Hardcore: Qi Worlds Chapter 51: Dawnharbour 4

 Benzhi and Anastasia arrived back at the dormitory, she had insisted that he keep quiet while they walked. 

 "If you are about to go on a tower run, you do not advertise it to the world," she said as Benzhi sat in his and Huineng's newly adopted dorm room. "What happens in the tower, stays in the tower," she explained.

 "Oh, I get it. So there is no such thing as foul play in the tower? I don't really think that is an issue for us." Benzhi replied.

 "There is a barrier that will stop someone for entering for two hours, from the same entrance, or until the group leaves by conventional methods or death. But that doesn't stop a crafty group entering from a different location, especially if they know the first level well, they can do things like cause a train and run it onto you, ambush you in the middle of a fight, or just shadow you through. These are the things I have heard and read. What I do know, is; you do not advertise widely you are going on a tower run. People will eventually find out if you achieve a clear through the system-wide announcement, but by then it will be too late to get a group together and play dirty," Anastasia lectured Benzhi.

"You are the expert," Benzhi smiled and nodded, "caution is always wise."

 Anastasia laughed nervously, "if you think I am an expert, you will be sorely disappointed, I have only been here three months."

 Benzhi nodded again. Huineng said, "that explains your white robes."

 Benzhi stated, "we have much to discuss but our goals remain the same. One; I heal the VIPs, Two; we train replacement healers and Three; I learn more about portals."

 "That sounds like a short list," Huineng offered, "but it is not as simple as it sounds. The healing aspect may be the easiest part and we both know that it can be complex."

 "I will adjust the plan as we go and learn more, but I have already formulated one for the training of replacements," Benzhi said.

 "Really?" Huineng answered raising an eyebrow.

 "Well, I do not know how many can learn, I do know that they are being taught the wrong way. How were people taught or trained in other QWs Huineng? How did you learn?" Benzhi asked.

 "I am self-taught, but like most, I learned on earth, with all its limitations, first. There is a lot I know which is useless or next to useless. But, fortunately for you, I used to be the main expert on portals," Huineng said.

 "I knew I liked you," Benzhi replied.

 "As for the others, qi healing has always been one of the main goals, and the QWP has tried many methods to push out an adept in qi healing. QW6 or Basal was one of them, create a template on the highest plane possible, let it evolve, send in subjects and see what happens," Huineng said. "The problem is, humanity, compared to extra-planar beings; we have never been very good at qi manipulation, there are few people on earth with adequate cores and it seems to be diminishing as time goes by. Technology and thinking gets in the way of people developing qi abilities not to mention that earth is one of the lowest planes so naturally occurring qi abilities are almost non-existent"

 "But this world is on a lower plane," Benzhied queried.

 "Yes, but there is something strange about it, I can't quite put my finger on it, as we spend time here and explore hopefully it reveals itself," Huineng answered.

 "So, the first order of business, pass the stupid test so we can wear robes and don't stand out too much. Everyone was looking at me today, it was slightly uncomfortable. Not to mention, I need the black robes with silver trim to teach," Benzhi stated and looked at Anastasia who had gone quiet.

 She watched Benzhi and Huineng intently, "I do not think I want to go to class anymore. I will just follow you two around. I learn more in five minutes with you than in one month of classes."

 It was Benzhi's turn to raise an eyebrow, "I have no objections, but won't someone else?"

 Anatasia waved her hand in dismissal, "I won't be missed and I will write a note to the Chancellor which he will ignore like all my others."

 "We can just go to the tower and enter, no one here is on a lockout. Be warned, I have only been once and left immediately as I was alone," Anastasia said. "What I do know is the first level is troglodytes in groups of two or more. I have not been further personally but I have read extensively."

 "Can you fight?" Benzhi asked.

  "Not too well, I do not duel with the other students and I have only three generic aids, as I have not chosen a school," Anastasia said quietly in an embarrassed voice. 

 "As in, Tiger, Bear, Deer, etc?" Benzhi asked.

 "Yes, each school grants certain aids to the disciple, this is why Tiger is so popular, it is considered the best fighting school as damage output is the highest," Anastasia said as if reading from a textbook.

 Benzhi laughed. "As long as something stands still and lets you hit them, doesn't have a brain or is not a Troll, sure. I am concerned we may be putting you in danger if you come with us, it may be best if you stay behind."

 "No, I am desperate to come, please. I will learn so much and if it becomes too dangerous I can always leave. The worst that can happen is I lose my avatar," Anastasia said pleadingly.

 "She is not afraid, bring her," Huineng stated.

 "In that case, I have an idea. We won't be as practised as my," Benzhi searched for a term, "other team, but if the three of us form a connection I can at least use your eyes and you will start to learn how to work with a connection."

 "I am surprised," Huineng began. Benzhi waved it away and explained how to form a connection with the three of them.

 It took an hour and Anastasia was unable to push out qi from her core, her manipulation wasn't bad, she had never pushed qi out of herself before, other than opening the portal and that was on autopilot. She wasn't able to do it because the aids stopped the students working their own qi properly, it was all on autopilot. 

 Benzhi did not let that stop them, he pushed his stream out all the way into her core. He was able to establish a connection on his own now. Hi manipulation skills had improved since his first connection.

 "She is strong but has no control," Huineng said.

 "I know," Benzhi replied, "that is why she is part of the team. She will learn control in time." With that, he smiled.

 Anastasia just looked at them talking about her, in front of her, like she wasn't there. She cleared her throat.

 "You will start to feel emotions coming from me and Huineng and when more skilled you will be able to communicate directly and organically during combat. I will also teach you how to temporarily close the connection, for privacy, which I am sure you will want." Benzhi lectured. Anastasia nodded.

 "I am not afraid of my feelings being known," she said confidently.

 "Oh, but you may get sick of ours," Benzhi replied, "do you need any weapons old man?"

 Huineng shook his head.

 "Good, I don't know if they have anything useful here. It appears most make it through the tower with just fists anyway," Benzhi said. "Any idea how long this usually takes? We cannot be late for our appointment at dawn with the Seneschal?"

 "Not exactly, but from what I have read, just under four hours for the Adept level, is the record. It was set by the older masters before I arrived," Anastasia replied, "wait, I can bring up the records on my hud."

 "It's fine, I want you to stop using all aids and stats anyway. It just gets in the road of progress, especially here with the emphasis on it. Do you know what Takeo said to me; Tiger school get a run speed bonus of ten percent?"

 "Yes, that is one of the reasons it is so popular," Anastasia replied.

 "That is the stupidest thing I have heard in my life. Nothing good comes easy. This is not a computer game, if I was to guess, it means everyone is limited by at least ten percent and that limitation was removed for Tiger school. Because if they were able to give Tiger school a boost, that means everyone would be capable of receiving the boost from the start." Benzhi speculated.

  "Let's go, we don't have time to waste, we have about sixteen hours until Dawn and I will need some rest before meeting the Seneschal," Benzhi said.

 Benzhi, Huineng and Anastasia arrived at the southernmost entrance to the tower. It was the closest entrance into the two-hundred-meter high monstrosity, the area was deserted, so no obfuscation was necessary.   

  "Not a popular time of day to be "running the tower"?" Benzhi asked. Anastasia shrugged.

 The entrance had a portal like see-through, curtain. Anastasia approached a control panel.

 "I will register the group," She said, "ah found you," she laughed, "you are listed as miscellaneous QWP staff."

 "I always wanted to be miscellaneous," Huineng replied.

 "Everyone will need to touch the pad for confirmation and consent for loss due to death etc, etc," Anastasia instructed.

  The group walked through what was like a portal, that did not seem to go anywhere.

 "Is this some sort of trick?" Benzhi asked, "Did we travel somewhere that was made to look identical?"

 Anastasia and Huineng merely shrugged.

"Don't go out," Anastasia stopped Benzhi investigating, "once you do you will be locked out for a day to a week."

 "We need to fight through Troglodytes, on the ramp in the centre, and go up to the next level," Anastasia directed.

  "Well, let's get moving then," Benzhi said. The place was a maze, Anastasia offered to bring up a map and Benzhi nodded, "I don't see how information hurts, just stay away from stats, aids and anything resembling artificial qi manipulation," He said.

 "Why stats," she asked.

 "It gives you preconceived ideas of what is possible. You need to think anything is possible, it is just a matter of finding a way," Benzhi sounded like the Seneschal already, it had only been one meeting. What the Seneschal had said resonated with him because on Basal he had been doing just that, "finding a way".

 Benzhi and Huineng were guided by Anastasia who was focused on her hud, they reached the first open room. It was a massive spiral ramp and on the ramp were troglodytes, sitting, talking, playing with bones doing all strange types of activities you would not expect from a demi-human with low intelligence.

 The troglodytes were larger than ferals, ranging from four feet to six. They were well armoured, but they had no weapons, on their hands were thick metal gauntlets.

 "Are these troglodytes limited on purpose?" Benzhi asked no one in particular.

 "It would seem so," Huineng answered, "the ones I have seen have swords, spears, shields and the like."

 "I suppose we have to kill them," Benzhi said.

 "They will try and kill us," Anastasia replied.

 Benzhi sighed. It felt wrong killing something trapped for entertainment and handicapped on purpose. He reminded himself they could possibly be lumps or that he was sparing something good from wherever the troglodytes came from. 

 "I will lead, Anastasia please watch my flanks, as in watch, I will sense what you see. Old man, let's see what you are made of," Benzhi instructed.

  They approached the first group of three, Benzhi was holding his sword and shield, Huineng had no weapons, similar to most of the monks and students. 

 With three pairs of eyes assisting his movements, Benzhi walked calmly towards the three troglodytes, they got up from their game of bones and approached down the ramp, growling and clanging fists together. Benzhi looked at them under qi sight, they did have cores, although small in size.

 When they were within ten meters the troglodytes charged, not a wild run, just a quick jog towards Benzhi. Huineng was behind him to the left and Anastasia to the right, she was on the side of the giant pillar at the centre of the ramp.

 Benzhi's sword arm hung loosely at his side, waiting for the first punch, which was a straight jab to his face, he merely leaned to his left and used qi blade to slice off the extended arm. The troglodyte howled in pain as Benzhi spun and jabbed its neck in the next moment. The second troglodyte swung at Benzhi as he spun which he nimbly caught on his shield, he could sense the blow easily as Anastasia was tracking it. 

 Pulling his sword from the first Troglodytes neck he stabbed the second in the chest approximately where they heart would lie. It was wide open as Benzhi knocked its fist to the left when he blocked it, and its right was too slow to impede his strike with the qi blade.

 The old man had knocked the third off the ramp and it fell a few meters to the ground below. It was unmoving at the moment.

 "How does that wooden sword cut?" Anastasia asked earnestly, "Is it magic?"

 "It is qi blade, have you never seen anything like it?" Benzhi asked.

 "I have only read about it," she answered quietly.

 "Is it not widespread Huineng?" Benzhi asked.

 "Not here it isn't, we have traded weapons from the extra-planar before, but nothing like your sword. The weapons traded were more like your shield, or what you explained about the dwarf spear, where the weapon guides the qi. Your sword is the only weapon I know of where the user guides the qi and qi patterns." Huineng explained.

 "Why is it, old man, that I am the only one who has done these things after all these years?" Benzhi asked.

 "That is a good question, can we discuss later? There are more Troglodytes to deal with, I am old and need my rest, so ...," Huineng answered and indicated Benzhi should keep moving.

 "One thing first, I want to check the corpse for a solid core," Benzhi responded, using qi sight and his qi blade he checked the corpse. "Nothing, this is different." He shrugged and started moving up the ramp.

 Benzhi and Huineng cleared the Troglodytes with ease. Huineng may be almost a hundred years old but he moved like he was fifty, Benzhi wasn't sure if it was the healing or Huinengs own flexibility and qi powers. Huineng fought with traditional forms and from a selection of a thousand tricks he had learnt over his lifetime.

  'Your qi strike is elegant, old man,' Benzhi praised Huineng when he had an opportunity to watch him under qi sight, "you do not waste any qi at all."

 "I cannot afford to, I don't have a core the size of the Pacific like you," Huineng answered.

 Benzhi laughed, "you cannot fool me," Benzhi indicated his eye, "I see all."

 After disposing of thirteen troglodyte groups they reached the top of the ramp where it spread out onto a platform. The platform was two hundred paces wide and long, in almost a circular shape. At the rear of the platform was a portal which was guarded by six troglodytes and one larger troglodyte, seven foot tall, with a two-handed axe. The first one to wield a weapon.

  "Boss?" Benzhi asked and Anastasia nodded. Viewing the boss under qi sight Benzhi could see it had an adept size core, the axe was not a qi weapon thought.

 Benzhi wished Gisael was here to shoot half of the troglodytes with her bow before they closed. Hell, she could probably shoot all of them.

 "There are too many to guarantee your safety Anastasia, stay here, I will use stoneskin and fight them toe to toe. Old man watch the axe wielder for me and pick off any at the edges if you can," Benzhi ordered. Benzhi did not want to kite the Troglodytes around the platform, some stragglers could easily attack Anastasia, he would take them head on and practice stoneskin. He had not had a chance to use it properly, in a fight, since the trollkins.

  Benzhi covered himself fully in a light stoneskin, as needed he would strengthen a particular area. This took a lot of his concentration, so other than qi body speed and qi blade he would use no other techniques. With those three techniques activated, he was at his limit. 

 Benzhi walked calmly towards the Troglodytes until they took notice of him and started to approach themselves, he was at fifty paces when this happened. He then waited patiently for them to close on him. Thankfully the axe-wielding boss had not aggroed and was standing in front of the portal still.

  Benzhi was thankful for the connection with Huineng, he knew where he was and Huineng's viewpoint gave him an excellent field of view over the battle. Even if he was surrounded he would be able to see each attack. Huinening was positioned twenty paces behind Benzhi, he would be able to cut off any Troglodytes off that tried to close on Anastasia, even though there was small chance of this happening.

  Benzhi used his shield and agility to great effect, stoneskin was his backup, if he could dodge a blow he would, as an attack came he blocked with his shield and where possible used qi strike to damage the first that hit the shield. He bent, weaved and parried with his sword. Taking small steps to move mere centimetres to avoid a blow. Each outstretched hand, that was parried or avoided was rewarded with a severing cut. Benzhi did not have time to jab chests or slice hearts, but within moments there were four fists rolling around on the ground.

 Blood spurted from the Troglodytes severed upper arms, they howled in pain, some continued to attack others just grappled their arm. Benzhi took one blow on the back as he blocked and parried another. He reinforced the area with stoneskin and barely felt the blow. These enemies proved no problem, but they were still on the first test.

 After a few minutes of slaughter, howls of pain and frustration the six Troglodytes lay at Benzhi's feet. He looked behind quickly and nodded for his companions to follow as he approached the axe wielder.

 Benzhi healed a bruise on his arm as he walked and another on his foot, one downed Troglodyte had bitten him on the foot as he fought two others. He did not heal fully, just enough to close wounds and stem bleeding.

 Benzhi approached the boss. It was seven feet tall, a head taller than Benzhi, with the large two-handed axe it had reach on him. Up until now, he had a reach advantage on his foe due to their limitation of only having gauntlets and no spears. Benzhi decided to end this quickly, unlike the troll its necks and heart were well within reach. 

 Benzhi dropped stoneskin, freeing up much of his concentration.

 When at twenty paces he shunpo'd directly at the Troglodyte, bringing his sword up and pointing it straight out in front of him, like a spear, he chuckled at Skandear's observation that he more often than not used a sword like a spear. 

 Aiming for its heart Benzhi closed in fractions of a second, putting his all into speed, hopefully, the surprise and sheer overpowering would be sufficient. The Troglodyte began to twist to its side and began to bring its axe up, the motion changing the trajectory for Benzhi, its heart was moving left and in behind its body as it twisted. Benzhi bent his wrist and pulled his sword back two fist lengths, as he closed the last few paces, he then pushed with all his might and qi body strength into Troglodytes' heart, its axe was still in its upward arc, Benzhi's alteration had been so late that it had no time to realise, let alone react to the alteration.

 Benzhi drove his sword home into its chest, slicing through its armour as if it wasn't there, it wasn't qi armour and parted like butter to a hot knife. Benzhi quickly assessed with qi sight, ensuring his guess was true. The Troglodyte was large and so was its heart, Benzhi had sliced through the top left quarter. The massive Troglodyte was dead on its feet, but it still brought its double-bladed two-handed axe up, over its shoulder, but it quivered as the axe reached its pinnacle in the arc. The Troglodyte then dropped the axe and fell to the floor with its last dying breath.

 Benzhi watched all this with qi sight and he could see its qi core syphon off somewhere, into the tower, this was not how death normally looked. The qi core would normally wink out, this was probably the reason there were not qi core stones, its qi core was reconstituted to somewhere, perhaps the Core of the tower or somewhere else.

  Benzhi looked behind, Huineng was smiling and Anastasia gaping at him. He wondered how students kept their white robes clean, he was covered in blood splatter.

  The trio walked through the portal.

 "What was the old record?" Benzhi asked.

 Anastasia quickly looked up the charts on her hud, "almost two hours," she said.

 "Oops," Benzhi replied, "that'll ruffle some feathers."

  "Benzhi, the last record was with a group of four masters," Anastasia responded.

 "Yes, well there are three of us," he said, "and Huineng is worth two masters he is so old." Benzhi laughed at his own joke, no one else did.

 "So where are we now?" Benzhi asked.

 "Level two," Huineng replied sounding superior.

 Anastasia brought up her map on her hud. Benzhi couldn't even be bothered to learn how it was nice having a dungeon navigator as a party member.

 "We need to head this way," Anastasia said pointing. "This level contains more Troglodytes and something call bugbears. They are what cause most people problems," Anastasia informed them.

 Benzhi, Huineng and Anastasia sliced their way through several groups of Troglodytes before meeting the first Bugbear. Benzhi was surprised to see a Bugbear was just a larger type Troglodyte with fur and large fangs. There were three in front of them ranging from six feet to eight feet tall. Two had crude clubs while the third and largest wore metal gauntlets. They did not have much armour, it was crude studded leather covering at most a third of their body. Benzhi guessed their hide would be thick and probably better protection than the crude studded armour.

 Benzhi engaged qi sight, their core was smaller than the Troglodyte boss yet larger than regular Troglodytes. Their weapons and armour were obviously not qi enabled and Benzhi could see no manipulation, natural or otherwise. These brutes just needed to be overcome with speed and strength.

 "I can see why monks, especially students would struggle here," Benzhi stated.

 Benzhi missed Gisael and Reyas, it had only been a few days in reality, but fights like this made him think of their support and how competent they were. Not to mention their company...sure, that must not be forgotten.

 "Other than, me run in there and cut them to pieces, any suggestions?" Benzhi asked.

 "Do not let them hit you with the clubs," Huineng offered, trying to sound helpful, yet smirking.

 Benzhi sighed and shrugged.

 He angled for the smallest Bugbear on the left, his aim was to put it between himself and the other two. He engaged qi body speed and qi blade. He would shunpo and qi strike with his shield while endeavouring not to get hit, stoneskin would not help with the concussion from a blow from these beasts, it would stop you getting cut from a sword, but it did not soften a blunt blow's sheer impact. He would just have to not get hit.

 Benzhi shunpo'd closing the last of the gap to put their timing out, the last couple of steps he slid on his knees and tried to slice the legs of the first bugbear. As he cut deep into the first leg his sword started to slow and was about to get stuck. Their hide was thick and bones dense, even with qi blade it was difficult to slice through. Benzhi pulled his sword and smashed its knee with his shield as he rose, pushing out a forceful qi strike through the front of the shield.

 Its knee cracked audibly, bringing a shriek of pain from the bugbear, one of its legs was damaged severely and it wobbled in pain and lack of balance. One from behind pushed it aside in an attempt to bring down its club on Benzhi's skull. As the club arced down Benzhi closed on the Bugbear. With shunpo and qi body speed he could move faster than it could swing. His sword was still low, so he brought it up between its legs stabbing upwards through the groin. 'Oh, that's gotta hurt,' he thought.

 Benzhi was removing his sword from its groin, its club hung limply in its hand as momentum brought it down behind him, the club hit the ground with an impressive impact, falling out of its grip as the impact jarred. Benzhi had used his shield to keep the spraying blood off of himself and pushed up with it now, forcing the Bugbear to topple over. 

 With the sight, his companions enabled, he could sense a fist from the third and largest bugbear approaching his left side. It was aiming for his middle, if it aimed for his head he could have ducked it easily. Benzhi pushed forward to step, trying to get inside the fist strike, only to find the second fist heading right at him. Benzhi twisted to his right, trying to dodge the second fist as it glanced off his chest it tore open a wound with the sharp edges of the metal. This Bugbear was eight feet tall and had metal gloved fists the size of footballs. 

 Attempting to ignore the pain and regain balance Benzhi used the twisting motion and impact momentum to turn in a spin, leading with his shield, in a backhand motion, and bringing his sword around behind it. Benzhi struck its shoulder with his shield, using qi strike without thinking, along with the motion of its punch the impact spun the bugbear so its back was facing Benzhi by the time his sword arrived. He proceeded to plough his sword hilt-deep into its back with no particular goal, just sheer damage to its internal organs.

 The bugbear flinched, and twisted, Benzhi used its own movement against it, using his qi blade to slice through the soft flesh underneath its hide. Slicing through ribs and organs in the process. He finally pulled his blade and lifted his head to ascertain the next threat. 

 There was none, Huineng was cleaning up, striking the downed Bugbears into oblivion.

 Benzhi sat and began to heal himself, pulling qi from his shield stores, which were getting uncomfortably low, he usually liked to have at least twice his own full core stored in the shield and it was now below one full core pool.

 The wound on his chest was stitched and closed within minutes, no lasting damage was done except to his leathers.

 Anastasia approached, "this is getting dangerous, usually there would be four taking on these fights. You amazing teacher, but, you have done enough."

 "I am afraid we have not. In order to achieve the changes needed in training regime, we have to make a point. Plus I would like better quarters and black robes with silver trim. Black is so much cooler, no?" Benzhi stated.

  Anastasia shook her head. A look of concern on her face.

 She needn't have been concerned. Benzhi and Huineng cleaned up all the Troglodytes and Bugbears on their way to the next portal in good order. Fighting two and three Bugbears at a time, and up to six Troglodytes, was not a problem when Huineng assisted Benzhi. The old man was deadly in close combat. He used minimal movements and effective use of strikes with qi to bring down his opponents.

  "You aren't bad old man," Benzhi witnessed, "have you been foxing?"

 "I only use the force and energy required, as the enemy becomes more difficult you are seeing more of my ability," Huineng tried to sound wise but Benzhi knew better. It came as second nature to Huineng to deceive all potential opponents, even his allies.

 The boss for the second level was a Bugbear Chief, this one was nine foot tall and brandished a wicked looking machete in each hand. It was lounging in a large hall guarding the portal to the third level.

 "Don't get hit by one of those machete's old man," Benzhi said as he charged the Bugbear Chief.

 There was plenty of room in the hall to duck and weave around the Chief. It had a long reach due to its height, fortunately, the machete's were stumpy, the blades were only three feet long. There were four pillars on each side of the hall, these were a quarter, of the total width, from each wall leaving half of the total width, in the central section clear. 

 Benzhi swept past the Chief, out of reach of its machete, gaining its ire and attention. He made his way back to one of the pillars. Benzhi waited at its base as the Chief charged him, raising both its machetes over its shoulders, as the Chief closed he ran up the pillar using tree run.

 The Chief's momentum brought it to the base of the pillar where it swiped ineffectively at the departing Benzhi, who was out of its reach, it then watched as he launched off the pillar through the air, somersaulting with his feet going up towards the ceiling before arcing towards the ground as he spun mid-air. Benzhi was coming down behind the Chief, it merely watched him with its mouth open. 

 Benzhi was diving, feet first down towards the chief from a height of twenty feet, the chief finally decided to move and was about to turn in place so it could swipe at the plummeting Benzhi when Huineng effected a qi strike to its hind quarter. It had not even seen the old man approach. The blow did not make it bleed, but it did cripple the Chief sticking it in place as Huineng danced a retreat.

 Benzhi aimed his sword down, point first and embedded it in the skull of the chief as he landed on its shoulders. The Chief wavered on its feet and toppled backwards, Benzhi lept from its shoulders clear of the falling giant.

 He stood and brushed himself off. "Thanks for the assist old man, your timing was impeccable," Benzhi praised Huineng.

 Huineng merely nodded, grinning.

 Anastasia gasped in disbelief. The penultimate fight of the second floor was over in mere seconds.

 Anastasia announced in shock, "The old record was 3 hours and 44 minutes."

Chapter end