Author Notes:
I have fun writing this GSS chapter, no joke. Just bear with me while I spitballing, kek.
Picture below, btw.
Ein Taixuan: https://postimg.cc/Lh3zjfjR
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"So, does Debuff Immunity even have a limit on what it can do?" Nuwa asks with eyes full of eager curiosity after hearing my brief introduction to my Passive Skill.
Looking around, the rest also express their keen interest. To this, I answer, a bit unsure.
"Honestly speaking, I don't really know. Debuff Immunity encompasses a wide range of areas, making it somewhat nebulous to grasp everything it can and can't do. For example, I can go days without sleep or food and never feel physical fatigue. I do, however, still feel hunger, and the pull of mental fatigue. I can also survive perfectly in an air filled with toxins and virulent infections, with, again, only mental fatigue as a cost. Yet, I think I will still ultimately die if I am thrown in an oxygen-less environment, even though I will be fine at first with Debuff Immunity preventing me from blacking out. On a side note, Debuff Immunity lessens the mental fatigue I incur from using the other skills, but not all of them."
Hearing my answer, Fuxi ponders aloud with a hand beneath her chin. "Interesting, so Debuff Immunity operates on a logic that does not prevent you from being truly impervious to something that can ultimately kill you. Other than being in a vacuum, I would imagine that in the case of excessive blood loss, you will not feel its impairing effects..."
"But I will still perish if I lose enough of them, yes." I nod, finishing Fuxi's somewhat grim conjecture. "Although I can't quite put my finger on how long it will take for that to happen."
Xuanyan blanches, imagining aloud. "You know, this conversation makes me a bit scared of facing someone like Ein in a duel to the death. It's frightening enough to see someone bleeding profusely charging at you, but it's even scarier when they fight with the same ferocity as if they're still healthy, all the while splashing their blood all over their opponents."
I chuckle, while I have never been placed in such a desperate situation, I can relate to what Xuanyuan said. "Actually, senior sister, I think that can be a psychological tactic on its own in a battle of attrition."
"It gives the illusion that you're an undying warrior," Hua interjects before sighing with a shake of her head. "But I would prefer if you were never forced into such a battle in the first place."
Understanding Hua's reasonable concern, I can only smile wryly. "Sister Hua, you know I can't promise that, right?"
"Which is why I will be preparing you so that you will never be pushed to such a point." Hua adds seriously. "For the foreseeable future, we will utilize your Debuff Immunity to the fullest. Since you can't accrue physical fatigue, I can more confidently break your body down and rebuild it into the epitome of what it could be. Coupled with your diverse skillset and potential, I will give you my guarantee that I can make you into a warrior stronger than I am, if given enough time."
At Hua's confident declaration, Fuxi, Nuwa, and Xuanyan secretly level me with gazes full of pity. Xuanyan even shivers with a pale face. Seeing their reactions and that Hua is completely oblivious to those, I deadpan. "I will be in a world of hurt, aren't I?" And that's a definitive, not a possibility.
Nuwa dryly chuckles. "Well, on the bright side, with Hua pushing you as hard as she could..."
"Probably even harder than me..." Xuanyan interjects with a distant gaze.
"Yeah, that as well." Nuwa nods, adding. "But hey, at least we will be able to get some much-needed data on the limit of Debuff Immunity and your prowess, Ein. Frankly speaking, your unique physiology deserves an extensive case study. The more we know about you, the better we can equip you for what's ahead..."
Nuwa suddenly freezes. "Wait, did I just come off as Dr. Mobius for a second there?"
While I don't know who Dr. Mobius is, it must be someone special, as Fuxi and Hua change their expressions at the name. Fuxi, in particular, sighs forlornly. "More like a budget-cut version of the Doctor, but the point still stands. Since you only need a bit of downtime to recover from any mental exertion or possible injury, I can foresee a blazingly fast training speed. It will be something indeed to see if Debuff Immunity affects how your musculature develops... Ein, we really are interested in measuring your data from here on out. If it's fine with you, we would like to get your bodily samples as well."
"I don't see why not? Even I am curious about the deeper workings of my body." I shrug, agreeing to the request easily enough. "More than that, would you all be interested in trying out Debuff Immunity for yourself? My Perk, Skillshare, still has seven slots available, and I can share the effects of Debuff Immunity with you all."
Everyone perks up at that, with Fuxi commenting. "Wait, if you do that, then doesn't that mean that none of us will get tired, at least not easily so? Consequently, Xuanyan will be able to train even harder as well, am I right?"
"Wait, what?" Xuanyan asks back in trepidation, whatever joy she felt at the possibility of being immune to common ailments dissipates at Fuxi's conjecture.
I watch in mild amusement when Xuanyan nearly jumps out of her seat when Hua rests a hand on her shoulder, saying. "Fuxi has a point there. Xuanyan, as Ein's senior, you should set an example for her and train hard as well. Perhaps with the effects of Debuff Immunity, you will be able to attain Emminence at a much faster pace. If possible, we can train in both day and night, seeing that we won't be able to feel physical fatigue thanks to Ein's Skill."
"No, wait, Jingwei..." Xuanyan tries to say something, negotiate, maybe, but ultimately relents and settles for a sigh of acceptance when she sees the sincere longing for Xuanyuan and me to be stronger as fast as we reasonably can in Hua's eyes.
Afterward, Xuanyan looks at me, trying to convey the ordeal awaiting us wordlessly. I can only offer a wry smile at that, as I am actually looking forward to being put under Hua's soon-to-be intensive training. It's not because I am a masochist, no, but because I am excited to embark on an endeavor that will see me be more than a normal Guardswoman. Hua has explained to me a bit about her training regiment, something that Nuwa dubbed the Edge of Taixuan, and if I can master it, I will be that much harder to kill at the very least.
So, without delay, I bring everyone into the fold.
[Skillshare Classroom - Debuff Immunity:
-Mama, Elyzabeth Fortier.
-Big sister, Tsavorae.
-Emperor of Mankind, ######.
-Salamander Chapter Master, Tu'shan.
-Salamander Chief Librarian, Vel'cona.
-The 19th Primarch, Corvus Cora.
-The 13th Primarch, Juno Guilliman.
-The Rookie, Weiss.
-Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl.
-Master Fu Hua.
-Senior Sister Ji Xuanyuan.
-Sister Fuxi.
-Sister Nuwa.
-(Pending beneficiary).
-(Pending beneficiary).
-(Pending beneficiary).]
The effect is pretty much immediate, and Hua, the keenest among us, nearly jumps up in surprise. Xuanyan, sitting next to her, exclaims.
"T-This...! So this is how you always feel, Ein?"
Fuxi and Nuwa share a confused look before understanding, with Nuwa asking. "Hua, you seem like you have seen a ghost. Was the effect of Ein suddenly sharing her Skill that drastic for you?"
Hua shakes her head. "No, it's because Fenghuang Down is reacting to Debuff Immunity's effect."
"Eh?" Both Fuxi and Nuwa exclaim. "What do you mean by that, Hua?"
Hua explains while conjuring a beautiful white lotus with a red core. "I... I think Fenghuang Down is evolving..."
Having said that, starting from the red core, the white lotus has its petals turn a glossy black with elaborate gold strips. The red core itself starts radiating a soft, warm glow of the same color. Hua adds. "I... Don't need to burn my memories in exchange for more power from the 8th Divine Key."
"Not anymore..." Hua's last part comes off as a mutter as she stares at the black lotus in disbelief, its color contrasting with her white and red qipao.
I, however, frown. The insinuation in Hua's words is troubling, and I am glad that Skillshare exists to give Hua Debuff Immunity. Otherwise, I don't think I can accept an outcome where my Master would one day lose all of her memories in the fight for all the beauty of this world.
Fuxi, Nuwa, and Xuanyan, those more familiar with Hua's issue than I am, react a bit explosively.
"What!?"
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While Xuanyan hugs Hua in pure relief and happiness that her Master won't have to risk her very existence to fight at full power anymore, Fuxi and Nuwa take a bit longer to calm down, and it takes some repeated reassurance from Hua to do that. Although the specifics are, once again, to be researched, Hua, the wielder of Fenghuang Down, the Divine Key of Sentience, is able to confirm that she can use all of its power with no dangerous side effects. In fact, a brief test determined that Hua's compatibility with the Divine Key is actually increased, and she can manipulate it much more efficiently. Fuxi then suggests that perhaps Fenghuang Down now relies on mental power to run, much like most of, if not all of, my Skills. A notion that Hua can confirm quite easily as she tests out one of the key functions, the creation of false realities.
Nuwa, blesses her, decides to give the Divine Key a new name after its evolution. She picks Oblivion Down as its new name, since Hua can now rely more on the Divine Key's power to completely decimate any foe. Apparently, Hua, alongside the former form of the Divine Key, was already a force to be reckoned with. Hua, in possession of Oblivion Down, is like giving a tiger wings.
Still, it's decided that Hua will have to reacquaint herself with the new form of the Divine Key later. Today's topic is about me, evidently. Now that the talk about my Skills is mostly out of the way, I start talking about the other things I have gotten. While things like Droideka and Robocop blueprints do pique Fuxi's and Nuwa's interest, they are invested in my knowledge of the Blink Drive. To them, a method of Faster-than-Light travel is technically possible, but so far out of reach due to the Honkai menace. Still, while attracted to the profound technologies, Fuxi and Nuwa don't see any way they can be put to use in their world just yet, as Honkai scales with the level of civilization. The chessboard is already fragile enough without multiple continental-level threats spawning in reaction to the introduction of a voidship.
It is, however, amusing to see how Hua and Xuanyan look every bit as clueless as I discuss the technological aspect with the stoic Fuxi and the energetic Nuwa. Nonetheless, when I finally decide to bring out my other rewards, the Myrtenaster rapier and the Upgrade-Weapon Ticket.
I hold the elegantly crafted silver-gray rapier horizontally as it appears in my right hand. On my left, I clutch the magical Ticket that has the Shoggoths' trademark all over it. And while the small Ticket is interesting, the others' attentions are pulled to the beautiful blade in my hand. Xuanyan, being a blade user herself, leans in for a closer look, exclaiming.
"Wow... And here I thought my sword was already pretty enough..."
I smile, chuckling. "Given what I just learnt of Sister Hua's Divine Key and the others, I think your blade still trumped mine in terms of practicality, Senior Sister. Which is why I will be using this..."
I then hold the Upgrade-Weapon Ticket up. "If everything goes well, I will have myself a life companion."
Nuwa chimes in, smiling. "That's quite romantic, if you ask me. Fingers-crossed that one day your weapon turns sapient and humanoid like those novels I like to read."
I laugh, saying. "Well, the Emperor is already working on making shipgirls, so don't tempt fate, Sister Nuwa."
"Wait, say that again?" Instead of replying ot Nuwa's excited question, I giggle before flicking the Ticket into the air while mentally designating Myrtenaster as my target to be upgraded.
With an application of Abyss Totem Stigmata, thus creating a small wind blade, the Ticket is cleanly cut in half. Subsequently, the two halves of the Ticket dissolve into motes of purple lights before rushing into the Myrtenaster, swiftly making the blade shine so bright that nearly all of us have to instinctively look away, save for Hua and me. In a trance, I watch as the Myrtenaster begins to morph in real time:
-Myrtenaster still weighs the same, yet I feel that it's also paradoxically denser, stronger, sharper, and more balanced. It's as if it's made out of micro-folded Adamantium, etched at a molecular level with liturgies of harm and destruction and an even greater degree of sanctity.
-The cylinder where Dust cartridges are stored remains mostly unchanged except that, instead of six cartridges, there are now seven smaller slots of different colors, which are: Red, Blue, Brown, Cyan, Yellow, White, and Purple.
-While still retaining the original aesthetic, the swivel point on which the revolving chamber opens up to reload Dust cartridges disappears, as the upgraded blade doesn't seem to run on the Dust, thus removing the need for a mobile part and a structural weak point.
-The hammer and trigger to operate the special mechanisms of the Myrtenaster are retained, albeit with a couple of intuitive changes.
-The elaborated prong at the 6 o'clock position of the hilt extends down the grip of the sword before cutting at an angle to fuse with the pommel, thus forming an elegant handguard to protect the wielder's hand in the messiest of fights.
-Finally, I feel an intrinsic connection is formed between myself and the Myrtenaster.
Overall, Myrtenaster's outward appearance doesn't change much, but its capability does. I don't have much comparison to go with, but even I can safely attest that the upgraded Myrtenaster is comparable to that of a master-crafted Power Sword, if not a Relic Blade. Although the latter comparison is a bit of a stretch, as Relic Blades are two-handed weapons, while the Myrtenaster is a one-handed weapon.
Still...
As the others watch in awe as the glowing light dies down and the reborn Myrtenaster reveals itself, I raise the silver beauty in my hand to an upright position. On instinct, my thumb reaches for the hammer on the revolving cylinder and pulls it back only half of the way. I watch in fascination as the cylinder spins swiftly with seemingly no effort at all. The seven colors of the cartridges create a band of rainbow afterimage as the cylinder turns. When I pull the hammer all the way back to its firing position, however, the cylinder stops with a soft, easily unnoticeable snap. With a grin, I press down on the trigger in the grip, letting the hammer rush up to strike the yellow cartridge inside the cylinder. A crackling, lethal corona of disruptive energy coats the Myrtenaster's blade, startling all but Hua from instinctively leaning back into their chair. Hua, however, frowns when she feels the danger radiating from my Power Sword, or should I say, Power Rapier.
As for myself, I am feeling more than happy. I am ecstatic to learn that the blade only requires a small cut of my mental power to work its magic, and I can adjust the consumption rate on the fly. More mental power equals more mental fatigue, but equally more powerful effects to be cast by Myrtenaster. Already, I can see my new Power Rapier being the perfect medium through which I will be able to fully utilize Abyss Totem Stigmata like any close-combat Witch will do. Better yet, I think I can stack some of the effects as well. An example will be me pulling the trigger repeatedly on the yellow cartridge, Lightning cartridge, for lack of a better term, all the while investing enough mental power to leave me a listless wreck. I hypothesize that this can result in a disruption field powerful enough to cleave apart a Titan's leg, and won't that be a sight to behold then? Either way, with everything running on my mental power these days, I'd better train on my mental faculty as well as physical prowess to ensure I can use my Skills and Myrtenaster properly.
And do you know what the cherry on top is? It's that I can't ever lose Myrtenaster.
[Myrtenaster Rein:
-The evolution of the Myrtenaster, Myrtenaster Rein is a Multi-Action Psionic Rapier.
-Extremely durable and sharp yet perfectly balanced, Myrtenaster Rein is a Relic Blade in all but form.
-Myrtenaster Rein can conjure a different elemental phenomenon with varying properties, thanks to the seven built-in cartridges in the cylinder around the ricasso: Red for Fire, Blue for Water, Brown for Earth, Cyan for Wind, Yellow for Lightning, White for Spectro, Purple for Darkness.
-Works by picking the appropriate cartridge, imagining the spell, and investing the necessary mental power through the Abyss Totem Stigmata, before realizing the spell by pulling the activation trigger.
-Soul-bound to Ein: Only she can wield the true power of Myrtenaster Rein. Ein can recall Myrtenaster Rein anywhere, anytime, in any circumstance.
-Self-repairing: Myrtenaster Rein automatically repairs itself, even when completely destroyed. The repair time varies depending on the degree of damage.
-Perfect Casting-assistant Device: Drastically reduce mental fatigue when using Myrtenaster Rein to cast Abyss Totem Stigmata's spell.]
With those attributes, if Myrtenaster Rein, or just Myrtenaster for short, is not a jackpot, then I don't know what is anymore. Myrtenaster is like the low-maintenance, yet extremely lovely waifu that you will bring everywhere with you.
When I cut the small stream of mental power leading to Myrtenaster's casting mechanism, the corona of mayhem promptly phased out of existence, letting Fuxi, Nuwa, and Xuanyan silently sigh in relief. I silently offer them an apologetic gaze, knowing that it's my excitement that scared them so. After which, I immediately turn to Hua with an eager expression.
"Sister Hua, when can we start on my training?"
Hearing my question, Hua smiles, pleased at my sudden yet understandable enthusiasm. "I applaud your resolve, Ein, but mastering a blade like that requires more than just spirit..."
"And I am more than willing to give you more than that."
Then, Hua shakes her head, chuckling. "Still, Ein, are you sure that you don't have anything else in store for us?"
"Anything else...?" I tilt my head, pondering absentmindedly before a light bulb appears above my head, figuratively, of course. "Oh, right!"
"I still have the Jatismar Ticket!"