The Seasons seemed short for the Capital.
It rained a lot.
The wind from the nearby plateau had the heat from both suns as it traveled it along the Continent. Many incidents of robbery and heroics crossed the city, six months turned to two years in the blink of an eye.
Without fail, Zao Wu Hai had worked hard on himself. He studied hard and learned Push, Slick and Flash Step to near greater levels. His compression of the Darkflame Disc had gotten inspiration during training and thus reached a reduction of almost 75%. Rather than being several meters wide, it was about the size of Wu Hai's body.
The disc, with double power, was now less than half the size of the first Darkflame Ring.
"These infernal Fireballs make my job really difficult. It would be nice if the disc would integrate the Fireballs but that only makes it ripple." As if struck by another epiphany Zao Wu Hai channeled his Darkflame Disc and 3 Infernal Fireballs. It was like being stick under a net, he still mixed the two magics in an attempt to overcome his bottleneck and find a new route for his ability.
He felt dirty, there was a strange energy that came up his back while he was converging the spells.
The result was a small success.
The Disc, while it was obviously pregnant with fireballs, rose and fell in a type of current with the Fireballs rotating in the opposite direction. It looked like a brushstroke of black pulsing over red and blue hearts.
Thinking to himself a bit more, Zao Wu Hai decided to name it Bloodstroke Disc.
Directing the Bloodstroke Disc towards a beast in the distance, the first speedy disc finally set off after a target. The Beast burst into putrid colors when it impacted and then immediately the second and third explosions sounded. The few remains of the beast were pulverized into a mess.
Sensing like something was amiss, he waited for his master to come home to show him his results.
The Bloodstroke Disc was more than he expected. It was a lot easier to control it with the spells he had acquired but It didn't seem like it was something he should be doing. Feeling a little sick to his stomach he knelt down and spat out mouthful of fresh blood. He felt like he had pushed himself too far and that he was suffering a backlash for misuse of magic power. Having not considered this to be the issue because he still had power remaining, he cried out in pain, "MASTER!"
Walking from his room, Old Man Jiang noticed the bloodstain on the flagstones. With finger he pointed and a small flower sprouted in front of Wu Hai. The flower of Life, the Cost was great, but this child was like his own. Over the past two years Zao Wu Hai had shown considerable promise and the pride of Old Man Jiang grew. Watching his young apprentice convulsing he instructed Zao Wu Hai to eat the flower.
Wu Hai didn't know what else to do, he crushed the petals between his teeth and went for water to wash it down. The taste of bitterness and rust flowed down his throat. Soon his pale complexion returned to a rushing red.
The Old Man's life force was indeed strong. 'Brat. I was saving that energy for another time.' He lamented a bit but was grateful that his underling was still breathing. The Flower of Life was an extension of his own power, a concentrated source of rejuvenation that even the Old Hermit would savor like an Elixir.
Thankful, Wu Hai was kowtowing to his Master as the blood still hung from his mouth. He had suffered at the hands of his impatience and shortsightedness. Explaining what he was doing beforehand, Wu Hai saw his master laugh, and reach out a hand. "Wu Hai. That is the power of adherence, Where did you learn it? To be able to make something from so many sources is a heavy price, I'm surprised you didn't lose yourself completely and were still able to call out to me."
If it wasn't for the house window being open, Master Jiang might have been a little too late. Noticing the smoldering rock behind Zao Wu Hai, he pointed and had his disciple see the corrosive effect. "Those rocks are melting, do you know why? The Toxins accumulated in your body were expelled. Perhaps you had a fortunate event, instead of My flower of Life going to sustain your life a little longer, it seems I've just given you a gift as well. You didn't need it."
'Luck?' The Old Man's fury evaporated quickly and he drew out a chair.
The flagstone cracked in half, the ends still crumbling. "Such a high yang energy, you're likely going to have many lovers in the future. Child, Are you not blessed with luck?" He chuckled. "I was never going to give my flowers out to another. That cost me 10 years of work." Old Man Jiang didn't have any problems telling Wu Hai to repay the favor, it was not a simple gesture.
"When this disciple grows, I will remember this Old Master well." Wu Hai sensed his disharmony with his words... "Master is wise, He shows me gratitude and the ways of the world. To him I shall always be thankful."
"Silver tongue, Well it;s said that those with romance at heart have a shiny tongue. " Old Man Jiang joked. Zao Wu Hai had started to understand some of the jokes that Old Man Jiang would make, and while they didn't harm anyone, he still noticed them. Shrugging and standing to his feet Wu Hai could feel the redness from his face slowly subsiding. The energy from his Master had given him a boost in vitality, he could feel the energy coursing through his veins.
Facing his master, Wu Hai asked "Will it be safe to show you my progress with my new creation, Bloodstroke Disc?" With his head cast down, he waited for his masters response. It wouldn't be appropriate to test something out after what had just happened, at least, not without asking.
"Bloodstroke Disc, Why do the young always name things. Its fine, Let me see what you have conceived. You never seem to disappoint when you make a breakthrough, I'd like to see it again." Old Man Jiang knew he would see something new. If it was usable, he could even integrate the skill or practice it to enhance his own Magic. The first time they started training with the rings he had even had such an opportunity.
So, he sat in the chair he had created with his wood magic and watched.
Starting with the Darkflame Ring in his hand, Wu Hai compressed it with precision and knocked it flat, turning it to the Darkflame Disc.
Slapping noises and a high pitched whine echoed in the yard. Then, Wu Hai brought out the three infernal fireballs that were modified with the slick spell and very cleverly, slipped them inside the disc.
Dropping his teacup Old Man Jiang was use to seeing new things but this was outrageous. After the Infernal Fireballs entered the Darkflame Disc, a change occurred. They began circulating counterclockwise and created light friction.
Emitting a dazzling red and blue glitter as the fireballs passed through the ribbons of the black disc, it spin faster. With it compressed to the size of dinner plate, he raised it up into the air and applied the Push spell to the rear of the conjuring and they both watched it sail into the distance.
Old Man Jiang held his breath, eager to see what would happen. He had his hand on top of his head in anticipation.
When Wu Hai released it, he had control of its direction. Push would last for a short distance, he could release it's destructive force in the most optimum distance. Aiming at the mountainside, the Bloodstroke Disc came into contact with the earth at its base. After the explosions rang a small tunnel had appeared before quickly collapsing under the loose soil. It had reduced the rocks to dust..
Zao Wu Hai smiled and spat another small clot of dark blood.
'Again?' Old Man Jiang saw the rocks crack under the bloods toxicity.
The next two explosions came, drilling further and excavating a larger hole.
Alarmed, Old Man Jiang didn't expect a small display to cause such an effect. It wasn't like he dropped every last bit of his energy into the attack.
"Don't practice this anymore today, I want to research that side effect. You're spitting out blood, this isn't a game. So many changes to your body can send you into a state of shock, even kill you." With a stern look at Wu Hai, his Master forbid him to ever use this spell again except to save his own life. "The cost was too great. Do you hear me?, No more for now." Master Jiang kept thinking, 'It might not have been a backlash but still this is a power he shouldn't use lightly. I'll correct myself in the future if it comes up.'
Zao Wu Hai froze in place. He expected his master to be happy but as quickly as his happiness accumulated, it disappeared when blood hit the ground. "Yes, Master." With a heavy heart, he steeled himself and repeated it in his own head to make sure he never used the skill again. For whatever reason, the spell was doing something to him. It was obvious that the power was great, but great power costs a great price.
Thinking back to what his mother had told him, he started to miss his family.
It was Wu Hai's second year away from home. Zhan could have completed his quest, he could have already returned, only to see his little brother had gone without his knowing.
'Zhan would probably never let it go.' Wu Hai went to clean himself up.
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