chapter 9 second day of the crimson mist. first ivon release point unlocked?

Sun peeked through the heavy crimson mist as Leon staggered back to the camp. His body bore signs of a grueling night—bruises and scrapes lined his arms, his clothes were torn, and his breath came in labored gasps. Yet, despite the injuries, there was a determined fire in his eyes.

Jasper watched as Leon collapsed onto a boulder near the campfire. His friend looked absolutely wrecked.

"You look like a chewed-up piece of meat," Jasper teased, hiding his concern behind a smirk.

Leon shot him a withering glare. "And you look like someone who hasn't done a lick of work in his life."

"That's because I've been saving my energy," Jasper said, puffing out his chest.

"For what? Annoying Mr. John?" Leon quipped, earning a chuckle from the others nearby.

Leon's words weren't far from the truth. Jasper had spent the better part of the morning relentlessly pestering Mr. John to train him.

Mr. John, a hulking man with the air of someone who had seen—and survived—it all, sat on a boulder near the edge of the camp, sharpening a jagged piece of alien bone. His silence was deafening, but Jasper wasn't one to give up easily.

"Mr. John, come on! You're the best fighter here. I need you to train me!" Jasper pleaded, pacing back and forth like a restless dog.

"No," Mr. John said flatly, not even looking up.

"Why not?!"

"Because I don't have the patience to deal with whiny kids who think they're the next hero," Mr. John replied, still focused on his task.

"I'm not whiny!" Jasper protested, stomping his foot like a toddler.

Mr. John raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"

Jasper groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I'm serious about this! I'll do whatever it takes. I'll fetch water, cook food, clean the camp—"

"Do I look like I need a maid?" Mr. John interrupted, finally glancing up.

"No, but you look like someone who could use a prodigy!" Jasper countered, pointing at himself with an exaggerated flourish.

Mr. John stared at him, unimpressed. "Prodigy? You couldn't even start a fire without Leon's help yesterday."

"That was a fluke!" Jasper defended, his face turning red. "Besides, I'm a quick learner. Just give me a chance!"

Leon, sitting nearby, couldn't contain his laughter. "At this rate, John's going to train you just to shut you up."

After a few more minutes of relentless pestering—and Jasper's shameless attempt at a puppy-dog face—Mr. John finally let out a heavy sigh.

"Fine! I'll train you," he said, holding up a hand to silence Jasper's excited whoop. "But if you waste my time or complain even once, I'm done. Got it?"

"Got it!" Jasper said, saluting dramatically.

Mr. John led Jasper to a clear area of the camp, away from the others. He stood on a flat rock and gestured for Jasper to sit on the ground.

"First lesson," Mr. John began, his tone serious, "we're going to talk about *Ivon energy* and *release points*."

"Ivon energy?" Jasper echoed, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes," Mr. John said, crossing his arms. "Ivon energy is the life force that exists within every living being. Humans, however, are born with sealed *release points*, which are the gateways to controlling this energy. On Earth, these points remain closed. But on Planet X, the environment forces them open slightly."

"Why only slightly?" Jasper asked, tilting his head.

"Because humans are stubborn," Mr. John said with a smirk. "We rely on pre-set techniques and attacks obtained from killing aliens. These memories are convenient, but they're also a crutch. They limit our ability to control Ivon energy freely."

Jasper frowned, processing this information. "So, how do I get rid of these limits?"

"You open more release points," Mr. John explained. "Each point you unlock gives you greater control and access to your energy. The first step is learning how to concentrate your energy into a single point."

Mr. John instructed Jasper to hold out his palm. "Focus all your Ivon energy into a single spot here," he said, tapping the center of Jasper's hand. "Normally, your energy is spread evenly across your body. You need to gather it all in one place."

Jasper nodded, his brow furrowing in concentration. He tensed his muscles, trying to will his Ivon energy into his palm.

"Don't force it," Mr. John said, shaking his head. "Ivon energy isn't about brute strength. It's about control. Imagine a glowing ball of energy in your hand, and visualize a single hole in that ball. Let the energy flow through the hole like a steady stream."

Jasper closed his eyes, following Mr. John's instructions. He imagined the glowing ball of energy, the hole in its center, and the steady flow of energy pouring into his palm. For a moment, he felt it working—a faint warmth spread across his hand.

But then the warmth vanished, and his concentration broke.

"Ugh!" Jasper groaned, frustrated.

"Relax," Mr. John said calmly. "It's like pouring water into a thin glass. Pour too fast, and it overflows. Pour too slow, and it doesn't fill the glass. You need to find the right balance."

Jasper tried again, this time focusing on maintaining a steady flow. The warmth returned, growing stronger as the energy concentrated in his palm.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his hand, and Jasper cried out, canceling the flow before his hand could explode.

"Too much energy," Mr. John said. "You have to balance the flow. If you push too hard, you'll destroy your pathways. If you don't push hard enough, nothing happens. Find the sweet spot."

After several more tries—and Mr. John's patient guidance—Jasper finally succeeded. A soft glow of Ivon energy formed in his palm, steady and warm.

"I did it," Jasper said, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Not bad," Mr. John said with a nod of approval. "But this is just the beginning. Keep practicing, and don't let it go to your head."

From a distance, Leon watched, impressed by his friend's progress.

As Jasper stood before Mr. John, still catching his breath from his earlier training, Mr. John cracked his knuckles with an intimidating smirk. "Alright, kid, time for your next lesson. Let me show you something."

He turned to a nearby crimson boulder, its surface smooth and glinting faintly under the red mist. Without any visible effort, Mr. John cocked his fist and slammed it into the boulder. The impact was instant—the massive rock shattered into a cloud of dust, scattering fragments in all directions. The ground beneath the boulder cracked, forming a crater 6 meters deep and 10 meters wide.

"That," Mr. John said, dusting off his hands, "was my strength *without* Ivon energy."

Jasper's eyes widened in awe. "That's insane! You're like a walking natural disaster."

Mr. John smirked. "And this…" He clenched his fist again, focusing Ivon energy into it. A faint glow surrounded his hand, the air around it vibrating with invisible force. Then, with a thunderous roar, he slammed his fist into the ground in the opposite direction.

This time, the result was catastrophic. An explosion of raw, invisible power erupted, flattening everything in a half-kilometer radius. Crimson dust filled the air as a massive fissure, 28 meters deep, tore through the ground.

Leon, who had been watching from a safe distance, screamed in panic, "Oi! Stop destroying the safety area! Do you want us to get eaten by aliens?!"

Mr. John scratched his head, looking genuinely apologetic. "Ah… yeah, my bad."

Jasper, meanwhile, was still staring at the destruction with his jaw practically on the ground. "How do you even *do* that?"

Mr. John turned to Jasper with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Your turn."

Jasper blinked, pointing at himself. "Wait, me? You want *me* to do that?"

"Of course," Mr. John replied, crossing his arms. "It's part of your training. Focus your Ivon energy into your fist and punch the ground. Simple."

Jasper nodded, a determined expression on his face. He clenched his fist, trying to channel his energy just as Mr. John had demonstrated. His muscles tensed, and he could feel the faint warmth of Ivon energy flowing into his hand. He reared back and swung his fist toward the ground.

*Thud.*

Nothing happened.

Leon burst out laughing, "Was that supposed to be a punch? My grandmother could do better!"

Jasper glared at him, his face red. "Shut up! It's harder than it looks!"

Mr. John sighed, shaking his head. "You think this is a joke?" Without warning, he swung his fist at Jasper, hitting him square in the chest. Jasper flew backward, landing hard on the ground.

"Ow!" Jasper groaned, clutching his ribs. "What was that for?!"

"That's what happens when you fail," Mr. John said, looming over him. "Every time you mess up, I'm going to beat it into you. So, stop failing."

Jasper winced but nodded. "Alright, alright, I get it!"

Each time Jasper failed to properly focus his Ivon energy, Mr. John didn't hold back. The first failure earned him a punch to the gut. The second time, Mr. John grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into the ground.

"Are you even trying?" Mr. John barked.

"I am!" Jasper wheezed, spitting out a mouthful of dirt.

The third time, Mr. John swung his leg, kicking Jasper so hard he skidded across the ground and slammed into a rock.

Leon, watching from the sidelines, winced. "Uh… is this really training? Or just an excuse to beat him up?"

"Shut up, Leon!" Jasper yelled, staggering to his feet.

Despite the harsh treatment, Jasper refused to give up. He clenched his fist again, focusing harder. He imagined the glowing ball of energy, just as Mr. John had instructed. Slowly, he felt the warmth in his fist grow stronger, more concentrated.

Finally, with a shout, Jasper slammed his fist into the ground. A small shockwave rippled out, cracking the ground beneath him. It wasn't anywhere near Mr. John's level, but it was progress.

"Well, it's about time," Mr. John said, nodding in approval. "You're not hopeless after all."

Later that afternoon, after barely surviving Mr. John's brutal training, Jasper stumbled across Jessica, who was practicing her own Ivon energy techniques nearby.

"Jessica!" Jasper called out, running up to her. "Can you train me?"

Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Didn't Mr. John just finish beating you up?"

"Exactly! Which is why I need someone who won't use me as a punching bag!" Jasper pleaded, clasping his hands together dramatically.

Jessica sighed, shaking her head. "Fine. But don't blame me if you regret it."

Jessica started by teaching Jasper how to create an Ivon blast. "Focus your Ivon energy into your palm, like before, but instead of holding it there, push it outward. It should form into a projectile."

Jasper nodded, giving it a try. He focused his energy, forming a faint glow in his hand. But when he tried to release it, the energy fizzled out like a dying sparkler.

Jessica smirked. "Wow. That was… adorable."

"Don't patronize me!" Jasper growled, trying again.

After several failed attempts—and Jessica's relentless teasing—Jasper finally managed to launch a small Ivon blast. It wasn't very powerful, but it was a start.

Next, Jessica taught him how to concentrate the energy for a more focused attack. Jasper followed her instructions, but as he pushed his Ivon energy harder, a sharp pain shot through his body.

"Ahhh!" Jasper screamed, clutching his chest. His entire body felt like it was on fire.

Jessica's eyes widened. "What's happening?"

Suddenly, a surge of energy exploded from Jasper's body, lighting up the area around him. His first release point had fully opened, flooding his system with newfound power.

As the light faded, Jasper collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

Jessica knelt beside him, her expression a mix of concern and awe. "Well… congratulations, I guess. You've officially opened your first release point."

"Yeah… thanks," Jasper wheezed, managing a weak smile. "But next time, maybe warn me that it's going to hurt like hell."

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And cut

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Please read this carefully. The authors note is quite long. I will try to clear all your confusions

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**Author's Note:**

Alright, I know this chapter might feel a little confusing, and honestly, I feared this might happen. This training arc has expanded beyond what I initially planned, and it looks like it might stretch into the next two chapters—unless, of course, a crazy concept strikes me in the middle of writing. Whether this arc turns out to be exciting or boring really depends on how you, my readers, feel about it. But since I haven't seen much feedback, I'm taking a leap of faith here.

Initially, I intended to wrap this arc up in this chapter, but I had to introduce several concepts related to **Ivorn Energy**, which required more explanation and detail than expected. Let me address some of the potential confusion you might have after reading:

1. **How is Jasper using advanced attacks like the Explosive Sonic Boom if he doesn't understand how to control Ivorn Energy yet?**

This goes back to what Mr. John explained earlier. The abilities Jasper gained from defeating other aliens or creatures are immensely powerful, but they come with limitations. These attacks function like pre-programmed skills in a video game—Jasper can instinctively use them, but he has no conscious control or understanding of how they work. Think of it as a parrot mimicking human speech: it can repeat phrases but doesn't comprehend their meaning. Jasper uses these attacks out of instinct, not mastery.

2. **Why couldn't Jasper break the ground or a rock using Ivorn Energy, yet he could enhance his Ultra Sense with it?**

The answer lies in control. Jasper's lack of mastery over Ivorn Energy prevents him from channeling it effectively into specific actions, like breaking the ground. Enhancing Ultra Sense, on the other hand, is something he does unconsciously, similar to how he uses alien-obtained attacks.

Also, let's not forget: the environment of **Planet X** is vastly different from Earth. Even the weakest rocks on Planet X are significantly stronger than the toughest concrete on Earth. The rocks of **Mount Crimson**, specifically, are at least **20 times more durable** than the average rock on Planet X. Breaking them requires not just raw power but precise control—something Jasper currently lacks.

3. **How is Jasper so good at martial arts but still struggles with Ivorn Energy?**

Jasper trained rigorously for five years on Earth, motivated by the guilt of losing his brother-like friend. His martial arts expertise comes from relentless effort and his natural genius. Yes, genius! Jasper is a prodigy when it comes to martial arts and physical strength, even without the enhancements of Planet X.

However, his current challenges stem from the entirely new dynamics of Ivorn Energy, which require both understanding and discipline. His ability to enhance **Ultra Sense** is a rare feat, even among Earth's top martial artists—only **three individuals** have mastered it, including Jasper and his mysterious master (whose story will unfold in later chapters).

Now, onto a more personal note:

This chapter was a marathon for me. I wrote it all in one go, and let me tell you, **my fingers are screaming in pain!** But it's worth it if you enjoyed the story. I've also applied for a contract, so fingers crossed for good news on that front. Wish me luck, and please don't hesitate to leave feedback. It really helps me improve and keeps me motivated to bring you the best story possible!

Thanks for sticking with me, and see you in the next chapter! !