Rock Shattering Fist

"Teacher, what is the name of this awesome move?" Arthur asked with excitement.

The headmaster scratched his head, a blank look crossing his face before he declared triumphantly, "Uh… yes! This move is called the Rock Shattering Fist!"

Arthur was stupefied. 

'You just made that name up, didn't you? And your naming sense is terrible!' he thought, holding back a sigh.

He now stood before the fifth block of rock the headmaster had conjured, the one he could barely lift upto his chest, replaying the demonstration in his mind. Taking the stance his teacher had shown, Arthur gathered his strength and delivered a strike.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

A web of cracks spread across the rock before it crumbled into uneven chunks. Arthur was surprised by his own strength but knew the result was far from the headmaster's effortless destruction.

"Not bad! You remembered my move at one glance. Although it lacked the essence of the technique, your strength is commendable," the headmaster said with a nod. "Keep practicing. Aim to break the rocks into pebbles upon impact. I've enchanted the rock to reassemble after each strike, so you can train endlessly."

Leaving Arthur to his practice, the headmaster disappeared into the shadows.

Arthur committed himself to mastering the technique. Over the following days, his schedule became unrelenting: working for Mr. Augustin in the morning, attending school in the afternoon, and rigorous warrior training in the evening. 

As part of his warrior training, he would test the limits of his endurance by running laps around the school grounds. Then, he would train his strength by lifting the rocks conjured by the headmaster. And finally, he would practice the Rock Shattering Fist taught by the headmaster.

Each night, Arthur would return home utterly exhausted, his legs trembling and arms aching from the day's work and training. Yet, despite his fatigue, there was a gleam in his eyes—a fire of determination that refused to be extinguished. His mother, noticing his worn-out state, couldn't hide her concern.

"Arthur, are you overworking yourself? You look like you're about to collapse," she said one evening, her voice laced with worry.

Arthur gave her a reassuring smile, though it didn't quite mask his exhaustion. "Don't worry, Mother. I'm fine. This training is hard, but it's making me stronger. Trust me, everything will be worth it in the end."

Her frown softened as she saw the resolve in his eyes. Though her worry didn't completely fade, she chose to believe in her son's determination. "Just promise me you'll take care of yourself," she said softly, patting his shoulder. Arthur nodded, silently vowing to push forward without letting her fears come true.

Despite the grueling routine, his increased income meant he and his mother no longer went hungry. For the first time in years, they could afford meat a few times a week.

Arthur marveled at his progress. His progress became even faster with the increased nutrition that he could now get with his higher income. His body grew stronger, his movements sharper, and even his mother seemed less worried. Yet, a deep longing still gnawed at him—the unfulfilled dream of awakening.

After a month of practice, Arthur had begun to grasp the essence of the Rock Shattering Fist. Standing before the enchanted rock, he prepared for his strike. Moving his right arm back, he compressed his muscles, crouching slightly to generate tension in his abdomen and legs. With a sudden motion, he unleashed all the stored energy through his fist.

"Twang!"

"Bang!"

The rock shattered into fragments finer than pebbles, scattering like dust.

"Impressive!" the headmaster said, his voice filled with genuine praise. "In just a month, you've captured the essence of the technique. Your perception is remarkable."

He gestured to Arthur's stance. "However, your power lacks synergy. When you crouch, you must not only create tension in your abdomen but also in your legs. Channel the force from your legs to amplify the impact. The secret to explosive power lies in using your entire body as a weapon."

With a wave of his hand, he conjured a new 500 kilo rock. "Keep practising on the rocks until all the rocks are ground to dust."

"Starting today, we will focus on combat training," the headmaster announced. Drawing a circle five feet in diameter with a bamboo stick, he stood outside it. "You will stay inside this circle while I attack you with this bamboo stick. Your task is to dodge every strike."

Arthur studied the circle and quickly realized the stick's reach covered every point within it. To maximize his reaction time, he positioned himself at the edge opposite the headmaster.

"Get ready!" the headmaster said with a sly smile.

The first jab came fast, aimed at Arthur's forehead.

"Dunk!" Arthur ducked just in time, his heart pounding.

The next strike targeted his right foot as he remained in a half-squat. He quickly lifted his foot, resembling a dog mid-pee.

The headmaster's strikes came faster, aimed at awkward angles and difficult-to-move parts of Arthur's body. Arthur jumped and dodged like a monkey, sweat pouring down his face as he narrowly avoided each blow.

After an hour, the headmaster stopped. "Ignoring the warm-up, you lasted over an hour without getting hit with the stick," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're a small monster, Arthur."

Arthur collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. Despite his exhaustion, a small grin crept onto his face. He had survived.

The next day, the headmaster handed Arthur a vest and leg guards made from an unusual material. "Wear these at all times," he instructed.

Arthur took the clothes but staggered under their unexpected weight. "These thin clothes… are this heavy?"

"They weigh 100 kilos combined. You must wear them during training and throughout the day until you can perform as you do now. The weight can be adjusted with my aid."

Arthur clenched his fists tightly, his resolve unwavering. "I'll definitely work hard," he said aloud, though his true thoughts burned with deeper ambition.

I will awaken myself, he vowed silently, determination blazing in his eyes.