As the tense silence hung thick in the air, Haruto breathed out a sigh, the fog seeming to lift momentarily, as though sensing the atmosphere around them. Amidst the scrutiny of fourteen pairs of eyes, Haruto felt a wave of boredom wash over him.
*SIGH*
'People are like books' he mused inwardly 'varying in appearance and content. Some appear grand but hold little wisdom, while others seem humble yet contain immense knowledge. It's humanity's inherent selfishness that often hinders its potential. The older generation, fearful and hateful of youthful brilliance, seeks to control and exploit rather than nurture. Merely valuing individuals for their humanity is folly; true worth lies in what they can offer. That's my perspective'
He thought to himself as he lowered his hands.
"HEY!, I asked you a question, who are you and where did you come from" The leader asked, a youth bigger than his size, his hair dancing around in the wind.
'Gauntlets huh? So he's a close quarter combatant and yet... not a scratch on him' Haruto thought.
"That's a stupid question, my uniform tells you everything, I'm taking the test the same as you, as for where I come from, I honestly don't know how to answer that question, the fog and all that... it messes with one vision" Haruto answered his voice calm, his expression detached from the group.
The guy lit up like a candle in the night, Haruto's demeanor as he answered the question as well as his refereeing it to a stupid question embarrassed him in front of those who followed him.
Silence covered the area as if the world was holding its breath as the heavens continued to pour down.
His training robes soaking wet as the cold hit his very bones and yet he appeared relaxed a light of determination glinting in his eyes.
"I didn't wish to cause trouble," Haruto said as he took a few steps forward.
His eyes darted around the group of 14, the sound of rain drowning his voice, the rocky smell choking him, before the leader could respond again Haruto fell to his knees clutching his left hand and bringing focus to his wound.
"Haruto?" A girl's voice called out.
Looking up through the rain he could see Fu and her friend, the girl he had fought in the friendly competition.
"Hey guys I know this one," She said.
"He's a good guy, doesn't worry. But Haruto why are you alone" She asked as she closed the distance between the two.
Haruto focused on her feet as they stepped into puddles of water
"I was separated from my friend, I've been alone for quite a while" A lie, what else was he supposed to say, he needed to appear as vulnerable as possible.
"You're injured!" Fu ran to his side after seeing the wound on his shoulder.
"Hey Maya, could you help..."
"Not! You have quite the nerves who permitted you to give out orders"
"We don't know this guy, if you are so worried about him why don't you go with him then" The leader of the team said, jumping down from the rock he was perched on, his heavy feet hitting the ground with a slotch.
The slippery floor surprisingly withstood his weight, although muddy this guy didn't even slip.
'His well balanced' Haruto mused internally.
The dense fog enveloped the clearing, casting an eerie atmosphere as Haruto stood before the group of fourteen youths, their gazes piercing through the mist like daggers. The tension in the air was palpable as Haruto felt the weight of their scrutiny pressing down on him.
Fu stepped forward, her voice cutting through the silence like a beacon of light in the darkness. "He's a good fighter," she asserted, her tone firm and unwavering. "And he could be useful to the group." She gestured towards the severed head of a wolf beast hanging from Haruto's side, a testament to his prowess in combat. "See, he even has a beast head on him. He just needs one more to pass."
But the leader, Zen, remained unmoved. It wasn't that he didn't trust Haruto, but he was wary of taking on excess baggage in their already precarious situation. His decision was not born out of cruelty, but rather a pragmatic concern for the group's survival.
"Haruto," Zen spoke, his voice steady and authoritative. "I think it's best if you leave."
Haruto's expression remained stoic as he nodded in acceptance, understanding the leader's reasoning. But before he could turn to leave, Fu and her friend Chen stepped forward, their resolve shining through.
"We'll leave too," Fu declared, her eyes locking with Haruto's. "I want to go with him."
Chen nodded in agreement, her loyalty to Fu evident in the determined set of her jaw. "I'm going with Fu," she stated firmly, her voice echoing Fu's sentiments.
The other members of the group murmured amongst themselves, exchanging uneasy glances as they realized the implications of losing Fu, a skilled fighter and strategic asset to their offensive play. Even Zen couldn't deny the blow it would deal to their chances of success.
Clicking his teeth in frustration, Zen racked his brain for a solution to salvage the situation. He knew that losing Fu would weaken their group significantly, but he also couldn't afford to compromise their mission objectives.
After a moment of tense silence, Zen finally spoke, his voice tinged with resignation. "Fine," he conceded, his tone begrudging yet resigned. "Haruto can stay. But only if he proves his worth."
Fu stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Haruto with unwavering determination. "How do you expect me to fight in my condition?" Haruto's voice cut through the silence, his tone laced with a hint of frustration. "I'll be fighting injured, the same as with both my hands tied behind my back. If someone can use healing Chi, I'd appreciate your help."
The group exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of how to respond to Haruto's request. Zen, the leader, regarded him with a furrowed brow, weighing his words carefully. After a moment of deliberation, he nodded slowly. "Very well," he conceded. "If you're willing to prove your worth, we'll find a way to accommodate your request."
Fu stepped forward, a determined glint in her eyes. "I can help," she offered, her voice firm and resolute. "I'll use my healing Chi to ease your pain and restore your strength."
Fu placed her hands on Haruto's wide back, his expression a little heated, sending your own Chi into the body of someone else was considered an intimate act. Most healers just support the Chi already found in the body and guide it.
But Fu wasn't good at that, she pressed her palms on his back as she injected her energy into him, and a warm sensation invaded his body as Haruto could feel a foreign liquid moving in his body, closing his eyes he looked inside his Chi system and could see a pinkish glow flowing inside him, mixing with his green well of Chi.
Fu was left dumbfounded, not by the Chi inside Haruto but by the quality and quantity of it, as well as the complex system it was following, she met sore spots in his body, and in each, she found a checkpoint of sorts.
A black aperture in key places each filled with Chi, if she didn't know any better she would say Haruto hadn't used a single drop of his Chi, and she would be correct.
As the healing process continued, Fu marveled at the complexity of Haruto's Chi pathways. It was clear to her that he was no ordinary student. There was something extraordinary about him, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
When the healing was complete, Haruto opened his eyes, feeling rejuvenated and ready for whatever lay ahead, his body didn't feel sore anymore. Fu withdrew her hands, her expression a mix of awe and curiosity. She had glimpsed something remarkable within Haruto, something that defied explanation.
'What was that?' she pondered, her thoughts lingering on the enigmatic system she had witnessed within Haruto's body. 'He has more Chi than seven of us combined! And yet he hasn't used it at all, or perhaps it replenishes at an astonishing rate. And what was that below his aperture?'
Lost in her musings, Fu was startled back to reality by Chen's voice. "Hey girl, you did that on purpose didn't you?" Chen teased, shaking her friend lightly. The implication of her words hung in the air, a playful jab at Fu's intimate act of channeling her Chi into Haruto's body.
The group formed a rough circle around Haruto, their eyes fixed on him expectantly. Zen stepped forward, his gaze piercing through the fog as he addressed Haruto directly. "You'll face off against one of our best fighters," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of authority.
From the shadows emerged a figure, his form obscured by the mist until he stepped into the faint light. It was Kyo, a skilled combatant known for his lightning-fast strikes and unyielding resolve. He approached Haruto with a confident swagger