Zilon stared at the panel, eyes narrowing as he leaned in, chest rising and falling heavily.
"Plus... one," he muttered, his voice dry but tinged with a flicker of excitement.
A shaky breath escaped him, and he wiped a streak of sweat from his temple, eyes glued to the glowing number. His throat felt parched, his body worn thin from the last push, but the small, almost insignificant gain kept his focus sharp.
[Status....]
- **Name:Zilon
- ** Level : 1
- **Race: ???
- **Age: 15
- **STR: 7 +¹
- **AGI: 8
- **ACU: 17
- **STA: 14 +¹
- **MAG: 52
- **MAN: 62
- **SLP(Soul power): N/A
.
.
.
]
His lips twitched into a tired smile. It worked.
Without moving much, he let his gaze roam over the rest of the stats, blinking away the blur that crept in from exhaustion.
Earlier when he was running he had to stop as an idea popped on to him.
Using the breathing technique while running he was able to maintain a steady flow of energy without needing to waste valuable minutes to rest.
However, there was a problem: the technique wasn't meant to be used that way. Unless you had years of experience, you'd feel lightheaded. When that happens you are meant to stop using the technique and rest.
This was a problem that he knew of but still proceed anyways, while the constant use of it made him experience more than his head feeling light, he was also able to build longer resistance of needing to stop.
Not to mention he only uses it when his stamina runs low so it wasn't as often to pose a problem.
"Still.....I am so tired" He said with a slight moan in his voice.
Even one step forward... still counts.
He took a moment appreciating the sunset while also gathering the energy to walk back inside.
He was fighting the strong urge to just get in and drink water but he held on until the last rays faded, leaving only the orange sky.
He stood up,his muscles still shaking from the intense activities and was about to walk back inside when he caught something at the corner of his eyes.
He turned his head and couldn't help but show a helpless smile.
"Oh..... I can't believe I forgot about you two "
He picked them up on both hands and walked back inside planning the bathroom as his destination.
--------------
Zilon walked into the bathroom getting ready to take a bath.
He didn't take a bath in the morning and he stinks of sweat,Also his muscles would definitely need a hot bath to go with it .
He prepared the hot water, undressed, and sank into the tub
" This feels good " Zilon said with a satisfied smile with a small towel on his face.
Earlier when he was about to enter his room with the two water clocks he forgot outside, he heard Lyla's voice directly in his head the moment he passed her door.
"Dinner will be ready soon, don't keep me waiting"
Zilon almost had a heart attack and he had to look around only to find out no one was there.
" I hope we don't have ghosts in this household, or worst I hope I am not staying with one " Zilon quickly shut his mouth as he remembered Lyla has the ability to read his mind and if it was her who spoke to him earlier, then he was really afraid of what else she could do.
" For all I know she could even be looking at me right now having a bath " Zilon joked.
Still knowing by instinct that she can, didn't help and he couldn't help but be a little wary of everything.
He then sat straight , looked down and his expression turned weird.
"nah nevermind she definitely won't "
Soon he stepped out of the tub and dried himself with a towel, then with his bath rub he left the bathroom and went straight to his room.
He was looking around him to see if he will catch anything suspicious.
" I am getting paranoid " Zilon thought.
He entered his room and breathed in and out before walking to his small wardrobe (box).
He changed into a nice brown cloths , the shirt was short sleeved just like the one he had on him previously , the trouser was also brown with two strings attached to the waist area.
He wore it adjust it based on how he recognized everyone to wear it and got on his bed laying down.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment trying to rest as he felt the darkness of the night outside.
The cold but soft breeze blowing towards him on his bed and the soft rustle sound of trees.
He got up shortly after and looked out the window.
He was met with the beautiful site of the city at night.
It wasn't a complete view,but from were he was, he could see the blue lights of the moon lanterns(chap 28 for context) planted in various sides of the city.
In some areas he could also make out quick movements shadows.
He stared at this with a lost expression as he thought about the people he left behind on earth.
He remembered the promise he made to Bob, one of his best friend before he died.
"If there was a chance of me coming back I will definitely seek for revenge,but must of all I wanted to tell him something else " Zilon sighed as he walked back to his bed not before Locking the windows shut.
He was well rested now , at least enough that his body has stopped trembling. His body also felt lighter despite the slight fatigue.
He sat on the bed , feeling slightly bored.
He had to stay awake until Lyla was done cooking, he actually thought that her cooking speed was light speed,turns out it was him just imagining things.
He then remembered the sphere and reached out to the side of his bed.
He placed it on his lap with a thoughtful expression on his face.
" Now...how do I activate this " Zilon scratched his head alittle puzzled.
"The system did say something about willing it....but I am not sure if it's that simple "
Zilon thought for a moment before trying the only thing that came to his mind.
He closed his eyes and immediately tried to sense the environment around him.
Shutting out all unnecessary thoughts, he quickly entered the state that allowed him to sense his surroundings.
He could sense the stillness of his room illuminated with several candles.
He could sense there gently sway even with no air there to shake them.
He could sense the slight tremors coming from his closed window.
Disregarding all that he went deeper.
There, he could now sense the second air he sensed the other day.
Maybe it was because of the exercise he did, or maybe he had done it before, but somehow he was able to sense it way more clearer than before.
Infact he was able to weld it to move in directions he pointed.
Still that wasn't the purpose of this .
Focusing on the sensation in his hand, he suddenly felt as if he was dragged somewhere.
Then without warning he opened his eyes, finding himself in the dark place with transparent liquid on the ground.
"Huh?..."
He stared around in shock, surprised that he has come hear again for the second time.
Still he calmed his nerves and looked ahead.
A white light shone in that direction and with nothing else but that he walked towards it, in calm yet cautious steps.
Upon reaching the source of light Zilon was surprised to discover that it was a small orb that shone brightly mid air.
Still even with its radiance it still wasn't bright enough to illuminate everywhere,which was surprising since from were he stood earlier he thought the area beyond was going to shine with light from this orb.
" So could this be it ?"
Zilon reached out a hand towards the center of the light.
Another surprising thing he noticed was in fact , he could stare directly at the light without hurting his eyes.
" if anything it feels like it's healing them " Zilon finally reached the center of the light with his hand ,where there was a faint stone, he was able to outline it with his eyes.
The moment his hands touched the stone he was immediately expelled from this unknown world he always finds himself in and simultaneously opened his eyes in the real world.
Before he could actually even get disappointed the systems panel appeared in front of him.
[ Confirmation
Do you wish to activate the artificial spirit
Yes. No.
]
Zilon immediately let out a sigh of relief.
He was about to say yes when suddenly he heard Lyla's voice in his head again.
" Dinner's ready , Zilon "
"Crap " Zilon jumped down in fright.
Luckily he didn't drop the sphere.
" You really should stop doing that " Zilon yelled but there was no response.
A soft sigh escaped his lips.
He glance at the sphere for a while.
" I guess I will test it out another time "
--------------------
Zilon sat down on the chair which was inside the kitchen.
He was currently munching down on a weird soup with different meat and some milk.
Once again surprised by her cooking skills he couldn't help but stare at her as she reminded him of three people in particular who he has ever complimented there food.
He soon finished his soup,this time a little confused that he finished earlier than her. he stood up and washed his own plates setting them aside.
He was about to walk away when he suddenly thought of something.
" Do you know where I can get a huge rock, with some other smaller ones, preferably in a bag? " He turned around from the doorway and stared at her who was still eating.
"Hmm, I know a place not to far from here, how big do you need the stone" she replied as calm as ever.
She could already make a guess what there going to be used for but she still acted oblivious.
" I need it this big " Zilon made an exaggerated drawing in the air, which was quite okay in his own imagination .
She then nodded her head and replied:
" I will get them for you tomorrow" Lyla continued sipping on her soup.
"Uhhh....." Zilon stood there a little speechless.
"Hmm?"
"Oh it's nothing" Zilon turned around and walked away.
Still feeling her gaze on his back he quickly exited the kitchen and made his way to his room.
When he left she simply continued sipping on her soup.
"Mhm"
--------------
Zilon opened the door to his room and entered shutting the door behind.
He walked to his bed and layed down.
"Finally time to sleep"
He stayed that way staring at the ceiling waiting for sleep to for him.
But even after a while he still haven't slept of yet.
He stood up with an annoyed expression.
" This happens if I am forgetting something"
He sat down tired but couldn't sleep and tried to remember if he there was something he missed.
After some time still not finding anything he layed down again.
Still there was no sleep coming for him anytime soon.
An Idea came to him and he gently sat up and crossed his legs.
Then he focused on his body.
More precisely on the stone like blocks in his body.
There were 16 of this locks in total,but yesterday he was able to break one which resulted in him fainting and almost losing this rewards he got today.
He dismissed all thoughts and soon even the fatigue he felt was also gone.
He willied the energy that were moving inside his body and attacked one of the blocked paths in his right hand.
Pushing the energy from his chest to his shoulder,he applied mental force and soon it crashed on the rock.
The rock was immediately riddled with cracks,it tried to hold on but moments later it broke and the two energy, one pushing and the other dormant merged.
A shockwave spread around his body, even spread outside his body reaching the door.
Zilon wasn't fully satisfied with this so he pushed further down, Crashing on another stone and shattering it place.
There was one more still on that same hand,but Zilon felt really tired now as he struggled with controlling the energy.
Nevertheless he still held on and with a last push the energy,sliver in color , crashed onto the last stone in his wrist.
A few more minutes later and the stone finally held out for its final and was turned to dust.
With the force and impact Zilon was right on time when he opened his eyes and saw the shockwave hitting on the door, this time more stronger almost opening his window.
However Zilon was in no condition to consider that.
He collapsed on his bed, finally feeling the swamp of tiredness washing over his body and mind.
His mind was slowly drifting away.
After a short while his chest began to raise and fall calmly.
He was finally asleep.
-----------------