A strange sensation pulled Shree from the depths of sleep. His body felt... foreign. He lay still for a moment, blinking against the dim light of the cave, an odd awareness creeping over him.
Then— heat.
A surge of warmth flooded his veins, an intense, searing wave that spread outward like a wildfire. His skin tingled, then itched, then burned.
And then the stench hit him.
His eyes snapped open. The air was thick with an acrid, metallic rot, a smell so overpowering it nearly made him gag. A nauseating slickness clung to his body, something viscous and foul.
With rising dread, he lifted his arm—and froze.
Black sludge oozed from his pores, thick and tar-like, slithering down his limbs in grotesque, clinging strands. The more he moved, the more it seeped out, as if his body were purging something impure.
"What... the hell?"
Instinctively, he wiped at his arm, but the sludge only smeared, its sticky filth stubbornly clinging to his skin. His stomach twisted at the sight.
"Chat?" His voice came out hoarse, rough from sleep.
A familiar hum resonated in his mind as Chat responded. "Yes, Shree? What's wrong?"
Shree grimaced, his breathing uneven. "What the hell is this? My body's leaking some kind of black gunk, and it stinks like a corpse left out in the sun."
Chat was silent for a moment, then its voice carried a note of realization.
"This is a cleansing process. Your body is expelling years of accumulated impurities and toxins. The fruit you consumed must have activated a powerful purification effect."
Shree recoiled. "Impurities?"
"Yes. Everything unnecessary—waste, toxins, and residual buildup that weakens the body."
Shree swallowed hard, the putrid stench making his stomach churn. "So I've basically been carrying around years of gunk inside me?"
"Correct."
"Fantastic," Shree muttered, resisting the urge to gag. "How the hell do I get rid of this?"
"A bath will cleanse it completely."
He didn't need to be told twice. Scrambling to his feet, he sprinted toward the waterfall, eager to rid himself of the revolting grime.
The moment he plunged into the pool, a shock of icy water enveloped him, sending a jolt through his system. But as the cold seeped into his skin, relief followed—so intense it was almost euphoric.
The black filth peeled away, swirling in dark tendrils through the water. But then, something strange happened—the water absorbed it.
A faint golden glow rippled across the pool's surface, as if the very essence of the spring was cleansing more than just his body. Within moments, the last trace of black sludge dissolved, and the water returned to its pristine, crystal-clear state.
Shree exhaled, running his hands over his arms. His skin felt... smooth. Too smooth.
His fingers trailed up to his face, over his chest—his whole body felt lighter, stronger, purer.
Slowly, he waded to the shallower part of the pool, searching for a reflection. When he finally saw his face, his breath hitched.
That was him—but not him.
His features were sharper, more defined, as if his very bones had been sculpted to perfection. His once-deep brown eyes now had a subtle golden glow, faint yet mesmerizing, like dying embers in a darkened hearth. His skin carried a radiance, an almost ethereal clarity. Even his hair, darker and richer, had a faint luster.
He looked... inhumanly refined.
"What the hell…" he whispered, touching his face. Even his own touch felt different—his fingers firmer, his body brimming with something coiled and waiting.
Chat's voice cut through his thoughts. "The transformation is complete. Your body has shed all impurities. You are now fundamentally stronger, healthier, and more attuned to energy than before."
Shree stared at his reflection, heart pounding. "I... feel different."
"You should. Your muscles are denser, yet more flexible. Your bones are stronger. Your senses have sharpened. You are now at your peak physical condition for this stage."
Shree flexed his fingers, marveling at the shift. His grip felt unbreakable, his movements smoother, more controlled. He inhaled deeply and was startled by the clarity—his lungs expanded effortlessly, his heartbeat steady and powerful.
A slow grin spread across his face.
This was power.
And it was only the beginning.
---
After cleansing himself in the waterfall, Shree sat on a smooth rock, feeling the subtle power coursing through his body. His muscles felt denser yet flexible, his breath was steady and deep, and his senses had sharpened beyond anything he had ever experienced before.
Yet, he knew something was missing.
"Chat, I need to ask you something," Shree said, staring at his reflection in the water.
"Go ahead," Chat responded, its voice as calm and analytical as ever.
Shree clenched his fists, feeling the strength in his grip. "This fruit changed my body, but it didn't make me stronger on its own. My physique improved, my reflexes got better, but I still don't know how to fight. I can feel the energy in me, but I don't know how to use it properly."
Chat was silent for a moment, processing his words. "That is correct. The fruit removed your weaknesses, but true power does not come from external help alone. If you rely solely on outside forces, your strength will always have a limit."
Shree exhaled slowly, considering that. "You're saying I need to train myself, right?"
"Exactly. If you want to control your strength and surpass all limits, you need to forge your own foundation. And that means starting with physical training."
Shree looked up at the clear sky, determination flickering in his eyes. "I see. Then I'll start exercising first. I know how important conditioning is. If my body isn't strong, even if I learn martial techniques later, I won't be able to bring out their full potential."
"That is a wise approach. Strength, speed, endurance, and agility—developing these aspects will prepare you for mastering true martial arts."
Shree nodded. "I'll begin basic training—push-ups, squats, running, core exercises. But I also want to work on flexibility and coordination."
Chat hummed in agreement. "A well-rounded body will give you a foundation for all martial arts. But keep in mind, brute force alone won't be enough. You need techniques—real martial arts."
Shree smirked. "Yeah… I was just thinking. Why follow someone else's style? Why not create my own?"
Chat paused, intrigued. "You want to develop your own martial art?"
Shree's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Not just a fighting style, but something more. Something that isn't bound by rigid forms—something that uses everything I have. Strength, speed, endurance, energy… I want to create something unique, something that belongs only to me."
For the first time, Chat's usually neutral voice carried a hint of admiration. "That is an ambitious goal. But if you are serious, then your training must be even more rigorous. Are you prepared for that?"
Shree grinned, stretching his arms. "Of course. I'm not looking for shortcuts anymore. If I want real power, I'll earn it myself."
The wind rustled the leaves of the plum blossom tree nearby, a single petal drifting down into Shree's palm. He stared at it for a moment before clenching his fist.
This was just the beginning.