Varian held the black box and tried to open it.
"Crr…"
There was a sound from friction, but the box didn't open. Varian increased his strength, and the box shook slightly.
There was no sign of it opening.
"Argh"
Varian yelled and exerted his full strength.
"Creak"
The box shook a bit more, but that was it. There was no more movement.
'Is there some super secret stored in it? Something I can only access if I have enough strength? Or else why would mom set the opening condition so high?'
Varian speculated. Perhaps his mother left him a secret. Maybe the true cause of her death. Maybe Sia would know. To find her, he needed to…
'I shouldn't be resting.' Varian gave up thoughts of sleeping more and decided to train.
'Status'
[Body Path Level 2: 0/200
25% Greater Human
Space Path Level 1: 30/100
Low Teleportation
Space Binding]
'Should I focus on two paths equally? Or should I double down on one?' Varian recalled the recent battles.
'Ideally, a high single level path can be used to pull up the low levels of other paths. If my Body Path is Level 7, I can use that strength to easily raise my Space Path by venturing into Dungeons and fighting for resources.'
But he didn't have that luxury. In the fight with the Abyssal Knight, the major reason he won against a Level 2 Body Awakener despite being a Level 1 Body Awakener was because of the unfair advantage — Space Path.
Teleportation helped him dodge the attacks he couldn't otherwise and Space binding absorbed a good part of the attack, allowing him to fight head on.
Without them, he'd have lost for sure.
'If I can master these two paths, I'll be able to fight stronger enemies. That'll be my unique advantage, right System?'
[Host, there are also Dual Awakeners. Your unique advantage is when you awaken in more paths. Three, Four, Five… ]
'Exactly how many paths do I awaken in?' Varian was really curious.
[Guess…]
'Guess your uncle!' Varian cussed.
[This System has no uncle. But it has a creator.] The System unexpectedly replied, sparking his interest.
'Who?'
[Guess]
'Useless Sy…' Varian stopped mid way.
This system seemed pretty useless outside helping him awaken in more paths, but it also helped increase his talent to a ridiculous level, directly using Aura Crystals to advance to next levels at a great speed,… never mind, this System was actually great.
"Take permission to murloc island. I'll grind there for 4 days." Varian and ordered his comm.
'To maximize my combat power, I should mix these two paths' powers and form my own fighting pattern. Right now, Space Path is the weak link. So first I'll master my Space powers, then integrate it with Body Path powers.'
The plan was perfect, but there was a catch. With his Greater Human stats, he'd not be able to completely focus on his Space powers.
Space Awakeners hone themselves in skills to perfection and use them seamlessly because they would only practice space skills as a pure space awakener.
'My Level 2 Body Path is a hindrance here. My higher reaction speed means I would dodge instead of teleport, my higher defense means I would trade a blow instead of space binding.'
There was nothing wrong with dodging instead of teleporting when he could, but overdependence on one path would mean he wouldn't be able to integrate many paths into one fighting style.
'System, can you suppress my Body Path or something?' He asked on a whim.
[Of course. But you have to be willing.]
Varian was surprised, then nodded. He felt something shake from deep within. He didn't resist and let it act.
The next moment, he felt all the chi in his body sucked in and a wave of weakness wash over him.
He couldn't see the minute details of things a hundred meters away, nor could he hear the subtle rustling of leaves.
He was a… normal human once again.
"I… lived like this for 18 years?" Varian smiled wryly. His current physical state was equivalent to his pre-awakening.
[Even without chi, your body would still be as strong, and your senses won't drop. This System used its ability to give you the perfect state for training.]
Varian thanked it and carefully perceived the aura in his body.
There was only space power in his body. The aura entered his body and slowly transformed into space power.
Anyone who saw him would also think he was just a Level 1.
This method was unheard of and Varian was once again shocked by the actions of the System.
"Order a 1 star sword from Treasure Union to be delivered at murloc island and pay the remaining money in my account to Mr.Gareth." Varian exited his home and ordered his comm.
He got onto the hover bike and flew off to the murloc islands.
'What if I suddenly get into danger in this state?' Varian questioned along the journey.
[Just resist it in your mind and then you'll be back to normal.] The System's answer relieved him.
But he was still somehow tense. As he reached the murloc island, the familiar ocean waves and the white clouds soothed him a bit.
The water shone like pearls under the two suns. The earth before blink only had one Sun. The blink somehow split it in two.
The planets would have been devastated by such an event. Perhaps it was divine intervention or maybe just the effect of aura, the planets stayed the same.
A delivery drone flew to him and presented the 1 star sword. It was a red sword made from the bones of a crystal magic beast, famous for sharpness and resilience.
Varian bound the sword to himself and became its owner. The hover bike descended.
'Time to test what I can do.' He thought and landed on the island.
'This is just like the first time.' Except, his physical stats weren't as high. If what he felt the last time was "curiosity, ", what he felt now was "vulnerability".
He still couldn't adjust to a weak body and its weak senses.
Perhaps this was what they meant by "You can adjust to becoming powerful but cannot bear becoming weaker."
"Screech",
"Screech",
The murlocs in the vicinity sensed his arrival. The humanoid creatures gazed at him with their vertical yellow pupils and dashed at him, beating their tail to the ground.
Varian only noticed them after they were at a visible distance.
'If I had not suppressed my Body Path, I'd know the moment they are 50 meters from me.'
The murlocs dashed at him with a speed higher than what he could currently exert.
'I am Level 0 in my body path now. Only Space. Only Space.' He reminded himself and brandished his sword.
'I chose an island with more murlocs, but 10 for starters?'
"Bring it on!" He yelled and channeled the space power in his body.
"Click"
"Click"
The murlocs reached him in the blink of an eye. They were all Level 1 in Body path and thus possessed better physical stats than the current him.
Varian dodged all attacks except one, thanks to his agility and combat experience.
The last attack was about to land on his chest, and Varian instinctively wanted to counter. He opposed the restriction subconsciously and regained his Level 2 Body Path.
Intoxicating strength filled his body, and without thinking, he punched back.
"Boom!"
His fist passed through the murloc's chest and crushed its insides.
'Shit! I lifted the restriction.' Varian teleported himself away and analyzed the reasons.
Since he could remember, his biggest reliance was his body. This alien feeling of leaving his safety to Space powers was disturbing his instincts.
During his fight with the Level 2 Abyssal, he used Space Binding and Teleportation freely and without hesitation.
That was because his body was his assurance, and space was just an additional power.
So he couldn't adapt to situations where his body wasn't his biggest assurance.
This would be not important now, but when he awakens in more paths and reaches higher levels, it could cost him his life.
'Space Awakeners don't fight fist to fist. They don't compete in speed.' Varian tried to convince himself and control his body.
'System, restrict my Body Path.' Varian said, and felt powerless once again.
"Screech" the murlocs screamed and rushed to him.
'This time, I'll do it right!'