Quantum Cultivation by Jace Kang (simple e reader TXT) 📕

a minimal progression.  Meanwhile, the boy had been so loyal, and him Advancing would help when it came time to storm Peacekeeper headquarters.

Now, he listened to the newscast. With so many people dying because of open portals, he had to complete his mission soon. The faces of seventeen people, all slain in different locations, cycled in a line. All had died in different ways, though Hiroko Park’s gruesome death stood out. His heart sank into his stomach.

“As with all previous attacks,” the newscaster’s disembodied voice said, “these occurred near temples. Peacekeepers advise all citizens to avoid temples and shrines at night.”

Aya snorted. “At least they figured that out.”

The images shifted to Peacekeepers and shocktroopers marching down the city’s broad boulevards. “The Ministry of Defense has agreed to send assets to join the Peacekeepers in patrolling the streets.”

“Who would’ve imagined the MoD and Peacekeepers cooperating?” Aya chuckled.

Kentaro perked up, suggesting the pain of advancement was easing. “That would mean fewer Peacekeepers in their headquarters. Maybe that would give us a chance to retrieve your pills.”

The kid—a new, First Rank Water Path kid—had a point. Ryu peered through the trees toward Kyoto Central.

“In the meantime,” the newscaster continued, “the government has allowed the media to speak to Mister Kohei Jackson, the sole known survivor of eighteen different incidents.”

The image shifted to the man from last night, flanked on either side by Peacekeepers in dress uniforms.

“This is unusual,” Aya said. “The government doesn’t usually allow this kind of interaction with the press.”

Ryu gritted his teeth.  What kind of government kept so much hidden from the populace?

A male voice from the crowd of reporters chimed in. “Mister Jackson, where did the attack take place?”

Jackson started to speak, but the female Peacekeeper on his left leaned in. “Near Shijo Bridge.”

Aya chuckled. “No surprise.”

“What attacked you?” asked a female reporter.

“It was several green—”

The male Peacekeeper on his left leaned in. “It was two men, including Ryusuke Ishihara, two women, and a child.”

Aya gasped. They all exchanged shocked glances. Teppin must’ve been mistaken for a child.

In the broadcast, Jackson’s mouth hung open, but then he shut it.

“Did you learn that from the camera feeds?” another reporter shouted.

The two Peacekeepers looked at each other, then turned and spoke at the same time.

“Yes,” said the woman.

“No,” said the man.

They met each other’s gazes, expressions confused.

“They’re not even letting Mister Jackson speak,” Ryu said.

Aya laughed. “Of course not.”

Kentaro scratched his head. “I’m surprised they didn’t bring the Peacekeeper from last night, too. He’d toe the line.”

This government was so corrupt. Maybe it would be better to let the yokai swarm it. Then again, it wasn’t the citizenry’s fault. Not only that, if the government figured out how to cross the planes with their modern weapons, who knew what havoc they could cause?  One thing was clear, though: Ryu had to recover his pills and close the portals soon. And as Kentaro had said, with Peacekeepers patrolling the city in force, it meant fewer in the headquarters.

He was close to advancing to Fifth Rank, and if Aya advanced to First Rank, it would make the task all the easier.  And there was a particular MO behind a series of the murders that suggested a powerful yokai with an equally powerful Core. If they could get ahold of that, maybe that would compensate for all the metal in her head.

“Oh, look.” Kentaro pointed.

The Peacekeeper from last night came up to the podium in his dress uniform, looking none the worse for the wear. “I can confirm that it was Ryusuke Ishihara who attacked me.”

“We found Officer Schultz conscious but immobile at the scene,” the spokeswoman said.

Several reporters shouted out at once: “Were you hurt?”

Officer Schultz shook his head. “Ishihara poked me with his finger in four points, and all my limbs went numb and listless.”

“Are you all right now?” asked a female reporter.

“Yes, it didn’t even hurt, and within an hour, I was fine.”

Aya and Kentaro both turned to Ryu, eyes wide.

“Despite the lack of obvious injuries to Officer Schultz,” the spokesman said, “Ishihara is assumed to be dangerous.”

He turned to Aya. “There have been four deaths where the female victims were shredded apart: Mai Didier at Ryoanji Temple; Ayumi Kirk at Daitokuji Temple; Kou Singh at Toji Temple; and now, Hiroko Park at Nanzenji Temple. Can you run that algorithm to predict the next attack?”

Aya nodded. “Give me a moment.”

“Do you know what it is?” Siena asked.

“I think so,” Ryu said, now wondering if he should’ve have absorbed the Kappa Core himself. “If it is what I think it is, it’s one of the most powerful creatures from the World of Rivers and Lakes.  It’s killed some of my sect members in the same way it has murdered the women here.”

“I think I could take it,” Ken said.

Ryu chuckled. “That’s the side-effect of Advancing. Your body feels so much more powerful than before. However, this creature is so tough, I don’t know if I could beat it alone.”

“What makes it so powerful?” Aya asked.

“It’s one of the few yokai that has Cultivated several Paths.” And therefore, had dense Cores. Maybe this Core, combined with Kappa leader’s, would’ve been enough to advance him to Fifth Rank. Then again, if it really was a Nue with such a valuable Core, Ryu might not be able to defeat it anyway.

“Here.” Aya pointed to the projection.

A map appeared, with a blinking dot. A long math equation stretched above it.

Siena traced her finger along the math, turned to Aya and nodded with a smile.

Ryu studied it. “Where is that?”

“Hozoji Temple,” Aya said, “not far from here.”

Ken cocked his head. “What is this yokai called?”

“A Nue.” And if it were the equivalent of Fifth