Peace energy is a long-lost force, originating from an extinct creature known as the unicorn. This energy granted unicorns extraordinary abilities, allowing them to heal from any wound and to heal other creatures, no matter the severity of their condition, as long as they were still alive.
Over time, due to the deep bond human females shared with unicorns in ancient times, the peace energy became highly compatible with them. Somehow, through this connection, females were able to master the energy, passing it down from generation to generation.
In the past, only women were known to possess the ability to master this energy. There were two primary ways this could be achieved. The first was through the energy being passed down from another who already held it, and the second was through life-altering experiences or intense situations that would trigger the development of the energy.
However, this energy was not all good. While peace energy could be used for healing and other benevolent purposes, it also had a darker side. When this energy was acquired by a corrupted individual, it did not bring peace—it awakened their inner chaos. This is how the Pain Witches were born, a group of individuals who had once been inner peace users but twisted the energy into a force of havoc, spreading destruction wherever they went.
This led to the discovery that peace energy had two distinct evolutionary paths: the Peace Path and the Chaos Path.
To follow the Peace Path, one must meet certain criteria. A person must abstain from violent actions and refrain from using their power for harm. Those who walk the Peace Path are rewarded with the ability to control nature itself, bending the elements to their will. The energy becomes a force of harmony, enhancing the user's connection with life and growth.
On the other hand, the Chaos Path is a far more dangerous and unpredictable journey. Those who follow this path evolve by facing extreme situations, often pushing themselves to the brink of death. However, there is a significant drawback. The more one evolves through chaos, the more addicted they become to pain—both their own and that of others. This path can lead them to madness if they do not learn to control their chaotic urges.
Although dangerous, the Chaos Path can also be tamed. With discipline, those who follow this path can learn to harness their inner chaos, using it without losing themselves to it. Still, it is a delicate balance, and many who choose this path fall into madness.
As time passed, it was discovered that peace energy was not exclusive to women. Contrary to earlier beliefs, men could also wield this energy, though historically, fewer had done so. Those men who did master it were able to train it to impressive degrees, often matching the abilities of their female counterparts. However, due to the nature of men, they were more inclined to follow the Chaos Path than the Peace Path.
This distinction between the two paths revealed much about the duality of peace energy. On one side, it represented healing, growth, and harmony. On the other, it embodied chaos, destruction, and addiction to pain.
Although women are generally more skilled in using peace energy, it has been discovered that men are more adept at mastering chaos energy. Interestingly, men don't seem to face the drawback of becoming addicted to the feelings associated with chaos energy, unlike women.
Now, while not common in the past, it's possible to follow both paths—peace and chaos. A person can become a "Peacemaker," the term used for those who use peace energy positively, while also being capable of wielding chaos energy, like the "Pain Witches" or other destructive entities.
This typically occurs when someone who was originally set on the Peace Path veers off and begins following the Chaos Path. They often learn to master both energies, but usually, one becomes more dominant. The reverse is also true—someone who was on the Chaos Path can later switch to the Peace Path. However, it's important to note that following both paths weakens the individual compared to those who focus on just one path. A dual-path user won't be as strong as someone fully committed to either peace or chaos.
When someone uses peace energy, they gain absolute control over nature and the environment around them. They can influence how things move, grow, and change. This energy allows them to cast powerful spells and perform acts of magic, but they are bound by a non-violent nature. They cannot use their abilities to harm others, and even things meant to cause harm will become harmless in their presence. Peace energy acts as a protector and a healer, aligning its users with harmony and growth.
The Chaos Path is entirely different. Depending on the user's desires, chaos energy can be used in countless ways. Unlike the Peace Path, chaos energy is tied to emotions like anger, fear, and pain, and its users can defy certain laws of nature—although not to the same extent as Peacemakers.
One defining trait of chaos energy users is their resistance to pain. Those on the Chaos Path don't just endure pain; they grow stronger from it. Their bodies adapt to whatever situation they find themselves in, making them nearly impossible to defeat through injury. The only way to kill them is before their body has time to adjust, or by encountering a foe with similar abilities. Unless they meet such an opponent, chaos energy users can be nearly unbeatable.
Just like that, the information Alex had been absorbing seemed to come to an end. It was as if he had been watching a live recording play out in front of him. He had accessed this knowledge through the system's library, and much to his surprise, he didn't need to read everything himself—the system could read it aloud to him.
After learning everything he could about peace and chaos energy, Alex was left with one lingering question.
'From everything I've learned, these people seem incredibly powerful. So, what wiped them out? What could have caused their extinction?' Alex thought to himself as he lay on his large bed, sitting cross-legged.
He pondered this deeply, staring at the ceiling, trying to wrap his mind around the mystery.
"Based on what I've learned, it seems that the only ones who can help Stan with his condition are followers of the Peace Path, the Peacemakers," Alex muttered to himself. Then a thought crossed his mind, and he couldn't shake it. "But I have a theory…"
He didn't finish his sentence. Instead, he continued sitting on his bed, deep in thought. There was so much more to learn, so much more to figure out.
The Experiment with Peace Energy and Qi
"What if Stan could use peace energy in a way that allowed him to absorb qi while fighting? What if he could harness qi and use it simultaneously in battle?" Alex thought out loud. He wasn't sure if it was possible, but he knew he had to try.
Closing his eyes, Alex began moving his qi throughout his body. While doing this, he recalled the technique Gwen had shown him once. It was a method that allowed one to cultivate qi by absorbing the energy around them. These energies weren't always qi themselves, but they could be refined and converted into qi with enough concentration.
Although Gwen's teaching hadn't been very deep, Alex understood the basics. He focused his mind, and soon enough, he could sense the energy around him. He slowly started the process of refining that energy.
'It was hard to perform this back then, maybe because I wasn't a Paragon yet,' Alex thought. 'But now, my senses have been heightened, and I can use it properly.'
After some time spent refining the energy, he started absorbing it. His focus deepened as he considered his next move.
'Here comes my theory,' Alex thought. 'I'll try to move my body using qi while absorbing it at the same time.'
He concentrated and forced his qi into his feet. The moment the energy flowed into his legs, Alex pushed off the bed with a sudden burst of power. While in the air, he tried to absorb qi simultaneously. But just as he was feeling the energy gather inside him, something went wrong.
A sharp pain pierced his chest. The pain was so intense that he lost control of his legs and couldn't land on his feet. Instead, he crashed face-first onto the floor.
"Damn it!" Alex cursed under his breath. He lay still for a moment, trying to process what had just happened. To his surprise, the pain in his chest suddenly vanished, leaving him confused.
'Was that just an illusion?' Alex wondered, rubbing his chest.
Despite the strange experience, Alex wasn't discouraged. After resting for a few moments, he stood up and repeated the process. Once again, he forced his qi into his legs, jumped into the air, and tried absorbing energy while moving. And once again, the pain struck his chest. But, just like before, it disappeared almost as quickly as it had come.
Alex noticed something interesting. With each repetition, the pain seemed to lessen. It was still there, but each time it struck, it felt weaker, as if his body was slowly adjusting to the process.
After some time, Alex was lying back on his bed, a satisfied smile on his face. He knew he had just unlocked something new—something impossible before his evolution. Tomorrow, he would find out exactly what it meant.