Free Web NovelChapter 130: Shadow Trial (Fixed)
"Test it out? That fast?" Layla asked, shocked.
Although technology had advanced and had come a long way, she was like most when it came to these things, that she didn’t really understand basics, to her things just worked, and to most people it was the same, but still she had an idea.
In her mind, the idea of recording an ability took far longer than someone just stepping into a tube, and using their ability. The idea that technology could replicate and record it all, had things really come that far? Or was there a chance that secretly it was doing something to her. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
The Unknown was a scary thing, but if something was happening to her, surely the system would warn her. Then again, the system was sometimes something she could really rely on, and not rely on, she had learnt that much at least.
Logan nodded, and an extending robotic arm coming from behind his chair handed him a plate where a sandwich sat on top.
"I’ll keep the ability stored only to my personal servers here, so only you can use it," Logan said before biting into the sandwich.
Given that this was as good of an opportunity to test out Erin’s ability, Layla stepped into the gaming pod, and sat inside. Even though Layla hadn’t used the gaming pod before, things had always been set up to be user friendly, as it was something meant for all of the population to use, and it was pretty instinctive. So she was able to figure it out easily enough. Right after, the pod’s door closed.
As soon as it did, a monitor turned on, revealing Layla inside of a white room.
"Whoa... this is... cool!" Layla exclaimed, then shaded her eyes with her hand, "But it is kinda bright."
In front of the monitor was a microphone stand with a red button on the bottom. Pressing it, Erin began speaking into the device.
"Can you hear me?"
Layla jumped, "Erin!? Is that you?"
"Are you able to use the shadow ability?"
"I think so, hold on," Layla said, then lifted her hand the same way she would’ve used her telekinesis.
Closing her eyes, Layla concentrated on moving something with her mind, but when she opened them, nothing happened.
"I don’t get it, I tried using the ability the same way," Layla said. freёwebnovel.com
"It would help if you had an object to move," Logan commented, before placing a hand on a computer.
Suddenly, a blue light appeared in front of Layla. The blue light was constructing something in front of her very eyes, building it up from the bottom and then started to form into a shape and had changed into a vase on top of a table.
Erin pressed the button, "Learning the shadow ability is different compared to the ice ability. Since everyone only has one ability it’s not as if they have any real experience in using different powers. It thought that there would be some similarities between the powers at least. A blade I could hold in my hand, but the shadow, if I was to try and think what it was like, well it’s more like that of an Arm."
Internally, Layla was thinking that the explanation didn’t make a lot of sense. How was the shadow ability an arm? But then she recalled back when she first learned the telekinesis power that the book instructed that you had to think of moving things with your mind, and having a good mentality helped. An image in one’s head of what was happening whether it happened or not moved things along. The shadow ability likely required Layla to think with a different mentality.
Closing her eyes, Layla thought about how Erin used the shadow ability, the way it moved from underneath her feet, and began in dark places before stretching out. What was that stretch exactly, the stretch of the shadow was it like extending one’s fingertips and arms to the very edge, to beyond what it was capable of, just like if a person had another limb.
Then... She opened her eyes, and pushed her arm out, creating a thin purpley mist to form under her own feet. Smiling, she had gotten the first part, but there was still more. Layla controlled the purple mist and to know she had finer control she wrapped it around the vase.
It definitely was a different feeling to her telekinesis ability.
Erin, watching from the screen, placed a hand on her chin, and nodded in approval.
’Good, if she can learn how to block incoming attacks with this power, I won’t need to worry about her.’
"Use the shadow to create arrows," Erin spoke into the mic, "Try using your ability in unique ways. Although everyone learns the same ability there are always things that differentiate a person from another person, the best from the best, test out your imagination and let’s see what you can do."
Suddenly, a smooth, plain light green bow dropped into Layla’s arms along with a similarly appearing quiver on her waist. They appeared to be a generic set of weapons made for bug testing.
"I am curious about this as well," Logan spoke before yawning.
Layla placed the vase back on the table, and brought her shadow back. Then, placing a featureless white arrow on the bow, Layla pulled the string back, and shot it at the vase. A moment later, the vase respawned.
Biting her tongue, Layla pulled the string of the bow again, but this time focusing on spreading the shadow under her hands to encase the arrow. Then, she let go, and the arrow remained in the air, moving in slow-motion towards its target.
"Oh," Layla whispered, slightly disappointed, "It didn’t really work."
She retracted the shadow, and the arrow shot out, back at its normal speed.
Erin squinted her eyes, staring at the screen, then an idea popped in her head.
"Layla, listen to me. Shoot multiple arrows at once with the shadow. Then, once you shoot at least 5, remove the shadow."
Layla didn’t know where she was going with this, but she did as asked, aiming and shooting 5 shadow arrows at the vase. Then, she revoked the shadow, and suddenly all 5 arrows hit the vase all at once, completely demolishing it. With that, Layla was beginning to understand the full capabilities of the shadow ability.
As the only target in that space was a vase, she was kinda hoping that the others would spawn in something new for her to practice, and, as if they heard her thoughts, a series of walls, platforms, turrets, targets, and more began to form right behind her.
"You can test out this obstacle course I was planning on including in Power Fighters," Logan commented, "Consider yourself a beta tester before the big update."
"Wait, this is a lot for me to get into for one day," Layla said out loud.
"Just try out the ability for today, and if you don’t like it, then we can figure something else out," Erin replied.
"I was only able to upload enough data to have the ability at a level 1," Logan began, "If you want to test it out at higher levels, then Erin will need to come in again later and allow me to record it again."
Taking in a deep breath, Layla stepped right up to the obstacle course, and began to run through it.
While she was practicing the shadow ability in the digital space, Logan turned to Erin, rubbing his eyes.
"She can practice in the VR capsule whenever she wants, but I’m going to take a nap. I’m beat."
Logan got off of his chair, and began walking over to his bed in the corner, but before he did, Erin stepped right in front of him, blocking him.
"There is one last thing I want you to do for me," Erin started, "Can you get me into contact with a tailor forger?"
With sleepy eyes, and an exhausted voice, Logan nodded, "Sure, you’re looking at one now.
