Chapter 558: The True Ironpath Physique

Irun was a fucking mess. A more powerful mess than when Omilaena had gone unconscious, but she was still a bit irritated at how many things had gotten off track. Since the others had gone to so much effort to help her, she tried to spin it as a positive challenge. Not very successfully.

Everyone on her original Ironbody Physique path was doing fine: they could absorb metal from her new pool and receive a major boost that didn't overwhelm their own training. But those who had her Enhanced Physique had gone in different directions: some had stunted their growth, some had sort of developed a new unnamed path, and some had transitioned over to Ironbody. On top of that, when fresh soldiers had gone into the pool, they had ended up with a "Bluesteel Physique" that she had yet to fully analyze and hadn't planned at all.

They only had a week left to show up that Yuinafal asshole, so she needed to be judicious. The good news was that her soldiers had really leapt upward, plus she could spin these different options. The bad news was that the new pool she had created was diminishing.

So she took Kai back to the pool, leaving Zae Zin Nim in case she got too protective. It was kind of gratifying when their wife acted like she'd tear anyone's head off if they got too close, but it could also get in the way.

"Are you sure about this?" Kai asked, with his own version of caution.

"Just the pool should be harmless," Omilaena told him as they entered. "Relax - originally I was thinking I'd try to create another pool from the Insanity. And I think it would be harmless this time... but I was wrong before, so I'm not going to risk it."

"Then you're just trying to create a third pool."

"Actually, I figured I'd just rejuvenate this one."

When they arrived, they met Tusquo and Quinta, who were their official Irunian witnesses. This was technically another big moment of truth, but after facing an Insanity and surviving, Omilaena couldn't get too worked up about it. She nodded to them both, then marched forward to kneel beside the pool.

Using her poison-focused arm, to keep qi out of the equation, Omilaena drew some of the liquid metal into herself, like it was any other metal. It felt natural and cool, which was expected given that she had generated all this. More importantly, when she began burning her chakra, she could generate more of it. Omilaena took a deep breath and then began forcing drops of the silvery blue liquid out into the pool, which gradually began to fill.

"So it is rejuvenating," Tusquo said. "The elders will be pleased."

"They'll be even more pleased once they see the next step." It was hard to look casual while dribbling metal out of your hand, but Omilaena did her best and smirked at the couple. "There's a reason I wanted the two of you to observe: you're next."

"What do you mean?"

"I promised that Irun would be able to handle this themselves, didn't I? And honestly, that's for the best, because I don't want to run back here to do chores for you. So Tusquo, you're going to be using your traditional skills to do what I did, focusing on the pure Ironpath Physique. Quinta, you're going to draw it into you physically and do as we discussed."

Both of them nodded and moved closer, though they would still need instruction. Ever since abruptly changing her tune, Quinta had been entirely cooperative. Omilaena was tempted to tease her about it, but she could well turn frosty again, so better not to waste the opportunity. Her blood had been very instructive, because the past Irunians hadn't been entirely on the wrong track.

Once Omilaena had filled the central pool, she felt a little drained, but none the worse for the wear. The process would be much harder for the weaker Irunians and she assumed they would have to collaborate in teams... shouldn't be a challenge for them. These two, though, they were good test subjects, so if it didn't work for them, there would be problems.

"Moment of truth," Omilaena said to the couple as they knelt beside the pool. "Draw it in, then move to your own pools."

At Omilaena's instruction, the cave had been expanded and two more pools had been carved into the floor. Tusquo and Quinta each tried to absorb the blue-silver metal, Quinta picking up the technique faster, but Tusquo absorbing in greater quantities. Both struggled a little, and when they had reached their limit, they moved in opposite directions to the other pools.

Since Tusquo had already been injected once, years ago, he was a better vessel. Soon enough he was spinning out more liquid metal using his Path of Steel abilities. The resulting metal, however, lacked a blue finish and was instead dark gray, like iron. While he worked, Omilaena examined his soul.

<

Name: Tusquo Agyama of Irun

Total Power: 431

Manablade Class: 66 (76)

Physique Level: E-9 (107)

Soul Level: 7 (49)

Path of Steel: Steel 7 (100)

Ironpath Physique (+100)

>

Absorbing from her pool earlier had made his Ironpath Physique leap upward, but she was willing to bet that they could do better than that now. His body was so thoroughly attuned to Irunian steel, surely it would work and he wouldn't turn into a statue or anything.

Meanwhile, Quinta was engaged in a more difficult process. Unlike her husband, who used the traditional Irunian metal-shaping abilities, Quinta actually drew the metal into her body. The toxicity would kill most, even Irunians, but her lineage had been trying to metallicize their bodies and it was enough for her to use Omilaena's technique.

The resulting pool was bright silver, which seemed promising. That was an experiment for tomorrow, however, as Omilaena turned back to Tusquo as he finished his pool.

"I feel... weakened but not diminished." Tusquo placed his hands on his knees and closed his eyes for a moment. "Do you think I should attempt a Physique advancement at this time?"

"That's the plan," Omilaena said. "Unless you're feeling like you don't have the willpower for it. This will be risky - I don't mean pain and gnashing of teeth risky, I mean that if it goes wrong, you could harm your growth permanently."

"My body is-"

"Is Irun, I know. Cool line, but you said it last time. You've refined the raw power via the Ironpath Physique, and you've been at the peak for a while, so you're ready. The only question is if you can handle the transition."

Tusquo nodded and took a moment to compose himself. Quinta stopped filling her own pool and came over, presumably out of matrimonial concern. Her wifely empathy looked remarkably similar to a stern glare, but maybe that worked for Irunians. Fuck, now she was thinking about what Kai had said.

"I will begin." Tusquo opened his eyes, then plunged directly into the dark pool.

It didn't behave like normal liquid, instead swallowing him with a surge of Essence, just like the original pool. Completely unlike that one, the liquid metal became disturbed, starting with bubbling and soon thrashing like rapids.

"Is that expected?" Kai moved up beside her, half-ready to jump in. "Should I pull him out?"

"We have to leave it to him," Omilaena said in a low voice. "The safe method would have been to use an injection, but he wanted to try under his own power. There's enough of a spiritual convergence there that anyone else jumping in would just screw things up."

"His soul is still strong." Quinta spoke flatly, but her hands were clenched tightly at her sides.

Then the pool began to grow still again. Even though Omilaena could feel that Tusquo's soul was still intact, she leaned forward: these quasi-spiritual spaces made her nervous, and she wasn't sure what to expect. If he did drown, that would ruin their chances, plus it would be a real setback for her own plans. Oh, and he'd die.

The last ripples disappeared, absorbed by the heavy metal. Tusquo was gone without a trace. Quinta leaned forward, staring as if she could pierce the liquid metal with her eyes.

Without warning, Tusquo burst out of the pool in a shower of liquid metal. His body struck the ceiling with an odd sound, metal against rock, but he was unharmed. He simply pushed off the cavern ceiling and landed beside them, unharmed and clearly stronger.

"Tusquo." Quinta moved to him quickly - Omilaena was betting with herself that they would just clasp wrists, but instead they moved in and kissed with surprising passion.

Well, that was hot and all, but Omilaena was more concerned about the results. Physically, Tusquo's skin had darkened a little, gaining a dull luster like iron. His eyes, which had been ordinary dark brown before, were clearly metallic. And most importantly, his soul...

<

Name: Tusquo Agyama of Irun

Total Power: 525

Manablade Class: 66 (76)

Ironpath Physique: E-0 (300)

Soul Level: 7 (49)

Path of Steel: Steel 7 (100)

>

Excellent: he had leapt from 431 Power to 525. More importantly, his stray Ironpath Physique boost had been properly fused into the other parts of his soul, forming a single unique Physique. At E-0 it granted 300 Power, which was lower than Zin Nim's Blackblood Physique, but over just about everyone else.

"Little unfair that he gets a unique Physique before me," Omilaena muttered to Kai.

"You're complaining about getting a test subject?" he asked wryly.

"Don't underestimate my ability to complain." Honestly, though, this was a very promising result. She had only been able to assist Zin Nim with an ancient technique, but here Omilaena had produced a brand new Physique entirely based on her comprehension of souls. There was more to Physique, and she could potentially repeat the process in herself.

"Thank you." Tusquo turned to them, still holding Quinta with one arm, and bowed. "You have done an immense service to Irun."

"Hey, this part was all you," Omilaena told them. "You did the transition under your own power, and you can manage the pools from now on. All I ask is that you train that Physique so I can see what kind of results you get."

"What about me?" Quinta asked. "As admirable as this is, you spoke about another plan?"

"I'm afraid there's not enough time before we have to face Yuinafal. If you want the elites to fund more of this sort of thing, we need to win that decisively. On that note..." Omilaena looked back at Kai, who nodded. "Alright, we've been talking about an alternate strategy..."