This time, I wasn't out for too long.
I opened my eyes and jolted up, my eyes rushing to find out the aftermath of our battle.
"...!"
I couldn't hide my surprise.
What greeted me was a half-blown cliff. It was in smithereens.
'Did I do this?'
Of course, it was me. Master didn't attack me during our bout. He was focused on dodging and blocking my barrage.
'Wait, Master!'
Where was he?
I looked for him frantically. I knew that he would be fine but a part of my mind told me I was the victor. I wanted to see it for myself.
"You have improved."
Before I could get up, Master's voice flowed in my ears.
I cranked my head to look at him.
He was unharmed, not a single scratch.
"Deriving new formations from a single one, that's something only a martial arts genius could do. Though your formations still have many flaws, it's still a great feat.."
Did he know about my third formation too?
'Right. He was the one who brought me home when I fainted in the forest.'
"You truly are a genius, my disciple."
His praises left me with a bitter feeling.
Every disciple dreams of surpassing their Master. And I was the same.
I had thought I could finally do something to him, even scratch would suffice. But it seemed I forgot who he was.
The only thing my fists did was tear his clothes.
'I was too arrogant…'
This was something to reflect on.
"Get up."
"Yes."
I got up and stared down the cliff. It was a mess. Almost half of the cliff was gone and it felt like the rest would crumble soon. It was as if a dragon had swallowed the cliff.
"Let's get out of here. We don't want to be buried under a cliff."
***
"Haa…"
A sigh escaped my lips.
{Demonic Dragon Formations (Grade-5)}
-Demonic Fists Formation gave birth to a dragon that flew through the heavens, exerting a force that made one shudder in fear and boasting enough power to reduce anything to dust. But Demonic Dragon Formations follow the life of a dragon— from its birth to its end. Be the dragon that conquers all!
-There are only three formations. Make new formations to raise its grade.
Master's Demonic Fists Formation was Grade-2 with only one formation. I couldn't understand it back then, but now I could see what kind of monstrosity Master was. For me, I had to make new formations to raise the grade of the skill, but Master had already presented it to an apex that seemed too high for me with a single formation. That was admirable and terrifying at the same time.
'But now, I also have a chance to be that strong.'
The principles behind the new formations were similar to the sword dances Master used to let me observe. And the movements were derived from the first formations of Demonic Fists, Birth of the Demonic Dragon. My movements were picky and arrogant but surprisingly, they synchronised with the principles and the basis of the formations.
'But I am stuck now.'
I hit a ceiling that I couldn't break.
"Haa… better to think about it later."
It was time to visit hell.
"Fuu… it will be fine. Today is the last day."
{Curse uplifted- 98%}
I thought that it would take three or four months for the curse to be lifted but I was utterly wrong. There were nights when the number wouldn't budge, frozen, refusing to go up. Those were frustrating times.
"Today will be the last."
Creak—
The sound of the old door opening entered my ears. Master was here.
"Let's get over it."
"Yes."
Master and I didn't share any words for a while. He was sticking needles in my body and I was quietly taking them all.
The acupoints of my chiselled body were pierced and soon, my body relaxed.
"Fuu…"
But the real thing starts now.
Crackle—
A blue lightning streak crackled from Master's hands. They were kind and warm now but felt like they could consume me in an instant if I were to oppose them.
"You know what to do, right?"
"Yes, I know."
First, never oppose the blue.
"Ugh…!"
The blue lightning entered my body through the needles, travelling their way through my acupoints.
They were excruciating. If not for needles blocking some pain receptors, I would have gone mad from the torture.
"Argh…!"
Muffled groans flew out of my mouth. The lightning was, quite literally, burning my insides, roasting them. But all the streaks that entered my body had a single destination— my heart. That's where the curse was bound in me, making this body go through endless suffering before dying.
"Ugh…!"
I clenched my fists and ground my teeth. The pain was raging in me. Something was breaking, a chain was losing its grip on me.
{Curse uplifted-99%}
"Just a little more…!"
Master was also giving his all to dispelling the curse. He seemed to be struggling with the last bit as I could see him huffing and gritting his teeth.
"...!"
A sudden surge of agony flowed in me. I felt my heart being clutched by something, trying to squash it. It was that curse. It was trying to resist the dispel.
"ARGHHHH!!!"
My body glowed in a bright white, dyeing the small hut in snow white.
My vision slowly blurred and my mind drifted away into oblivion.
***