Sumit remained in the dream world, his chest still heaving from his earlier frustration. The black Cat-man stood before him, a sly grin playing on his lips, as if he could see right through Sumit's doubts. The mist swirled around them, the eerie silence broken only by the Cat-man's deep voice.
"Now that you've agreed," the Cat-man began, his eyes gleaming, "let's get to work."
Sumit took a hesitant step forward. "Work?"
"Yes, kid. You want to survive, don't you? That's your goal, isn't it?" The Cat-man's tone softened, but his expression remained sharp. "But first, there's a condition. If you're going to learn from me, you must never attack first."
Sumit stiffened at the words. "What?" His fists clenched. "Never attack first? What about the plant-monkeys? They humiliated me!" His voice carried the weight of his bitterness, the memories of their mocking laughter still fresh in his mind.
The Cat-man's grin faded, replaced by a thoughtful look. "So what? Is that your reason for fighting them? For what—revenge?"
Sumit opened his mouth to respond but found no words. His mind whirled, replaying the fight, the laughter, the pain of being outmaneuvered. It wasn't about revenge, was it?
"Look," the Cat-man continued, crossing his arms over his chest, "you need to understand something. Your goal isn't to be the strongest or to get revenge, right? That's not who you are. Your goal is survival. That's what's driving you. Am I wrong?"
The word struck a chord deep within Sumit, causing him to falter. Survival. The Cat-man was right. All Sumit wanted was to live, to survive another day in this unfamiliar world. Slowly, he nodded, unable to argue with the truth.
"So, if survival is your goal," the Cat-man pressed on, his gaze locking onto Sumit's, "then you must live by this rule. Never attack first. But always be the first to help others when they need it."
Sumit hesitated, his pride still bruised from the encounter with the plant-monkeys. He wanted to lash out, to prove his strength, but deep down, he knew the Cat-man was speaking sense. After a long silence, he sighed. "Fine. I'll follow your condition."
The Cat-man's grin returned, satisfied. "Good. Now, let's get to the real lesson."
Sumit shifted his weight, listening intently as the Cat-man began to explain. "Aura isn't some limitless power you can throw around carelessly," he said, pacing in front of Sumit. "It's a form of energy that flows through everything—living beings, objects, the environment. But the thing is, everyone has a limited amount of aura, including you."
Sumit frowned, trying to absorb the information. "So… I can run out?"
"Exactly," the Cat-man said, pointing a clawed finger at him. "Every time you use your aura, it drains. And if you waste it, it won't come back until you rest. The key is learning how to use it efficiently."
Sumit nodded, a glimmer of understanding forming. "So, what's the best way to use it?"
"Control," the Cat-man said simply. "Instead of spreading your aura all over your body, you need to focus it. Concentrate your aura in one part of your body at a time. For example, if you're going to punch, focus all your aura into your fist. If you're going to run, concentrate it in your legs. This way, you'll use less aura and still get the power you need."
Sumit listened carefully, his mind racing with possibilities. He had been too reckless before, wasting his aura in every move. Now, the pieces were starting to fit together.
After a moment of silence, Sumit blurted out the question that had been bothering him. "Why did you punch me before?"
The Cat-man's grin widened, his sharp teeth glinting in the misty light. "Because I got angry looking at your face, that's why!" He chuckled, his tail flicking playfully. "Besides, it was fun."
Sumit rolled his eyes, but despite himself, a small smile tugged at his lips. "You're impossible."
"Enough talk," the Cat-man said, stretching lazily. "Now go out there and punch something useful."
Before Sumit could respond, the dream world began to fade. The mist swirled around him, and in the blink of an eye, Sumit found himself lying on the forest floor once again.
Sumit stayed where he was, his back against the cool earth. The soft breeze whispered through the trees, but his mind was focused on something else. His aura. He could feel it, pulsing lightly through his body like a faint current of energy. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the sensation.
As he lay there, Sumit tried to apply what the Cat-man had taught him. First, he let his aura flow freely through his entire body, feeling its warmth spread from his head to his toes. But he knew this was inefficient—it was the very mistake the Cat-man had warned him about.
Gritting his teeth, Sumit focused, trying to gather all that energy into one place—his fist. The first few attempts were messy. His aura spilled over, uncontrolled, surging through his body instead of concentrating in his hand. But he didn't give up. Time after time, he tried again, forcing the aura to gather in his fist.
It wasn't easy. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he pushed himself, straining to keep the aura in check. But after what felt like hours, something finally clicked. He felt it—a surge of power focusing in his hand, while the rest of his body remained still.
His eyes snapped open, and he stared at his fist, now tingling with concentrated energy. A wild grin spread across his face. "I did it," he whispered, excitement bubbling up inside him.
Without wasting a second, Sumit sprang to his feet and sprinted toward the nearest tree. His fist, brimming with aura, flew forward and collided with the tree's trunk. The wood splintered and cracked, the entire tree shuddering from the impact before crashing to the ground.
Sumit laughed, exhilarated by the success. "I did it!" he shouted, punching another tree for good measure. The forest echoed with the sound of his blows, tree after tree falling as he unleashed his newfound strength.
But after the forty-third punch, his body gave out. Exhaustion hit him like a wave, and he collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. His aura was nearly drained, and he could feel it slipping away as his vision blurred.
Darkness overtook him, and when he opened his eyes again, he was back in the misty dream world.
The black Cat-man stood before him, a smirk on his face. "Well, well, look who's back," he said with a chuckle. "How's that aura control working for you?"
Sumit groaned, rubbing his aching head as he pushed himself to his feet. "Exhausting," he muttered.
The Cat-man smiled wider, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Good. That means you're learning."
Sumit sighed, but despite his fatigue, a small smile tugged at his lips. He was getting stronger. Slowly, but surely.
"Welcome back, kid. The fun's just beginning."