Chapter 20: Flowing Energy

[Mind Erosion Started!]

A message displayed something rather disturbing as the gate closed behind Geo.

Why was this happening? Was this a way to reach enlightenment faster?

"Well… it's no use thinking about it too much." Geo said while trying to shrug off the idea of becoming a room plant. Or was that even what the negative end result would end up as?

"Too much is uncertain, better continue the trail, I'll already accept it, better finish what I've started! I'll find out what to do about this in time, won't I?

Although difficult to see, because the lights dropped shadows all around the room,

on top of the room, Geo could hear hatches opening, without much happening, suddenly he could hear something else.

Not sure what to make of it, the room didn't allow him to completely analyze his situation as the platform began to rumble, multiple platforms collapsed starting from the gate it went around the room. Geo needed to rush towards the center where he realized what was happening. Looking down, the sounds he couldn't earlier make out clearly were that of flowing water. Looking around his eyes had gotten used to the dim lid room.

Allowing him to vaguely make out the movement of flowing water, looking down at the edges of the platform he wasn't able to see the bottom, but something popped up in his mind. A thought quite disturbing;

"Was the room filling with water? Or was the display rather harmless and did it want to show me something?"

A window popped up;

[The First of Trails; The basics of Energy

It is said that certain people were born with the talents to manipulate energy within themselves gaining longevity, focus, and in rare cases the ability to project their subconscious mind onto reality. A way for the gods to directly intervene with life itself.

The awakening of the player has to start from the beginning, display your prowess and understanding to the gods who are watching you.

Objective;

Master the flow of energy, feel it, become aware of it,

and learn how to manipulate said basic understanding.

Clearing condition; uninterrupted focus and meditation.

Reward;

Unlocking the "Drifter System".

Failure results in immediate erasure of the players' subconscious allowing what certain cultures and religions would see as the essence of evil or [V=n2] to seep in taking the vessel for themselves. Let it be clear that there has never been since the beginning of creation or even before that, a true concept of evil. Good and Evil is usually directly connected to ones believes and ideologies, creating what they stand for as positive and negative effects.

While both effects could mean the opposite for others.]

Geo didn't know what to make from the message displayed in the section of failure.

Although disturbing, he had other things on his mind, like the [Mind Erosion] which made it very difficult to focus. He had to find a way to calm down, maybe listen to the water?

"Yes! The water! Wait… Where did it go?"

Geo listened closely, although he heard it fall from the ceiling, there was no collision down in the depths.

"Hmm… Weird… What does all this mean?"

Geo walked around a little trying to think about what the meaning was of all this,

once again opening the window for the first trail.

"It seems to have to do with energy, well, I'm an energetic boy, but I guess that's not enough, right? Then… It mentioned the talents of genetic acceptance. Which would mean my parents would also have the ability to do this, right? But how, how do I utilize this, hmm… I just don't really get it."

Geo thought about it some more or at least tried while the message of [Mind Erosion] kept bugging him.

"Wait… what if I concentrate on it? Would I be able to find the source?"

Geo sat down in the middle of the platform taking the most comfortable position he could think of although concentrating was challenging because of the [Mind Erosion] he tried his best. Snapping out of it multiple times eventually he succeeded in concentrating on the sounds around him, which helped him to calm down.

"Good, just like that Geo. Keep concentrating on the water around you, just like the water let everything inside you flow. Notice the tiniest of details inside of you."

Doing as Geo said to himself, he began trying to find the slightest movements in and around him, first, he noticed the hairs on his arms although there were not moving, the slight breeze made them move slightly. Soon after Geo's perception shifted as a droplet of water hit his nose and he scratched it in response.

His senses heightened by his concentration, quickly caught up with the flow of blood, going all around his body.

"Blood, the carriers of oxygen. In essence, doesn't the heart pump it around to provide the body with the necessary energy?"

Thinking he was onto something here, he concentrated on his heart.

*babump, babump*

*babump, babump*

Pumping the blood around Geo became slightly aware of the fact that it got pumped through his body, of course, he knew his heart was always doing this, yet…

He never felt it actually happening to him. Normally it was just there…

But now… He became more aware of it.

At that moment something stung inside his head. As he slowly opened his eyes he noticed that the [Mind Erosion] message had popped up once more. Although this happened several times before, had it slowed down slightly?

Geo couldn't be too sure of it though.

The thing he was certain about, was the fact that he had done this once before.

Thinking back, when he registered as a beginning adventurer they had to make him do something similar. He didn't understand it at the time, but now Geo thought he knew what they meant. He had to become more aware of his surroundings which he was already kind of doing.

"Think back Geo, what did they tell you? What was it the guide had shown you?"

Trying his hardest Geo tried to recall what the importance of knowing the basics was once more, but the only thing he could recall was the voluptuous curves of the guide who tried to show him the basics back then.

"Think back, what did she say?!"

It seemed hopeless as Geo couldn't recall much useful stuff, having to admit only having eyes for her gorgeous physique. But then, after enjoying the afterthought and everything felt hopeless Geo realized it had something to do with what he was doing right at this moment.

"Focus! Keep your head in the game! Your life depends on it!"

Moments after regaining his focus a searing pain shot through his head,

pulsating throughout his entire body. Ironically that's when he realized what was needed to be done. The energy was all around him, the hint was inside the title of the trail all along.

"Energy Flows! How could I have missed this simple realization?! Something this easy… Damn… Must have been because I was too focused on the wrong things all along.

Having tried to find the source of [Mind Erosion] While I should have taken in my surroundings as I did before coming here…"

Glad that he sorted out this brief diversion of his mind, while he was in disarray,

the irony about it was the fact that the thing which tried to keep him off of the thing he needed to clear actually showed him how to find the solution.

[Thinking rationally and keeping your mind on the price has accumulated enough experience. Mind Resistance LV 1 unlocked.]

Immediately Geo felt the Interference and searing pain slightly lessen.

He had found what he needed to do. As he found the focus to sit down,

instantly he recognized what he had been focused on all along.

The breeze around him, wrapped around his body, the blood flowing through the edges of his body. Lifting his hands he understood that there was more to this than he initially thought. The platform began to change, the slightest movements immediately recognized by Geo, Water was flowing around him? The water, he could clearly hear it now.

Had it been filling the room all along? Moments passed as the sound of flowing water became more vivid, that was when Geo had to try the unthinkable. His mind still focused on his past life didn't think of taking in the essence of the new world. But now, he understood what needed to be bone. Slowly he held up his hands as he sat cross-legged.

Slightly, but surely he felt more energized than before focusing on this concept Geo quickly realized that he could collect energy around him allowing it to flow around and inside of him. [Mind Erosion] had been draining away at his energy but not anymore.

Energy flowed inside of him, throughout his veins, now energized like never before with balled fists he stood up and opened his eyes.

[The First of Trails; The basics of energy; Cleared!

Reward collected; welcome drifter.]

[Secret Mission; Flowing Energy; Cleared!

Rewarding the player with increased mana essence and the title; Energy Manipulator.]