6 Mana and Ley's Change
Imba frowned suddenly, Ley's voice changed. It is not mechanical like before. It is still cold and flat tone, but more natural and ethereal.
"Ley, is that you?"
[Yes, sir.]
"Your voice…"
[Due to merging with the black bone artifact, the unit has changed.]
Black bone artifact? Is it the black shadow? But except for the voice change, Ley is still the same. It is not being controlled by the black bone. If it was, it probably already does something right now rather than talking with me.
"Report your current status."
[Yes, sir.]
Imba is curious what changes the black bone brought.
[First change is that the unit is now, according to the knowledge acquired from the black bone, a spiritual body bound to the Host's soul.]
"Spiritual body? What is that?"
The sensation he felt back then in the darkness, was it from Ley's transformation?
[Spiritual Body is a pure energy entity born from the world with little to no ego.]
[The black bone forcibly changes and combines the unit's control center, factory, and nanobots inside the Host's body into one Spiritual Body.]
Not only transporting him but also changing the nanobots inside him? Imba can't help but gasp. The black bone image in his mind is getting more mysterious and powerful. But then Imba thinks of something.
"Does this mean, you can't assist me like before?"
If because of the change Ley can't assist him like he used to before, this change is disastrous for him.
[Negative. The black bone only changes the unit state of existence. None of the functions of the unit is altered because of it.]
[The unit is upgraded.]
[As a spiritual body, the unit can now assist the Host better.]
[For example, managing the energy of this world that is entering the Host's body.]
Energy? Imba can't feel anything but Ley can't lie to him.
"What energy is it? Erase it quickly if it's harmful!"
[The energy is not harmful, Host. It is beneficial for the Host.]
[According to the black bone, this energy is called mana. It is beneficial energy that can make anything that absorbs it grow stronger.]
[It is imperative for the Host to absorb mana, it can make the Host's body stronger and even prolong the Host's lifespan.]
[The unit can help the Host absorbing and circulating the mana in the Host's body, would you like to activate this function?]
[Note: this function can be maintained forever unless the unit is damaged or destroyed.]
"Activate it!"
Imba does not hesitate. Energy that can strengthen him and increase his lifespan, Imba will be stupid to not absorb it. And Ley won't do anything that will harm him, it is a law that is programmed into all nanobots units and cannot be changed.
[Activating Mana Breathing function.]
Imba can feel something cool entering his body, the cool sensation spreads all over his body. Is this mana? But it only stays for a moment before it suddenly leaves his body. Imba is confused but then the coolness comes back but leaves just as fast. This process keeps repeating.
"Ley, why is the mana keep entering and leaving?"
[According to the black bone, only those with a profession and had mana absorbing method can store mana in their body.]
[People without profession can only absorb mana as much as their body can contain and they cannot actively expel the mana in their body. They will wait until the mana dissipates and absorbs again, and it usually takes five days at the least for the mana to dissipate from the body. But it depends on the individual mana capacity, it can be longer and shorter. It is extremely inefficient.]
[As the Host doesn't have profession and mana absorbing methods, the unit thinks of another method. The best method of absorbing mana is to let the mana enter and let it wash over the body before expelling it then repeat the process.]
[The effect is the same but the time is cut to 30 seconds for the Host.]
[This will slowly but gradually strengthen the Host's body.]
[This method also makes the Host have almost limitless energy and can aid in healing.]
[The Host can exercise hard and increase the pace of strengthening without worrying about exhaustion or muscle sores.]
"Shit, so strong?"
This is like having stamina and mp cheat. Imba can imagine the despair of any enemy he faces when they realize he won't and can't stop. Fighting such a tireless enemy will disgust anyone. And with this cheat, he can slowly grow strong by just exercising. Thinking about exercising, Imba recalls something. Imba looks at his body and then his flat stomach.
"Ley, you still have the godly body plan?"
[Yes. sir. Would you like to try it again?]
"Yeah, this is the perfect chance to forge a godly body."
The godly body mentioned is not an actual body of the gods but rather what Imba calls a perfect male body. Not too big but not too small, a body like carved marble, showing beautiful muscle and proportion. The so-called, greek statue body. Imba always wanted such a body but never had the chance to do it with all the ghost business. And the gene potion only strengthens the body but doesn't make muscle suddenly appear, even steroids still need exercise.
[The plan needs a stable diet of protein which the present location of the Host can't provide, it is advised to move before implementing the plan.]
"I want to but I don't have clothes or weapons, I can't go anywhere while naked. You got any idea, Ley?"
[Yes. The current unit can solve the Host problem.]
"oh? How?"
[Continuing the status report.]
[In addition to the change in the state of existence, all the unit's functions receive an upgrade. And there are two additional functions. It is the black bone's original function.]
[First is the ability to help the Host absorb mana. It originally can only absorb the mana in the air and insert it into the Host's body. The unit creates the Mana Breathing function after modifying the original function of the black bone.]
[The second is Transmutation. The unit can separate and combine materials. The original function of the black bone is to absorb material into it and transmute it before spitting it out. But with the merge, the unit can extend part of the unit's body and cover the material and transmute it. For example, for the Host's problem, the unit can use leaves and transmute them into pants.]
[But the process only changes the material shape, so to strengthen the durability of the pants, it can be done by adding more leaves or add other more durable material.]
"This… Damn, does that mean I'm an alchemist now?"
The ability to teleport, absorbing mana, and now, transmutation? Just what kind of godly artifact is this?
"Ley, does the knowledge in the black bone contain anything about its origin?"
[No, sir.]
[Other than some basic knowledge about mana, this world, and transmutation. It doesn't contain other knowledge.]
Imba frowned. Such a powerful artifact with wondrous abilities and it also contains some basic knowledge, how could it not contain anything about it? Imba can't help but think of it as some kind of prank or a bad joke. He feels like a test player that is forced to play a game without a tutorial and just given basic info.
"What about the knowledge about this world, tell me."
[Yes. sir.]
[This world is far bigger than the earth, according to the knowledge, it is almost thrice the size of the earth. Just like earth, there are many different continents and islands, with unique seasons. As for the populations, it only said that other than humans, there are other intelligent races living in this world. Wondrous flora and fauna. And there are monsters, animals that can manipulate mana.]
[The intelligent races living in this world all can absorb mana but the one with a profession is a minority. Those with a profession can accomplish inhuman feats like destroying mountains or commanding the elements. This world is what the Host calls a sword and magic world.]
Imba is excited, he already guessed it when the griffon appears but with Ley approving it, he can't help but laugh. It really is like in a story, he is transmigrated. Now, he doesn't care anymore about the origin of the black bone. He just wants to explore this world. But before that, he first needs to get some clothes and food. He hasn't eaten anything since arriving here and his stomach is already growing.
He walks toward the fruit tree he found yesterday. Thankfully some of the fruits are still hanging even after the strong wind.
"Ley, do you have any info about these fruits?"
[Yes. It is Kuol fruit, it is sweet and safe for consumption. It can be eaten with the skin.]
Imba picks one and takes a bit. The fruit meat is sweet and red, its texture is like tofu. Imba eats a total of five fruits, it isn't enough but at least it will hold before he finds other things to eat. Last night, he saw some birds escaping the forest. Imba hopes some of the birds will come back. With food temporarily solved, Imba looks around for something to transmute to pants. But except for leaves, all that is left is woods or stones.
Such things are impossible to be made as pants, they can but won't be wearable. Imba looks at the destroyed mountain.
"Maybe the griffon left some feathers, let's check it out."
As he walks, Imba asks Ley if there is any knowledge on profession, jobs as he calls it. Unfortunately, there isn't any useful knowledge. It only said there are common jobs that all races can learn after learning from others and there are some special ones that can only be obtained by certain races, bloodlines, by making contracts, etc.
"By the way Ley, what happened to the Law Eyes?"
[It is absorbed into the unit and it is currently deactivated, would you like to turn it on?]
"No, but I'm curious, can you contact the Federation?"
Imba doesn't want to ask for help, he is just curious whether Ley can contact the Federation or not.
[Unfortunately, the unit has been cut off from the Federation ever since the merge.]
[This world may be too far from the Federation or in different galaxies or dimensions from the Federation.]
Imba nods, not surprised at all. Imba climbs the destroyed mountain, looking for feathers or anything the griffon might have left in the rubble. As he searches, he looks at the rocks around him.
"Ley, can you separate the iron in these stones and make it a weapon?"
[Yes, it is possible. Would you like to try?]
"Yeah."
[Understood. Activating Transmutation function.]
Then something comes out of Imba, others can't see but Imba can see a cluster of light coming out of his chest. The light sweeps the rubble in front of him and takes many stones inside it. Then a change happens to all the stones, it all melts and dim silvery water separates itself from the stones. What is left is two different liquids in the light, one dim silvery liquid, and a deep gray liquid.
The light spits out the deep gray liquid and the liquid turns back into stones, forming a big boulder.
[Iron extraction is complete.]
[Please imagine the form.]
Imba looks at the silvery liquid in front of him with interest. The process is like magic, melting the stone and extracting the iron. He thinks of what weapon he wants and he imagines a spear. No decoration, a simple spear.
The liquid moves and morphs into a spear.
[Shaping complete.]
[Please hold the spear.]
Imba holds the spear and the light recedes into his body. Imba looks at the spear, it is just like the one he imagined. He swings and stabs the spear, he doesn't know how Ley did it but the spear feels comfortable in his hand. The length and balance feel right. With this, he can try hunting birds and fish. With a spear in his hand, Imba continued searching for the griffon's feathers.
After a long time, he finally finds a feather and a small piece of dead skin under the rubble. The skin is wrinkled and hard while there are barely any vanes on the feather. Thankfully, the feather is huge, the vane left can barely be made into pants. As for the dead Skin, Imba doesn't know what it can be used for. So he left it to Ley, to make something out of it. Can't waste anything.
"Ley, please."
[Understood.]
The light comes out again and covers the feather and the dead skin. Just like the stone, it melted. The vane turns to short gray pants. It a bit itchy but Imba is grateful, at least he can cover his privates.
[Host, the quill can be made into an 8-gallon water bottle, would you like to proceed?]
"Yeah."
A moment later, Imba holds a cloudy white big water bottle with a handle. Now, he won't need to constantly search for water. Now only the melted dead skin is left in the light.
[Host, the dead skin can be made into either a stiff leather jacket or give the spear a leather handle. Which one do you like?]
"Give me the spear handle."
[Understood, please insert the spear.]
Stiff leather jacket? Imba doesn't want garbage like that. With a little process, the new spear has a leather handle. It feels a little rough for Imba's hand but it does improve the grip.
"I got a weapon, pants, and a water bottle. Time to hunt."
Spear and water bottle in each hand, Imba rushed down the mountain.
