Memorize - Episode 6
6 Using Privileges
The pill slid down my throat, burning intensely. As it touched the magic within me, it reacted for the first time.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The pill transformed into a fierce flame, growing uncontrollably. The energy was pure and powerful, filled with the scent of fire.
Boom!
My body bulged and erupted in flames, unable to contain the explosive energy. Each convulsion sent sparks flying in all directions, and my body twitched intermittently.
Seraph's voice was faintly audible, possibly reciting a spell. I raised my hand, signaling her not to intervene.
Seraph's words were correct; controlling the pill's energy with my abilities was futile. While I could use the ancient shaman's tattoos, I had no intention of doing so. My goal wasn't to suppress the pill's power but to provide a place for its energy to reside.
I didn't want to suppress or control it. Who could endure such immense power, akin to hell's fury?
However, if I changed my approach to borrowing its strength, the situation might differ.
As I opened my eyes, Seraph appeared faintly, tapping her foot. Her anxious demeanor was unusual, but I grimaced. I knew this was just the beginning.
The explosion caused by the pill couldn't be compared to ordinary explosions. It was a blast of pure energy, accompanied by unimaginable pain. The pill began its internal destruction in earnest.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Ugh... ugh..."
Each explosion was overwhelming. The pain from my first run, despite numerous injuries and hardships, seemed trivial compared to this.
I gritted my teeth, reminding myself that I was Kim Su-hyun, a user who had reached the end of the Hollow Plane. The pride of obtaining the Zero Code wasn't something earned lightly.
The sounds of explosions and Seraph's voice created a chaotic environment. I barely heard anything, but the pill continued to grow in power.
As I channeled my magic to support the pill's energy, it momentarily halted its explosive growth. For a brief moment, I managed a faint smile. My magic had blended seamlessly with the pill's power.
The pill was a collection of pure fire, an eternal flame. It was an energy with a will, similar to ego equipment that selects its master, but with a difference in intent. It could act on its own will or not. It had emotions but no self-awareness. I was empathizing with its energy through magical harmony.
The pill's current emotion was confusion. Typically, one would control such internal destructive activity, but I was facilitating its actions instead. I extended my hand, not to subdue it but to borrow its power as an equal.
"I need you. Let your power rage freely and show me if I'm worthy of being your partner."
The pill seemed to understand, and I finally received its consent.
After a brief adjustment, I guided the pill's energy to the arms. I divided the energy and sent it through both arms, guiding it along the meridians. The powerful energy rushed in like waves, instantly occupying the tiny acupoints at my fingertips.
Gloop! Gloop!
Plop! Plop! Plop! Plop!
The sensation of my meridians bursting open was both painful and exhilarating. The sound of blocked vessels being cleared was music to my ears. Forcing open these pathways was far more effective than before, even with my master-level body.
As the energy filled my arms, yellowish pus and black liquid oozed out, only to evaporate in the heat. The waste and impurities hidden in my body were being purged because they obstructed the pill's energy.
Despite the overwhelming sensation, I calmly guided the energy back to the center. Fortunately, the pill cooperated, having lost interest in the occupied areas. As the energy withdrew from my arms, I let them drop, numb from the shock.
I worried that I might lose the use of my arms, but I didn't want to reverse the process. I placated the pill, which was eager to move on, and directed it towards my legs. As it reached them, the energy surged forward once more.
Gloop! Gloop!
Plop! Plop! Plop! Plop!
The process was the same, with the same results. After the energy withdrew from my legs, they too lost sensation, and I collapsed, unable to support myself. My current endurance, vitality, and magic scores barely kept my body intact.
The pill continued to explode within me, causing me immense pain. I was on the verge of madness, but my superhuman endurance kept my sanity intact.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each explosion made my heart flutter and my blood boil. Seeing the pill's eagerness, I gritted my teeth and asked it to continue. The final challenge was my head.
For the first time, I felt fear. This wasn't fear of being controlled; it was fear of the pain that would come with piercing my head. It was unimaginable.
"Maybe we should stop here? Do we really need to go further?"
It was as if the pill whispered this in my ear. I almost nodded but shook my head instead. My rational mind screamed to stop, but my actions followed my instincts. I guided the energy towards my head.
"You fool. You might die."
"Only this much."
I was ready to proceed.
Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it.
My head protested, but my actions ignored its pleas. As I sent the energy through the pathway, I shouted.
"Don't hold back!"
My words seemed to convey my intent clearly. The central energy began to rotate actively, gathering and descending to the dantian below my navel.
I summoned every last bit of strength and pushed the energy upwards. As the pill burst through my neck, I felt a searing pain.
"Ugh!"
Pffft!
Blood gushed from my mouth, nose, ears, and eyes. My instincts screamed that I was on the brink of death.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The energy, now blocked at my neck, raged furiously. If it exploded there, the consequences would be horrific. Dizziness enveloped me, and my body felt like it was plummeting.
I knew this was the end. Amidst the chaos, I managed to pull the energy back down to the dantian.
"I must pierce it somehow."
Once... twice... three times... ten times. I gathered the energy and, with a final thought, pushed it upwards once more. The impending pain was irrelevant now.
Bang!
A harsh impact shook my body. As the pathway to my head was cleared, the pill's energy enveloped my entire brain.
My vision went dark. It was as if nothing existed. The world was white, and I felt nothing, like a severed memory.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As I regained awareness, the pill's energy was rampaging through my brain, leaving a feeling of my brain melting.
Pain? Initially, there was a sense of something bursting open, but as my senses returned, I realized I was experiencing agony unlike anything before. It was beyond human endurance.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
If I could scream, I would have let out a deafening cry. The stimulation was otherworldly, like having my head submerged in a furnace or running through flames.
The explosion enveloping my body was unlike anything before. The eternal flame, now mine, slowly occupied my interior.
As time passed, my vision returned, albeit faintly. My body was still immobile. I managed to lift my heavy eyelids, and Seraph's pale face stared back at me.
"Am I alive...?"
If I had to endure such pain again, death would be preferable.
The final process, sealing the pill's energy, was relatively easy compared to opening my head. I slowly guided the energy to my heart, where it settled peacefully. The ancient shaman's tattoos activated, and the pill's energy calmly took its place.
"Su-hyun! Su-hyun!"
I fainted, overwhelmed by relief.