NOVEL NEXT Chapter 237: PlaceHolder
Jade, with a contemplative gesture, placed a finger under her chin and pondered aloud, "Oh, so if I've understood correctly, the first category of individuals can enhance themselves, their weapons, and essentially anything they touch, right?"
Gojaro, in acknowledgment, gave a short nod before he sauntered across the room to pick up a sword. The weapon, old yet well-maintained, gleamed as he lifted it, demonstrating the essence of their discussion. As Jade delved deeper into her thoughts, she ventured, "So, this implies that the second category resembles what one might call a 'Mage,' capable of conjuring objects from thin air.
But this ability, it stems from a specific energy within us?"
"Correct once again," Gojaro confirmed, his voice steady as he elegantly sliced through the air with the sword. The blade left behind a series of small, luminous trails, a visual testament to the power he described.
Jade, her curiosity deepening, then touched upon another topic, "Then the third type... they're akin to poisoners, or more directly, enhancers who can augment others. Could individuals of this category also possess healing abilities?" Her inquiry, thoughtful and profound, reflected her deep engagement with the subject.
Gojaro, pausing his demonstration, turned towards her, "Indeed, though the application varies significantly among individuals. While one might have the capacity to heal, another could find themselves bereft of such an ability."
"And in turn, they possess another unique ability," Gojaro remarked, a subtle air of intrigue enveloping his words. Snapping his fingers, he shifted the conversation to a lighter note, "You enjoy video games, Jade?"
His voice carried a hint of camaraderie, acknowledging the journey ahead. "I know I should get to know you a bit better since we'll be putting our lives on the line in the future," he added with a slight chuckle, bridging the gap between mentor and comrade.
Jade, her interest piqued, responded warmly, "Yeah, I played a lot of the popular games growing up. I still have my father's old GBA tucked away somewhere."
"Perfect," Gojaro said, his hands clapping together in a moment of realization. "So, you know how those games have a meta system where one strategy is clearly superior and another clearly not?"
"Yeah, I suppose so," Jade replied, a nostalgic smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Curious, she asked, "Do you like video games a lot?"
Gojaro, with a slight chuckle, shared a personal insight, "I used to, until I realized how much real-world stuff blended into that stuff. But that's a good way to look at it. You have the three classes, with the first and second being pretty even, but the scales tip depending on what the ability is. And then you have the final class, as you've known."
He paused, his tone growing more somber, "Which is why those who possess this ability usually don't live long lives, as the creatures we fight are especially dangerous and quick to kill."
Jade nodded, absorbing the gravity of his words before voicing her curiosity, "So, why are you telling me this exactly?"
"Because, while they usually are quick to die in most situations, they are some of the most important pieces in the long term," Gojaro explained, his tone shifting to convey the weight of his next words. "The director himself believes that someone with that ability frame will be what eventually rids these creatures from our world soon."
He continued, revealing the extent of their preparation and investment. "We have invested billions of dollars into technology that can pinpoint where these creatures are coming from and redirect their portals to locations more manageable for us to handle."
Jade, intrigued by the strategic depth of their operations, listened intently as Gojaro elaborated on a recent example. "The situation you dealt with Master Ash, for instance, was originally going to spawn in the middle of some busy street about 10 miles west."
"Oh wow," Jade expressed, both surprised and impressed. Her curiosity peaked, she asked, "And where is this device's location anyway?"
Gojaro responded with a slight laugh, a mix of amusement and mystery coloring his voice. "No idea. Rumor has it the Director wipes everyone's memory somehow as they go to work on it daily."
"Oh wow, must be some fancy tech to be able to redirect portals like that," Jade remarked, her curiosity piqued. "You know, coming from a background in chemistry, I'm used to thinking about reactions and interactions on a molecular level. This technology... it's like taking the principles of chemistry and applying them on a cosmic scale. Manipulating space like it's a compound we can control."
She paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "In chemistry, we talk about catalysts as something that can speed up a reaction without being consumed. Redirecting portals—it's almost like using a catalytic converter, but for spatial anomalies. The idea that we can guide these portals, essentially controlling where these reactions occur in our world, is mind-blowing."
Jade's eyes shone with excitement as she connected her academic knowledge to the situation at hand. "It makes me wonder about the 'x, y, and z'—the variables we're not seeing. In a lab, you can predict outcomes based on known quantities, but here, we're dealing with unknowns that defy conventional science. It's both thrilling and terrifying."
Gojaro observed Jade, who seemed momentarily lost in her own thoughts, her insights veering into realms of complexity that left him slightly befuddled. He couldn't quite grasp the depth of her chemical analogies, her enthusiasm painting a stark contrast to his own straightforward understanding of their reality.
Shaking his head gently to clear the confusion, Gojaro steered the conversation back to the task at hand. "But that's the gist of these technologies and the Director, along with Master Ash, wanted me to ensure you had a good 180-degree crash course of everything before we hit the ground fully running," he explained, signaling a shift back to the immediate and practical.
"So, let's go ahead and start slow," Gojaro instructed, his voice taking on a more guiding tone. "Hold your hands out, putting your palms facing upward."
Jade, snapping back from her contemplative state, complied. "Oh, right," she said, aligning her palms as directed, a gesture of readiness to bridge her theoretical musings with the tangible lessons Gojaro was about to impart.
"While all three of these categories exist," Gojaro began, his focus now on illustrating a foundational skill, "something every branch has is the ability to channel their energy into a small wave of energy."
He paused for emphasis, ensuring Jade's full attention. "This usually gives off a blue aura for most people, but for others, it can vary depending on random factors."
Gojaro, observing Jade's focused demeanor, instructed further,
"Now, go ahead and close your eyes. Focus on something you love, and in a way, draw that to your shoulders. Then, bring that down to your arms, and finally, bring that above your hands. Follow the warm tingle sensation in your hands."
Jade, taking his words to heart, closed her eyes.
The first vivid image that sprung to her mind was that of her father, clad in a white suit, his build robust and his smile radiant, always encouraging her to do her best.
This memory, filled with warmth and affection, served as the perfect catalyst for what was to come.
As she dwelled on these thoughts, another set of images cascaded through her mind—memories of Ty, her stalwart friend, confronting her bullies back in middle school.
Ty, with his unique aura and unspoken strength, had always been a source of comfort and protection.
The warmth from these recollections began to manifest physically, a gentle heat spreading across her shoulders, down her forearms, and into her palms.
Jade felt a peculiar sensation, as if the emotional warmth from her memories was being converted into a tangible energy. Suddenly, with a slight jolt that surprised even her, a blue wave of energy, intertwined with short bands of white, burst forth from her hands.
As Jade's gaze lifted, she observed the immediate consequence of her action: her energy bar, previously at a full 10, had diminished to 7. Intrigued and slightly bewildered by this new metric of her abilities, her attention was swiftly drawn to Gojaro. With his eyes closed and a concentrated expression etched across his face, he was engaged in a similar exercise.
A massive pillar of blue energy, far more substantial than her own, surged from his hand, ascending toward the ceiling in a display of raw power and control. Jade couldn't help but notice the numbers above him—a testament to his strength and experience—fluctuating from 580 out of 600, dropping slightly to 577 after the demonstration.
"I wonder if they just recover over time," Jade pondered internally, trying to make sense of the mechanics governing their powers. Her curiosity about the energy recovery process was cut short as Gojaro's voice broke through her thoughts.
"That's good and on your first try also," he commended, a hint of genuine approval in his tone. "I've known people who have taken dozens of tries without luck!"
His words, encouraging and filled with promise, signaled to Jade that her intuitive grasp on this new ability was not only rare but significant. The realization that she had successfully harnessed her energy on her very first attempt filled her with a mixture of pride and awe.
"That means we can move on to the next practical step of finding out which category you belong to," Gojaro announced, shifting the focus to the next phase of their training.