Chapter 93: Opening the Twelfth
[Just how long are you planning to stay cooped up inside this cave?] The system’s voice echoed inside Zac’s mind while he sat cross-legged, deep in meditation.
The small cave was quiet except for the faint crackle of the portable stove beside him and the soft hiss of boiling water. A dim electric lamp rested near the wall, spreading just enough light to reveal the red stone surrounding the cave.
Zac slowly opened his eyes. "Why are you in such a hurry?"
[The hurry is that you’ve been sitting in here like a monk for almost three days. Plus, this place smells like hell.]
The system’s tone grew even more disgusted.
[The last three meridians you opened discharged even more filth and impurities from your body, and you clearly have no way to clean yourself. Which means this entire cave now reeks like the garbage dump of hell.]
"Do systems even have noses?"
[What do you mean? Of course we do. We may not have a stable form like you humans or other species, but we possess all senses, and they are heightened far beyond anything you could ever imagine.]
Zac let out a long breath. "I still need to open my last meridian. Once I’m done with it, we can go and explore."
[And how long is that going to take?]
"Maybe a day or two."
[A day or two to open it, then another day or two to consolidate it. By the time you’re done with this crap, your time inside the secret realm will already be over.]
Zac slowly leaned back against the cave wall. "So?"
[So how are we supposed to explore this place?]
"We?"
[Yes, we. I’m trapped with you, remember? Your boredom is my prison.]
The system paused, then continued. [Besides, aren’t you even a little curious about the other side? The place where ice burns people into crisps?]
Zac gave the floating panel in front of him a strange look. "Why would I want to see a place that can literally burn me into crisps?"
[Because curiosity is what separates humans from dead rocks.]
Zac did not answer. He simply closed his eyes again. "I’m going to meditate."
[Coward.]
***
Three days had already passed since their punishment period began.
After discovering that Mend Stem Sprigs could help with opening meridians, Zac had not wasted any time. He had left the cave and searched the surrounding crimson, snowy wasteland for more.
The search lasted nearly four hours.
During that time, he encountered seven different kinds of beasts. All of them looked as if they had been born from the same cursed mold as the bear. Burnt black skin, glowing red cracks like molten veins, furnace-like eyes, and crimson flames that froze anything they touched.
Fortunately, most of them were C-rank, and only one was D-rank. Unfortunately for them, they met Zac.
He used Overdrive when necessary and killed each beast as quickly as possible. Then he followed their tracks back to the places where they had been staying.
As expected, each location had at least one mend-stem sprig growing nearby.
After collecting everything he could, Zac returned to the same cave. Since then, he had been using the stems and leaves carefully while opening his remaining meridians one by one.
Now, his eleventh meridian was almost fully consolidated, and only one remained.
The Urinary Bladder Meridian.
Once that was opened, all twelve major meridians in his body would finally be cleared of blockages.
A day later, the system’s voice suddenly sounded in his mind.
[New information unlocked.] A translucent panel appeared in front of him.
[-30 Info Points]
The moment Zac saw the amount, his eyes opened, and his expression turned cold. "Minus thirty?"
[Correct.]
"I hope the information is worth stealing that much from me."
[Don’t worry. After hearing it, you’ll want to thank me.]
Zac narrowed his eyes. "Say it."
[Ten people are moving toward your current location. Their intention is to ambush you.]
Zac’s gaze sharpened. "What are their ranks?"
[All ten of them are C-ranks.]
Instantly, Zac fell silent.
If they were beasts, the situation would have been simple. He had already fought many C-rank beasts before. Although he had never faced ten C-rank beasts at the same time, he was confident he could handle them if he pushed Overdrive to remain active longer at 4x.
But humans were completely different.
Unlike beasts that relied mostly on instinct, humans calculated, adapted, and deceived. They waited for the right moment to strike. More importantly, Zac had no idea what kind of abilities or skills those ten people possessed.
And unlike him, they most likely knew how to use Mana properly in combat.
Even with Overdrive, there was no guarantee he could survive if they caught him at the wrong moment. Especially if they attacked while he was opening his final meridian.
[Now do you see why I said you’ll thank me?]
Zac let out a slow breath. "Yeah. It’s good that I know before they arrive. If they found me while I was deep in meditation, I could have died."
[I know. That’s why this is the perfect time to show me some well-earned gratitude.]
"I’ll gladly thank you if you tell me how long it will take for them to reach here."
[Of course. Anything for my host.]
Suddenly, another notification appeared.
[-10 Info Points]
Zac’s face went completely blank.
Without the slightest hesitation, the system continued smoothly.
[If there are no distractions on their way, they will likely arrive in four hours and twenty-five minutes.]
[Now be a good boy and say thank you.]
"Thank you."
[That sounded more like an obligation than sincere gratitude.]
"I would have meant it if you hadn’t taken ten extra points for the information. Since you did, this is business, not a favor. No sincere gratitude is intended for business."
Zac ignored the system and looked toward the small pile of Mend Stem Sprigs. "Four hours and twenty-five minutes, huh?"
That was not much time.
"System."
[What now, my ungrateful investment?]
"If I open my final meridian within this time, will it help me in the fight?"
[Yes.]
The system’s tone became more serious.
[Normally, after opening a new meridian, a person will remain weakened for at least two or three hours. Even after that, they still need time to consolidate the meridian properly before using Mana through it without backlash.]
[However, since you have the Mend Stem Sprigs and your suicidal bloodline, chewing the stem while opening the meridian will greatly reduce the damage to your body. Drinking the boiled leaf water afterward will also speed up consolidation.]
[So I would say one hour should be enough to stabilize it to a usable level.]
Zac listened silently.
[As for how it will help, opening all twelve meridians will greatly improve your mana output efficiency. Even though you still don’t know proper combat Mana usage or basic techniques like coating, your body will circulate Mana far better than before.]
The system paused briefly before continuing.
[And that is also a fortunate point. Even with the help of everything I mentioned, you can only use the newly opened meridian for mana flow after one hour of consolidation. You still won’t be able to execute any proper technique through it.]
[But be careful. Time is your enemy here. If you rush too much and lose control, the situation can still go south very quickly.]
Zac picked up a Mend Stem Sprig and separated the stem from its leaves. "Then there’s no time to waste." He placed the stem in his mouth and began chewing.
The warmth from the Mend Stem Sprig spread through Zac’s mouth first, then slowly flowed down his throat and into his body.
The energy released from it moved gently, sinking into his flesh, muscles, and meridians like warm rain soaking into dry soil.
Zac focused inwardly on his body.
One by one, he sensed the meridians he had already opened. Then his awareness settled on the final blockage within his twelfth meridian.
The Urinary Bladder Meridian.
He carefully guided his Mana toward it, gathering it near the obstruction.
[Careful. You’re low on time, but not out of it. Don’t rush like an idiot trying to win an award for self-destruction.]
"I know." Zac pushed his Mana carefully against the blockage. Instantly, pain exploded through his body.
His fingers clenched against his knees, but he did not stop. The warmth from the Mend Stem Sprig immediately gathered around the damaged area of the meridian, soothing the strain.
But it did not erase the pain.
Zac took another breath and pushed again.
This time, the pain shot from his spine down to his legs. His muscles trembled, and cold sweat formed on his forehead, mixing with the black filth already covering his body.
Zac gritted his teeth and gathered more mana for the third push.
Crack.
The obstruction inside his meridian shattered. The moment it opened, Mana surged forward like a dam breaking apart.
Zac’s entire body trembled. For a brief second, he felt as if every part of him had been locked inside invisible chains his whole life.
And now, those chains had finally snapped.
Mana began flowing through all his meridians without blockage or resistance. It rushed through him smoothly and freely, filling every limb, every muscle, and every hidden corner of his body.
Zac’s eyes snapped open.
He clenched his fist and slowly moved his body, examining the new sensation running through him.
"This..."
His voice came out low.
"I feel liberated."