I was a fan of a lot of media. I dreamed about that perfect girl, the one who has a cool attitude. Incredibly badass, but still a team player. Quirky, with odd habits that derive from their monomaniacal pursuit of perfection in combat.
She doesn't have the Social Fu of the Ace, she more obsessive, trading technical jargon and processing massive data files with the aid of her AI or spirit companion, or whatever depending on the setting.
She does things in an unusual, unexpected yet organized way. Those who don't take training seriously won't take the real thing seriously, and she will not put up with someone who screws around in training or the real thing.
She's developed new feats in her area of study, things that would blow the minds of the Academics or Wizards, if she just had time to go back to school and learn formally. She's self-taught but extremely perfectionist because she's survived in the fire of battle. She has a ton of context to gain from formal academic study, she just needs to sit down and work through what the formal teaching says. She has a lot of corrections of their theory based on her practice.
She has some small place of comfort in daily life, once she finally gets some downtime from the battlefield that is.
The classic is the mecha / valkyrie from Battle Action Harem Highschool Side Character Quest (No SV, you are the Waifu). Anna is ridiculously powerful, with a whole technique that caused the government to start madly scrambling to reproduce Manhattan Project style, once you unleash it.
In the magical setting, if you consider the Wizard to be the master of prepared magic, maybe this archetype would be best represented as a Sorceress. Someone who learned one on one from a mentor, skipping a lot of steps, but achieving something amazing.
You could have a Magical Girl who endured years of brutal survival surrounded by major monster settlements. Or, in other tech styles, have more of a Star Wars elite X-Wing pilot or privateer. I don't know, I think the setting needs some kind of personal superpowers that an individual can control.
So Jedi X-wing pilot maybe, but definitely not just a regular pilot. You could go more strictly mech-warrior style.
I wandered in psychic space through different conceptions of this character, I must have done some serious metaphysical wear and tear, however, as when the garbage truck hit me I knew I was in for it.
My vision was full of white light. When my vision cleared up, I found myself lying on a cot. It was freezing cold, it was completely silent, which was eerie after years living in the city.
Why was I so freaking hungry. I explored the place in a daze, not yet aware that truck-kun strikes again.
There were 6 rooms, two other rooms were locked, I thought they were small rooms with a cot and meditation mats like mine had.
There was a larger room that was completely empty, and then a dining room that could seat at least a dozen and a kitchen and pantry.
The pantry was filled with what looked like nutritional bars, packaged in gray wrappers.
But thankfully I found rice and dry beans and a cooking pot. It took me a second when I couldn’t find a button or dial for the stove.
“System!” I said instinctively. It was starting to dawn on me.
SYSTEM
Character Details
Name: [redacted]
Stats:
Strength: 60 - Stamina: 45 - Reflex: 40 - Grace: 20
Discipline: 99 - Charisma: 20 - Wisdom: 30 - Intellect: 20
Meditation: 40 - Magic: 10 - Battle Forms: 40
Dao Path:
Body Cultivation Practitioner: Rapid Strikes, Mastery of Movement, Body as Armor.
Wind Elemental Core : Tailwinds, Wind Martial Arts
Buddhist : Basic Anti-evil spirit formation.
Unlocked:
Body Cultivation - Perfection: Bodily Recovery, Perfection: Bodily Healing, Secret Art: Fist Intent, Secret Art: Whirlwind Kick, Perfected Art: Finger Strikes
Wind Element: Headwind (Magic), Tornado (Magic)
Buddhist: Soul Revealing Mantra, Perfected: Meditation
Tutorial:
To improve your statistics and abilities, you must earn training points in battle, and then unlock them through meditation.
Only points which are both earned and unlocked can be used. Extra points either earned or unlocked are tracked for when the corresponding action is complete to make them available: these are tracked as either Unearned points (needing combat to be earned), or Locked points (needing meditation to be earned.
Meditation current gains a point per two hours for the first day, a point per 8 hours for the first week, and a point per day thereafter.
You have completed meditating for 90 days: 12 points for the first day, 18 points for the rest of the first week, 83 points for the remaining 83 days.
You have 113 unearned points.
Combat point earning can be achieved by sparring, official tournaments and battles and actual battles and wars. This is in increasing scale of points earned.
You can advance a stat for 1 point, abilities have a varying cost.
You cannot advance a stat beyond 99 without a Perfected achievement or ability for that stat.
You have 10 points available.
Also, as you continue to unlock and earn points, your past will be unsealed.
What an interesting system, I thought. Having to both earn and unlock points was a pain but made sense in this very meditation focused place. Obviously, the person I became was in seclusion.
I was tempted to improve magic, and learn a wind spell but instead I looked at the costs of my Body abilities and Buddhist teachings. Secret arts were 100 points, and the Perfected were 50. Perfected meditation would probably be key once I earned enough points.
I looked at stats instead. After considering my options, I improved stamina to 55.
After eating, I took the time to sleep. Meditation wasn’t true sleep after all.
When I woke up the next day, I went to the last room, a training room with padding floors and walls.
I observed as I tried different punches and kicks.
SYSTEM: demonstration mode.
System will create an illusionary you to demonstrate martial forms and abilities.
The system demonstrated all of the basic primary strikes of Body Cultivation. It was not a graceful art, instead using brute force. Boxing, shoulder charges, elbow strikes and a few kicks were included.
There was a defensive form involving crossing arms together.
After two hours I immediately began learning and practicing the Wind martial arts.
It was good to have a second style to break out of an opponent’s attempts to exploit your weaknesses.
I wasn’t sure what style was primary, but I enjoyed the way wind martial arts were both sudden and flowing from one strike to the next.
I actually earned 1 point just from going through these arts as well. There were throws, kicks, punches that were more light impact that the body cultivation ones.
I took some time to do basic bodyweight exercises.
SYSTEM SECRET: training that focuses specific statistical areas provides a trickle of additional points in that statistic.
+1 strength.
Eventually I got a point in stamina as well. The earned point I put into grace, as the wind arts seemed like they might use the stat a bit.
Finally after a long day of learning and practicing and physical exercise, I slept.
The next day I left the compound, finding it was high up at the top of a mountain. I followed a trail, wearing only a fresh set of robes and carrying a canteen of water a two nutrition bars.
Checking my body as I got ready that morning, I saw that I wasn’t exactly a feminine ideal, instead being very muscular and even burly. At least I had very little fat. In my robes only my arms and legs burliness is visible.
I can’t tell my face, there were no manors in the retreat.
The retreat I was at was very remote, but as I both descended and climbed, I could see other outposts below in the distance. I guessed this was some kind of Sect situation and I had been at a remote site for seclusion.
The nutrition bars tasted awful, but I ate one anyway and kept going.
I reached another retreat site by dark, but the doors were locked so I slept a cold night nearby, waking up early to practice my techniques.
I didn’t expect someone coming up the desolate trail.
The man wore white robes and a large hat.
“Senior Sister, so you’ve come out of seclusion. Where is your hat?”
“I was a little forgetful when I came out of my meditation. This sister apologizes.”
“It’s alright, first long seclusion at only 22, that’s impressive, it’s understandable you might be a bit disoriented. Come on, I have some hats in the outpost.”
The sect junior had a key to the outpost, and I got a white flared hat and we shared breakfast.
“ well I have to get to my own seclusion. You’d better report to the elders.”
“Thank you junior brother.”
After that we separated. I continued down the mountain until I found the main sect grounds patrolled by members both on ground and in the air.
The guards I found directed me to the Elders compound and I was escorted in at once.
There was a director in charge of the compound who met me.
“There are only two elders present, in two years there will be the Grand Tournament of Elders, so they are all forming their Way. Elder Yu will meet you shortly.”
The waiting room had a simple wooden table and chairs.
Finally Elder Yu showed up.
“Daughter, how was your seclusion?”
“I feel like my persistence has improved, I can strike many times without being tired. I can fight in many rounds of battle. But I came to a bit disoriented. Sorry for my questions.”
“What questions, daughter?”
“When is the tournament, and can you give me some information about it?”
“Obviously, a lot is still obscured. The rounds for loose cultivators start on June 5th, we’ll be arriving then to observe for good seeds, you’ll have it easy until the really rounds start on the 10th.”
“Thank you father.”
“Please fortify your body, eat and prepare for the tournament. You will feel better then daughter.”
“I will.”
After I left the Elders hall, a group of cultivators arrived outside the hall to greet me.
“Our Lady Esther. I’m sure you are quite famished after your seclusion, shall we have a feast?”
“Let’s prepare it. Good to see you all.”
“Then I will hurry to the kitchen,” the man said.
These then were my followers in a way. Those who trained with a young lady, gained from her beneficence and grace. My roadies.
Other than the chef, who rushed ahead, the others gradually lead the way chatting as they went.
“I apologize, my first long seclusion has me a bit disoriented.”
“Did you gain from it Esther?”
“Definitely. My persistence has increased. I can fight a long battle or many battles now.”
From the conversation, the sect was broken up into halls which were groups of cultivators both inner and outer sect, as well as one core sect member. For the Hall of Golden Silk, I was the core sect member, being daughter of an elder as well.
While juniors in the outer sect were assigned their hall, inner sect members were expected to move to a new hall of their choosing when they became inner sect. So this was my main group of inner sect disciples.
“How have the juniors been progressing of late?”
“The trials of True Strength are as discerning as ever. There are twelve still attempting the trials, and three students refining their strength now.”
Soon we were in the hall. It was a large series of three buildings, as well as houses for myself and maybe my top assistants. Battle hall, meditation hall and combined dorm + dining hall.
There was a long table which my group headed to, I sat at the head of the table.
“Not too much wine today, I’m still clearing my head,” I said.
Of the group of twelve following her, both men and women were ripped, showing muscles through their robes. They had no signs of fat in their faces despite their burly appearance.
The girls were of many different complexions, their faces clean but wearing no makeup. The men of fair complexion preferred to be more tanned.
It seemed that while I was very demanding I was not judgmental on background or skin color.
“The disciples have been asking for their monthly spirit pills,” one of the men sitting closest to her said.
“Can you distribute them?” I asked.
“They are at your house,” he said.
“I will hurray to get them.”
Now I had to find which house was mine and I didn’t have a key, if I needed one.
There were three houses, but I finally figured out the nicest of the three.
There was a spirit ward that brushed up against me as I entered. This lady had priceless things stored haphazardly in the house?
At least the spirit pills were graded. A very small pill box of S graded pills. She couldn’t distribute those. A large bucket of A+ grade pills. This must be what they were asking for.
I found several pill boxes and filled 8 boxes from the bucket. That should be enough.
I returned to the dining hall with the boxes.
“Go call all the disciples together for the feast, and the outer sect too. Then each of you will distribute from one of these boxes. Take one for yourself as well. Do not tell anyone what grade they are receiving. This will be a little test.”
“Yes Hall Master.”
The others joined my assistant in gathering the disciples.
After there were 90-100 disciples at the dining hall. My inner circle went around giving each disciple a pill. Based on their reactions I guess these A+ pills had been my personal reaction.
SYSTEM
Gift for a gift. Your memories of Golden Silk Hall members have returned. After the Dozen Fists of Silk returned to my table our servants brought out feasts.
Starting with hearty potato soup, bread and shrimp appetizer were served.
With the main meal, creamy pasta, rack of ribs, breaded chicken, rice and sesame chicken.
A single glass of wine was served at dinner.
“Nathan, don’t think I didn’t catch what you were trying. The disciples were all provided with enough pills for my absence, and I returned early. But It is good to prepare the disciples. You will be my sparring partner next time.”
“Yes hallmaster.”
“I will take my rest for now. But tomorrow I want to temper wisdom with training and testing my mettle. Prepare the disciples for a full training battle tomorrow.”
“Yes Hallmaster. We will be ready.”
I slept as long as I could, waking very early in the morning. When I woke I took from the A+ grade pills. The memories I had said nothing about the existence of S pills so that must be unknown to everyone else in the hall.
SYSTEM : A+ grade pill.
A crafted pill, the minimum grade respected by the system. +3 active points.
There was no discussion of magic in my memories, so I still avoided learning an elemental spell or increasing my magic. Let’s increase strength this time.
Stats:
Strength: 64 - Stamina: 56 - Reflex: 40 - Grace: 20
Discipline: 99 - Charisma: 20 - Wisdom: 30 - Intellect: 20
Meditation: 40 - Magic: 10 - Battle Forms: 40
Spirit pills are on a cooldown for 24 hours.
*
Using my dozen, we split up the hall into two teams. In this world there were no ironclad stages so we had to judge the capabilities of each cultivator to divide the teams fairly.
Of course whatever team I was on would be a lot stronger so I assigned 6 extra of the dozen to the other team. 3 on my side. 9 opposing.
From the memories I had gained, I knew the Sect’s training battles were generally intense and close range. Only the elders had significant ranged power, and body cultivation involved brute strength over Grace mostly.
The inner sect in my hall could be divided three ways, the outer sphere, the middle and the twelve. The first group fought to my left and the second to my right with the outer sect members fighting each other on the far wing. The twelve and myself in the middle.
It was like a football formation, which was honestly our favorite hobby at the hall, testing physicality and speed.
“Carmina, Shi, Yuji,” I called for the three of twelve on my team.
Carmina almost always fought on my side, Shi and Yuji deserved a chance, covering left and right. Carmina was a goth
“Show us what you got!” Nathan shouted from the other side.
“3, 2, 1, go!” I said.
Accelerating forward with tailwind, I immediately surged into rapid Wind style strikes. Individually less powerful but a superhuman rate of punches.
In wind style I put some effort into evading Nathan and Yustice’s strongest attacks, taking some against my body is armor.
Stamina also allows sustaining a higher intensity, and while my initial barrage was defended ok by the two fighters facing me, everything slows down after the initial flurries. I kept going.
The most painful part of sparing is when my own fist collides with another fist.
After the juddering impact with Nathan’s fist, I switched to normal body cultivator tactics, and Nathan had a weakness while Eustice recovered. I grabbed a hold of Nathan throwing him to the ground as he tried to punch out of it.
I struck Eustice with a double fist strike low, then switched back to wind strikes, as Shi and Yuji’s opponent did a tag tactic trying to mob me.
I went down to the three attackers, but managed to throw one as they approached me prone.
A tiger leaping attack bowled over another and got me out of position of the trap, Carmina managed to free herself from the brutal battle with Eleanor, and covered each others weak points.
The rest of the battle should be nearly over as we were swarmed but the long series of attacks wore on the twelve.
I got inside the guard of Cassidy and Eleanor, and others ‘surrendered’ by staying down or going to a meditation pose.
I was winded but overall not too bad.
“You will surprise the Wind sects with that kind of performance,” Carmina said.
Weapon sects were on the top of the heap broadly speaking. They had brutal trials just to earn the most junior sword or spear and become an associate. The sword especially excelled amongst these.
Magic sects were next, filtering out supplicants through many years in the affiliated universities. Wind sects had almost a clan atmosphere with whole family lines automatically admitted to the sect. They used martial arts with a dash of wind magic, their attacks were fast and they had great stamina in fights.
Body Cultivation sects accepted anyone who passed a basic mortal strength test. Basically one of those old strength meters. There were halls that were more or less strict so they could still have elites. They were brutally strong if they could hit but their fighters usually wore out quickly.
Archery sects were the least, recruiting and sometimes drafting whole villages and towns. They played a key role in army battles but in tournaments they fell to their superiors.
“How did everyone do?” I asked.
Everyone took turns from outer sect up through the layers of the inner sect describing the results or any insights they gained.
Finally it was my turn, “I realized in seclusion that only legends win a battle with a single devastating strike. With the rounds coming fast and one after another in the tournament, preparing to increase my state would hear good fruit. Now I realize it also allows me to go all out for longer.
Now rest up, prepare a bit for next week’s challenge against the #1 hall.”
“Thunder King hall,” Nathan said, “they won’t bring their top fighters if they think you are still in seclusion.”
“They probably know.”
I continued to train wind type attacks for another hour and then went to the gym to lift.
I focused on upper body strength for the day, and got a lot of reps in, trying to see how many reps I could do.
The training exercise gave me 5 points, and I got a point of strength from my gym time.
I was surprised to see Carmina in my home when I got there.
I was uncertain what was going on between us. Was it behind my Elder father’s back?
“Esther,”
“Hey Mina. Just got done with my workout.”
“Elder Yu heard you gave out some good pills to prepare the hall for tournament. He actually was happy about it and gave you more.”
“I’ll have to thank him.” I said.
“Are you going soft?” Carmina asked.
“I want to see this hall become the best.”
“Soft!”
I picked up Carmina, pushing her back into the house.
* *
Hours later, we were both collapsed in bed. “You still have more,” she said.
“Always,” I replied.
Shortly after we both fell asleep, Carm was snoring.
* < ~
