The Light That Follows Darkness

As I stood in the center of the cell, the twins' eyes locked onto me like vigilant hawks. I began infusing a small amount of chi into my skin, striving to maintain a steady rhythm. Instantly, my skin transformed, resembling stone or bricks.

Encouraged, I increased the chi dosage, keeping it as consistent as possible, and witnessed my skin morph into iron.

Driven by curiosity, I continued experimenting, adding more chi and maintaining a steady flow. My skin surpassed iron, evolving into steel, then titanium, and even further to tungsten, osmium, and ultimately diamonds. Other metals and substances emerged, but their identities eluded me. To harness their potential, I knew I had to delve into their properties and compositions.

However, the most astonishing revelation came when I discovered that by redistributing chi, I could have different metals coexist within my body. By supplying varying quantities of chi to different body parts, I could effectively mix and match metals to suit my needs. Adding to that the thin layer of chi that is protecting my tissues, my defense is theoretically nigh impenetrable by humans and their technologies.

Eager to push the limits of my newfound abilities, I embarked on my next daring experiment. I yearned to gauge the defensive prowess of the delicate chi layer and the metallic tissues that now coursed through my body. With a determined voice, I beckoned the twins to my side, enlisting their aid in this audacious endeavor.

"Retrieve the hidden kodachis," I commanded, my eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Each of you, take one and position yourselves on opposite ends, ready to strike."

I instructed them to hold off until I had infused my tissues with chi, transforming them into an array of different formidable substances.

As the energy surged within me, I could feel the power coursing through my veins and my tissues changing into iron. With a nod, I signaled to the twins that I was prepared. Their blades poised, they lunged forward, slashing at me with the kodachis.

To my astonishment, the kodachis effortlessly pierced through the chi coat and iron layer, leaving a deep gash on my hand. Blood spurted forth, but I remained calm, refusing to succumb to panic. With a reassuring gesture, I signaled to the twins that I was unharmed.

"Eve," I called out, "deploy the nanomachines to halt the bleeding while I channel my chi to heal the wound." Through the combined power of chi and nanotechnology, my injury swiftly closed, leaving no trace behind.

Regaining my composure, I instructed the twins to resume their positions, but this time I transformed my skin into a titanium composition. "Do not be afraid," I assured them, "strike without hesitation." And so they did. Astonishingly, the kodachis managed to breach both the chi coat and the titanium layer, yet the wound inflicted was shallower than before.

Undeterred, I decided to experiment further, testing tungsten and osmium, only to encounter the same outcome. It wasn't until I embraced diamond that the blade met its match. The diamond surface halted the sword's progress entirely, causing it to rebound with futile force.

Honestly, I was completely taken aback by the outcome. But deep down, I had a hunch about what might have caused it.

You see, the skin is only 0.15mm thick, so even though we tried reinforcing it with metals, the protection it offered was minimal at best. On top of that, the kodachis we used, as Ryuji explained, were crafted from a blend of metals and materials from monsters. So, if my theory held true, both the thinness of the skin and the unique composition of the weapons played a crucial role.

These monster materials retain traces of mana even after being processed, which is why the chi coat was easily penetrated. Chi, being the primitive form of mana, couldn't stand up to it. As for the layer of metal, it seems we need to increase its thickness. According to Eve, mastering the first stage might hold the key to solving both of these issues. From what I gathered from Eve's explanation, once I synchronize with the world and my chi transforms into mana, I'll be capable of far more than I ever could with chi alone.

Furthermore, diamond, the only substance capable of deflecting swords, came at a steep cost of chi to maintain. Eve's calculations revealed that if I used chi simultaneously on all the infused parts, it would only last for three hours. This was both a blessing and a curse. Most humans couldn't keep up with my speed and power, but it also meant that once my chi was depleted, I would be vulnerable to attack. Despite my enhanced stats as a humanoid, facing a hundred trained guards and soldiers in this state would surely lead to instant death.

With my experiment concluded and the twins briefed on my findings, I found myself with some free time. I decided to write a letter to the scientist imprisoned in the cell. I also decided to come up with instructions for Ryuji on what to say and expect from the scientist.

Just as I finished writing the letter, containing only a single sentence, a knock echoed through the door. The hatch opened, revealing trays of food being passed through. It was Ryuji, wearing his usual smile. He greeted the twins and handed them the promised ties before turning to me and asking: "Boss, any progress with your infusions? Did you write the letter for me to deliver?"

Returning Ryuji's smile with a sly grin, I replied: "Watch and be amazed, Ryu."

Injecting my skin with chi, I showcased the incredible transformations that occurred as a result. Ryuji stood there, mouth agape, witnessing the astonishing display of power.

After recovering from his stupefaction, Ryuji exclaimed: "Boss, this is incredible! I can't believe you're capable of all this. You're practically unstoppable!"

"Well, Ryu, I initially thought the same," I replied, "but during the testing phase with the twins, I discovered some flaws in the process. I won't go into too much detail, but these flaws can only be resolved once I master stage one of the process and attune myself to the mana of the world."

"I see," Ryuji nodded, "Well, I have no doubt that you'll surpass those challenges and rise above them. I believe in you, boss. Keep up the amazing work."