The Dark Trials III

The match against Seon Ma was only a week away, and the air in the Dark Clan felt charged with anticipation. Despite his unexpected victory against Dae Ma, Jin Ma knew that his next challenge would be far greater. Seon Ma was no ordinary opponent—he was calculating, methodical, and lethal.

The courtyard echoed with the sounds of training. Jin Ma stood alone in a far corner, away from the gazes of the other disciples. His body was tense, his mind racing. Every muscle in his body felt the weight of the challenge ahead, but Jin Ma welcomed it.

He dropped into Shadow Stance, a technique he had been honing for years. His knees bent slightly, lowering his body just above the ground. This stance wasn't about brute force or a show of power—it was about balance, control, and invisibility. His body tilted forward slightly, his weight evenly distributed between both legs. The key was to keep his center of gravity low and his body relaxed, like a shadow poised to slip into darkness.

His feet were spread just far enough to allow for quick movement but close enough to maintain a solid foundation. Each foot pressed lightly against the ground, his toes gripping the earth as though ready to spring into action at any moment. Jin Ma understood that in this stance, his body was both a weapon and a ghost, unseen and ready to strike.

As he shifted from side to side, his movements were fluid, almost like water, without any jerky or abrupt motions. The Shadow Stance required him to be light on his feet, able to glide silently across the ground without disturbing the air around him. His upper body stayed relaxed, his arms loose and ready, hanging naturally by his sides but coiled like springs, ready to snap into action. His breathing was slow, almost imperceptible, as he controlled the flow of air through his body.

"Lower your center of gravity," Jin Ma reminded himself, focusing on keeping his stance compact. The lower he was, the harder he was to hit and the more elusive he became. His muscles ached, his thighs burning from maintaining the position for so long, but this discomfort was part of the training. It was in the tension and the strain that true mastery was forged.

The Shadow Stance wasn't just about physical readiness—it was about mental sharpness. Jin Ma trained his mind to think like the shadows: unseen, patient, and deadly. He had learned that waiting was as much a weapon as striking. In the shadows, he could observe, calculate, and move only when the moment was right. His body and mind moved as one, synchronized with the environment, blending into the background while preparing to strike like a hidden predator.

Satisfied with his work on the stance, Jin Ma transitioned into the Serpent's Strike. Where the Shadow Stance was about stealth and patience, the Serpent's Strike was pure, explosive speed and precision. He drew back his right hand, coiling his body like a snake preparing to lash out at its prey. Every muscle in his arm tightened, his fingers clenched into a fist, while his weight shifted forward slightly, his left leg bending as if preparing for a leap.

In one sharp motion, Jin Ma unleashed the strike. His fist cut through the air, his body twisting slightly at the waist to add extra force to the punch. The movement was fluid but precise, with every part of his body working together to deliver the blow. His shoulder rotated forward, his core muscles contracting to propel his arm with maximum efficiency.

The beauty of the Serpent's Strike was in its speed. Unlike other, more brutal attacks, this strike didn't rely on sheer strength. It was about precision. His fist aimed for the weakest points of an opponent's body: the throat, the solar plexus, the joints. A well-placed strike could disable an enemy in an instant, rendering them unable to fight back. The force of the blow wasn't as important as the accuracy—one strike, aimed correctly, could end a battle before it even began.

Jin Ma repeated the motion, each time faster than the last. His body coiled and struck in one seamless motion, his muscles straining with the effort. He focused on the rhythm, the timing, the exact placement of each punch. His hand snapped forward like the head of a snake, quick and lethal. Each time his fist connected with the air, Jin Ma could feel the power in the strike. It was controlled, but with the right target, it would be devastating.

He continued practicing well into the night. The Shadow Stance and Serpent's Strike were two sides of the same coin: one for defense, the other for attack. Together, they formed a complete combat strategy—evade, wait, and then strike when the enemy was vulnerable. As the night wore on, Jin Ma's body ached with fatigue, but his mind was sharp, focused entirely on perfecting his movements.

Each step in the Shadow Stance was deliberate, his feet barely making contact with the ground as he shifted from one position to the next. He imagined himself in a fight, dodging blows, slipping into the darkness, and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Then, with lightning speed, he would transition into the Serpent's Strike, his body uncoiling with deadly precision as his fist shot forward.

Jin Ma's muscles screamed in protest, his knuckles raw from the repetitive strikes, but he pushed through the pain. Pain was temporary, but the power he was building would last forever. He knew that Seon Ma would not be an easy opponent. His brother was known for his tactical mind, for outsmarting his enemies before they even realized they had lost. But Jin Ma was ready for that. He had been studying Seon for years, watching his matches, learning his patterns. This fight wasn't just about physical strength—it was about strategy.

He closed his eyes for a moment, recalling every sparring session he had witnessed between Seon Ma and the other heirs. Unlike Tae Ma, Seon never rushed his opponents. He studied them, waited for them to make the first move, and then countered with cold efficiency. His strikes were not as fast as Ren Ma's, nor were they as unpredictable as Ara Ma's, but each one hit its target with precision. Seon Ma's strength came from his mind as much as his body—he fought like a strategist playing chess, always thinking several moves ahead.

Jin Ma would need to approach the fight differently. He couldn't outthink Seon Ma—not yet. But he could exploit Seon's confidence. He knew that Seon Ma would expect a cautious approach, a defensive strategy. And that's why Jin Ma wouldn't give it to him. He would strike first. Fast. Hard.

By the time the moon had climbed high into the sky, Jin Ma's body was drenched in sweat, his muscles trembling from the exertion. But he felt stronger, faster, more in control than ever before. The training had honed his skills to a razor-sharp edge. Now, all that remained was the fight.

The week passed in a blur of intense training and silent preparation. Each day, Jin Ma grew more confident, more determined. The match against Seon Ma was looming on the horizon, but Jin Ma wasn't afraid. He was ready.