Okay, so this much I knew, but I didn't think it through this deeply... Liam thought as he studied the two central pages of the notebook. They contained information on Liam's most likely biological limitations when using his power and a few solutions.
Severe Dehydration: Moving water-heavy blood drains the user's bodily fluids fast.
Iron Poisoning: Concentrating free iron from blood causes organ failure and seizures.
Circulatory Shock: Manipulating large volumes outside the body drops blood pressure and causes fainting.
Clotting Risks: Exposing blood to air or kinetic friction triggers rapid, fatal micro-clots.
Hypoxic Brain Death: Diverting blood away from the heart and brain to use as a weapon deprives vital organs of oxygen. This causes immediate tissue death.
Thermal Dissipation: Moving fluid rapidly via kinetic energy generates extreme friction. This literally boils the blood cells and cooks internal tissues.
Osmotic Pressure Shock: Forcing blood out of the vascular system destroys cellular membranes. This causes cells to burst from sudden pressure changes.
Liam sighed, Well, it's not like my body is useless. When I went for the tests, it was discovered I produced anti-coagulants naturally, possessed a higher than average body temperature, have higher self regeneration, and my organs can store iron and oxygen. My body also doesn't experience osmotic pressure shock because of my unique circulatory system.
"Eat iron rich food... which I don't do... take in large amounts of water, regular exercise, increase lung capacity... I do those already."
Liam frowned as he turned the page, "Is this really supposed to help me? I know that being aware of the risks is good for me, but really, the solutions are quite simple...!"
Liam frowned, and sat up in his bed as he quickly read through the new information.
Slowly, a wide smile broke out on his face.
Now this is what I'm talking about! I didn't even think of that!
"Welp," Liam said as he flopped back onto his bed and put the book down, "I need to sleep, or I won't be able to go one hundred percent tomorrow."
****
"Why are you doing more cardio?" Lee asked as Liam exceeded his regular time.
"Practising something," Liam answered as he finally stopped.
It was Saturday, so Lee had dragged Liam into a much more intense session than on the weekdays. Liam had been slightly more enthused than before, and Lee had been slightly confused.
Well, if it increases his later growth I guess its fine.
Lee stepped onto the mat, stretching, then beckoned to Liam, "Well, you've had your rest. Come forward."
Liam looked up from where he sat, then slowly nodded. He rose and stepped forward onto the mat.
The moment both his feet were on it, he ducked low the moment he lost sight of low.
Directly above him was Lee, swinging his right heel where Liam's head had been. Right before his foot landed, he kicked off his left foot into a powerful push kick.
Liam blocked the kick with raised arms, and slid back half a meter. Without waiting, he rolled to the side and got to his feet in time to parry a kick, lean out of the way of a punch, and slid back with ghost step to avoid a jab.
Unfortunately for him, Lee also knew the ghost step.
Liam blinked, and within that moment Lee had appeared before him with fist raised.
Liam let his body go slack the moment before Lee's fist clocked him in the jaw and rocked him off his feet.
Liam fell, and using that momentum he rolled his body back and jumped further away from Lee.
The fight doesn't end just because your enemy hit you. Get some distance and reassess the situation.
Liam kept his guard up and his eyes tracking Lee's movements as his opponent's words echoed in his mind.
Lee's hand twitched upward, and Liam shifted back in response.
No wait, he thought as Lee zipped forward. Before he could react, Lee had swept him off his feet and stomped on his chest.
"I trust that you know what happened?" Lee asked quietly.
"I fell for the taunt and let you notice me observing," Liam grunted.
"That's backwards, but correct. Don't forget that your opponent is watching you too," Lee said with a hint of satisfaction in his voice, "Your reactions could be better, but they've gotten sharper. Keep at it."
Liam sighed, I just guessed he'd do that, because the last time he stepped on the mat before me, I paid the very heavy price.
Lee sat at the edge of the mat and assumed lotus position, then took a few breaths and closed his eyes.
I guess it's time to work on my own meditation, Liam exhaled as he knelt a few feet away from Lee, keeping his feet apart and straightening his back.
With increased cardiovascular capabilities and increased lung capacity comes a naturally lower heart rate due to an increase in the volume of blood your heart pumps, which in turn leads to an increase in how much blood reaches the rest of your body.
I have to increase the efficiency of my heart, and focus on strengthening it as it's the core of my Venma.
After thirty minutes of quiet focus, feeling his heartbeat and recording the feeling to compare with later, Liam opened his eyes.
And at that moment, students began pouring into the Crucible.
"You can leave," Lee's sudden voice made Liam flinch, "You have other things to do right?"
"Y-yeah," Liam nodded as he stood and faced the coming crowd.
Calm down, it's just a few people. You don't know them, they don't know you, you avoid each other.
Liam steeled himself and walked briskly around the various groups of people, through spaces left by individuals, and exited the Crucible with a relieved sigh.
"Phew, almost thought I was done for..." Liam wiped the sweat off his forehead, "Alright. Time to go shower. Then I'll call home. What should I do after...?"
Liam thought deeply as he headed for the dorms.
"I'll go check out the library beside Administration," Liam smiled.
****
"So... this place is huge," Liam gaped after signing in with his CID.
In the center of the incredibly large building was a tall Acorn-Crown oak tree, its branches and leaves poking into the next two floors. The tree itself stood on a slightly raised bed of grass, the surrounding area covered in pavement instead of the wooden boards beneath Liam's feet.
Students and staff alike walked around its halls, and light shone down through the open ceiling. The tree filtered the sunlight, making the area much more comfortable for reading. Cleaning droids floated or rolled around as they took care of the tree and its surroundings, whilst other robots managed physical books, carrying them to and fro.
According to the map of the place Liam had downloaded onto his CID, the first two floors contained books and several reading spaces, whilst the uppermost floor held the computers and gadgets.
Man, you really can't beat the feeling of a real book, Liam smirked as he climbed up a wooden, well carved, winding staircase to the second floor, No wonder they didn't just replace everything with E-stuff.
"Now what should I read?" he muttered as he walked past the sections of books. He wasn't just passing by, he was looking for a place he could read in peace as he pulled out a few books.
Hmm... a History of inventions... alright. A Mo Encyclopedia... perfect. Ooh, a comic book series? ...From College To Killer? I'll read it after I'm done with the rest, so definitely adding that to the pile.
Liam soon found an empty table in a secluded corner of the floor, and gleefully sat down to read.
I think Lisa said she picked up yoga and Tai Chi... we're meeting up at noon to play video games right? I don't have to read everything today...
Liam slowly immersed himself in reading, starting with the History of Inventions. He would quietly flip through the book, occasionally exclaiming at something he didn't know before, flip back quickly as he realised some things were connected, and stared in surprise at the weird looking pictures of the inventors.
He closed the book after an hour and a quarter, then opened the Mo Encyclopedia after three minutes of quiet meditation. He took several pictures of Mo, muttered the descriptions of some, and laughed quietly at the names of others.
He put it down after forty minutes, as the book was quite large (5983 pages), then stretched out and sighed.
"Well that was pro-!"
Liam's voice caught in his throat at the sight of a dark skinned girl typing feverishly on her laptop before shifting it aside to mutter some stuff whilst looking through a book opened next to the device.
"...Let's quickly write down the expectation value for momentum... by symmetry, it has to be zero. No net movement left or right... hold up," she went back to typing, "Perfect. It all fits together."
Liam blinked in confusion as the girl tapped a few keys, then closed her computer with a relieved sigh before stretching with a satisfied smile.
Should... should I leave?! Liam thought with a straight face, Yeah, let's go before she notices-
"Oh, hi," the girl smiled at him.
"O-oh h-hi-hi!" Liam stammered.
NOOOO! he screamed inside.
"Hmm..." the girl tilted her head, narrowing her eyes at him, "You're... Liam right?"
Liam nodded repeatedly before stopping his head, I'm-am I supposed to recognize her back?
Liam glanced at her long black dreadlocks before saying: "A-and you're H-Hannah right?"
She smiled and chuckled, "That's me. You don't seem to be good around people, if you don't mind me saying."
Liam waved his hands repeatedly in front of him, "Um yes, b-but its not that bad!"
Hannah rose an eyebrow, amused, "You sure about that?"
Liam's ears turned scarlet in embarrassment, "No..."
Hannah chuckled, "You're like a patio house."
Liam looked up in absolute confusion, and Hannah opened house to explain before Liam's stammering stopped her.
"Y-you mean, I'm... introverted? People d-do call them 'i-introverted architecture'... oh sorry! I cut you off..."
Hannah's eyebrows were risen high in surprise, "Most people don't get that reference. Do you like architecture?"
Liam shook his head, "I p-prefer engineering actually, but I do l-like architecture to some extent..."
Hannah suddenly stood from her place, causing Liam to exclaim, and she moved round the table to sit beside him.
"WO-woah! What are you doing?!" Liam jumped, banging his knee on the table.
"I want you to take a look at something," Hannah said as she pulled her laptop closer and opened it. She opened a file and spun the device to Liam, who was clutching his knee with his head lowered.
"Can you help me with this?" Hannah asked as Liam looked up.
He blinked repeatedly, then looked at her in surprise.
"Do you want to build this?"