"I'm a space user. It will help us during moving," said Fu Lian, revealing her superpowers.
Bing Shi rose from her seat, her expression guarded, "That's great and all but... I don't trust you," she said and made her way over to the food counter.
Yi Zen's brow furrowed – was his little sister taking issue with his relationship? He glanced at his kitten, silently apologizing. "Don't mind her; she's got some trust issues," he reassured, a touch apologetic.
He was speaking from his own experience. It took him lots of labor to make Bing Shi finally 'trust' him.
Fu Lian calmly picked up a piece of tofu, trying to navigate the complexities of their dynamics. She sensed the intricacies in the relationship between Yi Zen and Bing Shi, which was far from ordinary.
"It's fine," she responded, picking her words carefully, "Maybe she's just worried I'll snatch her 'big brother' away," she ventured, her tone tinged with uncertainty.
Yi Zen chuckled softly, finding the idea amusing, "That might be the last thing she is thinking about," he remarked, rising to gather his own food. As he filled his tray with tofu and stir-fried vegetables, he couldn't help but ask, "Do you dislike Fu Lian?"
"No, why would I? She hasn't done anything to me," Bing Shi filled a cup with rice, leaning over to whisper in Yi Zen's ear, "I tried to help your relationship by being a bully," she said and headed to her tent to fill up her tummy, leaving behind a flabbergasted Yi Zen.
'Maybe that's why their relationship stagnated because there are no villain girls? Should I step into that role or should I recruit some jelly girls?'
'Hm, Hm, Hm... Why not both?'
( Bing Shi's dictionary: jelly girl = 'no brain' girl with zero common sense.)
After finishing her meal, Bing Shi continued with her training. As she breathed, a sense of calm settled over her, accompanied by the emergence of self-control. Oblivious to her own heartbeat and the rhythmic expansion and contraction of her chest, she drifted into a state of self-awareness.
The barrier she had created shimmered, reflecting the dazzling tapestry of stars, absorbing the energy of the nucleus.
Lost in the present moment, a desire to blend with the barrier seized her. Almost as if in response to her intent, the barrier condensed, shrinking down to the size of a diamond, and seamlessly melded itself within Bing Shi's consciousness.
'So this is the inner energy everyone was talking about? Mine wasn't even inside. It was outside on a walk this whole time! 囧'
["Kuro, you hear me?"]
[I do. How did you do it?]
Bing Shi described to Kuro her situation while practicing with the barrier. She came up with a whole bunch of ideas on how to use it to its full potential. Yet, ended up disappointed – her barrier didn't behave like the force fields that effortlessly shielded against upcoming attacks.
· · ───────── · ⊱❈⊰· ───────── · ·
Gathered on the open field, soldiers stood in a disciplined formation. Qua Tao and Bing Shi collaborated to document their abilities, while Yi Zen and Fu Lian followed suit.
Amidst the roster, many possessed abilities associated with the classical elements – fire, water, earth, and wind. However, there were a few who showcased unique talents:
Yi Zen: Dual ice/lightning
Fu Lian: One thousand square meters spatial dimension
Ban, Bishop: Healing
Qua Tao: Dual flash/wind
Tedy: Metal
Pony and three others: Space in the size of a room without any vegetation or water
Wan Ke: Teleportation
As for Ziek and Kuro...
Bing Shi halted and directed her gaze toward the iconic pair, addressing them, "It's your turn."
Ren Han and Kuro floated slightly above the ground, exuding an air of indifference; without taking notes, they could remember everything.
Ziek's eyes roved across the vicinity, fixating momentarily on a specific object. Suddenly, gasps filled the air as the sword, securely nestled in Fu Lian's sheath, was taken from its resting place by an unseen force.
But before it could harm Fu Lian, a thick layer of ice enveloped it. Yi Zen acted swiftly, erecting a protective ice shield to safeguard them. A glower etched on his face, he unleashed a bolt of lightning at Ren Han as a stern warning – a reminder not to toy with his belongings.
Ziek released his grip on the sword, conjuring a telekinetic shield above him. The weapon plummeted to the ground and shattered into countless shards, a testament to his formidable control, "What? She practically begged for a taste of her own medicine."
He had to hold back this whole time because of his weak ass body, but it no longer was a limitation to unleash his pettiness. "Yanking those damn swords at me as if I'm some sort of practice dummy..."
Ren Han possessed telekinetic powers of unparalleled strength, bordering on the manipulation of matter itself. His abilities allowed him to extract minuscule particles from substances, molding them into objects of his choosing.
Fu Lian brought a little tyranny to the base. Whoever looked a bit lewdly at her or teased her a little bit, would meet her sword or no food for the day. Such was her power and backing that none dared to oppose her.
Upon hearing Ren Han's words, they found themselves nodding in reluctant agreement. As they opened their eyes, they witnessed the undeniable truth: their omnipotent general could be useless at times.
But the real shocker was the challenge in Ren Han's statement. Was he challenging Yi Zen?
The day was far from over, yet these two were already putting their prowess on full display. The soldiers, impressive as they were, could conjure a mere fireball in comparison. So hateful!
Bing Shi's knees nearly buckled under the weight of it all. Someone attempted to kill her mission before her eyes! Her heart trembled as she glanced between Ren Han, Fu Lian, and Yi Zen. The urge to shield them surged within her, leading her to instinctively conjure a protective barrier around them.
Yi Zen looked down at the untamed kitten, whispering to her ears, "You can do whatever you want, I'll protect you." As the strongest among them, fear was absent. "But remember, you're not leaving my side."
Fu Lian didn't react to his flowery words, but his hot breath tickled her ears, turning them slightly pink. "I could have dodged that sword," she said while staring at Ren Han. She never second-guessed herself.
Bing Shi approached Ren Han, "What if you caused an accident and somebody got injured or died ...from a heart attack?"
'My heart attack.'
Ziek's gaze swept the surroundings before settling on Ban and Bishop. With a pointed gesture, he indicated the presence of the two healers.
Strange... Everyone tilted their head. They had expected a fierce clash between their general and Ren Han, yet the tension seemed to dissolve in an instant, leaving them perplexed.