The Martial Unity

He simply observed it, trying to get a better feel for it.

('It doesn't feel like it's conscious in the same way my brain is.') He mused.

Even its mental takeover was not something that the Symbiote was consciously doing, but rather something that was part of its biological programming. This matched the information that he had learned about it.

As time passed, the dormant brain began showing more and more activity. He felt excited at the prospect of mastering the extra brain capacity. However, that was not something that could be done quickly. The symbiote had grade-ten difficulty for a reason, and that reason wasn't purely due to the risk of being mentally taken over by the symbiote.

Currently, the brain was an empty slate. Neurons alone weren't enough for them to be of immediate use. It was like a computer without an operating system. There were training techniques that he would need to undergo, and planned to undergo in this training session.

There was only one training technique that was associated with the Mindmirror Symbiote. It was called the Mental Embed training technique. Even though it was only one, it alone was versatile enough to allow the user to accomplish a multitude of things.

It allowed the user to embed thought patterns into the secondary brain. These thoughts did not need to be limited to conscious thoughts; they could also be subconscious neurological patterns as well.

It essentially allowed the user to program the Mindmirror Symbiote like it was a computer. In order to get the Mindmirror Symbiote to aid the user in combat, one needed to embed all of one's combat thought patterns into the secondary brain using the Mental Embed training technique.

Once that was completed successfully, the secondary brain would then be able to function identically to Rui's main brain as far as combat processing went. It would be able to aid Rui in combat by doing so. With two brains processing data, his combat mental processing would boost tremendously.

Essentially, the secondary brain's primary purpose was to function as a parallel processor to the main brain, aiding all cognitive and neurological processes. This would boost all mental parameters such as battle cognition, spatial awareness, reaction speed, reflexive speed, kinetic vision, and other such phenomena vital to combat.

This boost would put Rui's mental parameters far beyond the limits of the Apprentice Realm!

He strongly suspected that he might even reach quasi-Squire level as far all mental parameters went with just this basic application alone!

There were even further ways it could be applied. After all, the Mental Embed technique was a technique that allowed the user to embed conscious thought patterns as well.

('This means I can embed the VOID algorithm and my Mind Palace into the secondary brain as well!') Rui grinned, eager to start training. Yet, at the same time, he didn't want to complete it too soon. The mental burden of the Mindmirror Symbiote only came after a successfully completed mental embed into the secondary brain.

After all, until then, the Mindmirror Symbiote didn't particularly interact with the main brain. That's why it wouldn't interfere with his training growth speed until after the mental embed was fully completed, which would only happen by the end of the training stage.

Once he embedded the VOID algorithm and Mind Palace, his utility of those would skyrocket. The best part about that was that he didn't need to constantly update the embedded thoughts, the secondary brain's cognitive capabilities were high enough to ensure that it was capable of growing based on the growth of the corresponding original thought patterns of the main brain.

He wanted to test the training technique right away but the doctor had instructed him to take it easy as far as straining the mind went, thus he had to abstain. The technique was important, but his literal mental health was even more so.

A day passed by and he was finally discharged.

"All your tests have come back fine." The doctor informed him as she skimmed through medical reports that had come back from the tests. "Again, make sure you get enough rest when get back, got it? No mental rejuvenation potions, make sure you get normal sleep, alright?"

"Will do." Rui nodded. "Thank you, doctor."

Once he bade her goodbye and finished a bit of paperwork, he immediately set back for the Martial Union, thinking back to the last few days he had spent in the Martial Union.

At the end of the day, he had never figured out which of the two hypotheses regarding the shadow clone was true. Was it really just a dream his mind had conjured up representing the state of the mental battle between the symbiote and his brain or was it genuinely the actual conflict itself?

He didn't know, but regardless, he had made a lot of gains from the conflict, unexpectedly. What he hadn't experienced, and didn't ever expect to experience, was fighting against the VOID algorithm. He hadn't realized how much of a blessing it was at the time, because of the things that were at stake at the time.

Fighting against the VOID algorithm gave him a perspective about it that he had never had before. He was able to appreciate and admire its prowess with pride, but he also gained a clearer perspective on its flaws and shortcomings. He understood them much more intimately than he had before. If it weren't for this experience, it would have taken him a long time to gain the understanding that the experience had yielded to him.

Rui had gotten several new ideas on how to partially solve the incompatibility issue of the VOID algorithm with the Martial Art of Gaia. Ideas that he likely would not have considered this early had he not fought against his clone. It was a rich and an unexpected gain that had come from the mental battle, and that alone justified the purchasing of the Mindmirror Symbiote.

"All in good time."