Senseless
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Chapter 18 "Pathstrider"
🕑 Added 2025-06-27 08:48:59 +0000 UTC“A Title Fragment? What is that?”, Jon muttered to himself.
One of the mandatory System tasks that Jon received was to obtain a “complete” Title. Initially Jon thought that it was just the strange wording of the System, not thinking much of the eleventh task when compared to the more straightforward of the thirteen mandatory tasks.
However, after obtaining this Title Fragment, Jon’s understanding of the eleventh task changed, realizing that there were additional steps required in order for it to be completed. Considering that Jon had not received the complete Title “Pathstrider”, and rather the Title Fragment “Pathstrider”, he could roughly estimate the requirements to obtain a complete Title.
‘How many Title Fragments would I need to obtain a complete Title? Surely it won’t be six right? I don’t even know how I managed to obtain this Title Fragment. Was it a reward for integrating my Second Mana Core? If that is the case, then did Avahni also receive this Title Fragment?’
Jon let out a sigh, knowing that such a conversation would be difficult. Without a common language between himself and Avahni, certain conversations or phrases might be misunderstood, eventually culminating in the frustration at both parties inability to communicate.
At the moment, Jon was more interested in what a Title Fragment was. Bringing up his status page, Jon noticed that his Title Fragment “Pathstrider” was placed beside his Title. The word “Pathstrider” was slightly greyed out, although it didn’t stop Jon from pressing it, trying to discover more about it.
Imagine his surprise, when another translucent screen popped up over his status page.
Mortal Title Fragment “Pathstrider”: Increases the compatibility between oneself and their integrated Mana Cores associated spiritual energy.
Jon was somewhat disappointed due to only the single effect of his Mortal Title Fragment. Unlike the abilities granted to him through the integration of a fragment, which granted Jon numerous effects, this Title Fragment only granted him a single passive effect.
Jon didn’t feel as though the spiritual energy within himself became easier to manipulate, wondering if the fact that the Title Fragment was greyed out had something to do with it.
‘Perhaps only complete Titles can be activated? Title Fragments are merely accumulated and then subsequently integrated into one another, forming a complete Title?’ Jon came up with a theory within his mind.
‘At any rate, wondering how I can obtain additional Title Fragments can be put on hold for the time being. I just integrated an additional Mana Core; there has to be at least one System task reward waiting for me?’.
Jon did not waste any time lingering on thoughts related to completed Titles or Title Fragments. Closing his status page, Jon immediately opened his System task page, scrolling through the rows of blank space.
Tasks not required before completion of System Introduction
[60]: Glimpse into your Source. Individuals shall receive a reward of their choice upon the completion of this task.
Jon was somewhat surprised that he had completed this task reward, and not one relating to the integration of an additional Mana Core. The fact that there was not a task related to the integration of his Second Mana Core, caused Jon to suspect that he might have to wait until he integrated a full six Mana Cores.
‘That kind of sucks, but at least I did complete one task, right? And it is the type of task with the best kind of reward!’ Jon grinned before closing his System task page, deciding to keep the rewards for this task on hold for the moment.
Moving towards the spot where he had buried his sandwich container, Jon swiftly retrieved his stash of stored fragments, reaching towards the diamond-shaped Fragment Of Regeneration inside. Holding it up to the sky, Jon could see a single droplet of radiant liquid contained within, its colours shifting even as he continued to observe it.
Fragment Of “Regeneration” discovered.
Would you like to integrate this into your Knowledge Mana Core, or Wood Mana Core?
Y/N
Jon was pleased that he was given the option to integrate his Fragment Of Regeneration into a Mana Core of his choosing, but simply tapped on the Wood Mana Core option, watching as the diamond in his hand vanished, gradually melting into the palm of his hand.
After waiting roughly, a minute for the fragment to integrate itself with his Mana Core, Jon noticed another screen appear in front of him.
[Fragment Of Regeneration]
[Green Is The Flesh, As Red Is The Blood]
(Wood, Regeneration, Ability, Recovery)
Effect (Mortal): Dramatically increases natural healing speed and recovery rate. Moderately increases stamina regeneration and mana regeneration. Promotes physical growth.
Standing up, Jon smiled before stretching his limbs, taking a deep breath and ignoring the pain throughout his arm. Reading the description of his newest ability, Jon couldn’t help but feel a grin pull at the corners of his mouth.
’I should be fine even if I pass out again. This ability… it is the perfect one to test just how far I can push the limits of my Mana Cores’.
Forming the image of his Wood Mana Core within his mind, Jon noticed little to no difference in the nature and appearance of it when compared to his Knowledge Mana Core. It spun on its own axis ever so slightly, released small puffs of pale green spiritual energy.
Increasing the rotation of his Wood Mana Core, caused it to expel increasingly larger amounts of spiritual energy, which Jon tried to flow into his newest ability. [Green Is The Flesh, As Red Is The Blood], was the only ability that his wood natured mana could flow into, feeling a slight itch up his injured arm as Jon channelled more and more spiritual energy into it.
While Jon couldn’t see any physical changes occurring up the length of his arm, the throbbing sensation within it had vanished, being replaced with a sense of uncomfortable warmth.
After roughly three continuous minutes of channelling, Jon felt himself reach the depths of his Wood Mana Core. Despite continuing to increase its rotation in order to push out more spiritual energy, Jon felt nothing give way, causing the image of his Wood Mana Core in his mind to lose its lustre, becoming more of an inert metal than a precious jewel.
While the appearance of his arm hadn’t changed, Jon no longer felt any pain emanating from his arm. Taking a closer look, Jon could see that his skin had started to take on a pinker colour, rather than the pure, warped red colour that it had been before.
Clenching his hand did not hurt as much either. While Jon did not think he would be able hold anything of substantial weight in his left hand, it was certainly on the right track towards recovery.
‘And I didn’t pass out this time! I suppose having an additional source of spiritual energy reduces the sensation of nausea even after emptying an entire Mana Core of its mana. I could try using the mana from my Knowledge Mana Core to fuel [Green Is The Blood, As Red Is The Flesh], but I’ll save that for a latter juncture’, Jon decided.
Looking down at the assortment of fragments within his lunchbox, Jon let out a thoughtful hum before picking one up amidst the rest. While Jon didn’t even consider the possibility of integrating this fragment into his Knowledge Mana Core, his Wood Mana Core on the other hand, might be more suitable.
Jon still had over half a dozen different fragments in his possession and keeping them all hoarded up represented a potential strength that Jon didn’t want to remain unused. Even if he did want to wait for specific fragments to integrate into his Mana Cores, he couldn’t afford to just wait around, hoping they would fall into his lap.
Picking up a pearl-shaped gemstone with a bright yellowish-orange colour to it, Jon nodded as another System integration noticed appeared.
Fragment Of “Eruption” discovered.
Would you like to integrate this into your Knowledge Mana Core, or Wood Mana Core?
Y/N
“Wood Mana Core”, Jon responded with a verbal command.
Once more the pearl-shaped fragment in his hand dissolved into tiny minute motes of verdant light, eventually flowing directly into Jon’s chest. It was slightly different to the previous integrations, but Jon just took it as a sign of compatibility between the fragment and his Mana Core.
After roughly two minutes of waiting, Jon was awarded with another ability.
[Fragment Of Eruption]
[Wrath Of Green, Piercing Wood Eruption]
(Wood, Eruption, Spell, Curse, Debuff)
Effect (Mortal): Chant, placing your hand on a surface. This surface shall erupt with a series of sharp, piercing branches stretching forward towards a target. Those struck with [Wrath Of Green, Piercing Wood Eruption] shall be inflicted with an instance of [Hateful Wood Curse].
The number of branches, and the length of the Spell is determined through the amount of spiritual energy poured into it.
[Hateful Forest Curse]: Lower resistances towards wood-related damages, afflictions and debuffs. Additional stacks have an additive effect.
Jon read the description of the Spell twice over, nodding as he felt satisfied with the effects and limitations of the ability. This ability, born from a Fragment Of Eruption was quite different to the ability manifested by the fire-breathing duck whom he had obtained it from.
That fire-breathing pain in the ass, could release a tremendous amount of superheated ash from its feathers, exploding outwards in all directions around itself. It was extraordinarily effective at creating distance between oneself and their opponent, forcing the backwards unless they wanted to be covered in a wave of superheated ash.
It was an area-of-effect Spell, and one that Jon suspected was quite spiritual energy heavy. If it wasn’t, the duck wouldn’t have been spamming its fire-breathing ability, instead just choosing to blast away everything around it with wave after wave of burning black ash.
‘Time to test it out I guess’, Jon thought with a smile.
Placing his hand on the surface of the beach, Jon felt the knowledge relating to the Spell, bubble forth from the depths of his Sea Of Knowledge
“Theirs is the savagery that accompanies creation. Theirs is the might that cradles the earth and sky. Theirs is the wrath, that announces destruction!”
Jon could feel the sand beneath him ripple, as he formed the image of his Spell in his mind. Jon could only force the faintest traces of spiritual energy into his first offensive Spell, but felt himself being pleasantly surprised, as a single branch pierced out from beneath the sands, shooting forward at an impressive speed.
The single tree branch didn’t extend more than two meters in front of Jon, and was limited due to the amount of spiritual energy he had poured in. The thickness of the tree branch was barely thicker than the width of his forearm, but the speed at it which emerged was significant enough to pierce through flesh and bone.
If it struck the chest of a human that was standing still, Jon had complete certainty that they would be killed.
This Spell, his newest ability, provided Jon with a much more concentrated burst of damage.
Jon had the faintest feeling that a length of one to two meters was perhaps the smallest tree branch he could create with his control over his spiritual energy. [Wrath Of Green, Piercing Wood Eruption] was different to [Cometh Thy Red Horse Awaits], or even [Thou Is But A Shadow Of Oneself], in that the Spell actively mentioned that the amount of spiritual energy injected into it would change the result.
It allowed Jon to visibly test his control over spiritual energy, controlling the length and number of branches to a specific measurement. While the overall strength of the Spell was significantly lower when compared to the ability of the fire-breathing duck, its flexibility made Jon even more pleased with it.
He wondered if there was a method of removing the chant from his Spells, allowing him to instantly cast them at a moment’s notice. The physical enhancement born from his Fragment Of War, and the offensive capabilities given to him through his Fragment Of Eruption, made Jon extraordinarily dangerous, even when compared to the duck, or the small monkey he had seen earlier.
Quite delighted at the new additions to his repertoire, Jon showed an uncharacteristically soft expression, before shaking his head and shouting at the top of his lungs.
“Avahni!”.
