Chapter 15: C15 – Requisite / Manual

"...44...45...46...47..."

A boy who was doing situps while hanging from the branch of a tree was calling out his reps. Sweat dripped off his body and down to the grass and flora beneath him. 

"56...57...58...59..."

[Alert! Self replicating nano-robotic maintenance and repair systems have reached the requisite energy levels. Beginning construction.]

"Huh?"

Suprised, Dirk stopped and looked at the notification.

"So I've finally developed enough huh? Took long enough. Well, I guess I wasn't given that enhancement until I was 12 on Earth either. Hup!"

Flipping himself, Dirk agilely fell from the branch and landed on his feet. 

Despite only being a 10 year old, Dirk's body was already starting to take form. When he was a supersoldier, he had to get modified and undergo many surgical procedures to enhance him with a superior body, genetics, and cybernetics. However, he now had all that from birth, and his body was able to develop into everything naturally. Now, he didn't have to adapt to everything and just built himself from the ground up. 

So while he wasn't a big kid, and his muscles were only just beginning to show, he knew that he definitely had a lot of strength. Several years of his grueling training was able to get his body into tip-top shape, and finally, one of his cybernetic abilities was unlocked. 

Because he was young, his body wasn't outputting a lot of energy. This meant his cybernetics couldn't draw on the necessary energy to power a system like the nano repair bots. Now though, they were activated and he could already feel their construction inside his abdomen. The food and energy stockpiled in his body was quickly processed and drawn on, and he immediately felt hungry. 

"I should ask for some more food. The more fuel I have, the more those bots can continue their construction. I don't want it to stop and then have to wait a long time for it to stockpile more energy again."

Saying that, Dirk finished up his workout and headed back to the manor. When he arrived, a maid was waiting by the door. 

"Have a good workout, Dirk?"

"Yes, miss Sanala."

"Good. So how much are we eating today?"

"Hmm, it's a lot, but triple the amount I usually eat."

"My my. Having a growth spurt again?"

"Something like that."

Dirk nodded as he and the maid walked into the manor. Sanala was the head maid, and with Dirk being the only child around the house now, she really only focused on catering to him. Much of what she did involved preparing him lots of food. The amount he ate grew by the month, but since he was the only one frequently there beside his mother, they had more than enough for his growing body. 

After cleaning himself up in his bathroom and dressing, Dirk arrived at the kitchen where all the food he asked for was sitting, freshly cooked. Nearly 2 pounds of meat were sitting on a large plate, sliced into thin strips. There was also a plate filled with thick slices of bread that were covered in melted cheese. 

Sitting and grabbing a piece of bread, he gobbled it up in one go. As soon as the bread entered his stomach, he could feel the accelerated digestion and the draw on the chemical energy given by the bread. Despite not being active, his body heat up a bit as his cells produced energy for the cybernetic construction. 

Feeling all that, Dirk went on to grab more slices of bread and strips of meat, stuffing his face with nutrient-rich food. His body was warm the entire time as everything was quickly digested. 

Two hours later, Dirk ate the last strip of meat. Despite eating so much, his body actually seemed leaner than before, a consequence of so much energy being burned. Much of the fat he had on him and nutrients within were taken away. 

'Show me the nanite construction process.'

Dirk gave a command in his head to the AI interface as he gulped the last of the meat down.

[Nano-robotic maintenance and repair systems at 31% capacity. Unable to continue construction. Insufficient mineral reserves.]

'Mm. Makes sense.'

Dirk nodded seeing the insufficiency. To construct the nanites required minerals like iron and proteins, and he didn't have an infinite supply. But that was fine. As he ate more every day, more nanites would be constructed and gradually fill up his body alongside his blood. And since some had already been built, they would be able to store energy themselves and he wouldn't have to stockpile so much. They were a very versatile machine.

'Give it another week and I'll be set.'

"Dirk? Are you home?"

Suddenly, a voice came from the entrance of the manor. Dirk recognized the voice and shouted back.

"I'm here, mother."

"Oh, good. I'm going to go freshen up, and your father is on his way. Once he gets here, we're leaving for the Duke's."

"Understood."

Nodding, Dirk quickly got up from the table and headed to his room to change into more formal clothes. 

...........

"You ready?"

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Dirk's father spoke as he walked down to the hall. It was just Dirk and his parents going today. 

"Yes sir."

"Alright, then let's head out."

The three walked out of the manor and boarded the flying carriage, quickly taking off into the sky. Dirk watched as they rose from the ground and got a large view of the daytime city. 

Soon though, they were descending toward another residence. After landing on the runway street, they got off and walked over to the Duke's manor. 

"Marquess Strider."

"Butler Gordon."

After landing, Ryker greeted the butler just like the last time they were here. That was 6 years ago though, and Dirk had grown a lot since then. The butler smiled seeing Dirk and motioned toward the house.

"The Duke awaits you. Please follow me."

The butler led the family into the Duke's manor and off toward a certain room. After traveling down a hallway, they came up to a pair of fancy doors that slightly radiated mana. 

*Knock* *Knock*

"Come in."

After tapping the doors, a voice was heard from within. The butler pushed open the doors and let the family in before closing it behind them. 

After walking inside, Dirk was immediately hit with a wave of dense mana. The place seemed almost stuffy with how dense it was. He didn't let it bother him though as he looked around. 

This room was a library. The first thing they saw through the doors was an open area with a table and chairs. Around that though were rows of tall bookshelves. The whole place felt old, like it was some kind of ancient repository. Even the stone below their feet seemed aged, as well as the roof of marble above them.

"You're here! Come! Let me see how much you've changed in 6 years."

A loud voice came from the table in the center of the library. It was the duke, and he was looking at Dirk with unbridled interest. 

The last time Dirk had seen the duke was 6 years ago, but even today he looked no different. He was a man who radiated strength, and Dirk could feel that more than ever. His clothes looked incredibly expensive but also modest. All that combined with his combed-back hair and scraggly beard made him seem like a rough but valiant man.

The family walked forward, and Dirk approached the duke while his parents took a seat at the table. Scanning him, the duke nodded. 

"I see you've been conditioning yourself. You have very good drive for a kid. It's not often you see someone so young who can force themselves to work out."

"Thank you, Duke Hillshire."

"Heh, still as formal as always. Anyway, today you're here to pick out a technique. Take a seat and I'll explain things."

"Understood."

Nodding, Dirk took a seat across from the Duke. He then went on to speak. 

"When it comes to both Mana and Anima, there are different ways to train yourself. Throughout the ages and generations, countless techniques to train Mana and Anima were created. However, only some can withstand the test of time and validity. Like people, not all techniques are created equal, and they are subject to the same law of the jungle as we are. Only the best and most versatile can be passed on. 

In general, training the mystical energies around us involves accumulation and cultivation. The techniques you see will merely be certain patterns in the way one accumulates and cultivates. Those patterns though can produce different outcomes and effects that can give one an edge in battle, especially if the technique is suited toward your element and combat style.

Tell me Dirk, what's your tier at now?"

The duke asked, and Dirk pulled up his profile. 

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|Profile|

Name: Dirk Strider

Species: Human

Tier: I

Rank: I-

Attributes: Fire - 71% (Lightning - 89%), Earth - 88% (Metal - 93%), Dark - 92%

Traits: Cybernetic Enhancement, Adaptable Genes, Pure Soul

Skills: A.I. Interface

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