The sun had barely risen over the horizon when Ikaris felt a strong impact against his chest, throwing him backwards violently. His body went through several trees before finally crashing into a large rock, cracking it with the force of the impact. Coughing up dust and trying to catch his breath, he looked up and saw Kael, his eyes as cold as ice.
"If you want to stay alive against real warriors, you need to learn to sense danger before it hits you!" Kael growled, walking slowly towards Ikaris. "Now get up and try again."
Ikaris wiped the blood dripping from the corner of his mouth and stood up, his muscles screaming in protest. He knew Kael was right. The training over the last few days had been brutal, pushing his body and mind to limits he had never imagined. But despite the pain and fatigue, he felt something different inside. An energy that seemed to grow with every blow received, every fall, every failure.
This training regime had been going on for a week, and with each passing day, his body felt more broken, not as much as on the first day, but it was still a terrible pain.
Kael gave him no rest. Every mistake was punished with a fulminating attack. The aim was clear: to force Ikaris to awaken his survival instincts.
This time, when Kael disappeared and reappeared at his side with a punch cocked, Ikaris acted on reflex. His body moved before his mind could even process the danger, leaning to the side at the last moment. Kael's fist grazed his face, creating a displacement of air that ruffled Ikaris' hair.
Kael arched an eyebrow. "Better, but still too slow."
Before Ikaris could prepare himself, a sharp kick hit his ribs, lifting his body into the air. He spun around before falling to his knees on the ground, gasping for air. The pain was unbearable, but something inside him screamed to keep going. He clenched his fists, digging his nails into his palms.
Kael smiled almost imperceptibly. "You're beginning to feel it, aren't you? The Ki is awakening inside you. If you learn to control it, you can become much stronger."
Ikaris didn't reply. He closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating on that pulsating energy in his body. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced. Something primal and powerful.
He knew, this was something that was beyond the scope of what some Z warriors could do, after all he had never heard of any of them using this kind of energy in the series.
And from his own experience, he had never felt anything like it coming from Kuririn.
When he opened his eyes, they shone with a new determination. He stood up, assuming a combat stance. "Let's go again."
Kael laughed low. "Finally... Now it's starting to get interesting."
And so the training continued, with Ikaris being pushed beyond his limits. But this time, he was beginning to understand, he was beginning to feel.
That energy, so primitive, it was familiar, he knew that, but he couldn't say where it came from.
But he did know one thing.
The real awakening was just beginning.
......
The second week of training began with even greater intensity. Kael wasn't taking it easy, and Ikaris could see it in every blow he received, but unlike the first week, something inside him was changing. His body no longer broke down so easily, his stamina increased and, above all, that primitive energy he felt inside was stronger.
Kael attacked with a speed that was almost impossible to keep up with, and yet Ikaris managed to dodge a few blows, even if by instinct. However, for every attack he avoided, he received two or three in response. But that no longer mattered. Pain was no longer an impediment, but fuel.
"Well done, kid," Kael muttered after an intense confrontation, crossing his arms. "Your body is already responding. But if you really want to awaken the Ki inside you, you need to stop thinking like an ordinary human."
Ikaris breathed heavily, sweat dripping down his forehead. "What do you mean?"
Kael narrowed his eyes. "The fear of pain. The fear of failure. The fear of losing. You still feel them, don't you?"
Ikaris hesitated for a moment. He wanted to deny it, but he knew it was true. Every time he advanced against Kael, every time he tried to attack, there was a moment of hesitation. A trace of doubt. He was afraid of making a mistake, afraid that his body wouldn't be able to take it.
Kael noticed the conflict in Ikaris' eyes and smiled sideways. "You will never achieve true power as long as you carry these fears. I need you to understand something. Your body has already learned to react. Now your mind needs to keep up."
Before Ikaris could respond, Kael disappeared. In an instant, a brutal blow hit his stomach, forcing all the air from his lungs. He was thrown backwards, rolling along the ground until he hit a rock. The pain was unbearable, but he didn't scream. He just gritted his teeth, forcing himself to get up.
"Come on, Ikaris. Show me that you can let go of fear. If you can't... you'll never be strong enough."
Those words hit him harder than the blow itself. He stood up, shakily, and closed his eyes for a moment. He felt that energy inside him, pulsing, growing. But it was still contained, as if chained by something. Why?
Then the answer came.
He was holding himself back. Unconsciously, he was repressing this power. Perhaps for fear of losing control. Perhaps out of fear of what he could become. But now, there was no more room for that, it was now or never!
When he opened his eyes, something had changed. His gaze was sharper, and the aura around him flickered differently. He didn't need to see it to know: the energy inside him was finally starting to manifest.
Kael noticed the change and smiled. "Finally..."
Ikaris stepped forward, and this time there was no hesitation. His body moved in perfect harmony with his instincts. He dodged Kael's first blow, feeling the air shift past his face, and struck back with a precise punch that sent Kael back a step.
Kael laughed low. "That's it. Let's see how far you can go."
A bestial roar came out of Ikaris' mouth, now he was going all out, he was fighting like a Saiyan!!!
The training continued, but now it was different. Ikaris was no longer just reacting; he was fighting for real.
Punch after punch, kick after kick. With each passing moment, Ikaris became more like a beast.
His battle instinct, his strength, his will, his spirit, all working in perfect harmony, making him realize, this was what was missing.
In these last few weeks of training, thanks to the Saiyan physique, Ikaris got into shape extremely quickly, he reached the peak of his body, yet one thing still bothered him.
[Fighting power: 78 (119)]
No matter how many questions he asked the system, he received only one answer.
That's its hidden power.
Now he had understood... Now he was using all his POWER!
He could feel its energy vibrating around his body, the pulsating heat of his newly awakened Ki seemed to be shaping him at every moment. The air around him shimmered with the growing pressure of his aura, while his clenched fists gave off a faint glow.
Kael noticed the change immediately. His eyes narrowed slightly, assessing the young man in front of him. "Well done, looks like we're finally getting somewhere," he said with a tone of approval, assuming a more offensive posture. "Now, let's see how far you can go."
Without warning, Kael advanced with breathtaking speed. His movements, which had previously seemed impossible to follow, were now clear to Ikaris. He could see him approaching, analyze the trajectory of the blow and react before the impact occurred. His body moved on its own, leaning back and avoiding a devastating punch that would have knocked the air out of his lungs.
Ikaris countered with a spinning kick, something that would have seemed unthinkable to him before. His foot struck Kael's shoulder, forcing him back a few steps. The impact wasn't enough to do any real damage, but for the first time, he had managed to knock Kael off balance.
Kael wiped the corner of his mouth, where a faint trace of dust had accumulated. His cold gaze gave way to something different-satisfaction. "That's better than I expected. But you still have a long way to go."
Ikaris smiled wildly. For the first time since he had started that hellish training, he felt that he could fight, that he could really fight back.
And then the fight began again.
Kael increased his speed even more, turning his blows into a furious storm of overwhelming attacks. But Ikaris didn't back down. He dodged, blocked and absorbed the blows much more easily than before. Energy flowed freely through his body, amplifying his strength and reflexes. Every second that passed, his understanding of Ki deepened. He wasn't just using its energy, he was becoming part of it.
In a moment of pure instinct, Ikaris jumped backwards, accumulating his energy in a single point. His fist glowed brightly, and then he lunged forward with all the speed his body would allow. Kael raised an arm to block, but the impact was surprising. A crash echoed through the training ground as Kael was forced to slide back a few meters, an expression of astonishment briefly crossing his face.
Ikaris gasped, feeling his body tingle with the latent energy that ran through every fiber of his muscles. His eyes shone with determination and excitement. He had never felt like this before... so alive, so strong.
Kael studied the boy for a few moments before relaxing his combat stance. "That's enough for today. You've finally broken through the first barrier. If you continue at this pace, you'll soon be able to control your power consciously."
Ikaris nodded, still trying to catch his breath. His body ached, but not in the exhausting way it had before. Now, he felt as if he had freed himself from the invisible chains that had previously restricted him. He looked down at his hands, clenching his fists and feeling the constant flow of energy.
"So... this is just the beginning?" he asked, his voice filled with a new confidence.
Kael smiled sideways. "Exactly. The real training starts now... well, not now, tomorrow actually."
Suddenly within my Ki senses, a new aura was approaching, at first I thought it was Laila, for the last few weeks she had been coming to keep me company and look after me after school.
No... it wasn't Laila, this aura was stronger, but was it familiar? Wait, MOM?!
"Oh... my dear Rose, as beautiful and deadly as ever." Kael gave a genuine smile, looking towards where I felt my mother... that look...? Why did it look so much like the way I looked when I saw Laila? Was I missing some gossip here?
"Kael, you haven't changed a bit, did you enjoy beating my son these days?" My mother appeared between the trees in the woods just behind us, but she wasn't wearing her normal outfit, she was wearing a black dress with a choker and boots.
WTF? Why was my mother cosplaying Yor?!
No wait, focus, why does my mother know Kael?!?!
Suddenly everything started to click in my head. They knew each other, Kael must have been a member of my mother's old organization, maybe even her boss, and maybe there was some kind of romantic thing going on?
A thousand scenarios began to play out in my head as my face alternated between my mother and Kael.
"Come on, Ikaris, lunch is on the table, Laila is already there waiting for you." My mother barely deigned to exchange a word with Kael, she just smiled back as she pulled me home by the arm.
But I swear, I swear I saw his eyes widen when he saw my mother's smile.
Yes, I'm sure, this guy is completely in love with my mother.
Suddenly I began to feel rather amused by this, I wonder what kind of situation occurred in that organization in the past.
........
I got home, had lunch and went to my room to be with Laila, come on, I was tired, I just wanted to spend some time with my girlfriend watching a movie.
Well, I let her choose, and my crazy DC addict chose the animation Crisis on Infinite Earths.
While she was choosing and putting on the movie, I started checking my stats on the system.
"Status"
[Status Window]
Name: Ikaris Oliveira
Age: 14
Race: Human/Saiyan
Status: Alive, Healthy
Fighting power: 121
Points: 15,800
Abilities: Saiyan, Ki Control, Self-Control, Martial Arts, Enhanced Instinct, Indomitable Spirit, Pain Tolerance, Stealth
Saiyan - Integrated
This skill gives you access to all the benefits of the Saiyan race, such as talents, special abilities like the Zenkai, and transformations, as well as your life expectancy, and racial traits.
Evolve the skill to unlock new transformations, and increase your talent, this can be done by training your control or your base form.
Rank: Low class Saiyan (240/1000)
Current transformation: Oozaru (Uncontrolled)
Ki control - 36%
[Self-Control - lvl8 -> lvl19]
Allows the host to remain calm and think rationally in times of stress
Decreases the chance of entering a berserker state by 19%
[Martial Arts - lvl12 -> lvl 37]
Your ability to analyze a battle, and your proficiency in fighting.
[Enhanced Instinct - lvl9 -> lvlMax]
Increases your ability to foresee danger, acts as a sixth sense for battle
[Indomitable spirit - lvl2]
???????????
[Pain tolerance - lvl31 -> lvl53]
Increases your ability to withstand pain, does not nullify it, but makes it bearable
There is an effect to strengthen the user's mind
[Stealth - lvl1]
Decreases your presence, and makes it easier to go unnoticed by other people
[Flight - lvl3 -> lvl14]
Grants the ability to fly using Ki, each level increases flight speed, and decreases Ki consumption
[Ding]
[Achievement Unlocked]
[Unleash Hidden Power!]
[Reward: 5 Seeds of the Gods, 2000pts]
Claim? Y/N
[Ding]
[Achievement Mission Completed]
-Reach 100 fighting power
Rewards: 500pt, Flight Manual
Claim? Y/N
[Ding]
[Achievement Mission Completed]
-Reach 100 fighting power
Rewards: 500pt, Flight Manual
Claim? Y/N
[Ding]
[New conquest mission]
-Reach 8001 fighting power
Rewards: 5000pts, Gallick-Ho
"Holy shit, how many achievements!" I exclaimed in surprise, only to see Laila staring at me.
"What's wrong, sweetheart? Is there something on my face? Remember, I'm only 10..."
In return for my joke, I received a slap in the face, well done.
Laila sighed, "You know, sometimes I really want to know what you see on the system screen, it's kind of boring being left out."
"Hummm, let's see, system, can you do something so that Laila can see you too? or even share some of your capabilities with her?"
[Ding]
[It's not possible to share the system's capabilities with other people, however it is possible to share visibility of the interface]
"So what are you waiting for, share it with Laila!"
[Ding]
[Access granted]
Suddenly I could see the look on Laila's face change to amazement, and then happiness... she cracked such a beautiful smile now.
[Ding]
[Hidden mission completed]
[Share system visibility with someone]
[Reward: 10,000pts, Minor Lineage Evolution]
Claim? Y/N
Holy shit.... Not only was I in shock, Laila was also in shock on my side, I hadn't remembered that there was a hidden quest tree about it.
"I want to claim everything system!"
[Ding]
[Granted]
Well, that done, I stopped paying attention to the system and shifted my focus to Laila who started looking at me interrogatively.
"What?"
"The movie, shall we?"
She smacked her own leg "YES, I FORGET"
..........
Soon we were lying down, hugging each other, watching the animated film Crisis on Infinite Earths.
A few hours later, sleep began to catch up with me, now if I have to say one advantage of being small...
We're always the smallest... hehe