Sitting on the large mat, it had been over a month since Natsuki had manifested the gear. Exhaling deeply, he let out the foul air that had built up inside him, watching as the black tar dissipated into the crisp air. As he meditated, he remembered the whisper he barely heard as old man Knoxis left the room...
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"...Damn it, what does it mean by having Eternium smelt into the framework as the foundation gear? What are you planning, old man..."
Leaving the room, for the first time ever, Natsuki felt genuine unease radiating from Knoxis. Despite being a layman and having no experience, he knew that what his father left him must have been of monumental importance.
So much that even Knoxis was fretting like a spooked donkey on fire
Feeling that he still had a guest in the room, Knoxis turned his head and commanded Natsuki to leave. "Rest for now. We shall meet after three days to commence your training in the martial arts..."
"Why- OOOWWW!!!"
That was the last time he saw him, for the next three days were spent feeling agonising pain, as whatever he had manifested began breaking his bones, tearing his flesh, enhancing his body...
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Doing a sick backflip, Natsuki leapt to his feet before picking up his thick steel sword and swinging vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and from the bottom up, along with the ever-reliable thrust. Though he knew jack-shit about wielding swords, even he knew that every sword technique was a combination of these basic types. But to practice parrying, he needed to fight someone to properly train in it...
"...998, 999, and 1000!"
With a thrust, he dropped his sword onto the floor before dragging his tired body into the lotus position. From there, he continued reinforcing the spinning gear, making the fusion of the 'Eternium' and silhouette more seamless. Only when the thirteen words that depict him are etched onto the gear can he go to the next tier. He still remembers what Knoxis told him about the prime power system that everyone follows here...
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"...To advance to the next tier, you would need to forge 4 gears, connected to the central gear. Only when all are spinning concurrently could you even think of advancing higher, and to do that, you would need to acquire more materials to forge the next set of gears..."
"Wait wut?"
"Heh, did you really think that you only needed to use materials for forging the first gear! I SAY NAY! For every tier you advance, you would need to forge the next set of gears using materials that suit you best. They could range from things like rare alchemical plants to mechanical contraptions, all the way to concepts such as space and time. But the material you chose, that is one of the rarest base material in the multiverse..."
"Oh yeah, like as if you know why..."
Crossing his arms, Natsuki did not believe it. But realising that it was his chance to find out why Icks wanted it so badly, he tried egging the old codger into telling him, but failing miserably, for as we all know, as depicted in Chinese light novels, they say old gingers are always spicier...
And Knoxis Fyldwell was no exception
Chuckling at his pathetic attempt, Knoxis couldn't help knocking his thick head for his blatant attempt.
"Well, knowing too much would be harmful to you. Only after advancing to Tier-6, Law Enabler, could you be able to handle the information regarding the 10 Fundamental Metals. For now, focus on consolidating your central gear and finding the thirteen words that best describe your inner being. Don't be lackadaisical about it, for these 13 words are the core words, the phrases that would anchor the humanity within you. Fail to do so, and you'd end up as something far worse than you can possibly imagine..."
The room grew dark at the ominous words. Before he could ask what he meant, Knoxis clapped his hands, realising that he had already spoken too much. "Well, just focus on consolidating your body, for a Tier-1's main purpose is to prepare their fleshly container for the coming stages.
That is why it goes by the name of Body Acolyte
For now, focus on performing 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 bodyweight squats, and a 10 km (6.2 miles) run, performed every single day, without any rest. And no, you won't go bald, the gear ensures that. After a week, I'll come and begintraining you in martial arts. Sure, bullets can do the same job with no training, but you've always got to prepare for the worst, y'know. Anyways, see you tomorrow...
At 4 AM sharp..."
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That was the last thing he said before the gruelling training began. Even though he wanted to go with the others and collect the souls to send to their next lives, they kept saying no (Vylara even gave him the condescending smirk as he said it, the nerve), for he was too weak to do so, and he knew it. But being stuck inside as a freeloader did not sit well with him, and he was itching to sit in a truck-kun and ram their souls into the afterlife.
Oh I wish someone would call and take me with them already! I may be weak, but at least I can keep the seats warm. Please, someone, take me already-
"Hey kid, we've, surprisingly, got a job for you..."