SDIWD - Chapter 106
Chapter 106
At this point, Bai Zhen finally realized something.
The so-called binding of a Sentinel and a Guide was a profound thing, something that still couldn't be fully explained by so-called "scientific" methods. If the sign of a mental bond was the spirit animal nesting in the other's mental landscape, then the sign of a physical bond was the complete exchange of bodily fluids.
The reason the complete exchange of bodily fluids could achieve a physical bond was currently believed to be influenced by two main factors. Besides the influence of pheromones, psychological representation was also an important aspect.
Many scholars believed that only after binding could a Sentinel and a Guide be considered truly complete, which also signified their formal adulthood or maturity. As for the enhancement of spiritual power from binding, more research and viewpoints indicated that it was more scientific to call this phenomenon a "liberation" rather than an enhancement.
Although there were some differences in the inherent strength of spirit animals, the manifested strength in reality came more from the limitations of the human body itself.
Two hundred years ago, a scholar systematically designed a set of testing methods for Sentinel and Guide abilities. Through years of improvement and refinement, a relatively mature system now existed. The tests for Sentinels mainly focused on various physical functions, while those for Guides were tests of various psychological representations.
Through longitudinal studies of several parallel experiments—comparing subjects before and after awakening, with and without their spirit animal active, under the influence of pheromones and without, as well as before and after binding—lasting from a few months to several years, or even more than a decade, and after obtaining hundreds of data points, a series of complex formulas were used to calculate the peak value of the spirit animal and the host's performance level.
The more items tested, the more accurate the experimental results.
Of course, this system couldn't be called absolutely scientific, and there were even significant problems with the peak value calculations. However, because it could explain many phenomena, generally conformed to established patterns, and helped the Tower evaluate Sentinels and Guides more intuitively and effectively, it had been used to this day.
According to considerable research data, an average Sentinel could typically only utilize 10-25% of their spirit animal's power. Guides, on the other hand, showed a more polarized phenomenon, fluctuating between 5-35%.
The main reasons for this difference were the limitations of human physical functions and the fluctuations of the mind.
Based on this theory, the training and development of Sentinels and Guides became even more necessary and urgent. Scientific and rational methods of education and training could often cultivate more outstanding Sentinels and Guides.
Of course, because the gap between the upper and lower limits was negligible compared to the spirit animal's inherent power, many risky research projects had also emerged.
The reason members of the royal family were so powerful was usually because they could utilize over 50% of their spirit animal's abilities. It was widely believed that, in addition to genetic factors, different methods of upbringing—including diet, living environment, and education—also played a role.
Because the ability tests would more or less expose some private information, they were generally conducted on a voluntary and anonymous basis. The most sensational legend to date came from within the International Sentinel-Guide Alliance. It was said that the leader of a certain country was so powerful that several other countries jointly demanded they undergo an ability test.
The test result was: spirit animal peak value not displayed.
This meant that the leader's abilities were outside the testing system's scope. Any results would be inaccurate, and the data obtained from the test had no substantive meaning.
Bai Zhen had also taken such a test. Her peak value test result was A++, with a utilization rate of over 30%.
A++ was certainly an excellent result, but compared to the S-ranks who were first in their class year after year, it wasn't particularly outstanding. However, a utilization rate of over 30% was something that even bound Sentinels rarely achieved.
The binding of a Sentinel and a Guide would more or less have a beneficial effect on the utilization rate of their spirit animal's abilities. Generally, a Sentinel's rate would increase by 5-15%, while a Guide's would increase by 3-11%. Moreover, the higher the initial utilization rate, the smaller the increase tended to be. For Sentinels and Guides, 25% and 35% were two very difficult thresholds to cross.
Bai Zhen had managed to utilize 30% of her spirit animal's power on her own, which was why the Leader valued her. Because of her, the Tower gradually began to place more importance on training Sentinels' willpower and endurance.
Besides objective tests, Sentinels and Guides themselves had a more direct feeling for the exertion of their abilities. Although this couldn't be used as a basis for judgment because it couldn't be quantified, it was still included in evaluations as supporting evidence.
Bai Zhen could tangibly feel the enhancement of her own abilities. From her physical functions to her spiritual power, the things that had once restrained them had suddenly vanished. Her world suddenly expanded. It wasn't just her immediate surroundings; she could even sense the entire island and even some areas beyond the coast.
Without the protection of a barrier, Sentinels could easily fall into a trance-like state. Because their senses were overly acute, they could easily focus on minute movements and then, due to excessive focus, fall endlessly into them, losing all other perception.
Therefore, the essence of the barrier that protected a Sentinel was to weaken their five senses, making them duller and reducing their abilities. But now, Bai Zhen seemed able to focus on the slightest detail of things as if in a trance, and not just on one thing, but on the entire picture.
She didn't feel like she was falling at all, only a sense of vastness and freedom, able to do as she pleased. Because it felt so natural, she hadn't even immediately realized this change in herself before.
"Miss, I'm fine… Do you, do you feel anything?"
While deeply shocked, Bai Zhen also felt a bit uneasy and guilty. She had always been down-to-earth and diligent; her teachers' comments during her student years were mostly about her being serious and hardworking. To have gained such power by binding with Hua Mu seemed almost like an unearned reward to her, so she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
"Me? I'm exhausted!"
Hearing her question, Hua Mu was instantly exasperated. Wasn't there an old proverb that said, "Only a broken plow, never an over-plowed field"? Why did she feel like she'd been plowed to ruin right now?
And look at this Sentinel, so full of energy, she looked like she could keep tilling for a few more days and nights.
Hearing this, Bai Zhen was suddenly filled with worry and disappointment.
"Do you really only feel tired?"
Could it be that the Miss gained no benefit from binding with her?
"Wh-what do you mean!"
Hua Mu slapped Bai Zhen's back in embarrassment.
She couldn't believe this person had become so lewd, even daring to tease her. Did she want her to say that besides being tired, it was also very plea-pleasurable?
A demure girl like her would never say such a thing—anywhere but in bed.
"Huh? I didn't mean anything…" Bai Zhen didn't know why Hua Mu had suddenly become shy and said in confusion, "I just hope that this binding is not only helpful to me, but to you as well."
It was helpful! How was it not helpful? She'd been happy for days and nights, it was a huge help! Wait, what did she mean, "this binding is not only helpful to me"? Although she had indeed helped Bai Zhen do… do some embarrassing things, calling it "help" seemed a bit strange.
"Um… what are you referring to?" Hua Mu realized she seemed to have misunderstood again and asked humbly, "Was the binding very helpful to you? In what way?"
As Bai Zhen carried her on her back, heading north, she explained the mechanism of binding to her.
Hua Mu truly hadn't expected that she could be so useful! After all, she had only been aware of her Guide abilities for a short time, and there were no others of her kind around to compare herself to, so she had no intuitive understanding of her own powers. That was why she was so clueless when Bai Zhen asked if she felt any enhancement in her abilities.
"Eh, is that important?" But to her, such a thing wasn't important at all. She had lived as a normal person for six years after her awakening, and if it weren't for this disaster, she wouldn't have even wanted to use her abilities again. Of course she didn't care whether they were enhanced or not.
The only thing she cared about was that she and Bai Zhen had bound, and they were both very happy. Of course, she was still delighted to learn that she could enhance Bai Zhen's abilities. After all, this way, she wasn't a complete freeloader!
"But only I…"
"Aiya, why are you thinking so much! Your abilities have improved, so I'm the one who benefits. Anyway, before or after, you'd never let me do any hard work, so what difference does it make if I've improved or not? And maybe I just don't know it. After all, Luna is so dumb, and I haven't been learning for long, so I can't feel it."
This was indeed very possible. Sentinels and Guides who had just started learning had a relatively shallow understanding of their own abilities and usually found it difficult to judge their own level.
Bai Zhen's mind relaxed a little, and she nodded. "Yes, that could be it."
Seeing that although Bai Zhen was persuaded, she still cared about this point deep down, Hua Mu's eyes darted as a plan formed in her mind.
She wrapped her arms around Bai Zhen's neck, leaned close to her ear, and blew softly, saying, "It's also possible… that because we've only just bound, the effects haven't fully kicked in yet. Maybe if we practice a few more times, I'll start to feel it."
No matter how fertile the land, it will still go to waste if it's not tilled often! And since she was the one who made Bai Zhen stronger, of course Bai Zhen should give back to her! Sowing and reaping, what was wrong with that?
Nothing at all!
Bai Zhen was, after all, no longer the clueless simpleton she once was. Her ears instantly flushed red all the way to her neck, and she stammered, "M-maybe so…"
Hua Mu loved her boldness, but she loved her shyness even more. Unable to resist, she boldly bit her ear.
"M-Miss!"
Hua Mu, still hugging her neck, reached back to pat her shoulder and said smugly, "That's your punishment for overthinking. You should be thinking about more romantic things, but instead you're worrying about all this nonsense."
It was less a punishment and more a reward.
Bai Zhen once again realized the difference in her and Hua Mu's understanding of punishment and reward.
If this was the punishment, then she wouldn't mind a few more.
No, no, no, not under these circumstances. After all, if she lost control, they would truly be making a bed of the sky and a mat of the earth.
Comments
Post a Comment