Born in Blood



Until morning, Liam practiced with his Shadows.

At least, what he thought was morning. 

Time wasn't really discernible when there wasn't any light.

Soon, Elder Jax arrived at Liam's quarters.

Liam wanted to sense him coming with his Shadows, but the Elder was flying.

Perhaps that was one of the weaknesses of his Shadow powers.

Although Elder Jax casted a shadow, it was above ground, making it hazier and weaker in density. 

Not to mention, he didn't apply any weight to the floor.

It was basically a lithe gust of wind that blew over the sea of Shadows.

As soon as the Elder touched the ground of Liam's doorstep, Liam felt an abrupt ripple beneath the sea of Shadows.

After practicing for a full night with the powers, Liam's perception of it was significantly better.

He quickly opened his eyes and made it seem like he was lying over the floor.

"Do you think I wouldn't know you were training?" Elder Jax gave Liam a stern frown. 

Liam coughed into his fist and acted like he was in severe pain, making groaning noises as he got up.

Elder Jax shook his head. "Damn rascal," he uttered under his breath.

"How is it?" he asked. "You haven't had any severe backlash, right? Show me how much you can manipulate."

"It works fine," Liam responded casually. "There's no backlash, except I see a dead family member now and again."

Elder Jax gave Liam a silent stare, then a slow nod. 

He didn't pry into Liam's personal life any further. 

They all had their trauma and losses. Talking about them could only tear open healed scars.

A moment later, Liam displayed to Elder Jax how much of his Shadow he could manipulate.

Liam's Shadow split into two halves and wrapped around both his arms. 

When he divided them up like so, their strength weakened, but they covered more of his body.

Back when Liam coated his katana with his Shadow, it enveloped and sharpened the blade successfully! 

It gave his inscribed weapon a slight boost that almost pushed it to the peak of Rank 2.

However, there was a problem.

Liam couldn't maintain that effect constantly.

It required most of his concentration to wrap his Shadows around his blade and enhance its qualities.

With Liam's mental and physical capabilities, that wouldn't be difficult at all to do.

However, Liam's Shadows were different.

They didn't use mental energy, and they didn't use physical strength.

They were immaterial, and material at the same time. 

It also required his utmost concentration to control and bend. 

Despite that, Elder Jax had an approving look in his face throughout the demonstration. 

Even a smile appeared on his thin lips.

"After spending so long under the purifying liquid, you've been given a head start compared to your peers."

"But your control is still stiff. Unless you learn how to envelop your blade, you won't maintain its sharpening effect.

"It's still in its raw form, and you haven't given your Shadow properties, either."

Liam raised a brow at Elder Jax's words.

Properties? 

Raw form?

Elder Jax entered his quarters and sat him down, then sat opposite to Liam.

"To enlarge and deepen your Shadow, you must absorb the darkness surrounding you. Once it gets enough depth, you can eventually absorb light, too."

For the two hours, Elder Jax instructed Liam on how to better use his Inkshadow Tattoos to enlarge his Shadow.

There were two methods of 'Enlarging' a Shadow, and 'Darkening' a Shadow.

Firstly, the process of enlarging his Shadow was very arduous. 

It consisted of spreading one's own Shadow into the so-called "Sea of Darkness," then absorbing some of that essence into it, before pulling it back and letting it assimilate on its own.

For him to do that, it required him to stretch his Shadow for extended periods of time.

All the while, his body would be under heavy strain, depending on how long he did that process.

Lengthening your Shadow was akin to stuffing your lungs with excess air. It was suffocating and hard on his organs.

On the other hand, to 'Darken' his Shadow, Liam needed to absorb light.

The Dark Star plant already had that ability, and it didn't take long for Liam to figure out how it works.

This process was actually nourishing, which was a nice change of pace. 

However, like always, too much of it had severe effects on Liam's mind.

It was basically cultivation!

Another form of cultivation!

Liam almost laughed out loud. 

How many types of cultivation did Liam regularly go through?

Mind.

Body.

Blood.

Core.

And now?

Shadow too.

It was laughable, but Liam was truly excited. 

Just like how Shadows were mendable in shape, they were mendable in property.

They could strengthen, blend, pierce, harden, condense, envelop, connect, transform and manifest.

Elder Jax had given him a lot of uses for it that were utterly broken, and Liam had trouble believing him.

For one, Liam could use a person's Shadow to ensnare and control them like a puppet.

That's exactly what Elder Jax did with Liam. 

Momentarily, Liam couldn't move at all. 

It was as though his body was tied to an anchor. He could only struggle and try to break free.

That effect lasted for merely thirty seconds, before Liam regained control over his body.

Elder Jax gave Liam a wry smile, and Liam suppressed a cold look towards him.

At some point, Liam could also manifest his senses together with his Shadow.

'My plan of the free flowing body-tempering method isn't so far-fetched anymore.'

'Perhaps the Shadows could act as a substitute for the Shifter's liquid darkness.'

'Even inventing weapons and techniques have gotten a whole lot more flexible.'

At the same time, Elder Jax had taught Liam how the requirements of blending into the ground.

"Your Shadow has to be large, and dark enough to cover your entire body."

"Its darkness depends on how illuminated and unilluminated an area is, but for brighter places, it won't work unless it's Darkened enough."

"Always remember, you have to use your Shadow as an anchor to hold you down, unless you want to die from suffocation from being stuck underground."

Elder Jax left Liam with his parting words.

"The attack on the Verdant Warrior Sect is in one week. Prepare well."