Sidegrade (1)
I gifted a sword to Cheonma and forged one for myself separately. As I mentioned before, it's a spare. PassingDwarf enjoyed it too, so we both had a blast working on them.
Shaaaa!
"Pretty," I said curtly, gazing at the sword sparkling like a glowstar. It really was a beautiful blade. And highly practical too. Especially at night—it'd be incredibly useful. With just this sword, I could secure visibility around me to some degree.
There was the light crystal orb, sure, but a glowsword offered even better efficiency.
Even a little mana produces a solid aura.
What I liked most was the mana efficiency. I'd expected it, but even a small amount made the aura ripple like flames. For someone like me whose stamina was a weak point, this was like rain in a drought. Of course, Cheonma's sword was so overpowered that I'd keep this as a backup only, but it was still excellent.
It'll help with training too.
Using minimal mana made it easy to control. Beginner-friendly sword. Leaving it like this would be a waste. I immediately thought to post it on the Gallery... but didn't.
Wait, wouldn't this reveal Cheonma's identity?
A sword that glowed like a glowstar. Cheonma had one too. She wouldn't post proof herself, but the moment I did, her secret would be out. It sparkled at the slightest mana—impossible to miss. If her identity got exposed and she quit the Gallery, it'd be a huge loss for me. Especially since she was one of the people who'd saved my life. It'd be an irreplaceable blow beyond mere damage.
Almost screwed up big time.
I'd nearly let a precious connection slip away due to my carelessness. Better to keep the sword's existence as hidden as possible. If push came to shove, I could alloy it differently—not Mithoricon, but pure mithril.
Time... it's getting late, almost dinner.
Time spent fetching crabs and crafting tools had added up, and dinner was upon me. I'd planned to consume an inner core, but it got too late amid all the forging. Plus, Cheonma said she'd test her sword's performance and go out for the first time in ages. Made me wonder if she really just lurked in her room Gallery-ing all day, but I brushed it off.
Whatever, hope she likes it.
If she didn't, I was willing to return her sword. The glowsword was plenty great even if it didn't match hers. With hope and worry mixed, I awaited her message.
Cheonma
Sir. Are you there?
I handled the sword you gave me.
I was just checking the CCTV footage when her message popped up. Gallery window open, so I caught it right away. I exhaled as her reply came. Tense moment.
Cheonma had given me her sword—its original owner must be a swordsmanship expert. She'd give an objective review of mine. That's why I was nervous.
How was it? Pretty good, right?
Cheonma
Do you wish me to speak kindly, or honestly?
Honestly.
Cheonma
A true sword cuts what its master desires. But this one is too much. Overkill fits it perfectly.
Not bad, right?
Cheonma
Quite the opposite. It's so excellent it could cause unwanted harm.
I got the gist. Like prepping ingredients—you only want to cut the food on the board. But my Mithoricon sword would slice the board too, clean through. Performance too good, causing issues.
Hard to handle?
Cheonma
Those who can't control themselves must never wield it. But this lady can. Easily.
Phew, good. So it's not that you dislike it or anything...
Cheonma
Not at all. I'm grateful you gave such a sword so readily.
It was just fair repayment on my end. If it breaks, I'll get you a new one.
Cheonma
That won't happen. No warrior suffers a broken sword—it's shameful. And this lady despises shame.
Quintessential Cheonma. Sky-high pride. And it didn't sound like bluffing—her teachings proved her skill. She bickered daily with SwordTasteStar, but... both must be amazing.
Got it. Can I message after dinner? Planning to consume the inner core and recite the incantation then.
Cheonma
I'll await you.
We agreed, then I wrapped up my tasks. CCTV first—no intruders while I was crab-hunting. I'd worried about gorilla retaliation, but false alarm.
Caught three fish too.
Dinner done, night fallen deep. I messaged Cheonma that I was ready. She was online—reply came quick.
Cheonma
As I said, this incantation means surrendering to heaven's flow. Not absorbing the inner core with your body, but letting your body follow its flow.
Noted.
Cheonma
Ready?
One sec.
I glanced at my hand holding the small inner core. Thanks to the storage from SmartMine, it was nearly pristine.
This holds way more mana than fish.
Fish had nutrients mixed in—this was pure mana. Botch the absorption, and I'd fever like last time. At least my body was mana-adapted now. Raw consumption might've burst me, as Cheonma warned.
Absorb it fully, and I'll grow stronger.
Several, even. Some for Ppareumbo's emergency snacks. First times hardest—I calmed my pounding heart. Trust Cheonma's incantation, nothing else.
Ready. Tell me now.
Cheonma
One who stands toward heaven, feel that heaven fully.
Where heaven flows, what it points to.
One who feels heaven, surrender your body to it.
The second incantation, as Cheonma said, was about yielding to heaven's flow. Know thyself, know thy enemy—victory in a hundred battles. Same for heaven. Understand its embrace, claim victory.
Gulp.
I swallowed the inner core and began the Internal Power Method. Standard breathing at first. But the massive mana lump? My already fierce flow grew wilder.
I tried gripping it forcibly—failed every time. Like touching a spinning disc, getting scraped.
Don't force it to stop. Surrender completely to the flow.
I recited Cheonma's incantation inwardly. Don't grab to halt—just hold. Flow with it, learn it. What it wants. Not calming the energy with body, but matching the surging waves.
Like yielding to drifting clouds. Like yielding to flowing water.
As my body adapted...
"Zzz..."
I unknowingly fell asleep.
*****
I dreamed. Swimming freely in the lofty sky. I'd dreamed this before—during my fever, reciting Cheonma's first incantation. Passed out then too. Difference? Less wonder, more unease.
Do I dream new incantations every time?
Timing too perfect. Need repetition to confirm. For now, use this rare chance well.
Lemme see. That's the sea over there...
Floating high, scouting the forest was effortless. Four Seasons Forest? Shelter below confirmed it quick. Pitch black night matched when I'd dozed off.
And I can move freely...
Odd sensation, unlike before. Still, yet pulled along. Cheonma's incantation flashed—I closed eyes, focused. Breathe here too? Briefly wondered.
...Something's moving.
Tiny motion despite stillness. Not clouds, wind, beasts below. The sky itself I floated in. Heaven's flow, faintly felt.
But...
Problem: chaotic tangle. Not planetary rotation—random. Possible? Four Seasons Forest, space-twisting hell. Accept it.
Still... consistent per zone.
River vs. shelter: mess together. Separate? Steady directions. But knowing helps how? Long way off.
Twinkle!
Sun rose soon after. Time flew abnormally—disorienting. Body tugged downward slowly. Flesh awakening, soul follow—alarm-like. Struggled against the pull briefly.
"...Huh?"
I clearly saw it. Far off, a lone 'tree' standing tall. Unmissable presence amid vast woods. Wanted to feel it deeper—time ran out. Body dropped to shelter.
"Ah."
Eyes open, I blurted blankly. Saw something, but fuzzy recall. Tree-ish? Dream or reality? Blurry line.
...Why'd time fly so fast?
Much to ponder. Exhaled, scanned around. Early still—Ppareumbo and Wonmo slept soundly. I tiptoed out, grabbing Cheonma's sword to check.
What changed?
Inner core fully absorbed, cleanly. Dream ominous—big shifts expected. Tense, I infused mana slowly into the sword.
Whoosh!!!
Vast flames of aura rippled—double previous size, covering more than the blade. Inner core and incantation worked. Issue...
Just size increase is useless, right?
SwordTasteStar's sharp critique: bloating aura was inefficiency peak. Same mana input, yet only the flaw grew.
...Really a sidegrade?
Settle for range boost?