*Boooom*
Most people would fear for their child's safety if they suddenly explode and rematerialize into solid state. But my father is certainly not most people, that I have learned though his interactions with my mother.
"Hmm, that explosion wasn't nearly as big as the first one but it will have to suffice. Have you tried controlling how big your explosions are?"
"No. I didn't even think of that."
'He's got such good battle sense but he's hopeless.'
"Ok let's try this again" I say as I activate my innate skill [Plasma Phase]
When I activate it this time I focus the immense energy all into my hand.
'Wait this feels natural'
With that thought my hand explodes and quickly rematerializes.
'Hmm, what if I do this'
I walk up to a tree and raise my arm for a punch. As my arm extends I explode the end of my elbow which propels my arm forwards in a flash. I suddenly find myself five feet forwards the tree behind me.
I look back and the tree has fallen forwards. Then without warning I feel a sharp pain emanate out from my arm. I look and see a horrendous sight.
My arm starting from the middle of my fist down to my elbow has been split down to the bone. It then dawns on me that I really am only a five year old and I let out a terrible scream.
My father flashes to me and calmly inspects my arm.
"Eleos I know this hurts a lot but I want you to try something right now. It may make it better but it may make it worse. I really don't know. I want you to explode your injured arm. Can you do that for me?"
Barely able to focus, I manage to catch his instructions and I quickly carry them out. I use [Plasma Phase] to explode my arm. When I do the pain disappears instantly and my arm rematerializes. Completely healed, as if it had taken no damage in the first place.
'Scary' Mareem thought to himself, 'This power it's almost like…'
"That's so much better thank you. I would have never thought of that"
"Eleos, I don't want you using your power like that anymore. You may have destroyed the tree but it's drawback is too great. You need to find some other way to utilize your power."
"But dad, if I just explode it to heal it I can use the technique again. There's no real drawback."
"There is though. In a real fight had you used this technique and injured yourself like that no matter your pain tolerance you would naturally have to pause and lose focus. That moment is all your opponent needs to get the better of you. So that is why I am forbidding you from using your power like that."
"And do you remember how you're supposed to address me. For the next month your warm up will be doubled to two hours as punishment"
"Yes sir". I say dejectedly.
'There must be some way to mitigate that drawback I just have to think'
"Now son, let's spar again but this time we're both going to use our innate skills"
"Yes sir"
We make our way to a small clearing a little bit away from our house so we don't damage the yard. My mother gave is both a good scolding for that crater my dad put in the yard. She's scary.
"Ok let's begin"
Flash. My father is suddenly right in front of me so I unknowingly take one step back. He punches out with his left towards my face so at the last second I move my head to the left and I explode my body.
*Boooom*
'I've got him this time' I think as I rematerialize. Suddenly I feel the wind of his fist approach so I duck underneath and dash to the right. The smoke clears and my father is standing without a scratch.
"How?" I ask.
"I said I would use my innate ability too didn't I"
"With my [Shield Conjure] skill being at the [Perfect] level an explosion of this size is nothing but child's play. You're gonna have to try a whole lot harder to even scuff your old man. Let's continue."
This time I decide to go on the offensive. I explode my back and sail forwards at great speed. My father simply steps to the side but that's exactly what I wanted him to do. I've observed how he fights and I've noticed he likes to minimize his movements as much as possible. So with my momentum at its maximum and him to the side of me I spin.
When I spin I lower my body and stick my leg out to perform a low wheel kick to my father's forward leg. In response he raises his leg so I miss.
But I'm not done. I continue to spin and I throw a flying round house kick to his upper thigh. My father turns his raised leg so my shin impacts with his. I feel a sharp pain from my shin but I ignore it because now I have him where I want him.
I quickly pull my leg back and I continue to spin and when I finish the spin my back is to him and my other leg shoots out backwards as I explode the forward part of my body adding to my momentum and blowing my father back with a powerful back kick.
He grunts as his back hits the tree. He begins to laugh maniacally. When he finally finishes he says:
"Now that's more like it. You're definitely my son aren't you. There's no way you'd be anyone else's kid. You met, nay, vastly exceeded my expectations. You even managed to give me a bruise. Look at my arm kid."
Pulling up his pant leg he shows a large bruise forming.
"And that last kick. That would have been devastating if you were fighting anyone else but me. I only managed to block it in time because I know what your innate skill is. I definitely wouldn't want to be hit by a back kick like that."
"Kid. I love you. Let's continue, this old man has got some moves he wants you to learn. Try to keep up."
And with that, living hell, ensued. I learned so many things in the following month and my body physique vastly improved due to my punishment. I even gained a new basic skill out of this training.
End of chapter ten