As Jou was making his way out of the dense jungle, he was suddenly stopped in his tracks. Out of the shadows, a dark figure emerged—Shadow, cloaked and mysterious as ever. Shadow stood there, still and imposing, challenging Jou to a battle. Jou was taken aback. This was the same figure who had saved his life earlier, and now he was confronting him. "Why is he challenging me?" Jou thought, confused and hesitant. Despite his inner questions, he felt a surge of adrenaline. Shadow's stance was clear—there was no room for negotiation, only action.
Jou tightened his grip on his two axes, their metallic surfaces glinting faintly in the dim light that filtered through the jungle canopy. Determined, he rushed toward Shadow, swinging his axes with all his strength, aiming for a clean hit. But just as he thought he had him, Shadow vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving only a faint trace behind. Before Jou could comprehend what had happened, Shadow reappeared right behind him, moving like a ghost.
Jou spun around, swinging his axe backward in a desperate attempt to catch him, but Shadow was faster. He dodged with fluid ease, barely exerting any effort. In a swift motion, Shadow flickered to the side, evading Jou's attack, then moved in closer, delivering a swift, precise kick to Jou's leg. Jou lost his balance and crashed to the ground. His vision blurred for a moment, but before he could gather himself, he felt the force of Shadow's foot against his face. The impact was strong, enough to send a wave of pain through his head. It was over before he even had the chance to truly fight back. Jou lay there, defeated, his body aching and his mind racing.
Shadow turned, as if the fight had meant nothing, and began to walk away, dissolving back into the shadows. But Jou, driven by an unyielding resolve, struggled to his feet, his legs shaky but determined. "Wait!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the quiet of the jungle. Shadow stopped, but did not turn around. "Please… train me," Jou said, his voice cracking with a mixture of desperation and hope. "I beg you," he continued, dropping to his knees, his hands clasped together. "I need to take my revenge. Those people… they burned my mother and sister alive. They killed all of my friends. I have nothing left… except this one goal—to kill the king."
There was a moment of silence, as if the jungle itself was holding its breath. Shadow slowly turned, his face still obscured by his hood. The dark figure seemed to study Jou for a long moment, as if weighing the truth in his words, assessing the depth of his determination. Finally, Shadow spoke, his voice calm and almost emotionless, "Come back here tomorrow at dawn. I will train you if you prove you are willing."
Jou nodded, but he did not move. As Shadow disappeared once again into the darkness, Jou stayed where he was, refusing to leave. He knew that if he left, he might lose his resolve. So he spent the night there, in the same spot, the cold seeping into his bones, but he didn't care. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to sleep, but his mind was restless, filled with thoughts of his past, and the future that lay ahead.
At dawn, Shadow returned, and was surprised to find Jou still there, standing ready. There were no words of praise, no acknowledgment of his perseverance. Shadow simply began, "If you want to be strong, truly strong, you must understand this world. There are many creatures here—humans, animals, insects. Each has its own strengths. Humans have intelligence, animals possess sheer power, and insects have venom and unique abilities. But the real strength lies in surpassing these natural limits. If a human can make his body and mind powerful, he can overcome them all."
Jou listened intently, trying to absorb every word. Shadow continued, his voice low but clear, "You must learn to shape your body to be as strong as the fiercest animal, and as adaptable as the most cunning insect. But more importantly, you need to make your mind powerful. Strength of body is nothing without strength of mind."
Shadow stepped closer, his presence heavy, almost suffocating. "Imagine this," he said, "you're inside a small room, and suddenly, a lion bursts in. If you panic, the lion will smell your fear, and it will strike. Even if you don't panic, and you stand there trying to be brave, it might still attack, because it is naturally stronger. Its claws, its muscles, its speed—those are its advantages. But if you want to survive, you need to use your mind. Willpower is your weapon."
Jou's eyes were fixed on Shadow, hanging onto every word. "Use your mind," Shadow said, his voice sharper now. "Tell yourself that this lion cannot harm you. Control your breathing, keep your heartbeat steady, and look into its eyes. In your mind, imagine something more terrifying than the lion—a monster, something that would make even a lion cower. Become that monster. Convince yourself that you are stronger than the lion, that you are the true predator."
Shadow paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "If you can do this, the lion will sense it. It will see your confidence, your strength, and it will hesitate. In that moment, you are no longer prey—you are the hunter. And if you do it right, the lion will flee like a frightened cat. Your mind will project your thoughts into the lion's mind, and it will believe you are stronger. But this is not easy. It takes immense focus, and it is almost impossible to do against another human, because their minds are stronger than those of animals. But with practice, you can achieve this."
Jou felt a chill run down his spine. He could almost see it, the image of himself as a monster, standing fearless in front of a lion. "Practice this," Shadow said, "focus your mind, strengthen your will. Once you learn this, I will teach you my next technique. But know this—training your mind is not just about controlling fear. It is about understanding strength, power, and how to project it. When you can do this, when you can become a true predator in your mind, then, and only then, will you be ready to face your enemies."