Concealed Favors

The old man's piercing gaze seemed to bore into Shaheer as he posed his question, "Tell me, young man, would you like to be strong?" But Shaheer knew there was a deeper meaning hidden behind the words. He knew the old man was asking if he wanted more skill books, but he couldn't bring himself to be so shameless as to simply say yes.

"Only if there is someone to beat," Shaheer replied, not wanting to give a direct answer to the old man's hidden question.

The old man seemed pleased with Shaheer's honesty, nodding in approval. "Good answer. You will find what you are looking for here, and you don't even have to fight or kill humans for it. Though you directed your killing intent towards me, I knew after being targeted once that you have not once killed a man. This will be a hurdle for you to pass, as if you can't deal the final blow to your enemies, then they will. This is the kind of world you are entering. Be sure not to offend someone you can't afford to. Not always will you have the back of green snakes, so become stronger."

The old man then continued, "I would like to show you how to make your own territory, but now I think it's something you should learn on your own. It will be more unique to your style if you create it. I can give you some instructions on it, but you have to execute it with the basis of your personality and fighting style."

Shaheer listened intently as the old man spoke, his solemn expression indicating the gravity of his words. He knew this was not just small talk.

"As you have achieved a marvelous feat, I would like to gift you with something, but it needs time to be ready. I hope you can give me a week's time. In the meantime, you can work on making some of your own skills and that territory, which will be very important for you in the future," the old man said, concealing his favors to Shaheer under the guise of mere gifts.

Shaheer bowed his head slightly, expressing his gratitude. "I thank you for your kindness." He knew that the old man was doing him a favor and he would not forget this. He would repay him a hundred times over.

The old man, understanding the kind of person Shaheer was, smiled and talked a bit more about the instructions of how to make a territory before bidding his farewell. He had seen enough surprises for the day and wanted to calm his mind, to remove the pressure that Shaheer had created.

As Shaheer was left alone, he looked at the notifications he had received earlier. [You have gone into a meditative state], [You have completed a cycle of the snakes breathing technique], [A new skill has been created], [Skill name: Breathing Techniques (Active) Techniques: 1 Fused: 0 Uses: Helps you to fuse many breathing techniques into one for better results, quality depends on the understanding of the technique], [You are enveloped by the aura of green snakes], [You have received the buff of healing].

Shaheer had once again created a skill, and this one didn't seem to have a level, which meant it was a rare type of skill that could do what it was written without any limitations. He had played enough games to know something like that. As the skill seemed to be an active one, that meant he would have to purposely fuse two breathing techniques, and the ability wouldn't just do it automatically.

Shaheer felt a sense of excitement, of possibilities, as he realized the potential of this new skill. He knew that with the right combination of techniques, he could create something truly powerful. He couldn't wait to start experimenting and seeing what he could come up with. He also felt a sense of determination as he thought about the old man's words about becoming stronger and creating his own territory. He knew that it wouldn't be easy, but he was willing to put in the work to achieve his goals. He made a mental note to himself to start training harder and to continue learning new techniques so that he could make the most of this new skill. With a renewed sense of purpose, Shaheer set off to continue his journey, eager to see what the future held for him.