"This technique is quite good."
Harmonic Flow Breathing could only be used by High Humans or other species with high spiritual affinity.
Techniques like this couldn’t be practiced unless specific requirements were met. It was why I couldn’t practice it when I was a Rank 1 Human.
I sat cross-legged and began practicing the breathing pattern.
At first, I followed it mechanically, matching the rhythm shown in my mind.
But soon, the rhythm started to feel natural.
My mind became calmer.
It made me realize something else.
A sharp, unpleasant smell drifted into my nose.
I paused and sniffed the air.
"Is that... me?"
My nose scrunched up.
The breakthrough had caused toxins and residue to be expelled from my system.
The stench was quite noticeable.
I definitely needed to take care of it before going home.
"Since I’m here already, might as well take a bathe here."
I walked to the bathroom quietly, making sure not to disturb Seris and Elira.
Their house had clean bathroom that was just as big as ours.
I took my time, washing thoroughly. The clothes were put into the washing machine.
Once I was done, I made sure to wipe down every surface I had touched.
I rinsed the tub, cleaned out the washing machine tray, and dried everything carefully.
When I finished, I folded the towel I had used and put everything back in place. The soap bar was flipped to the dry side. The rug near the door was straightened out.
"Phew. Now no one will be able to tell I was here."
Satisfied, I stepped out and walked back to the room where Seris and Elira were sleeping.
I glanced down at the two remaining Species Evolution Potions in my hand.
"...I should give one to Seris."
It was a decision I made after thinking carefully.
Earth was running out of time, even if no one else knew it.
In my last life, the invaders from another planet had come to earth due to Monkey King’s disappearance.
It led to collapse of society and the world.
But even before that came the [Thirteen Disasters].
These disasters were caused by the alien race. It allowed them to confirm the Monkey King was not on earth, then they followed with the invasion.
Each of the thirteen disasters would lead to immense destruction and death.
If Seris had even a fraction more power when the time came, it could save her life.
"In my last life, she didn’t start training until she was almost twenty. Even then, she had no mentor, or resources.
"But she still rose through the ranks, and became a powerhouse through sheer talent and willpower."
Seris had always been smart.
She learnt how to talk earlier than normal children.
Even the reason she liked me years ago was because I was more ’mature’ than other children of our age who were ’childish’.
I never noticed these things until recently.
The reason Seris had been smarter beyond her age was her natural talent.
"She must have at least 40 in Intelligence stat."
I crouched beside the bed and looked at her face.
Her hair had fallen over her eyes, so I gently brushed it aside.
"This time, if I raise her right, and guide her through the path from the start, she might go beyond the limits of what she achieved last time."
The Species Evolution Potion wouldn’t make her a supernatural.
But it would prepare her body for it, and lay the foundation.
"I was already planning on helping her become a supernatural in the future, so it’s better if I start investing in her from now."
I lifted her upper body gently with telekinesis.
I uncorked the vial, placed the tip against her lips, and tilted it slowly.
The liquid disappeared down her throat without resistance.
A few seconds passed.
Her body twitched slightly.
A bit of heat shimmered across her skin, then it spread.
Her cheeks flushed red, her hands clenched loosely, and a faint glow radiated from under her skin before vanishing.
It took a few minutes before everything settled.
"She evolved."
The impurities had dirtied her and her clothes.
I lifted her with telekinesis, and opened a portal toward the bathroom.
"Shadow, come out."
The shadow rose behind me.
After absorbing stats, it had grown to a decent height of 1.3 meters.
If I used Shadow Assimilation now, my shadowy body would have the same size and height.
But that was not what I needed right now.
"Clean Seris, and wash her clothes."
The shadow held Seris in its arm, and entered the bathroom.
I waited outside.
A few minutes later, the door opened slightly, and the shadow returned with a clean Seris.
Her clothes had been washed and dried too.
I lifted her with telekinesis, and gave the shadow another command.
"Go and clean the bathroom and the washing machine. It should look like no one used it at the night."
The shadow followed my command.
I returned to the room, tucked Seris back into bed next to her mother and adjusted the blanket.
Now that that was done, I still had one last thing to take care of.
I created a portal and entered the study room in Seris’ house.
It had a small desk in the corner of the room with a computer.
The computer was a bit outdated, running slower than what I was used to, but that was normal since it was early 2000s right now.
"I should confirm that I received the delivery from the Underworld."
I switched on the computer, navigated to the site and logged into my Underworld account.
There was a pending delivery. I reviewed it.
[Delivery: Materials (Click to expand) | Quantity: 20 | Total: $1,000,000]
[Status: Awaiting Delivery Confirmation]
[Delivery Location: Pilatusstrasse 20, 6003 Luzern | Lucerne | Switzerland]
[Delivery Time: 2:30 am]
[Delivery Date: 18/07/2003]
I clicked "Confirm" and encrypted the receipt.
With everything done, I created a portal next to me.
It led to my house.
I entered it and went to sleep.
....
Seris’ POV
The morning started in a blur.
Sunlight peeked through the thin curtains, and the clock on the wall had long passed the usual time Elira woke up.
By the time her eyes fluttered open and she checked her phone, it was already late.
"Shoot," Elira muttered under her breath, throwing off the blanket and scrambling out of bed.
In contrast, Seris sat calmly at the edge of the bed, swinging her legs slightly.
She’d been awake for a while.
Elira rushed between the bedroom and the kitchen, muttering to herself and fumbling with the toaster.
A pan clattered loudly, and she winced.
Seris just watched her.
"We’re going to be late, we’re going to be late..." Elira said as she threw open drawers and searched for socks and a clean undershirt for Seris.
"Mom."
"Hm? What is it, Seris?" Elira didn’t look up. She was now pouring milk into a cup and preparing toast at the same time.
"Did you use a new scent spray in the room?"
Her words made Elira pause.
"A new what?"
"An air freshener."
Elira blinked and looked toward her, still holding the milk carton.
"I don’t think so. Why do you ask?"
"Our room smelled different this morning."
Elira thought about her words, and answered. "I opened the window when I woke up. Maybe the scent drifted in from the window."
Seris didn’t say anything at first.
She hopped off the bed and followed her mom to the kitchen.
"It was like the scent the lady guard had," she added quietly.
Elira paused mid-stir at the stove.
"Which guard?"
"Nisha Hall. The one at the Estenwald house."