The air was thick with tension, as Jin stared down his party. Not even a breeze stirred, yet they felt a chill run down their spine. Through silent glances, they had already started to make a plan.
Meanwhile, Jin, was calculating every variable. He sensed his ki and was calculating every strike using it, when to activate "Swiftless Feather", and when to cancel it. Something had changed about Jin, he had suddenly became more cautious about fighting, using ki in a wrong way, and a way to make calm and rational decisions quickly.
Then, his party moved frost, Riven activated "Frostbound: Winter's Veil" around Kael and Kade having a protective barrier around them. Kael activated "Frostage: Shards Storm" A storm of icy shards fell from above had suddenly appeared striking the ground around. Kade dashed in using "Steelheart: Ironbound Blitz" his sword becoming heavier but his body felt lighter, infused his sword with metal for a heavier impact.
Kael charged in behind Kade, "Frostage: Glacial Impact!" He slammed his axe into the ground after a fierce battle cry, sending him forward at a rapid pace.
Jin saw Kade and Kael dashed forward and readied his tango blade in a defensive position,
Kade dashed through the trees as if he was flying and goes for a slash towards Jin, Jin lifted his tanto in a way to perfectly block it before activating "Swiftless Feather" to dodge instantly seeing Kael appearing above. Kael slammed down onto the ground with his axe before pulling it out of the ground with a loud grunt. A breeze was created from the shock of his axe hitting the ground.
Jin calmly took a breath and decided to go for their support, Riven. Jin activated "Swiftless Feather" and dashed towards her instantly reaching her and past her, but not before the tip of his tanto did a small cut into her skin. melting her armor instantly. Jin caught himself on a tree, hanging horizontally.
Kade dashed toward Jin with blinding speed, using Swiftless Feather. Jin watched him approach and muttered, "You shouldn't move like this."
In a flash, Kade was in Jin's face, activating Steelheart: Steel Cyclone. Kade spun rapidly, his body shifting to resemble solid steel, cutting through trees as he neared Jin.
Jin exhaled deeply, then activated Forbidden Azure: Sevenfold Blaze. He appeared to teleport past Kade, seven slashes forming instantly in the air before exploding around Kade.
Meanwhile, Riven struggled to her feet, feeling her ki disrupted. Kael, now prepared, dashed toward Jin, activating Frostbound: Glacial Impact. With Swiftless Feather, he closed the distance in a heartbeat, swinging his axe down with precision. "Frostbound: Cryo Surge!" Kael's body surged with a bright, white light before a burst of condensed ice energy exploded outward in a freezing wave.
Jin, momentarily covered in ice, grinned as dark flames flared, melting the ice around him. His flame grew larger, engulfing his tanto, and the air crackled with intense heat, igniting parts of the forest. He activated Swiftless Feather to dart toward Kael. Canceling the technique at the last second, he triggered Sevenfold Blaze once more, his agility enhanced. Moving like a ghost, he appeared behind Kael, who was immediately struck by seven searing slashes, each detonating and knocking him unconscious near a tree where Kade lay.
After a few tense moments, Jin exhaled, letting his flames die down as he sheathed his blade. Ice shards clung to his body, lodged deep, and he began removing them one by one, allowing blood to flow from the wounds. Spotting the blood, he ripped his other sleeve to apply pressure, halting the bleeding from the punctures.
Riven walked over to Jin, surprising him as she sat down nearby. Despite everything, she'd managed to stay conscious, and a soft sigh escaped her as she settled in.
"I've got to know, Jin," Riven began after a moment of silence, "how did you get this powerful so suddenly? Was it… because of that stone?"
Jin's expression shifted, his eyes hardening as his face grew stern. He looked away, the memory of the stone still raw. "I'd rather not talk about that… not ever again," he muttered, his voice carrying a weight Riven hadn't heard before. Even with Belford's help, the stone had left its mark on him, its effects still lingering more heavily than he wanted to admit.
Their conversation wandered on for a while, Riven asking questions about what he'd experienced, about how much he'd changed. They spoke in hushed tones, a cautious vulnerability between them, until finally, a low groan interrupted their talk.
Kade and Kael were slowly stirring, clutching their bruises and shaking their heads as they shuffled over, clearly in pain.
"Well, that was a beating," Kael muttered, attempting a grin despite his wince.
Kade let out a dry chuckle, "Next time, remind me not to charge in first." They both joined Riven and Jin, still recovering but clearly relieved that they were all in one piece.
Jin looked around at his team, a proud smile breaking through his usual sternness. "I have to hand it to all of you," he started, his voice carrying warmth and genuine admiration. "Your teamwork, the way you move together—it's impressive. Kade, Kael, the way you balance offense and defense, it's nearly flawless."
Kade rubbed the back of his neck, grinning. "Nearly flawless? Don't hold back now, Jin."
Jin chuckled softly, "Honestly, there was a moment there I thought I might lose if I had to push my ki any further. You really had me."
With a flick of his hand, Jin summoned a small flame, not as bright as it once was, but warm enough to ward off the evening chill. They huddled around it, their faces illuminated in the soft glow, and the night stretched on as they discussed strategies and flaws. Jin pointed out areas where Kade and Kael could tighten their defense, cover each other's openings, and make their combined attacks more seamless. Riven chimed in with her own observations, contributing ideas to refine their techniques.
The conversation shifted as they began discussing their next destination—Valor's Reach. "Bigger challenges await there," Riven said, excitement in her voice. "And stronger opponents, which means more breakthroughs." Kade and Kael nodded, a shared eagerness in their expressions, feeling the pulse of potential for growth in their veins.
Jin stayed silent, watching his team with a faint smile. He could sense the breakthrough calling to them, though he knew his own path had no chance of a breakthrough, at least for a while.
Two days passed, and with their energy fully restored, they set off into the night, their destination, "Valor's Reach."
Meanwhile with Stella.
As Stella wandered the forest alone, her mind racing with questions, she stumbled upon a figure leaning against a tree. It was Abel of the Lion Clan—her mentor. She stopped, a mix of shock and anger, and
happiness flashing across her face.
Before she could speak, Abel looked up, his expression unreadable, as if he'd been expecting her. "You're searching for the truth about what happened to your clan," he said quietly.
Stella's eyes narrowed. "You know something, don't you? Tell me who did this to our clan." She demanded but also was happy to see Abel.
Abel hesitated, then met her gaze directly. "Gray… and I… betrayed you." He paused, watching the impact of his words. "We did it for a greater cause, Stella, a vision that needed sacrifices… your, no, our clan was part of that vision."
Stella felt a cold wave wash over her, her trust shattering in that instant. "Why would you… How could you do this?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. "WHY?" She shouted at Abel wanting to know the truth of everything.
He looked away, his voice devoid of any remorse. "I have my reasons, reasons even if I tried to explain them, you wouldn't understand. And Gray? He paid the price for taking the wrong side." Abel's eyes darkened. "I took care of him myself."
Before she could react, Abel melted into the shadows, vanishing into the night, leaving her alone with the weight of his words. There was no satisfaction, no closure, only a bitter emptiness.
Shaken, Stella turned back, determined to find strength in solitude. She wandered until she came upon an ancient waterfall she'd once read about—a place revered for its spiritual energy. Setting up a temporary camp nearby, she began training, pushing herself relentlessly in the roaring spray of the waterfall. She meditated on Abel's betrayal, on the power and resilience she needed to face him one day.
Weeks passed, and slowly she felt a shift within herself, a powerful energy unfurling as if something within her had awakened, filling her with strength. She could feel herself rising beyond her previous limits, her resolve sharpened, her spirit transformed. She had unlocked a sacred ki flow, "Celestial Essence ki", officially was the name.
Upon feeling this sense of power surge through her she felt as if behind the wall that had been crushed, another beast had emerged, something so powerful she knew the name, the way, everything about it. It was called… "Tidal Dragon Ascension"