Chapter 94: Bloodline Stirring
"I feel like a completely new person."
[I can understand. For a mortal who lived his entire life as an average normal person, opening all the meridians would feel exactly like that. A new body, a new life, a new soul.]
The system paused. [Overly dramatic and inspirational. But in truth, it all amounts to almost nothing.]
Zac deliberately ignored the last part. He tried circulating his Mana once more and felt how frighteningly easy the flow had become.
Before now, whenever he used his lightning element or even Overdrive, his mana had to travel through his blood vessels because his meridians were still blocked. That alone had placed a tremendous strain on his body.
But now, that restraint was gone.
He could feel it clearly. His elemental ability and skills could move far more freely than before. Both his mana output and control had increased exponentially.
"I feel like I could defeat anyone right now."
[True, but don’t get drunk on that feeling.]
"Can you not ruin at least one moment in my life?"
[No.] The System answered without hesitation. [Keeping you level-headed is also part of my codex.]
[That feeling you have right now, the one where you think you’re standing on top of the world, is only a mirage. Let me give you a small piece of information to crush your celebration.]
Zac’s mouth twitched.
[There are worlds and life forms in this universe that are born with all their meridians and acupuncture points already opened. To them, what you just achieved is not a breakthrough. It’s basic anatomy.]
"Is this your way of saying I shouldn’t celebrate?"
[No. For a normal mortal like you, this is absolutely worth celebrating.]
[But you, specifically, do not have that privilege.]
Zac’s eyes narrowed slightly.
[For you, this is only the first step on a very long road. Don’t mistake the entrance gate for the destination.]
Instead of arguing with the system, Zac took a small breath and started thinking.
Though the system was annoying most of the time, what it said was not wrong. Zac himself also knew that the powerful feeling coursing through him was only a momentary high.
And when he thought about the people he had seen so far, Lima, Matilda, Simon, and Armani, he was still nothing more than a toddler taking his first steps.
Zac exhaled deeply and prepared to sit down again to begin consolidating his meridian.
But suddenly, his heartbeat thundered inside his chest.
’Ba-dum... ba-dum...’
His entire body froze.
’Ba-dum... ba-dum...’
The sound was too loud, echoing through the cave like war drums.
Zac’s hand instantly shot to his chest. "What...the..." The words barely left his mouth before pain tore through him.
His knees struck the cave floor, and his eyes widened. Crimson light flooded them completely.
A wave of rage suddenly surged through his mind. Then misery, then joy, then love, followed by loss, hatred, fear, lust, loneliness, and countless other emotions, crashed into him one after another.
Zac clutched his head and started laughing like a madman.
’Hahaha...Aahahahaha...’
Then suddenly, the laughter broke.
’No... no, no, no... Waahaaaa...sob...sob...’
The laugh twisted into a sob, and he began crying. Before he could stop it, his chest tightened again, and tears streamed down his face.
Then, just as suddenly, the grief vanished.
Rage replaced it.
His fingers dug into the ground hard enough to crack the red, flaming stone beneath him. He stood up and began smashing his fists into the cave floor.
"System..." With immense effort, Zac forced the words out. "What is happening to me?"
The next second, the twisted anger became even more violent. "I asked you what happened to me, you bastard! Why are you silent?"
His voice thundered through the cave. "If you don’t answer me right now, I’ll rip..."
Suddenly, the anger collapsed again, and his body started trembling. "Please..."
His voice broke. "Please tell me what’s happening. I don’t want this. I’m sorry. I shouted at you before. Please don’t get mad at me. I’m really afraid. Please tell me what’s happening to me."
"I shouldn’t live. No, I should never have been born. Everyone is suffering because of me. I am a curse, the worst; I think the best for me is to commit su..."
[Relax.]
The system’s voice struck his mind like thunder.
[Start meditating and control your breathing. Now.]
Zac forced himself into a cross-legged lotus position and started using his breathing technique.
Because his mind was chaotic, the Mana inside his body had also fallen into disorder. It rampaged through his meridians, damaging his body from within.
Zac clenched his teeth as blood dripped from his mouth and nose, and the emotions kept coming.
Rage, joy, grief, fear, lust, and loneliness. Everything surged through him one after another.
He forced them down while continuing his breathing exercise. Again and again.
Only after half an hour did his manna gradually calm down. The crimson light in his eyes also began to fade, and his heartbeat slowly returned to normal.
Zac opened his eyes and immediately asked, "What happened to me?" Then, as if he already knew the answer, he closed his eyes for a moment.
"It’s my bloodline, isn’t it?"
[Yes.]
The system’s voice was also calmer now.
[Opening all twelve meridians made your body more suitable to carry and circulate mana. The sudden overflow stimulated your bloodline and caused it to stir.]
[What you felt was not foreign. It was your own bottled-up emotions being dragged out and amplified by your bloodline.]
Zac’s expression darkened.
"So I’m the cause of my own pain."
[That is a very philosophical line, but yes.]
Zac let out a tired laugh, but there was no humor in it. "If it reacts like this every single time I get stronger, how am I supposed to control it?"
[Did you already forget about the technique your father left for you?]
Zac’s eyes shifted slightly. "You mean the Heart Sword?"
[Yes. It is one of the best techniques for calming the mind and regulating emotions. But ever since you left Mello City, you’ve barely practiced it.]
Zac winced.
He knew that was true.
It had been a while since he last practiced the Heart Sword technique. All the commotion, excitement, and chaos of entering the academy had made him forget about it completely.
[If you don’t want this to happen every time your body improves, then start practicing it seriously. Master it to the highest level you can.]
Zac wiped the sweat from his face. "Fine."
He picked up the prepared cup beside him and drank the boiled Mend Stem Sprig leaf water. Then he closed his eyes and began meditating once again.
Time passed slowly inside the cave.
Zac remained seated in the same position, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. The black liquid from the boiled Mend Stem Sprig leaves had already spread through his body, helping his newly opened meridian stabilize.
It was also healing the damage caused earlier when his Mana had gone berserk because of his bloodline.
The pain was still there, but it had dulled considerably compared to before. More importantly, his mana was now flowing without any problem.
Without opening his eyes, Zac asked, "How long?"
[The guests will arrive pretty soon.]
The cave was dimly lit by the small lamp beside him. A few empty canned food lids lay scattered near his bag, along with the portable stove, a metal cup, and the remains of the herbs he had used.
If someone looked at it from the outside, it would probably seem like he was enjoying a peaceful picnic alone.
Zac opened his eyes and took his sword out of his inventory.
He examined the blade carefully.
Small cracks ran along the surface here and there, faint but impossible to ignore.
"I really need a new weapon."
[Yes, you do.]
The system continued calmly.
[And since you’re almost done with your meridians, the next thing you need to learn is coating. After that, it will be proper sword training.]
Zac raised an eyebrow. "But I’m already good with swords."
[Oh, really? Then how proficient are you in sword intent?]
Zac paused. "Sword intent?" His eyes narrowed slightly. "Wait, that thing is real? I thought it only happened in novels."
The system let out a long, dramatic sigh.
[I thought you were only standing at the bottom of the mountain. Now I realize you’re ten layers under the ground.]
"Hey, don’t try to deviate from what you said. Tell me about sword intent."
[Too soon.]
Zac stared at the panel.
[First, learn coating. Then we can talk about swords and sword intent.]
"You know what? You’re like that one person who shows food to a child, waits until the child thinks he’s about to eat, then pockets it and says, ’No, you can’t have it.’"
[Great analogy.]
The system’s tone suddenly shifted.
[But I think it’s time to get serious.]
Zac’s gaze moved toward the cave entrance. "Yeah. I heard the footsteps too."
A few minutes later, the footsteps became louder and began echoing from the cave entrance.
The intruders were trying to move as quietly as possible, but the cave was too narrow, and every sound carried through the walls far too clearly.
As the footsteps came closer, Zac remained completely motionless.
Soon, ten figures entered the deepest part of the cave, and all of them looked at Zac with clear killing intent.
[So the party begins,] the System said inside his mind.