The Way of the Fist

After the Weapons Mastery

Kaizer stood at the edge of the clearing, his body still pulsing with the energy of the weapon training he had just finished. His mind, however, was restless. Even though he had gained powerful skills through mastering slashes, strikes, and defensive stances with weapons, he knew it wasn't enough.

"Weapons can be lost, broken..." he muttered to himself, clenching his fists. "But my body—my hands—will always be with me. If I'm truly going to survive here, I need to be able to fight, even when I'm unarmed."

The memories of Paradise flashed vividly in his mind again. His instructors hadn't just trained him to wield weapons—they had drilled him in the brutal art of hand-to-hand combat. He recalled the harsh strikes, the pain of grappling holds, the endless hours of conditioning his body to be a weapon in itself.

"It's time to train like that again," Kaizer whispered, determination settling into his bones. "It's time to turn my body into the weapon it was always meant to be."

Morning Focus

Kaizer stood in the same clearing, but now he shifted his focus to his body. He raised his fists, feeling the tension in his muscles. "This will be different," he thought. "But necessary."

He took a deep breath, grounding himself. "Paradise may have shaped me into a weapon, but here... I'll choose to become stronger, on my own terms."

With that, Kaizer began his training, honing his hand-to-hand combat skills—starting with the basics he had learned long ago.

Boxing Basics

Kaizer raised his fists, his body moving with familiarity. He began with the fundamentals of boxing—the solid foundation that had been drilled into him in Paradise. He threw his first punch into the air, feeling the muscle memory return.

[Skill Acquired: Iron Fist (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: Basic boxing technique. Increases the power and speed of punches. Each successful strike has a chance to stun the target.

Kaizer smirked at the notification as he continued practicing his punches, refining each movement until it felt like second nature. His mind focused entirely on precision and speed as his body adjusted to the rhythm of the strikes.

[Skill Level Up: Iron Fist Level 2 (Active)]

Effect: Increased power and precision of punches. Punches now have a higher chance to stun and deal minor bonus damage.

Kaizer's footwork followed instinctively as he began moving, weaving in and out, imagining an opponent standing before him. His fists flew faster, and soon, another notification appeared.

[Skill Level Up: Iron Fist Level 3 (Active)]

Effect: Mastery of boxing basics. Punches now deal significant damage, and the chance to stun is greatly increased.

Kicks and Strikes

Satisfied with his progress in boxing, Kaizer transitioned into taekwondo and karate. He shifted his stance, recalling the powerful kicks and precise strikes from his training. With a swift motion, he launched a roundhouse kick through the air, letting his body move with practiced precision.

[Skill Acquired: Dragon's Kick (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: Basic kicking technique. Increases power and precision of kicks. Has a chance to knock opponents off balance.

He followed through with a series of spinning kicks and sharp strikes, his body moving fluidly. His memories of countless training sessions in Paradise pushed him forward, and he knew this was only the beginning.

[Skill Level Up: Dragon's Kick Level 2 (Active)]

Effect: Increased power and precision. Kicks now have a higher chance of knocking enemies off balance and dealing bonus damage.

His strikes grew faster, more precise, as he incorporated karate's sharp punches and knife-hand strikes, targeting vital points. His body flowed between offense and defense with deadly efficiency.

[Skill Acquired: Tiger Strike (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: Basic striking technique. Increases damage dealt with precise strikes to vital points. Has a chance to break weak defenses.

Grappling and Submissions

Kaizer then moved on to Brazilian jiujitsu, dropping low as he practiced joint locks, chokeholds, and takedowns on imagined opponents. His time in Paradise had forced him to master grappling techniques, and now he would refine them to perfection.

[Skill Acquired: Serpent's Grasp (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: Basic grappling technique. Increases the effectiveness of holds, locks, and submissions. Has a chance to immobilize opponents temporarily.

His body moved fluidly as he practiced grappling and submission holds, remembering the brutal sparring sessions he had been forced into. Each move was calculated, precise, as though he were battling real enemies.

[Skill Level Up: Serpent's Grasp Level 2 (Active)]

Effect: Increased control over holds and locks. Grappling techniques now have a higher chance of immobilizing opponents and dealing additional damage.

Evolution of Combat Styles

As hours passed, Kaizer pushed himself harder, focusing on refining his strikes, kicks, and grappling techniques. He felt his body responding, growing stronger, faster. Soon, his skills began to evolve.

[Skill Evolution: Iron Fist → Steel Gauntlet (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: Master-level boxing technique. Punches are devastating, with a high chance to break defenses and stun opponents.

[Skill Evolution: Dragon's Kick → Wyvern's Talon (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: A powerful kick imbued with deadly precision. Kicks now deal significant damage, with a high chance to knock opponents off balance.

[Skill Evolution: Tiger Strike → Lion's Claw (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: Master-level striking technique. Precise strikes target vital points with devastating force, often bypassing defenses.

[Skill Evolution: Serpent's Grasp → Viper's Coil (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: Advanced grappling technique. Locks and submissions become nearly impossible to escape, with a chance to incapacitate opponents completely.

The Path to Mastery

Kaizer stood at the edge of the clearing, his body drenched in sweat but his mind sharper than ever. The training had been grueling, but he could feel the progress within himself. Every punch, kick, and hold had brought him closer to mastering these ancient arts.

"I won't rely on weapons alone," Kaizer whispered. "Even without a blade, I'll be stronger than any adventurer who dares to challenge me."

With his newfound skills, Kaizer felt invincible. The path to mastery lay before him, and he knew that with every step he took, he would continue to unlock the potential that this world held. There was no turning back now.