CHASING ADVANCEMENT 6 [VII] (Ch. 150)

DAYS PRIOR 

Darwin's blow connects against what in any other time and if he we're blind folded he'd call diamond, alas it was Kaiser's abdomen, rock solid and unmoved, nevertheless Darwin remains unperturbed, his understanding of the behemoth of a man's 'Force' arts bringing a simple bitter realization, even with his most empowered of strikes the man would feel nothing. Darwin gives distance a his instincts flare, seeing this Kaiser's insanity laden smile blooms further as he follows close giving no space, 

"For the King's martial arts there is no retreat" Kaiser declares his hand fisted into a hammer crashing down, Darwin crosses his guard and gives strength to his legs, his body vibrates, rippling like water under tough, his organs shivering to momentary shock causing him to cough blood, yet he holds his will unmoved,

"Good!" Kaiser booms his follow up punch backing the same herculean force the previous had.

(He's keeping his strength just at the level where i can take it) Darwin growls forgoing defense to counter, his Enforcer empowered art: True body, this technique wit the aid of 'Force' each muscle, fiber and tissue operates independent of a more cohesive hole greater than the amalgamation of it's parts), The KAISER'S arts.

The blows connect, the bone's within his arm fracture, vibrating, almost shattering completely, anc holding barely, just he presses forward when an accompanying upper cut to the jaw rocks him and he sees black.

The days follow this single monotonous schedule, fighting ceaselessly till he drops, like a drug fiend on a new tryst. Fighting till he dropped, saturating his body with 'Force' and drugs to speed healing then doing it again, and again, and again, untill the days blended melded to one, Darwin's growing stubble had long grown still to a beared, wild and untamed, his body breaking apart, held by the sheer insanity of his will, be it a will driven by lust or greed, power was the goal, his opponents we're strong, stronger still, and his adversaries talented and assisted, he would not be left behind, 

(If i won't get a win, I'll take it) he reminds himself, to do that he would need the power.

Kaiser watches him from a place atop the hill, (You're almost there kid, just a little bit more, i wonder) the man muses, (will you be made or brake?) He questions, (which will come first?) He muses his eyes crinkling with smile as he watches eventually deciding the first phase concluded he blurs before Darwin who opens his eyes to behold him,

"That's enough kid, Rest" Kaiser declares,

"I can stil...",

"I'm not one to repeat myself" Kaiser interjects, with great reluctance but calculated reason Darwin cedes to his 'teachers' words, staggering to his feet. He makes his way with great effort next to a large tree before lying against it's trunk, and withing minutes he's asleep.

Darwin jolts awake his head whipping side to side frantically, his eyes lock on to the sight of burnt wood, a quick survey and he tell it'd been out for several hours. Darwin struggles to his feet staggering with every step forward, 

(I still need a few more hours) he frowns, the consuming feel of hunger followed by a splitting headache and strain pained muscles, "Water" he calls, "i need water" he calls staggering his way the lake several hundred meters away, minutes tick buy when eventually Darwin finds himself next to the reflective body of water, a glance to it's surface shows the wear of his insane methods on his body, "MY SKIN!" he shouts, the skin on his face wrinkles old, like a cold rag after wash, he's being appeared to have aged at least three decades, his beared and bushy long hair overgrown, Darwin staggers still closer to the lake dipping his palms in and bringing his head close to have a drink when he's pulled into the water before a fist crashes into his jaw bulleting him out, Darwin rolls several paces before staggering unsuccessfully to his feet, several tries later he achieves this feat.

Kaiser's form breaks though the lakes surface floating up from the bottom,

"What the hell where you doing at the bottom of the lake?" Darwin question,

"Even I train child, the road never ceases, the path is never ending" Kaiser replies, the worlds striking Darwin as nearly to profound for the man who'd spoken them,

"You look my age" Kaiser chuckles, rising from his lotus position to his feet, his hulking frame easily finding balance upon the water's surface, for the bearest of moments Darwin was certain the man was floating on air rather than actually standing on the water body's surface, the accompanying ripples with every step and the nonexistent distance between the bottom of his leg and the water's surface cleared that doubt and left simply desire, 

(Even i, one day) he mules,

"You're potential the most greedy one i've ever taught, and i've taught three, well including you... four" the man states, "eat this" the Kaiser states tossing Darwin a table tennis sized ball of white, Darwin catches it all be it barely, a quick scan through his 'Force' shows it to be...,

"A drug?" He questions with confusion,

"A pill" Kaiser replies, "science has it uses",

(So it's some sort of recover pill, i thought these where kid book concepts, a magic pill, is it a product of natural ingredients or an item?, I wonder) Darwin ponders as he places it in his mouth swallowing it whole, 

"Cycle your 'Force', and you might want to drop into a suitable position" Kaiser chuckles maniacally. A few seconds later the cause of Kaiser's words become appear, one word came to Darwin's mind,

(HEAT!), His very being was engulfed, his skin beat red, 

"How much this carries you along depends on how much you can handle, this is a great investment, (A Unique Artifact to be exact), don't fucking waste it" Kaiser muses yet the undertone of a threat crystal clear through his straining mind. The het reminded Darwin of his period at the breath control advancement, the advancements, the cloud of 'Force' steam, the heat, the hazy almost illusion like state, just seemingly magnified to infinity, the strain more mental than physical, Darwin drew on his will. As the minutes ticked by and his mind slowly growing comfortable with the strain Darwin became able to think coming to a reality, 

(so that's what this is) he muses, almost chuckling despite the pain, (Ambient 'Force' condensed into a physical form then ATTUNED to heat Shifters, definitely the work of some item, potentially a utility Armament one) he ponders still, the pill still releasing 'Force' and his body still absorbing, first Darwin willed back the tsunami of 'Force' caging it to his abdomen before slowly guiding it to rapidly heal his wounds, had he tried to absorb ambient 'Force' from the atmosphere with his strained body he'd have broken down but from (within my own body it's...).

Hour's pass and eventually his body it healed to normalcy, then Darwin slowly with avid concentration releases the pressured container that holds the impending flood of 'Force' to a shower coursing with controlled violence through his frame, while holding this withing his body he slowly releases more from his abdomen allowing the strain on his body pile till he deemed suitable, and like metal under anvils hammer hours turned to a day then multiple, with Darwin allowing intervals of rest between new release to increase the pressure, had he done this naturally it would take months, years infact, just as a bodybuilders physique would take time and dedication to build but with this months and potentially years of worked condensed to days, maybe weeks as the days pilled up to weeks Darwin burned muscle mass for nutrition, that could be regained, this 'pill' no miracle drug could not, he'd be damned before he let an ounce of it's 'Force' slip by.

Kaiser had long found his way away, his priorities straight, afterall the man had a business to run and a war to be prepared for, nevertheless he saw Darwin if string enough as the potential successor to his throne at the Mercenary Hall, of course the boy would have to survive first, despite his greed, 

(he at least knows camaraderie, and time for me to consider retirement, i'm older now, and advancement should've long become my only concern) Kaiser sighs, for once the often maniacally face dropping to one of melancholic recollection. Squatting before a grave stone with a tired smile, 

"It's been a while old friend, i think i might finally have found one, a successor. Let's see if he survives to pass or joins you first. Who would've thought it Boss that i of all people would be considering retirement, but my daughter turns sixteen this year and i believe it's time to step away..." he smiles.