"Yours is still in its Mortal Stage. Your healing factor is far inferior compared to his."
"Wait, isn't the Lifestream Physique also Mortal Tier?" Spes frowned; the Medicus was spouting contradictory words.
The Medicus laughed in response, pausing his stirring motion to explain the matter in more detail.
"As I explained earlier, unlike the captain's physique, which grants both magical and physical enhancements, yours is limited to the latter. That's why it's been categorized within the Mortal Tier."
Spes nodded, another small thought crossing his mind about how much Crystal had been holding back during their last bout. Not only had he not witnessed the effects of this Awakened physique of hers, but her sword had stayed sheathed the entire fight.
"Focus. This is important," the Medicus snapped his fingers, noticing Spes's wandering mind.
"S-sorry, you can go on," Spes said, scratching his head apologetically and putting on a focused face for the old man.
"Mortal Tier implies that the higher tier physiques are superior. And that is completely correct."
Spes frowned again, confused about what point the Medicus was trying to make.
"But there are rare cases where that statement is wrong—where Mortal Tier physical enhancements are so powerful that they completely outperform higher tiers!"
"In those cases, they're no longer within the conventional Physique Grading methods. They're categorized within a special grading called the Mortal Scale."
"Sorry to interrupt, but... none of this is written on the page you showed me." Spes smiled wryly, wondering if the old man was just spouting nonsense, since the information Liber gave him after analyzing the Codex of Physique didn't mention anything about what he was saying.
"Knowledge doesn't only come from books, lad. I speak from experience. What I say comes from ancient texts I stumbled upon during my adventuring days." The old man coughed, a slight blush rising on his cheeks.
"You? An adventurer?" Spes held in a chuckle, unable to picture the mad drunkard in front of him as a valiant adventurer, skilled in both exploration and monster slaying.
"The old days... I was even considered an S-Class adventurer." The old man chuckled bitterly, his hands itching to grab a bottle of rum stashed in the closet behind him.
"Anyway, as I was saying—your Lifestream Physique is one of the rare physiques that falls under a new grading system: the Mortal Scale, with four scaling stages—Mortal >> Evolved Mortal >> Transcendent Mortal >> Immortal."
"If I were to guess, that one documented case with the same physique as yours would be at least in its Transcendent Mortal Stage."
"So I'm still in the Mortal Stage?"
"Yes, indeed," the Medicus nodded. "Specifically in the Early Phases of the Mortal Stage."
"You'll have to pass through Early Phase >> Middle Phase >> Late Phase >> Grand Completion >> Great Circle before you'll be able to break through to the next Stage," the Medicus added, returning to tend the concoction in the wooden bowl.
[[Analyzing information integrity...]]
[[Assessment: Credible]]
[[Database successfully updated]]
Liber's cold voice resounded as the Medicus finished speaking.
"And how do I cultivate this Lifestream Physique?" Spes asked.
"I don't know. Each physique has its own cultivation method. Sorry, lad—since yours is barely documented, you're on your own on this one."
"Any idea, Liber?" Spes smiled wryly, taking his chances with his other self. Maybe he'd have an answer.
"I have my speculations…" Liber mumbled.
"Each time you got beat up, your healing factor would slightly improve. The changes were minuscule, but the data is there. We'll have to do more testing on the matter."
Spes sighed, well aware that the 'tests' Liber mentioned, of course, meant more rounds of getting beat up.
"Hey, don't be down now." The Medicus patted Spes's shoulder, thinking the sigh was because of his weird, undocumented physique.
"Here, drink this. It'll make you feel better." The old man passed the wooden bowl to Spes.
"What is this?" Spes asked, eyeing the weird green liquid inside the bowl.
"I initially made this to help you heal from your broken ribs, but now that you're fully healed, I don't know what to do with it..."
"Take it—but don't drink it! We'll need it for future tests!" Liber exclaimed.
"Um… I'm feeling a bit full. Is it possible to bottle it up and drink it later?" Spes smiled, scratching his head.
"As long as it doesn't go to waste," the Medicus said, taking out a small leather flask and pouring the green liquid into it.