2nd Body Art: Maximum Performance

Maximum Performance is a 2nd Body Art designed for mages who need to push their bodies beyond typical limits for short bursts of peak performance. It allows a mage to temporarily operate at their absolute maximum potential, bypassing the usual restraints that the body imposes to prevent damage or exhaustion. The spell forces the body to function at the pinnacle of its abilities, enhancing all physical and magical processes, but with significant risks if used for extended periods.

1. Maximum Performance is a powerful but dangerous spell that temporarily pushes the mage's body and magic to its limits.
2. The spell operates within the constraints of the mage’s natural species' potential and does not exceed inherent limitations.
3. Prolonged use can cause both physical and magical damage, including Mana Cell Exhaustion, which requires advanced treatment to cure.
4. Proper application and restraint are essential to prevent long-term consequences, and understanding the mage’s species-specific potential is critical for maximizing the spell’s benefits without harm.

Effect

When activated, Maximum Performance unleashes the full capabilities of the mage’s body and mind, effectively maximizing every physical and magical attribute. The user will:

• Punch as hard as they possibly can.
• Move as fast as their body allows.
• Heal from injuries as quickly as their species can manage.
• Operate with peak senses, reflexes, and agility, all sharpened to their highest potential.

The mage reaches the zenith of their native species' potential, achieving a "pinnacle state." This condition enhances:

• Strength: The mage can exert force at their species' upper limits.
• Speed: Movement becomes as rapid as the body can withstand.
• Stamina: The mage can maintain intense physical or magical activity for as long as their body allows before exhaustion sets in.
• Senses: Sight, hearing, smell, and other senses are heightened to their natural maximum.
• Agility and Reflexes: The mage can react to stimuli almost instantaneously.
• Durability: The body becomes highly resistant to physical damage, though not impervious.
• Healing: Wounds and injuries heal at an accelerated rate, though not instantaneously.
• Magical Energy Processes: The spell increases the efficiency of mana production and recovery. Magical energy replenishment is sped up, and the output from mana cells is amplified, allowing the mage to cast more spells and regenerate magical energy at an accelerated rate.

However, Maximum Performance does not grant abilities beyond what the mage's species is naturally capable of, and does not automatically make them the pinnacle of their kind. For instance, if a human mage is naturally capable of reaching only 80% of the maximum strength of their species, Maximum Performance will push them to that 80%, not to the hypothetical 100% of the species' peak. The spell enhances the individual's inherent potential rather than granting new power levels.

Side/Secondary Effects

The benefits of Maximum Performance come at a significant cost. The body is not designed to sustain peak output indefinitely. While the spell allows a mage to function at the highest levels possible, it places intense strain on the body and mind. Prolonged use can lead to:

• Mana Cell Exhaustion (MCE): Overuse of magical energy can cause Mana Cell Exhaustion, also known as Arcane Degeneration Syndrome. This affliction arises from the overexertion and deterioration of mana cells, which are responsible for storing and distributing magical energy. Continuous use of Maximum Performance accelerates this process, causing cellular decay that limits the mage’s ability to control and use magic.
• Mages affected by MCE experience severe magical fatigue, loss of control over magical abilities, intense physical pain when casting spells, and an inability to replenish magical energy efficiently.
• If untreated, MCE can lead to chronic loss of magical potential and, in extreme cases, permanent damage to the mage’s ability to manipulate magical forces.
• Although the body can temporarily operate at its peak, it is not sustainable. Overuse of the spell can lead to muscle tears, joint damage, bone fractures, and nervous system degradation. A mage using this spell for too long risks irreparable harm to their physical body, which may require advanced magical healing or extensive recovery time.
• Operating at full capacity also strains the mind. The heightened reflexes, sensory overload, and rapid processing of information can lead to mental exhaustion, confusion, and in extreme cases, temporary loss of cognitive functions.

Mana Cell Exhaustion and Treatment

To address Mana Cell Exhaustion, mages must learn to balance the use of their magical and physical abilities. The most effective treatment for MCE involves the separation and purification of Yin (Mana) and Yang (Natural Energy) energies through a technique known as Re-Convergence. By reuniting these two forces, a mage can restore balance to their magical energy system and repair the damaged mana cells. Mastery of this technique requires extensive knowledge of the Yin Yang Paths, a challenging but necessary discipline for advanced mages.

As Above So Below As Within So Without Logo by Khali A. Crawford

Grandmaster SixPathsSage

Khali Crawford

   

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Related Discipline

The 2nd Body Art

Applied Restriction

It’s important to note that Maximum Performance is inherently tied to the mage’s species and natural limits. A human's maximum output will differ vastly from that of a Martian, an Asura, or other extraterrestrial or supernatural beings. The spell brings a mage to the peak of their individual potential, but not to an idealized version of their species. Therefore, the effect varies based on individual traits, genetics, and training.
For hybrid or half-breed mages, the dominant genetic makeup determines which species' pinnacle state they will achieve. For instance, a human-Martian hybrid with predominantly human traits will see their Maximum Performance capped by human limitations, even if their Martian ancestry suggests a higher potential. This can lead to confusion for those expecting to reach superhuman levels, as the spell does not override natural genetic boundaries.