When Raiden finally ended the handstand, he felt a wave of relief mixed with the overwhelming sensation of exhaustion. The finger that had borne the brunt of the effort felt particularly strained, and he could sense a deep ache as if it might collapse under the pressure. Despite the discomfort, Raiden felt a profound sense of accomplishment.
"I guess this much control is fine," Raiden thought. "Although this technique is more complicated than controlling sand, I can probably do this at the same speed of Ruth, thanks to my extra levels."
As Raiden gathered his gear, his thoughts drifted to Ruth and Javier. Despite his focus on his own training, he couldn't help but wonder about their current situation. The two had been left behind, and though they were kids and likely moved on from any lingering resentment, Raiden knew that such feelings had a way of fueling determination.
