SL: Chapter 772 – Day 28,367 – Training

“We choose the sleeper option,” I told Artifex.

“Very well. I also understand you want training from me,” Artifex said.

“Yes,” I replied.

“This place is a great teaching tool, but it is also mentally constraining. You have worked out the elemental chart of energy types. I can tell you, that this chart is completely useless,” Artifex said.

“What?” I asked in shock.

“The energy of the Collective is slightly altered. Think of it like dye added to water, coloring it. It creates something unique and hard to copy. But it also makes it very constraining,” Artifex said.

“But what about the meta-points?” I asked.

“Unique. Powerful, but unique. It colors the energy used. All the complicated steps have been done for you and you have mastered this color to an astounding degree.”

“But it is a single color,” I said with realization.

“Exactly. Your mastery of it is impressive, but it is ultimately constrained. While that mastery will help slightly with water and other colors, you don’t make the dye or mix it yourself. That is all done for you. That is your biggest flaw.”

“Is that how you countered my annihilation attack?” I asked.

“An annihilation attack is you taking two extremes of the single color you have and making a mess. The metaphor unravels here, but the point is that I cannot teach you any more.”

“What about working with water?” I asked.

“The energy of this place…it is all energy of the Collective.”

“What about your energy?” I asked.

“Taking the energy of another being into you is a very bad idea. You become trapped and controlled by them. They are the dye mixer and you are the painter. You have no control. And dye mixes don’t play nicely together. The Collective’s alterations to their energy is highly complex.”

“Is there any way I can train?” I asked.

“You need highly focused attacks. Your goal should be to condense your annihilation attacks. Something that will be incredibly difficult,” Artifex said.

“Any suggestions?” I asked.

“Mental focus. Meditation. Work on your danger sense, picking up any changes. I know you have improved it and your fighting ability, but it can always get better. But in terms of combat, condensed annihilation attacks would be best.”

“Anything else?” I asked.

“Creating portals, to the astral plane, where this space partially resides, in order to move quickly from point to point without crossing the intervening space. You need to be able to transit across a tenth of a zone in a second,” Artifex said.

“That quickly?” I asked in surprise.

“Yes. The Ancient is fast, strong, and durable. A single moment of hesitation, carelessness, or overconfidence will be your death. You can win as you are now. But you need to improve.”

“Can we spar?” I asked.

Artifex was silent for over ten seconds before speaking up again. “Very well. CLONE.” A shimmering gold burst formed nearby and a copy of the Avatar’s body emerged, walking onto the white bridge in this large hall of falling water.

“My clone has a fraction of my true power. They will fight you out over the water,” Artifex said in two voices at the same time which was creepy as I looked between the two.

“Alright, let’s go,” I said and started walking away. The clone caught up with me and walked by my side.

“How linked are you?” I asked the clone.

“Heavily. It is just that this body is weak. It can only support a fraction of my focus, power, and energy. That is one reason why I am taking so long to construct a proper body,” the clone said.

“With your skill, wouldn’t it be easy?” I asked.

“I am used known techniques, but if you are building a city, you can’t just toss it together in an instant.”

“Shouldn’t the metaphor be a building?” I asked.

“A city is more apt for my body. It will be a pinnacle creation. Since it will fuel my ascent to greater heights,” Artifex’s clone said.

“And I can’t do that?” I asked.

“It is both simple and incredibly complicated. Just replicate what the stats do endlessly. Giving yourself permanent stats through sheer mental power and focus to arrange energy inside your body in the appropriate manner. It is easy to say, but incredibly complex to do so,” Artifex’s clone said.

“Any specific training methods. Or clear ways to measure progress?” I asked.

“The time you can mix opposing energies without them combining into an annihilation effect is critical,” the clone said.

“Where does energy come from? Will I still get energy after we leave?” I asked.

“That is another complicated question. There are many interpretations of energy generation. It is created by your soul, a construct of energy drawing on energy from lower layers of Reality and merging it with your physical body. Yes, you need energy to create more energy. That can be considered why you were born without any,” the clone explained.

“And before you ask more, like what energy is, it is a psychoactive substance. Beyond that there are countless interpretations,” the clone said.

“But like matter is made of molecules, what is energy made of?” I asked curiously.

“Energy and particles. The questions you want answers to are profound. While they might seem simple, you don’t have the background or understanding to even begin understanding the explanations I would give,” the clone said.

“When would I be able to get such answers?” I asked.

“After our departure. Then we can discuss such things,” the clone said. “I will teach several of you humans at once. It will be more efficient and less of a drain on my attention and focus.”

I thought over what I had been told as we made it outside the large structure. I shot up into the air. Artifex followed after me into the air. “Rules?” I asked.

“I will try to avoid killing you. But don’t hesitate to target me with everything you have. I will consider the first attack as the start of our fight,” the clone said.

I began moving as several annihilation blades flew at Artifex’s clone. I unleashed a much larger annihilation beam as well.

“STILL.”

All the attacks dispersed before they could strike the clone.

“IMMOLBILIZE.”

I was suddenly unable to move. No, I could move, it was just hard to fight the pressure on my body. I overcharged Air Burst and slightly moved, but not enough for actual combat.

“When your understanding of energy is great enough, you can take control of hostile energy. This is my specialty you could say and how I can control this place. I am not using administrative privileges as you would think of them.”

I focused and made my energy move, forcing my body to move. I felt like I was slamming my head into a brick wall. The brick wall finally groaned and broke. I shot to the side as the clone turned to face me in the air.

“Your resistance to such attacks is good. Against a being of my caliber, being able to free yourself is good. Now, a bit more pressure. IMMOLBILIZE. SWORD.”

I was stuck again and a giant golden sword formed in the air. It began moving towards me. I struggled to move. I broke free just before I would have been impaled.

“You are learning. You can’t let anyone control you if you want to be capable in combat at this level. You need perfect control of yourself and your energy.”

I unleashed another annihilation blast, focusing on the energy in the attack as much as possible. Like a child swinging a foam noodle in the pool. My attack met an incredible force that just disrupted it. But it got slightly closer to the clone this time.

“Good. You aren’t used to pushback from a being of my level in regards to your energy. The control and focus is there, you just need to use it.” I kept dodging the flying sword as I unleashed more attacks at the clone. Even with the slowdown from combat, Artifex’s word were easily understood.

I attacked the sword with an attack and it instantly shattered apart. “Don’t be afraid to abandon an attack. Unless you can instantly defeat your opponent, a battle is a battle of energy reserves. Once you run out, you are dead,” Artifex said.

“What about close combat?” I said as I rushed in and swung my fist. The clone brought up a palm and a small glowing golden shield formed. My fist struck. The shield cracked slightly but didn’t give way.

“Energy is always superior to physical attacks. Energy operates at a conceptual level while fists operate at a physical level.” I unleashed a flurry of blows. The clone easily moved in time with me moving a palm and creating a glowing golden shield the instant I would strike.

“In terms of energy cost, defense and offense are relatively equal. The trick is maneuvering the exchange in your favor. Also beware of overextending in a fight. Unlike the monsters you have faced, the Ancient is cunning,” the clone said.

A blow went through and struck the clone on their face. Or so I thought for a single moment. A golden shield appeared above their face, blocking my attack. Their free hand formed a golden dagger and poked the spot between my eyes.

“You left yourself open to a counter attack and would have died in that single instant,” the clone said.

“You know how to fight quite well for a human,” I replied and moved away. While unleashing several annihilation attacks at multiple angles.

“I have seen many beings fight throughout my lifetime. I am something of an expert in such matters.” Annihilation attacks formed in return, countering out the ones I had created in larger bursts of energy and white light between us.

“Your reaction time is insane,” I muttered.

“Our reaction times are quite similar. You won’t be outclassed by the Ancient in that regard. What I am doing is reading your intentions through the energy you are emitting. It is a small amount, but I can read it like a book. You are thinking of rushing in and trying to grapple. I suggest against such tactics,” the clone said.

“Can I stop that?” I asked.

“Better control. Think certain ways during combat. It isn’t simple or easy. The Ancient will not be as skilled as me in this regard. They will have overwhelming might. If I could be considered a scalpel, they would be a stone. I have absolute precision, they have power to smash through anything and the defense to match,” the clone answered.

I took the time during that explanation to focus and rushed in and threw a punch again. I focused the majority of my thoughts on punching that smug face, which pissed me off. It was a feint while I unleashed a point blank attack. I kept a tight mental grip on my energy.

The clone lost their left arm. “A good surprise attack. But as you have learned, if it still has a head and can think, it is dangerous. Try to survive. CUTTING BEAMS!”

I was forced to move as long narrow golden beams sprang into existence around the clone and spun towards me. I retreated while dodging. I attacked the clone’s attack, but the golden beams spun out of the way. I also targeted the clone, but they chose to dodge.

“Only one attack?” I said after a minute.

“A complicated one, but your dodging is quite good,” the clone said.

“I have experience after fighting high level monsters at close range for years,” I replied.

“Much better than your attacking abilities. But an attack like this isn’t my strength even if it would be the Ancient’s strength. Our fighting styles are completely different.”

“Could your clone here assist me?” I asked.

“No. This body is fragile. And would only fuel the Ancient if consumed and risk my main body. While you don’t know such techniques, having a clone is very dangerous against certain esoteric techniques for attacking at a distance. IMMOLBILIZE.”

Flying golden beams of death flew towards me. I had to move!