Chapter 660: Redesign - 660
The Imperial Scholar eventually fully made his way down the stairs.
Skymender only looked up in silence. Honestly, he did not feel like talking at all.
Even if he wanted to, it would be impossible at the moment.
The Imperial Scholar stared at him for a moment, examining him completely.
"I'm afraid that the odds of you living from here on are… slim to say the least." He said bluntly.
Skymender didn't need the Imperial Scholar to tell him that, he already knew.
He knew that, at this moment, the only chance of him living was through the Imperial Scholar.
The poison was already gone, its effects no longer present. However, his heart had been weakened significantly. If it was not for his hand constantly pumping his heart, he would have died a long time ago.
The Imperial Scholar did not speak, but continued to examine him. He was clearly thinking very hard.
"At this point, it seems that whatever poison affected you does not matter. All that matters is that your heart seems so weak that you are pumping it yourself, and that at this rate, it won't be long before you die."
After a few minutes, the Imperial Scholar finally spoke again.
"I have an idea. It is the closest thing to possibly working, though the odds of success are low. The worst case is you die, which is the only case if you don't do it. Are you willing?"
Skymender nodded his head.
"Good. No need to move the location. I'll be back."
Skymender waited for what felt like around twenty minutes before the Imperial Scholar returned.
He held in his hands a chest.
"Your situation has obviously never really been seen before, so there is no definite possibility, but there is one thing that could possibly work."
He opened the chest. Sitting aside a few papers, he took out a vial with a red substance inside.
"Since there are poison's to harm, there are obviously poison's to heal. Usually, we call them medicine."
He uncapped it and began to pour some into Skymender's mouth. Skymender did not resist, allowing him to do as he pleased.
"This is something very valuable. It will increase your healing factor greatly. However, it is still within the logical limits of a human. You would need to remove your hand from your chest to fully heal, but since you pumping your heart is the only thing keeping you alive, that is naturally impossible. Instead, you need to guide the healing of your body yourself. This is nearly impossible, but the only hope. In fact, perhaps it can even help you a bit."
Skymender remained silent and unmoving as the Imperial Scholar picked up some papers from the side.
"The human body is naturally flawed. All things are flawed. Only through evolution can these things change, but the human race has existed for countless years with minor changes. Therefore, if possible, you must naturally do it yourself."
He began to show some of the papers. "While I cannot begin to redesign the human body to more perfect standards, I can change some things. For example, focusing on one thing by lessening another."
Skymender did his best to memorize all of the papers shown. They all had the human body on them, the inner and outer workings laid bare. After a while, the Imperial Scholar took them away. He began to write on a blank paper.
He soon showed it to Skymender. It was the inner and outer workings of the human chest, but different from before.
"This is my masterpiece. Although it seems as if I had just drawn it now, it has been in my mind for years. However, I cannot create a human body, and any attempt to change it has always failed. Design it like this, and though you will lose a bit of lifespan, your body will be healthier than ever before."
Skymender looked at the Imperial Scholar and nodded.
"Good. Of course, the odds of you even surviving are slim. Well, let's try our best."
This was not a short process. Skymender felt some growth around his heart, and while looking at the papers that the Imperial Scholar showed, he was able to manipulate some of this growth to benefit him. He felt some resistance at some points, as if he was doing something he shouldn't.
As the effects of the first vial wore off, the Imperial Scholar gave him another.
"If you would have rejected my design, I would not have given you any more. But since you are going forward with it, then I too will give it my best."
The vials lasted approximately three hours before the effects wore off.
As a week passed, the Imperial Scholar laughed.
"Hurry up and heal before you send the Empire into bankruptcy."
It was clear that the value of these vials was even greater than Skymender had imagined.
Eventually, Skymender felt his heartbeat grow a little bit stronger.
The Imperial Scholar was not always there. He would leave for long periods of time, having someone else deliver the vials of the red substance.
However, he was here more often then he was not, clearly changing things in the Imperial Scholar Camp for the sake of this experiment. Regardless, Skymender only focused on surviving.
Everything slowly began to come together as the end of the second week, as well as the end of the Imperial Scholar Camp, approached.
Master Chef Garb was responsible for feeding Skymender. He made him delicious and healthy food everyday.
One of these days, Skymender moved and grabbed the spoon for himself.
Master Chef Garb watched with wide eyes as Skymender pumped his heart with one hand and ate with the other.
Eventually, with the Imperial Scholar nearby, Skymender began to remove his hand from his chest. There was no blood spilt as all of it had already dried. However, scar tissue was visible around the wound, stopping any further chance of injury. Skymender sat up, and the Imperial Scholar began to bandage the hole in his chest.
It seemed as though he was going to make a full recovery. He sat against the wall in silence, only eating food or drinking the vials, until the final day of the Imperial Scholar Camp came to an end.
Chapter 661: The Result - 661
In the teaching room of the education building, the Imperial Scholar stood on the stage. He looked down on the crowd of students below and spoke.
"As you all know, the final test happened yesterday. Today, the final rankings of the Imperial Scholar Camp will be shown."
He began to write on the board, starting at the number 15.
Eventually, he made his way up to fourth place.
Miria, 4th place.
Luke, 3rd place.
The Imperial Scholar paused before speaking one more.
"Charles, 2nd place, 77 points."
Charles, in the crowd, closed his eyes. He seemed calm, but deep inside, he felt rage.
Skymender had not been seen for two weeks, but somehow, he had 70 points after the last test.
"Skymender, 1st place, 80 points."
Charles did not speak. There was only one thing left to say.
Next time, I will win, Skymender.
"I will now invite Skymender to say a few words."
Charles opened his eyes and looked up.
The door off to the side opened, and a deafening silence covered the room.
Skymender walked through, bandages visible under his clothes. His skin was pale white, as though it had no blood left in it. His hair was completely white, as if all of the sustenance within it had been drained away.
Skymender walked on stage. He was essentially fully healed, but he would forever bear the scars of the past two weeks' events. Although it was covered by bandages and could not be seen, his chest had a visible fist sized scar that covered more than half of his chest. It was on both the front and the back, and was clearly visible.
Other than that, his body may never recover its past looks, though it was too early to be certain.
In addition to all of this, there were also benefits far exceeding what Skymender had expected, though as a direct result, his lifespan was lowered to an unknown degree.
These benefits included increased reaction time, increased strength, increased speed, and the strengthening of instinct, though his instinct had not been strengthened by much.
Skymender looked over everyone and spoke.
"I look forward to working with you in the future. Everyone here has high talents, and though surrounded by those with similar or higher talents, it is important to never forget that each and every one of you will be an important piece of the Empire's future. That is all I have to say."
Skymender backed away, and the Imperial Scholar spoke again.
"This marks the end of the Imperial Scholar Camp. Skymender and Charles, please stay behind. The rest of you are dismissed and can leave the Imperial Scholar Camp."
Thirteen people stood up and left, leaving only two behind.
The Imperial Scholar spoke to both. "The next Imperial Scholar Camp will be held in ten years. Most likely, it will be the last. I hope that both of you can attend once again, and this time, there will be someone worthy of inheriting my position."
Though Skymender had won overall, he was not qualified to become the next Imperial Scholar simply because his knowledge was not perfect. He was also not qualified to begin training to become the next Imperial Scholar simply because he had not demonstrated perfection. If he had, then he would have been anointed on the spot.
Perfection was the secret requirement that was necessary to become the Imperial Scholar. Only perfection could be accepted. Otherwise, the Imperial Scholar would rather die without an heir, allowing the Empire's council to find the next Imperial Scholar.
The past Imperial Scholars that could compare to the current one had died in such a way, though there were no more than three, including the current Imperial Scholar.
This Imperial Scholar hoped to become the first with a proper heir.
"That is all from me. Try not to wind up dying before the next Imperial Scholar Camp. I'll do the same." The Imperial Scholar said, mostly looking at Skymender.
Throughout the history of the Imperial Scholar Camp, these two were the only ones with the true potential to become an heir. Charles had the unparalleled talent of a photographic memory, while Skymender… He wasn't actually 100% sure what made Skymender special, but perhaps it was his willpower and personality. Regardless, he was special.
Skymender left first, going to his room to collect his things. However, Charles remained behind, looking at the Imperial Scholar.
"Do you have something to ask, Charles?" The Imperial Scholar asked.
"I made sure to check, but during his test time, Skymender never appeared. How could he get ten points if he didn't even show up?" Charles asked.
He was indignant at the result and refused to admit defeat so simply.
"I almost admire your gall to come and question me, but alas, you simply seem like a fool. I'll explain very clearly why Skymender got ten points for not only this last week, but the one before it, without even showing up."
Charles nodded, satisfied.
"Skymender…"
The Imperial Scholar began to tell Charles what he knew about the situation. At first, Charles was calm, but as time passed, his face slowly changed to disbelief. What he was hearing was inhuman. In fact, as the Imperial Scholar finished, he asked such a question.
"Are you sure that Skymender is even human?" Charles asked.
Pumping one's own heart to stay alive was simply unbelievable. Among other things, he must have either not slept, or formed some sort of instinct to keep pumping his own heart even while sleeping.
The Imperial Scholar shook his head. "How would I know? Let me ask, why are you so confident that you are a human?"
Charles shook his head. The Imperial Scholar was getting philosophical.
He left, accepting his defeat this time. But next time, he would not lose.
Charles' confidence in himself was higher than any would believe so.
Skymender quickly packed everything and returned to his carriage, which was waiting outside. Li Youcai was waiting for him outside the carriage.
Li Youcai began to speak, but stopped as he saw Skymender's current state. His body, hair, and the bandages stood out.
However, to Li Youcai, there was something else that stood out.
"Lord Skymender, what happened to your mask?"
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
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121 Power
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