Chapter 17 : Set-up (1)

Returnees. Nowdays that's the word that seperates normal everyday man, and those who had come back from the portal. Why the portal? it seems that that's how we appeared back here.

There seems to be a rising tension beetween us Returnees and Normal everyday people... Allthough I didn't see it, as our appearance are that of a normal everyday human. But the norm is that returnees have bright hair colors. This can be explained by the crystalization of mana, and all that mana that are not used are mana that's poisoning one's body. So, for the lucky, or ... unlucky in this case, the body automatically secreets it's mana in a form of pigmented hair... neat huh...

But then... there's the darker side of society... the ones that came back with permanent altercations. winds, horns, ears, third eye, you name it, and we propably have them. The Rc-Inc said that unexplainable mutations can happen during their stay at the other world, but my theory is far from it.

Evolution... It's darwin's favourite word. A step forwad... or back depending how you look at it. My theory is that people who went to worlds with high mana concentration changed them, it mutates the weak shell that's called humanity and put them into a higher state of being... But humans are frail and weak... they're scared of this so called evolution, hence those who have extra features are shunned, disdained, and looked upon like an animal in the zoo.

Rc-Inc isn't saints. if you can work, we will shelter you. easy. but if you for some god forsaken reason think you're so special with wings or whatnot and decided to not help us, then we are not responsible at all for you nor what you're trying to achieve.

and that's where the organization came to play. It seems that this little group consist of extremist that think that they're outcasts because of mana-mutations.... I mean cmon! the petite girl next to me have a sentient hair... can't get much worse than that!

Racism is present everywhere, even the world that I've been... Humanity made an exclusive club for themselves, beast-men formed tribes, mermaids and mermans formed underwater cities, demons devide themselves by looks. It's something that's inside us all along. To like once own species, and to despise the other.

And it's no diferent here. Goverment has their own agendas for us, the 'organization' of saparatist individual wants something from us, but never made the demand... and the masses that's been brainwashed by propogandas...

It's a messy situation that's for sure. one I'm way too familliar with. I can end them all in a single motion... but then again, where's the fun in that?

===

My morning brooding is interupted by an energy filled Eli who is standing infront of me with wooden swords... 2 in fact. Oh yeah I was thinking of training Eli. and she agreed to it.

"Nate, Nate! I want to do like *swoosh* and *slice* and *Bang*, so Teach me!"

as she made this cute gestures, I can't help but laugh at.

"Sure... all in due time. But first, before all training we had to stretch..."

The morning sun has just came up, painting the whole town red. I was stretching with Eli, while carefully increasing my pressure and mana output. it's an effective way to build resistance to stronnger killing intents and mana oppressions.

Eli followed my stretching to a T. it took us 15 mins to stretch all our bodies.

"First, we'll run, I'll keep up with you, if we manage to reach the Murin Clan's training ground in 1 hour, I'll buy Eli an icecream!"

"Really? Promise?"

"Yup."

And so the little ball of energy ran, I followed behind her silently and making sure that I'm keeping an eye on her movement. I may not be the best teacher, but I can tell a bad running form from a good one. Eli has neither... it's just... plain average...

We ran along the walkways in the town, the road's spacious enough for a group of 10 people walking side by side, and to no one's suprise, the activity in Oak Polis started very early, as I can clearly see shops already opening, bakery with inviting aromas, and the butcher... well he's butchering allright... Maybe I'll get a sirloin cut for lunch... just maybe...

In this busy and bustling street I'm pretty sure that Eli, who has just started training, sees this as an empty street, but in reality, there's a lot of people moving in speeds that her eye cannot catch up, hence her straight movement. I can see researchers moving in speed that even I'm shocked by. I mean how can you move that fast, with that much body weight and didn't destroy your foothold... oh? wind magic? well that's one way to use it....

Our morning run is rather pleasant with only the smell of sweat and burning clothes... yeah it seems that even with all of Ethan's advanced technology, there hasn't yet been a material that can withstood a normal 'returnee's speed, unless they have it on them by the time they get back here...

speaking of which the method of their return varies from one to another. Some are killed on their other world, where other have reported to have been drugged, jumps on to a pool, sleeping and then returning, but the strangest case is there's one couple that returned together with the wife, while they're having a hot passionate night... yeah... talk about awkward...

and the periods on how long they've been on the other world also varies. they're some that say a year, a decade, a century, but rarely there are cases like me, who's stuck for a millenia, only 2 in fact... me and Ethan...

I wanted to say that strenght are propotional to the time spent on the other world, but that is also not true, as the disparity between me and Ethan is quite large. but if we go down the ladder, and only pull from those who have been stuck for a century... we can see a disparity, the average will be at Smith's level. granted if Smith had actually been doing more fighting and less management there's no doubt he's at the top of his class.

and then here's the kicker... the only reason I'm going to the Murim clan's squere, it's to verify something...

===

I arrived at the clan residence, it's a big pagoda surrounded by a dense forest, it's in the eastern most part of the city, just before the mountains. If my senses are correct, they even used the mountains to train. as I can feel a lot of souls with power.

walking towards the pagoda, we're greeted by what seems to be a lower level disciples... I greeted them with a cupped fist, and they replied kindly. Eli also tried to what I did. the disciples only chuckled at her abysmall bow. You gotta start somewhere right?

as we walk along the paved road, the more profound the energy become, after using mana as a sonar, I can finally accertain what's causing it. It seems that whoever built this here is an expert in ley lines, as they manage to build a formation on top of it, and thus enriching the mana flow, as well as buffing the vitality of everything nearby... and nope I definitely did not see a dog sized catapilar.

before long, a gigantic door greeted us.

"State your name, and business."

"Nate Colombus, I'm just inspecting the place."

"..."

"..."

"...who are you again?"

"Ummmm... I'm your boss?"

"Oh... what happen to Ethan?"

"I took over his job."

"Oh ok then wait a moment I'll open the door."

"Ah, no need I'll open it myself."

I said that as I just walked towards the door, placed my hands towards it and 'gently' pushed it.

*BANG*

I knew this would happen, as the door flung away. but being the guy who likes to prepare, I've made it so that the door is held by my mana, I yanked it back, and put it back onto it's hinges...

"Sorry about that..."

"..."

"..."

"... it happens sometimes"

"yeah...."

"So what do you want to inspect?"

"The formation... it's too old, I'll go and fix it up so I can teach my disciple."

"!?!?!?!?"

The man who heard me frooze. this guy wears an eastern robe, and have a wild hairstyle... I wonder if everyone here is this barbaric...

"I'm sorry but the Murim clan's formation is not for outsiders to see, much less those who did not practice the cultivation arts..."

"It's not a request, it's a statement."

I said as I just walk along with Eli ignoring the youth. Sigh... Youngsters these days... all so eiger to prove themselves...

"Nate... Why is that uncle looking at you like you stepped on his pinky toe?"

"Well... you see Eli... there's this thing called wuxia... it's a type of literature full of people like him, where his pride gets over his brain and he thinks with his... lets just say man's instinct."

"EH? But Papa teaches Eli to trust her instinct."

"Eli can trust her instinct, just don't trust boy's instinct... they only lead to trouble!"

Eli cutely tilts her head, as we made our way to the pagoda. The young man from before is openly following us with a scowl on his face... I wonder if he can puke blood with words...

arriving in the pagoda, it sure looks huge... I mean in a distance it's tall but seeing it infront of you is a different story... I can see it touching the clouds...

"This is where the venerable lives. best not to disturb their cultivations if you know what's good for you!"

"... Kids these days... can you call them to meet me? if not I can just go in myself."

"The Pagoda is not a place for non cultivators to set a foot in!"

"See you guys are oh so arrogant..."

"YOU'RE AROGANT YOUR WHOLE FAMILY'S ARROGANT!"

"I lived 30 of your lifetime man, just call them out already so I can get this over with..."

"YOU!!!!! FINE I CHALLANGE YOU TO A DUEL! I'll EVEN GIVE YOU THE FIRST MOVE! I'll SHOW YOU THIS YOUNG MASTER'S STRENGHT IS NOTHING TO LAUGH AT!"

"... Sigh..."

"COME, OR ARE YOU SCARED OLD MAN?"

I walked forward... ah it seems that he can't keep up with my normal speed, and I slapped the man to the door.

*BANG*

the door remains standing... which is impressive, I cant say the same for the man tho... he seems to be... pre ocupied with his delusions at the moment.

And so I approached the pagoda's door, my human projectile barely leaves a scratch, which means that it's reinforced...

Oh well, I placed my hand on it, as I felt the whole Pagoda shake. I pushed even more 'gentler' than the previous time before, as the door creaks open.

"Ah! you're not a disciple? State your business or leave..."

A jade beauty with ... you know what you get it, she's a beautiful woman, with eastern features, long black silky hair, white skin to the point that it's pale, practicing some ice energy cultivation method. 10/10 copy paste template.

"HEY! YOU THINK OF SOMETHING RUDE DIDN'T YOU?"

"... Nope"

"Eh? Really? I could've sworn..."

Yup, the airhead kind of beauty... yeah where have I seen that before

"HEY! YOU'RE DOING IT AGAIN!"

And then what she's secretly the strongest here?

"I'm the grand venerable of the pagoda, please leave this sacred grounds!"

and then what... she'll try to intimidate me with her frost power only to find out it's not working? while I menancingly walk towards her? check and check.

"WHAT? HOW CAN YOU MOVE UNDER ABSOLUTE ZERO."

"Nate, Eli feels cold! hug!"

Oh yeah Eli's with me, So I just carried the little girl and hug her, beeing sure to give her a bit of warmth from my mana.

"YOU!"

she summoned her spirit weapon... it's a knife on a rope... and it's tied to her hands and feet... who am i to judge...

"Another step and I'll slice your limbs right off!"

I ignored her empty threat as I walk ever closer. she starts attacking me, so I played along with her as I created wind pressure like how Ethan did, it bounces off all her attempts at an attack. I even created air pressure in the rope, so that it'll intertwine itself... oh it did...

"YOU! DON'T SAY I DIDNT WARN YOU!"

I Feel soul energy gathering in her palm, as she shot an energy beam at me, with a draconic face... at least she got the theme right... the ray engulfed me, as I continued walking forwards... I put a barrier in front of eli so she won't feel uncomfortable... a moment later the ray faded as I arrived in front of her.

"SO? WHAT NOW? YOU'LL KILL ME? R*** ME? I'LL NEVER SURRENDER AS LONG AS THERE'S AN--- HEY GET BACK HERE!"

I promptly ignored her. and stood in front of an altar instead... so this is the base of the formation... it's old. and ancient. and inefficient...

so I started fixing it. I placed my palm on the base of the altar, I pumped my mana, as dark fog extended from me.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? YOU'RE CORRUPTING IT!"

The dark fog then spreads towards every inch of the formation that's covering the whole valley and onto the mountain in the back... this happens within a breath.

The formation finally shows itself as a golden imprint on the land. I cover every inch of it with my mana, and started to correct the formation, and also upgrade it. so, I pumped more mana into it.

"IMPOSSIBLE! THAT MUCH MANA? ARE YOU STILL HUMAN?"

... nope.

and so... 30 minutes pass, with me just contionusly pumping mana into formation as it is erased and modified.

soon, I can feel a crowd behind me, as I'm working, some of the daredevils try to attack me, only to be flung back by the violent mana storm that is created due to the rate I'm pumping mana.

And after another hour... it's finally done. The formation become purple in color, and it receeds back to the earth.

"Ah done."

"YOU! WHAT DID YOU DO?"

"... Don't you feel it?"

"FEEL WHAT?"

"Try cultivating."

"... !? HOW IS THIS..."

and that is how I'm suddenly called sect master of the Murim clan.