Chapter 95
If you strike yourself in the vital point with your power, youll be healed.
What?
Princess Adelines gaze faltered. She struggled to grasp the meaning behind the words.
What is the intent behind this individuals words?
Aiming at oneself?
Targeting a vital area?
Is she meant to carry out this action on her own, and would it truly alleviate the discomfort from gallstones?
Her countenance became more resolute.
She had a fleeting desire to believe it, but it appeared to be a cruel jest. This individual seemed intent on deceiving her until the very end.
The trust she had been building towards Raciel rapidly crumbled. In fact, it was in the process of crumbling when Raciel intervened.
I will utilize extracorporeal shock wave therapy to address your gallstones, Raciel stated.
Extracorporeal shock waves?
I will overlay my Asrahan Core technique onto the mana that you emit with your power. I will direct the trajectory of the mana shockwave. This should make it feasible.
What was he discussing? The princess was perplexed. Raciel continued with his explanation.
As you are likely aware, the Asrahan Core technique possesses a specialized ability to absorb or direct mana. Consequently, if you release a small amount of mana towards your critical point, I will guide it.
Guide it? To where?
To the gallstones in your gallbladder.
A meaningful smile graced the corners of Raciels mouth. He simply needed to guide the mana to precisely strike the gallstones. After a few strikes, the gallstones would fragment. Such was the foundation of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT).
Extracorporeal shock waves. A term familiar to those who have endured shoulder pain or kidney stones.
The history of ESWT wasnt extensive. It emerged around the era of World War II.
On the battlefield, it was revealed that a soldier who hadnt sustained direct physical harm from an explosion could still succumb to the shockwave. People began contemplating ways to apply this principle in diverse fields, including medicine.
As a result, scientists made numerous attempts, and eventually, a scientist backed by the German Department of Defense achieved success in human trials. In 1984, it gained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The technology underwent refinement and enhancement.
Hence, ESWT came into existence. It was a therapy that projected artificially generated shock waves from outside the body onto specific internal areas, facilitating the breakdown of stones or aiding tissue recovery.
And its viable here as well. Ive practiced it with Demian.
Prior to the princesss arrival in the Star Palace, Raciel had enlisted Demian for practice sessions. They had undergone multiple trials and errors.
We conducted experiments using a sizable piece of pork. I had Demian unleash a mana shockwave at the meat, and I guided it with the Asrahan Core technique. I directed the mana to collide with a pea measuring 5mm attached to the rear of the meat.
Initially, it presented challenges, but gradually, he mastered it. Ultimately, he managed to strike only the pea without causing any harm to the meat in front of it. Not even a faint bruise remained on the meat. It was an unblemished success.
The pivotal factor for success is delicate control. Its imperative to maintain focus while guiding the mana to its destination.
Similar to a Terran ghost guiding a nuclear launch in a video game, or to accurately reporting a traffic violation through a citizens reporting app to precisely issue a fine.
Raciel possessed confidence in his ability to guide the mana accurately. He was certain he could eliminate the gallstones. And with that self-assurance and conviction, he asserted,
You can accomplish it. You can eliminate the gallstones. You can regain your health.
Adeline felt perplexed.
She was already in good health. She jogged 15 kilometers every morning. She could currently lift 300 kilograms effortlessly. If she were tossed into any den of bandits, she could easily subdue them on her own.
Yet, Raciels audacious persuasion persisted.
Its too soon to give up. Its too early to relinquish hope.
There are still numerous wonderful things in the world.
Please.
Please, what?
Consider trying the extracorporeal shock wave therapy.
So, youre asking me to strike my crucial point by myself, as you mentioned?
Yes.
The prince nodded with confidence and composure, as if it were an evident course of action.
However, Adeline wasnt easily swayed. She opted to transform this situation into an opportunity instead.
If I consent to your extracorporeal
Shock wave therapy.
Yes. If I agree to the extracorporeal shock wave therapy, youll need to fulfill one of my requests as well.
A negotiation?
Yes.
What is your request?
Just as she pondered this,
Great job. You aimed well. Can you see the display in front of you?
Lifting her gaze at the princes voice, she beheld a hovering holographic screen. It bore a resemblance to the medical screen she had observed earlier, depicting a detailed view of her gallbladder and the multitude of gallstones within. One stone had been magnified, revealing a minuscule crack on its surface that hadnt existed before.
The crack youre observing on the gallstone is a result of the mana you just unleashed, the prince elucidated.
Could it be true?
Repeat the process, just as before. Emit your energy.
Adeline unwittingly adhered to the princes directive. Her fist harbored greater potency than before. She channeled a substantially larger amount of mana than previously and set it free.
Thump-!
What would transpire this time?
Curiosity brimmed within her.
Hope blossomed.
Yet once more, she perceived nothing within her abdomen. Instead, the stone on the display of the Pobokis flame fin quivered profoundly, as if it had encountered a robust impact.
Crack!
The crack had slightly enlarged.
Now it was confirmed. It appeared the princes statements held validity.
Good. Youre making excellent progress. Lets persist.
If that was the case, she welcomed it wholeheartedly.
Adeline offered a faint smile.
It was from then on.
She tightly gripped her fist. She bore a more substantial amount of mana than previously. She directed it repeatedly towards her crucial points. Despite her efforts, she encountered no impact and observed the steadily widening crack in the stone on the display, marveling at this remarkable occurrence.
She unleashed it, then unleashed it once more.
Thud! Thump!
How many times had she targeted her crucial points? How many times had she suppressed her astonishment? She hadnt kept an exact tally, but it seemed like she had done so more than twenty times. In that instance, the stone on the screen finally fragmented.
Crash!
Phew!
She had succeeded.
Adeline experienced an indescribable refreshing sensation. The elation of shattering that repulsive mass that had formed within her abdomen. The unexpected opportunity to witness it happening in real time lifted her spirits.
A profound sense of accomplishment washed over her. The princes commendation, voiced from behind her, further buoyed her emotions.
Alright, thats sufficient. As you can observe, the stone has been completely broken. You did exceptionally well for your first attempt.
Is that so?
Yes. The fragments of the shattered stone will naturally be expelled through your bile duct, so theres no need for concern. Well conclude todays session here.
What?
Already?
Its concluded?
Adeline experienced an odd tinge of regret. Since she had already commenced, she pondered whether she could shatter just one more stone. Lets do more. Lets break all of them today. She wished to convey this to the prince. She turned around, and only then did she notice.
What?
The princes countenance was as pallid as a sheet of white paper. Cold sweat trickled down his visage, resembling someone teetering on the edge of collapse.
Why? What transpired?
Initially, she was taken aback.
Then, she experienced a sudden recollection. The surge of mana she had aimed at her vital points, coupled with her lack of sensation despite doing so. She had assumed that the shockwave had vanished entirely.
Yet had it truly vanished?
She hesitated.
It hadnt vanished. It couldnt have. It defied possibility. Even a regular impact, akin to striking a desk with the palm of ones hand, inherently disperses to the surroundings.
But if she hadnt felt any impact in her abdomen? Had the shockwave generated by striking the stone simply dissipated without cause?
If it hadnt dissipated, then where had it gone?
Could it be that you
A weighty realization struck her in an instant. Her eyes quivered with astonishment.
(To be Continued)
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