I’d finally gotten comfortable enough with Chain Punch that I could channel qi from my solar plexus to my knuckles without losing control or breaking the flow—four times out of five. Not exactly impressive, considering the principle behind Chain Punch is a machine-gun burst. Mine jammed every fifth shot. Though to be fair, "jammed" might be ...
2025-05-07 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostThe shift passed quietly — just a standard block watch: no incidents, no complaints, no fights. I lay sprawled across my bed like a lazy cat, browsing new techniques in the library. Soft music played in my ears, some calm folk tune with the steady rhythm of ocean surf — smooth, even, unhurried. And that was exactly the moment Kate chose to f...
2025-05-06 23:36:00 +0000 UTC View PostKarl was waiting for me in the antechamber. He stood straight, hands clasped behind his back, his expression cold and distant. Anyone watching would never have guessed we knew each other. Which, no doubt, was exactly the impression he wanted to give. Without a word, he opened the door to the corridor and, after a short pause, motioned for me to ...
2025-05-05 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostNur didn’t have to carry me. But without her help, reaching my room would’ve been extremely difficult. My boys—all three of them, even though I’d only messaged Denis—were waiting for me on the stairs. In my current state, I certainly couldn’t fend off any bullies, and although the chances of them trying to get quick revenge were slim...
2025-05-04 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostI was walking towards the Meditation Hall at a brisk pace, but with every step, I could feel it — the adrenaline was still surging through me.
Even with Pure Thoughts, even with reason intact — the fight had left its mark. My shoulders were too tight, my heart was beating louder than it should, and I could feel my blood pulsing in my e...
2025-05-01 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostThis time, I had lunch alone.
No one messaged, no one called, no one was gathering the gang. And I didn’t message anyone either. I was in too much of a rush. The plan was simple: shove down whatever the machine served and sprint to René, try to get an hour in with him before my shift started. After my six o’clock shift, I’d only hav...
2025-04-30 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostWhat next?
I’d made a breakthrough in channel threading. I had a plan for a movement technique. For the first time in weeks, I didn’t have to run off to the Fist Garden, and Kate wasn’t expressing any desire to play hide-and-seek or electro-cowboys.
When free time appears, it’s both a luxury and a curse.
I could just re...
2025-04-29 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostTaking advantage of Novak’s unusually generous mood, I immediately pointed out that Nur had cultivation scheduled in the Chamber tomorrow and she was just a step away from the bottleneck, so maybe it wasn’t the best idea to drag her into all this right now…
I didn’t know if they took my words to heart; no one bothered to inform me....
2025-04-28 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostAfter the cafeteria, Nur and I fell a little behind my guys, and I whispered in her ear.
"Did you imagine it very vividly?" I asked with an obvious hint, also giving her a meaningful look.
"Like I lived through it," she said, her voice low with meaning.
We understood each other, but I wanted more details.
"Fancy a rest? D...
2025-04-27 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostMy jumpsuit was covered in grey smudges and dust. My left shoulder ached — it had taken the lion's share of the bolts. My right butt cheek didn’t escape either — it caught much fewer, but they’d been premium-grade high-voltage zaps. My hair was standing on end — I hadn’t seen myself, but I’d bet good money I looked like I’d escap...
2025-04-24 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostUnder the giant transparent dome covering this part of the training complex, the air was warm with sunlight filtering through the protective atmospheric shield. The dome was so high it barely registered — it just felt like the sky had come a little closer, and the massive structural ribs holding it all together looked more like part of some al...
2025-04-23 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostI worked off the lost points by evening. A few hundred baskets, eight broken drones. Unlike Nur, I didn’t waste time on walks, though I did get a bit of rest during my block shift. In the end, I packed the last chamomile baskets right before dinner. I didn’t make it to the hall for Rene’s session, even though I really wanted to run through...
2025-04-22 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostI couldn’t help myself. The first question I asked Rene in the hall was:
“Iron Head? Was that the movement technique you mentioned before?”
“Yes,” he replied. “But I only brought it up. I’ve never studied it, and I’m not planning to — either for use or instruction.”
“Why?” I really wanted to know. After...
2025-04-21 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostI couldn’t stop thinking about those two idiots. One obsessed with speed, the other with strength. And it wasn’t enough for them just to argue — they nearly came to blows over which technique was more "correct" to start with. They could’ve each learned one and then tested them out. I was lucky I hadn’t seriously hurt that dark-skinned ...
2025-04-20 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostMy arms were burning with the qi pouring out of them. Half-formed projections were still bursting from my fists, and I didn’t feel like I could stop them. I mean — I could stop moving, but not the qi, and according to René, that could end with me losing fingers.
"How do I stop the qi?" I called over to René.
"Quite simple," the...
2025-04-17 23:36:00 +0000 UTC View PostI spent the day with Rahman and headed to Vaclav’s in the evening. Novak had messaged me around midday, telling me not to make any plans and to drop by later.
At the platform, Lina met me again, and we went up to Vaclav’s apartment together. In the lift, she handed me a memory card.
"Here’s your porn," she said.
"Sorry ...
2025-04-16 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostIt was the first morning in a week when, figuratively speaking, I stopped running and actually looked around. I finally paid attention to my own lot and asked how they were doing.
With Denis, things were predictably awful. He’d traded Flow Chamber cleaning for the Palm Garden, following mine and Bao’s example — but no one there let h...
2025-04-15 23:36:00 +0000 UTC View PostMy next cultivation session was far tougher than I’d expected. It all came down to sensitivity. Sure, my senses had dulled — random phrases no longer sounded deafening, and light didn’t stab into my eyes — but it was still harder to focus under the Stream. The last few minutes in the Chamber felt like I was submerged in molten lava. As i...
2025-04-14 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostDoc continued for a few more minutes, methodically moving his hands through the gathering technique. His movements were smooth and rhythmic — not ornamental, but functional. The excess qi swirling around was drawn into his body like smoke into a greedy extractor fan.
It didn’t stop him from talking.
"Considering how much of an ig...
2025-04-13 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostI went down to the metro and first thing, I called Robinson.
Sure, it was late — but I didn’t think Novak would be thrilled if Rahman got tangled up in his other plans. I had to deal with the blossom box before morning — otherwise I’d waste another half a day.
“What kind of disgusting habit is this — calling people late a...
2025-04-10 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostA few seconds before Vaclav decided I wasn’t worth the effort and my rightful place was six feet under in the wastelands, I said:
“Just tell her you’re assigning Adam or Lina to watch over me. That’ll reassure her more than any promise from me.”
“Adam and Lina are going with her,” Novak grunted — but he paused to thin...
2025-04-09 23:36:00 +0000 UTC View PostRahman and I didn’t part ways until the evening. We even had dinner together, and I finally introduced her to the guys. I didn’t introduce her as my girlfriend, though! I just said we’re gonna stick together for some time. Let them speculate all they want. It’s not like we acted like a couple!
When evening came, I finally let Nur g...
2025-04-08 23:36:00 +0000 UTC View PostIncoming message: K. L. Wong
Subject: Where did you disappear to?
Content:
The message arrived while Nur and I were drinking tea in my room.
I still owed her some essence!
Outgoing message: K. L. Wong
Subject: Working
I barely had time to open my eyes when a message popped up in front of me.
Incoming message: V. Novak
Subject: Date
Content: Don’t be late. Your new girlfriend will be waiting for you at “Mandarin” at 9:15.
Geolocation attached.
Wonderful! Bloody hell. Just bl...
2025-04-06 23:36:00 +0000 UTC View Post"Explain," Novak said.
"Well, you’re already leaning toward that decision. And I don’t think your experience is leading you astray."
"My experience is screaming that we bury her."
"If it was screaming, she’d already be buried," I disagreed. "More likely, one side of your experience is saying ‘this is how we always handl...
2025-04-03 23:36:00 +0000 UTC View PostI was about to write a long report on Omar’s rant — about the missing girl, the “medics,” and his theory that something shady was going on around here — but the lack of a tablet stopped me. Typing on the floating holo-keyboard in mid-air was more annoying than I cared to admit.
Outgoing message: V. Novak
Breakfast went by quickly and without much incident. Denis, Marlon and I did our usual dish swap routine — though for Bao, this was clearly something new. We offered, of course, but he declined, a little too cautiously.
After that, we got on with the usual. Bao tagged along with me all the way down to the Armour Hall, then we parted ways...
2025-04-01 23:36:00 +0000 UTC View PostI pulled on the second gauntlet and picked up my mace.
Tariq was clutching his ribs and practically steaming with rage. His mates weren’t exactly beaming with love either, and the whole bully crew, without exception, was staring at my mace. Bao Feng didn’t give a toss about the mace — he was glaring at Tariq like he was begging for a...
2025-03-31 23:36:01 +0000 UTC View PostYou can’t! You can’t leave that much power in the hands of a wizard, even if he’s a bloody dropout like me!
"See the bronze plates in the seals on the walls?" I asked Vixley. The shifter nodded. "They must open somehow—there are reservoirs behind them. Go and collect everything you can."
I ran upstairs, calmed the kids, and c...
2025-03-30 23:46:01 +0000 UTC View PostHad I perhaps overestimated Novak and his planning skills? The Master hadn't said a word about my upcoming shift in the block!
Okay, that's not entirely fair. I should've remembered it myself. Why would he care about a shift? It was me who needed to avoid messing up things with Liang Shi and the guys. Already halfway to the Armour Hall on ...
2025-03-30 23:36:00 +0000 UTC View Post