Chapter 11: Lunarki and Magic

I woke up to the sound of a blaring TV and the smell of stale cigarette smoke. The room was cluttered with empty beer cans and fast food wrappers, and the walls were adorned with tacky posters and neon signs. Pain throbbed through my head, and my left arm and leg were still badly injured. I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my body, forcing me back down onto the bed."

"Oh you finally woke up," a kindly voice rang out. "Good, good."

I glanced around in confusion, taking in my surroundings once more. The unpleasant room, my injuries...and yet this stranger seemed concerned for my wellbeing.

He spoke again, gently this time."How are you feeling, Any better?"

Rubbing my aching head,"Still in pain...where am I? What happened?,What about the civilians are they okay?"

With a kind voice, he soothed, "You're in my place. You passed out during the explosion, so I grabbed you and brought you here. And to answer your second question, yes, they are safe. During the battle, all the citizens had already evacuated.'"

I let out a sigh of relief. At least some good had come of this chaos. Though Blackwood's plan had threatened harm, it seemed the people had been spared the worst of it.

The man returned with water and some simple food - an apple and sandwich. Though plain, the provisions tasted wonderfully after my ordeal. As I ate, the man spoke again:

"You fought bravely against Blackwood. Though he beat you like a sand bag."

I smiled "Yeah, you're not wrong there. He really did a number on me.","By the way, I never got your name?"

Oh, right. I never got to introduce myself," he said. "I'm what you call a God!"

I widened my eyes with disbelief. "HUH?,a God?"

The man laughed loud. "I'm just messing with you. Did you really believe I'm a God? You really should look at your face; it was priceless."

I couldn't help but chuckle, relieved that the man was just joking. "You had me going there for a second. But, what's your real name?"

The man grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "My name is Oliver. And don't worry, I'm not a God. Just a regular guy with a penchant for bad jokes."

I chuckled again, feeling a sense of warmth towards Oliver. Despite the dire circumstances we found ourselves in, he had managed to lighten the mood and make me laugh.

"Thanks for taking care of me, Oliver," I said, feeling grateful.

Oliver sighed. "That was the plan, but when I tried to get you into the hospital, nearly half of the city's population was injured, so there was no available space for you to receive treatment. That's why I brought you here."

"Humm" understanding the situation. "I see. It was kind of you to do that."

Oliver's lips curved upwards, however, a peculiar expression surfaced in his eyes. "I must impart something to you, Lloyd. I have discerned something peculiar about you. When I endeavored to infuse my mana into you, I detected an anomaly. It appears as though you are bereft of a Mana Core altogether."

I looked at Oliver with a mixture of confusion and shock. "What do you mean? No Mana Core?"

Oliver affixed a solemn nod. "Yes, precisely. It's as if you were born sans magic. When I endeavored to infuse my mana into your 'Lunar ki' there was no reaction at all it seems you were born without Lunar ki."

"The..... LUNAR KI?"

"You know the LUNAR KI right?"Oliver asked while lighting up a cigarette.

"I have studied it, but there are no specific details about it."

-Puff-

"Let me tell you about the Lunar Ki. It's like nothing you've ever seen before. Imagine if the moon itself could produce magical energy, and then imagine that energy being harnessed and concentrated into a gleaming, luminescent pearl.

While blowing off the cigarette Oliver continued , "it's more intricate than the most complex web of veins and arteries you've ever seen in the human body. It's like a mystical organ, responsible for regulating the flow of mana throughout the body of magic, Picture it like this: the core of the Lunar Ki is like the heart, pumping out a steady stream of mana and regulating its flow to make sure it goes where it's needed most. And the enchanted crystals and metals that make up the core? They're like super-specialized cells, designed to store and absorb the mana in a way that's optimal for the body's needs.

But it doesn't stop there. The circuits and conduits that regulate the flow of mana are like the nervous system, transmitting signals back and forth to make sure the mana is being used in the most efficient way possible. And just like the human body can adapt to different situations, the Lunar Ki can adjust its mana production and distribution to meet the changing needs of the user."

I listened intently to Oliver's description of the Lunar Ki.

"But what does this have to do with me?" I asked, feeling a sense of unease.

Oliver took a puff of his cigarette and exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Well, it's just that most people have a Lunar Ki. It's what allows them to use magic, Even the Walker's have a 5% Lunar Ki in them while the Eldritch's can use upto 83% of Lunar Ki, But in your case, it seems as though you were born without one.

I felt a sense of shock wash over me. Born without a Lunar Ki? It seemed like an impossible thing, and yet here I was, faced with the reality of it.

"But what does this mean for me?" I asked, feeling a sense of fear.

Oliver took another puff of his cigarette and blew out a stream of smoke. "Honestly, I'm not sure. But I heard there was some guy like you who has no Lunar Ki in the last two decade.I don't know if he's a live or dead. What was his name again?"

"I think I have a vivid recollection of him now. Yes, without a doubt, it is unquestionably him.He gose by the nicknam of GOD BLADE "

My confusion was palpable as I heard the unfamiliar nickname mentioned. My brows furrowed,My eyes narrowing in puzzlement. "God Blade?" I repeated, my voice tinged with disbelief. "I have never heard that name in my entire life. Who could possess such a formidable title?" My mind raced, trying to recall any mention of this legendary figure, but my memory yielded no results.

Oliver took another drag of his cigarette, his eyes flickering with a strange intensity. "Yeah that guy, a man who was born without a Lunar Ki just like you. But unlike you, he learned to harness his own innate power, becoming one of the most fearsome fighters the world has ever seen."

Curiosity burning within me, I turned to Oliver and posed the question. "Oliver, if you don't mind me asking, how did he come to acquire the title of 'God Blade'? What led him down this path?"

Oliver took a drag from his cigarette, his eyes narrowing as he pondered my question. "Well I don't know the full story yet but he earned that by his technique." he admitted, his voice tinged with intrigue.

I leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "What kind of technique was it?" I asked, mu voice filled with anticipation.

Oliver took a moment to collect his thoughts, exhaling a stream of smoke. "From what I've gathered," he began, "it's a technique that goes beyond the conventional realms of swordsmanship. It's said to be a fusion of physical prowess, mental focus, and spiritual attunement."

He paused, his eyes glinting with fascination. "This technique taps into the very essence of the practitioner, channeling their inner energy and honing it through the blade. It's a form of martial art that transcends the boundaries of mere physicality, allowing the wielder to unleash devastating power with every strike."

I leaned forward, my anticipation growing. "Oliver," I said with a mischievous grin, "you've got me on the edge of my seat, but you still haven't revealed the name of this extraordinary technique. Don't keep me hanging, my friend!"

Oliver chuckled, a twinkle in his eye. "Ah, my apologies," he replied, feigning surprise. "I thought I had already revealed the name. Silly me! The technique, my dear friend, is called... drumroll, please... the Astoundingly Magnificent Sword Dance of Unparalleled Awesomeness!"

"HUH?,The what now?"

Oliver burst into laughter, unable to contain his amusement at my bewildered expression. "Oh, my" he chuckled, "I couldn't resist having a little fun with you. The real name of the technique is, of course, the Divine Elysian."

Relief washed over me as I joined him in laughter, realizing I had fallen for his playful jest. "Divine Elysian," I repeated, shaking my head with a smile. "Now that's a name befitting the awe-inspiring power you described."

Oliver nodded, still grinning. "Indeed,Divine Elysian captures the essence and majesty of this technique far better than any whimsical name I could conjure. It evokes a sense of reverence, of a connection to the divine forces that inhabit our world."

"Well you should get some rest. I think there should be spot in the hospital by next 3 days until then you're goona stick with me and my humble home.you're welcome."Oliver said that while taking his last puff of the cigarette.

"Thank you, Oliver," I said, feeling my eyelids droop with exhaustion.

Oliver smiled kindly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Don't mention it, Get some rest."

With those words, I drifted off to sleep, But the knowledge that I was born without a Lunar Ki continued to weigh heavily on my mind, filling me with questions.

Three days had passed since the battle with professor Blackwood, During that time, I had rested and recuperated as best as I could, but I knew that I needed proper medical attention to fully heal my injuries.

Finally, a spot had opened up at the hospital, and Oliver had helped me get there. As I was wheeled into the hospital, I was struck by the sheer number of injured people who filled the wards. Doctors and nurses rushed around, tending to the wounded with harried efficiency.

"Oh my, the professor has inflicted significant damage. If he were not already dead, I would have undoubtedly would kill him myself," Oliver seethed, his countenance shifting abruptly.

Oliver was interrupted by the person behind him. "Excuse me, are you Mister Lloyd?"

Oliver turned around, and when he did, he saw it was the nurse. "Oh no, I'm not Lloyd, but he is," he said, pointing to me.

"Um.... Hello"

"Please follow me to the room. Your injuries will be fixed in less than 5 minutes."

"Whoa, 5 minutes?" Oliver grabbed his head with disbelief.

"Have you heard about the Nano-Regenerator?"

"The what now?" Oliver asked with a confused look on his face.

"The Nano-Regenerator," the nurse repeated. It uses advanced nanotechnology with mana core to repair damaged tissue at a molecular level.

I looked at the nurse with a sense of awe. "That sounds incredible."

The nurse smiled kindly. "It is. We're one of the few hospitals in the world with this technology, and we're using it to treat all of the injured from the Blackwood incident."

"Now follow me Mister Lloyd"

"Ah yes I'm coming"

As I was wheeled into the operating room, I felt a sense of apprehension. What if the Nano-Regenerator didn't work? What if my injuries were too severe to be healed? But as the machine whirred to life and the nanobots began their work, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. I knew that I was in good hands, and that soon I would be back to full strength.

After a few minutes, the procedure was over. I sat up, feeling my body for any signs of pain or discomfort. But to my surprise, I felt nothing. My injuries were completely healed, and I felt stronger and more vital than I had in the last 3 days

I looked at the nurse in amazement. "This is incredible. I feel like I could run a marathon."

The nurse smiled kindly. "It's our pleasure to provide the best care possible. Just make sure to take it easy for a few days to fully recover."

"I will," I said, feeling grateful.

When I stepped out of the room, I saw a familiar face."

"Diago?"

"Oh hey there Kiddo i heard what happed from that guy over there you good kid you look like you lost a weight"

I chuckled at Diago's comment. "Yeah, I feel like I've been through the wringer, but I'm all healed up now thanks to the Nano-Regenerator."

Diago grinned. "That's great to hear, Kiddo. I hear those thing's can heal any injuries within 5 minutes.Oh and who's that guy is he your lover or something?"

I rolled my face to Diago with anger on my face. "No!why did you even think that wasn't like 2 weeks ago you try to set me up with maya"

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "No, Diago, he's just a friend who helped me out when I needed it."

Diago raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, no need to get defensive. I was just joking around. So, who is he?"

I smiled, feeling a sense of relief that Diago wasn't actually serious. "His name is Oliver. He's a guy that killed that monster and the one who summoned it. And He helped me out and took care of me when I was injured."

Diago grinned. "Seriously! That guy? Defeated that monster? If he could beat him, it will be a piece of cake for me."He said that with a smug expression.

"Yeah, I'm sure you will do it without breaking a sweat."

While were talking Oliver walked over, a bemused expression on his face. "Hello there, I'm Oliver."

Diago smirked, sizing Oliver up. "So, you're the one who took care of my friend here? You must be quite the jock."

I could feel my face reddening with embarrassment. "Oliver, don't mind him. He's just like that"

Oliver chuckled. "No worries, I don't take offense that easily. And for the record, I wouldn't consider myself a jock."he said that with a serious look on his face

Diago chuckled. "I like this guy. You're a good guy. So, what do you say we all grab a drink and celebrate Lloyd's recovery?"

Oliver nodded in agreement, "Now I'm starting to like you too,i think were gonna a good friends."

'Why do i feel there something wrong here,'