--
John Obarisiagbon let out a booming laugh that echoed across the yard. "That was a marvelous fight. Good work, both of you." His gaze lingered on Shino, who was still recovering from his match with Seth. "You know, I was able to execute 55 palm strikes of the Hand of Judgement by my second year. But to be able to execute 30? You have great days ahead of you, Shino Kusakabe."
Shino managed a small, exhausted smile, clearly appreciating the praise.
"And you, Seth Gordon," John continued, turning his attention to the other combatant. "Your control is remarkably precise. The technique you executed should be the Disrupting Fist. Impressive."
Seth gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable, though the slight curl at the corner of his mouth betrayed a hint of pride.
"That is what this class is for," John continued, his voice booming with authority. "You are here to learn control and discipline. There is no time to waste. We will have the fight between Asemota and Ekon at the end of the class."
John began, pacing slowly in front of the group, his eyes scanning their faces, "there's something important you all need to understand. Each of you has the potential to become a great soldier, but I want to make something clear. Though you'll be fighting alongside each other as comrades on the battlefield, your paths as Qi soldiers don't have to be the same."
He paused, making sure he had their full attention. "The techniques you've learned, or will learn, aren't necessarily the same as the soldier standing next to you. And that's fine. You see, the strength of a Qi soldier lies not only in mastering a single technique but in knowing how to adapt and incorporate those techniques into teamwork. You are not here to become carbon copies of one another, but rather to learn how your individual skills can complement your comrades'. One of you might focus on speed, another on strength, someone else on defense—but together, you form a complete unit. Learn to rely on each other's strengths, and together you'll be unstoppable."
The soldiers nodded, absorbing his words. John's voice softened, but his tone remained firm. "Now, there's something else you'll need if you want to last on the battlefield. You've all seen how draining it can be to use your Qi. That's where control comes in. Your Qi isn't infinite, and in the heat of battle, wasting even a fraction of it can cost you your life."
He stepped forward, raising his arms to demonstrate a series of slow, deliberate movements. "This technique I'm about to show you is fundamental. It's a breathing and meditation technique that will help you continuously circulate your Qi from your lower dantian throughout your body. When mastered, it'll help you maintain stamina, prevent the senseless expenditure of Qi, and allow you to fight longer without burning out."
John took a deep breath, closing his eyes briefly. "First, clear your mind. Focus on your lower dantian. Feel the Qi stored there, like a reservoir of power. As you inhale, visualize that energy flowing upward through your meridians. Let it circulate through your chest, your arms, your legs, until it covers every inch of your body."
He exhaled slowly, extending his arms as if pushing the energy outward. "With each breath, continue circulating your Qi. Keep it flowing. The longer you practice this, the more natural it will become. You won't even need to think about it during battle—it'll be as automatic as breathing. And that is key to conserving your energy."
The students mimicked his movements, focusing their minds and practicing the technique. Some struggled at first, their Qi stuttering in uneven bursts, while others found a steady rhythm. John's sharp eyes noticed every stumble, but he didn't comment. Instead, he let them work through it, knowing that mastery came with time.
"This is only the beginning," John said, his voice quieter now, but no less commanding. "If you wish to become true Qi soldiers, you must learn to control both your body and mind. The battlefield doesn't forgive mistakes, and neither does your own Qi."
After a few minutes, John clapped his hands sharply. "Enough for now. Remember, this is not something you master in a day. You'll practice this technique every morning before we begin training. Make it part of your routine."
He straightened, his tone shifting back to one of command. "Alright, soldiers. Asemota, Ekon, to the stage."
---
The crowd tensed, the murmurs among the soldiers rising in anticipation. All eyes shifted to Thanos and James Ekon as they stepped forward. James had heard plenty of stories about Thanos back at Branch 2. The tales of the soldier who had put his life on the line twice to save others and had earned two stars because of it. Impressive feats, to be sure, but James wasn't convinced that Thanos lived up to the hype. In his mind, no one compared to Seth Gordon.
Still, James felt a sense of excitement. He'd been called to face Thanos, and now was his chance to prove that this "hero" wasn't what everyone made him out to be.
James wasted no time. He circulated his Qi around his body, his energy pulsing with power as he prepared to advance. But before he could take his first step, Thanos had vanished from sight.
"What—?" James' eyes widened in shock.
Above him, a fist of fiery Qi descended. He barely managed a backflip in time to evade the blow, but when Thanos' fist hit the ground, the sheer force of the impact left a three-inch depression in the earth, cracks spider-webbing out from the epicenter.
"Amazing!" some of the soldiers exclaimed.
"I didn't even see when he jumped!" another added, eyes wide with awe.
James quickly regained his composure. Wasting no time, he pulled his fists back and unleashed a flurry of attacks. His Qi gathered in the form of bright yellow fists that shot toward Thanos in rapid succession, each one a concentrated blow of energy.
Thanos, however, stood unperturbed by the onslaught heading his way. With a calm yet fierce expression, he charged up his own Qi and sprinted headfirst into the barrage. His fists moved with lightning speed, meeting each yellow fist with precision, smashing them into nothingness upon contact. One by one, the attacks disintegrated under Thanos' fists, until the last one fell apart before it could touch him.
The yard was silent, save for the faint crackling of dissipating Qi.
Thanos didn't hesitate. Without losing momentum, he dashed toward James, closing the gap in an instant. His fist shot out, crackling with fiery Qi, and James barely managed to dodge the first blow. Sweat trickled down his face as he dodged a second punch, then a third. He knew that if any of those fists connected, the fight would be over.
"Thanos fights like a beast," one soldier from Branch 2 muttered, unable to tear his eyes away from the scene unfolding before him.
But James wasn't ready to give up. Gritting his teeth, he gathered his remaining Qi and lunged at Thanos again, this time putting everything he had into a roundhouse kick aimed at his midsection.
Thanos raised his arm to block, the impact reverberating through his bones. The strike was strong, but Thanos' lips curled into a smile. "Not bad," he muttered under his breath, impressed by James' resilience.
But James was running out of options. Thanos' attacks were relentless, and all he could do was evade and strike when there was an opening. But he couldn't keep this up forever.
Thanos saw an opportunity and took it. He stepped back slightly before sending a powerful palm strike toward James, the air around his hand rippling with Qi. The blow connected, and James stumbled back, his breath hitching from the impact.
"First palm," Thanos whispered, his voice low but audible in the silent yard.
Before James could recover, Thanos struck again. "Second palm…"
The soldiers watched in awe as Thanos' relentless assault continued. Each strike landed with precision, driving James further back.
"Tenth palm…"
"Twenty-seventh palm…"
"Thirty-fourth palm…"
James' body shook under the weight of each hit, his Qi reserves dwindling as he struggled to keep up. The fiery intensity of Thanos' strikes left no room for error.
Before Thanos could land the thirty-fifth palm, James collapsed to the ground, his body utterly spent. He had no more strength left to continue the fight.
John Obarisiagbon raised his hand, signaling the end of the match. "That's enough!" he called out, his booming voice cutting through the tension.
Thanos stepped back, breathing heavily but otherwise unscathed. His fiery Qi flickered and faded as he regained control of his energy.
James, still lying on the ground, managed to lift his head slightly, acknowledging his defeat. Though he hadn't expected such power from Thanos, he couldn't deny the skill and strength the young soldier possessed.
The crowd erupted in cheers, admiration for Thanos spreading through both branches. Even those who had doubted him now looked at him with newfound respect.
John Obarisiagbon approached the two combatants, a proud grin on his face. "Good work, both of you," he said. "Thanos, that was impressive. And you, Ekon—don't be discouraged. You held your own against a strong opponent. Keep refining your technique."
He turned to address the rest of the soldiers. "This is why we train—so that when the time comes, you'll know how to fight with everything you've got. Power alone is not enough. You must learn control, discipline, and technique. Remember this."
As the soldiers began to disperse, murmurs of Thanos' strength spread like wildfire through the camp. Thanos himself, though exhausted, stood tall, knowing that today he had taken another step toward his goal of becoming the strongest Qi soldier.