Instead of a reply, Zeru disappeared from beneath the Sakura Tree and suddenly emerged right in front of Jin. With his face just a centimetre away from Jin’s, he used his sword hilt and stabbed into Jin’s abdomen.
The next moment Jin reached unbelievable speeds.
He flew like a rocketeer experiencing G forces that would knock a person out cold. If not for the System teleporting him within moments into the dungeon maker’s instance and allowed Jin to slow down with dozens of safety nets, he would have crashed into Maniwa’s town, causing a ruckus.
As Jin finally slowed to a halt, he instantly coughed out blood multiple times and felt like all of his ribs and internal organs were broken into pieces. (or bleeding out profusely)
“Am I dying?” Jin could feel that his consciousness was fading away fast and he was trying his best to keep his eyes open while he felt very light headed after the blow.
“Negative. User’s monster enhanced bone structure from the remains of the Vampires was able to withstand the damage of Bellator Zeru’s attack. User’s recovery inscription will kickstart in 3, 2, 1.” The System stated, and Jin immediately descended into even more pain than he had ever experienced. (At least still breathing with whatever function left in his lungs.)
“So…Zeru was holding back all this while?” Jin asked as he babbled out blood while the dungeon supplier somewhat tolerated the initial worm like feeling going through his entire body, aware that it would only worsen from here on out.
“Affirmative. The training you received from Bellator Zeru was below 10% of his capabilities. The blow that you received was most probably around 20-30% of his maximum estimated physical strength. However, due to the instantaneous hit, System was unable to fully pinpoint the exact percentage of raw strength he had used on User.” The System explained in detail, but Jin was in no mood to listen to it ramble.
“Serves you right. You should not meddle with other people’s relationship like that.” Pei came out from the wristband while holding onto her (now treasured) crane plushie as she assessed the damage on him. (Now in her sleeping linen night dress as well.)
“Anyways, from my observation, he purposely aimed at a place where you wouldn’t get killed, and no organs would be damaged long term with the aid of your inscription. Just tolerate the pain for the next half an hour or so.” Pei analysed.
“Don’t think you will get away this time by bribing him with a plushie.”
“I kind of figured that out the hard way,” Jin replied as he tried to breathe in and out slowly.
“Since you will be in pain for quite some while, want to hear yet another story that the System told me to distract yourself a little?”
“Story? You are not going to give me any painkillers? What kind of surgeon are you? Whew…Haaa.. Wheew.” Jin panted as he endured the worm like feeling going through his entire body.
“I could do that, but unfortunately I have to agree with a certain sadist. ‘There should be a price for stupidity and pain might be just the right currency’. Honestly, I know that you meant well, but there are certain place and time for things like that. You’ve just reunited the two and basically asked him if he was ok with you gambling her life away.” Pei replied back with indifference.
“Besides, you don’t need any meds, when you have a legendary inscription inside now. I know exactly how sturdy you are since I was the one to did the job. Moreover, you heard what the System said. He merely used 30% of his strength. So stop being a wussy.” Pei said, and Jin gave up arguing.
“Fine… Colour -whew- Colour me intrigued.” Jin requested as he gritted his teeth as the worm like feeling got even more intense.
“Hearing my beautiful voice should be more interesting than hearing it from the System itself. So, you better be grateful.” Pei said as she sneaked in a punch to his ribs as a cheeky gesture. (Without a doubt, Jin would scream if the pain wouldn’t have been already overwhelming, leaving him with his mouth wide open gasping for air.)
“So, you were not the only one curious to know why she appeared. Apparently, even though you are not actively emitting your aura, a small portion of your Maqi gets passively exuded out of your body every now and then as part of the body’s way of maintaining a chi equilibrium. It just happened that Fei Er’s lingering spirit within the surrounding land was already active by Zeru’s gift. That pair of black and white Lotus.”
“Your Maqi made the spirit of the land hunger for more as it wished to materialise. Which is why the System recommended completing what Zeru had started. Initially, the System did not detect the spirit of the land as well since Zeru only inserted sufficient chi to maintain the flowers for seven days and seven nights.”
“But when I returned to the site, only then did the System note the -Argggh! -the materialisation of the spirit of the land?” Jin asked as he suddenly felt a spike in pain. He could feel that those ‘worms’ were like gathering the parts of his broken vampire enhanced bones pieces and attempting to mix and match them together.
“Well, your Maqi acted as a catalysator amplifying her appearance. It’s not like it knew that she was Fei Er until she called out to you.” Pei replied as she giggled at the suffering of Jin. “That’s why when you inserted your potent Maqi into the surrounding, the tree started to bloom again even in the middle of winter.”
“Like you, even the tree had to regulate its ‘chi’ component or else it would have suffered from chi toxicities. That being said the System also seems unsure, whether your Maqi reacted with the tree which strengthened the spirit of her or if it was the other way around, though I suppose in the end it doesn’t even matter.”
“Are you making all those things up? Sounds scientific and at the same time dubious. OW!” This time Pei simply flicked his forehead seeing as he was wriggling with pain.
“Look if you want the complete scientific analysis from the System you can go ahead and read it yourself. I was just putting it into simple terms for you to understand. After all, I am not a biologist. Or plant scientist or whatever you want to call them. I’m only iterating what I know.” Pei explained and returned back to the bracelet.
“In any case, judging from his silent and yet prideful behaviour, Zeru won’t be apologising to you anytime soon. But given his personality, he should be extremely grateful that you allowed him to see his wife. I bet not even in his wildest dreams did he ever consider such a possibility.” Pei said before becoming quiet.
“Then I guess after I am done healing…I should go up and apologise for my behaviour. Still, I hope that he will let me help them out in the future.” Jin whispered to himself because of all the pain. At this point, he would prefer passing out. At least then he would not have to endure the pain and this foreign yucky feeling all over him.
“Sigh- this just proves that you deserve your current situation. Feel free to try and find a way, but it would be just cruel to give him hope and disappoint him. I can assure you that he is more than content with learning that it seems possible to spend time with her. “
“And before you have a foolproof plan, you should not address it, unless you like pain. Next time he might not hold back so much.” Pei cautioned him. “Funny how you treat most situations with caution but you act so oblivious towards relationships.”
“Then I think I am not mature enough to handle such stuff,” Jin answered via thoughts. The dungeon supplier lacked the energy to form any coherent sentences.
“Definitely. You have more to grow than just power. But you are still young and have capable people all around you… Young Master.” Pei finally stopped communicating and returned to her bracelet as Jin lay on the ground, breathing slowly to minimise the pain of this act as much as he could.
“Well…guess I can start thinking of all the Christmas presents I wish to create and give to all my minions since I am stuck in this position for another 20 minutes.” Jin thought to himself as he felt it was better to keep himself distracted than thinking about the pain.
