Consciousness slowly returned, and I felt a slight tension in my body, but it wasn't unpleasant—more like the satisfying soreness after a good workout, when your muscles feel lighter and stronger.
Opening my eyes—or what served as them—I saw Wong watching me with concern. Right, I remembered the residual chi from the dark spirit entering my body.
I began assessing my condition. No thirst or other signs of succumbing to dark spirits, but plenty of other changes.
First, some of the lines wrapping my body had turned blue. Second, my chi density and quantity had increased significantly. My body had grown larger, more humanoid, with a head, arms, and legs forming. I might regain my human form as I level up. That's reassuring.
Diving deeper into myself, I saw my chi source—or sources. Beside the transparent sphere floated a blue chi orb, like water. So, this is the "elephant in the room." I hope adding a new element won't cause issues.
*Cough, cough*—Wong's light cough interrupted my thoughts.
I stopped examining myself and noticed him shifting nervously, waiting for my response.
"I'm fine, Wong. I still feel neutral," I assured the worried baboon.
"Guess I overreacted," he said with a relieved smile. "I sense waterbending chi in you. You're anomalous even for this place, where strange things happen."
"I'm still figuring things out, as you know. I only recently became self-aware here," I said with a crooked smile. "Help me understand what happened."
As he knows, even in the spirit realm, there are laws upheld by the world itself. Wong has spoken with relatively sane dark spirits, who claim only about 25% of a defeated spirit's chi can be taken, and even less is absorbed. The rest is consumed by the world. What the world takes often lacks intent or emotion, safer for dark spirits. Many high-ranking dark spirits try to bypass this, but none have succeeded.
"Then I ask you to keep this secret," I said seriously.
"No problem. I don't betray friends," he said, pounding his chest in a mock-cool pose.
"Let's see what this upgrade gives me," I said, standing and heading toward the water. "I still don't know much. I'd like your assessment."
The closer I got to the water, the stronger the water chi's pull. I wanted to dive in and swim, mindless. This is bad—side effects of the upgrade. For now, it's just a mild urge, easily suppressed, but it's concerning.
Asking Wong revealed more unsettling truths: our nature influences us more than I thought. Lower and mid-level spirits naturally stay near their element's sources for comfort. They'll only leave if forced. Even Wong, a high-level spirit, admits he still prefers forests near trees out of habit.
"Existence shapes consciousness" holds true for spirits. Until you're elite, your instincts are driven by your body, not your mind. That's not good. I've barely started, but the world is already molding me to its parameters.
At the water's edge, Wong guided me. The closer you are to your element's source, the easier it is to control. I stepped into the water. Following his advice, I tried to feel the water itself.
Instantly, I recalled the dark spirit's techniques—only two, but still a good start. The first was a water film over my body, distributing damage evenly, like water armor. The second was an offensive move: directing the armor to knock back attackers. Even these couldn't save the mid-level spirit from a high-level one's raw power.
I could also move water within two meters of me with my thoughts. With more chi, I'll control it from farther distances and in larger volumes.
"Now, try infusing your body with water chi," Wong instructed. "It boosts strength, agility, defense, and reaction speed. The improvement rate increases with practice, and it passively enhances your chi conductivity."
"Where did you learn all this?" I asked curiously. Wong didn't strike me as the analytical type; he seemed more of a brute-force kind of spirit.
"When I'm bored, I visit Wan Shi Tong. He loves giving lectures, though I usually doze off," he said with a chuckle. "I'd wake up mid-flight from his library, hearing him grumble about ungrateful spirits."
So, his library exists here. There might be spirit knowledge too. I'll visit, but first, I need to master my abilities and grow stronger.
Infusing my body with water chi, I felt an immediate difference—stronger, as if time slowed. But this state drains chi fast. Without my source, it would last 30 seconds; now, I can sustain it for minutes.
Using the neutral source for enhancement worked even better, doubling my strength. So, the neutral source is better for boosting power.
Excited, I experimented further. Who wouldn't want to learn bending?
With my new hands, I struck a tree, leaving only a slight scratch. Weak. Infusing my body with water chi, the next strike left a dent. Better. Using neutral chi, the tree shook violently, splitting at the impact point. In strong wind, it would fall instantly.
Still not enough. In battle, enemies would get too close. I needed elemental solutions. I thought of creating a water sword and shield, becoming a water knight.
Condensing water into a sword took 15 minutes—too long. But the second attempt took two minutes; the water seemed to remember the shape, or I'd mastered the process. Testing it on another tree, it left a small cut. Directing water pressure along the blade created a clean slice. Next, I tried stone, applying more force, and it split in two.
The sword made me feel more confident. Now, I needed to make its creation second nature, taking only seconds.
Creating the shield was faster, like condensed water armor. I asked Wong to test it, forming the sword and shield—exhausting work.
While water chi fuels my skills, neutral chi enhances my body, making me far stronger.
After a brief sparring session, Wong looked thoughtful.
"You could already defeat a weak mid-level spirit. The shield can take several hits," he said after minutes of contemplation. "It's almost enviable—you can beat an opponent a full rank stronger at your level."
"Don't get arrogant. Many spirits are still stronger than you," he added seriously.
"I won't," I replied, equally serious.
Exhausted from practicing, we returned to Wong's tree home. I'd spent the day mastering new abilities but hadn't figured out how to absorb chi from defeated spirits. Tomorrow, I'd ask Wong to take me to dark spirit gathering spots. I'd also start practicing against other spirits, with Wong as backup.
*
In the morning—or what passed for it in this place of perpetual day or night—I noticed a clay pot. First sign of mental decline: losing attention to detail. Earlier, I'd have immediately found a vessel for water. Fighting without my primary tool as a waterbender is suicidal. Not all battles have water sources nearby, and condensing water from organisms or air is still a distant dream.
Thanking Wong for the pot, I asked, "Where did you get it?"
"Spirits under my protection made it. Some teamed up to create it," he said. "Don't be upset. Many were attacked by other spirits and are still wary of strangers, so they hide."
"Understood. Please tell them I'm grateful."
Wong knew the dark spirit gathering spots, so we set out. The first location was near where I'd seen my first battle. Further on, we found a cave with several low-level earthbending spirits—miniature versions of the giant I'd seen.
"Be careful," Wong warned. "Don't let your guard down until you're sure."
Prepared, I formed water armor, sword, and shield, and circulated neutral chi. Charging the enemies, they gathered stones for defense. Earthbending spirits focus on defense, making my job easier.
Without slowing, I spun my sword, slicing the first spirit. The resistance was greater than ordinary stone; they infuse stones with their chi. Breaking through, I cut its core. As it dissolved into chi, most tried to enter me, but I felt saturated, and it vanished. I'd figure that out later. Two spirits remained. Seeing their defense was useless, they attacked. My shield absorbed the blows. Within seconds, my sword cut them down.
I strained to understand the chi absorption process. The chi approached, I felt full, and it dissipated into the world. No further enhancement. But to be sure, I'd hunt spirits of other elements.
We spent the day battling various spirits. By day's end, the results were clear: I couldn't absorb more chi; my body couldn't handle another source. I'd need to consider this when advancing to mid-level. Maybe higher ranks allow absorbing other elements.
Absorption only worked with waterbending spirits, even rare derivatives. Absorbing low-level waterbending spirits caused mild pain, while mid-level spirits caused severe pain, hindering combat. Wong saved me when another mid-level spirit nearly bit me.
Absorption only works if the defeated spirit is within two meters.
After each absorption, my water source grew denser and larger, improving chi quality. My water sense soared. Creating and maintaining techniques became effortless. But I couldn't reach mid-level; I was infinitely close. The stronger I grew, the more the world seemed to restrict me. Not being born here, it might see me as a threat. Another reason to visit Wan Shi Tong's library.
After battling waterbending spirits, I caught myself wanting to stay and play in the water. The high water chi made it tempting. Shaking my head, I dismissed the thought. Another problem: I was becoming more like a low-level spirit.
Heading back to Wong's, I thought about not staying long. I needed to solve my problems, and staying put wouldn't help. Under Wong's protection, I could develop safely, but I didn't want to lose myself, even temporarily. Who knows what I'd become as a high-level spirit? Without radical action, I might stay low-level.
This morning's excitement about my uniqueness had quickly turned into challenges. But without challenges, life wouldn't be interesting. Overcoming them makes us stronger.