Chapter 61: Harmonic Flow Breathing, Investing For The Future
My mouth curved into a grin before I realized it.
I flexed my fingers, rolled my shoulders, and took a deep breath.
My muscles felt lighter and tighter at the same time.
It was like someone had turned up the resolution on my body and mind.
My sensitivity to Aura and Mana increased.
Now, I would have an easier time awakening Aura.
’My talent as a warrior and mage has tremendously increased.’
Along with the physical changes, information about the Harmonic Flow Breathing technique flowed into my head.
Harmonic Flow Breathing was about equilibrium.
It allowed one to balance the mind and body and operate them in sync.
It had three stages of mastery, each with its own benefits.
At the first stage, which I had just entered, I would gain resistance to mental fatigue and improved coordination between thought and movement.
Resistance to mental fatigue would affect Spirit stat.
In other words, as my mastery increases in Harmonic Flow Breathing, so would my Spirit Stat.
This was just the effect of the first stage of mastery.
Second stage of mastery and third stage of mastery would give additional benefits.
"This technique is quite good."
Harmonic Flow Breathing could only be used by Rank 2 or above species.
Techniques like this couldn’t be practiced unless specific requirements were met.
It was why I couldn’t practice it when I was a Rank 1 Draconic-Blooded Human.
I sat cross-legged and began practicing the breathing pattern.
At first, I followed it mechanically, matching the rhythm shown in my mind.
But soon, the rhythm started to feel natural.
My mind became calmer.
It made me realize something else.
A sharp, unpleasant smell drifted into my nose.
I paused and sniffed the air.
"Is that... me?"
My nose scrunched up.
The breakthrough had caused toxins and residue to be expelled from my system.
The stench was quite noticeable.
I definitely needed to take care of it before going home.
"Since I’m here already, I might as well take a bath here."
I walked to the bathroom quietly, making sure not to disturb Seris and Marianne.
Their house had a clean bathroom that was just as big as ours.
I took my time, washing thoroughly. The clothes were put into the washing machine.
Once I was done, I made sure to wipe down every surface I had touched.
I rinsed the tub, cleaned out the washing machine tray, and dried everything carefully.
When I finished, I folded the towel I had used and put everything back in place. The soap bar was flipped to the dry side. The rug near the door was straightened out.
"Phew. Now no one will be able to tell I was here."
Satisfied, I stepped out and walked back to the room where Seris and Marianne were sleeping.
I glanced down at the two remaining Species Evolution Potions in my hand.
"...I should give one to Seris."
One Species Evolution Potion would be for Seris and the other for Carlotta.
It was a decision I made after thinking carefully.
Earth was running out of time, even if no one else knew it.
In my last life, the invaders from another planet had come to earth due to the Monkey King’s disappearance.
It led to the collapse of society and the world.
But even before that came the [Thirteen Disasters].
These disasters were caused by the alien race. It allowed them to confirm the Monkey King was not on earth, then they followed with the invasion.
Each of the thirteen disasters would lead to immense destruction and death.
If Seris had even a fraction more power when the time came, it could save her life.
"In my last life, she didn’t start training until she was almost twenty. Even then, she had no mentor, or resources.
"But she still rose through the ranks, and became a powerhouse through sheer talent and willpower."
Seris had always been smart.
She learnt how to talk earlier than normal children.
Even the reason she liked me years ago was because I was more ’mature’ than other children of our age who were ’childish’.
I never noticed these things until recently.
The reason Seris had been smarter beyond her age was her natural talent.
"She must have at least 40 in Intelligence stat."
I crouched beside the bed and looked at her face.
Her hair had fallen over her eyes, so I gently brushed it aside.
"This time, if I raise her right, and guide her through the path from the start, she might go beyond the limits of what she achieved last time."
The Species Evolution Potion wouldn’t make her an Exorcist.
But it would prepare her body for it, and lay the foundation.
"I was already planning on helping her become an Exorcist in the future, so it’s better if I start investing in her from now."
I lifted her upper body gently with telekinesis.
I uncorked the vial, placed the tip against her lips, and tilted it slowly.
The liquid disappeared down her throat without resistance.
A few seconds passed.
Her body twitched slightly.
A bit of heat shimmered across her skin, then it spread.
Her cheeks flushed red, her hands clenched loosely, and a faint glow radiated from under her skin before vanishing.
It took a few minutes before everything settled.
"She evolved."
The impurities had dirtied her and her clothes.
I lifted her with telekinesis, and opened a portal toward the bathroom.
"Shadow, come out."
The shadow rose behind me.
After absorbing stats, it had grown to a decent height of 1.3 meters.
If I used Shadow Assimilation now, my shadowy body would have the same size and height.
But that was not what I needed right now.
"Give Seris a bath, and wash her clothes."
The shadow held Seris in its arm, and entered the bathroom.
I waited outside.
A few minutes later, the door opened slightly, and the shadow returned with a clean Seris.
Her clothes had been washed and dried too.
I lifted her with telekinesis, and gave the shadow another command.
"Go and clean the bathroom and the washing machine. It should look like no one used it at night."
The shadow followed my command.
I returned to the room, tucked Seris back into bed next to her mother and adjusted the blanket.
Now that that was done, I still had one last thing to take care of.
I created a portal and entered the study room in Seris’ house.
It had a small desk in the corner of the room with a computer.
The computer was a bit outdated, running slower than what I was used to, but that was normal since it was the early 2000s right now.
"I should confirm that I received the delivery from the Underworld."
I switched on the computer, navigated to the site and logged into my Underworld account.
There was a pending delivery. I reviewed it.
[Delivery: Materials (Click to expand) | Quantity: 20 | Total: $1,000,000]
[Status: Awaiting Delivery Confirmation]
[Delivery Location: Pilatusstrasse 20, 6003 Luzern | Lucerne | Switzerland]
[Delivery Time: 2:30 am]
[Delivery Date: 18/07/2003]
I clicked "Confirm" and encrypted the receipt.
With everything done, I created a portal next to me.
It led to my house.
I entered it and went to sleep.
....
Seris and Marianne POV
The morning started in a blur.
Sunlight slipped through the curtains, and the clock showed it was already past the usual time Marianne woke up.
By the time she opened her eyes and grabbed her phone, it was late.
"Shoot," she muttered, tossing off the blanket and jumping out of bed.
Seris was already awake, sitting at the edge of the bed and quietly swinging her legs.
Marianne rushed back and forth between the bedroom and the kitchen, muttering under her breath as she tried to multitask.
A pan clattered on the counter, and she winced.
Seris just watched her calmly.
"We’re going to be late, we’re going to be late..." Marianne mumbled, digging through drawers for socks and a clean undershirt.
"Mom," Seris said.
"Hm? What is it, Seris?" Marianne asked, still focused on the toaster and the milk carton in her hands.
"Did you use a new scent spray in the room?"
Marianne stopped moving for a second. "A new what?"
"An air freshener," Seris said.
Marianne blinked, confused. "I don’t think so. Why do you ask?"
"Our room smelled different this morning," Seris said softly.
Marianne thought for a second, then shrugged. "I opened the window earlier. Maybe it came in from outside."
Seris didn’t respond.
She followed her mother to the kitchen and watched her prepare breakfast.
"It was like the scent the lady guard had," Seris added quietly.
Marianne turned her head slightly. "Which guard?"
"Nisha Hall. The one from the Estenwald house."
Marianne sighed. "You shouldn’t say odd things about people, Seris. It’s not polite."
Seris went quiet again.
She knew her mother wouldn’t understand.
Marianne had never been able to smell ’it’.
But Seris always could.
Ever since she was little, she’d been able to sense that strange scent some people carried.
The guards at Estenwald had it. Nisha Hall was among those guards.
And sometimes, he had it as well.
But his scent was different.
It was clean and warm, like something pure.
Maybe that was why she liked being near him.
Seris turned away from the kitchen and walked back to her room.
The strange scent was still there, faint but clear.
"Why is it coming from our room? It’s never happened before."
She stood in the middle of the room, trying to focus.
Her fingers tingled slightly.
She didn’t really understand what she was feeling, but she had this sudden urge to reach out.
Like she could grab something invisible in the air.
So she lifted her hand, palm open.
Nothing happened.
She stayed like that for a while, focusing on the strange tingle in her fingers.
Then she tugged at the air, just a small motion.
Thin white wisps began to appear.