Chapter 10: The Storm Within

...crash!... Thunder! and a flash of lightning!

I was once again awakened from my cultivation state by the deafening sound of lightning and thunder. My injuries had mostly healed, leaving behind a slight itch, a testament to the rapid progress I had made.

However, being interrupted once more dampened my mood. Determined to make the most of my time, I decided to use the seminary open space of the cave to practice my martial arts.

Despite my remaining injuries, I pushed myself through a series of forms and techniques, careful not to reopen any wounds. On the battlefield, such circumstances might even be considered a luxury.

The sound of the storm outside was a constant reminder of the world beyond this cave, a world filled with dangers I had to be ready to face again.

After training for half an hour, I estimated that I still had around five hours until I would be kicked out of this dimension. Not wanting to risk being thrown out while in the midst of cultivation, I decided to spend the next few hours deepening my meditation and refining my Qi.

"Storage," I whispered, and the red-black screen flared to life. I looked at the remaining twelve red orbs and took five more out. They may not be enough to bring me to the 8th stage Martial Student, but they should at least help me create another star.

With the first orb in hand, I began another round of cultivation. The orb dissolved into a creamy Qi stream that flowed into the black hole within me to be purified. As the energy circulated through my body, I could feel my strength and resilience growing. The soothing, steady rhythm of cultivation helped to calm my mind and focus my spirit.

The storm outside intensified, the sound of rain pounding against the cave's entrance. Each flash of lightning cast eerie shadows on the walls, but within the protective confines of the cave, I felt a sense of safety. The purification process was slow and methodical, each Qi cycle bringing me closer to my goal.

One by one, the orbs dissolved, their energy merging with mine. I could feel the formation of another star within my inner vortex, its light growing stronger with each passing moment. The process was arduous but rewarding, a reminder of the progress I had made and the path that still lay ahead.

Hours passed, and finally, I absorbed the fifth orb. The star in my inner vortex shone brightly, signaling the completion of this phase of my cultivation. Though I had not yet reached the 8th stage, I was significantly closer, and my power had grown noticeably.

With about an hour left before I would be ejected from the dimension, I decided to review my progress and plan my next steps. The storm outside had begun to subside, the thunder now a distant rumble. The air was filled with the fresh scent of rain, a calming presence after the chaos.

I knew that once I returned to the real world, my training and preparation would be more critical than ever. The encounter with the rabbit and its deadly wind blades had shown me the dangers that awaited, and I needed to be ready. I couldn't afford any more close calls.

Once I am back in the real world, I will try those special orbs, the one filled with raging flames and the one with the green breeze. I had a hunch that they would bring about a significant transformation to my cultivation.

As the last few minutes ticked away, I gathered my belongings and prepared myself for the transition back. The red-black screen of the storage device flickered one last time before dimming, and I felt a familiar pull as the dimension began to release me.

.....

Back in the real world, Victor's room:

It felt like a lifetime had passed after stepping out of the vortex. Finally, I am back in my room, not having to fear being attacked by beasts all the time.

Since it was already late into the night, I made my way to the shower, wiping off the sweat and remaining blood from my body, and bandaging the chest wound once more. I then collapsed into my comfortable bed, the familiar softness a welcome relief after the hard ground of the cave.

Tu tu tu...

My trusty alarm clock woke me up at 6:30 a.m. on time. After hopping in for a quick shower, I made my way downstairs to have breakfast with my mother, father, and my sister Elaine. Elaine was the first to notice my breakthrough.

"Mom, Dad, look! Big Brother Vic had a breakthrough! I can feel a natural intimidation coming from him," yelled my sister, who I met in the hallway on my way down the stairs.

My parents exchanged a look of surprise and pride as they turned to face me.

My mother, with gentle eyes, smiled warmly. "That's wonderful news, Victor! You've become a 7th stage Martial Student; you'll perform great at the entrance exam."

My father, stern, and supportive, nodded approvingly. "Keep up the good work, son. You're making great progress."

Elaine, always enthusiastic, bounced on her toes. "I knew you could do it! You have to tell me all about it later, okay?"

I smiled at my family, feeling a swell of pride and gratitude. "Thanks, everyone. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it."

We settled around the breakfast table, and I enjoyed the familiar comfort of home-cooked food. The aroma of eggs, bacon, and fresh bread filled the air, and I savored every bite, feeling a sense of normalcy that was a stark contrast to the trials of the vortex.

"So, what are your plans for today?" my mother asked as she poured me a cup of coffee.

"I have school in the morning," I replied, "and I plan to study more about the enemy races and the normal subjects like Math, etc. In the evening, I'll go back to cultivation. I still want to reach the peak Martial Student realm for a better chance of getting accepted."

My father raised an eyebrow. "You're balancing both school and your training? That's quite the workload."

"I have to," I said earnestly. "If I want to protect everyone and make a difference, I need to be at my best."

Elaine nodded vigorously. "You're going to be the best, Big Brother. I know it!"

After breakfast, I grabbed my school bag and headed out. The walk to school was brisk, the air still fresh. The streets were starting to fill with people, each going about their daily routines. As I walked, I couldn't help but reflect on the events of the past few days.

The encounters, the battles, and the relentless pursuit of strength all seemed like a dream.

The school was a blend of mundane lessons and invaluable insights.

I paid extra attention in biology and combat strategy classes, knowing that the knowledge I gained here could be the difference between life and death in the vortex. My teachers noticed my heightened focus and dedication, offering words of encouragement that only fueled my determination further.

During lunch, I met up with a few friends who were also training to become martial artists. We exchanged stories and tips, the camaraderie a welcome respite from the intensity of solo training. They were amazed when I told them about my cultivation. We all knew the path we had chosen was fraught with danger, but we also knew the rewards were worth the risks.

The afternoon class was fun as well. Seeing Emily's jaw drop when she felt my aura was a sight I made fun of for a while. I felt like we got along well and I even saw her stealing glances at me. We had a rewarding spar, pushing ourselves to the limit. To win, I even needed to use some tricks I used on the rabbits. She is a genius in her own league.

The day passed quickly, and soon it was time to head back home. As I walked through the door, I was greeted by Elaine, who eagerly pulled me into the living room. "Tell me everything!" she demanded, her eyes wide with excitement.

I told her some of the things I trained in at the "Thunder Cross" and my progress with my Swift Shadows palm and Blurr Step technique. And also told her about my fight with Emily.

"You're so awesome, Victor," she said softly when I finished. "I know you'll become a great military officer. And introduce that sister to Mother in the future, hehe."

I ruffled her hair affectionately. "Thanks, Elaine." And twisted her ear.

"Nyauah, Big Brother, stop! I'm sorry for trying to tease you."

After dinner, I returned to my room and prepared for my upcoming experiment with the new orbs. With mental preparations out of the way, I made my way over to the meditation mat. I have less than two weeks until the entrance exam. Time is of the essence.

I knelt on the mat, ready to begin. "Storage," the screen came to life, showing me the orbs I wanted to see. The flaming orb and the wind orb. I chose to start with the wind orb, taking it out of the storage.

I felt a light breeze blow from it as I held it in my hand. The screen lit up once again, asking, "Do you wish to put a sound barrier around the meditation mat?"

"Yes" "No"

I chose yes just to be safe. This message gave me a chill because the storage never asked me anything. Something will definitely happen...

The orb glowed with a light green. Huh... time to start. I let the black hole suck in the orb...

Ahhhhh!!!...

The next thing I felt was pain! Incredible amounts of pain. It felt like my insides were cut by thousands of small wind blades. The gentle breeze became a fierce hurricane unable to be tamed. It cut into my organs causing intense pain.

Wave after wave of pain hit my nerves. I gritted my teeth, trying to suppress my screams, which didn't work.

Ahhhhhh!!!...

I screamed at the top of my lungs. The black hole was trying its best to devour the fierce wind energy, lessening my pain slightly enough for me to pull one of the larger red orbs from my storage.

The orb was cut into pieces by the wind and dissolved into an ocean's worth of energy. The black hole used that energy to create a glyph I could not understand, and as soon as the wind touched it, it became static, unable to move or struggle.

Pulled to the center of the black hole to be devoured. The pain receded, and a cooling sensation spilled out from the black hole, nursing my pain and wounds to my organs as if they were a lie. After a while, my wounds were all healed and my insides felt stronger than ever.

Flush!..

Suddenly, a stream of green energy shot out of the black hole and into the surroundings, outside of my body. It compressed and became smaller and denser until, after a flash of green light, it took the form of a green, glowing seed emitting steady, calm winds.

After seeing everything settle down, the mental stress overcame me and I blacked out...

In an alternate dimension a long ago...

"Ara ara, a new child of life will be born into the future. And an interesting child at that. Its soul is that of a human... No one except my lovely elves should possess the talent for life energy."

"Maybe he is the one, that the old human God "**** "prophesied."

...