Chakra (2)
Just like plants absorb nutrients from the soil through their roots, it’s about drawing out one’s inner ideals through connections that extend into the mind.
That was the power of the derived skill “Roots of Ideals” that Hoon had blossomed with chakra.
Thanks to that, he could anytime borrow the inner landscapes of other avatars to use as nutrients for his chakra.
It was like switching external hard drives to freely change the foundation of his microcosm.
Now, he had the versatility comparable to other multi-chakra users.
Moreover, unlike them, who had to split their potential into several parts, he could fully utilize all of it, putting him at a tremendous advantage in terms of growth limits.
“…At least theoretically speaking.”
After fainting due to the aftermath of his new ability for a few hours.
As soon as he regained consciousness, Hoon checked his abilities, stroking his chin with a vague expression.
Paa—
He looked down at his body, from which a soft light was emanating.
A pseudo-holy power reproduced by borrowing the image of ‘Faith’ from the inner landscape of Heinrich the Saint Landgard.
Thanks to that, his physical condition was rapidly improving, but…
“This output is really lacking.”
The power was pitiably weak, not even comparable to what Heinrich utilized directly.
‘But hey, this is still something.’
It was a clear fact that it fell short of expectations.
This was a different issue from Heinrich, the embodiment of fanaticism.
If one had to pinpoint the problem, it lay with Hoon, the operator of the chakra.
‘Plenty of resources, but the strength to draw them out is lacking, so I can’t use them fully.’
In simple terms, it was due to a lack of proficiency in the main chakra line, ‘Communication.’
And there were issues beyond that.
“The losses generated in the process of dual chakra manifestation are considerable. I need to do something about this.”
Chakra manifested communication to draw forth other inner landscapes, and then that landscape was used to manifest chakra again.
It was only natural that the more complicated the intermediate process became, the efficiency dropped.
“…For the time being, hitting the mind with direct mental contamination like I’ve been doing is probably the most efficient way? Fortunately, thanks to communication, my mental contact ability has also been strengthened.”
Of course, this was only a matter of time.
After all, Hoon had just begun to sprout his chakra.
With various enhancements, including “Leap of Growth,” even some lacking areas could be rapidly improved.
The mental strength, which could be considered the most important in handling chakra, was already more than sufficient.
After that, Hoon’s chakra demonstration continued.
Blood droplets trickled through his fingertips, sparkling like fireflies around him as the thick darkness transformed into the shape of a sword, only to vanish with the wind.
“Alright, this much is good enough…”
After feeling that he had gotten used to handling chakra to a certain degree, Hoon stood in front of a door, taking a small breath.
It was the room where Ramu, who still hadn’t regained her wits after coming to Sabacheon, was sleeping.
‘Let’s have a little chat, Ramu.’
In maintaining a smooth relationship with a child, few things were as important as conversation.
His very purpose of existence was as a caregiver.
Having evolved a step further by acquiring communication chakra, he stepped confidently into the room.
*
To conclude,
The attempt to connect with the sleeping Ramu’s mind ended in failure.
‘But still, half… no, maybe a quarter of it could be considered a success.’
Although he couldn’t have a direct conversation, he was now clear on the source of the problem.
And just as he had somewhat expected, the issues she was facing weren’t something he could intervene with.
‘The clash between her existing abilities and the newly granted ones. To sort out the jammed spiritual meridian flow and reset permissions…’
Originally, the targets for awakening in the Akasha system were limited to Earthlings.
They had been born in a world without mystery, with their bodies perfectly adapted to everything.
It’s no surprise that some issues arose in the process of forcibly applying such a thing to otherworlders using tricks.
‘…I should have somehow verified the risks and proceeded—it was too hasty. Was I too anxious, narrowing my sight?’
Fortunately, the situation was not as severe as it could have been.
It wasn’t clear whether it was because of her being special or if it was just common, but it was clear that she was gradually improving over time.
‘At this rate, she should awaken in about a week.’
Including the time waited so far, that came to roughly about fifteen days.
Right now, it wouldn’t be a problem since he was with her, but had Ramu been alone, it would have been an agonizingly long time.
‘Still, I’m grateful it turned out this way. …Once she wakes up, it’s undoubtedly a gain.’
With the new unique skill and system for status enhancement, and the growth corrections that would allow for faster strengthening.
There were slight crises, but in the long run, it was all benefits.
The fifteen days wasted here was hardly even two days on Earth in terms of time, so it wasn’t a significant loss.
And Hoon didn’t waste even that time.
“Wow… You’re really amazing. I heard that the speed at which you opened your chakra was extraordinary, and it hasn’t even been long since then, but you’re already past the initial stages?”
After days devoted to chakra training, Mac Morris, a Canadian youth he encountered in the lodgings prepared for the otherworlders, clicked his tongue as he looked at him in amazement.
With brown hair and a stout build, he was an awakened one who had been in Sabacheon for seven years, and he had been staying in the Yoon family for two years.
“Honestly, I had been boasting about how I opened my chakra in two months… Guess this is what true talent looks like. I feel utterly deprived now.”
His words were echoed by Su Mi-yat Moon, a five-year awakened Myanmar woman who was next to him.
Among the dozen or so Earthlings affiliated with the Yoon family, these two were included.
“…If Miss Mi-yat, who is already at the end of the upper levels, says that, what does that make me, who is still at the lower levels…?”
“Hey, but Mr. Morris is based on a unique skill, right? One shouldn’t judge just by the level of chakra; abilities vary from person to person. I heard your pure combat skills are on par with seasoned upper-level users.”
“Aha, you flatter me.”
The total number of Earthlings indebted to the Yoon family surpassed ten, but the actual number staying at the lodgings wasn’t that many.
Hoon, who had been here for a while, met only four others including these two.
‘The generous support and esteem given to Earthlings aren’t without cost.’
This was somewhat irrelevant to Hoon, who had only just arrived, but those who had grown to a certain extent and could protect themselves were implicitly promised to assist the Yoon family as they were dispatched worldwide.
Of course, it wasn’t a bad arrangement for the Earthlings either.
After all, they needed to accumulate karma to return to Earth or to grow stronger, and to do that, they had to show some contribution, whatever it would be.
It was obvious that having the support of a powerful family was safer than mindlessly rushing into danger, so it could be seen as mutual benefit.
“…By the way, Mr. Hoon. Be careful. Recently, Anton’s vibe has been quite unsettling.”
“Ugh, I really don’t know what he’s up to. You’d think us people in the same situation would work together instead of getting blinded by a woman.”
“Well, I can somewhat understand his feelings. He’s been chasing Miss Yoon for several years now.”
The fact that Hoon suddenly engaged in conversation with them wasn’t a coincidence.
They had come specifically to warn him.
“…I have no feelings for Yoon So-so.”
“That’s a different issue, isn’t it? Or maybe, that’s why it’s even more infuriating. Someone who has been chasing you for years, not receiving a bit of attention, suddenly sees someone else snatching it all away…”
“Moreover, wasn’t it right after he returned, brimming with confidence after finishing a mission? How could he have such an expression after witnessing that? He must have thought he was on top of the world.”
Everything began with Yoon So-so, who had openly shown her favor towards Hoon.
That scene was witnessed by Anton, another Earthling who had just returned from a mission with the intention of meeting her after being infatuated with her for several years.
‘Ugh, I had a feeling something was off. I worked so hard to keep things smooth, and yet I get dragged into this mess.’
For Hoon, it was nothing short of unfair.
He had tried so hard not to create any small issues, only to end up in this predicament.
‘It seems those two have no intention of actively stepping in.’
The ties between them were rather thin.
It wouldn’t be beneficial to get caught up in someone else’s romantic rivalry and incur the wrath of seasoned upper-level practitioners.
The mere act of coming to warn him was already a considerable gesture of goodwill on their part.
‘Perhaps it’s due to the rumors about my rapid growth.’
However fast one’s growth is, he was still only a lower-level practitioner.
There are countless individuals who were once praised as geniuses only to end up as mediocrities, so it wasn’t wise to exclude someone just because of their potential.
‘Ah, I don’t have enough training time left. Getting into unnecessary conflicts would just be a nuisance…’
Of course, that judgment was made simply because they didn’t know about Hoon’s illustrious track record.
If they had known that he had already incapacitated several upper-level practitioners while rescuing Yoon So-hwa, they would have sought to curry favor with him.
However, the details of that incident were shrouded in secrecy for the sake of family honor, and the mere Earthlings couldn’t know the full story.
‘Eh, there’s no way the so-called “guest” would cause any trouble within the Yoon family.’
Yet, as the wise sages of old frequently said,
“Expectations bring about troubles.”
“Hey, you there.”
The following day after the warnings from the two,
In just a single day, the anticipated incident occurred.
“You, your name is Hoon? Just like how you look, your name sounds unlucky. I feel like breaking your arms and legs right now.”
Standing in front of Hoon, blocking his path, was Anton, a Belarusian man nearly two meters tall, covered in tattoos and glaring with a murderous intent in his eyes.
“…Hah.”
A sigh escaped involuntarily.
Yeah, to be honest… he had anticipated something like this.
There’s no human living purely rationally in this world.
‘But I had some hope that it wouldn’t follow this cliché pattern.’
Hoon looked at the towering figure blocking him.
He had been muttering something the whole time, but there was no need to pay attention to his words.
He just wanted to pick a fight, that was obvious.
“Are you ignoring me right now?!”
Did he sense that vibe?
Anton’s face twisted as he burst out in anger.
It seemed he didn’t like Hoon’s indifferent expression in the face of his provocations.
But for Hoon, it was just a hassle regardless of what he said.
‘…No, perhaps this is also an opportunity.’
A thought crossed Hoon’s mind as he looked at Anton with peculiar eyes.
He had recently heard that Anton had reached the upper levels, but regardless, he was still a practitioner there.
Now, having learned chakra himself, perhaps he could gain some insights by facing Anton.
‘Then it might help in hastening my chakra growth.’
No matter how rapid his growth was, he was still only a mere newcomer to the lower levels with chakra.
There was no way he could win against an opponent with that alone.
But that didn’t bother him.
If it didn’t work out, he could use other means.
“…Heh. Alright, this is good. I’ll correct your rude behavior for you right now.”
Anton, who had been smirking, suddenly changed his demeanor.
At the same time, the weight of the surrounding air began to change, heavily pressing down on everything around.
Hoon narrowed his eyes at the force that restricted his movements.
‘Gravity? Weight?’
Before he could accurately determine the elements, it was essential to prepare a countermeasure first.
A faint heat haze began to rise from Hoon’s body.
‘Mu (武)’ borrowed from Ha Seung-hoon of the Heavenly Dragon Sword Alliance spread out from his limbs, resisting the weight pressing down around him.
“Oh? Pretty decent for a lower level, huh? Then let’s see if…”
“Hey! What are you doing here?!”
But the rising tension was abruptly shattered by a sudden voice interjecting.
Turning their heads toward the sound, they saw a boy approaching with a grim look on his face—an all too familiar face to Hoon.
And Anton, who had been in Sabacheon for quite a while, had seen this boy a few times too.
“Tsk!”
An annoyed sound escaped his lips, and at the same time, the oppressive weight in the surroundings gradually dissipated.
No matter how brash Anton was, he couldn’t treat a young master of the Yoon family with undue disrespect.
Especially considering that the boy had a fearsome sister who particularly cherished him.
“You got lucky today. We’ll stop here for now. From now on, understand your place, or you might just disappear without anyone realizing it.”
With those words, Anton left without waiting for a reply.
Now that the tension had broken, staying in such a place wouldn’t lead to anything good.
“U-Um… Are you okay?”
Yoon So-hwa, who had been about to scold Anton, let out a brief sigh and turned to Hoon with concern.
Of course, while she knew well about the strength of the one in question, using such a violent power based on mental waves against someone of the same affiliation was also a problem, and hesitating might lead to her own injury.
“Well, I’m fine. But, what brings you here? Didn’t you say you’d be busy training for a while?”
Even amidst her worries, Hoon responded nonchalantly, shrugging.
Though he had lost the opportunity for a real battle, he didn’t care.
After all, such opportunities could be created anytime he wished.
“…I’m ashamed to ask, but I wanted to request something.”
“A request?”
“The elders of the family said to wait a bit longer, but… Having already been involved in an incident once, I can’t just do nothing; it’s making me anxious. But I don’t have anyone else to ask…”
“Hmm, let’s hear the details.”
Seeing his somewhat hesitant demeanor, Yoon So-hwa answered.
“Huh… Not long ago, my sister Lucette, who left for a mission in the Hongsan Kingdom…”
“Hmm.”
“…She has gone missing.”
“Eh?”
Straight to the point without a preamble.
This was the beginning of the ripples that would shake peace established over decades.
