Growth
After solving his funding problem Lake could finally focus on his training, but before he immersed himself in his training he decided to clear some thoughts that had been troubling him.
"System why do I need to reach the 5th stage before awakening my ability?"
[The user's body is too weak to withstand the awakening, unlocking it at the moment would result in the user's body breaking apart.]
"Eh?" Lake became dazed as he thought he had misheard the system, his body would break apart? Shaking his head he continued questioning the system.
"Why do I need to strengthen my body?"
[The reason for the user not having any type of ability is because the energy channels within the user's body had not fully formed resulting in the user not having any type of powers.]
Energy channels? Lake had never heard of energy channels before, throughout all of his accumulated knowledge he hadn't come across the term before. "What are energy channels?"
[Energy channels are invisible paths that reside in the human body, they direct the world's energy in a specific way in which the energy will manifest itself as some form of supernatural ability.]
'Wait so that's the reason we have abilities? I thought it had to do with our genes?' The information just told to Lake had disrupted his understanding of abilities.
[To create new energy channels within the user's body will require the deconstruction of the unformed paths, which without a strengthened body would result in the user's death.]
Shuddering Lake thought that it was fortunate that the system had a way to awaken his ability so that he wouldn't die.
Shaking his head he put away the rest of the questions he was going to ask regarding his ability.
"Okay my next question, where did you come from?
Lake had been meaning to ask this question that had been bothering him for some time. But the first time he was going to ask he had gotten the information that he could awaken an ability.
Then he had become preoccupied with even more things so the question had been put into the back of his mind until now.
[Information locked, to access the user must raise his clearance level. Current clearance level is 1]
"Yeah I thought so." Lake wasn't discouraged upon hearing the systems answer, he had the feeling that he wouldn't be able to get the answer.
Despite him getting all the answers he wanted so far he had only been asking simple questions regarding the system and it's functions. He felt that it was to be expected that it wouldn't always be like that.
Putting those thoughts away he refocused his attention on his training once more. He was closing in on the 2nd stage soon enough. And though his Swallowing Star technique was far from the 2nd stage he still received great benefits from it.
As Lake immersed himself in training the seasons came and went, snow showered down in droves, covering the roads and trees alike. When the snow melted it revealed the blossoming flowers beneath the blanket of frost until at last the the sun had revealed itself once more.
Encompassing Itor City in it's warmth, it signaled the passing of the year.
Lake had progressed greatly over the year. He had already become a 3rd stage copper esper and his advancement into the 4th stage wasn't far off at all.
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Lake Halma - Ability Unclear
[Physical Fitness]
(Strength) - 250
(Defense) - 250
(Agility) - 240
[Mental Prowess]
(Intelligence) - 250
(Wisdom) - 250
(Willpower) - 250
[Energy Capacity] - 300
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His cultivation on the Swallowing Star technique had also progressed greatly, from the initial 100 rotations per minute, he had already increased the vortexes speed to 210, greatly nearing the 2nd stage.
His familiarity with his skills had also been honed over the year.
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Skills:
[Active Skills]
(Quick Feet) Lvl 10
(Hardened Fist) Lvl 10
(Ape's Might) Lvl 6
(Shelled Armor) Lvl 8
[Passive Skills]
(None)
[Lifestyle Skills]
(Alchemy) Lvl 2
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Using the funds he had received from Vince by selling his Cleansing elixir he had been able to purchase plenty of ingredients to practice alchemy.
He had also bought two new recipes for the Strengthening elixir and the Clarity elixir, their effects were respectively used to strengthen the body and the other was used to allow the mind to more easily absorb information.
Lake hadn't received a new mission since healing Lily, so he still only had the 5 exp from then, he wasn't willing to spend it as he hadn't come across any situation where he would really need a specific recipe.
Speaking of Lily Lake had gone over to their home on multiple occasions at the request of the Lily. She insisted that Lake visit them often after the day he had healed her. She had strangely taken a liking to Lake despite his disposition.
Over time Lake had also warmed up to the little girl as well as her sister Selena. He had understood that their relationship had only been formed due to him healing Lily, however that attitude had changed from then, he felt that he was now truly accepted.
There was also Lyra, he had continuously gone to spar with her using their martial arts. From the beginning where all Lake had to do was defend Lyra could now force Lake to attack.
They never held anything back when they fought, increasingly pushing the other to their limits they found enjoyment in fighting each other.
Their relationship had steadily grown from the initial teacher and student to becoming friends and rivals. The feeling of finding someone to compete against gave Lake a drive to become stronger much quicker.
***
Lake sat on his bed with his eyes closed while channeling his energy towards the vortex in his chest.
He could feel himself nearing the 4th stage, he just needed the smallest push to get him over the barrier and ever closer to awakening his ability.
While he drove the surrounding energy towards the vortex he activated his inventory before taking out a small glass vial filled with a red liquid.
This was the Strengthening elixir that Lake had learnt to concoct over the year. Though it was an elementary grade elixir the materials weren't cheap so Lake hadn't taken too many.
Even with the Alchemy function Lake still had to mostly rely on himself when concocting the first time. He had used up more than 20 sets of ingredients in the process of making the elixir and if he hadn't succeeded the last time perhaps he would've given up at that moment.
Pouring the liquid into his mouth he could feel the stream of elixir heat up as it went down his throat and towards his chest. As it reached his chest it slowly spread to the rest of his body on it's own.
His body began emitting an eerie red aura while the elixir spread from his chest to his arms and legs and finally his head.
He sensed his body becoming tenser and a battering feeling coming up from inside. As time went on the battering feeling became stronger until it felt like someone was punching him from the inside, attacking every single part of his body.
As Lake grit his teeth in pain he quickly spread his energy throughout his body to prevent it from completely breaking apart.
Sweat dripped down his face as time passed slowly until the red glow began fading until it completely disappeared.
Lake exhaled a small breath as he opened his eyes. He opened up his character display and smiled after seeing it.
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Lake Halma - Ability Unclear
[Physical Fitness]
(Strength) - 250
(Defense) - 250
(Agility) - 250
[Mental Prowess]
(Intelligence) - 250
(Wisdom) - 250
(Willpower) - 250
[Energy Capacity] - 300
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