Mana 4 Chapter 2 (Patreon)

As Kat and I dove into the portal, the world bled away around us. The portal felt like some strange area between spaces; I could feel the pull on my void mana even as we were shuttled from our world into the next.

The entire universe was laid out before us at that moment. Encompassing it was a massive tree, and our world was nothing but a small fruit in the corner of its massive canopy. One of hundreds of fruiting worlds among the branches.

As our bodies moved through the space, we were pointed towards the crown jewel, a world many times larger than the rest. It was nestled right at the crown from where all the branches originated. I had thousands of questions, but the moment was over faster than I could blink. The image of the massive tree burned into my mind and then forgotten.

“Ah!” Kat screamed, and we fell to our knees. A massive pressure weighed down upon us.

Try as I might, I could barely move. Reaching out with my senses to identify the threat, I wasn’t able to find any. It seemed it had to be the world’s natural gravity. I had become hundreds, maybe thousands, of times heavier. But with what I’d seen of the size of the planet, it made sense.

What shocked me more was the density of mana in the new world. It was so dense that the particular elements of mana were inseparable. Immortal Mana. I had spent years absorbing it from the portal, but even then, my body screamed in protest as it squeezed down on me, as if I was an empty pot dipped into a river.

Looking over to check on Kat, she seemed to be far worse off than I felt. Her face was red, and sweat beaded down her forehead. I gave her a smile of encouragement. I knew that she could manage this; she just needed time.

“What was that?” A gruff voice sounded nearby, interrupting any chance we had at recovery.

I had been so focused on the changes happening to my body that I hadn’t really looked around. Dense jungle surrounded us. Tall trees cloaked in thick vines and dense, large-leafed plants along the floor blocked my vision of whoever had just spoken.

“Sounds like we got a fresh one.” Another voice spoke, and my instincts put me on alert. I didn’t like the sound of that.

Ignoring my own pain, I stepped over to Kat and dragged her by her armpits. My body strained to pull her up, and I fought back the frustration at how weak my body felt in the immortal world. I desperately wanted to regain my strength.

But it was clear that I wouldn’t recover before the men reached us. The best thing I could do was try to get Kat to safety.

Decision made, I put everything into getting Kat tucked away into the roots of a nearby tree, throwing some broad leaves over her. Satisfied, I stumbled with exhaustion and braced against another tree to keep me from falling over.

The weight of the change in gravity was just too much. Between my strength and my cultivation, I’d be capable in short order. Some things like flight might be out of reach, but I’d be able to function like a normal mage in a few days.

“What do we have here?” The man said, coming into view. He was tanned with rough stubble that spoke of a hard life. His chest was covered in thick dark leather armor, while at his side he held a rough-looking cudgel that looked like he’d carved it himself.

The rattle of chains made me look over at the other man flanking my side. He was similar to the first man, but far skinnier. His skin hung off him in a way that spoke of malnutrition. “At least this one is standing.” Before he focused on me. “Welcome to our world. I hope the ride wasn’t too bumpy.”

I kept my eyes flicking between the two men. “Interesting welcome ceremony. The chains and cudgel are a nice touch.”

The chains rattled as the man shrugged. “Sorry bub, no ill meaning. All about the payday.”

“Then I suppose you won’t mind if I put up a fight, bub.” I returned the greeting to Chains and focused on keeping my attention on both of them as they advanced forward.

The man with the cudgel holding it loosely ready for a fight. I decided Cudgel was going to be the real problem. Yet, Chains had that sort of wicked smirk, like he was going to enjoy this.

Mana flooded my body in anticipation. But it wasn’t just normal mana, it was immortal mana. It seared me, like I’d replaced my blood with lava, but that was nothing compared to my desire not to be put in chains. My Pixiu bloodline flared to life as I put my all into a step that burst forward as I drew out my bone sword and cut towards Cudgel’s waist.

“The best ones always struggle. Means you’re worth more.” He smiled and spun back away from my strike, his cudgel striking my shoulder.

The cudgel hit with the force that felt like a dozen mana beasts. My shoulder buckled and threatened to pop out of its sockets. The strength in my body was the only thing that saved me; it would have pulverized Kat’s shoulder.

Shit.

The realization that these two completely outclassed me was a bitter pill to swallow. I was the damn sect leader of The Ferrymen. Two thugs shouldn’t be able to take me, or at least, I hadn’t expected them to. A part of me knew that if I’d had a day to adjust to the immortal world, they wouldn’t be a problem. But life didn’t always give you what you wanted.

My sword sang as I bounced away and swished it, testing my shoulder. It would have to hold.

I resisted looking over to where Kat lay, knowing she would need longer to recover and hoping she didn’t join the fray. In the state she was in, she couldn’t offset the balance, and I didn’t want her to get captured. I took a stance and waited for my two attackers to come.

They may outmatch me physically, but I had years of training with a sword. I could still take them down.

“Oh spunky, aren’t ya?” Cudgel rubbed his hands. “Hard as a rock too.”

“Shut up and just help me get him in the chains.” Chains swung a loose end to his side; it looked like that would be an improvised weapon for him.

The moment I blinked, the chains shot out like a missile. I stepped back and slashed at them, sending up a shower of sparks and only barely diverting them. It felt like I’d just tried to stop a floating mountain from crashing down, weakened as I was.

My hands stung, and I could feel warm blood trickle down my forearm and drip off my elbow. “I mean, can’t we just call it quits?” I joked. “Wouldn’t want one of you to lose an eye.”

“You manage to stab out my eye and I’ll beat you within an inch of your life before we sell ya to the cheapest bidder. Trust me, ya don’t want the guys that buy cheap.” Chains glowered at me. “Make it easier and we’ll put a high price tag on you. We’re generous folk like that.” He ended the statement with a gnarled smile.

Somehow, these guys didn’t really feel like the trustworthy types, and even if they were, I wouldn’t put my sword down.

“Don’t look like he’s going to take the offer.” Cudgel licked his lips. “But don’t mess him up too much. He’s a looker; bet we could get a lady to pay a good price for him.”

Chains swung from a distance, and I blocked his chains, but it was still heavy enough of a swing to cause my feet to skid across the ground, right into Cudgel.

Dropping one hand from my sword, I blasted out with the other. The image of the great Kunpeng was faint, maybe even fainter than when I first learned it. But it was enough to hold off Cudgel, barely.

Out of options, I tapped into something I’d learned over the last thirty years. I drew upon the world and reached a moment of harmony with the elements of life, metal and void. Then, after just a moment, the world around me came into crystal clear focus. The pressure lifted off of me and I was inside a domain of my own making.

This was my space, those three elements completely in my control.

“Shit.” Cudgel screamed and backed away. “No way. He’s from a mortal world?”

“It’s not real; it can’t be.” Chains swung, and when the metal links passed inside my domain, they were mine. I latched onto them and tried to destroy them, shatter them to dust.

But that didn’t happen. The chains waived for a moment, going slack and falling to the ground, but they were still wholly intact.

“See, I knew it couldn’t be. He’s no celestial.”

In my shock, I felt a sharp prick on the side of my neck. My hand came up and came away with a feathered dart, strength beginning to leave my body. The domain flickered out, and my knees buckled.

“You two are worthless.” A deep female voice spoke as bushes rustled and a woman with a mohawk and a scar across her left eye came into view before it all went dark.

***

It felt like only a moment had passed as I jerked awake. Water splashed over me. “Ugh.” I groaned.

“Wake up sleepy. Need to get you clean.” Another splash of water hit me. This time I got some in my mouth; it was bitter and soapy.

“Stop.”

But another splash hit me, and I opened my eyes to glare at Chains as he scooped another bucketful out of a water barrel. “Turn around and start scrubbing.”

I looked around, taking in my surroundings. I was in a cell in a dark room. The walls were wooden, and the only light creeping in was between the boards that weren’t fitted well. As much as I wanted to resist the man, I also didn’t want another splash to the face.

Turning, I realized I was just in a cloth wrapped around my waist like a diaper. “Where am I?” I scrubbed at dirt that was caked on my body.

“Murdock. It’s a city. We kept you drugged the whole way.” Chains answered. “You are going up to the market today.”

I glared at him over my shoulder. I couldn’t wait to take him down a peg. It felt like I had recovered quite a bit, maybe even acclimated, because I didn’t feel the pressure of the immortal mana on my system anymore.

Grinning, I drew in mana. But the grin left me as I screamed and fell over in pain; my entire body felt like it was ripped apart and put back together. On my hands and knees, I tried to get air into my body. Chains laughed. “Not so big now, are ya?”

The collar around my neck stopped as soon as I stopped drawing mana. “The fuck is this?”

“Enchanted. It drains the mana from you and uses it to inflict pain.” He stooped down, so he was face to face with me. “Hurts like a bitch, doesn’t it? So don’t do anything stupid till we can sell you. After that, you are their problem and I’m going to get the fuck out of here.”

“Why’s that?” I asked.

“Because you look like you are going to murder me in my sleep. I’d hate to even be in the same city with you if your new master takes that collar off.”

Rubbing at the collar, I couldn’t disagree with him. He’d put me in chains and meant to sell me to the highest bidder. That wasn’t exactly a great trust building exercise. “Think you might be right, but maybe I’ll spare you if you let me go now.”

Chains scoffed. “Fat chance. You’re going to be worth enough for me to skip town and give up this game. Tell me how you made that domain?” His eyes sparkled with interest despite trying to keep his face neutral. I was still bitter that such a basic thug had taken me down.

I spit in his face as my response.

Conversation done, he went back to throwing water at me, chilling me to the bone. Without mana in my body, my natural fortitude wasn’t enough to keep the chill away. I couldn’t remember the last time that I’d been cold. It was odd to feel the sensation again.

Chains left without another word, but I took his interest to heart.

I had made my domain, but it had been… incomplete. “Why? Why didn’t it work?” I puzzled over the question as I wrapped myself in the dirty and wet blanket for warmth.

The domain had realized when I called for the elements of the world, but it was wrong. Instead of a solid conceptualization of the elements, it was like a sieve, full of holes.

The only theory that made any sense was if the immortal mana was a density that held all the elements at once, not just the ones I controlled individually. So my control was incomplete and had left gaps.

A heavy sigh pressed its way out of my chest. After years of being the best, I was back at the bottom. My head rested against the wooden wall as I let go of my pride. But part of me was invigorated for the first time in a long time. This was a new challenge. I’d have worthy opponents and a chance to once again climb to the top. I hadn’t had the heart to tell Jonny that I’d let him win a few of the times we’d battled.

My excitement diminished as I felt Aurora pounding on her seal. I kept her inside it. It wasn’t safe for her to come out at the moment. I’d have to meditate later to connect with them, and hopefully Kat’s technique could still work even with the collar, so I could contact her and make sure she was safe.

Nothing that Chains said indicated that they’d found her too, which gave me hope. Kat was resourceful and would have been able to pull herself together by now. Based on what Chains had said, I’d been out for days.

Knowing Kat would likely be continuously trying to contact me, I settled down and crossed my legs, trying to focus and pull my mind down into meditation. But the door flew open and banged against the cell bars.

The woman with the mohawk was back. “Get that fucking dirty blanket off or so help me, I’ll call him back in here to bucket you again.”

I growled as I dropped it, already tired of being told what to do. I’d had my fill of people ordering me around.

“Put these on.” She shoved a pile of cloth through the bars and dropped them to the floor.

I stepped out of my wet blanket and picked up the clothes. They were simple, white robes with a loose enough weave that it didn’t look like they would offer much protection from a blade or weather. Best part, the robes didn’t interfere with the chains around my ankles. How thoughtful.

“Don’t turn your nose up at it or I’ll send you out in just the diaper. Say thank you.” She goaded me through the bars.

There was little doubt in my mind that she would do as she threatened. But the chances of me thanking her were slim. Snatching up the robes, I threw them on before dropping the diaper, using the wet blanket to scrub down my legs.

“Not so lively this time, are you?” She rapped the bars with a knife. I couldn’t help but notice that it was at least a proper weapon, unlike the others. “Your sword disappeared after you fell unconscious, so you owe me a weapon.”

I tried not to smile to myself and show her anything. It did exactly what it was meant to do, but I’d be damned if I was going to explain anything to her, so I tried to fake confusion.

She banged on the bars and growled at me. “Step back.”

I did as she asked, and she produced a key from her pocket to unlock the cell door. I noticed she didn’t have anything like a spatial ring. We couldn’t bring ours through, but I did remember Fairy Su having a spatial ring. That meant they at least existed.

Although these slave traders seemed poor. Based on their weaponry, far too poor to afford something like a spatial ring. I would have felt sorry for them if they weren’t selling me off.

She stepped back as I exited and pressed the knife to my side. “Get.”

Leading her while being prodded with the knife was the highlight of my day. I got a chance to see where they’d stashed me.

The building was a small shack with a few bed rolls in another room and a metal cylinder with a grate over it that looked like it was used for a fire.

I noticed Cudgel in his bedroll and Chains slumped by the door we just left, both with their throats slit. It appeared that Mohawk didn’t intend on sharing whatever the prize for me would be.

The shack was small. It was only a few steps more before we were exiting what I will now officially call a shanty in the slums. Stacked up around their own shanty were others, using each other for support. Toothless beggars were the main attraction around the little shanty town.

“You guys live in a shit hole, you know that?” I said, earning a sharp prick of the knife into my back.

“Shut up, pretty boy. All I have to do is sell you for a good price, and you’re my ticket out of there.”

“Wasn’t enough to share?” I ribbed her right back, seeing her two compatriots dead.

Her voice was so sharp I didn’t have to look back to know she was sneering at me. “Wastes of breath, not that anyone will care to find two dead in there. But by then I’ll be long gone, off to a far better life.”

“Whatever makes your conscience stay quiet. You killed two men who trusted you.” I felt a little smile creep up on the corner of my lips at the thought that maybe my words would bother her some.

“If you say another word, I’ll make you bleed, your price be damned.”

Oh, how I wanted to keep bothering her, working my way under her skin. I had a feeling that she wouldn’t do anything that would bring my price down considerably, but I had no doubt there were things she could and would do if I pressed her too hard. She didn’t exactly scream stable.

So instead, I focused on the surrounding city. People walked around doing daily tasks. It looked like any other city I would have seen back home. I was a bit relieved to see some normalcy. Brutes weren’t the entirety of the new world. People came and went, carts rolled by as I walked at knifepoint through the city.

A few people looked concerned, but when they spotted the collar on my throat, their looks just turned to pity.

I hadn’t spotted anybody else with a collar, but it seemed to be common enough they all knew what it meant.

What surprised me the most as I walked was that I didn’t spot many mana beasts. There were a few pulling carts, but nonwalking alongside mages or helping with tasks. It was like a part of the city environment was missing from my perspective.

Only now did I realize how much more lively mana beasts made a city.

“In there.” Focusing back ahead of me, I was jabbed towards a large opulent building that reminded me of Diana’s famous auction house. If it was anything like hers, the second I went through those doors, there wasn’t a chance of me escaping. It would have its own security, far better equipped than the brute of a woman behind me.