Book 5. Chapter 2: Advanced Energy Manipulation

Book 5. Chapter 2: Advanced Energy Manipulation

Tanda growled in frustration, scratching her claws through heir feathery hair. This is just too hard! Pushing my will to control the energy, I keep activating my manifestation!

Jake scratched between her ears atop her head, her whole body freezing at his touch. She sighed in contentment as she leaned against him, her frustrated expression shifting into bliss.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

It had been a few days since the World Tree Seed was planted, Jakes party facing Rifts and saving refugees on the East Coast. Using [Reverse Summon], they managed to increase the number of larger Rifts they took on to over ten per day.

Ophelia and Ira would head to one Rift, while Fhesiah would head to another. Their mobility was absurd, and it seemed Tartarus was already starting to shift its strategy.

The enemy now appeared to be focusing on smaller Rifts and all over the continent. It had been using them before, but now the sheer number and distance apart made it less worth their efforts. Jakes party couldnt split up too much, as they suspected the enemy Champions were biding their time and waiting to pounce on them.

However, this had a positive effect in Jakes mind: it gave Hearthtribe excellent opportunities to advance. The smaller Rifts were absolutely perfect for their lower-leveled and Adventurer team members to team up and assault them. Parties like Brocks were roaming the wilderness in medium-sized groups of around ten to fifteen, safely clearing them out.

Jake was focused on trying to master [Advanced Energy Manipulation] along with Tanda. He scratched her ears mindlessly as he focused on trying to control the Qi inside the crystal in his hand.

He was in his Runebound: Sage state, doing his best to synchronize with his kitsune wife to aid in his pursuit of the truth.

Fhesiah was in her kitsune form, her expression filled with fondness and patience. Her voice called out soothingly to Tanda. You are on the right track, but I think your instincts are getting in the way. Just take a deep breath, and try to separate yourself from using the life energy.

Tanda had a mana crystal instead, but she was having difficulties. Jake thought he was close. From the skill manual, the idea was somewhat simple.

The gist of it was, that to manipulate energies that they had no connection toeither through a special organ or Originthey would use their strength of soul to force it to do their bidding. The Origin component was often related to the universe within the multiverse, how the race or species was borne.

The default Origin for a human from Earth joining the Framework was that of Mana. Activating that connection to the soul, it was as if it would baptize a human in it, causing them to generate and draw it from the void.

He thought what he needed to do was actually quite similar to how he over-rode Brees will. By pushing his [Presence], desires, and his will into the energy, it should be similar to shoving with the soul.

However, he had done the shoving through his bondnot on an object in his hands, let alone the energy contained within. Jake too was starting to get a little frustrated, but he knew he wanted this skill.

He had control over the energy as it was in his Hearth, but auril in particular was not overly usefulat least not yet. As soon as it left his Hearth, the energy would just disburse. Having a level of control would help, even if it was an entire Tier behind.

Jake decided he would give this another shot after viewing it some more. Can you do it again for me, Fhesiah?

Of course, husband.

Following his bond, he did his best to resonate with Fhesiah as she willed the mana in the air in front of her to move and coalesce, by mere force of soul. She made runes, spell forms, and even a handful of scripts.

Jake ignored most of that, instead focusing on sensing Fhesiah through his bond. He was trying to ride her senses, to feel and understand what she was doing as she manipulated the mana.

Nodding, Jake leaned as heavily he could into his covenant. The runes on him lit up, as he pushed his will into the Qi crystal. Watching it with his [Arcane Eye], he shifted through reproducing the feelings Fhesiah gave off, and mentally shoving what was within the crystal.

At some point Fhesiah chuckled and he knew she had a fond smile, but then she gasped just as he saw what he was doing appear in his Arcane Eyeand move the energy. Doing his best to hold onto the feeling, he tried it again, managing to have his will show up in his Arcane Eye.

It was like he was pushing a muscle he didnt know he had, grasping onto the energy. He received a notification that he had received the skill, and he sighed in satisfaction.

Jake asked, What was funny?

Hmm? Nothing at all, dear husband. Perhaps, you might have made a cute expressionyour face scrunched up all cutely, almost like my dear sister Berri does when she morphs her armor.

Tandas eyes snapped open, and she laughed. Awww, I missed it! Now I want to see it!

Jake arrived outside the Cascadia HQ through his Refuge portal. Despite having taken over Lifes Haven, the population at this location was simply the highest.

This curved how many Rifts would spawn in the surrounding area, and really, it was a top choice among beastkin.

The cascading waterfalls were a beautiful sight, and the plateau was one of the largest and most expansive. This was especially the case if you included the section across the land bridge, which included Wildheart City.

He entered the training facilities, finding Bloodberri play-practicing with Rhia and the various Eternum, and even spriggons, fauns, Adventurers, and dryads. A handful of Satyrs were present as well, practicing along with the rest their forestry magic or various others.

As far as Jake understood, forestry magics were a lot like elemental manipulation. At this Tier elemental manipulation was extremely challenging and could only be accomplished by those using attuned mana, or with high elemental affinities.

Humans were a race that it would take a rare genius to accomplish this. The trade-off appeared to be that aside from a handful of rare affinities, humans were average, or could be above average in nearly all of them. Combining that with attuning their mana, they could compete with even rare raceswith enough hard work, talent, and a bit of luck.

In contrast, the Elysium races were almost entirely locked-in to one or two affinities at birth, their mana already attuned to nature or water. A Naiad could never learn or be able to use a fire spell. They would be stuck with water, nature, and then have minor affinities in things like faith-based magics, light and dark.

The fauns and dryads were similar in their limitations, some excelling in the elemental magics associated with naturelightning, water, and wind, like Nadessa.

Those that had attuned mana were often stuck with that one school or class of magic, only able to sometimes use adjacent ones. Faith-based magic was typically the only other option for them.

Amara and the caster Eternum were present and helping the various casters. A few dryads were learning script magic, though Jake knew it would take a bit of effort before their work bore fruit.

But Blood and Berri were both working on spells they could cast as a two-person group. Jake watched as the runes from the two girls floated together, and as they solidified, they fizzled out.

Berri groaned. Oh, come on! I thought I had it right that time.

Amaras flame flickered, her eyes having observed their attempt. It was a good try, but you had them in the wrong order. She seemed to ponder for a moment, but as she did, Rhia completed her spell.

Rhia was using Nordic runes too, and she completed a form of strength buff of Jakes creation. Her body was filled with magical might, and she punched out several times, her fist displacing the surrounding air.

Berri looked on in envy as Amara praised Rhia. Great work, Rhia! Youre a natural.

Amara cleared her nonexistent throat as she noticed Berris expression. You arent great at remembering the order of the runes, but so what? Enough practice and youll get it. But how about this?

She continued, Kaunan's flame dances high, on Ansuz's whispers, it will fly. Thurisaz's power, fierce and bright, ignites Fehu's spark in the night.

Blood hummed. A mnemonic? That might work for her.

Berri tapped her lips. Fehu is the fork, right? Then Thurisazthats the arrow one?

Blood groaned. No, thats Tiwaz. Its the one that

Oh yeah, the boob! Berri nodded sagely as she began forming up the spell again, causing Blood to have to rush and catch up. They coalesced into two spells, a white and black lance of flame, before spiraling at the training dummy.

Rhia clapped, and Jake joined along with her. Berri spotted him and blitzed toward Jake.

Jake! Did you see? She hugged Jake, lifting him into the air. I did it! Er, we did it.

He chuckled. Good job, you two. Each of those you learn should give us more options.

Berri returned to her practice, Blood doing her best to work in mnemonics to remember the rune orders and shapes. Jake followed Amara into a side room with enchantments on the walls to contain the damage from spells.

It was time for Jake to use his enchantments once more to help his friends.