Chapter 37: Amplify

***Author's Note***

Sorry for the super late chapter.

I am swampped with work so I wasn't able write. Thankfully I am finished now and just waiting for my meeting on facetime to present my work.

Anyway, Enjoy!

***

Have you ever done everything you need to reach a goal, and once you reached it you don't know what to do next? This is one of those moments.

After facing difficult battle and surviving a damn suicide attack, we finally have a way to track the Party's member and eccentric Mage, Mark Anthony. Using a magic Orb compass thingy, we just need to walk where it is pointing to finally rescue their friend. We only need to solve one more problem. How do we rescue him?

"It is easy lad. We go in. Rescue Mark. Then we escape." Ortho declared.

"Isn't that a bit too simplified? You make it sound so easy when we know that it would be far from it." I replied.

"Don't listen to him. This is the plan." Philip took a stick and started drawing in the ground. "First, we need to discover where their hideout. Alora will take point so that she can scout ahead in case there are sentries or traps. Once we find out where they took him. We will use Alora's skill to conjure animal familiar to map out the area and discover their patrol schedule and routes, and pin point where they are holding Mark." He scribbles something in the ground which doesn't make sense to me. Must be word from their language since spoken words are automatically translated to the listener but not their written language. "We are vastly outnumbered and outclassed so we must do this stealthily. That means avoid fights as much as possible. If we can't knock out or defeat the enemy silently, then best avoid any and all confrontation." Looking at Ortho. "Using explosives are off limits for obvious reason. Electric net is also off the table. From what I have seen, it can disable an enemy but they aren't knocked out instantly. They might be able to scream thus blowing our cover. Once we find a weak spot on their defense, we will sneak in and save Mark, make our escape and get out of the Elven Forest." He then stops writing and look at us. "Are there any questions?"

Wow. Philip has actually got this in the bag. I thought he only know charge and retreat tactics. I now see him in a new light.

"I believe we shouldn't waste any more time and rescue Mark as soon as possible." Ortho interjected. "I am concerned about the two women we let go. I am sure they would report what happened here and what our goal is. We must strike fast before they could move Mark somewhere or assign more people to guard him. Especially when we don't expect for anyone to help us."

"By the way Philip. The messenger bird you sent should've arrived a day ago. Did you receive a reply from the Guild yet?" Kurt asked.

"No, not yet. It is odd indeed that they still haven't sent a reply but it doesn't matter. Out here in the Elven Forest, we must assume that the Guild won't be able to send us aid." Philip stated with a serious face.

"Be mighty glad if they could. We greatly need any help we can get." Ortho added.

"Even if the Guild does send aid, it won't help much. We are going to sneak inside the enemy territory, not starting a battle we have no chance of winning. Having more numbers would only increase the chance of us getting discovered. Having few members is an advantage on this mission. As long as we don't get caught that is." Philip stated before throwing his stick at the fire and watched it burn.

The party become silent as everyone seem to be lost in their own thoughts. Maybe they are thinking about the equipment and items they need to take on the mission, or how to execute the plan. But me, there is something that is bothering me.

I walk towards Kurt and stood in front of him.

"Do you need something?" He looked up at me and asked.

"Yeah. I need to ask you a favor." I said.

"Ask away and I will try to help you in any way I can." I answered.

"I need more power." I told him.

"Hmmm? You want power?" He repeated what I said. Both Philip and Ortho also look at me after hearing my request. Ortho looks concerned while Philip seems to be annoyed at me for asking.

"Not want. Need." I answered. "In the fight earlier, I realized something. Although I can do damage to a person whose defense is down, I am next to useless once they know that I can use Ki and use Mana to defend against my attacks. All I can do is run around and dodge. Just doing everything I can to survive. I don't want to just run around like a coward. I want to fight!" Shit, even Ortho's pistols couldn't damage Christopher when the man started to use his full power. "In this coming mission we will be thrown in the middle of the enemy territory. We will be surrounded by people who can end me just by sneezing at me. I can help you fight them and save your friend. But in order for me to do that I need to be stronger. I need more power if I want to be able to fight back. Not just from sneak attacks and cheap shots. I need power to take on those who wishes to capture and do whatever the hell they want with me. If they want to take me, I wouldn't go down without a fight. For that I need power. Please Kurt. Give me a fighting chance." I bowed and kneeled in front of him.

Even when my eyes are staring at the ground from bowing, I can feel their gazes burn my back. I know this is shameful, but I really do need to be stronger. Cheap shots and sneak attacks wouldn't be enough anymore in the incoming fight. I need something that is more practical. Something that can be used in the middle of the fight. Something like the palm attack he used where his Ki penetrated the defense of his enemy without exerting much physical force in his attack.

"Indeed I could teach you more advance application of Ki that will enable you to fight against opponents much stronger than you. But as I see it, you are not ready yet. You have only learned of the Basic Ki control yesterday and even if you already got the hang of it already, advance Ki techniques are leagues harder to learn. Even with your talent, it would take a long time for you to learn them. Much less use them in an actual fight, for even I haven't mastered them yet." Seeing that I am not convinced, he continued. "After we finish our business here I could take you to the Monastery to learn more of the Path if you want. You must not rush to gain strength. The Path to master Ki is like a thousand steps leading to a top of the mountain. If you want to reach to reach the pinnacle, you must not miss even a single step. For each step will help you reach your goal."

"How shameless. Be grateful Kurt even gave his time to teach you. Many would die in envy to know what you learned." Philip interjected.

"Don't be too hard at the lad. He might become a great asset to us if he could get better control of his Ki. He did help me fight against the leader. I would've died if he didn't intervene. We would all be dead if he didn't warn us the bastard was about to explode. Give him some slack would ye?" Ortho defended me.

"What if he use his newfound strength to escape instead of helping us? Would I need to also remind you of our mission? He is the reason the wildlife of the Elven Forest are going wild. We still need to turn him over to the Guild once this is over." Philip makes me really want to not help them.

"He had a lot of chances to escape, but he didn't. His keen Mana and Ki sense would be invaluable if we want to save Mark without getting detected." Kurt added.

"Yea. I owe the man for saving my life twice, in one day nonetheless. So I trust him. Also, what if the lad isn't the reason the damn animals are getting restless? He is just one man. It would be more logical to think that it is the Organization's fault the animals are getting wild." Ortho took out a skin of what I can tell is alcohol and drank deeply from it. "Want some? I am almost out of alcohol but tis always better to have someone to share a drink or two with."

"No I'm good." I put up my hands to decline his offer. With a grunt he took my rejection with aplomb and drank from his alcohol skin once more.

"The first time we found him, he was expelling such sinister Aura. No wonder he is being chased by an enormous bear before we captured him and sealed his energy. Therefore I have no doubt that he is the one causing ruckus here in the forest." Philip was stubborn in his position of not letting me get further training. "Furthermore, there is something about him that I don't like. So that's that. If Alora was here, she would stand with me on this decision."

Well, I think I don't like you too, you prick.

"Well, Kurt and I agree that we should teach him. Right Kurt?" Ortho look at Kurt who just nods in reply.

"It takes us to a tie. Since I am the leader, I have the last say in case of a tie breaker and I say we don't teach him further. He knows enough to fend for himself." Philip answered.

"Do I have a say in this?" I asked.

"No." He answered instantly.

"If Mark was here, he would agree with Kurt and I." Ortho reasons.

"He is not here. So my word is final." He said with a determined look on his face.

This short sighted fool. I don't know what I did to the man to deserve this.

"Is there nothing we can do to change your mind?" Kurt asked the man.

"No." Philip replied with his arms folded.

Kurt then sighed before going walking towards Philip. He whispered something to him that I can't hear. They both whispered with each other like they are arguing about something. After five minutes or so, they seem to have agreed about something as Kurt went back to his seat and Philip now have a slight smile on his face.

"Ok. New plan. Since we direly need your assistance in saving Mark. I will allow Kurt to teach you some techniques in controlling your Aura. But after this, you must agree to come with us back at the Guild. If they find that you are not the source of the disturbance here in the Elven Forest, you will be free to go. Do you agree with my terms?" He asked.

"I don't think I have any other choice, so yes." Maybe I can pin this at the Organization just like Ortho pointed out earlier, for even I believe that my energy was the reason the animals are getting wild. I mean, I get attacked by vicious animal day in and day out before they sealed that sinister energy coming out of my body. I just hope I can convince the Guild and wish they don't have a Mind Mage that can read minds or I am screwed.

"Alright then, it's settled." He then grabbed his damaged armor and walk towards Ortho. "Ortho, could I bother you in repairing my armor? As you could see, it is… Busted." He asked the dwarf.

"As long as ye pay me once this is over. Repairs don't come cheap ye know." Ortho huffed as he picked up Philip's armor. "This mission has been nothing but a pain in the arse, and wallet!" He sighed.

"Don't worry. I will pay you as soon as we get back to town." Philip sat near Ortho, no doubt to watch him work.

"Make it a thousand gold and I will throw in a rune engraving." Ortho offered.

"One thousand for both my armor and weapon." Philip haggled.

The two continued to haggle with each other when Kurt gestured at me to follow him to the clearing near the edge of the camp. He turns his back at me and started to speak. "Tell me. What do you think of Ki and Aura in general?" He asked

"Since I just learned the thing literally yesterday, I don't know much of Ki and its intricacies. But from what I experienced, it is an energy that is fueled by our own life-force. I get strong when I draw it out and surround my body with it, while I feel exhausted when I am low on Ki. Also as you said before, it is dangerous to empty your Ki for it will usually end in the death of the user." I recited all that I know of the subject.

"That is correct, in its basic form. But there is a lot more to Ki that just strengthening your body. As you make your progress with the Path, you will be able to utilize more of what Ki can offer. First the basics." He said before unleashing his Aura and make it cover his body. "This is Shell, or Reinforcement. You unleash your Ki to surround your body and control it so it doesn't leak. It boosts your offense and also your defense to both Ki and Mana based attacks."

"Yeah. That is the skill you thought me. I think I have the gist of it." I also unleashed my Aura. My Shell feels stable as it fills my body with strength. Although it is not enough to defeat the opponents that we will face in the future.

"True, your Shell does seem to be stable. But how long can you maintain it?" He asked.

What? I am confused. "How long? Can't I just use it indefinitely?"

"No. There is only so much Ki in your body to fuel your Aura and in a fight, you will need to continuously maintain your Aura, never letting your defense down. Using Shell is like creating a fire with Ki as your firewood. Even if you do nothing to the fire, it will continue to get weaker if you don't add more fuel and once there is no more firewood to fuel the fire, so will the fire die away." He continued with his analogy. "You have a finite number of Ki so you need to use it wisely. You cannot use too much Ki too quickly or you will find yourself with no energy in the time you would need it the most."

"How can I increase my Ki then?" I asked.

"Through training and meditation. Both will need time which we do not have. So I will teach you the next best thing. Ha!" His Aura then flared up, increasing exponentially like when saiyans turn into super saiyan in dragonball.

"Woah!" I was surprised to find his Aura got much stronger suddenly.

He chuckled. "Surprised? This is the next step in your Ki mastery."

"How can you have so much Ki?" It is still no match to the amount of Ki I have before it leaked from my body. But this is still crazy strong. Even stronger than Christopher's Aura.

"This technique is called Amplify. As the name suggest, you amplify your Aura by making your Ki explode. This does expend your stamina quick but also multiply your Aura strength two to five times or even more depending on your mastery." He declared.

"I see. So gain more power at the cost of burning stamina quickly." I then closed my eyes and Visualize my Ki exploding and let it out of my body. "AAAHHH!" I yelled as I feel my energy skyrocket! But as soon as I released my Ki, I lost my focus and failed to control my energy. I then fall down to my knees exhausted. "Shit. This is much harder than I thought."

"If you think Amplify is the same as Shell, then you are sorely mistaken. Focus is indeed important. But in order to master this technique, you must also Visualize and learn how much Ki you need to explode to make this work. Too little and it will not work, you will only waste your Ki for nothing. Too much and you will empty your Ki reserves quickly, like what you are experiencing now. Even after learning how to explode your Ki, you will still have to maintain control of your Aura which will be harder due to it becoming a lot more than you are used to while also becoming a lot wilder. The secret of this technique is finding how much Ki you can use without losing control of your Aura. Remember, you need to be efficient when using this technique since you don't have much Ki to spare." He explained before rescinding his Aura. "Now, meditate and recover as much Ki you can and then we will start. Remember find your balance." He then sat in lotus position and motioned me to do the same.

After I sat down. I closed my eyes and feel the energy flow within me. As I recover my energy, ideas keep coming on how I can apply this technique in battle. This is a technique I can't use willy-nilly due to my low Ki reserves so I need to find opportune moments to use it in battle.

Finally. Something I can use to fight back. I just hope I don't botch this and empty my Ki reserves on accident.