We walk around the floor as I explain their task for the next 2 weeks, "You will stay alert, I will attack you at any time and every time you let go of Ten I will make this floor 5 degrees hotter. That may not sound like much right now but in the future, if you don't take that warning seriously you will seriously regret it. Your main task is to live a normal life up here and also not to die."
Hanzo moves to take a seat at the bar but as he places his hands on the metal bar stools and pulls he doesn't get any result. In fact, instead of the stool moving Hanzo's arm turns red and blistered from the heat of the metal in this type of heat. Hanzo pulls his hand back exclaiming "Owchhhhhhhh!!"
"Oh and by the way, every object on this floor is made of metal and weighs at least 100 kilograms(220 pounds). By the way, the gravity on this floor is also adjustable, it's pretty crazy what you can accomplish when they let you customize your own floor free of any charge or fee. The stronger you get moving the objects the heavier they are going to get and at a certain point when the gravity is at the maximum where if I set it any higher the whole building is going to collapse you will get weights but, that probably won't happen for a long while."
This being said I walk toward my bedroom leaving them to their own devices so I can go take a nice long nap 3 days of constant Nen use flying here takes a toll on anybody. As soon as I touch my bed I activate Ten so I don't get burned by my own traps.
Directly after waking up from my nap, I go to terrorizing both of them using shadows from across the hall to mess with them both, tapping them and hitting them lightly every few seconds from different places. I watch with En as they scramble around the floor. Hanzo, his movements growing more frantic with each tap, is trying to use his instincts to dodge. He's sweating, his eyes darting around as he anticipates each incoming strike.
They still haven't figured out how to deal with the shadows. Maybe they're too focused on not getting hit to think of any countermeasures but, finally, Hanzo manages to dodge five in a row. I don't stop right away, though. I shift the shadows so they're harder to predict, ensuring the attacks come at impossible angles. I want to see how long he can keep this up.
After 10 minutes his breath becomes ragged, his aura pulsing with exertion, but there's something in his eyes a little pride and a lot of concentration. I stop and give him time to regain himself before I start leaving my room. "Okay, that was a nice warm-up, especially for you Hanzo but Ponzu you need to relax and concentrate on feeling the strikes while using Ten so as not to be injured even if you get hit. Now we will go to the arena room for further training.
"Follow me," I say, making my way down the corridor to the Arena room. The door is large, black, and made of reinforced steel, a stark contrast to the rest of the dimly lit, heated floor. I push the door with a lot of strength throwing it open at a decent speed and, revealing a massive, high-tech training arena.
The room is vast, easily the size of a football field, and filled with different training apparatuses. There are weighted dummies, punching bags with reinforced metal frames, and various obstacles designed for both agility and endurance. At the far end of the room is a series of multi-layered platforms, a challenge for anyone attempting to navigate them under the intense heat and gravity.
"This is where you'll learn to adapt. I want to see how well you can manage the heat and the gravity while focusing on your physical skills," I explain as I step inside. "Here, you'll be training in the Shingen-Ryu fighting style. It's not just about physical strength; it's about controlling your body and Nen, working in harmony with your environment. I'll guide you through the basics today, and after that, we can do some sparring."
"Let's start with stance," I say, turning to face them. I demonstrate the first posture of the Shingen-Ryu style: feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, body upright but relaxed. "In Shingen-Ryu, the foundation of your strength comes from your stance. Your balance is everything. You will need to be grounded at all times, especially here, where the environment is against you. If your stance falters, so does your power."
I walk them through the basic movements a series of fluid yet powerful strikes combined with defensive maneuvers. Hanzo's movements are fast and precise, but I can tell he's holding back, his desire for speed sometimes compromising his form. Ponzu is more methodical, though less fluid than she should be, likely because she's not yet used to the oppressive heat and gravity weighing down on her movements.
"Remember, Shingen-Ryu is about harmony between body and mind. Your Nen must flow in sync with your movements. You're not just attacking; you're anticipating. Reacting before the strike happens."
Ponzu is struggling with her balance on the uneven, gravity-altered floor. The temperature is becoming unbearable, and her skin is starting to redden from the heat. Her focus is on trying to keep her Nen steady, but she's making minor mistakes in her posture, throwing off her center of gravity.
"Ponzu, drop your shoulders," I call out. "You're tensing up too much. Let your body relax, let your Nen flow with ease, don't fight against the pressure."
I step closer to them, giving them both a moment to catch their breath. Their struggles are what I expect, but it doesn't stop me from pushing them. "You will need to fight in conditions worse than this, with more than just physical obstacles in your way. You'll be forced to rely on both your body and Nen in equal measure. This training is only the beginning. Let's increase the difficulty."
I adjust the gravity settings, making the weight of the environment increase by 1.5 times. The floor feels like it's pushing back against their every step now, and both Hanzo and Ponzu stagger slightly, but they fight to stay on their feet.
"Now," I say, "we move on to combat. I'm going to demonstrate a few techniques in Shingen-Ryu, and I want you to copy me. We'll start with a basic counter. When an opponent strikes, you don't just block—you redirect."
I step forward, swiftly closing the gap between us, and throw a light punch towards Hanzo's chest. He reacts quickly, raising his arm to block, but I catch his wrist and twist, using his own momentum against him to flip him onto his back. He grunts as he hits the floor, but I'm not here to play nice.
"That's the first lesson," I say, my voice cold but encouraging. "Use their force, their energy, to your advantage. Don't waste your own."
Ponzu, though startled by the speed and force of my move, watches closely. I can see the gears turning in her head, as she absorbs the technique. She stands, ready for the next part.
"Now," I continue, "I'll go slower so you can see how to apply Nen to this technique." I demonstrate again, but this time, my Nen flares as I shift my attack, subtly manipulating the air around me to make the strike faster, harder to predict.
Both Hanzo and Ponzu struggle to keep up with the technique at first. The combination of the heat, gravity, and my unpredictable strikes pushes them to their limits. But I can see it in their eyes they're starting to grasp the fundamentals.
"Keep your Nen steady and focused," I remind them, voice low and serious. "Only when your mind and body are aligned will you be able to perform this technique fluidly."
Hours pass, and the two of them train relentlessly, their bodies growing fatigued but their minds sharpening. I watch, quietly impressed, as they slowly begin to improve. Hanzo's movements are becoming more refined, his strikes cleaner, though the heat still slows him down. Ponzu, more focused than before, begins to incorporate Nen into her attacks, redirecting my strikes with increasing confidence.
"Okay, today's training is over but remember to meditate in your rooms and use Ten at all times. Oh and good luck getting to your rooms Hanzo yours is first on the left and Ponzu is second on the right. Good night."