Lord of the Time: I Can Reincarnate Infinitely

Five more days zipped by, and Caleb's grasp of Ki had grown remarkably. He had mastered the ability to coat his palms and the soles of his feet with Ki, though he was still working on extending this coverage further. While sitting by the river, Caleb demonstrated his new skill, a faint blue glow emanating from his hands and feet as he focused.

"See, I can control it much better now, but just on my hands and feet," Caleb explained, showing off by pushing against a large rock, leaving slight impressions where the Ki-enhanced touch had made contact.

The Ant King, perched on a nearby stone, nodded approvingly but with a hint of curiosity. "You're progressing fast, that's for sure. But tell me, Caleb, why are you so keen on mastering Ki when you're already strong enough to take down a Level 4 monster without it?"

Caleb chuckled, resting back against the grass, looking up at the sky. "Honestly? It's fun. There's something about learning Ki that's just... exciting. Plus, it adds another layer to my abilities—can't hurt to have more tricks up my sleeve, right?"

The Ant King laughed along, his antennae twitching amusedly. "That's a good spirit to have. Enjoying the learning process is crucial, and it's clear you're having a blast with it."

Caleb sat up, his expression turning thoughtful. "It's not just about fighting stronger monsters. Learning Ki feels like it's opening up new doors for me, like I'm connecting with this world on a different level. It's fascinating to see what I can do as I get better."

The Ant King nodded, his eyes reflecting a mix of respect and fascination. "Ki will definitely open new horizons for you. Just remember, it's a deep well to explore. Covering your entire body with Ki will take time and patience. Most folks take years to get there."

"I'm in no rush," Caleb replied, stretching his legs. "Each step is a new discovery. And who knows? Maybe it'll lead to something even bigger than just fighting monsters."

...

Caleb and the Ant King sat beside the river, the gentle sounds of water flowing by complementing their serious conversation. "I think it's time I headed back to the human kingdom," Caleb mused, looking thoughtfully at the swirling water. "I still have that quest from the adventurers' guild I need to finish up. I've left it hanging for too long."

The Ant King tilted his head, curiosity evident in his posture. "What's the quest about? What monsters do you need to hunt down?"

Caleb leaned back, picking a blade of grass and twirling it between his fingers. "It's actually quite a basic task. I need to collect Yena plants. They're not even that far from here, just a bit north towards the edge of this region. They're guarded by some level 1 monsters, nothing I can't handle easily now."

The Ant King's antennae perked up at the mention of Yena plants. "Yena plants, huh? Those are quite common around here. But be careful, the creatures guarding them are not much of a threat to someone like you, but they can be tricky. They're called Feral Sprites—tiny creatures, really, but they can swarm and overwhelm if you're not careful."@@novelbin@@

Caleb nodded appreciatively, absorbing every detail. "Swarming creatures? That sounds more annoying than challenging. What are their weaknesses?"

"They're particularly vulnerable to fire and loud noises. A bit of Ki infused with heat, or even just clapping loudly, can scatter them or drive them off. They're simple-minded, driven mostly by instinct to protect the Yena plants, which they feed off for their magical properties," the Ant King explained, his voice dropping to an instructive whisper.

Caleb stood up, stretching his limbs, his eyes set on the horizon where the mission awaited. "Well, that settles it. I'll head out tomorrow at dawn. And don't worry, I'll be back soon. This Ki training is just on pause, not stopping for good. There's much more I want to explore."

The Ant King nodded, looking slightly forlorn yet understanding. "I'll be here, Caleb. Safe travels, and remember what you've learned about the Ki. It might come in handy even against those small critters."

Caleb grinned, the thrill of adventure sparking in his eyes. "Thanks, buddy. I'll see you soon. And who knows? Maybe I'll bring back some interesting stories." With that, Caleb turned towards his temporary shelter, ready to prepare for the journey back to civilization and the completion of his guild mission.

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...

For five long hours, Caleb trekked through the wilderness, his eyes keenly scanning the landscape. He was on a mission to find Yena plants, which the Ant King had told him were guarded by peculiar little monsters known as Feral Sprites. When he finally spotted the vibrant green plants, speckled with tiny blue flowers, Caleb didn't rush in. Instead, he found a comfortable spot hidden among the bushes and settled down to watch the creatures.

The Feral Sprites were fascinating. Small, nimble, and glowing faintly with an ethereal light, they darted around the plants energetically. Caleb spent a good ten minutes just observing their movements, trying to discern any patterns in their behavior. They seemed to move randomly, but a closer look revealed a sort of rhythm to their chaos, a dance dictated by the invisible cues of nature.

As he watched, Caleb's mind began to wander. An intriguing thought popped into his head—what if he fuse his genetic energy with the Ki he had been practicing with? The potential power boost was tantalizing; it could elevate his Ki to a level strong enough to rival the destructive force of destroying a planet, a level his genetic energy was currently at. The very idea made his heart race with excitement.

However, Caleb was also aware of the risks. Fusing his genetic energy into his Ki could mean losing genetic energy forever, along with all the genetic abilities that relied on it. The trade-off was massive. After a moment of internal debate, he sighed and shook his head. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all. Part of the fun was the journey, the slow mastery of Ki, the incremental gains that each day of practice brought. Why rush it?

Deciding to stick with his current pace of learning, Caleb turned his attention back to the task at hand. He needed to gather some of the Yena plants, but first, he had to deal with the guardians. With a playful grin, he stood up, dusted off his pants, and stretched his arms above his head.

"Time to have a little fun," he muttered to himself, stepping out from his hiding spot. He clapped his hands loudly using ki, the sound echoing through the area—a simple trick the Ant King had mentioned. Startled, the Feral Sprites scattered in every direction, their formation broken. Caleb chuckled softly and moved forward to collect the plants, enjoying the simplicity of the task. It was just another small adventure in the grand scheme of things, but it was exactly what he needed.