Lucius was on his knees, his chest heaving with labored breaths. Sweat dripped from his brow, creating small pools on the tatami mats. The intense sparring session had pushed him to his limits, but his determination burned brightly in his eyes.
The more he trained, the more clarity he gained. He felt like he was regaining the sanity that had been stolen from him in the past few weeks.
"That's enough for today, Lucius. You should attend your other classes." Master Zhang stood over him, his expression a mix of sternness and hidden pride.
"No, Master Zhang. I want to focus on my martial arts. I need to improve." Lucius, still panting, shook his head vigorously.
Master Zhang's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but then a pleased smile crept onto his face.
"Does it have anything to do with the events of Fort Aegis?" Master Zhang asked, unable to hold back his curiosity.
"I guess nothing can escape your vigilant eyes." Lucius smiled bitterly and nodded.
"Tell me about." Master Zhang said with a friendly smile, but his eyes were as sharp as ever.
Lucius's instincts warned him against lying to this man. His gaze was as piercing as that of a hawk, and it gave Lucius the impression that Master Zhang was gazing at his soul directly.
"What bothers me doesn't have to do with my defeat at the hands of the beast whisperer. I understand that I'm still young, and I still have a long way to go." Lucius began with a disturbed look.
"Instead, I am bothered by the fact that I defended a facility that used children as young as me for cruel experiments. I feel like I have a hand in the suffering of those kids." Lucius clenched his fists, trying to suppress the anger welling up in him.
[Damn, you are good!] Lyxor commended.
Master Zhang smiled sweetly and patted Lucius's head gently for a while before speaking.
"I know how you feel. I, too, have fought for a side I didn't believe in." Master Zhang's eyes showed a flicker of emotion but only for a moment.
Lucius paid attention and realized Master Zhang didn't plan to give details, so he didn't force the matter.
"How did you overcome this feeling?" Lucius asked.
"By gaining strength. Only when I became strong enough did I have the strength to truly fight for what I believe in." Master Zhang responded with a smile.
"I want to get stronger!" Lucius said decisively, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
"Very well, Lucius. Your dedication is admirable. Show me the progress you've made with the Statue Martial Technique." Master Zhang took a few steps back.
Without knowing it, he had fallen for Lucius's charm.
Lucius nodded, rising to his feet with effort. He took a deep breath, assuming a solid stance.
Closing his eyes, he focused inward, summoning his Qi. Slowly, a transformation began. His skin darkened in patches like stone spreading across his body. The air around him seemed to hum with energy.
During his time within and outside the hospital, he practiced the statue martial technique and made considerable progress.
"Good, Lucius. Very good. Maintain it." Master Zhang observed closely, nodding in satisfaction.
"Mmh!" Lucius nodded.
He concentrated, his body stiffening as he held the form, and just as he felt a sense of stability, a sudden sharp pain shot through him.
PA!
Master Zhang had pulled out a strange-looking staff and whipped him across the back. The strike disrupted his Qi, causing the stone-like patches to fade.
"Master Zhang, why—?" Lucius gasped, shocked and pained.
The attacks from this whip did not only strike its flesh, it sent Qi energy into his body, striking his muscles, bones, and organs. It was similar to Alex's demon-kin third form; Kill.
"Maintain the Statue Form, Lucius," Master Zhang commanded firmly. "Again."
Lucius clenched his fists, refocusing his energy. The patches of stone reappeared as he channeled his Qi. Master Zhang watched intently, waiting for the right moment. Then, with a swift motion, he struck again. The staff whipped through the air, hitting Lucius and dispelling his Qi once more.
The cycle continued. Lucius would focus, transform, and hold the form, only for Master Zhang to whip him, breaking his concentration. Each strike left a new mark, the pain pushing Lucius to his limits. The dojo echoed with the sound of the staff and Lucius's grunts of effort and pain.
"Again, Lucius. You must learn to maintain your form under any circumstance," Master Zhang instructed.
As the sun began to set, the room was bathed in a warm, golden light. Lucius's body was covered in red welts and darkening bruises. His face was contorted with determination, sweat, and pain mingling on his skin. He stood once more, taking a deep breath and channeling his Qi. This time, the stone patches were more resilient, holding firm even as Master Zhang raised his staff.
With a powerful swing, Master Zhang struck again. The staff connected, but Lucius's form remained solid. The stone did not fade. Lucius held his ground, his eyes blazing with resolve.
Master Zhang lowered the staff, a smile breaking through his stern facade.
"Excellent, Lucius. You've made significant progress today..." Master Zhang was pleased.
One of the fastest ways of mastering the statue technique was through body conditioning. Just a day's worth of practice had increased the portion of Lucius's body covered by the stone patches. A month of such training would guarantee his official entry into the bronze statue stage unfortunately, the human body needed time to recover.
"Thank you, Master Zhang." Lucius nodded, his body aching, but his heart filled with excitement.
He also noticed the drastic improvement, causing him to imagine how much more he would improve if he could continue this way for the next month.
"Rest now. You have earned it. We will continue your training once you have recovered." Master Zhang said, placing a hand on Lucius's shoulder.
Lucius nodded before limping out of the dojo, his body riddled with whip marks and yet, he felt a sense of pride and accomplishment.