"Are you sure?" Fatania asked the next day. How had her spies missed this? How had this deer-kin, Nicola, found it? So many questions. She didn't like it. However, the news dispelled all her suspicions.

"I'm sure. The elves and the Dageth mages will be gone in two weeks," Nicola said.

Fatania mumbled as she paced about. It was the best chance they could've hoped for if this was true. She'd have to put some rat-kin on it to verify the information. Her distraction was so great that she didn't notice Azura arriving with the others for a long moment. When she did, she got a predatory smile. Deepmere was lightly defended, and soon, they would have five liquid-stage cultivators. It was almost time to put their plan into action. She would have to consult the other Mothers.

"Hey," Azura said. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing," Fatania said. "Just good news for a change." She regarded each of them. "It's time then?" Plans and worries fell away in her excitement.

"Yup," Azura said. Fatania noticed the excited energy of Azura's four companions. Tabatha was bouncing in place, unable to hold still. Her wonderful Hamal didn't let his excitement show, but she could tell it was there. Gwen had her standard, confident smirk in place. Gerald seemed drunk. That would've been concerning, except she had heard about what happened at the forge. He'd pound more than hot metal that day. She suppressed a smirk at that.

"Congratulations," Nicola said as he bowed to them. "May I watch? I'm eager for my own advancement."

"Nope," Azura chirped. "Trade secret until it's your turn."

"Of course, Magebane," Nicola said, bowing again.

"Fatania, we're using the private sparring arena. I don't want to be disturbed unless it's an emergency," Azura said.

"Huh, oh, sure. Most are busy cultivating. I'll ask your mother to keep an eye out. She can also help with any emergency healing."

"Good idea," Azura said.

Fatania took off to find a few of her rat-kin. She needed to follow up on Nicola's information immediately.

***

Nicola watched as the Magebane led the cultivators away. He'd hoped for a live viewing but knew better than to expect it. Nicola instead found a nearby area and prepared the artifacts Calvore had given him. He took a calming breath. This was it then. He did everything possible to limit the risks. The piece of information he gave Fatania would keep her distracted, along with the excitement of today's events. The odds were stacked in his favor as much as he could manage. He needed to know how to advance. From the depths of his cloak, he pulled out a small, plain talisman powered by the ambient mana. Nicola pressed it to his forehead after taking a lotus position. If anyone found him, they would assume he was deep in meditation. A common practice when cultivating.

"Activate," Nicola muttered. All his senses were magnified a hundredfold, focused in a single location. When the Magebane spoke, it sounded like she was right next to him.

"Is everyone ready?" The Magebane asked.

Oh, indeed I am, Nicola thought as he listened in.

***

"Is everyone ready?" Azura asked, getting affirmative nods all around.

"This next part will be your greatest challenge so far. You must push yourself beyond your limits. Compress your mana with the full might of your will. Hold nothing back." Azura raised her hand at the start of their protests. "I know you've been trying, but here's the secret. Your will isn't strong enough. So make it stronger. Use your mana to empower your mind. Enhance your willpower to the point where it can crush diamonds! Compact your mana! Don't let up for a single instant. This is why training with your mana is so important. Without the strong will and control you've developed over the past two years, you wouldn't be able to achieve this step. Now show me your resolve. ADVANCE!"

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Azura held her breath as the cultivators obeyed. Hamal's face was a mask of concentration. Tabatha had a bit of her tongue sticking out of her mouth as she focused. Too cute. Gerald had a concentrated expression as if he were working on a complicated smithing project. Gwen had a silent snarl. It looked like she was trying to intimidate the mana into compliance.

A minute passed by. Then ten. Azura started getting nervous. How long did it take her? She couldn't recall. Not that she paid any attention to such a minor detail at the time. It wasn't until the twenty-minute mark that she felt the first hint of a change. Hamal's mana was vibrating. That was the best description she could come up with. It was physically shrinking, but its presence grew larger at the same time. Larger than what should be allowed in the world. Was that ki forming? From the outside, it felt pretty weird. A similar sensation began to her right as Gwen's mana began copying Hamal's. Then Gerald and Tabatha started down their path. Once the limits of reality were weakened, the change became easier. She could feel the world straining to contain the newly formed ki. That was a bit worrying… It could just be her imagination. Then again, the formation of such concentrated power was bound to have side effects.

The change happened gradually over the next several minutes. When Azura's friends opened their eyes, she beamed at them. She couldn't feel any mana in them at all. Instead, she felt the raw warping potential of ki. They've done it.

"Congratulations!" Azura cheered. The four new liquid cultivator's expressions were that of pure wonder. Azura quickly went on, not wanting them to lose focus. That was for the party later.

"Now you have one last step to perform. Mana must be motionless to use. Ki is the opposite. It must flow. You need to spin your ki. Create a ki spiral. Spin it as fast as you can. Once that is done, the power will be yours." Azura said excitedly.

She grinned as each of her eager students closed their eyes once more, starting their ki spirals. Around the same time, their eyes opened, reflecting their absolute joy. Then, their expressions began to change. Suddenly, Hamal doubled over as he vomited out black sludge.

The smell! It was like inhaling deeply with your nose pressed up to a skunk's ass. Gods below… how had she forgotten? It was the purge…

The others stared at Hamal in horror but soon became preoccupied with their own concerns. Gwen simultaneously spewed black sludge from every orifice. She collapsed on the ground, twitching. Her trousers turned black from her lower releases. Fuck! The smell just doubled in intensity. How!? How was that even possible!? Such nastiness had to have a limit. Apparently not, as the smell took away what control the others had, intensifying with each release. Tabatha fell over backward, spewing in every direction. Gerald stumbled forward, tripping over Hamal. He then discharged all over the poor rat-kin. Azura felt her own bile rising. She wanted to vomit herself, but her ki-powered body made that impossible.

"Ah… yes… umm, that does happen…" Azura said, backing away. The stares she got were a potent combination of begging and a promise of a long, painful death. They couldn't maintain eye contact for long as more sludge was expelled. The stuff was everywhere. Azura backed away, not wanting to get any on her. The others were almost covered.

"It won't last too long… I think…umm, let me… umm," Azura panicked. What should she do? Another round of noxious secretions suddenly inspired her to take action.

"MOM!" Azura called, racing out of the sparring ring. She burst out of the private area and found her mother doing a bit of cultivation while waiting for them.

"What's wrong?" Coralline asked.

"Oh, um nothing… Nothing at all. Just a very, very small mishap. I've got to go. The fate of the kin race is at stake. Heard the mists were approaching," Azura said. She didn't dare to look back.

Her mother narrowed her eyes. "I didn't hear that."

"Oh, it was umm… from my super advanced cultivation technique. Gotta go! Oh, umm, can you get a bucket of hot water and soap for the others? Thanks, bye!"

Azura didn't wait for a reply as she raced off, past a violently vomiting deer-kin, away from the crime scene. Despite the distance, she could still hear her mother's shocked response.

"GODS BELOW! WHAT IS THAT STENCH!?"

Perhaps she could hide in the mists for a while. It would be far safer than here.

***

Nicola was in hell. WHY THE FUCK DID THE CHARM INCREASE HIS SENSE OF SMELL TOO! IT WON'T SHUT OFF! He clawed at his face, shoving grass up his nostrils in a vain attempt to end the torment. Tears streamed down his face as he slowly dragged himself away, a trail of vomit marking his path.

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