~ Kairo's Pov, XXX time later... ~
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Pain...
That's all I could feel...
A throbbing, persisting, annoying pain...
But, there was this... comfort in all of it.
It felt like I was floating... Despite not flying.
My body felt weightless, but not in a good way. More like every muscle had given up and decided to let the universe hold me up.
My eyelids felt so, heavy... and each breath felt like someone was dragging sandpaper through my lungs...
'Am I… dead?' I thought.
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'No-No... Being dead wouldn't hurt this much...'
I slowly opened them again... This time, seeing nothing but, green...?
'What the...?' Now, I'm just confused.
Well... at least this confirmed something. I wasn't actually dead. If I was, that wouldn't be so great...
After a little while, I could feel my eyes adjusting, bit-by-bit... I eventually glanced around to see where I was a little better, and I quickly ascertained that I was in a healing pod.
It felt, weird. I could move, but I could tell I was in some pain...
'Then that Aka kid must have knocked my ass out then... Kinda' funny when I thought about it.'
PING!
[Hello host. It seems that you are finally awake.]
'Nexus? I'm glad to see you too, I guess... Tell me, what happened while I was, well... You know...'
I don't wanna remind both myself, or him that I got myself knocked out. I've got my pride, for what it's worth...
[...Soon after your battle with Aka, one of the Saiyan instructors carried you to the healing quarters since you were extremely injured. However, they were impressed by your performance.]
'Impressed...?' I asked, quite honestly confused.
[Yes, both the instructors and some of the children were quite impressed by your sheer will to continue fighting an opponent much more powerful than yourself. Whilst also putting up a fight against said opponent.]
'I guess that isn't so bad... Maybe I was a little badass out there when I fought, if one could even call that a fight...'
It was pretty much a one-sided beat down on my end.
I sighed, asking: 'Is there anything else I should know about?'
[Yes. You also received a Zenkai... Do you wish to hear the increase in your power level...?]
'Really? Of course!!! In fact, tell me if I get a Zenkai, no matter how small they may be...'
I absolutely loved the idea of zenkais, so hearing of all the increases would be like music to my ears.
[Affirmative... After recovering to a sufficient level, you gained a 2.2-fold increase in your max power level.]
'Hmm? That ain't so bad, it's great actually. I'm still a Low-Class, but it's a decent jump... Actually, show me my status as well.'
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Name: Kairo
Age/ Lifespan: 8 / 112 years
Gender: Male
Height: 129 cm
Weight: 79 lbs./ 35.83 kg
Race: Low-Class Saiyan
Condition: Healthy
Power Level (PL): 29 → 64
Physical Potential: 5 (The average is 5)
Mental Potential: 7 (The average is 5)
Passive-Skills;
1. Saiyan Tail {MAX}: Grants the user increased power and potential. Allows the user to access the Oozaru state. Granting a 10-Fold Increase in overall Power-level…
2. Zenkai-I: Grants the user an increase of strength after fully recovering. Increase is dependent on the residual Ki, how much you fear your opponent and how powerful your opponent is.
3. Adaptability-I: Grants the host the minor ability to adapt when under duress through all forms of conditions…
4. Warrior's Mind {MAX}: The host's mind hardly feels the concept of fear. In fact, anything that seems powerful, or physically challenging will only serve to ignite the host's battle spirit more…
5. Combat senses-I: Increases the host's affinity for combat. Giving them a slight edge in all forms of fighting.
6. Pain Tolerance-VIII: Increases the host's capacity to handle, and bear pain by [40%].
7. Willpower-V: Grants a [25%] boost in focus and physical resistance when the host refuses to give up under overwhelming odds.
Active Skills;
1. Devour {MAX}: When an entity is killed. Through touch, the host can absorb either corpses, taking all beneficial traits they possess, passive abilities and [50%] of the corpse's maximum power-level… (The host can only consume a target once every two weeks.)
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'Not bad at all... Three decent new skills, with pretty solid increases as well. Seeing this makes me glad that I left this feature in...'
Getting passives after doing an action repeatedly was a must for me. It was one of the most overpowered aspects of the system itself. Still, to keep it, I had to sacrifice the leveling-up aspect. Which was not my biggest concern in the slightest.
I'm currently a Saiyan, and I could gain strength through training normally. I wasn't a lazy person either, I liked the idea of improving myself. Plus, it would've likely changed my growth for the future, given the fact that I have to think about adding stat points...
Yeah, no.
I'd much rather keep the passive aspect, since they can't potentially be rendered null or even be de-buffed, but the opposite. The more pressure I'm under, the more resistance to straight-up immunity I might gain for simply resisting.
Though, I even gave up the quest aspect to make the Devour ability I have more potent. I think that was well worth it too... I've seen how ridiculous quests can potentially be in my last life, and the fact that I've got no control over them, makes them too much of a variable, in my opinion.
And, now that I have this much time to myself...
'Which means, this should work then.'
I slowly began focusing my mind, and calming my heart... It was difficult at first, but eventually it worked...
My mind drifted.
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Some time passed until I heard Nexus' again...
[(NEW) Meditation-I: Grants the host a [10%] increase in Ki-Efficiency and Ki-Recovery. This skill also gives a [5%] increase in controlling the host's emotions at all times...]
I stopped immediately after achieving my goal. The effects were pretty solid too, and I could already feel a slight change in my body as well...
'Alright... Nexus, how long did acquiring that passive take me?'
[Approximately twenty-three minutes, host...]
'Huh, not that bad for my first try.'
I smiled a little: 'Alright, how long until I'm out of this healing pod?'
[Your regeneration cycle will complete in 1 hour, thirty-two minutes and forty-one seconds...]
'That's perfect… More than enough time to meditate some more...'
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[Meditation has leveled up...
Meditation has leveled up...
Meditation has leveled up...]
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I slowly opened my eyes, pulling myself out of that calm, heavy state.
I wanted to keep going and push it a little higher... but three level jumps in one sitting wasn't bad for one sitting. The mental clarity was nice, too.
Ptoosh~
The sound of hydraulics hissed as the healing pod drained, the green liquid sliding past my shoulders and legs.
When the front glass lifted, the cool air of the room hit me.
A tall, battle-worn Saiyan stood waiting, arms crossed. He had black hair, and seemed to be in his 50s maybe older than that...
"Classes are over for today kiddo..." He told me, with a rough yet oddly even tone: "You should head home. Oh... And… You didn't perform too badly out there today."
I finally stepped out of the pod, rolling my shoulders for a bit, the soreness in my muscles still lingering, but it wasn't anywhere near what it was before. Plus, I'm a bit used to pain now, so...
Regardless, and honestly speaking, I expected a bit of mockery from him... I was at the bottom of the barrel, but this is a bit of a surprise...
"I... Thanks?" I responded, grabbing my Saiyan armor and scouter from the bench nearby... The armor clicked snugly into place, the scouter giving its usual faint beeping sound while it powered on.
The older Saiyan nodded: "No problem kid... But, if you want to catch up, you'll need extrapractice. The others have half a month of training ahead of you already, based on your records."
I paused a little, adjusting my scouter, catching his tone: "Wait... You're offering to train me...?"
I had to ask, because I don't know who this man even was...
He then met my gaze: "Hmm? You catch on quickly... But, yes... What you did against that girl earlier… it reminded me why I fight. Let's just say, it rekindled my passion. It's been quite a while since I've seen that kind of will from a kid so young..."
'I see…' I thought, keeping my face neutral. Truthfully, speaking, could I even trust this man? He just comes up to me offering to teach me... But, what does he even gain out of this, and why? Still, he doesn't seem hostile, especially when he has every reason in the world to be, nor is he impolite either...
"Hmm... Alright then." I decided finally: "I guess I'll accept your offer..."
His smile widened slightly;
"Great... Meet me after class tomorrow, at the entrance. We'll start then."
I gave a small nod: "...Got it."
As I headed out...
I thought about it for a bit more. It might be a good opportunity to help me catch up to the rest of the class. But, I wasn't in any real rush to gaining mass power either. It wouldn't even be hard based on what I have.
Right now, I just need to know a bit more about this reality I was currently in...
It doesn't seem like the normal Dragon ball timeline I was exposed to either... And, I didn't get the option to choose which timeline I would be born in. If, it's even a normal timeline to begin with...
Still, first and foremost...
I'll have to speak with my mom about all this, and see what she says...
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END