Chakra

Cal wasn't one to think too deeply about any given situation, when presented with one of two options he was the kind of person who'd immediately go with his gut, rampaging forwards with no holds barred. Even during times of meditation or introspection, Cal found it annoying to think deeply about things.

Cal had fleetingly thought about dividing up his DP and doling them out carefully to each stat, Chakra included, so he could get a feel for what it truly is before investing the rest of his points into it. Yet when thinking of the different stats and how to divvy up the points, his non-existent brain started to hurt; not a roast, he physically no longer possesses a brain; perhaps this form fits his personality better in that regard.

He simply placed his trust in the system and decided to put all of his newly accumulated points into Chakra, a decision that normally would've been foolish. Normally.

[Okey dokey! Using your DP now!] the sweet chime sounded excited, almost as if the system itself was anxious about what was about to happen.

'Here it comes...' Cal tensed his body in anticipation.

With every passing millisecond, Cal focused all the attention he could muster onto his body, attempting to sense any change that might happen.

'It's probably gonna happen... now!' Cal tried to predict when Chakra's effect would take hold to no avail.

'Or.. now!'

'...'

'now?' Cal was stupefied.

'...'

'Hey uh... are you sure you put the points into Chakra?' Cal questioned the system.

[Yep! I already put it in ages ago!]

'...'

'...'

'...'

'I'VE BEEN SCAMMED! SYSTEM BOY! REFUND MY POINTS!' Cal cried out, throwing his bony arms in the air.

[Oh, stop complaining! Just use the Chakra!]

'What? Use it?? How??' Cal refuted back.

[I have no clue! But you're definitely different from before! I can sense it!] chimed the orange screen.

'Sense...?' the skeleton quietly dropped his hands to his sides.

Cal silenced his tantrum and refocused his attention onto his body, no matter how hard he tried to concentrate, no change could be detected. Confused, Cal decided to walk around for a while and test his physical abilities, he theorised that perhaps Chakra was similar to the constitution stat and had a generalised effect on his entire body.

After 10 minutes of traipsing around a dungeon with no percievable change, clinking and clanking his bones, he gave up and stared at his hands; frustrated at the outcome of his gamble.

To him, he had wasted his precious DP on a useless stat.

'That's frustrating as hell... system, are you sure you have no idea what Chakra is?' he asked, Cal was losing hope.

[I hate telling you this but I sincerely have no idea! Some information is already embedded into me but others are a mystery! However, if you're asking me if Chakra has no effect or not... there was a significant change in you internally when I applied your DP!]

Cal raised a metaphorical eyebrow at the systems response.

'Interally you say?'

The skeleton came up with a theory.

'System boy, please go away for a while, your light is appreciated but I need some time alone.' Cal thought, in response, the system quietly drifted away and let Cal focus on his lonesome. It didn't even protest being called "system boy", it knew how high the stakes were for Cal.

'Pheww...' Cal sighed internally as he resumed sitting in a lotus postion, this stance was integral in testing out his theory. He calmed his mind and concentrated on himself.

'Not being used to this body, I wasn't able to sense any energy within myself. Usually I scan through my blood vessels and muscles when detecting or amassing Ki... but since I don't have any of those anymore... ' Cal's mind trailed on.

'Since I don't have those anymore... and I've already tested my physical capabilities... Chakra must be an internal force! Just like Ki!' Cal concluded.

'Forget all my preconcieved notions about detecting energy... forget about the blood vessels, tendons, muscles, fat... all of it. Focus your entire being inside your bones Cal... focus...' Cal's mind poked and prodded within his new body, each bone being felt out, it's ingrediants and form being thoroughly comprehended by Cal.

'And within these bones lie...'

'...'

Cal's mind delved deeper and deeper into the bones, the desperation of being trapped in a dungeon, the thrill of fighting a strong goblin, the hope of recieving Deva Points for the first time and seeing his goal become clearer... all of these emotions coincided and meshed together, to create a focus beyond anything Cal had previously been capable of.

Barely 30 minutes had passed when he felt it.

An inkling of a buzz.

A whisper in a crowd.

A small sprout of energy. Weakly and lightly travelling throughout his bones with no set path, the energy bounced around Cal's bones, dancing and twirling around his conciousness, almost as if it were hiding from Cal's eyes.

When Cal first detected it, his soul almost leapt out in joy, he wanted to dance around and thank the system once more; yet he couldn't let this oppertunity go to waste. While this mysterious energy was capable of being detected... he felt the need to fully familiarise himself with the force before celebrating.

His conciousness wrapped around the wispy energy, trying to understand it's nature. It reminded Cal greatly of Ki, yet, it was distinctly different. During his time in the mage academy, he had familiarised himself with mana, this new energy source had some properties that he attributed to mana.

'Ki has always been straightforward and strong, this energy feels as solid as Ki, yet it has the flexability of Mana... how strange...' Cal thought in a bemused tone. Mana, to him, felt like wisps of powerful energy that bent and flew in different shapes, Ki was solid and straightforward. The analogy his grandfather had taught him was that Ki is similar to a solid tree wheras Mana can be compared to a pool of water. To Cal, this new energy felt like an amalgamation of both Mana and Ki.

An hour passed with Cal feeling out the energy, not only did he greatly increase his affinity to sense it, he felt like drawing on the energy for his needs wouldn't be a far off goal. Choosing Chakra as the stat point to improve was definitely the best choice.

'I think... I get it...' the skeleton thought, finally allowing his mind to relax.

Cal had no muscles to get tired, yet the mental exhaustion of focusing to that extent bombarded him like a tsunami, he had was reminded of what it felt like to be on the brink of fainting. However, even with such exhaustion and pain, the knowledge that a power similar to Ki now resides within him as well as the possibility of acquiring more DP existing, eased his sorrows.

Cal felt true hope.

'I will get out of here.' Cal thought, resolute.

'I will meet grandpa and my brother once again. I will one day be free of this fleshless, husk of a body I now posess. I will go back and protect those I care for. I won't waste this precious chance I got.'

The skeleton stood up with a clink, he was no longer annoyed by that sound.

'System!' he announced out loud in his head.

The orange screen drifted closer to Cal, from it's demenaour, it seems that it already knew of Cal's newfound understanding of Chakra.

'Lets go.'