READ WEBNOVEL Chapter 35: Grace's Curiosity
Chapter 35: Grace's Curiosity
Sam remembered that the system had been ringing in his ears before he woke up. He dug deep enough and could vividly remember that the system also notified him when he finished his duel with John.
"Show me," Sam asked internally, and the system showed a long list of logs from the moment he finished his battle with John up to the time he woke up a few minutes ago.
{System Logs}
[Holy power and Dark power are clashing inside your vessel]
[Your constitution is compelled to evolve to harmonize Holy and Dark powers]
[You are entering hibernation until the metamorphosis is complete]
[Constitution reconstruction in progress: 1%]
[Constitution reconstruction in progress: 4%]
.
.
[Your Constitution has been reconstructed]
[Your Charm Increased: +2]
[Your rate of mana absorption has increased]
[Your recovery speed has increased]
[Your pain tolerance has increased]
[Your strength increased: +2]
[Your stamina increased: +2]
[Your agility increased: +2]
[Your Dark power and Holy Power have achieved harmony]
[Your Spirituality has regained the essence of Chaos]
[Your affinity to nature has increased]
[Due to the side effects of the Infernal Bird Reincarnation Art, your dormant bloodline has been activated]
[You have awakened your dormant bloodline]
[You have unlocked the Tachibana Clan's Bloodline ability]
[Rare Power: Force]
[Description: One of the rarest powers in the universe, Force bestows upon the user three extraordinary abilities: Absolute Domain, Telekinesis, and Reinforcement.]
[1. Absolute Domain: This ability allows the user to establish an area with themselves at its center, functioning as an extension of their own body. Within this domain, the user can manipulate their abilities in any conceivable manner. With advanced control, the user can even alter the laws of physics.]
[2. Telekinesis: This power enables the user to move and manipulate objects using only their mind. They can lift and throw objects, create barriers or shields, and potentially influence the movements of living beings to a limited extent.]
[3. Reinforcement: This ability allows the user to enhance their own powers or those of others. They can increase the potency, range, or duration of magic, strengthen any supernatural abilities, or even empower artifacts and weapons.]
[The 'Force' is taking its place inside you]
[Your constitution is compelled to evolve to contain the 'Force']
[Your constitution is being reconstructed]
[Your Constitution has been reconstructed]
[Your Perception increased: +2]
"Hey, do you hear me?"
"Hmm? Yes, what is it?" Sam returned his attention to his sister and grandmother.
"I asked if everything was alright," Grace repeated.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm good," Sam replied, smiling as he watched Grace close the door with a snap of her fingers, leaving only her, her brother, and their grandmother in the room.
"Now that we are alone, I won't ask you how you acquired all those powers—everyone has their secrets—but I'm curious about the things you can do," Grace said, holding his hand lovingly.
"Yeah, but before that, tell me," Hana grabbed him by the shoulders and asked calmly, "You... you've awakened my bloodline, haven't you?"
"I did... How did you know I would awaken the bloodline you passed on to me?" Sam asked, looking at his grandmother with realization.
"Do you remember the technique I gave you?" Hana inquired.
"The Infernal Bird Reincarnation Art?" Sam responded.
"Back then, some children from the Tachibana clan had trouble unlocking the 'Force.' To solve this problem, our ancestors created that technique. When used frequently, it could arouse the bloodline and help them unlock the 'Force,'" Hana explained.
"I gave that technique to you, hoping that you had what it takes to awaken my bloodline. You are a miracle child, after all, and you didn't disappoint. You obtained the 'Force,'" Grandma Hana said, smiling. Only she knew the depth of her happiness at that moment.
She didn't fully understand why it was so important to her that her grandson awakened her bloodline, but she knew it was her wish.
Sam smiled and raised his hand.
A crimson glow appeared in his eyes as an invisible energy left his body and formed a domain around him with a 1.5-meter radius.
"Your Domain is already larger than the average genius of the Tachibana clan," Hana observed.
"Now show us your other abilities," Grace added.
Sam showed his palm, and a dark purplish flame appeared.
"Dark Power," Grace muttered, watching Sam open his other hand to reveal another flame, this one silvery white.
"And Holy Power in the same place as its nemesis," Grace smirked, clearly proud of her little brother.
"You never cease to amaze me. You possess Mana, Heroic Energy, Dark Power, Holy Power, and even the 'Force', plus your innate ability you awakened during the ceremony."
"There is one more thing," Sam said, smirking.
"There is more?" Hana and Grace asked simultaneously, unable to contain their astonishment.
Sam retracted his Force back into himself and made the dark and holy flames disappear.
He pointed his finger at a bowl of water on the table.
Taking a deep breath, he activated his Rune Pulse.
The element particles moved according to his will, and the water in the bowl began to levitate like a snake in the air.
"Whoa, what are you doing? How are you doing that?" Grace asked, confused.
She knew this wasn't magic, and even if it was, Sam didn't have an affinity for the water element.
"It's another ability I obtained. I can manipulate the elements around me to my will," Sam explained as he waved his other hand, and wind began to blow in the closed room, as if a tornado was brewing inside.
"All elements?" Grace asked, watching the wind respond to the wave of his hand.
"Yes," Sam replied.
"Show me. Try manipulating other elements like conjuring flames or summoning lightning," Grace suggested eagerly.
"I can't, not yet. I just obtained this ability and I'm still learning. Right now, I can only manipulate water and wind to a certain extent," Sam explained.
"Hmm, I see. That's a bit disappointing," Grace admitted, though a wild idea suddenly crossed her mind.
"Tell me something, theoretically speaking, if you were surrounded by a body of water, like the ocean, could you control it?"
"I honestly don't know. I haven't tested the limits of my ability yet, but I think it might be possible," Sam said, uncertainty lacing his words.
"Listen to me, dear. You have to be careful, do you hear me?" Hana said, grabbing his shoulder firmly.
"There are a lot of people out there who want you dead. If they learn about what you can do, it will only motivate them further. I'm not asking you to hide your abilities; I'm just asking you to be cautious."
"I will be careful," Sam nodded, understanding the gravity of her warning.
He knew there were many who would kill him simply because he was different.
...
Sam realized that he was extremely hungry, so his grandmother, Hana, took him to the academy food court.
Mages and heroes didn't really need to eat food to survive; all the energy they needed came from Mana.
Despite this, they still experienced hunger.
The sensation of hunger and all the emotions associated with wanting to eat food were always present.
With her brother gone, only Grace and her brother's roommates were present in the home.
"I guess it's time you and I had a talk," Grace said, looking at Yuki and Isabelle with a smile that seemed gracious, but to them, it felt more like a predatory grin.
Grace gracefully walked around them as they sat on the couch, waving a finger, causing their hair to levitate.
"Hmm," Grace observed the symbol of tree roots on their backs. "So, you two are the first and second Saintesses, huh?"
"Wait, there are more of us?" Isabelle asked, confused.
"Oh, you didn't know?"
Yuki and Isabelle shook their heads.
They definitely didn't know this.
They had thought they were the only Saintesses before they met each other.
"Well, yes, there are more like you. I can't say their names, but don't worry, you will meet them soon enough," Grace said, taking a seat in front of them.
"Let's talk about Sam. Does he know about you two or why my family is having you two live with him here?"
"No, he doesn't know about us."
"And you don't want to tell him that you two are his Saintesses?"
Yuki and Isabelle felt weird being called his Saintesses.
They hadn't thought about the future yet.
They didn't even know how they felt about Sam.
"He... we aren't really close," Yuki said meekly.
"What do you mean?" Grace asked, confused.
"What she means is, Sam doesn't let us into his comfort zone. He always maintains a certain distance," Isabelle explained.
She was a better speaker than Yuki.
"That sounds like my brother," Grace said, making herself comfortable on the couch.
Yuki felt really nervous in front of Grace, so she tried to go to her room.
Well, she tried, because as soon as she got up, a mountainous pressure descended upon her.
Isabelle, sitting beside her, also felt this, as if gravity had suddenly become a hundred times stronger.
"It's bad manners to leave during a conversation," Grace smiled as she eased the pressure, allowing the girls to breathe again.
"I still have some things to discuss with you."
...
"Where is Grace?" Sam inquired.
Hana suspected Grace was deep in conversation with the two saintesses.
"There she is," Hana exclaimed, as Grace arrived and took her place at the table beside her brother.
"Where were you?" Sam asked, his curiosity evident.
"I was just chatting with Yuki and Isabelle," Grace replied, her smile innocent and bright.
"Is that so? What were you discussing?" Sam inquired further.
"Nothing important," Grace replied casually. With a snap of her fingers, she conjured a couple of books.
"Are these spell books?" Sam whispered.
"Yes, these are for you," Grace handed the books to Sam.
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[A/N: If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider supporting it with a few Power Stones. And if you absolutely loved it, you can even contribute a Golden Ticket. Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much! - Arigato! 🙏]