Chapter 198: How Espers Trained

Warning: Little Math Ahead!

At a hundred percent Sync Rate, Line Controllers were capable of moving objects at a speed of one metre per second, but following linear paths. The refined objects could only weigh a maximum of one kilogram in total, movable only a metre around them.

But, the weight limit didn't conform to a single Refined Object. The psychic energy of Espers was capable of seeping through objects. Meaning, given the objects were Refined Objects of the Line controller and were lined up one after another within the one metre range, then the Line Controller would be able to seep his/her psychic arm through all of them.

As long as the total weight doesn't exceed a kilogram, the Line Controller would be able to lift all the Refined Objects. Also, the restriction the Line Controller faced only conformed to the direction of movement and not his psychic arm's morphing.

The control of a Line Controller was only a single line, meaning a single direction. So, he could line up his psychic arm, thinking about it in reference to the three directional axes, X, Y, and Z.

Now, for assumption, let us assume the psychic arm of the line controller aligns with the positive X-axis.

Using his ability to move in a straight line, the Line Controller could make the psychic arm expand along the Y-axis, one point at a time, one after another. When he finishes it, his psychic arm would now resemble a square.

Similarly, he could repeat the same in the Z-axis, expanding one point after another, eventually ending up with a cube. Now, he could expand and contract similarly, the only limitation being able to move in a straight line, one at a time or a collective whole aligned in a straight line.

Suppose each point of the cube is made up of particles, possessing a definite mass and volume. Then, they would all be the Line Controller's Refined Objects, their motion controlled by him.

Now, the Line Controller would only be able to move them in a single direction as a collective whole, despite them being individual units. But, since his psychic energy—the building blocks of the psychic arm—has seeped through the particles, holding them in place, the Line Controller would be able to achieve something different.

Consider the cube to have a side of 80 centimetres. Suppose he chooses a point K(20, 30, 80)—situated 20 centimetres from the Y-axis, 30 centimetres from the X-axis, and 80 centimetres from the X-Y plane—with 100 units conforming to a metre in length and moves it up, it will create a point of vacancy in its original spot.

Suppose the Line Controller throws away the displaced particle; now, the cube is no longer a perfect cube; the point K920, 30, 80) becomes a void. Using his control, while holding all the particles in place, the Line Controller will be able to move one particle after another, changing the shape of the cube little by little.

Now, the task Madam Mila had assigned them was the same. They would have to pass their psychic arm through the glass jar, passing through all the yellow dust, arranging them into the shape of their face one particle after another.

Each particle wasn't too small, only half a millimetre, visible to the naked eye. This way, the Line Controllers were able to spot and move each particle without trouble. It was a daunting task, requiring monstrous patience and concentration.

It was assigned to them because concentration and patience were traits preferred to exist in Espers, either naturally imbued or artificially cultivated. Only then would they able to create complex structures in the future while in the Wilds, amidst battles.

Area Controllers were capable of moving objects in two directions simultaneously, capable of expanding and contracting along a plane. This allowed Jyorta to complete the task layer by layer, taking a shorter time as compared to his Line Controller peers.

When he becomes a Wave Controller in the future, he would be able to manoeuvre his psychic arm in three different directions. Therefore, Wave Controllers were capable of replicating their current task in a single second.

Line Controllers acted in one-dimension, Area Controllers acted in two-dimensions, and Wave Controllers acted in three-dimensions. This was why only from Tier 3 would Espers be capable of exhibiting their powers to the full extent.

Placing the glass jar on the table, Jyorta picked up a notebook and tore a blank page from it. Using a cellophane tape, he affixed it on the wall beside his bed, near his feet. He picked up a ball-point pen and sat on the bed, assuming a cross-legged pose.

He seeped his psychic arm into the pen, hovering it in the air. He brought the pen towards the paper, its nib situated a millimetre from the surface. With a thought, the pen began to rotate, spinning faster and faster.

He gently touched the spinning pen on the paper, immediately changing its direction, creating a curve on the paper. He moved the pen, limiting contact with the surface lest it bore a hole through the paper.

"Jyorta!"

He pressed and relaxed the pen for each word, using a scrip form to write the letters. Even though it read Jyorta, the handwriting was too shabby, as if written by a person who hadn't written for almost a year.

He stopped the pen's spin, bringing it towards him, and made to hover beside his ear. He then unleashed another psychic arm, using it to peel off the paper from the wall, watching many places form tears due to his lack of control.

He brought the paper before his face, inspecting the depth of the impression, commenting in praise, "The control is better than yesterday. The number of times the pen bored through the paper is one less than yesterday."

This was a simple but effective method he employed to raise his control in using his psychic arms. Only with greater skill would he be able to achieve more, the difference forming a gap between life and death in the Wilds.

He already began to plan and take everything seriously. There was no concept of higher education in Marble City; the military academy was the highest, equivalent to the 12th standard from the memories of his previous life.

Once they graduate from the military academy, they would enter society as full-fledged adults. Becoming soldiers was a mandatory requirement for everyone, irrespective of their status, pedigree, strength, authority, etc.

Becoming a soldier was the primary job requirement; they were also offered many options in regards to the subsidiary jobs which ranged between everything present in their society. Each job had its respective organisation.

When graduates from the military academy join the respective organisations, they will be taught while on the job. Every field required one to be aware of the relevant knowledge but, only until the military academy was one solely studying.

Beyond that, people were required to make time and study while simultaneously performing their jobs. Thanks to their enhanced selves, it wasn����t a difficult task to achieve.

Currently, Jyorta practiced moving the pen while it was spinning. The top speed an Area Controller could move an object was at 10 metres per second, given he had a Sync Rate of 100 percent. This speed wasn't even close to being lethal on regular humans, not to mention evolved beings present everywhere in their world.

Slashing a sword using his hand would be more lethal than a similar attack executed by an Area Controller at full power. This was why Jyorta emphasised controlling the pen while spinning it.

Spinning increased the power of penetration; the friction caused between the pointed tip, and the contact surface allowed the tip to drill through. Achieving rotation was simple for an Area Controller, the prime factor they depended on to perform many things.

Jyorta seeped his psychic arm along the longitudinal section of the pen, holding it firmly. Using the powers of an Area Controller to actuate in two different directions, he applied a force along the lateral direction, aiming at the spot right beneath the surface layer.

This maximised the effect of the torque created, causing the rpm to swiftly increase with little effort. Of the potential two directions he could actuate, one was used to create the rotation. He used the remaining to move the pen: forward, backward, along the sides, etc.

As long as he constantly varied the direction of the force designating the pen's movement, he would be able to write. The more he tried it, the greater his control improved. When he tried this method first, he failed to divert his attention to move the pen while spinning it.

Once it started to move, it stopped spinning and vice-versa. The more he practiced, the greater he began to get a hold of the ability to multitask two different actions at one time. It took him almost a month to get it correct, his concentration no longer breaking.

After that, he wanted to practice his control, switching over to writing on a piece of paper using a pen. This allowed him to further his concentration and the delicateness of his skill level. Only through repeated practice would he be able to execute an action instantly without any errors.

It took a lot of time to get accustomed to each minor Esper ability, since it delved into a new field humans were not imbued with by birth. As for Warriors, their strength mostly involved moving their bodies, which was something everyone did from birth, so they had it easy.

The only aspect they had to concentrate on was the Skills. The more they comprehended the workings of their Skills, the greater the effect they could achieve when using them. Bus, since even Skills correlated to affecting their body, or a part, they could train and improve. Their training was simple and only required repeated practice.

Warriors had it relatively easy as compared to Espers who had to master many delicate aspects, most of which depended on their thoughts. So, Espers had to constantly maintain clear thoughts.

A moment of chaos disrupts the order in the psychic energy they unleashed, dispersing it into the atmosphere. A single instant of distraction will cause their efforts to turn futile.