Chapter 10: Hidden Potential?
Romy and Atlas have entered their home
Romy walks through the portal looking at Atlas' room cluttered and messy yet she finds herself staring at a photo of her and Atlas
Romy: ATLAS!
Atlas: Oi chill Rom I'm literally right here.
Romy: Why'd you leave before Geni finished explaining!
Atlas: Uh why? Did I miss something?
Romy: Well duhhh. Ji-hu can keep the portal open for as long as he wants to because of his Aura. So we can take our time.
Atlas: Well I'm almost done. I got all my boxes ready to go. Just gotta pack some extra things.
Romy: How the heck were you so fast? I wish you'd be this efficient with training.
Atlas: Don't underestimate my love for my PC.
Romy: Sigh. Alright I'll get some of my stuff then we'll head back I guess.
Atlas: Kay. I'll just start moving stuff through the portal.
Back to Ji-hu and Meihua
Ji-hu: Man, it's good to be back in my room. Oi, Mei where'd you go?
Meihua: Far away. I'm in my room Ji-hu. I'm not gonna bring much except clothes, laptop, and my gear.
Ji-hu: Alright! Hmm. What should I bring? Gotta bring the tools definitely. Oh and that arm shield Mei wanted. I guess I should bring some clothes too. And definitely my hoodies.
Ji-hu begins shoving stuff into some boxes as Meihua walks in
Meihua: Ji-hu, should you really be shoving everything in so unorganized?
Ji-hu: I'm only shoving the clothes in unorganized. My tool box is already prepped.
Meihua: Sigh. You should at least fold them so they don't get wrinkles.
Ji-hu: It'll be fine. I'll just wash them in the residential area.
Meihua rolls her eyes as she starts heading toward the portal
Meihua: I'll be on the other side. I'm sure Atlas and Romy have finished by now.
Ji-hu: Kay I'll be out in a bit.
As Meihua comes back to Ji-hu's Spatial Rift she finds Atlas, Romy, and Geni waiting
Atlas: What took you so long? And where is Ji-hu.
Meihua: I was only gone for 20 minutes and Ji-hu's finishing up. How impatient can you be, Atlas.
Romy: You know Atlas, he's got his gaming stuff now.
Atlas: Damn straight. You guys better not bother me while I'm in my room.
Collective sigh from Meihua and Romy
A few minutes pass as Ji-hu finally comes through pushing some boxes
Ji-hu: Alright all done. Is that everyone?
Geni: Yes I believe everyone is finished.
Everyone nods
Ji-hu: I'm gonna close the portals now.
Atlas: Hurry it up Ji-hu I gotta set up my PC in my room.
Ji-hu: Alright alright why are you so impatient?
Atlas: Take a long guess genius.
Romy: Sigh. Anyways, what did you guys bring? I just brought my study material and some clothes.
Meihua: I brought some clothes as well. And my gear of course.
Ji-hu: Clothes, tinker tools, etc.
Geni: Well I guess that's enough excitement for you all today. Remember Ji-hu all you need to do is concentrate on the place and create a rift.
Ji-hu: Right!
Ji-hu concentrates and tears a space in dimensions to lead them back to Geni's room
Atlas: Finally!
Romy: Ugh bro can you not be like this for 5 minutes.
Meihua: Things never get old do they.
Ji-hu: Alright time to set up all my stuff. Sigh. This might take a while.
Everyone begins to enter the portal and leave Geni's room
Ji-hu: Bye Geni!
Meihua: Have a good rest of your day Geni.
Geni: Have a good day you two.
The duo walk out into the hall to see Atlas and Romy bickering again
Ji-hu: Man they never stop do they?
Meihua: Not surprising really. I'll be in my room if you need me Ji-hu.
Ji-hu: Yup see you later Mei.
Meihua walks off to calm the two siblings as Ji-hu enters his room
Ji-hu: Ok, this will go there. The hoodies can hang there. And the tool box can sit here. Ah, perfection.
Ji-hu looks on at his room although it looks slightly bland
Ji-hu: Oh well, it needs a little work, but this should be good. I guess I can just tinker on Mei's arm shield now.
Some time passes as Ji-hu is working on Mei's arm shield
?: Knock knock.
Ji-hu: Oh that must be Mei. It's probably time to get food or something.
Ji-hu gets up and opens the door to find Eui looking tiredly toward Ji-hu
Ji-hu: Oh Eui! Are you alright? I heard what happened from Sir Paxis.
Eui: I'm fine kiddo, how have you and your friends been?
Ji-hu: Oh we finished moving our stuff using my rift portals a couple hours ago so I've been working on Mei's arm shield.
Eui: Blinks. You what.
Ji-hu: Oh yeah, since we had no plans for today I asked Geni if she could teach me some stuff about the rifts and it turns out I have a whole weapons vault and training facility!
Eui: Blinks. Huh?
Ji-hu: Um… are you sure you're alright Eui?
Eui: Kid you need to stop surprising me this often I think I'm going to get a migraine. So let me get this straight. While I was gone getting medical attention you learned you could open portals to your house? And on top of that you have your own personal "training facility"?
Ji-hu: Um yeah that about sums it up.
Eui: Sigh. More paperwork great. Um alright I just wanted to check up on you and give you directions to this sector's cafeteria. You can go with your friends when you get hungry. Tell Geni I said hello I'm gonna take a nap.
Ji-hu: Oh thanks Eui and will do. Hope you get some nice rest!
Eui: Thanks kiddo, appreciate it.
Eui opens the door to her room and enters heading to bed
Ji-hu starts walking to Meihua's room
Ji-hu: Knock Knock. Oiiii. Mei I got directions to the cafeteria. Let's grab Atlas and Romy to go eat.
Meihua: One second Ji-hu.
As Meihua opens the door Ji-hu finds himself staring as dark gold marks have appeared on and around her mouth
Ji-hu: Uhhhh. Mei?
Meihua: What?
Ji-hu: Did you put makeup on your face? Particularly around your mouth?
Meihua: Ji-hu what are you talking about I was just taking a-
Ji-hu pulls out his phone camera and shows Meihua
Meihua: AH! What the heck? Why do I have this?
Meihua begins rubbing at the marks on her face worriedly
Ji-hu: Hey calm down, do the marks hurt at all?
Meihua: No, but this is definitely not normal. It looks like someone painted on my face while I slept.
Ji-hu: I dunno, it kinda looks like it's got a pattern.
Romy's door opens as she pokes her head out
Romy: Hey you guys ok? I heard a shout.
Meihua: Romy look at my face.
Romy: PFFH HAHA! WHY DID YOU DRAW ON YOUR FACE?
Ji-hu: Keke. Romy she didn't they appeared on her while she was napping.
Meihua: Grumpy. I did not draw on my face brat.
Romy: HAHAHA SORRY I CAN'T IT LOOKS SO GOOFY.
Meihua looks to Ji-hu with annoyed eyes as Romy slowly starts to stop laughing
Ji-hu: They don't to me. I think they look interesting.
Meihua: Sigh. Anyway, Romy go get Atlas we're going to the cafeteria for food.
Romy: Oh that's great I was starving!
Romy goes over to Atlas' door and starts banging on it yelling for Atlas to come out
Ji-hu: So, do you think these markings are part of the Ascension?
Meihua: I do, but I can't think of what they could possibly represent. I mean what part of my sacred art would cause these markings to appear.
Ji-hu: That's a good question. Maybe Eui would know.
Meihua: Wait, Ms. Eui is back?
Ji-hu: Oh yeah she's actually the one who gave me the directions. She was super tired though and went to take a nap.
Meihua: Did you inform her of what Geni taught you?
Ji-hu: Oh yeah I did. She didn't have such a happy face when I told her. Something about more paper work haha.
Meihua: Oh. To think Ms. Eui would dislike simple paperwork this much.
Atlas: Oi you guys said something about getting food right?
Romy: Only thing he'd listen to.
Ji-hu: Yeah I got directions from Ms. Eui. She just came back and is super tired so she's taking a nap.
Romy: Oh I guess that means she'll recover ok then.
Atlas: I mean did you really doubt that she would? She's Korea's 3rd strongest no way she'd stay down forever.
Atlas: Wait. Mei, what the hell is on your face?
Romy: PFFH HAHAHA
Meihua: I DID NOT DRAW ON MY FACE ROMY.
Atlas: Alright since she's not telling, what actually happened Ji-hu?
Meihua chases Romy down the hallway as Atlas and Ji-hu slowly follow
Ji-hu: So the markings just appeared after she woke up from her nap apparently.
Atlas: That's weird. So is it part of a power up or something?
Ji-hu: She thinks it is, but we can't figure out what part of her Divine Intervention would cause these markings.
Atlas: Eh too much thinking. We can totally just ask someone else like Paxis later.
Ji-hu: True.
The group head to the cafeteria in the residential area and find a massive open facility with many tables covering the floors
Many facility workers and hunters can be seen eating and conversing
Ji-hu: Man they do things big here don't they?
Atlas: Ok now I haven't seen anything bigger. This is absolutely huge.
Romy: Are you gonna keep chasing me Mei?
Meihua: You're lucky I'm so forgiving brat.
Romy: Alright let's go get food guys I'm starving!
Atlas: I'm going first. I'm absolutely starving more than you.
Romy: Oi! It's not a competition.
Romy and Atlas run towards the buffet area as Ji-hu and Meihua go to ask for specific items
Ji-hu: Um excuse me sir?
A burly man looks over to Ji-hu with fiery eyes
Chef: What can I get ya youngin?
Ji-hu: I'll have one Donkatsu bowl please.
Chef: Alright, and you young lady?
Meihua: May I have one Spicy Mapo Tofu bowl.
Chef: Alright take the tickets from that bot over there and your order will be out shortly.
Ji-hu: Thanks!
Meihua: Thank you.
As the two are leaving they get a glance into the kitchen seeing multiple chefs using their Sacred Arts to cook
Ji-hu: It's cool to see people use their Sacred Arts for something other than fighting.
Meihua: Using Sacred Arts for reasons other than fighting is a noble cause.
Ji-hu: Jeez I didn't mean it like that but sure I guess.
Meihua: Do you ever wish we never got our Sacred Arts?
Ji-hu: Huh? No way! I wanted this for the longest time. What are you talking about Mei?
Meihua: It was just a question Ji-hu, don't get so riled up.
Ji-hu: … I think I can get used to this.
Meihua: It's nice that we don't have to pay. Although we still don't know if the food is acceptable or not.
Ji-hu: Oh come on, we're in Korea's main HQ, there's no way it can be worse than those microwave meals I eat.
Meihua: I always told you to eat the food I make, but you never listen.
Ji-hu: You eat way too spicy.
Meihua: You're Korean, you should like spicy food.
Ji-hu: That's a stereotype, how dare you.
After grabbing their respective bowls the group meet back up at a table to eat
Romy: So what'd you guys get?
Ji-hu: I got a Donkatsu bowl. It's got rice and a bunch of side dishes.
Meihua: I chose to get a Spicy Mapo Tofu bowl.
Atlas: Still eating spicy as always.
Ji-hu: What about you guys?
Romy: I got a grilled chicken sandwich and some salad!
Atlas: I got a burger, ribs, and fries.
Meihua: I still don't understand how you maintain your physique with the kind of food you eat.
Ji-hu: Biggest question of the year.
Romy: Yeah and without any training either.
Atlas: Oi don't judge me, I like eating.
The group eats and talks about the past couple of days thinking about the future before retiring to their rooms for the night
In Meihua's room
Meihua stares into a mirror looking at her mouth
Meihua: Ugh it's even on the inside of my mouth. At least it didn't make the food taste weird.
Meihua: Sigh. I guess I should do some research on mouth markings.
Meihua opens up her laptop as she starts looking for anything about the markings
Eventually she finds some interesting information
Meihua: Divine Speech? Divine Speech users have odd markings on the inside and outside of their mouths? What the hell is Divine speech?
Meihua begins doing research on Divine speech late into the night
Next Morning
We find Meihua with her face down on her laptop asleep
Ji-hu: Knock knock. Meihua! It's time to get to the training hall! We're meeting Hunter Hana!
Meihua: Groans. What time is it Ji-hu?
Ji-hu: It's early. Don't blame me I didn't wanna get up either, but Geni woke me up to let me know that we've been called to the training facility. All 5 of us.
Meihua: Sigh. Fine, give me 10 minutes. I'll be out.
10 minutes later Meihua walks out dressed in her Hunter Suit
Ji-hu: I don't think you need to wear your suit. We might not even be fighting.
Meihua: Its fine, I might as well be prepared for whatever the #2 Korean Hunter has for us.
Ji-hu: Fair enough. Let's go get the others, Geni already left for the facility.
Meihua: Knock Knock. Romy get up. We're leaving for the training facility.
Ji-hu: Atlas get your lazy ass up man. We're heading for the facility.
Romy: Give me a sec! I was prepared for this so I woke up early! Just need to grab my books.
Atlas: Ughhh. What time is it Ji-hu?
Ji-hu: Early. Now get up, Hunter Hana wants us down at the training facility now.
Loud clattering noises come from Atlas' room
Atlas: Sigh. Alright alright give me a sec.
With the group ready they begin to head off down the long corridor
Romy: So uh where is Geni? Isn't she supposed to come with us?
Ji-hu: Oh yeah she left a while ago apparently. For some questioning or something.
Atlas: So why in the Sacred Sanctions do we have to start training at 6 in the morning?
Meihua: I didn't even realize how early it was. I was doing research on the markings.
Romy: Ooooo did you find anything interesting?
Meihua: A couple of things, but I'm going to let our instructors know first. Once Ms. Eui is better I'll inform her too.
Romy: Booo you should tell us too.
Ji-hu: I kinda wanted to know too.
Atlas: It's Divine speech right?
Meihua gives a surprised look
Meihua: Wait, how did you figure it out?
Atlas: I was doing some research cause I was curious on what your markings represented. And since your Sacred Art is Divine intervention I started with the Divine Arts. One of the top 10 uses Divine Speech and they're really op.
Everyone looks at Atlas weirdly again
Atlas: What? I get curious too, you know.
Ji-hu: You genuinely sounded smart for a second. It kinda scared me.
Romy: Who the heck are you? You're not my bro.
Meihua: Smacks face. Why didn't I start with that? Of course it'd be related to my Sacred Art. I can't believe you of all people got better results than me.
Atlas: Smug. How hurtful of you all. Mineself is a superior intellect.
Romy: Gags. Please never do that again bro.
Ji-hu: I'm out.
Ji-hu starts walking again as Romy quickly follows
Meihua: So what did you find out about Divine speech? I couldn't find much about it.
Atlas: Really? That's surprising, I looked it up and found a bunch of stuff.
Meihua: What….
Atlas: Yeah it was really easy. I looked up Divine Arts and looked for images of the markings around your mouth. Then I just clicked on the link for Divine Speech and bam.
Meihua: Sigh. What is wrong with me?