Chapter 506
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Chapter 506
Thank you for your service.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience
The Mother guide your hand in battle.
Your bravery is an inspiration to us all.
Cheeks sore from fake-smiling so much, I utter an endless stream of banal platitudes while shaking hands with reluctant soldiers returning from their duties, a twice-daily part of my efforts to Lay on Succ as many Tainted warriors as I can. Unfortunately, those most in need of a good Succ tend to avoid me at all costs, something I learned from hearing about Songs experience with the Spectres, so all this glad-handing is hardly worth the effort. To make matters worse, my actions appear to be alienating those most sympathetic to my cause, as nine out of ten people who approach me are here to listen to the Abbots chants or say a prayer in front of Ping Ping, and my pandering is getting in the way of their religious solace. Theyre here to pray to the Guardian Turtle or seek benediction from a Holy Monk, and in their eyes, Im an opportunistic cripple taking advantage of my connections to garner support against my political foes. No one likes to be used, and even the lowliest of Martial Warriors are a prideful bunch, for they are truly the one percent.
Truth be told, Id love nothing more than to leave these people alone to go play with my floofs, but I dont have a choice in the matter. To most Imperial citizens, Spectres are an unknown and unseen threat and nuisance to be endured or otherwise dealt with, but to me, theyre a resource to be harvested and turned into sweet Heavenly Energy. Were I still capable of Devouring, Id lurk about the periphery and leave these soldiers in peace, but after getting hit by the nerf-hammer, my Succ range is touch only. Technically, Im not even Devouring anymore, but rather the Spectres are willingly switching targets and latching onto me, as if Im an upgrade to whatever poor soul they were previously stuck to. Even Ulfsaar, the most appealing target in my retinue, is no match for my sirens song, and the Spectres who were previously squatting inside Ulfsaars body promptly uprooted their lives to move into my shattered Core.
It begs the question: if Im so tempting a target, why arent the Spectres coming from afar and swarming me in droves? Why do I have to make skin contact with the Tainted before the Spectres become aware of my charms? It has to be skin contact too, I cant pat someone on the back or tap them with a boot, which makes it awkward when I come across someone Tainted and wearing gloves, forcing me to slide a finger under their sleeve or touch their face. Ordinarily, this sort of embarrassing social interaction would have me running for the hills and contemplating if life was still worth living, but considering the stakes at hand, shame and humiliation are a small price to pay if I can mend my Core and regain my former vigour and well-being.
Of course, Im probably still a long ways off from a cure considering I have no idea how Im supposed to turn the Spectres into Heavenly Energy without access to Chi, but since they arent whispering murderous thoughts, I might as well gather as many as I can. Hope is great, but Im tempering it with realistic expectations, because even if I cant fix my Core, I can still keep soldiers from turning full Defiled. The Abbot is no longer convinced this is the best way to go about it, since Huus ancient multi-Grand Grand Mentor brought up a pretty good point about people needing to learn how to deal with the Spectres on their own, but the chatty Abbot is still mulling over his final decision as whether Succing Spectres is right or wrong, which leaves me free to do whatever I please.
And me, I choose to Succ. Im sick of getting pricked by fur whenever I hug my floofs, so Ill do anything to get better, even if I have to Succ every soldier in Sinuji one at a time.
...
I should stop calling it Succ.
As my fourth day in Sinuji comes to a close, I wave goodbye to the soldiers on the wall while Ping Ping waves with me, eliciting a chorus of smiles and returned greetings from her most die-hard fans. The big girl picked up the trick after seeing me praise all my other animals for doing the same, no doubt tempted by the prospect of treats and affection, of which she gets plenty of once were back in camp. Leaning against her smooth, leathery shoulder, I have my dinner beside her with Lin, Luo-Luo, Song, and Alsantset, as private an affair as we can manage here in the fort. There isnt much of note for us to talk about, but it doesnt matter since everyone present knows about my aversion to social interactions and love for silence and solitude. After a tasteless but nourishing dinner of soft jerky and hard bread, I keep everyone company for a little while longer before bidding them goodnight. Tasking Kuang Biao to take first shift of guard duty, I leave him outside my tent while I crawl inside with a lit lantern to do a bit of private reading, though there will be nothing enjoyable or relaxing about it. Before I left, I told myself to give Fungs torturer/manservant his books back, but the allure of forbidden knowledge was too much to resist, so I packed Zhen Shis notes into a small chest and brought them along with me. Rather than keep them under lock and key, I also brought two dozen other mislabelled books which were filled to the brim with pornographic drawings and literary erotica Id collected over the years, though I admit most of it is fairly new. Itd be suspicious if I went to great efforts to hide a few books, so tucking a bunch of dirty drawings between the pages should be enough camouflage to hide the fact that Im in possession of Zhen Shis notes, though I doubt anyone would ever get this far considering the book chest never leaves my tent which is always kept under strict guard.
I figured the best way to keep spies or assassins from sneaking in was to literally plant two guards out front to physically block the entrance. Concealment doesnt make you invisible, it only makes it difficult for others to notice your presence, but even the lowliest of Martial Warriors will notice someone brushing against them. Add in the small confines of my tent which make it easy to check for Concealed Experts by waving my arms around and Kuang Biaos presence outside, Im as safe as Ill ever be reading Zhen Shis notes in my tent.
Honestly, I wish I could burn the books and the monster who wrote them along with, but theres still so much to learn...
Inside my tent, I find a pleasant surprise as Mama Bun, Blackjack, and surprise guest Tawny One are all huddled together for a post-bedtime grooming session. The golden-furred she-bun is rather attached to the tiny black hare, but without Pong Pong around to steal Mama Buns attentions, Blackjack gives Tawny One no kisses whatsoever while grooming his momma. Knowing shes no match for her parent, Tawny One has resigned herself to simply sticking close to Blackjacks side and watching with big, sad eyes, so I make it up to the poor heartbroken girl with plenty of hugs and kisses. Such a silly bunbun, Tawny One loves the attention and gently headbutts my chin for more kisses, but then she remembers why shes here and panics until she spots Blackjack nestled in Mama Buns embrace, which then starts the cycle of heartbreak all over again.
So adorable...
Just as Im about to call it a night, I come across another of Zhen Shis hypotheses, which includes a new term Ive never seen and dont entirely understand.
...convulsions diminish in intensity until subject 1791 regains consciousness with startling vitality. Subject Heals wounds with masterful speed, efficiency, and familiarity, with no signs of distraction or concentration to be seen. Breaks restraints with ease, body swells in size, muscle and fat grown from nothing; Disquiet sensed, self, not subject, uneasy even though subject is commoner without Martial Training. Two Three extra limbs spout from subjects shoulders, gout of flame burst from subj
Since my notes are merely a copy of the originals, theres a transcribers note here detailing the lack of clarity in the original copy, as if written in haste and bearing scorch marks, as well as a distinct break in the writing. Only then does it continue.
Whilst working on Subject 1792, Subject 1791 Demonified, despite having been marked for termination and set aside to expire. Subject 1791 progressed from commoner to Peak Expert in a matter of seconds before Demonification, but after two hours of combat and consuming hundreds of kilograms in sustenance, failed to shatter the void. Could no longer continue experiment due to lacking beasts or villagers to use as sustenance, as well as risk of discovery from pursuers. At peak, strength of Demon exceeded expectations, all equipment unusable and stock lost. Gains outweigh losses, first success, many questions raised, but theory is sound and experiments must continue. Unable to retrieve Demon corpse, will require method to neutralize corrosive bodily fluids.
And thus ends entry 1792. 1793 starts up the same as every other entry, with the description and measurements of the poor unfortunate soul, and no mention of his previous experiment. Its horrific to realize he tortured almost two thousand people before coming across his first Demon, but thats not the important part. This is.
Subject 1791 progressed from commoner to Peak Expert in a matter of seconds before Demonification, but after two hours of combat and consuming hundreds of kilograms in sustenance to boost its strength, Demon showed no signs of shattering the void.
A single sentence, but one packed with useful information. To start with, in order for a host to become a demon, the host must be a Peak Expert, else Zhen Shi wouldnt have bothered to specify it was the subject who progressed to Peak Expert, then only refer to it as a Demon. What this means is that Subject 1791, a thirty-three year old human commoner and mother of three, went through Core Creation, Aura Condensation, Natal Palace Formation, Domain Development, and whatever comes next to be considered a Peak Expert, all in a matter of seconds. Ive seen firsthand how Spectres fuel the process of Demonification, so its safe to say that the Spectres prep the hosts body, so theoretically, if I could control the process and terminate it before going full Demon, I might be able to fix all my woes and reach Peak Expert status in a heartbeat.
The question is: do I dare even try? If I cant control it and go full Demon, or even partial Demon like Gen did, it would be tantamount to admitting Im Defiled and subjecting the People and all my friends to the Purge. A big risk to take on a process I know nothing about, so I put it aside as the worst idea Ive ever had and review the other things Ive learned. Eating flesh makes Demons stronger, which I kinda already guessed but now have corroboration, since Zhen Shi mentions it as if it were fact. Is this also why Defiled are so strong? Because they eat the flesh of other Defiled? Cannibalism = power? Please no. Last but not least, it seems like Shatter the Void is the step after Peak Expert, and possibly the last one before going full Divinity, or at the very least, strong enough to match an Ancestral Beast. Can Demons even reach Divinity levels of power? I didnt think it was possible since Demons would hardly abide by the Treaty, and I just figured it couldnt happen since a Divinity-level Demon could probably annihilate the Northern, Western, or Southern Wall with a wave of their hand, or whatever appendage they might have.
None of this idle musing is distracting me from the urge to immediately explore Demonification, but rather than fumble around in the dark, I take several deep breaths until the temptation is under control. Think, then act, remember? I dont know enough to make an educated decision, but I bet the Abbot does. All I need to do is find him and ask a few innocuous questions like, What do you know about Demonification?, only with more subtlety...
A low, rumbling horn sounds out in the distance and I nearly jump to my feet, my low-ceiling tent saved only by the lack of strength in my legs to accomplish such a feat. The haunting note is a familiar one, a signal from the Defiled to sound the engagement. A challenge of sorts, army to army, and while the call came from far off in the distance, it wont take the Defiled long to arrive.
Putting my book away, I fix my robes, bring my sleeping floofs out of the tent, and hand them off to an already waiting Song so she can bring them away to safety. Arriving in short order, Dastan and his doomed comrades appear before me, their eyes grim and spirits burning as they silently pledge to defend me with their lives, but I would much rather they didnt. Survive, I command them, and that is all I trust myself to say, because shit just got real and I find myself too terrified to continue.
I can barely stand without help, but Im expected to stand on the outer wall where the fighting is the bloodiest, with around twenty soldiers in total I can trust to watch my back.
Cool, cool, cool.
Yanno, now that I think about it, maybe Demonification isnt so bad a choice after all. Beats dying, because like Akanai said, where theres life, theres hope.
Chapter Meme
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Chapter 506
Thank you for your service.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience
The Mother guide your hand in battle.
Your bravery is an inspiration to us all.
Cheeks sore from fake-smiling so much, I utter an endless stream of banal platitudes while shaking hands with reluctant soldiers returning from their duties, a twice-daily part of my efforts to Lay on Succ as many Tainted warriors as I can. Unfortunately, those most in need of a good Succ tend to avoid me at all costs, something I learned from hearing about Songs experience with the Spectres, so all this glad-handing is hardly worth the effort. To make matters worse, my actions appear to be alienating those most sympathetic to my cause, as nine out of ten people who approach me are here to listen to the Abbots chants or say a prayer in front of Ping Ping, and my pandering is getting in the way of their religious solace. Theyre here to pray to the Guardian Turtle or seek benediction from a Holy Monk, and in their eyes, Im an opportunistic cripple taking advantage of my connections to garner support against my political foes. No one likes to be used, and even the lowliest of Martial Warriors are a prideful bunch, for they are truly the one percent.
Truth be told, Id love nothing more than to leave these people alone to go play with my floofs, but I dont have a choice in the matter. To most Imperial citizens, Spectres are an unknown and unseen threat and nuisance to be endured or otherwise dealt with, but to me, theyre a resource to be harvested and turned into sweet Heavenly Energy. Were I still capable of Devouring, Id lurk about the periphery and leave these soldiers in peace, but after getting hit by the nerf-hammer, my Succ range is touch only. Technically, Im not even Devouring anymore, but rather the Spectres are willingly switching targets and latching onto me, as if Im an upgrade to whatever poor soul they were previously stuck to. Even Ulfsaar, the most appealing target in my retinue, is no match for my sirens song, and the Spectres who were previously squatting inside Ulfsaars body promptly uprooted their lives to move into my shattered Core.
It begs the question: if Im so tempting a target, why arent the Spectres coming from afar and swarming me in droves? Why do I have to make skin contact with the Tainted before the Spectres become aware of my charms? It has to be skin contact too, I cant pat someone on the back or tap them with a boot, which makes it awkward when I come across someone Tainted and wearing gloves, forcing me to slide a finger under their sleeve or touch their face. Ordinarily, this sort of embarrassing social interaction would have me running for the hills and contemplating if life was still worth living, but considering the stakes at hand, shame and humiliation are a small price to pay if I can mend my Core and regain my former vigour and well-being.
Of course, Im probably still a long ways off from a cure considering I have no idea how Im supposed to turn the Spectres into Heavenly Energy without access to Chi, but since they arent whispering murderous thoughts, I might as well gather as many as I can. Hope is great, but Im tempering it with realistic expectations, because even if I cant fix my Core, I can still keep soldiers from turning full Defiled. The Abbot is no longer convinced this is the best way to go about it, since Huus ancient multi-Grand Grand Mentor brought up a pretty good point about people needing to learn how to deal with the Spectres on their own, but the chatty Abbot is still mulling over his final decision as whether Succing Spectres is right or wrong, which leaves me free to do whatever I please.
And me, I choose to Succ. Im sick of getting pricked by fur whenever I hug my floofs, so Ill do anything to get better, even if I have to Succ every soldier in Sinuji one at a time.
...
I should stop calling it Succ.
As my fourth day in Sinuji comes to a close, I wave goodbye to the soldiers on the wall while Ping Ping waves with me, eliciting a chorus of smiles and returned greetings from her most die-hard fans. The big girl picked up the trick after seeing me praise all my other animals for doing the same, no doubt tempted by the prospect of treats and affection, of which she gets plenty of once were back in camp. Leaning against her smooth, leathery shoulder, I have my dinner beside her with Lin, Luo-Luo, Song, and Alsantset, as private an affair as we can manage here in the fort. There isnt much of note for us to talk about, but it doesnt matter since everyone present knows about my aversion to social interactions and love for silence and solitude. After a tasteless but nourishing dinner of soft jerky and hard bread, I keep everyone company for a little while longer before bidding them goodnight. Tasking Kuang Biao to take first shift of guard duty, I leave him outside my tent while I crawl inside with a lit lantern to do a bit of private reading, though there will be nothing enjoyable or relaxing about it. Before I left, I told myself to give Fungs torturer/manservant his books back, but the allure of forbidden knowledge was too much to resist, so I packed Zhen Shis notes into a small chest and brought them along with me. Rather than keep them under lock and key, I also brought two dozen other mislabelled books which were filled to the brim with pornographic drawings and literary erotica Id collected over the years, though I admit most of it is fairly new. Itd be suspicious if I went to great efforts to hide a few books, so tucking a bunch of dirty drawings between the pages should be enough camouflage to hide the fact that Im in possession of Zhen Shis notes, though I doubt anyone would ever get this far considering the book chest never leaves my tent which is always kept under strict guard.
I figured the best way to keep spies or assassins from sneaking in was to literally plant two guards out front to physically block the entrance. Concealment doesnt make you invisible, it only makes it difficult for others to notice your presence, but even the lowliest of Martial Warriors will notice someone brushing against them. Add in the small confines of my tent which make it easy to check for Concealed Experts by waving my arms around and Kuang Biaos presence outside, Im as safe as Ill ever be reading Zhen Shis notes in my tent.
Honestly, I wish I could burn the books and the monster who wrote them along with, but theres still so much to learn...
Inside my tent, I find a pleasant surprise as Mama Bun, Blackjack, and surprise guest Tawny One are all huddled together for a post-bedtime grooming session. The golden-furred she-bun is rather attached to the tiny black hare, but without Pong Pong around to steal Mama Buns attentions, Blackjack gives Tawny One no kisses whatsoever while grooming his momma. Knowing shes no match for her parent, Tawny One has resigned herself to simply sticking close to Blackjacks side and watching with big, sad eyes, so I make it up to the poor heartbroken girl with plenty of hugs and kisses. Such a silly bunbun, Tawny One loves the attention and gently headbutts my chin for more kisses, but then she remembers why shes here and panics until she spots Blackjack nestled in Mama Buns embrace, which then starts the cycle of heartbreak all over again.
So adorable...
Just as Im about to call it a night, I come across another of Zhen Shis hypotheses, which includes a new term Ive never seen and dont entirely understand.
...convulsions diminish in intensity until subject 1791 regains consciousness with startling vitality. Subject Heals wounds with masterful speed, efficiency, and familiarity, with no signs of distraction or concentration to be seen. Breaks restraints with ease, body swells in size, muscle and fat grown from nothing; Disquiet sensed, self, not subject, uneasy even though subject is commoner without Martial Training. Two Three extra limbs spout from subjects shoulders, gout of flame burst from subj
Since my notes are merely a copy of the originals, theres a transcribers note here detailing the lack of clarity in the original copy, as if written in haste and bearing scorch marks, as well as a distinct break in the writing. Only then does it continue.
Whilst working on Subject 1792, Subject 1791 Demonified, despite having been marked for termination and set aside to expire. Subject 1791 progressed from commoner to Peak Expert in a matter of seconds before Demonification, but after two hours of combat and consuming hundreds of kilograms in sustenance, failed to shatter the void. Could no longer continue experiment due to lacking beasts or villagers to use as sustenance, as well as risk of discovery from pursuers. At peak, strength of Demon exceeded expectations, all equipment unusable and stock lost. Gains outweigh losses, first success, many questions raised, but theory is sound and experiments must continue. Unable to retrieve Demon corpse, will require method to neutralize corrosive bodily fluids.
And thus ends entry 1792. 1793 starts up the same as every other entry, with the description and measurements of the poor unfortunate soul, and no mention of his previous experiment. Its horrific to realize he tortured almost two thousand people before coming across his first Demon, but thats not the important part. This is.
Subject 1791 progressed from commoner to Peak Expert in a matter of seconds before Demonification, but after two hours of combat and consuming hundreds of kilograms in sustenance to boost its strength, Demon showed no signs of shattering the void.
A single sentence, but one packed with useful information. To start with, in order for a host to become a demon, the host must be a Peak Expert, else Zhen Shi wouldnt have bothered to specify it was the subject who progressed to Peak Expert, then only refer to it as a Demon. What this means is that Subject 1791, a thirty-three year old human commoner and mother of three, went through Core Creation, Aura Condensation, Natal Palace Formation, Domain Development, and whatever comes next to be considered a Peak Expert, all in a matter of seconds. Ive seen firsthand how Spectres fuel the process of Demonification, so its safe to say that the Spectres prep the hosts body, so theoretically, if I could control the process and terminate it before going full Demon, I might be able to fix all my woes and reach Peak Expert status in a heartbeat.
The question is: do I dare even try? If I cant control it and go full Demon, or even partial Demon like Gen did, it would be tantamount to admitting Im Defiled and subjecting the People and all my friends to the Purge. A big risk to take on a process I know nothing about, so I put it aside as the worst idea Ive ever had and review the other things Ive learned. Eating flesh makes Demons stronger, which I kinda already guessed but now have corroboration, since Zhen Shi mentions it as if it were fact. Is this also why Defiled are so strong? Because they eat the flesh of other Defiled? Cannibalism = power? Please no. Last but not least, it seems like Shatter the Void is the step after Peak Expert, and possibly the last one before going full Divinity, or at the very least, strong enough to match an Ancestral Beast. Can Demons even reach Divinity levels of power? I didnt think it was possible since Demons would hardly abide by the Treaty, and I just figured it couldnt happen since a Divinity-level Demon could probably annihilate the Northern, Western, or Southern Wall with a wave of their hand, or whatever appendage they might have.
None of this idle musing is distracting me from the urge to immediately explore Demonification, but rather than fumble around in the dark, I take several deep breaths until the temptation is under control. Think, then act, remember? I dont know enough to make an educated decision, but I bet the Abbot does. All I need to do is find him and ask a few innocuous questions like, What do you know about Demonification?, only with more subtlety...
A low, rumbling horn sounds out in the distance and I nearly jump to my feet, my low-ceiling tent saved only by the lack of strength in my legs to accomplish such a feat. The haunting note is a familiar one, a signal from the Defiled to sound the engagement. A challenge of sorts, army to army, and while the call came from far off in the distance, it wont take the Defiled long to arrive.
Putting my book away, I fix my robes, bring my sleeping floofs out of the tent, and hand them off to an already waiting Song so she can bring them away to safety. Arriving in short order, Dastan and his doomed comrades appear before me, their eyes grim and spirits burning as they silently pledge to defend me with their lives, but I would much rather they didnt. Survive, I command them, and that is all I trust myself to say, because shit just got real and I find myself too terrified to continue.
I can barely stand without help, but Im expected to stand on the outer wall where the fighting is the bloodiest, with around twenty soldiers in total I can trust to watch my back.
Cool, cool, cool.
Yanno, now that I think about it, maybe Demonification isnt so bad a choice after all. Beats dying, because like Akanai said, where theres life, theres hope.
Chapter Meme
Chapter 506Thank you for your service.Visit noveLbin.com for the best novel reading experienceThe Mother guide your hand in battle.Your bravery is an inspiration to us all.Cheeks sore from fake-smiling so much, I utter an endless stream of banal platitudes while shaking hands with reluctant soldiers returning from their duties, a twice-daily part of my efforts to Lay on Succ as many Tainted warriors as I can. Unfortunately, those most in need of a good Succ tend to avoid me at all costs, something I learned from hearing about Songs experience with the Spectres, so all this glad-handing is hardly worth the effort. To make matters worse, my actions appear to be alienating those most sympathetic to my cause, as nine out of ten people who approach me are here to listen to the Abbots chants or say a prayer in front of Ping Ping, and my pandering is getting in the way of their religious solace. Theyre here to pray to the Guardian Turtle or seek benediction from a Holy Monk, and in their eyes, Im an opportunistic cripple taking advantage of my connections to garner support against my political foes. No one likes to be used, and even the lowliest of Martial Warriors are a prideful bunch, for they are truly the one percent.Truth be told, Id love nothing more than to leave these people alone to go play with my floofs, but I dont have a choice in the matter. To most Imperial citizens, Spectres are an unknown and unseen threat and nuisance to be endured or otherwise dealt with, but to me, theyre a resource to be harvested and turned into sweet Heavenly Energy. Were I still capable of Devouring, Id lurk about the periphery and leave these soldiers in peace, but after getting hit by the nerf-hammer, my Succ range is touch only. Technically, Im not even Devouring anymore, but rather the Spectres are willingly switching targets and latching onto me, as if Im an upgrade to whatever poor soul they were previously stuck to. Even Ulfsaar, the most appealing target in my retinue, is no match for my sirens song, and the Spectres who were previously squatting inside Ulfsaars body promptly uprooted their lives to move into my shattered Core.It begs the question: if Im so tempting a target, why arent the Spectres coming from afar and swarming me in droves? Why do I have to make skin contact with the Tainted before the Spectres become aware of my charms? It has to be skin contact too, I cant pat someone on the back or tap them with a boot, which makes it awkward when I come across someone Tainted and wearing gloves, forcing me to slide a finger under their sleeve or touch their face. Ordinarily, this sort of embarrassing social interaction would have me running for the hills and contemplating if life was still worth living, but considering the stakes at hand, shame and humiliation are a small price to pay if I can mend my Core and regain my former vigour and well-being.Of course, Im probably still a long ways off from a cure considering I have no idea how Im supposed to turn the Spectres into Heavenly Energy without access to Chi, but since they arent whispering murderous thoughts, I might as well gather as many as I can. Hope is great, but Im tempering it with realistic expectations, because even if I cant fix my Core, I can still keep soldiers from turning full Defiled. The Abbot is no longer convinced this is the best way to go about it, since Huus ancient multi-Grand Grand Mentor brought up a pretty good point about people needing to learn how to deal with the Spectres on their own, but the chatty Abbot is still mulling over his final decision as whether Succing Spectres is right or wrong, which leaves me free to do whatever I please.And me, I choose to Succ. Im sick of getting pricked by fur whenever I hug my floofs, so Ill do anything to get better, even if I have to Succ every soldier in Sinuji one at a time....I should stop calling it Succ.As my fourth day in Sinuji comes to a close, I wave goodbye to the soldiers on the wall while Ping Ping waves with me, eliciting a chorus of smiles and returned greetings from her most die-hard fans. The big girl picked up the trick after seeing me praise all my other animals for doing the same, no doubt tempted by the prospect of treats and affection, of which she gets plenty of once were back in camp. Leaning against her smooth, leathery shoulder, I have my dinner beside her with Lin, Luo-Luo, Song, and Alsantset, as private an affair as we can manage here in the fort. There isnt much of note for us to talk about, but it doesnt matter since everyone present knows about my aversion to social interactions and love for silence and solitude. After a tasteless but nourishing dinner of soft jerky and hard bread, I keep everyone company for a little while longer before bidding them goodnight. Tasking Kuang Biao to take first shift of guard duty, I leave him outside my tent while I crawl inside with a lit lantern to do a bit of private reading, though there will be nothing enjoyable or relaxing about it. Before I left, I told myself to give Fungs torturer/manservant his books back, but the allure of forbidden knowledge was too much to resist, so I packed Zhen Shis notes into a small chest and brought them along with me. Rather than keep them under lock and key, I also brought two dozen other mislabelled books which were filled to the brim with pornographic drawings and literary erotica Id collected over the years, though I admit most of it is fairly new. Itd be suspicious if I went to great efforts to hide a few books, so tucking a bunch of dirty drawings between the pages should be enough camouflage to hide the fact that Im in possession of Zhen Shis notes, though I doubt anyone would ever get this far considering the book chest never leaves my tent which is always kept under strict guard.I figured the best way to keep spies or assassins from sneaking in was to literally plant two guards out front to physically block the entrance. Concealment doesnt make you invisible, it only makes it difficult for others to notice your presence, but even the lowliest of Martial Warriors will notice someone brushing against them. Add in the small confines of my tent which make it easy to check for Concealed Experts by waving my arms around and Kuang Biaos presence outside, Im as safe as Ill ever be reading Zhen Shis notes in my tent.Honestly, I wish I could burn the books and the monster who wrote them along with, but theres still so much to learn...Inside my tent, I find a pleasant surprise as Mama Bun, Blackjack, and surprise guest Tawny One are all huddled together for a post-bedtime grooming session. The golden-furred she-bun is rather attached to the tiny black hare, but without Pong Pong around to steal Mama Buns attentions, Blackjack gives Tawny One no kisses whatsoever while grooming his momma. Knowing shes no match for her parent, Tawny One has resigned herself to simply sticking close to Blackjacks side and watching with big, sad eyes, so I make it up to the poor heartbroken girl with plenty of hugs and kisses. Such a silly bunbun, Tawny One loves the attention and gently headbutts my chin for more kisses, but then she remembers why shes here and panics until she spots Blackjack nestled in Mama Buns embrace, which then starts the cycle of heartbreak all over again.So adorable...Just as Im about to call it a night, I come across another of Zhen Shis hypotheses, which includes a new term Ive never seen and dont entirely understand....convulsions diminish in intensity until subject 1791 regains consciousness with startling vitality. Subject Heals wounds with masterful speed, efficiency, and familiarity, with no signs of distraction or concentration to be seen. Breaks restraints with ease, body swells in size, muscle and fat grown from nothing; Disquiet sensed, self, not subject, uneasy even though subject is commoner without Martial Training. Two Three extra limbs spout from subjects shoulders, gout of flame burst from subj Since my notes are merely a copy of the originals, theres a transcribers note here detailing the lack of clarity in the original copy, as if written in haste and bearing scorch marks, as well as a distinct break in the writing. Only then does it continue.Whilst working on Subject 1792, Subject 1791 Demonified, despite having been marked for termination and set aside to expire. Subject 1791 progressed from commoner to Peak Expert in a matter of seconds before Demonification, but after two hours of combat and consuming hundreds of kilograms in sustenance, failed to shatter the void. Could no longer continue experiment due to lacking beasts or villagers to use as sustenance, as well as risk of discovery from pursuers. At peak, strength of Demon exceeded expectations, all equipment unusable and stock lost. Gains outweigh losses, first success, many questions raised, but theory is sound and experiments must continue. Unable to retrieve Demon corpse, will require method to neutralize corrosive bodily fluids.And thus ends entry 1792. 1793 starts up the same as every other entry, with the description and measurements of the poor unfortunate soul, and no mention of his previous experiment. Its horrific to realize he tortured almost two thousand people before coming across his first Demon, but thats not the important part. This is.Subject 1791 progressed from commoner to Peak Expert in a matter of seconds before Demonification, but after two hours of combat and consuming hundreds of kilograms in sustenance to boost its strength, Demon showed no signs of shattering the void.A single sentence, but one packed with useful information. To start with, in order for a host to become a demon, the host must be a Peak Expert, else Zhen Shi wouldnt have bothered to specify it was the subject who progressed to Peak Expert, then only refer to it as a Demon. What this means is that Subject 1791, a thirty-three year old human commoner and mother of three, went through Core Creation, Aura Condensation, Natal Palace Formation, Domain Development, and whatever comes next to be considered a Peak Expert, all in a matter of seconds. Ive seen firsthand how Spectres fuel the process of Demonification, so its safe to say that the Spectres prep the hosts body, so theoretically, if I could control the process and terminate it before going full Demon, I might be able to fix all my woes and reach Peak Expert status in a heartbeat.The question is: do I dare even try? If I cant control it and go full Demon, or even partial Demon like Gen did, it would be tantamount to admitting Im Defiled and subjecting the People and all my friends to the Purge. A big risk to take on a process I know nothing about, so I put it aside as the worst idea Ive ever had and review the other things Ive learned. Eating flesh makes Demons stronger, which I kinda already guessed but now have corroboration, since Zhen Shi mentions it as if it were fact. Is this also why Defiled are so strong? Because they eat the flesh of other Defiled? Cannibalism = power? Please no. Last but not least, it seems like Shatter the Void is the step after Peak Expert, and possibly the last one before going full Divinity, or at the very least, strong enough to match an Ancestral Beast. Can Demons even reach Divinity levels of power? I didnt think it was possible since Demons would hardly abide by the Treaty, and I just figured it couldnt happen since a Divinity-level Demon could probably annihilate the Northern, Western, or Southern Wall with a wave of their hand, or whatever appendage they might have.None of this idle musing is distracting me from the urge to immediately explore Demonification, but rather than fumble around in the dark, I take several deep breaths until the temptation is under control. Think, then act, remember? I dont know enough to make an educated decision, but I bet the Abbot does. All I need to do is find him and ask a few innocuous questions like, What do you know about Demonification?, only with more subtlety...A low, rumbling horn sounds out in the distance and I nearly jump to my feet, my low-ceiling tent saved only by the lack of strength in my legs to accomplish such a feat. The haunting note is a familiar one, a signal from the Defiled to sound the engagement. A challenge of sorts, army to army, and while the call came from far off in the distance, it wont take the Defiled long to arrive.Putting my book away, I fix my robes, bring my sleeping floofs out of the tent, and hand them off to an already waiting Song so she can bring them away to safety. Arriving in short order, Dastan and his doomed comrades appear before me, their eyes grim and spirits burning as they silently pledge to defend me with their lives, but I would much rather they didnt. Survive, I command them, and that is all I trust myself to say, because shit just got real and I find myself too terrified to continue.I can barely stand without help, but Im expected to stand on the outer wall where the fighting is the bloodiest, with around twenty soldiers in total I can trust to watch my back.Cool, cool, cool.Yanno, now that I think about it, maybe Demonification isnt so bad a choice after all. Beats dying, because like Akanai said, where theres life, theres hope.Chapter Meme
