Chapter 30

  The Science of Survival

  The sun had tracked across the sky once more, painting the meadow in the gold and deepening blue of the evening the following day.

  In the small fort, the frantic building had given way to quiet, obsessive practice.

  The defenses were nearly impenetrable to what they had seen so far, strengthened by the new stakes, and the trench now three feet deep around the outside.

  While the fortifications were physical, the true forging was internal, as the group finally started to find answers to their Cultivation.

  Chris was hunched over, his breathing in sharp puffs.

  In his cupped hand, a tiny, glowing ball of flame flickered.

  "As long as I have Qi, I can maintain this little fireball," he realized.

  “Fireballs are dumb. Who likes fireballs?... Good for you Chris..”

  Dan was several feet away, struggling with his unique power.

  He kept trying to cycle his Qi through his body, like the others had described, only for it to resist.

  Face red with anger, he stared at his club in his hand.

  What the hell is up with this?

  A pop of a fireball echoed softly.

  Luna's head perked up, and cocked sideways hearing the rumbling coming from Dan.

  He held the image of his center in his mind.

  He stared through the club in his hand.

  There's no way I'm not going to figure this out.

  No way.

  NO.

  Something clicked.

  His Seed flexed.

  The club, already heavy, felt made of lead.

  He focused on his body, Seed heaving, and feet pressed into the earth.

  I don't move the Qi.

  I should focus on manipulating my Seed, to manipulate my Qi..

  Kim sat near the center of camp, staring at the water pot, absently petting Luna.

  With careful concentration, she gently guided a water droplet that had formed on the rim, pulling it into a slow, looping arc in the air.

  "I did it!"

  She jumped up in excitement.

  Luna jumped to her paws and barked, looking for the danger.

  “Calm down, CALM, I'm just happy. RELAX.” Kim tried to calm her.

  Luna growled, panning the environment.

  Ignoring the silly human.

  Jimmy sat apart, twirling his hair, muttering about refraction angles, his mind racing.

  “I- I can not figure it out, it is too complicated...There are so many possible variables and outcomes… I can not compute it all… I-”

  “Dude, what are you muttering about over there?”

  Dan loomed over his distracted friend.

  “Wha-uh AHH!”

  He jerked around in surprise.

  “Oh sorry Dan, I just can't seem to decipher this Qi.”

  “Well, what does it feel like? Mine feels like weight... I can make myself or stuff I'm holding heavier, for now at least..”

  Dan looked down at his club with a smile as he curled it.

  “Adjustable dumbbell."

  Having previously focused only on the scientific how, or why, of the energy, this question shocked him.

  Closing his eyes for a moment, Jimmy opened them back up.

  “Damnit Dan, why didn't you tell me earlier?... I have Light Affinity… I should have realized it, it was so obvious with the particles, the refraction, and the waves…”

  “Uhh.. Yeah..” Dan patted Jimmy on the shoulder.

  George was pacing the fort’s interior perimeter, occasionally dropping into a low stance to test his strength.

  I’m still not sure what this magic crap is doin’.

  The deep aches and stiffness from his past injuries were minimized, and he could maintain his work for hours with barely any fatigue.

  All I know is I want more…

  Maybe feel 45 again.

  “Heh.”

  Annette sat cross-legged near the fire, her eyes closed.

  She didn't feel stronger or faster.

  Just profoundly and persistently stable.

  Jaime discovered her power was purely reactive and defensive.

  She shivered, cold in the chilly evening air.

  Immediately, she responded by pushing a thin, subtle layer of energy from her skin.

  "It's a warm layer," she explained to Dan.

  "It only works when I feel a chill.”

  Dan paused.

  “So, like all the time then?”

  She gave him a side eye.

  “Yeah pretty much.”

  Belle, the youngest, was the most frustrated.

  She didn't feel flow, weight, or warmth.

  Instead, she felt an unsettling energy that refused to form a shape.

  When she focused, the energy zipped around her fingertips, constantly seeking a path or a connection, but refusing to leave her skin.

  Her hands often felt involuntarily twitchy.

  I miss my phone…

  The group was stronger, wiser, and better prepared.

  The Hard tutorial had forced them to adapt, morally and physically.

  Now, they were ready to meet the new day, not as desperate survivors.

  But as burgeoning specialists.