ALL NOVEL Chapter 8
“Don’t overdo it.”
“Yes.”
“If you’re having a hard time, just let me know and you can stop at any time.”
“I understand.”
Ornika warned again in a nervous tone.
I sat cross-legged and calmed my breathing.
“Ugh… I feel more tense than when my dantian was pierced…”
Erina exaggeratedly shuddered.
“If it really feels like you can’t continue, just shout loudly. We’ll help you out.”
“This is a charm from our tribe that brings good luck. Keep it with you.”
“Haha, thank you.”
I tucked the rabbit-shaped wooden charm that Galli handed me into my clothing.
Finally, when all the preparations were complete.
“…Then.”
Ornika placed her hand in the center of my chest.
“Let’s begin.”
*
When a mage uses a skill, they consume magical power.
But a swordsman uses ‘ki’ when using a skill.
Ki is basically gathered in the dantian through breathing and can be classified into three main types.
‘Lower dantian beneath the navel.’
‘Middle dantian at the solar plexus.’
‘Upper dantian in the head,’
As the dantian opens, the amount of ki that can be stored increases.
Moreover, opening the dantian greatly boosts one’s stats and leads to remarkable growth.
“However, the true standard of a strong person starts from the opening of the upper dantian.”
After opening the upper dantian, a new level concept called ‘realm’ comes into play, but that’s a story for another time.
From the moment one can manipulate ki by opening the lower dantian, they can be said to be building the true foundation of a swordsman.
“Whew…”
I felt Ornika clasping her eyes shut as she contained the internal ki.
The task of piercing the dantian belonged to the swordsmen who had opened their upper dantian.
I was just lucky to be involved with Ornika, getting my dantian pierced for free.
Normally, one would either pay for it or have it done by high-ranking swordsmen they have connections with.
Crack.
As she tightened her grip, I felt a warm sensation rising from beneath my navel.
Crack!
“Ugh…!”
What should I even call this?
It felt as if the sensory nerves of my body, long forgotten, were gradually awakening.
Thud thud thud!
The warmth slowly turned into heat.
A sharp something was poking and prodding at my lower abdomen.
“You must close your eyes and concentrate. Soon, the Chief’s ki will pierce Alben’s dantian.”
Ah.
So the persistent poking beneath my navel was Ornika’s ki.
“It’s a principle of injecting powerful ki into the dormant dantian to forcibly activate it. It’s no different from piercing a hole in your insides, but there’s no more certain method than this.”
After hearing Korin’s explanation, I understood why the HP looked like that after the dantian opening event.
‘This feels a bit scary.’
Will it hurt?
It probably will.
But since I’ve already started, I need to see it through to the end…
Crack-!
“Haah?!”
The pain of a hot iron skewer piercing through my stomach flashed in my mind.
My whole body’s muscles tensed up painfully, squeezing as if being burned alive.
“Gah…! Ugggh…”
It’s true that if it hurts too much, one can’t even scream properly.
Screams get stuck in my constricted throat.
‘Ssssizz!! It’s hot!! Really hot!!!’
The heat within me intensified.
Is this what it feels like to swallow a stone thrown into a furnace?
If I opened my mouth now, flames would probably shoot out from my esophagus.
“Ugh… hgh…?!”
“Y-You have to endure!”
“Alben, hang in there! You can do it!”
It seemed like everyone around was cheering me on, but their voices couldn’t reach my ears.
I just gritted my teeth and endured, wishing this pain would end soon.
Thud! Thud!
Thud-! Thud thud thud!
Ornika’s ki violently stirred my insides.
I could feel something taking root deeper within me.
[Opening of the dantian is in progress!]
[Opening of “Lower Dantian” has occurred.]
[The limit of usable ki has increased.]
[The blessing of “Growth” has been applied.]
[The maximum amount of ki has further increased.]
A hopeful message flashed in front of my darkened eyes.
‘Finally!’
I can see the end of this damn pain.
‘But it’s still not enough.’
If my prediction is correct.
This system still has something left to give me.
[The guide of the dantian shows you tremendous favor!]
[“Hidden Piece #4” discovered.]
[Special reward is granted.]
This is it.
Hidden Piece number four.
A special reward given when the one piercing the dantian has ‘affection’ for you.
[You have obtained “Soul Bond: Ornika Pheron”.]
‘Yes.’
I acquired it successfully.
Ornika’s “Soul Bond”!
‘This is amazing.’
It’s none other than Ornika’s soul bond.
This will certainly be helpful.
“Ha… haha… what… ow…”
Thud… thud…
The heat tormenting my insides gradually subsided.
The senses that had been drowned in pain slowly returned.
“Alben! You did well! The dantian has been successfully pierced!”
“You did a great job, Chief.”
“Alben! Congratulations!”
It seems the dantian has indeed opened safely.
What? It wasn’t as bad as I thought.
I overreacted for no reason.
…But why do the kids look like they’re multiple people?
“Wha…? When did you all learn to speak nonsense?”
“Uh, Alben…? What’s wrong?”
“Chief, Alben seems weird! His eyes are glazed over!”
For a moment, my mind went blank, and before my eyes was Ornika.
She seemed to be shaking my shoulders or something.
-‘Alben! Get a grip! Everyone, move Alben into the tent! Erina, bring all the first aid supplies you can!’
-‘His temperature is through the roof…! Someone get him water from the creek…!’
-‘I’ll go get it!’
Now that I think about it, it felt like the world had turned upside down.
‘Ah.’
I collapsed.
After all, I had forced my dantian open without prior physical training due to [Weakness].
As strength gradually drained from my body, every breath I took continued to fill my lower abdomen with mysterious ki.
‘So this is ki.’
It’s not as special as I thought.
I thought it’d fill my whole body with tiger-like energy.
Cough!
As I coughed involuntarily due to a tickle in my throat, a metallic smell rushed from my mouth.
What is this?
-‘Ah… Ahhh! He spit blood! Chief, what do we do?!’
Erina’s face became pale, and she looked serious.
Ornika…
‘Tears…?’
Huh… This is the first time I’ve seen Ornika cry.
-‘Please… it can’t end like this….’
As someone who has been through this game for a while.
Seeing scenes that were never meant to be seen is a rare experience above all.
As I squinted to remember even a second of Ornika’s tears, the world went dark.
*
[What? Did I die?]
[No. You just fainted for a bit. You can’t die that easily.]
[So this guy has been looking at us through this screen the whole time?]
[I understand. It’s honestly super entertaining.]
[I agree. I want to see the next scene now.]
[Tsk tsk… fainting just from opening the dantian. If he were my disciple, I would’ve given him a hundred whacks on his backside.]
[Here we go again. Grandpa, go take your medicine.]
[…Isn’t something odd?]
[Why do you say that?]
[Don’t call me that! Anyway, something feels off. Like it’s different from usual…]
Wait a minute.
You’re listening to us, aren’t you?
*
“My body is fine.”
Korin, after a simple examination, informed the others.
“Thank goodness… I thought we were in big trouble…”
Erina sat down on the floor, wiping her brow.
Alben, who had fainted, lay there.
Ornika glanced at him with moist eyes for a while before asking Korin.
“…What about the blood? What happened?”
“Well…”
As Korin trailed off, serious shadows fell upon the faces of the three.
Please don’t let it be some terminal illness.
The concern was evident in their collective gazes.
“Actually, it’s a bit strange.”
“What do you mean strange?! Hurry up and tell us!”
Galli expressed her anxiety by stomping her feet.
Without further delay, Korin candidly explained.
“That blood… the blood Alben threw up right before fainting showed signs of dark energy.”
“Dark energy?! Wait a minute… if that’s the case…”
“Exactly, Chief. It’s the phenomenon of Hwan-gol-tal-tae.”
“Hu… Hwan-gol-tal-tae…!”
“Technically, it was just a small portion of the Hwan-gol-tal-tae phenomenon that appeared. It’s not full Hwan-gol-tal-tae since the body hasn’t changed dramatically.”
Hwan-gol-tal-tae.
A phenomenon achieved by masters who have opened their upper dantian, where their body changes to better manipulate ki and sword energy.
Throwing up blood filled with dark energy is also one of the manifestations of Hwan-gol-tal-tae.
“Still, isn’t it strange? Alben just barely opened his lower dantian, and yet Hwan-gol-tal-tae?!”
“…I don’t know what’s going on either, so please be quiet. Anyway, Alben is fine. After resting well, he will actually become healthier than before.”
Since he expelled the bad energy, the growth and recovery speed of his body will accelerate further.
‘This guy can only be a chosen swordsman.’
Korin, who caught his breath, chuckled softly.
“Chief, are you okay?”
“As long as Alben is safe, that’s enough.”
“Enough? You cried like a baby when he fainted.”
“-!”
Ornika’s hair stood on end.
“Wow~ I just found out today that our Chief can also shed tears?”
“Did the Chief really cry? Is that true?”
“Hmm. So the Chief was just a lonely wolf after all. No more hitting my head… uh, ouch!”
“Be quiet! Alben is sleeping!”
“Seriously… you’re the loudest one here….”
Erina rubbed her hot forehead.
Ornika, fanning her flushed face, recalled the moment when she examined Alben’s insides after piercing his lower dantian.
That infinite emptiness felt inside.
The alien power that even she could not fully comprehend with her abilities.
Even though she had merely opened the lower dantian, Alben’s limits already surpassed hers immensely.
‘Alben. Who on earth are you…’
The more she learned, the more curious she became, and her mouth watered at the thought of him.
“Grr…”
A small snore from a monster crept quietly through the tent.
‘So cute….’
‘Really cute.’
‘My grandson probably looked just like this with his lady. Yes, he’d definitely sleep like this. So adorable.’
‘So cute… I want to pinch those chubby cheeks….’
A satisfied smile spread across the faces of the four.