Chapter 11: Scan and Process
Contrary to what Zeno expected, Adam neither got angry nor backed down. Adam just stares at Zeno with the same dead seriousness the latter has on his face. Fortunately or unfortunately, all the kids had vacated the ground when the bell was rung. So Paul was the only one watching this drama.
"I don't know where you picked up this rashness, but it isn't good to bring it into a battle involving Soul Gifts. You just committed 2 mistakes, for which I gave you apt scores." Adam says with a lack of empathy.
"One, you just ran straight into the opponent without even knowing anything about his Gift. There are countless types of Soul Gifts in this world in which some of them can be poisonous and some may even be treacherous. What you did just there was recklessness."
Truth is, Zeno already knew Paul had a Slingshot as his Gift from 'View' before. However he can't just say that to Adam since it will lead to questions like how do you know it. He was not planning to tell Adam he had awakened his Gift anytime soon.
"Two, you had no control of your strength. You just went full strength on a young child, even though he is only younger than you by 2 years. If you both were older or if this was a life-death battle, it would have been alright, but at this age it is unacceptable. In a fight, sometimes you should learn to hold back."
"Honestly 7.5 is not that bad of a score for your case. In Paul's case he took appropriate actions according to his Gift. That is why I gave him a 7. His only mistake was taking his eyes off you, that led ultimately to his failure. If that is understood, don't waste my time and take him to infirmary."
Saying that, Adam passes by Zeno to exit the ground. However before Adam went out of vision, Zeno manages to take a peak at his stats.
'View'
🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲
Name: Adam ########
Title: Heaven's Chosen
Age: 8
Cosmic Grade: 9.999 {50,000/50,000}
Energy Points: 50,000
Gifts:
1. Super Gift: Symbiosis
Traits:
Energy Sense Lv10, .....
Techniques:
1. Resonance Fist LvMax
2. Fleeting Cloud Steps LvMax
.....
Inbuilt skills:
Spirit Reform Lv10
Host's Haven Lv10
Symbiote Mode Lv10
🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲
'Whoa..... This guy's too OP that I don't even know where to start feeling jealous.'
'Each and every section of stats is better than mine in all regards. Even his Inbuilt Skills sound cooler than mine.'
'Good thing, he didn't wipe the ground with me. I can't even best him in any field as of this moment.'
'But, the thing bothering me most is, whether my ability crashed or what? There are some too many hastags next to his name.'
The status menu of Adam vanished when he got out of Zeno's vision. He was planning to take a look at Adam's skill to know what it was. But it seems he has to wait for another opportunity.
'Even now, Adam sensed something when I used the 'View' skill. It would be better not to do this when he knows I am around.'
All these thoughts went through Zeno's head while picking up Paul and carrying him to the infirmary. Similar thoughts were going through Paul's head too at the same time.
'This big bro is a weird nut case. I should never have associated with him in the first place.'
'Look, how my beautiful nose is now all red!! Yeow..!!'
'The good thing is, he didn't leave me there. But that is all. This guy is too unstable to talk to and maybe I shouldn't associate much with him. But he is the only solid contact I have made today. All the other kids are too.. what should I say.., stupid.'
This time, being carried along the way, Paul didn't talk much.
~Half an hour later~
Paul and Zeno walks out the infirmary with the former's red nose back to normal. Paul was worried that he would have to pay for his injury and he didn't have any money with him. He didn't have the guts to ask Zeno since he was a bit intimidated by the guy. Fortunately, the nurse in the infirmary informed them that any injury during Battle Classes were under the expenses of their Academy fees which he had already paid.
"Why have you become all silent, suddenly? Are you still hung up on me punching you?"
Zeno asks while walking with Paul towards their homes. Even though this guy is irritating, he was the only one left for conversation since all the kids had left for their homes after the classes. Paul however does not respond even after being asked continuously.
"I was just caught up in the moment, kid. If it's bothering you that much, I will even let you punch me in the face, one time."
Zeno says giving up. As of this moment, he knows only this guy here other than Adam. He can't afford to waste time to find another guy to help him. Paul as if waiting for the moment grabs the oppurtunity to ask for something else.
"I don't want to do such a thing. But big bro can do 2 favours for me, instead."
Truth be told, Paul was only worried about the healing costs all along the way. When the nurse informed him that it was no longer required, his worries were already forgotten.
Moreover, he didn't have the mindset to hold a grudge against someone for a long time. He is still too young to think like that. However, he was planning to ask for a favour from Zeno. That was why he was silent all along. When Zeno now brought up the topic, he decided to utilise it for his favour.
"What favours?"
Zeno asks a bit apprehensive because he just felt like he had just walked himself into the brat's trap. But as long it doesn't cost him much, he could make do with it.
"Today night at 9'o'clock, some of the kids from Outer village including me are planning to go to the Black Forest to hunt a Horned Moon Rabbit. We are a bit short on people. Why don't big bro come and help us out? I can even guarantee you at least one material from the hunt unless its too valuable."
Paul assures with full confidence. Unlike Zeno, Paul stays in the Outer Village section and must know more about beasts and monsters compared to other kids in the vicinity.
But going for a hunt, especially into the Black Forest is no joke. People easily lose lives there because of a single mistake. But he can't pass up such an opportunity. If he is lucky, he can sell the material he gets to gain some cash for himself.
"I will be there. What about the second favour?" Zeno asks Paul.
"That is for tomorrow.
My home is the outer section so I will be on my way. I will see you at that Gate entrance at 9 o'clock then."
Saying so, Paul bids farewell going towards the outer section. Seeing Paul vanish around the corner Zeno then takes a turn in the road to go to his house.
Truth be told, he was not the fan of the idea of going for a hunt just after a day out of the body cast. But he can't just ignore an oppurtunity of money when it comes knocking into him. However, he needs to prepare himself before going.
He goes into his house, into his room and gets on his bed to activate his <Trait: Energy Sense>. What he had noticed from Paul's and Adam's status is that Paul didn't possess this trait while Adam possessed it and moreover is at a very higher level than his. This must mean that it must be some sort of an important skill required in Advancing.
But no matter how he tried he could only sense a certain amount of World Energy around him. It was not as easy as before to collect it into his Mindspace.
The only good news is that he was able to recover the Energy points he had used today within a few minutes. But he could not push beyond that. It seems he missed certain aspects of what he read from the book: Breath Mindfullness Basics. Either he has to seek advice from someone regarding it or try to find it reading again and again.
He takes a look around his bed to notice the two books he had taken from Larry's shelf. He goes upto it, picks up the one he had read before. But even after reading it one more time, it didn't provide him much innovation or idea.
[Why don't user make a copy of the book into The Hidden Codex?]
[Currently it is empty and could use some books for safekeeping.]
Profile suggests after observing its host's struggles for too long.
Zeno also approves of the idea and doesn't waste much time before doing it.
'Scan'
He utters the invoke code in his mind while keeping his hand on the closed book. A ray of blue light similar to that from his holographic screens pass from his hand to the book's exterior into the interior. When he looked at the mirror next to his bed, he couldn't see the reflection of the light thus making an assumption that it isn't visible to others except him.
[<Book: Breath Mindfullness Basics> has been added to The Hidden Codex.]
A notification came up announcing the success of the skill. But he didn't feel any different other feeling one or two of his Energy points being consumed.
'Profile, take out the book.'
Zeno commands Profile after swiping away the notification screen. Profile immediately summons the virtual copy of the book, visible only to Zeno in the outside world. Even though Zeno could not feel it, he could interact with it similar to a touch screen. When he tried to make contact with it, a new notification came up surprising him.
[Do you wish to process the Book: Breath Mindfullness Basics? (Yes/No)]
'Yes..'
Zeno answers without thinking anymore since he understood that this function was related to another of the inbuilt skills provided to him- The Virtual Processor.
A torrent of information rushed into his brain which was extracted from processing the book in all ways he had not thought before. It seems this skill allows him to learn something which he cannot understand quickly and process the info over and over in various thinking aspects until new innovative ideas spring up. Basically, he can now scan a thing and process it in his mind thus being able to remember everything about it. No matter at what angle he looks at it, this skill in itself is a Godly skill, which is perfect for people who are not that into reading.
This time, he once again tried to activate his Energy Sense and utilise it in ways his brain had come up with. The range of his sense now grew from 1m bit by bit until it reached 3 meters around.
[Trait: Energy Sense has levelled up.]
There were no further improvement or level ups after that. It might be due to the limit of knowledge that is present in the book. If he can acquire new books about this Energy Sense, he might be able to level it up continuously. For the time being, he should be satisfied with what he has.
He turned his attention towards the other book and scanned it making a copy of it in his virtual library.
[<Book: Basics of Taoist Energy Breathing> has been added to The Hidden Codex.]
[Do you wish to process the Book: Basics of Taoist Energy Breathing? (Yes/No)]
This time the notification asking for processing the book came even though he had only scanned it and did not invoke it. It seems Profile could almost sense his intentions even without conveying.
'Yes, do it.'
Zeno responds back in his head.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Zero_Dragnaire
Zero_Dragnaire I am sorry for being late. I was just caught up in daily life. You can convey your thoughts regarding the chapter if you like it or not. I hope you like it.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone