New Power (4)
There's a line of common sense for humans. And among that common sense is the fact that you can't smash a tree with a single bare fist. Especially a massive one that must have lived for centuries. Sure, if you hammered the same spot dozens or hundreds of times to splinter a thin tree, maybe. But shattering a tree over a man's height in one blow? Impossible. At least, not in the realm of humans. That's common sense.
But that common sense had just been shattered.
"I've verified it over a dozen times. Not a speck of mana. No traces whatsoever. That means your attack was pure physical force."
A feat achieved with pure physical power, no external forces involved. In just half a day, Kalente had analyzed how it was possible.
"It seems your constitution is quite... special."
"My constitution?"
"Yes. Your muscles and bones have absorbed the mana. That's what reinforced them, letting you surpass human limits in an instant."
"Is that special?"
"Most people can't do it. They absorb such minuscule amounts of mana."
Seeing Balun didn't get it, Kalente launched into a super-simple theory lesson. What Balun took away from it was this:
• Mana is power.
• Human bones and muscles can only hold trace amounts of mana.
• Trace mana produces no real power.
• But my bones and muscles can hold far more mana than a normal person.
• Those mana-saturated bones and muscles unleashed superhuman strength.
Balun explained it back as best he could. He didn't know fancy terms, so it was a bit messy, but it was enough to show Kalente he understood.
"Smart as ever. Comprehension unlike a barbarian. Perfect grasp."
"Praise?"
"Of course."
Doesn't sound like praise...
Just say smart. Why add "unlike a barbarian"?
"We'll need more tests, but you'll struggle to gather mana."
"What?"
Balun narrowed his eyes. What the hell?
"What do you mean?"
"Your cultivation method makes your muscles and bones absorb the mana. The more you gather, the more they'll just get stronger. Tougher bones, more power."
"Then what? Balun can't gather mana?"
"You can. Just far less than others."
"Ridiculous."
He'd invested in intelligence stats, and now strength was rising instead. How could it not be absurd?
"Your muscles and bones have a limit to how much mana they can absorb. Once that's full, the excess should gather normally."
"..."
"But since it's excess, it'll be less efficient than for others. Tests needed, but probably at least twice the difference."
Balin blinked and asked, "Then, no fire axe?"
"Huh?"
"Flame aura or earth aura or whatever. Can't use it?"
"Not impossible. Just much harder."
"Heh."
"Why laugh?"
"Absurd."
Absurd enough to chuckle. Live long enough, you see all kinds of shit.
Who'd expect muscles to be a drawback?
"One question."
"Ask."
"If Balun had no muscles, could gather mana easy?"
"My hypothesis? Yes. Much easier than now."
"Then Balun quits fire axe."
"What? Quits?"
"Don't need it anymore."
Balin neatly let go of any attachment. He wanted ranged magic-like attacks, sure. But not enough to ditch muscles.
His biggest weapon was always this sturdy body, after all.
"You sure? You wanted it bad."
"Reality's cold. Can't do it, can't. Better quit fast."
"Still, deciding so quick ain't easy."
"No choice. Rational."
Just no point whining. Can't have it, so what? Better find what suits or master what you're good at. A hundred times better. Fail that, get weeded out.
That's how Balun lived.
"True. Can't is can't. You've grasped the world's truths early. Haha."
Kalente laughed, eyes full of admiration.
Look on the bright side. Got a good skill.
Balin flexed his arms. Muscles writhed with a creak. He'd poured a ton of power earlier, but his forearms still had juice. Enough for one or two more tree-smashers.
Nice.
Ideas flooded in. So many ways to use it.
"Kalente. Help Balun?"
"Huh? With what?"
"New technique practice. Need help."
Might as well practice to use the new skill right.
About two weeks flew by.
Balin stayed at Kalente's, balancing lessons and training. Days: mana theory, magic training methods, basic world knowledge. Spare time: personal practice.
Focused on the muscle-bulging technique he'd named Reinforcement Technique, then mana cultivation before bed. Two weeks in, results showed.
Creak!
Balin tensed. Arms swelled. He punched the training dummy in the clearing.
Thud!
A fist-sized dent in the wooden torso. Chest caved, dummy tilted. Balin nodded, satisfied.
Finally didn't shatter it.
Control mattered more than power. Raw strength meant nothing uncontrolled.
So he'd focused hardest on mastering the new power. Two weeks exactly, success.
Feels natural now.
Balin grinned. Didn't break the dummy. Means he could dial it back.
Ready for real fights.
Reinforcement Technique's core: higher intensity meant shorter duration but more power. Same skill, different uses.
Full power smash? Or moderate hits multiple times?
Now Balun could choose. Thanks to two weeks' grind.
Now, link it to axes...
Balin rubbed his chin. Goal met, but big issue left.
Could wield and control freely, but axes? Ha. Handle snapped.
Strength too much for axes.
How to fix? Thought and thought. Only one answer.
New weapons.
He felt it. Time to replace his trusty axes.
Need tough axes for Reinforcement Technique.
Two-hand main axe, two one-hand utility. Total three.
"Hey, Balun! Broke another dummy, didn't you?!"
Kalente's voice from behind.
"Know how many you've smashed? Sixty! Four a day!"
He huffed over.
Perfect timing. Had questions.
"These have durability enchantments! Artifacts! Two gold each! Know how much you've cost me?"
"Didn't break."
"Yeah! Don't break... Huh? Didn't?"
"See for yourself."
Kalente approached, checked the dummy, beamed.
Balin was right. Dented chest, intact.
"Ooh! Success! Congrats! Now we save money. Haha!"
More thrilled about saved gold than Balun's growth.
"Question. Answer?"
"What?"
"Good weapon shop?"
"Good weapons?"
"Balun needs very tough weapons. Milford smithy no good."
"Ah, got it."
Two weeks with Balun. Knew his recent worries.
"Axes tough enough for Reinforcement Technique. Right?"
"Yes."
"Hmm, tough ask. You know your power's insane."
Watched training up close. Knew the destruction.
Bare fist pulverizing a massive tree. Wood handles? No chance.
And not just wood. Crushed metal barehanded. Folded a blade four times with fingers. Shocking.
"Normal axe handles won't cut it. Metal? Too heavy, inefficient."
Balin could swing solid metal, sure. But stamina drain? Brutal.
Wood best for efficiency.
"You're picky. Aura would've been simple. Sigh."
"No point saying that. If Balun normal, no research. You got tons from Balun research. Useless hypothetical."
"..."
Kalente shut up. No comeback.
What barbarian talks like this?
Balin looked brute, but sharp. Teasing backfired often. Embarrassing.
Who was he? Gray Sage, one of Seven Sages. Nobles bowed. But this fox-in-bear-clothes treated him like village grandpa. Absurd.
"Follow. Got something for you."
Balin followed to second-floor study. Sat in guest chair. Kalente returned with a wax-sealed letter.
"Take this to Pordel in Corinth Kingdom. Find Seria."
"Seria?"
"Yes. Give her this. She'll make weapons for you."
"She blacksmith?"
"Why else?"
Balin nodded. Fair.
"She good?"
"Grand Smith."
"Gran... what?"
"Honor for top blacksmiths."
"Oho."
Like SSS-rank?
"Across ten kingdoms, fewer than twenty Grand Smiths."
Balin nodded, impressed. Big deal.
"When ordering, insist on true elfwood for handle. Anything else fine, but that essential."
"True elfwood?"
"Very tough wood. Should handle your strength."
True elfwood. Balun repeated it.
"Maybe shouldn't say. Too good a deal. Big loss. Sigh."
Balin didn't argue. Seemed sincere.
Introducing rare expert? Real favor.
"Not lying?"
"Doubting me? After two weeks?"
"Corinth far. If bust, split Kalente head. Vertical."
Balin mimed chopping.
Kalente chuckled dryly. Arrogant bastard.
Who dared threaten him?
"Fine! Split! Million pieces!"
"Serious. Trust."
Balin knew he wasn't lying. Just his style—needed certainty.
Tap bridges before crossing. That's Balun.
Now certain. Old man no liar. Trustworthy.
Balin eyed him. Tacit pact broken. Time to part.
"Come back?"
"Kalente good man. If fate, yes."
Kalente smiled. Touched. Called good by fierce barbarian.
"Next time, bring research worth my time. Request."
"Try."
"Last, handshake. Young friend."
"Thanks. Learned much."
More valuable than new power or methods: world knowledge.
Two weeks ago, blind. Now not.
Civilized world, nations, superhumans, their powers. Priceless basics fattened Balun's insight.
"I gathered precious data too."
Kalente smiled faintly, offered hand. Balun shook lightly.
Balin stayed one more night, left at dawn.
Back in Milford after two weeks, bustling crowds. Felt welcoming.
Human hearts mysterious. Short stay, yet glad.
Merc guild, he said.
Recalled Kalente's advice before leaving.
— Long way to Corinth. First time? Hell. Lost paths, bandits galore. Fresh barbarian? Doomed.
— Then?
— Caravans to Corinth hire mercs regularly.
— Join as merc?
— Yes. Earn gold, save time. Win-win.
Balin planned to follow. Bought cheap hand axes from gear merchant first, then merc guild.
Screech—
Familiar sour stench hit. Balin grimaced.
Don't they wash?
Kalente's loner house cleaner.
Looking around, lobby caught eye. Twenty mercs sitting, standing. All staring.
Eyes full of fear.
Huh?
What's up? Why trembling?
"A-axe slaughterer."
Sudden whisper. Murmurs followed.
"That's him. Barbarian who smashed Rogue Guild."
"Wasn't he gone?"
"Where from?"
Balin frowned. Sounded about him.
Smash Rogue Guild? Totally me.
Axe slaughterer? When'd that stick?