Glendios second chapter: Qi, and an attempt from me to make some pseudo-philosophical and "deep" perspective.
I marveled in the sensation of sheer power running in my body. Qi, coursing through my veins as I felt my heart pulsing faintly, as if to show my excitement.
"This is what Qi, feels like." what power feels like. Truly, most attractive, yet most terrifying as well.
It was effectively like a mix of being drunk and feeling high on drugs, if I can describe it, yet unlike these, it also gives you actual power.
My blood, my cells, wanted it. They demanded it, really. Demanded more of this energy.
A part of me pondered if this is why cultivators, or Rankers and/or Summoners in this world, were so easy to rile up. These people, they were practically being drunk on literal power since they started to cultivate!
I definitely saw the appeal of it, and I would be lying if I said I hate this feeling. And I knew that being drunk on it would feel the greatest thing imaginable to me right now, until my life ends.
Yet.
I subdued it. I, or more accurately, the ever-present human side of me, that of Kasumi Ai, forced it into submission.
Inhaling and exhaling deeply, I demanded that my Qi stops acting like... whatever it was acting like.
"That was insane..." I sighed, feeling honestly tired as my Qi's induced high had diminished. Qi was still moving around my body, that much was clear, but now it wasn't as apparent to my senses. I no longer can feel how it was moving, invigorating my cells. It was just there, moving, even if the sensation was faint.
And I honestly thought that the experience was too close for comfort. I had been reincarnated just a few minutes, yet just a single moment of having a real, very honest taste of power, and I nearly lost my mind.
"I need to control this power." I truly believed so. Isn't that why I was born with my human memories and ego, after all? Isn't me having a human ego, a sapient ego, supposed to help me curb this instinctual love for uncontrolled power?
If I simply allowed my new instincts to take over me, then what is the point of being reborn with my memories and previous perspective? I might as well be a beast with no memories of being Kasumi Ai, no perspective, and no real awareness or care of anything beyond my instincts and whims.
I am now a Thorny Alraune, but these instincts are mine to command and restrain, and I refuse to be theirs to be commanded by.
Another long breath. Calm down, calm down. This is just a problem I need to deal with, and I will deal with.
I realized that since I have time until the sun dies, I will start with this.
Taking another deep breath, I allowed my Qi to pulse inside my body, which I noticed was glowing faintly on the outside, including my monsterous lower half whose eyes and mouth were closed.
The feeling of power rose once more, most likely unintentionally trying to overwhelm me.
'Feed, consume, eat, devour, swallow.' It urged me. My nature as a beast, and a newborn one trying to overwhelm the intelligence and ego of what once was a human.
My leaves, glowing as well, appeared like they were trying to rise, as if they were planning to shoot themselves on something, as I imediately felt that they became just a bit more sturdier and sharper.
Yet, I had no plan to do any of that.
'Calm down, you. I didn't order you to control my body.'
This body and all what exists in it is mine. You are mine, my Qi. I am not yours. If I wanted to eat, it's because I want to or I have to, not because you demand me to.
You are me, but I am not you. If you want to be unleashed, it will be on my terms.
Power rushed through my body, from even my hair to my roots and vines making contact with the earth. But I didn't allow it to consume my mind, for I am my power, yet it isn't me.
It felt like I was putting a very short leash, as I told the Qi to course through me but not overwhelm me.
One circle, two, three, and it seemed that I finally got a better understanding of it. I had no doubt that my instincts were helping me as well, but that was fine. I prefer it this way.
More circles around my body, and I felt that the leaves had relaxed, no longer looking like an arrow locked on an enemy; yet it wasn't complete. I need to continue.
Qi kept flowing, and I started to feel exhausted, so I demanded that my roots latch on the ground and absorb enough nutrients and water using [Take Root].
With this, I can replenish my energy, and so I continued what I defined as my beginner exercice in Qi control.
Time kept moving, seemingly slowly, but I could see as the sun started setting, no doubt that night will fall in a few hours.
Luckily though, I had managed to control the effect my Qi had on me to a satisfactory level, in my opinion. The feeling of power was still present, but it no longer gives the urge to acquire more.
"Phew!" I breathed at last, feeling rather mentally taxed. I had managed to control my Qi's temptations for now at least.
I would definitely train this more as I grow stronger, and I would also need to learn to control my fight or flight responses in the face of a predator or a stronger beast, but that would be dealt with later.
For now though, I decided to eat actual food instead of draining the moisture and nutrients inside the earth.
With that, I opened my second set of eyes and mouth, taking a moment to get adjusted to the extra visionary input. On the News: having a new set of eyes is disorienting as hell!
It honestly felt like watching two TVs at the same time, while one was in front of you and the other behind. Is this how Pein from Naruto saw the world through his Six Paths technique? If so, I tip him my non-existent hat.
Still, my instincts as a Thorny Alraune made adapting for such thing a rather quick affair, and I slowly managed to walk (using my roots), while trusting my senses to help and warn me in the case of an enemy.
Luckily, I was able to move dozens of meters away with nothing more than the usual grass and plants on my way, which I decided to eat some of them.
It was... an interesting sight, not gonna lie. My lower mouth opened and a large tongue and many of the vines that I control extended, plucked some of the grass, flowers, and some of the tree branches, and they were put inside the giant mouth, digested and swallowed by the acids and saliva inside.
And as that happened, I felt as my Qi, while not expanding, felt fuller than before, and in my mind, knowledge just popped into existence.
So this is what my [Floral Creation] ability, huh? Truly a fun and exciting ability!
I felt as if I was born with the ability to create and use the characteristics of the botanical entity I had just ate!
"Let's see..." I murmured. "An apple, some vegetables, and a couple of plants that can resist the typical cold, and a skunk cabbage, a plant that can metabolically generate heat. So far, these plants I already know from my previous life."
I hummed as I extended one of my vines, and pushed some Qi towards it.
A small bulge appeared on its end before swelling up, color and shape changing, and I got an apple. A regular one, except with a fraction of my Qi.
That's interesting. It also tastes a bit sweeter than I recall.
Seeing that the night had already fallen by now, and sensing no predators even after trying my best to make sure, I decided to return to my rebirth place.
It was time to sleep!
Taking my place, my petals had started to rise and engulf me like a cocoon, hiding the moon light from me as I was met with the comforting darkness, and my body was ready to sleep.
Though I knew that my lower set of eyes and mouth would be on an alert even when closed in case of any harmful intent against me.
With that, I surrendered my mind to the dream land, knowing that tomorrow, I would attempt to cultivate. I can't probably focus properly while I am mentally exhausted after all.
Glendios second chapter: Qi, and an attempt from me to make some pseudo-philosophical and "deep" perspective.
I marveled in the sensation of sheer power running in my body. Qi, coursing through my veins as I felt my heart pulsing faintly, as if to show my excitement.
"This is what Qi, feels like." what power feels like. Truly, most attractive, yet most terrifying as well.
It was effectively like a mix of being drunk and feeling high on drugs, if I can describe it, yet unlike these, it also gives you actual power.
My blood, my cells, wanted it. They demanded it, really. Demanded more of this energy.
A part of me pondered if this is why cultivators, or Rankers and/or Summoners in this world, were so easy to rile up. These people, they were practically being drunk on literal power since they started to cultivate!
I definitely saw the appeal of it, and I would be lying if I said I hate this feeling. And I knew that being drunk on it would feel the greatest thing imaginable to me right now, until my life ends.
Yet.
I subdued it. I, or more accurately, the ever-present human side of me, that of Kasumi Ai, forced it into submission.
Inhaling and exhaling deeply, I demanded that my Qi stops acting like... whatever it was acting like.
"That was insane..." I sighed, feeling honestly tired as my Qi's induced high had diminished. Qi was still moving around my body, that much was clear, but now it wasn't as apparent to my senses. I no longer can feel how it was moving, invigorating my cells. It was just there, moving, even if the sensation was faint.
And I honestly thought that the experience was too close for comfort. I had been reincarnated just a few minutes, yet just a single moment of having a real, very honest taste of power, and I nearly lost my mind.
"I need to control this power." I truly believed so. Isn't that why I was born with my human memories and ego, after all? Isn't me having a human ego, a sapient ego, supposed to help me curb this instinctual love for uncontrolled power?
If I simply allowed my new instincts to take over me, then what is the point of being reborn with my memories and previous perspective? I might as well be a beast with no memories of being Kasumi Ai, no perspective, and no real awareness or care of anything beyond my instincts and whims.
I am now a Thorny Alraune, but these instincts are mine to command and restrain, and I refuse to be theirs to be commanded by.
Another long breath. Calm down, calm down. This is just a problem I need to deal with, and I will deal with.
I realized that since I have time until the sun dies, I will start with this.
Taking another deep breath, I allowed my Qi to pulse inside my body, which I noticed was glowing faintly on the outside, including my monsterous lower half whose eyes and mouth were closed.
The feeling of power rose once more, most likely unintentionally trying to overwhelm me.
'Feed, consume, eat, devour, swallow.' It urged me. My nature as a beast, and a newborn one trying to overwhelm the intelligence and ego of what once was a human.
My leaves, glowing as well, appeared like they were trying to rise, as if they were planning to shoot themselves on something, as I imediately felt that they became just a bit more sturdier and sharper.
Yet, I had no plan to do any of that.
'Calm down, you. I didn't order you to control my body.'
This body and all what exists in it is mine. You are mine, my Qi. I am not yours. If I wanted to eat, it's because I want to or I have to, not because you demand me to.
You are me, but I am not you. If you want to be unleashed, it will be on my terms.
Power rushed through my body, from even my hair to my roots and vines making contact with the earth. But I didn't allow it to consume my mind, for I am my power, yet it isn't me.
It felt like I was putting a very short leash, as I told the Qi to course through me but not overwhelm me.
One circle, two, three, and it seemed that I finally got a better understanding of it. I had no doubt that my instincts were helping me as well, but that was fine. I prefer it this way.
More circles around my body, and I felt that the leaves had relaxed, no longer looking like an arrow locked on an enemy; yet it wasn't complete. I need to continue.
Qi kept flowing, and I started to feel exhausted, so I demanded that my roots latch on the ground and absorb enough nutrients and water using [Take Root].
With this, I can replenish my energy, and so I continued what I defined as my beginner exercice in Qi control.
Time kept moving, seemingly slowly, but I could see as the sun started setting, no doubt that night will fall in a few hours.
Luckily though, I had managed to control the effect my Qi had on me to a satisfactory level, in my opinion. The feeling of power was still present, but it no longer gives the urge to acquire more.
"Phew!" I breathed at last, feeling rather mentally taxed. I had managed to control my Qi's temptations for now at least.
I would definitely train this more as I grow stronger, and I would also need to learn to control my fight or flight responses in the face of a predator or a stronger beast, but that would be dealt with later.
For now though, I decided to eat actual food instead of draining the moisture and nutrients inside the earth.
With that, I opened my second set of eyes and mouth, taking a moment to get adjusted to the extra visionary input. On the News: having a new set of eyes is disorienting as hell!
It honestly felt like watching two TVs at the same time, while one was in front of you and the other behind. Is this how Pein from Naruto saw the world through his Six Paths technique? If so, I tip him my non-existent hat.
Still, my instincts as a Thorny Alraune made adapting for such thing a rather quick affair, and I slowly managed to walk (using my roots), while trusting my senses to help and warn me in the case of an enemy.
Luckily, I was able to move dozens of meters away with nothing more than the usual grass and plants on my way, which I decided to eat some of them.
It was... an interesting sight, not gonna lie. My lower mouth opened and a large tongue and many of the vines that I control extended, plucked some of the grass, flowers, and some of the tree branches, and they were put inside the giant mouth, digested and swallowed by the acids and saliva inside.
And as that happened, I felt as my Qi, while not expanding, felt fuller than before, and in my mind, knowledge just popped into existence.
So this is what my [Floral Creation] ability, huh? Truly a fun and exciting ability!
I felt as if I was born with the ability to create and use the characteristics of the botanical entity I had just ate!
"Let's see..." I murmured. "An apple, some vegetables, and a couple of plants that can resist the typical cold, and a skunk cabbage, a plant that can metabolically generate heat. So far, these plants I already know from my previous life."
I hummed as I extended one of my vines, and pushed some Qi towards it.
A small bulge appeared on its end before swelling up, color and shape changing, and I got an apple. A regular one, except with a fraction of my Qi.
That's interesting. It also tastes a bit sweeter than I recall.
Seeing that the night had already fallen by now, and sensing no predators even after trying my best to make sure, I decided to return to my rebirth place.
It was time to sleep!
Taking my place, my petals had started to rise and engulf me like a cocoon, hiding the moon light from me as I was met with the comforting darkness, and my body was ready to sleep.
Though I knew that my lower set of eyes and mouth would be on an alert even when closed in case of any harmful intent against me.
With that, I surrendered my mind to the dream land, knowing that tomorrow, I would attempt to cultivate. I can't probably focus properly while I am mentally exhausted after all.
