Avatar: Awakened Gamer

Chapter 107 - Getting Light


***
Does the Spirit Water work on curing Toph's blindness? He had no idea. In the original show, it was hinted that it would be able to heal Zuko's scar, and it had healed Aang who was in a comatose state.


But could it heal a person that was born blind? He didn't know. Would someone like Sokka base his plan on something he wouldn't have any control over and didn't know? Obviously not. In this world he didn't trust Heaven or Earth, he only trusted himself.

If this procedure failed, then he would not only NOT earn favor with Lao Beifong. But even Toph might end up hating him for tricking her father. 

Still, he had decided to use the Spirit Water for one reason. Because he had also used another artifact that he had long since had in his possession. The Philosopher's Stone, a godly artifact that he didn't know how to use at all since he did not know alchemy. 



__________
[Philosopher's Stone]
A red ruby that seemed like blood crystalized. It is a Legendary item that has been created by the mightiest Alchemist. The item itself borders on divine intervention, being the closest thing to God. 

+???
+???
+???
+???
__________


It was kind of annoying that the interface couldn’t decipher the stone even though Sokka had leveled up his Observation Skill so high, using it at any waking moment. But this also wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it meant this stone was something beyond what the interface could see through. Now Sokka was just experimenting with it and seeing how it would work since the interface couldn’t be used as a clutch in this manner. 


“Light?” Toph wondered out loud, her eyes seemed somewhat cleared up. “Is this what light looks like?”

Sokka smiled, but he tried to keep himself under control so as not to make it seem like his smile would split his face. Toph waved her hand in front of her eyes, her father and mother were paralyzed in shock. Lady Beifong even fell to her knees, hand over her mouth as tears rolled down her face.

“My baby girl… she…”


“How much can you see?” Sokka inquired calmly, unlike the parents, he wasn’t panicking at all. 

Glancing toward him, she narrowed her eyes. “I can see your figure somewhat, but it's very blurry. I can’t exactly tell what your features are.”

Sokka nodded, pulling out a notepad and writing something down on it. “That’s good then. It means that there is some hope.”

After saying that, he got closer to Toph and examined her eyes. “Hmmm, it’s good, there is no damage to the eyes. It’s just that her nerves were almost dead and it somewhat removed them. As time passes, and the nerves heal, you should slowly get all your vision until it is perfect.”


Toph’s body shook in excitement. How couldn’t she be happy? After all, she was going to witness a whole new world she thought she never could before. She was happy too, but she didn’t know if this might all be a dream.

Sokka, as if reading her thoughts, flickered Toph on the forehead. “Ow!” she yelped.


“Good, now you know that you’re awake.”

‘Can he read minds or something?’

“Yes, I can.”

‘Wait really?!”

“Yes.”



***
Sokka checked Toph’s forehead using [Observe] to see if each of her eyes were well. “Yes,” muttered to himself. Which for some strange reason made her flinch and look at him weirdly. 


He wasn’t worried about that and instead was more concentrated on the effect the philosopher’s stone had on Toph. What he had achieved wasn’t just in the realms of simple healing, it was a revival of the nerves in her eyes. No, not just that either, construction too, creating new cells out of nothing.

‘The closest thing to God. That’s… I don’t know how to feel having  power like that around.’
Unlike most people, Sokka never let his greed blind him. But many worrying connotations were piling up.


The more of a safety cocoon he built around himself, the more exposed to danger he became. 


But he quickly dismissed such thoughts as this wasn’t the time to worry about them. But he made a mental note to see if water was mixed with the Philosopher's Stone and what results it might achieve. 

Getting up, he smiled at Toph’s parents, making sure to display his good intentions. “I am glad. It seems like it worked.”


Lao Beifong had a serious gaze in his eyes as he stared at Sokka. “I will remember this. Whenever you need something, no matter what. The Beifong Family will accommodate you.”

Sokka scratched his cheek nervously. “Uhm, that isn’t why I did this though. Also, you’ve already promised me your backing, it would be prudent of me to ask more. Plus, Toph’s vision hasn’t improved yet and it could take years, possibly decades until she can see normally, like everyone else.”


“It doesn't matter,” Lao Beifong refuted Sokka’s nonchalant dismissal of what he had done as something average. “You will be repaid, no matter what.”

Sokka looked uncomfortable and stepped back. “Ahh, okay. So… I will be going now.”


As he walked out, Lao Beifong didn’t stop him, but his eyes followed Sokka. 



***
-Sokka POV-


I could feel it, the Philosopher's Stone might be the key I have been looking for. The Admin, at least that’s what I am currently going to call the guy behind the creation of the Gamer Interface. While the interface had many loopholes, they were likely left there by the creator himself, especially the obvious ones. That way people would take advantage of it and try to break out of his control.


How annoying… I am dealing with someone scarily intelligent and experienced. They make Azula look like a cute puppy in comparison. 

Well, this was a fucked situation that I will pull myself out of. A sense of confidence covered my mind and heart. I knew that there could also be a failure in this plan, a painful death accompanying that. But did it matter? Would worrying about failure and being unnecessarily fearful of it change the outcome? 

Walking into the town, I went towards an alley and pulled out my spear, which boosted my agility, and started running through roofs at top speeds. 

There was nothing visible to the normal eye. No-one turned to look at me.

I arrived at a river just outside town and waterbended a blob of water. Pulling a red jewel-like stone out of my inventory, I stared at it in wonder even though I had seen it hundreds of times before.

This was a cheat-like item, like the one those cliche protagonists get. This is my legendary sword, my nine-tailed fox, etc.

After making sure that no one was close by and using the [Map]. I started my experiments. Throwing the stone in the floating waters, it turned bright, somehow the clear water turned even more transparent, almost nonexistent. 

Using [Observe] on the water, I saw something strange.


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[Elixir of Life]

An elixir made by ^#% ^#& Who Breaks Chains.
#Error# 
&*#^#!(((@%@^#^
+5 Years of Lifespan per drop

Warning: Gamer Interface is unable to completely comprehend structure. God-like obstruction has been sighted. If the Gamer comes close to the existence of the creator, they should act cautiously.
___________


Interesting. So damn interesting. Something that even the Gamer Interface could comprehend. Moving a small rain-drop-sized amount of water and putting it in my mouth, it tasted sweet and delicious. Like a foreign taste that made my pallets tingle. 

[Warning: Foreign Object Detected!!]

[Gamer’s Body has been rebooted! Unknown Error! <Gamer’s Body> is unable to stop the effect of the foreign object!]

[+5 Years of Lifespan]

The sensation that ran through my body was pleasant, it felt like heaven. If such a thing did exist, then this was what it would feel like. All the worries seemed to slip away, and my mind became clearer.


[Object from the past, made in the present, and nobody knows what it will hold in the future.]

Another had been added to the Philosopher's Stone description. It sounded more like a riddle than a description of the stone.

[Gamer’s Body will start fighting off the foreign substance sensed in your system and will now try to expel it.]

*COUGH*


Blood curled up against my throat, and before I could even prepare myself I coughed up a fistful of blood. It felt like my lungs were burning, but the pain didn’t last long.

[Unrecognisable substance unable to be cleared. Gamer’s Body has adapted to recognize the strange substance as part of the user’s being.]


****
At the same time, on the outskirts of the forest, June was trying to find him, and she stumbled upon a scene that shocked her. While riding on the back of her mount, she saw the unshakable Sokka. His knees buckled as he coughed out blood, he no longer represented that sense of being unbeatable.

Coughing so much blood wasn’t natural and it seemed like he would die at any moment. 

‘It seems like the heavens would never give something for free. The world will always be fair in its own way.’

June looked on in sadness, sighing at Sokka's pitiful state. 'Such a talent and power. Coughing blood out of nowhere? He doesn't seem injured either. So there is only one logical explanation... he is terminally sick.'