CH37: BEING THE CHILDE OF TIME

This is a passion work. So, I would really appreciate it if you leave behind a review when you're done reading.

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CH37: BEING THE CHILDE OF TIME

'Will Tactics?" Korede Balogun asked

[Yes, Will tactics.] The Symbiote confirmed. [It is a method that is similar to and different from Will Manifestation and Will Technique. Will Tactics is similar to Will Technique because every increase in level requires comprehension of that Will Tactics but differs because it can be taught to others. Will Tactics is similar to Will Manifestation in the sense that it becomes unique to a person and no two people will have exactly the same Will Tactics. They differ in the sense that, unlike Will Manifestation, Will Tactics is not innate or spontaneous rather it is learnt.]

'You haven't really explained what it is. You are just making comparisons.' Korede said in annoyance.

[Patience, Host. I'm getting there.]

'Get on with it already.'

[A Will tactics at the beginning is a set method of utilising Will. At the beginning, everyone's Will tactics will be the same. However, at a certain level, it will require you to add in your unique comprehension of that specific tactics to continuously improve it. This is where differences start to occur. Differences in comprehension lead to differences in the Will Tactics. As established earlier, no two people comprehend exactly the same thing, hence, no two people have exactly the same Will tactic at a high level.]

'That's a better explanation. So, what is the Will Tactics you can teach me?'

[The Will Tactics you learn are not up to me. Once you recite the Tactics, you will naturally learn the Tactic suitable for you. The amount of Tactics you learn depends on your affinity with each tactic. It depends on luck and destiny.]

'Isn't that the same with Will Manifestation?'

[Similar but not the same. In the future, you will come to understand.]

'Fine. How do we start?'

[Before that, I want to try something. Can you remember the sensation of using your Zone? Can you recreate it without using Zone?]

'Yes, I think I can.'

[Good. That's what it feels like to apply Will. Now I want you to imagine an open space with as much detail as possible and then channel that sensation simultaneously. Can you do it?]

'I don't see why not.'

Though he didn't know what the symbiote was up to, Korede followed its instructions. After a few minutes, his forehead was covered in sweat. It was harder than he originally thought.

Eventually, He heard a 'boom' and a vortex appeared in his mindspace, dragging his consciousness within. Korede found himself in exactly the same space he imagined. It was a simple open field with short but lush green grasses. The air was extremely fresh and relaxing.

Suddenly, Korede heard a voice say, "As expected of a training fanatic, you have an affinity for the {Training Space}."

He recognised the voice very easily. It was the Symbiote's voice. However, it wasn't coming from inside his head, rather from 'outside'. Behind him to be exact. So, he turned around.

Korede didn't know what he was expecting. A humanoid figure, insectoid, a worm, a plant, heck… even a rock perhaps. He definitely wasn't expecting what he saw. The figure he turned around to see was… himself.

[Surprised? Expecting to see my true form? Sorry to disappoint you but I don't have a true physical form. I'm more of a soul-form entity. That's why our bond is at the soul level. Due to our bond and the restriction of this {Training Space}, I can only assume your form. It might be uncomfortable talking to yourself, just bear with it until your {Training Space} is created.]

Korede shrugged but he didn't say anything. The Symbiote said with a light chuckle,

[Well, some might argue that you have been talking to yourself for a while now]

Korede paused. Then he realised that what it said might be true. He shook his head wryly before asking,

"This is mine?"

[No, it isn't. This is mine. I want to take advantage of the space's benefit by using a loophole due to us being bonded. That's why I asked you to use your Will. Though it is my Tactics, by using our bond and your Will to trick the space into thinking it was your tactics. Unfortunately, this is the only time it will work. The Space will not fall for this again.]

"Why go through all this trouble? Does it have any other advantage than being a good place to train?."

[As expected, you figured out its use from its name. Obviously, it's not just a simple place to train. Since it exists in your mindspace, it comes with some wonderful advantages. First, at its most basic level, 10days in here is 10 minutes outside.]

When Korede heard this, his mouth opened in shock.

[Two, the effect of training here is better than training outside.

Three, you can replicate any place, person, or thing you've seen or experienced here as long as it can help your training.

Four, you don't feel fatigued or consume any resources here.

As for other advantages, you will have to figure it out on your own later.]

Korede was happy when he heard about the advantages of the space. He recalled the Symbiote saying he had an affinity for it, meaning he would also have his own {Training Space}. He felt it was too good to be true. It was then he remembered something both his master and the Symbiote had said.

"The world is fair/balanced. Everything has pros and cons." He mumbled.

[Good! You are understanding the basic truth of the world. Unfortunately, now is not the time to discuss that. You can always find that out later. For now, we are on the clock. Will tactics affinity test takes time. Depending on the person, It can take anywhere between 1 to 5 days. The person undergoing the test will be oblivious to his surrounding during that time. I'm sure you don't want that to happen 'outside'. That's why I took the risk of tricking the {Training Space}. Let's get started, all questions can be answered later.]

Korede nodded his head, understanding the need for urgency.

[There are 30 types of Will tactics. Your affinity to each of them will be tested. For each one you have an affinity to, it will form a rune script in your mind space. Like I said, affinity to a tactic is dependant on only luck and destiny, not talent. So, don't be concerned about the number of tactics you get. The highest number I've seen anyone get is three.

Alright, Let's get started. Just chant after me.]

Korede repeated what the Symbiote chanted. The sound/words that came of his mouth made no sense to him but he could feel his Will and consciousness being attracted to something as the chants continued.

He found himself in an expanse of starry space. Suddenly, silhouettes appeared performing different actions. Some were completed in a flash while some were completed slowly. Of the slow ones, most repelled him away after the actions were complete. Some, however, turned into a silvery beam and entered his body.

Finally, the silhouettes disappeared. Korede was left 'standing' in the starry space in a trance. After the passage of an unknown amount of time, the same number of silvery beams that entered his 'body' shot out of him and form strange scripts above his head.

Then, a golden waterfall appeared. The 'water' fell on these scripts and they glowed in varying shades of gold. The scripts descended and branded themselves onto Korede, who was oblivious to all this as he was still in a trance state. Once the brands appeared on his body, the waterfall disappeared and he woke up from his trance, only to be unceremoniously kicked out of the space.

In the next moment, Korede found himself back in the {Training Space}. He faced up only to see himself… well the Symbiote… looking at him in horror. Korede was stunned and quickly examined himself to find out what was wrong. He eventually found nothing and heaved a sigh of relief. He turned back to the Symbiote, whose expression had returned to normal, and asked, "What's wrong? Why did you look so terrified?"

The Symbiote didn't answer. There was no way it could tell him that the Law of Time had interfered with his Will Tactics affinity test. The Law would not allow it. Eventually, the Symbiote said while pointing up.

[Look up, you monster.]

Surprised, Korede looked up. He saw past the {Training Space} and into his mindspace. Nine scripts were floating in his mindspace. Korede instantly understood the Symbiote's reaction. It had said the highest number of Will Tactics he had seen a person have was three. That showed how rare Will Tactics affinities are. Now, he has three times that number.

'No wonder it called me a monster.' Korede smiled bitterly. He turned back to the Symbiote and said, "Look I had nothing to do with this. Like you said before, this has nothing to do with talent, hard work, or anything like that. This is up to luck and destiny, right?"

The Symbiote regained its calm and shook its/'his' head.

[Are you trying to boast that your luck is great? Or that you have a great destiny? Remember, the world is fair. If you have any of those two, or both, it means the future ahead will be a shit storm.]

Korede just shrugged. "There's nothing I can do but accept it." With a smile on his face, he said, "Besides, if there's a shit storm coming, I'm 'lucky' to have you weather it with me'

[Wow, good for you!] The symbiote said sarcastically, causing Korede to laugh.

"On a serious note, What's up with those scripts? I've never seen them before in my life but I understand exactly what they mean." Korede said

[That's because they are Personal Origin Runes.

Origin runes are the writing scripts of Universal laws. They have no fixed meaning. You just understand them or you don't. Personal Origin Runes are origin runes tailored to a specific person. Only that person will understand them.]

"So does that mean you can't tell me what's up with that script?" Korede asked while looking at a peculiar script or rune. The rune, unlike the others that were glowing golden, was dull. So dull in fact, it could blend in with the dark mindspace. If wasn't for the golden fluid-like chain around, Korede might not have noticed.

"I can't feel anything from it, talkless of understanding it."

[Sorry, can't help you there. It's a 'Personal' Origin Rune for a reason. Even if we are bonded, we are still different people. Unlike the minor laws of this {Training Space} that can be tricked, origin runes are the words all Universal Laws are written in. Heck, it's a universal law in and of itself. There's no tricking it.

The only thing I can tell you is that to shackle it and prevent it from transmitting its meaning to you like it's supposed to, whatever is doing so must be of an equal or higher law.]

Even without it saying it explicitly, Korede already knew which Universal Law the Symbiote was referring to.

'Golden fluid-like. No doubt about it, it's the River of Time.' Korede reasoned. He looked at the other runes glowing golden.

'Come to think of it, I seem to remember them being silvery originally. Since they are now golden, that must mean…'

He looked at the Symbiote. "Does that mean the Law of Time is also responsible for the other runes being golden?"

The Symbiote didn't respond.

"The Law forbade you from telling me, didn't it?" Korede asked again.

Once again, it didn't answer.

"I'll take that as a Yes. For the life of me, I don't know why it's trying to be secretive, it's too obvious. Anyway, what're those golden rings around the scripts?"

This time the Symbiote answered.

[The ring should tell the level of each script. However, these rings are different, I don't think that's what it's doing. I think it increased the strength of the Tactics without raising their level. That being said, all of them have been improved to at least the stage where you have to add your comprehension to improve them which is three rings.]

"Improved them, huh…" Korede murmured. He folded his arms and started tapping his right index finger on his left arm. A quirk he shows when he was deep in thought.

'If I take my dreams for face value, then it shows that the River of Time can easily destroy me. There's no need for it to act against me. Also, since I'm its Childe, it should have my best interest. From this line of reasoning, it will make sense that it increased the strength of my Will Tactics

If that's the case, the shackled Will Tactics must be something harmful. Or maybe just something I can't handle or I'm not ready for.

It should be the latter. If it was harmful, the River should have gotten rid of it if it wants to protect me. That means it will be released at a later date when a condition is met.

What I don't understand is why it's preventing the Symbiote from explaining things to me?'

The rate of the tapping increased as he intuitively felt the answer to this question was very important. He looked through his memories involving the River of Time until something finally jumped out at him.

"Trials!" Korede said out loud. 'How could I forget? I'm undergoing some sort of trial. Of course, it will prevent someone from giving me all the answers. It's okay to get help when you have a problem but you shouldn't depend on others to completely solve it for you. You won't grow that way. That means it's warning me.

I receive a lot of information today that I've been overwhelmed. From master telling me about my physiques, his explanation on Will, everyone's experience with Will, Symbiote telling me about Will manifestation, technique, and Tactics. I'd become passive. I even allowed them to set my training regimen for me in the spur of the moment. This is not like me.

Even though I'd always done what the family wanted, I'd always done it my way. Not to mention it was also what I wanted.

So that's what you were trying to tell me huh.'

Korede looked up at the shackled Will Tactics and said, "I agree. How can the Childe of the Supreme Laws of Time allow his path to be determined by others? My path is mine to walk."

Almost immediately, Korede felt his mental state ease. He felt freer.

At the same time, the same waterfall appeared once again. This time it was seen by Korede. It poured down on him as he burst into laughter. As if to match his joy, a melodious tune filled the entire space originating from the waterfall. Korede's body shone golden. A pulse spread out with Korede at the center and filled the entire mindspace. It soon settled down almost as soon as it came.

Due to being in his mindspace, Korede and the Symbiote were able to feel the pulse from the awakening of his Will. It won't be too long now before he awakes his Will. The waterfall disappeared along with the golden glow on his body.

Korede looked at his body but found no noticeable change. However, he knew something had changed.

[A.N: Please, don't forget to leave a review of the work to encourage me. Your opinion matters to me.]