end of the gardens. The flowers that Jun Li and Akiko so painstakingly placed being reduced to ashes as a wave of prismatic energy emits around the construct as it touches the earth. Hopefully those enchantments apply to repairing or regrowing plant life...

Once more a staring match breaks out between me and this... Heavenly Soldier before it shocks me. The first move it makes nearly enough to throw me completely off this whole engagement. It bows. Professional, quick, but unmistakable. The embodiment of this Heaven's will, the one that tried to wound the bond between Sandra and I, the one whose last attempt at human shape was eaten in whole by my salivating mouth... bows to me.

Well, shit. Going to be hard to reign in my ego like I was thinking about after that. I decide that a head tilt is all that is needed in response. The memories of our last confrontation still fresh and vivid in my mind. And, aside from the ego boost, that little act ironically makes me even more wary of these Heavens now...

Surprising and shocking pleasantries out of the way, the construct once more returns to a battle form. Shield raised up covering its torso with the long and weighty sword leveled at me. I do the same, dismissing my own shield as I move the scythe back behind me and crouch low. The mountain air whipping around the both of us from the pull of Qi, the emission of strength, and the turbulent Heavens above. The very space around us seeming to hold its breath, an eager spectator to whatever is about to come next as I study and watch for any sign of attack from the opponent across from me.

This stalemate goes on for minutes before one of us makes the true first move. That one of us being me to no one's shock, I'm sure. The awkward and growingly unsettling stillness drawn even further along by the time altering skills finally eating away at me enough to spur me into action. The ground rumbles, cracks, and then explodes in cubic shapes underneath my glowing silver feet as I launch myself forward in a battle cry. A miniature earthquake occurring with every plant of my swiftly falling feet. The rocky explosions progression the only tangible way to tell where I'm at anymore, my body moving too fast to be seen by nearly everyone present.

And for all of the fear, and the doubts, and the worries leading up to this moment. The hammering heart and sweaty brow on my person. The agonizing over if this was the right decision or not. The biggest feeling I have as I close the distance to my newest hurdle is... pity.

The color shifting shield in its hand raises achingly slowly in an attempt to deflect my incoming swing, the scythe already slicing through the air as I make my last step and appear in front of the construct. Its helmet only just now turning to see that silver metal shooting for it like a falling star. Its own weapon not even able to be raised an inch before my curved blade cleanly and effortlessly slices through its neck.

My eyes widen in shock the scythe sings through its body, the expected resistance much less than what I was anticipating. Almost enough to throw me off balance, create an opening for the now heavily wounded challenger. If said challenger's body didn't almost instantly turn into fine moted colorful energy that explodes out faster than bullets in a deafening roar of force and wind.

The shield array surrounding the estate wobbling dangerously from the impact of its exploded particles as I check the damage numbers in stunned silence. My mind barely able to comprehend what it shows me before the glittering particles cease their retreat and instead rapidly shoot into me in a whirlwind of Qi.

Damage dealt 243,687! Luck Activates! Damage dealt increased to 152,304,375!

[Continued Quest: Become a Spiritual Cultivator!

Reach the 1st Realm of the 3rd Rank of Spiritual Cultivation!

Rewards: 500 Ability Points, 1000 Shop Points, 50 Skill Points.

This quest will repeat with greater rewards as you progress through the realms and ranks of cultivation.]

[Progress: 100%]

[Continued Quest: Become a Body Cultivator!

Reach the 1st Realm of the 3rd Rank of Body Cultivation!

Rewards: 500 Ability Points, 1000 Shop Points, 50 Skill Points.

This quest will repeat with greater rewards as you progress through the realms and ranks of cultivation.]

[Progress: 100%]

[Continued Quest: Become a Soul Cultivator!

Reach the 1st Realm of the 3rd Rank of Soul Cultivation!

Rewards: 500 Ability Points, 1000 Shop Points, 50 Skill Points.

This quest will repeat with greater rewards as you progress through the realms and ranks of cultivation.]

[Progress: 100%]

I momentarily stand their flabbergasted, eyes more stunned than a deer in headlights before I hear a voice hurriedly speak to me inside my head. 'Aims!! Great job honey, but do your soul path while you still have Heavenly Qi to use!'

I shake my head a few times, my body already feeling even more powerful than before as the glow from the suspiciously easily defeated knight still suffuses my body. And that strength translates not just physically as every facet of my being seems to become alive and thrum with power.

I finally gather enough of my wits to do as Ios said, pulling my attention inward as I focus on flowing as much of the remaining golden prismatic Qi into my soul avatar and letting the Divine Ranked pill I took last time do its work. As I do so, a series of six powerful ruptures emit from the floating representation of my being, each one coinciding with a system message that I already know the contents of. Each eruption of strength bringing a weird clarity to both my mind and my core, each thrum of invisible power almost opening my eyes further to the truth of the universe I find myself in...

The Divine pill works its magic alongside my growing understanding, and soon enough the process has run its course. The last traces of Heavenly Qi that were unneeded for the soul being almost willingly devoured by my dantian, channels, and meridians. Not enough to advance in Realm for either path, but I can already feel it was a fantastic head start~. I also feel the avatar mimic me as I breathe a mental sigh of relief, but the wariness still remains. I know I got the golden Qi, completed the quests, but even if Luck activated... wasn't this too easy?

I pop back into reality after giving a once over to everything inside the flow model, barely a few seconds having passed in the real world as I vigilantly scan the skies above me for any sign of foul play or further attacks. Again in a way that both sags my shoulders and raises the hair on my neck, the most obvious thing I notice as I scan the horizons is that the dark clouds are already mostly gone. Not even sparing a rumble of thunder before their visage lightens, thins, and then ultimately fades from the morning sky. The soft ambers and oranges once more painting their picturesque view underneath the ring of rocks surrounding the flat planet as birdsong slowly begins to swell once more.

With uncertain hands, I dismiss the scythe back to its banded form on my wrist and run my fingers through my hair. A watchful eye still flicking around the sky for any sign of treachery as I deactivate my techniques and skills. Before I become too lost in my suspicions, I hear a group of rapidly approaching footfalls headed straight for me. My already spooked mind almost resummoning the weapons and techniques before I'm bodily tackled, patted, showered in kisses, and then raised up in the air like the loneliest crowd surfer in the world.

Cheers and shouts of praise echo below me as I realize who my new assailants are with a cheeky grin. The laugh coming from my lips tinged with the absurdity of the situation. The anticlimactic end. The near crushing worry that just... evaporated into mist like the body of the knight in one fell swoop. And... a new worry. If this tribulation was such a cake walk... what's going to happen with the next one? The girls continue their rain of praises on me as they take me inside, their beyond proud voices overlapping and sending my ADHD brain into a bit of a fit even though I just smile and let them pamper me.

The worry from the last notion finally being put to rest as I look down and remind myself what this is all for. For them, for me. For Sandy. And if I'm worried about something, then I should tell them and work to make sure that fear becomes irrelevant. Even if that means somehow getting to the point of being able to handle the worst this Heaven can throw at me now.

Jun Li looks up and notices my smile as she returns it in full, eyes squinting in delight and pride as a black furred tail comes up to rub against my cheek. A pink one follows suit on the other side as I turn and see Gerra with a toothy grin before she sends me a wink. Both women helping keep me lofted in the air like I'm some parade balloon as I feel a chilly kiss land on top of my head. My smile deepens as I don't even have to second guess who that came from~. And it grows even larger as I see Ios and Sam turn back and look at me fondly, their pace just a few steps ahead of my impromptu victory parade.

For the first time in a couple days, I also realize that I'm able to look at Sam just fine. No little blip of worry, or fear, or painful memories resurfacing in the slightest. I nearly shed a tear at that alone, but the little spark of realization on Sam's face as she notices the same thing almost ruins all of my hard work at keeping myself collected. Because as she notices, she puts on one of the most stunningly radiant smiles I've ever seen from her. Nothing but pure joy and happiness at the little shared moment of understanding between us as her emerald eyes crinkle shut in bliss.

Ios notices too, a softer but no less genuine tilt of her lips coming to pass before the two women lead the little entourage down a hall I haven't seen before. Noticing the change, I look around a couple times before asking out amidst the cacophony of voices, "Uh... where are we going? I thought we'd be heading to like, the kitchens or something. For a victory meal?"

The girls giggle as Akiko sounds out from behind me, "We most certainly will be having a feast to celebrate your undeniable success, my love. But first, we are taking you to the onsen to wash away the impurities from the tribulation. You were fortunate in your previous challenges that the... explosive manner of your fighting styles and Qi absorption were able to mostly rid you of their lingering presence. But it seems this time was a touch different." As she says that, a white tail comes and points to one of my arms.

I look over curiously before I realize what she's talking about. Between the adrenaline, surprise, worry, and elation at ranking up my paths, I failed to notice inky black blobs of goo all over my skin, hair, and soaking my clothes. And the worst part? They make me stink like hell.