Better than sprinting

  Dyna had always been fleet-footed borne from years of experience hunting in the wild. Since she usually participated in blitz-type battles, she boasted a deft hand to avoid injuries from friend and foe alike. From early on, she learned to avoid the sharp beaks of pheasants when the wolf cubs chased and scrambled them on the open grassland.

  As they grew older and daring, she then graduated to flitting and stabbing among the trashing claws and snapping teeth of larger prey. All while avoiding the vicious attacks of her own wild companions among the trees. A sharp mind, coupled with an equally nimble body made it all possible.

  Of course, effective teamwork also played an important part but as the alpha, she always aimed to deliver the killer blow.

  On the second day of the running exercise, she vanished at the track marker. In the blink of an eye, she then reappeared at the end, near the bundles of hay.

  Tottering to a standstill, her wide, speechless eyes soon found company, as the nearby practicing group crowded her. Naturally, she replied to the question on everyone's lips.

  "It's all in the mind, similar to what we learned at the academy when studying magic. I willed myself to reach the endpoint and pushed my body. Then it happened."

  "What do you mean willed?"

  Miki asked while wiping the beads of sweat from her own brow. The warehouse maintained the chill of winter but the occupants remained heated. Lucy stoked the nearby brazier which warded off the biting cold from entering. Chu refused to consume his firewood stockpile to provide adequate heating.

  "It's like running until you can't run anymore and then focusing on the point you want to reach. You know, like thinking, I have to arrive there..."

  "I don't get it. It has to be more than mind games. You holding back on us?"

  Ming grumbled.

  First the horse, now this brat.

  "Stop talking nonsense and trying to push yourself in front."

  Chu said while pushing aside the teen who assumed the stance of a bully. After the trouble of trying to explain something simple like electricity last night, he sympathized with Dyna. Talking about something that your audience knew nothing about was bad enough. Chatting on a topic where even the speaker had no idea could only be worse.

  "It's like summoning the last ounce of strength to push forward. Remember when Mr. Thomas had us running from the farm to the village? The determination to finish when even your chest hurts? I think it opens the mind to activate the skill. Maybe it will become easier after practice."

  Dyna explained to the best of her ability. Her interactions with humans normally entailed her demanding or negotiating some sort of recompense.

  "So it's a mind thing. Does it become clear when you think of it? Or does it click like when I pull the trigger of the crossbow?"

  "Does it manifest like how we can summon our starfield? Do we need to visualize a switch in our minds?"

  "I can't believe you figured this out faster than me. Now I'm second to you and a horse..."

  Chu and his fellow athletes spent a few minutes questioning the little girl to try and glean as much information as possible. Dyna tried her best to use various words and hand gestures to convey her thoughts. By her language, one could note the impact education had on this little girl from the slums.

  "I think she means it might activate naturally once you will it to happen. Remember my first day in the cellar? I was just curious about the noise and heard Ming fumbling in the cellar. Like a natural ability, my eyes changed color allowing me to see in the dark. You need to want it to happen until it finally comes naturally."

  Lucy remarked while patting Dyna on the head.

  "Oh? If it's like that then I can also do it. I won't give up!"

  Ming boasted as he drifted away from the discussion to continue running. Beating the track a few times without success he grumbled while accusing the girl of withholding valuable information. Faced with accusatory stares from the surrounding members he floundered on the track, panting and heaving.

  His status of being ignored by the spectators and fellow runners soon ended. Drinking a cup of warm water, he ambled down the track until the end. A few paces from the finish marker, Ming zipped away virtually invisible to the naked eye.

  "Ahhh, nooooo...!"

  The abrupt wails diminished when the spectators witnessed a billowing of straw and dust from the bales of hay. They were still rooted by the sight when a painful groan escaped the manmade hole.

  Ming tottered out while spitting pieces of straw and trash. His exposed arms and face bore signs of fine scrapes. A wicked-looking bruise surfaced, ready to mature on his left cheek. The bruises probably manifested from kissing the wooden wall behind the haystacks.

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  The sorry appearance dispelled the shock of his spectacular performance as the bystanders rushed to offer aid. Ming waved a hand to indicate the injuries were not life-threatening. He bent and held his knees while panting heavily. Taking a deep huff, he straightened himself.

  "I felt this was the last push for today so I wanted to give up. That's when I felt this burst of power. My legs moved and before I knew what happened I blazed past the finish point. By the time I wanted to stop I was eating dry grass."

  Ming said. His words caused Chu to nod in agreement. Controlling the burst of speed during the acceleration would prove difficult. At unimaginable speeds, the brain would lag in control but then how did Dyna stop?

  Dyna touched her smooth chin with a single finger.

  "Ah, I forgot to mention that if you don't will your body to stop then you might keep on moving. You have to start with I want to go there and stop there..."

  Ming shot her a killer look while growling.

  "You little..."

  With Dyna and Ming triggering the speed ability, Chu and the others continued practicing with the hopes of succeeding.

  After the midday meal, the running continued. Dyna shared another explanation before leaving the warehouse. Since she unlocked the speed skill she wanted to practice in the open field with the wolves.

  Chu watched her wrap a scarf around her nose and neck leaving the piercing green eyes exposed. He let her leave since she usually progressed faster in solitude. If Sakura was here, the redhead might advance even faster.

  By the end of the evening, a tired group decided to halt the training for the day. Walking along the trampled road leading to the farm, Lucy spoke from under her scarf.

  "I'm sure you will grasp the idea tomorrow, Chu. Once you succeed then it becomes easier."

  Chu nodded while deep in thought. Everyone including Toll had activated the speed-burst ability with him being the exception. Ming hovered beside him while patting his shoulder to offer consolation.

  "Don't worry, you're bound to figure it out. This is something that comes naturally so you can't overthink it. You don't need too much brains for this one."

  The words triggered a thought in his mind causing him to pause his steps.

  Considering his knowledge, why did he have a hard time grasping this skill?

  Since beginning the exercise, he felt a thin veil impeded his progress. Ming's words didn't lift it but helped in its identity.

  Doubt.

  Ironically, the modern-day man who utilized scientific knowledge and technology now became impeded by this very wealth of information.

  How can the human body move at this impossible burst of speed?

  Can my brain process this information at high speeds?

  What about my muscles? Will they tear under this sudden burst of power?

  The sheer mechanics involved could never produce an effect. Unlike delving into the world of magic where curiosity led him to form the starfield, activating an ability through thinking became difficult. He could visualize a starfield but not initiate the speed. He was trying to match the speed of an Olympic runner when he should be setting his goals on a higher plane.

  Doubt.

  He was like a man who could run and jump off a high cliff while knowing he invented wings to fly. But even with that knowledge, he refused to take the first step since flying was not in man's nature.

  Disbelief and not fear held him back. No one wanted to fall and die.

  But did he not risk his life for a talisman?

  "You're right Ming! Why should I try to find answers to everything? I was never a scientist in the first place."

  Chu said. He turned towards the open field beside him while visualizing a snow bump a couple of paces away. Striding forward, he shed all fears and doubts.

  "I want to go there so I will..."

  The words hardly left his lips when his legs pumped unconsciously under a burst of power. During a split second, he felt his movement controlled naturally by his brain. The next thing he knew, he was floundering and eating snow.

  Regaining control, he stood up while spitting snow and ice. A well-defined trench cut the field from where he started to his position. He overshot the place he intended to reach by a few feet.

  "Chu you did it! Ah, good choice in using the open field since you didn't will yourself to stop, right?"

  "I said you could do it."

  Ming and Lucy trampled across the open trench towards him.

  Chu gazed at his feet before scanning the wake of his destruction with a satisfied grin.

  "Yes, I did it. I finally did it."

  ***

  Snow drizzled for two days, forcing Chu to confine his training indoors. Luckily the warehouse was large enough to accommodate the archery practices which he held among the crackling fires. He had no shortage of firewood since the villagers provided him with an ample supply. He still regulated it for light and not warmth.

  More than half of the lumber gathered in the forest during that day in the forest generously found its way to the village. Come spring, he and Clod eagerly anticipated the expansion of the fields.

  Maps had been drawn, seeds double-checked for optimum viability come spring, and new orders sent out for the procurement of needed supply.

  As for unlocking his abilities, he had accomplished the rapid speed movement. Developments hit a snag when he sprained his ankle while trying to perform a turn at high speed. Currently, his limit remains within a straight line. The timespan for activation shortened while the duration increased through constant practice.

  Within the brief period of activation, however, he hit a snag.

  No matter the change in physical conditioning the lifestones provided, his body required time to adapt.

  He did, however, feel pleased by the progress since the stacked talismans certainly allowed overwhelming advantages over the Tower talisman. Not only was he not confined to once or twice an activation per day but the explosion of power far exceeded that of an average Sersen.

  In essence, he had converted a normal 1-volt battery into a 9-volt. The improved foundation of an Ancient talisman placed him generations ahead of the Sersens parading a cheap Tower Talisman. Even the very few who possessed an Ancient talisman could never compare.

  Toll boasted an Ancient talisman with a second-tier demon beast lifestone. Yet, his speed lagged behind them in a race.

  Something about Lucy's talisman bothered him though. Nine lifestones paled in comparison to her one generator.

  Dyna had raced with Lucy down the lane and though she lost the race, the blazing acceleration placed her a few paces behind the experienced Sersen. Like visual proof, the Bitzer outline also appeared paler than the wolf head on Lucy. In terms of endurance, and running long distances, Lucy ruled supreme.

  Recalling the wolf demon, Chu realized a wide disparity when comparing.

  The difference opened a gap like comparing a flood lamp and a candle.

  Another disadvantage lies in energy consumption. Continuous overuse led to lethargic fatigue and insatiable hunger.

  Recognizing the problems, he limited the activation training while concentrating on new methods of discovery. Chu was certain that a creature that utilized a form of electricity would provide untold benefits. He only needed time…