Chapter 86: C-Rank

"You’re a murderer!" Nero shouted through gritted teeth as he glared at Edward.

Edward chuckled. "Stop being dramatic. You’re already approaching C-Rank, but you still can’t make a decent forcefield. At this rate, you’ll break through before learning the technique."

"Maybe I’d learn faster if you actually helped me," Nero replied helplessly.

He had been an ordinary guy until two months ago, so expecting him to shape Cell Energy into a proper defensive construct seemed unreasonable. He could already form a dome around himself, but one solid hit was enough to shatter it.

"Keep practicing," Edward said, stretching lazily. "I’m going to get some coconuts."

’This damn old man.’

Nero had grown used to Edward’s strange behavior, although he couldn’t deny how much the man had helped him. Thanks to the rare herbs Edward provided for body tempering, his Power Index had reached 6.0, and his Cellular Reservoir now held 600 Cell Energy.

He had also spent his free time exploring the realm, only to discover that an invisible barrier surrounded it. Beyond that barrier lay an endless blank space, making him wonder whether Edward possessed Space Manipulation like the famous Shrine Maiden of the Nihon Federation, who could supposedly create pocket dimensions.

’I want Space Manipulation too, but I should probably learn to make a shield first.’

Nero raised his hand, and blue Cell Energy spread outward to form a translucent dome.

WHOOSH!

A metal ball shot from the mechanism Edward had installed across the training field and struck his barrier.

CRACK!

The dome shattered immediately, leaving Nero staring at the fragments with an exhausted expression.

His task was to stop the projectile without letting his shield break, and Edward had promised to teach him more techniques once he succeeded. Recently, Nero had come up with an idea that might help him accomplish that.

Honeycombs!

He remembered that interconnected hexagons were used in engineering because they could distribute loads efficiently while requiring relatively little material. If his shield consisted of many connected hexagonal sections, an impact could spread across them instead of overwhelming one point, while damaged sections could receive additional Cell Energy without reinforcing the entire dome.

At least, that was how Nero imagined it would work.

Unfortunately, knowing what he wanted and actually creating it were completely different matters. He could release Cell Energy and control its movement, but maintaining a precise shape was difficult, especially since he hadn’t even known energy shaping was possible before meeting Edward.

He had already named the technique Cell Shield, though he was beginning to wonder whether naming something he couldn’t create had been premature.

His Telekinesis, on the other hand, had improved considerably under Edward’s ridiculous training methods. The old man randomly placed him in dangerous situations, sometimes while he was eating or sleeping, forcing Nero to react before he could think.

Combined with the training boost from the Plane of Telekinesis, those experiences had allowed him to maintain control for forty-five minutes while lifting three objects weighing ninety-eight pounds each. He could also concentrate that strength on one object weighing 294 pounds, but no matter how light the targets were, three remained his absolute limit.

He had even tried using Telekinesis to fly, only to discover that suspending himself consumed Mental Energy eight times faster than ordinary control. Thirty minutes of activation time would therefore last only three minutes and forty-five seconds, and actual flight demanded even more concentration because he had to continuously adjust his balance and movement.

’Guess flying will have to wait.’

For now, it was time to continue training his shield.

...

Another month passed, and Nero’s Telekinesis finally reached C-Rank.

He could now control four objects simultaneously, each weighing up to 135 pounds, although his combined lifting capacity remained 405 pounds. His Power Index had also climbed to 8.0, thanks largely to the extraordinary herbs Edward supplied and the body-tempering methods Nero understood through the Alchemy Emperor’s knowledge.

Cellular Reservoir, however, remained at D-Rank because Nero still couldn’t stabilize his forcefield.

On the final day of his second month in the realm, another metal ball shattered his shield, leaving him wondering what he had overlooked.

’I’ve tried increasing its thickness, compressing the energy, and forming the hexagons separately. Why does everything fall apart?’

Nero closed his eyes and concentrated on the energy circulating throughout his body. Unlike Mana, which he could draw upon and manipulate, Cell Energy was produced by his own cells and existed as part of him.

Then a thought occurred to him.

’Wait. Why am I treating it like something separate from myself?’

Whenever he created a shield, he imagined pulling energy out and controlling it like an object with Telekinesis. But Cell Energy wasn’t a sword he needed to wield; it was his own power, and shaping it should be as natural as moving his limbs.

’I’ve been trying to force it into position instead of letting it respond to me!’

The realization changed something in his control, and the energy inside him began responding with an ease he had never experienced before.

Watching from nearby, Edward straightened in his seat and smiled. "So you’ve finally understood."

Nero raised his hand and imagined the structure he wanted without struggling to control every portion individually. Glowing hexagons appeared around him, connecting one after another until a complete blue dome surrounded his body.

BOOM!

The shooting mechanism launched another metal ball, which slammed into the newly formed barrier with tremendous force.

BANG!

Several hexagons flashed as the impact spread across neighboring sections, but instead of shattering, the shield held firm and stopped the projectile.

"Holy shit! It worked!"

Before Nero could celebrate further, Cell Energy surged violently throughout his body, compressing within his cells and making new ones as they adapted to a new level of power. His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened, and a notification appeared before his eyes.

[Cellular Reservoir has fulfilled its advancement requirements.]

[Rank: D-Rank → C-Rank]

[Power Index: 8.0 → 12.0]

[Cell Energy: 1,200/1,200]

He could feel that his Cellular Reservoir’s true combat power had been unleashed but he couldn’t understand what changes it brought forth right now.

"Congratulations," Edward said, approaching him with a satisfied smile. "Energy shaping is one of the greatest hurdles for Cellular Reservoir users, and you’ve finally overcome it."

"Does that mean you’ll teach me more techniques now?" Nero was excited.

"Yes, you’ve passed, my stupid disciple."

"Then hurry up! I’ve been waiting forever!"

Instead of responding with his usual teasing, Edward looked at Nero for a moment before raising his hand. Brilliant golden light erupted from his palm and struck Nero before he could react.

BOOM!

The impact sent Nero stumbling backward, and he immediately discovered that his entire body had become immobilized as the golden energy seeped into him.

"WHAT THE HELL, OLD MAN?!"

"Everything I can teach you is now inside you," Edward explained. "My knowledge and techniques will become available as your strength and understanding improve. Whenever you need something, look within yourself."

"Why are you talking like that?"

Edward glanced toward the sky, his expression growing unusually serious. "Because it’s time for us to part ways. I’ve been suppressing something since you arrived, but the Order won’t allow us to remain together much longer."

"The Order? What are you talking about?"

"There are rules even I cannot ignore. I could keep this realm stable a little longer, but you’ve already learned what you needed here."

CRACK!

A massive fracture spread across the sky, followed by countless smaller cracks as the mountains and trees began flickering like broken images.

Nero struggled against the force holding him, but neither his Telekinesis nor his Cell Energy responded.

"Old man, explain what’s happening!"

"Find me when you ascend," Edward replied with a faint smile. "And remember, Nero, the next stage of evolution isn’t simply about growing stronger. The next evolutionary cycle requires..."

ZZZT!

His voice distorted, and strange symbols flickered across Nero’s vision as though something was preventing those words from being heard.

"The... cycle... of... #$%..."

"OLD MAN!"

Nero tried to shout again, but his voice disappeared as his body rose into the air. Through the collapsing scenery, he saw Edward standing calmly with one hand raised.

"Live well, my disciple."

WHOOSH!

Nero vanished, leaving Edward alone in the crumbling realm.

"Two months," Edward murmured, watching golden fragments peel away from his fingers. "To think I’d become attached to that troublesome brat."

His body continued dissolving, yet he merely smiled toward the place where Nero had disappeared.

"Don’t disappoint me. I’ll be waiting."

With those final words, Edward vanished into golden particles, and the realm collapsed completely.

Nero’s eyes snapped open, and he sat up abruptly, gasping for breath as he looked around at his familiar surroundings.

He was back in the real world, but the strength flowing through his body and the mysterious golden presence deep within him proved that everything had happened.

DING!

Just then, the familiar blue screen suddenly appeared before him.

[Option 1: Train under the old man until you reach C-Rank.]

[Choice Completed!]

[Reward is being issued]