Under the gray sky, the Jigoku Clan's training ground buzzed with a tense energy as the children gathered in their usual stoic silence. Each one carried themselves with an air of pride, their eyes reflecting a mixture of ambition and disdain for their peers.
Haruto Arata sat among them, his white hair a stark contrast against the backdrop of the rugged mountains. Despite his youth, his gaze held a steely determination, a silent resolve to prove himself in the eyes of his clan.
The instructor, a formidable figure with a stern demeanor, stood at the center of the training ground, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the children.
"Listen up!" he commanded, his tone brooking no argument. "Today, we will have a sparring match to determine who among you is worthy of receiving the ancient guide on chi control and gathering."
Haruto looked around as the dead in everyone's eyes was replaced with hunger, they shifted their bodies and some even smirking as if saying the prize is as good as mine, the wind blowing and kicking up sand, tainting his white hair with a hue of redish orange.
A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd as the prospect of gaining knowledge and power ignited a spark of ambition in their hearts. In a world where strength equated to status, the opportunity to gain an advantage over their peers was not to be taken lightly.
"Pair up!" the instructor ordered, his gaze sweeping over the assembled children. "The winner of each match will move on to the next round until only one remains."
With a sense of grim determination, the children obeyed, forming pairs and preparing to face off against one another. Haruto found himself paired with a fellow student, a boy with a fierce glint in his eyes and a reputation for his prowess in combat.
As the matches began, the training ground erupted into a flurry of movement and sound. Bodies clashed, fists flew, and cries of exertion filled the air as the children fought with all their might, each one driven by the desire to emerge victorious.
Haruto's opponent proved to be a formidable adversary, his strikes swift and precise as he sought to overwhelm his opponent. But Haruto refused to back down, his determination fueling his every move as he pushed himself to the limit.
Haruto was a hero in his past life, he knew countless martial arts but the main problem he was facing with his opponent was the lack of strength, he could see the moves of his opponent, but his body could not keep up with his thoughts.
As the match wore on, Haruto struggled to keep pace with his opponent's relentless assault. Each blow landed with bone-jarring force, threatening to break through his defenses and leave him vulnerable to defeat.
But despite the odds stacked against him, Haruto refused to yield. With every strike he blocked and every blow he countered, he drew upon the teachings of his past life, channeling the skills and techniques of a hero long forgotten.
'If this keeps up.. I'm going to lose' Haruto thought to himself as he gritted his teeth, throwing caution to the wind, he let one of his opponents hit him on the shoulder as he sacrificed it to gain a chance to get close, he threw out one of his own punch planting it squarely on the opponents jaw.
Not allowing much room to retrat he pressed on with his attack as heaimed for the area behind the knee forcing his towering opponent down to his level and planting two rapid blows to the neck and jaw. knocking him out and letting his heavy body hit the ground.
struggling to take in air, Haruto could barely move his left hand, the dust kicked up made breathing difficult. he had taken to much damage. but he knew he needed to win that scroll.
despite being the illegitement child of Lord Bloodfire, he wasn't the only one, the lord had an insatiable hunger for a new beauty everyday, infact the jigoku clan had an are specific for keeping all his concubines and even among some of then students here he knew more than twenty that are on the same boat as him.
Standing out was the only way to prove you were worth something, and the only reason some of the woman a still under the care of the clan is because their child has potential to awaken the jigoku. those who reach 20 without awakening it are killed if they weren't from the main branch of the family.
As the dust settled on the training ground, only six students remained standing, including Haruto. The others, bruised and battered, were either carried off by attendants or limped away, nursing their injuries. The tension in the air was palpable as the remaining contenders awaited the next command from their instructor.
With a stern expression, the master summoned chi, his hands glowing with energy as he planted them firmly on the ground. A low rumble reverberated through the earth beneath their feet as the ground began to elevate slightly, threatening to throw them off balance. Some students teetered on the edge, struggling to maintain their stance as they grappled with the shifting terrain.
Haruto narrowed his eyes, his focus sharpening as he adjusted to the unstable ground. This was no ordinary sparring match; the stakes had been raised, and the use of chi techniques was now permitted. It was a test of skill, strength, and adaptability, a challenge that would push them to their limits.
"From this point on, the use of Chi and techniques is allowed, you have five minutes to prepare and your opponent will be chosen by me."
Gathered in a circle, the six remaining students watched intently as the instructor prepared to enlighten them about the mysteries of chi. His voice carried a weight of authority as he began to speak, his words commanding their full attention.
"Chi," he began, his voice resonating with a quiet power, "is the life force that flows through all living beings. It is the essence of our existence, the energy that sustains us and connects us to the world around us."
He paused, allowing his words to sink in before continuing. "But chi is more than just a philosophical concept; it is a tangible force that can be harnessed and manipulated to achieve extraordinary feats. Through the mastery of chi, one can unlock incredible powers and unleash their full potential."
The instructor's eyes gleamed with intensity as he spoke, his passion for the subject evident in every word. "Each of you possesses a unique affinity for a specific elemental attribute—be it fire, water, earth, or air. This affinity determines the type of chi you can harness and the abilities you can unlock."
He gestured to the students, his gaze sweeping over each of them in turn. "For example, those with an affinity for fire can summon chi energy and flood the gates of their attribute with it, producing visible and tangible flames. With practice and dedication, they can learn to shape and control these flames as they see fit, bending them to their will with precision and skill."
The instructor's words painted a vivid picture in the minds of the students, sparking their imagination and igniting a hunger for knowledge. They listened intently, hanging on his every word as he delved deeper into the intricacies of chi manipulation.
"As you continue your training, you will learn to channel chi energy through your body, allowing it to flow freely and unhindered. With each passing day, your control over chi will grow stronger, and you will unlock new techniques and abilities that will set you apart from your peers."
He paused, his eyes locking with each student in turn, his gaze piercing and unwavering. "But remember, the path of chi mastery is not an easy one. It requires discipline, dedication, and a willingness to push past your limits. Only through perseverance and hard work can you hope to unlock the full potential of your chi and achieve greatness."
Haruto looked around the other five standing on the arena, one a girl with jet black hair tied in a pony tails, the harsh sun drew attention to her figure as she titened her robes in preparation for battle, she sat down and meditated, in seconds visible energy gathered around her, entering her body. she was replenishing her reserve.
Haruto looked around and his gaze was met by the other, before they each fel to the ground and started gathering there own chi, but unlike the girl, they harvested from the energy withing them, while she stole energy from the environment.
'Crap, I can't do techniques, I don't even know my attributes. Every member of the jigoku clan is supposed to have a fire attribute, but there are those without fire and those with more than one, this girl has three attributes, I need a plan just incase she'smy opponent. Hi energy circling around his body, at the moments only streams of it like rogue vains in his own body, his flow of chi wasn't that great and he struggled getting the energy under control.
The prize would help him much more than the girl who seemed to be able to take energy from the outside world already. sweat dripping from his face, as he strained to direct the energy to his core.