After rolling two my figure landed on the last platform which was blue and I managed to replenish my mana reserve.

Then my figure vanished and in front of the platform appeared door like one led to this room. Like before I turned the handle and entered. Behind the door is another big hall with crystal pillars.

More I proceed into this crystal cave more I see man-made constructs. And walls are filled with crystal book shelves and surroundings are filled with desks with books and documents on them.

After going around the hall I see another door leading to another room. I open the door and see a bed, table and skeleton on a comfy chair with book on its lap.

Well, this go surreal fast. From the looks of it, skeleton used to be a wizard when he was alive. So, I think it’s safe to assume that this place was his research base or maybe a home. But whatever it was it is clear that this place became his tomb.

“Hey, are you there.”

“I’m here, what do you want?”

“Didn’t you say humans die before they make it here?”

“I said usually. He is one of the rare ones to make it this deep in here. After all, even a broken clock has a chance of being right twice a day.”

“Well, I suppose you’re right. And since he managed to make it this far that means he was quite powerful when he was alive, right?”

“Nope, he was simply lucky. The path he chose was along the territory of a lazy dragon and that dragon couldn’t bother to get rid of bug and simply let him go. And he managed to make it into the inner region of the forest. And creatures that live in inner regions were weaker than him. Thus, he managed to make it here. Later he wanted to leave the forest. Unfortunately, he wasn’t as lucky as he was before and encountered creature much stronger than himself. So, he had no choice but to live out his life here.”

“How long did he live here?”

“Not so long, about two decades.”

“All alone here for twenty years. Ooh, that must have been a strain on his sanity, right?”

“I suppose it was, but he had his research to keep him occupied most of the time but still near the end his sanity really got tested.”

“Poor guy. So, he made all this? How did he manage to do it? And dice game outside, is that supposed to be a trap or challenge. Did he make these bracelets too?”

“Yeah, at the end I started to pity him. And he didn’t make all this, he simply carved those rooms from crystals. As for the dice game, he did make everything about that himself and it was a bot trap and a challenge. No matter what your figure will land on purple platform at the end. Both the book and the bracelets are his creations.”

“Okay, these bracelets are awesome and I’m sure there is other functions to them, right?”

“Yes, I was there when he made those.”

“Come on then, spill.”

“I don’t think so. Other functions are for yourself to figure out. But I can tell you one thing those bracelets are one of the most powerful weapons I know.”

“Tsk. Acting all mysterious again. Whatever. Then what about the book? Is it safe to practice the breathing technique in it to temper my body?”

“Well, a tree got have his fun, right? As for the book, it is safe to use it. This breathing technique he created is something powerful too. Those bracelets and book are this old wizard’s magnum opuses.”

“Okay. So, all these papers, documents and books are his research?”

“Yes, if you read them you may find something useful to you.”

“I think I will do that. But before that I think I will check out that book.”

I take out the book and flip it. After going through it once I get a feeling that this martial art is about breathing and right usage of energy used to fuel the technique.

If I get proficient enough at allocating my energy, I can use this martial art in any way I want.

“Biggest advantage of that martial art is its versatility. You can use any form of energy to fuel it, mana, qi or you can even use pure energy to execute its techniques. And that is something very rare in martial arts. Most martial arts are very specific about what they should be fueled with. And that usually qi. But from state of your body we can both safely assume that is not really realistic. So, in other word this martial art is tailor made for you.”

Firewood’s words have reason in it. Even though my body is being strengthened when I kill something and absorb its life-force, it is a slow process. I think it will take a long time for my body potential to reach rank C.

“But it says here clearly that in order to temper my body using this breathing technique I need pure energy. So, how is it versatile?”

“I didn’t say anything about body tempering, I said techniques in this martial art can be performed with any kind of energy. To temper your body you need pure energy, something that isn’t in here.”

“Oh, sorry about misunderstanding.”

“It’s fine, and those bracelets they too can be fueled by any kind of energy. Like that nameless martial art is tailor made for you, those bracelets are tailor made for that martial art.”

“Oh, cool. But I thought he was a more of a wizard from way he was dressed. Instead he was a warrior, huh.”

“No, he was a wizard, but for some reason one day he started to practice martial arts and created that nameless martial art. And he was good at it.”

“So, there is a spell related research in his books?”

“Of course, there is. He was a wizard after all.”

“Hmm, then I think those books will be a tremendous help for me. But first I would like to test out the techniques in this book.”

First, I activate my gears and get first stance that is in the book. After that I will my mana to move in direction that is specified in the book.

“You actually don’t need to follow the stances. Those stances simply help the beginners to move their energy in right way. But since you can control your mana at a higher level you can simply direct your mana in way that is specified in the book and perform your actions.”

“Hmm, that is convenient.”

So, I get into basic boxing stance. And will my mana to my right arm and make it spin as fast as it can. Mana inside the body can move as fast a thought. So, that means mana inside my body can travel at speeds ranging from 112 to 193 km per second. That means in 0.1 second my mana can spin approximately 1.500.000 times.

And as my mana spin in my arms at high speed I can actually feel my gantlet being charged at a same speed.

After spinning my mana in my right arm for about 0.2 second I punch out. And as I feel my mana being expelled out of my arm I see a transparent fist coming out of my right gauntlet spinning at high speed and flying forward hitting nearby crystal wall and leaving a dent in it.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA, yes. That was wicked.”

“Calm yourself. That wasn’t that impressive.”

“Who asked you? This wizard was amazing. The technique I just performed is the first and simplest one in this book. And there is nine more. Anyway, thanks old man, I won’t forget your grace.”

As I was looking at the skeleton and showing my gratitude, a purple-flames suddenly light up in the skeleton’s eye sockets. And it raises its head and looks at me.

“You’re very welcome young man.”

“WHAT THE HELL?”

“No need to be scared young man. I won’t bite you.”

“Who’s scared. I was just startled. So, you’re a lich?”