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

Thank the heavens, Aya had stayed back. The Nue wasn’t even paying attention to her, it was…

…looming over Kentaro.

The boy lay on the ground moaning, a pool of blood forming beneath him. What had happened? Ryu started over, and a closer view revealed the horrible gash across his stomach. No!

The Nue raised its claws.

Ryu dashed over and stomped on its tail with a Xingyi Water step. Howling, the creature turned to face him.

His Water Whip had earlier scored two moderate slashes across its neck; it was usually enough to cut through metal, but for the most part, the creature’s Iron Shirt had prevented decapitation. Based on an earlier scan, it was equivalent to Fifth-Ranked in Metal, and First Rank in Fire. What little Fire skill Ryu had was better than its, but wasn’t enough to affect its Metal.

Which meant Water was his only chance of beating it. It looked to have sustained damage from Siena’s channeling and his own attacks. Teppin might’ve also done some damage, and its tail dragged behind it from some injury Ryu must’ve missed.

Using a combination of Water and Fire Paths, he swept his arms in rapid circles, drawing heat from the Nue through its open wounds. Its blood thickened and its rapid movements slowed. Spinning closer, he unleashed a flurry of Water Whips. Each lash against its skin left shallow wounds, but Ryu’s transition to the heat-draining technique slowed the monster more.

He stepped in with a Crashing Wave shoulder-butt into the Nue’s chest. It felt like regular human running full-speed into a steel column, but the force sent it flying into the temple walls.  The plaster and rock shattered.

Then there was a holoprojection of him at his side.

The Nue looked from one to the other, but in order to sense the Qi of the real him, it would have to lower its defenses for a split second. It was all Ryu would need to close the gap and land another attack.  His holoprojection darted forward with perfect technique, drawing the yokai’s attention.

When it engaged, the holoprojection transitioned to a defense, backing away and avoiding the Nue’s swiping claws.

With a series of guttural words behind him and a flash of blue light, a blast of fire erupted in the Nue’s face.

Snarling, it batted the flames out of its face. Still, it moved slowly, and the stench of burnt fur filled the air.

Ryu glanced over his shoulder to see Siena still lying on the ground, propping herself up on an elbow.

Now the creature’s flank was exposed to Ryu’s position, so he stepped in and launched Splashing Hands into its head.

Blood, bone, and brains exploded from the impact. The Nue crumpled to the street.

Master Ryu blew out a breath and rolled his neck. The joints crackled and popped. He turned to the others. Teppin stirred, but remained unconscious, while Aya cautiously approached. Siena collapsed back to the ground.

Then his eyes fell on Kentaro, whose chest rose and fell with labored breaths.

No, no, no, he couldn’t let the boy die.

He darted to Kentaro’s side and inserted his makeshift acupuncture needles into the Shuigou point in the divot below his nose. That would hopefully keep the boy from going into shock.

“Aya, come,” Ryu said, dashing over to the Nue’s corpse.

“What about Kentaro? We need to get him to a trauma center. They might be able to help.”

“He won’t survive me carrying him a block. How far away is the trauma center?”

“A kilometer. But we can call a transport.”

“Go ahead, but I don’t think anything can help him, except what I have in mind.” He knelt down by the ghastly remains, around which a pool of blood spread wider and wider.

Aya’s pale complexion turned almost green.  Stomach heaving, she covered her mouth.

Ryu would’ve rubbed her back, but finding the Nue’s Core was of paramount importance.

“How can whatever you’re doing save Kentaro?” she asked.

“Its Core.” Which he might’ve been able to use to close the portals. Ryu rolled the creature onto its back. Walking his fingers over its belly, he stopped at a point not far from its enormous scrotum. With a flick, he straightened his hand and knifed into its gut. When he withdrew his bloodied hand, he held a plum-sized white crystal with red striations veining through it. “This.”

Aya turned her head and vomited.

He ran over to Kentaro. “Ken-kun, I need you to try to calm your breath.”

“It hurts,” the boy whispered.

“I know, but you will die without this.” He held up the Core.

The slits of Kentaro’s eyes opened wide. “You said… You said you needed it for your mission.”

“Yes, but you need it to live. Now, this is going to hurt.” Given the Core was too large to fit in Kentaro’s navel, and the fact his belly had already been slit open, Ryu set it inside the wound.

Kentaro screamed.

“You’re hurting him!” Aya yelled.

“Did you inform the trauma center?” he asked without looking at her.

“Yes. But Peacekeepers are already converging on this position.”

They had to hurry.

Ryu cradled the boy’s head. “I know it hurts, Ken-kun, but you need to perform the Microcosmic Orbit. Just like earlier today, when you integrated the Kappa Core.”

Kentaro gave a feeble nod.  Each time he drew a breath, he winced.

“Sense your Core,” Ryu said. “As you inhale, draw the energy up from it, and through the Nue Core. It will feel cold and sharp. When it reaches your chest, exhale. Push that energy from your heart, through your blood vessels. Good.”

“What can I do?” Aya asked, her voice a little less frantic.

Ryu’s gaze strayed to the Nue’s corpse. With a flick of his hand, he used a Water Whip to split the Nue’s scrotum open. Its testicles spilled out. White with blood vessels running through them, they were