Three weeks passed since Ashton came into his new home and it is only today that he's entering the Training Room.
He hadn't stepped a foot in this place since he had no reason to before but now he does. Ashton finally feel a bit confident about starting his new exercise.
This new exercise having something to do with Mana of course. If it were any other regular exercise, he wouldn't have to do it in this room specifically, he can do it in his yard.
"Pause for Identi-scan." The cold mechanical voice Mr. Security sounded in his ears and Ashton did what it said.
After he was scanned, his identity was confirmed and the doors to the Training Room was unlocked to him.
Stepping inside the room, Ashton paused to survey his surroundings. Much to his surprise, this room is quite different from what he imagined.
Being in a world where magic is real, Ashton had a different image in his head when he heard of the words 'Training Room'. He was expecting more of Dojo or like a dark room filled with pots, ritual circle and stuff, since...you know, he's a Mage and all. But what greeted him was different.
The area was clean and looked very techy. The floors are made out of square tiles each is 10x10 in measurement. There are a bunch of apparatuses inside which he doesn't know of and there are blinking green lights off the corners of the room.
It's like he's inside one of those time-chambers, and it doesn't look bad actually.
By instinct, Ashton used [Identify] to the things he saw and he was greeted by rows of information which helped him understood what this room is capable off.
[Reactive Tiles]
• Extremely Durable.
• Can turn soft or solid, can also change colors and project images throuh the main controls.
• Self-Repair Enabled.
[Dummies]
• Made out of extremely durable materials and can withstand some serious abuse.
• Each Dummy is connected to the Control Panel, the user can program them by changing their settings.
• It's a good sparring partner.
[Strength Measuring Slab]
• It does what it says, just punch it or something.
• Details shown can be modified through to Control Panel.
[Rack of Weights]
• For the Gym Rats.
[Meditation Altar]
• Must be activated through the Control Panel first.
• Costs Mana Crystals to function.
• Usable only for those who are at Warlock Stage and below.
[Control Panel]
• This is where one can change the settings of the Training Room.
• It is recommended to view the tutorial guide first before using the Training Room.
Ashton deactivated the skill and didn't hesitate to walk towards the Control Panel. As if sensing him, the screen suddenly activated and it greeted him through words. It then gave him options which Ashton obviously considered. He started with the Tutorial Guide first.
It took at least fifteen minutes for him to know more about the Training Room and it's function. Now, all his complaints about this room occupying half of his lot is gone. He now understands why.
There are many things that he can do in this Training Room. For example, with the help of the Control Panel, Ashton can edit the ambiance of this room.
If he wants to feel like he's in the middle of the forest while he's here? He can do that. If he wants to feel like he's underwater? He can do that. If he wants some inspirational background music blasting through the speakers as he fed his muscles? That's possible too!
He can insert schedules, alarms and so on. He can make the ground unstable like being on top of trampoline, make it soft like mud, make it sloped...etc. He can do so much things that the possibilities are quite endless.
Of course, things like changing the flow of time and stuff are completely out of it's reach but what it has is more than plenty for his own use.
Ashton tried several pre-sets for the theme and to his delight, it worked like a charm.
The pre-set he used was named Nature's Serenity. It changes his surroundings to a riverside in the middle of a lush forest. He can hear the sounds of a waterfall nearby and also the chirping of the birds and the crickets around. Hell, the air smells incredibly fresh and moist like he's actually there. It was bizzare
The realism of this theme was astonishing. If it weren't for the fact that he could see the Control Panel and the other apparatuses around of him, he would've thought he's actually in this place.
"Well, this is awesome. I'd use this one for now. I'll try the other pre-sets later."
Ashton didn't use the other apparatuses for now, he didn't even used the Meditation Altar although it would be very useful for him.
Instead, he found a spot near the river where he can hear the crisp sound of flowing water. He took a deep breath and he could feel himself relaxing already.
Even back at Earth, Ashton always liked the sound of flowing water and rain. In fact, he habitually play the sounds of rainfall on a loop as he sleeps since it helps him sleep better and longer so this is very nostalgic and relaxing to him.
"Alright...I've never done this before but here it goes. I hope it goes well."
Ashton sat with his legs-crossed loosely, he kept his back straight but not stressed and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and began emptying his thoughts.
He was trying to meditate for the first time ever.
According to the book he read, every cultivator must know how to do this. Those who can't will never be able to use Mana efficiently in the lives. It's kind of a pre-requisite at this point.
The weird thing that Ashton discovered was the art of meditation in this world was simpler than he initially thought. Back in Earth, there many 'rules' about meditation like; one's back must be ramrod straight, one must fold their legs into a pretzel, breath in a square - whatever that means and so on...
And the fact that doing all of that doesn't really seem to achieve anything, makes it really hard for him to believe that it's worth even trying even for the memes.
In this world though, the instructions are more flexible. The act didn't require too many restrictions for him since the real difficulty of the art happens in one's mind not their form.
Well, add this to the things that he shouldn't judge according to Earth's standards. Seriously, he should really stop comparing the two worlds. That would make his life easier.
In Meditation, emptying one's thoughts is just the initial challenge. It's just a pre-requisite to enter the 'Meditative State'. Still, this is hard to do.
On the book - Beginner's Introduction to Magic, it described human's minds as 'Monkeys who's tails are on fire'. This basically means that a person's mind is incredibly active, more than one could even imagine.
The flow of thought is ceaseless and instinctual. There's has never really been a time where a person's mind is void of thoughts. Even in sleep, a person's mind is active because of dreams. Not having a dream isn't a sign of emptiness either since it's most likely that one's mind is pre-occupied with something therefore it can't produce a dream.
This is why muting the flow of thoughts in a person's mind is far more difficult to do than one might expect. Everyone's so used to thinking about something consciously or sub-consciously that the activity turned to an instinct.
The act of voiding one's mind off thoughts, is stopping an instinct. Thus, it's difficulty could only be imagined.
Still, this is something that everyone who wants to be a cultivator must be able to do. There's just no way around it. Ashton will have to do this one way or another and since that's the case, he might as well begin at his own terms.
The Meditation Altar would've been a great help for this. One of the benefits of the Altar is to help someone get through this process much quicker but Ashton decided to not rely on that for now.
It is pride that compels him to do so. Yes. But it doesn't mean that he doesn't trust the machine or disdained to use it.
He just wanted to test things out by himself for now. He wanted to see how far he can go without any assistance for now. Additionally, Ashton knows that the Meditation Altar wouldn't be by his side at all times so he doesn't want to build any reliance on it.
And just as he expected, it's really hard.
In the span of ten minutes, Ashton repeatedly caught himself being swept away by a train of thought sub-consciously. It's somewhat frustrating but the very feeling of frustration is a distraction too which can lead to another train of thought which is another trap.
Still, it's not like this is enough for him to give-up on it. Believe it or not, Ashton felt the signs of him doing it right, it's just that he couldn't keep his focus that he loses the feeling but at least it's something.
The funny thing is, he thinks this seems like a lot of work for the simple act of sensing mana.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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It should be of no surprise that Ashton failed his first attempts as sensing Mana. In fact, based from his experience and what he knows, he's not even close but that's fine, he has time anyway.
In his first Meditation attempt, he was more focused on staying at the Meditative State since that's the requirement to do sense Mana more accurately. Unless he gets better at Meditation, he shouldn't even think about Mana Sensing for now.
Though he had to admit...if only his System acknowledge the Meditation as a thing that can be used for the Grinding Slots, this process would've been way faster. Alas, he can't have them all. He should be thankful that he has a system to begin with.
Speaking of the System, Ashton admitted hadn't found a very good use of it as of now. Well, the sign-in function is the thing he uses the most and he actually accumulated a lot of nifty things from it but as for things that would actually make him stronger, well there isn't a lot of that.
But he did get something though...
[Military Combat Tactics (13th Army Edition)]
• A list of Close Quarters Combat Techniques practiced by the Military Forces of the Morning Sun Federation.
• This Technique is released for public use and is free.
• Learning it will prove to be useful on certain occasions.
The Military Combat Tactics is a set of kickboxing techniques created for Soldiers who will brave the dangers of the outside world.
It has 13 forms each having various stances that were refined by the Military throughout the years. The one he received is the latest edition which is refined by the '13th Army' which Ashton doesn't recognize for now at least.
What's interesting is that, each form on the technique is named after animals; Bear, Tiger, Swan, Pangolin, Snake, Ape, Mantis and so on...it really reminds Ashton of those Kung-Fu movies he watched on his previous life.
Ashton already learned this technique. All the forms and executions were imprinted on his mind but it doesn't mean that he has mastered it. Sadly, the System doesn't work that way...would be nice if it was but it wasn't, oh well.
He has to practice each stances and forms individually and master them all by himself...for now at least. He could hire someone to teach him but it's unnecessary as the System imprinted every little detail on his brain perfectly. With time and constant practice, he'd fix those mistakes on his own.
Ashton initially thought that this technique isn't that bad. The forms and stances are complicated enough and it's actually painful to do them properly but then he realized that, that's actually the charm behind it.
As this technique is made for Military use, it is created with the thought of instilling discipline to soldiers, which is a very important aspect of theirs. Pain is also a good motivator in some ways and if one does the forms and stances correctly, this technique can sculpt their physique and make it stronger and healthier.
To that extent, Ashton didn't mind learning and practicing it.
He's mostly free during the day anyway. Staying idle all-day long will deteriorate his physical strength which is bad. Just because he's a mage, it doesn't necessarily mean that he has to be physically fragile.
Ashton already added this to his daily routine and he's been at if for a week now. He always practices the technique every morning at the Training Room, going through all forms and stances, making sure that he's doing them properly.
After sweating, he'd sit down and practice Meditation. He found out that it was easier for him to stay in the Meditative State when he's a bit exhausted. It works so he's not going to question it. Once that's done, he takes a shower while Jerry prepares his breakfast. He studies after all this.
Just like this, Ashton is falling yet again to another routine, which doesn't really sound bad. The routine he had is a healthy one and will just improve his longevity in the long run so why not?
***
Third week of March...
Ashton could be seen sitting in front of his massive tv, watching the shows that he liked and right now, one of those channels he was following is showing something that made his jaw agape.
It's an official spar between a Mage and a Knight.
And unlike the one that he had seen on the bus, this one isn't a sham nor a commercial. This is the real deal.
Ashton couldn't give a single f about what they're fighting for nor he's in any state to care. All he knows is that what's happening on his tv, is so freaking cool.
The fighters were fast, so fast they're a blur. Thankfully this is a replay and it was slowed-down for the audience to see what's going-on.
The fighters in question are Roland Cassidy and Nelson Higgs.
Roland is the mage. A Lv. 8 Archmage and Nelson is a Lv. 9 Veteran Knight.
Ashton watched the two as they wrecked absolute havoc on their surroundings. Roland threw all sorts of spells from fireballs, icicle shards, boulders and sharp crescents of winds towards Nelson - who moved like an agile hawk dodging and defending against all the projectiles being thrown at him while also managing to counter-attack.
From what he head from the newscaster, Nelson's Physique is called a Sky Ram which strengthened his poise and endurance greatly. Nelson was a big and beefy dude, wearing a full set of armor that looked incredibly heavy yet he's still able to move and carry them with ease.
Meanwhile, Roland's Magical Artifact is an Elder Wand. A pretty common one for mages but it gave him a very rare skill called: Multi-Casting which is self-explanatory.
At the start of the battle, Nelson was harassed greatly by the endless projectile bombardment from Roland. All he could do is to mind his footing, dodge and defend against the attacks.
Nelson was skilled, but so is Roland. Again, Ashton doesn't really know why they're fighting and frankly he doesn't care but it looked like they were adamant about ending each other's lives.
The Veteran Knight carried a sword and shield with him, a typical Knight stereotype if you ask Ashton but hey! He isn't complaining. And following this theme, Roland is wearing a hood over a cloth tunic which glowed with what looked like a bunch of runes.
The fight was intense, the two threw plethora of skills and spells against each other. And as this channel was rated PG-13 (which is kind of the legal age in this world) the fight isn't censored so Ashton saw blood flow.
There were a lot of times where the camera crew nearly paid the price for their audacity and foolish bravery, hats off to them really. If Ashton was there, he would 'nope' the hell away from that place as soon and as far away as he can.
The fight ended with Nelson's victory. Although Roland put up a great fight and abused the hell out of Nelson by properly spacing himself during the fight. In the end, Nelson's endurance was much higher than Roland.
Nelson was, after all, a level stronger than Roland. More importantly, his Physique is perfectly suited for drawn out fights which gave Nelson an edge for this battle.
Still, magicians never runs out of their tricks and trinkets. Just as Nelson was preparing to capture Roland, the mage used some kind of tool which teleported him away from there. Nobody knows where he is now but he survived. Nelson looked visibly upset but he didn't give chase. Instead he just looked at the camera crew and walked away like a badass.
That was a thrilling fight. So refreshing and real too. Ashton didn't doubt the legitimacy of that broadcast since this world has that for real. He injuries they sustained in that battle was real too.
Ashton needed some time to recover after watching that fight.
That in itself proved that his thoughts were indeed right. This world is indeed dangerous. Just imagining all sorts of people who had the power to blow-up anything on their sight should they want to, frightens him greatly.
While he knows that there are certain laws that regulates all sorts of these events, in the end of the day, they are humans. And humans are fundamentally flawed creatures.
If Ashton wanted to have an chances of standing-up against these people, he gonna have to do some serious work because this is just ridiculous!
Those people are more terrifying than nuclear weaponry! They're literally a world-ending threat on legs! Just imagine the damage they can cause if they went ballistic...
Of course, this is Ashton preparing himself for the worst and maybe being a bit judgmental of people. He knows that the original purpose of cultivation is protect Humanity from extinction but internal conflicts are a thing. Who knows what happens within the shadows?
"But that mage was really cool..." Ashton murmured to himself.
Then, his smile turned into a self-deprecating expression as he said:
"Unfortunately, It's impossible for me to do all of that. I'm cursed after all..."
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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