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[LitF] 38. Healing and Sending Messages
Previous Chapter - Table of Contents - Next ChapterThe two-hundred people in front of the suburban house chanted, "Kidnapper! Kidnapper! Kidnapper!"Howard's network consisted of eighty-nine individuals. Arthur had released sixty of mind control before things got spicy.The news of his actions had spread quickly, but the unawakened hadn't expected him to move so quickly. His metal domain alone let him fly considerably faster than bullets, despite requiring him to have metal under his robe. He could also use his life domain to have...
[MA] 294. Ray of Light
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[Notice: There will be no chapters on next month's last week-ish (09/23 to 09/29)Chapters this week: 2/3Next release: Saturday]The D-ranks immediately found that running under the weird local gravity could be challenging. When they walked or ran, their legs became under stronger gravity than the rest of their body, which felt lighter. None fell to the ground, but plenty of them tripped on themselves.Still, they kept the pace.The first causality of war was the Guardian System. It suddenl...
[MA] 293. Focusing on the Bigger Picture
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[There will be no chapters on next month's last week-ish (09/23 to 09/29)Chapters this week: 1/3Next release: Thursday]Universes should just keep existing. However, it eventually came to a time when even existence itself had to cease. It didn't make much sense for Shen, who was told that Reality was the Will to exist in Space over Time, but that was the information he had.When any universe reached that point, it underwent a natural process of weakening. It cracked, tiny pieces of it...
[LitF] 37. Gifts
Previous Chapter - Table of Contents - Next Chapter"I'll watch over the unconscious people instead, master," Tamara suddenly said.Arthur raised an eyebrow at her. "I can do that from here with minimal mana expenditure." In fact, with no expenditure, but only he knew that.Tamara opened her mouth to say something, then closed it. She smiled slightly. "I suppose I never gave you servant training, master. And Miss Brimstone never reached the stage where she would hear what I'm about to say. It's not becoming of a ser...
[MA] 292. Make It More Challenging
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: There will be no chapters on next month's last week-ish (09/23 to 09/29)Chapters this week: 3/3Next release: Tuesday]The military martial arts were mostly attributeless. They were bound to no Axioms or Concepts except for weapon specializations. The bare-fisted variant didn't even have that, so only those who had never learned to fight with their fists before had trouble learning it.Shen had a significant advantage: he could pinpoint how the military arts had inspired the drow...
[MA] 291. Seven Days
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[Notice: There will be no chapters on next month's last week-ish (09/23 to 09/29)Chapters this week: 2/3Next release: Saturday]Two of the five people Shen selected were females who had attacked each other during the battle royale.Fu Wenqian wore an eye-catching blood-red robe, the same color as her eyes. Like most Ethereal Harmonization cultivators, she had intangible beauty and looked ageless. Her long black hair went to her knees, but she kept it controlled as she moved by using the q...
[MA] 290. Zyn's Math
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[Notice: There will be no chapters on next month's last week-ish (09/23 to 09/29)Chapters this week: 1/3Next release: Thursday]Shen and the other five Junior Lieutenants who had taught everyone stood a few yards behind the Staff Lieutenants Uya and Xun, who in turn stood a few yards behind and to the side of Lieutenant Specialist Karlov, who was a few feet behind and to the left of First Lieutenant Zyn.Alicia had mixed feelings about Shen. He had changed too much. He had always been an ...
[MA] 289. How Life was Supposed to be Lived
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Notice: There will be no chapters on next month's last week-ish (09/23 to 09/29)Chapters this week: 3/3Next release: Tuesday]A few hours later, Alicia and Shen sat facing each other while Sai was sideways. The assassin was looking uncomfortable but resolute.He had invited them to a resting room to clarify his stance on Earth. The place was small, with four white sofas, one on each wall, and a glass center table. Nine people could sit, but it would be a tight fit.Enchantments on th...
[MA] 288. What Could He Do?
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Sorry I'm late. I suffered slightly from writer's block writing the latest chapter (for B-ranks). I try not to let that affect the other tiers and public releases, but failing to write a chapter consumes me in such a way that I find hard to explain. It kind of makes me hide in my shell like a turtle.Notice: There will be no chapters on next month's last week-ish (09/23 to 09/29)Chapters this week: 2/3Next release: Saturday]Shen hadn't thought of Evelyn in ages.He had m...
[MA] 287. I Failed You
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Notice: There will be no chapters on next month's last week-ish (09/23 to 09/29)Chapters this week: 1/3Next release: Thursday]Sai opened the door, waited for Shen to enter, then immediately put a knee to the ground."Please, release me from your service!"Shen looked at the guy. The last two years had been hard on him. He had instinctively developed some level of aura control, which was required for any spy or assassin, as he portrayed himself. However, his aura was too tigh...
[LitF] 36. Howard and the World
Previous Chapter - Table of Contents - Next Chapter[A/N: This chapter is exposition-heavy, but I feel like it has depth without getting into too many details people might dislike, like chapter 14 (his birthday inside the dungeon, where we learn about Fate's rules for half-monsters).Also, I believe you're more invested in knowing what the hell is going on than you were in half-vampire stat allocation.A lot was foreshadowed. Some things are new. Everything is relevant.]Dwight Howard was part of a new caste of people called nouveau destin...
[MA] 286. Easier to Deal With
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[Chapters this week: 3/3Next release: Tuesday]Alicia's thoughts were a mess. Unless she had misunderstood Shen, he was coming to visit. And that was the issue, wasn't it? Did she really know Shen?He knocked on the door. She opened it. What she saw wasn't what she had gotten used to.The last time Alicia had seen him, he was a D-rank like her. Well, not exactly like her; he had been much stronger. Still, he hadn't felt as... unfathomable as he did now.The guy who had constantl...
[LitF] 35. Voidsteel, Magic, and Questioning
Previous Chapter - Table of Contents - Next Chapter[A/N: Normal length chapter at last.]The guns in the SRT members' hands had hair triggers; they shot at the slightest pressure to prevent awakeners from stopping them. To make matters worse, while Arthur's life domain permanently connected him to every living being around him, he only had two life authority chains. Unlike intent strings, his authority chains couldn't be extended to affect multiple things simultaneously. Each chain could only influence one target at a time.Arthur als...
[MA] 285. Lawful Suppression
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[Chapters this week: 2/3Next release: Saturday]Huo Ming was being greedy but not obnoxious. The Republic laws Shen had read included such a situation. He was unknown, unproven, and, worse, weaker than these people. They had every right to question him and, if he failed to give a satisfactory answer, fight him for leadership.Power was the multiversal language. No one wanted to obey someone weaker without sufficient reason. That was true even in the rigid Alliance's military. A D-rank mig...
[MA] 284. I Wasn't Informed
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[Chapters this week: 1/3 (the counter was wrong in the last chapter, sorry!)Next release: Thursday]As promised, everyone was notified that they could kill each other.| You're now participating in an official battle royale. Infighting won't be considered treason until the battle royale ends, no matter how much harm you may cause anyone.Shen suspected things wouldn't be that simple. It would be foolish and counterproductive to let people go free after doing what they were supposed...
[MA] 283. Very Instructive
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[Chapters this week: 3/3Next release: Tuesday]No incident happened while Shen guided people through the fortress. No one said or did anything they weren't supposed to.Alicia seemed desperate to talk to Shen initially. However, she calmed down when he answered a question in a roundabout way to emphasize how one shouldn't pursue personal matters during a mission unless they had absolutely nothing better to do. He exemplified it by saying how he talked to his fellow Recruits during his...
[MA] 282. For Freedom
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: The new military structure is here. You might want to leave it for later. This chapter can be understood without delving into that info dump.]Chapters this week: 2/3Next release: Thursday]The military hated politics but couldn't just erase it. Every race tended to group under their own leadership, for good or bad. Thus, the higher-ups decided to use it against the races by keeping them together whether they liked it or not. If needed, the military could suppress the leader or exte...
[Update-MA] New Military Ranks
I decided to make a new post about it because the thing is quite comprehensive.I believe this simplification will make people feel less confused and keep our minds on the novel while reading (or writing) it.I'll fix past chapters in the following days.I'm open to feedback and suggestions.The Logic:The new ranks are about making things more self-evident and follow a pattern. They aren't even that detached from usual military ranks, only more straightforward:Junior [Rank] → [Rank] → Staff [Rank] → Second [Rank] → First [Rank]F...
[Info] [MA] No B-rank Chapter Today
There will be no B-rank Modern Awakening chapter today. It will be released tomorrow instead.I had to spend much longer than expected organizing some things, including the new military ranks.Although I finished writing the chapter, I need to review it tomorrow with a fresh mind, and I'm exhausted.Sorry. 😔
[LitF] 34. Hunt and Surprises
Previous Chapter - Table of Contents - Next Chapter[A/N: This chapter is 30% longer than usual. I might have a problem with chapter length in this novel.This chapter was supposed to come out on Saturday, but I had got lost rewriting the latest one while I'm undergoing a change of medication for my ADD. Sorry about that.There will be no chapter this Saturday because I have to go on a trip.]Following someone's scent in the open was seldom easy, and the city made it worse. Emily's track went up to the street, then became much fainter. ...
[MA] 281. Teach Them Everything
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[Chapters this week: 1/3Next release: Thursday]A few hours after the questions restarted, First Lieutenant Zyn gave them a tour of the fortress while explaining how some things worked. Most of the military rules explained why and how things worked and the consequences of disobedience, but it still left a lot of daily routines vague. For instance, Shen knew he couldn't loiter in a "shaft," but not what it was.He soon got his answer. Huge vertical shafts were spread all over the f...
[MA] 280. Well Met Indeed
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Reminder: there will be no chapter this Saturday because I must go on a trip.Chapters this week: 2/2Delayed chapters: 1 for B-ranksNext release: Tuesday]The three hundred C-ranks currently not training recruits or busy elsewhere relaxed in the vast C-rank common room. The usual classic look found in the official military buildings contrasted with the personal seats most had brought, which went from still-bloody skulls to intricately carved works of art.Most of those present, all Staff...
[MA] 279. Fancy Tricks
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: This is Tuesday's chapter.Heads up: there will be no chapter this Saturday because I must go on a trip.Chapters this week: 1/2Next release: Thursday]Shen moved at peak speed. Conductivity made him and his weapon avoid a lot of air and water resistance, Stream made his moves much better than Liya's while underwater, and Extremity made his spear sharper than ever. His movements were as flawless as he could make them. Although his stats were inferior to hers, his spear was a C+ w...
[LitF] 33. Reports, Coins, and Memories
Previous Chapter - Table of Contents - Next Chapter[A/N: The delayed chapter has arrived =)It's a bit one, too, 80% longer than usual.]Stan said this was above his pay grade, and Arthur had to talk to the Regional Manager, the new name for the League's Branch Leader. He the telephone for an internal call, and Alexia returned shortly to lead Arthur and the others through the visitor entrance.They found an expansive common room on the other side of the door. It had multiple snack aisles on the sides, and the middle had a dozen small woode...
[MA] 278. Setups
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: This is last Saturday's release.Sorry for the delay. I got stuck rewriting a Lost in the Future chapter while I was undergoing a change of medication (for my ADD). It messed things up.I'll release all late chapters this week (including this week's chapters).Next chapter: In a few seconds]Shen prepared himself as the timer went down. If Uya weren’t lying, she would come fast and hard at him. That gave him two options: do his best in another short exchange that was doomed ...
[MA] 277. Demerit
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: This is one of the delayed chapters I owe you.Remaining delayed chapters: 0 (FREEDOM!)Next release: Saturday]Uya had said, "No external applications of your Laws." Auras weren't considered an application of Law by the military rules, which were very thorough. Even a C-rank's aura, which was connected to a Path's Laws instead of its Concepts, was the "heightening of the surrounding Laws in a Path's likeliness." It was considered to be caused by Reality, ...
[MA] 276. Thinking Along the Same Lines
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: Chapters this week: 2/3Delayed chapters: 1Next release: Friday]Shen put his helmet back on, wondering if Uya could deal with C+ armor as easily as C-, and stood a hundred yards in front of her. He greeted her his way, cupping his hands before him and bowing respectfully. She raised an eyebrow at that and, surprisingly, returned the gesture."It's been a while since the last noble visited this place," she said with an astonishingly polite tone, "and I have been long gone...
[LitF] 32. The League of the Fated Races
Previous Chapter - Table of Contents - Next Chapter[A/N: Remember the last chapter? It was 40% longer than usual. Well, this one is 70% longer. Enjoy!]At first, Arthur let Emily get away with her antics for two reasons.First, that was the first time he found himself in such a situation. Although he had been trained for it, he found he dealt better with adapting quickly during combat than when finding a harmless human saying things he didn't want to hear. Her mind being flooded with hormones made it even more awkward. So, he found himself fr...
[MA] 275. Hoping to Get Picked
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[Chapters this week: 1/3Delayed chapters: 1Next release: Tomorrow]Staff Lieutenant Uya and Recruit Aqur lak'Safur flew a dozen miles from the big building to fight. Uya took one of her longswords from her waist while Aqur produced a halberd from the system's Inventory.Uya's weapon was beautiful, a gray blade with fancy silver edges, a bronze handle, and a white handle. It was fancy without becoming vulgar. Aqur's halberd, on the other hand, was an aberration. The blade was s...
[MA] 274. Fear Darkness
Previous Chapter — Table of Contents — Next Chapter[A/N: I realized I messed up. C-ranks were supposed to be Lieutenants, not Sergeants. D-ranks are Sergeants.Also, Uya is a Staff Lieutenant instead of a Master Sergeant.Chapters this week: 3/3Delayed chapters: 1Next release: Probably Monday; Tuesday for sure]First Lieutenant Zyn purposefully walked the corridors of the mobile fortress. He had to go to the Investigation Department, but first, he would determine if his superior officer was in on the farce he had just witnessed.Captain Abbav h...
