Faust ran up a narrow mountain path with steps so light they didn't even disturb the dirt on the ground, slicing his way through crowds of monsters doing their best to stall his ascent.

Unfortunately none of them were able to do so. He charged onward without pause, the spear in his hands a whirling silver serpent biting off the heads of anything foolish enough to wander close. He never displayed strength above Rank 3, using technique and a discerning eye to strike at weaknesses instead of utilizing overwhelming force.

If his real strength was exposed there'd be stronger monsters waiting in ambush instead of low-tier fodder. Or the hidden enemy was trying to lure Faust into revealing himself by using quantity over quality and putting his subordinates at risk.

So many creatures of different types coordinating meant a contracted Beast King was pulling the strings. Faust expanded his senses as he moved, sending out tendrils of mana to create a wide net capable of sensing the aura signatures of living creatures within its detection radius. Anything with mana in its body would have an aura signature, stronger beings would have a more prominent and unique signature.

Amidst the cloud of flying beasts at the summit was a fierce aura that dwarfed the companions closest to it, almost engulfing them with its might. It hovered just outside Hans's range of detection, as though the Beast King knew ahead of time the limits of the agent's Gift.

Faust scowled, tightening his grip on the spear. The exact limitations of one's Gift was a very personal affair, being able to grasp such sensitive information meant the enemy had formidable methods at their disposal.

Annoying. Really annoying!

Faust cleared out a small area then carved various runes on his spear. He even brought out a couple augments prepared ahead of time, attaching them to the spear shaft to supplement its power. When the entire weapon glowed with purple light, Faust launched it with the peak of Rank 3 strength toward the lurking Beast King.

Circuits activated, augments lit up, and the spear howled as it tore through the air with reckless abandon. Several flying beasts in its path died without ever knowing how, unable to even slow the projectile.

The Beast King was an enormous Red Stone Vulture with an ugly wrinkled head and drab gray plumage. It seemed completely unremarkable if one missed the sparkle of intelligence in its crimson eyes, or couldn't see the menacing aura clinging to its pudgy body.

The poor Beast King never saw the spear that passed through its head, shattering the thick skull and dragging a streak of brain matter behind as it kept flying into the distance. Startled by the sudden fall of their Beast King, the remaining creatures scattered into the night while screeching and screaming at the top of their lungs.

Faust's four subordinates, watching from the safety of their bunker, felt their teeth ache seeing their Boss effortlessly dispatch the pseudo-tide threatening all their lives.

Well, he was Boss after all... But couldn't he have spared them some face?! Their cheeks were burning!

Faust marched into the bunker, waiting only a moment for Kurt to unblock the door before breezing into the war room. His waiting subordinates all stood at attention, not daring to even twitch their fingers with nervousness. He took a seat, drumming his fingers against a table in a calm staccato beat.

"We have an unseen enemy," Faust said slowly. "One with some means of surveillance. They knew about you being stationed here, and the limits of Hans's aura detection range, but they prepared enemies thinking I'm peak Rank 3. Whoever it is doesn't know about my true strength so it's unlikely there's a leak."

The four subordinates all heaved a sigh of relief, tension in the air evaporating in moments. "You're off the hook Hans," Hilda said with a smirk, ducking when the man chucked an empty coffee mug at her face.

"We're altering the original operation plan. I'll bring you down to the estate, as though I panicked at having you found out. In the upcoming attack we defend to the last before 'dying' together." Faust accepted a cup of hot tea from Kurt, taking a long sip. "Afterwards, we infiltrate the attacking sector and drag out the bastard targeting us. Only then can we come back and clean up traces here. Go prepare, you have five minutes."

Sofie frowned, canting her head to the side. "Boss, what about the girl? Aren't we bringing her out?"

The other three subordinates froze in their steps, turning curious eyes hungry for gossip toward their Boss. Faust just sipped his tea, failing to show any satisfying reaction.

Of course he wouldn't bring Li Mei out until the enemy was taken care of and Oriole matters were wrapped up, revealing her existence ahead of time would only put her in more danger! At least in that jungle-like forest she could stay hidden, was familiar with the forest terrain and local dangers, and had a safe place to sleep protected by his best defensive arrays. She'd be fine until everything on his end was taken care of.

Faust glanced up, leveling an apathetic glare on Sofie's suddenly pale face. "Four minutes."

Li Mei hit the ground with a solid thump, tangled in the blankets she stole from under Bao's sleeping form. Staring at the ceiling in a daze for a few minutes, she luxuriated in the feeling of oversleeping before memories of the previous night's rude awakening made her sit straight up.

She crawled onto her bed where Faust left two data chips, and brought out the three from storage that she stole from Vigen's house. "So I use mana to read these? Weird."

Manipulating mana was something she learned while building her Core, but she fell asleep before she really had a chance to practice. It took Li Mei a good hour to figure out how to pull a thread of mana from the Core, then another hour spent trying to guide it up her arm and into the chip at her fingertips.

Handling mana was like herding cats! And it certainly had nothing to do with natural talent or lack thereof, she was much too clever to believe that sort of nonsense.

Bao woke at some point and watched with amusement sparkling in his four golden eyes. As creatures born with Cores, fera could refine and manipulate mana before they learned to even walk. He made derisive faces at her awkward attempts but was unable to communicate to her what, exactly, she was doing wrong.

Oh, if only he was Rank 3 and could learn Telepathy, then teasing Li Mei would be so much more efficient!

The instant Li Mei finally managed to touch the green jade chip with a clumsy mana thread, several holoscreens popped up.

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[Green Jade Data Chip]

Encryption: None

Content: Hecatoncheires body tempering technique.

Estimated Value: 5000c

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[Successful Contact With Green Jade Data Chip]

Copied content to Archive. Added Hecatoncheires to Techniques.

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[Hecatoncheires]

Suitable for Rank 0 - 3 practitioners.

A technique for using mana to strengthen one's body, increasing base stats and general sturdiness. Perfect for beginners still building their foundation, Hecatoncheires specializes in creating lean muscles that erupt with explosive power in combat.

Also has the effect of hardening the skin, making it easier to resist blows.

Technique Rarity: B+

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'Wait, so... It copied the instructions into my Archive, meaning it's still on the chip? I can sell the chip while keeping the technique, now that's convenient.' Li Mei grinned, putting the Green Jade chip back into storage, then grabbed the closest Black Jade chip and repeated the process of poking it with a mana thread.

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[Black Jade Data Chip]

Encryption: Locked to Aura Signature (Li Mei)

Content: Complete Training Room Mental Simulation (Combat Staff Techniques, Sky Serpent Style)

Technique Rarity: SS

Estimated Value: 73000c

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[Successful Contact With Black Jade Data Chip]

Copied content to Archive. Added Training Room to Interface.

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[Training Room]

Allows your consciousness to be drawn into a training room, where you can learn special techniques in a dream-like state. You perceive time differently in the training room, with time passing more quickly in the room than it does in reality. The higher your Rank, the greater the difference in time perception.

At Rank 0, 5 minutes in reality will seem like 30 in the training room.

Your body will be helpless while your mind is in the training room. Be careful when you access it!

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"Proper staff techniques, and a training room...!" Li Mei's eyes sparkled with excitement. That alone was worth putting up with Faust!

The other data chips could wait. Without hesitation, Li Mei activated the Training Room.

Li Mei found herself standing in a plain white room facing a purple wire grid mannequin with her height and build. Above its head floated the words , reminding her of a video game. She pinched her arm, only a little surprised when it actually hurt.

Her Interface was still visible, to her relief - it was becoming something of a familiar comfort.

[Training Room activated. Host at Rank 0, time perception set to 1:6. New User explanation initiated.]

[The Training Room can be used to study and practice techniques and spells or develop new ones in a controlled realistic environment using mental power instead of that which is physical or magical in nature. Spells can be practiced without consuming mana. Physical training in the Training Room is not very effective, but it's excellent at helping the User grasp technique and develop muscle memory responses for actual combat situations. Have caution: overexertion and mental taxation will still cause negative effects. If the User feels tired, please leave the Training Room and have a good rest.]

[New User explanation concluded.]

[Programs containing lessons can be run at any time, but are not mandatory for the use of the Training Room.]

[New Programs detected: 1. Comprehensive combat program detected: sequential lessons with qualification analysis for unlocking higher levels. Would the User like to run the program?]

Stunned by the sudden influx of information delivered by an apathetic disembodied voice, Li Mei could only manage some nodding in response before she coughed out: "Yes, please." Even talking to some weird magic program, it was important to remember her manners.

[Detecting qualifications. Loading Program: Master Faust's Introductory Course to Combat Staff Techniques, Sky Serpent Style, Novice Level.]

The training dummy materialized a staff in each hand. It handed one over, bowed at the waist into a neat 90 degree angle which Li Mei returned on reflex, then settled into a fighting stance.

When Li Mei failed to do the same in a timely manner, the dummy lashed out and smacked her upside the head with the staff. Pain shot through her body like an electric shock, far too realistic considering it was supposed to be a mental simulation. "Ow!"

[Please copy the Training Dummy's movements.]

Li Mei rubbed the sore spot on her head, only to receive another strike to the shoulder. "Ouch!"

[Please copy the Training Dummy's movements.]

"Okay, okay! Calm down!" Li Mei grumbled and copied the dummy's stance, only to get whacked in the elbow. "OW! What now?!"

[User's elbow is sticking out too far by three degrees. Please copy the Training Dummy's movements.]

"Son of a... So this is how you're going to be? Fine! How do I leave this place?"

Whack! Right to the knee! Tears sprang to the corners of her eyes as she hopped around on one leg. "Ow ow oww!"

[Exit is only possible when a level of the program is completed, as per the program creator's specifications. Please copy the Training Dummy's movements.]

"Damn you, Faust!"

WHACK!

Bao yawned with boredom. The poor fera carefully manipulated his claws to sift through the fridge for leftovers from dinner since it became obvious his friend wasn't going to provide breakfast.

Li Mei sat on the bed with her eyes closed. Her face twitched from time to time, and a layer of sweat broke out as though the exertion in her mind was so great it was having an effect on her body.

Several hours passed in the real world before she managed to escape the training room. Every muscle cramped and ached, limbs trembling like she ran a few consecutive marathons. Satisfaction in the results outweighed the frustration she felt toward Faust's shameless trickery: she successfully learned the novice level of Sky Serpent Style!

Mastery would come with practice, but having the foundation laid for proper combat was worth getting beat up by that damned dummy! No more swinging her staff around and hoping something worked! No more looking like a fool imitating a windmill in the midst of combat!

The Sky Serpent Style really suited her tastes. It emphasized mobility and flexibility, adapting to situations during a fight to evade damage and wait for the right moment to strike at an opponent's weakness. Each stance and movement was elegant, fluid, beautiful in its sinister efficiency.

Her stomach grumbled, a fierce snarl reminding the girl she skipped breakfast and almost missed lunch. At the same time she noticed her mouth was dry and parched. Li Mei scrambled off the bed only to find Bao snoozing in the main room, surrounded by several empty containers that used to hold the delicious remnants of her birthday dinner.

"Shameless swine!" Li Mei growled in a hoarse voice, nudging the sleeping fera with her feet. He snorted and rolled over - finally, revenge for not getting any of the birthday dessert!

With no other option, she was forced to make something on her own after drinking nearly a gallon of water.

As much as she hated to admit it even to herself, Faust's cooking skill was beyond superior. The grilled meat and sliced vegetables she made for lunch were bland and tasteless in comparison no matter what spices she threw into the pan. Li Mei resolved to polish her cooking ability the first chance she got.

After lunch she inspected the other data chip Faust left behind and sorted through the cloud of holoscreens that small action brought forth. Contrary to her expectations about extra homework and more boring textbooks about history, the contents of the chip revealed a surprising level of solicitude for her circumstances.

In particular, the last item listed under content made Li Mei break out in a grin. "It's like he knows me."

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[White Jade Data Chip]

Encryption: Locked to Aura Signature (Li Mei)

Content: Celestial Crane of the Northern Winds circulation technique, comprehensive map of the Ancient Elderwood Forest, A Beginner's Guide to Hunting and Effective Traps by Raoul Veldun, Plentiful Pills, Potions, and Poisons (And The Mixing Thereof) by Althea Drood, Sector 9 Elderwood Research Facility Security Passcodes and Other Useful Information (Just In Case My Clever Disciple Courts Death) by Faust

Estimated Value: Priceless

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[Successful Contact With White Jade Data Chip]

Copied content to Archive. Added Celestial Crane of the Northern Winds to Techniques. Updated map with new information.

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[Celestial Crane of the Northern Winds]

An intact mana circulation technique of the Progenitors, passed down from mother to daughter for thousands of years. A Yin-type technique with Ice and Wind properties. Extremely efficient at absorbing and refining mana.

If the minimum requirements are not met, the practitioner's Core will explode. Luckily you meet the requirements.

Unlike most Ice techniques, this technique does not inflict its practitioner with an inherent weakness to Fire and will not cause a loss of emotional depth. Thanks to the influence of Wind, there will be no negative effects on the practitioner's mental or physical flexibility.

Practitioners have a calm mind in all situations, resistance to illusion spells, increased intellectual capacity, high dexterity, and a strong proficiency for Ice and Wind magic.

Compatibility: 93%

Technique Rarity: SSS

Technique Quality: SSS

Minimum Requirements: Compatibility 85%, Core Grade B, Mana Capacity 500, WIS 5, INT 5, DEX 5, Bloodline Descendant

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[Mana Circulation]

Mana circulation is the most effective method for refilling the Core. Pulling in mana from the surroundings, refining it, and moving it through the meridians in one's body is a method for strengthening the body, reinforcing the Core, and mastering control over mana manipulation.

A proper circulation technique turns one's body into a Circuit with the meridians forming the nodes, making mana circulation similar to casting a spell through one's self. As such, each technique has different benefits and suits different needs. Higher quality techniques are less likely to have drawbacks, backlash, or other restrictions on the practitioner.

Compatibility between the practitioner and technique effects the degree of benefits the practitioner receives.

It's common to circulate mana for at least an hour every day, and it's a private and secretive process. It's insulting to inquire about the specific details of one's circulation technique and methods. Sharing of technique names and basic traits is acceptable, though it's not unusual for people to abstain or outright lie.

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[Techniques]

You have learned 2 techniques, but you haven't tried them out yet! To easily use a learned technique, focus on the technique's name. The Interface will provide instructions from there.

Instructions will also be saved in the Archive to be perused at your leisure.

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"That's a hell of a lot of information," Li Mei wheezed, rubbing her aching temples. So much to absorb!

Of particular interest was the 'Bloodline Descendant' requirement for the mana circulation technique Faust provided. If it was passed mother to daughter, how did Faust have it? Did 44's mother give it to him to pass along to her daughter in her stead? Why? What happened?

There was something very strange going on regarding that man and his relationship to 44, and rather than uncovering answers all Li Mei could find were more questions.

She closed her eyes, focusing on the pretentious name of the mana circulation technique. True to its word, the Interface provided instructions - knowledge poured into her mind as though she knew the method all along, integrating seamlessly into her memories.

Guiding mana along meridians according to the prescribed method, Li Mei felt a strange sensation. The mana threads felt cool and refreshing like streams of ice cold water were replacing her veins, while the surrounding air dropped in temperature until her breath formed clouds of mist. Raw mana was pulled into her Core with frightening speed, though there wasn't too much in the cave so it didn't have an impressive effect.

Another hour passed without her notice. By the time Li Mei opened her eyes again, a fine layer of frost coated her flesh, ice sparkling on the fine hairs of her eyelashes. The refined mana in her Core increased from 10 to 55 in one session, and would have been a greater amount of there'd been more raw mana in the surroundings.

She exhaled a breath of turbid air and smiled. Suddenly, she felt like going hunting.