Honor

The clash of wood on wood echoed through the training yard, a hollow, sharp sound that spoke of Kan's relentless assault. He moved with a ferocity that belied his youth, a whirlwind of calculated strikes aimed at his father's mountainous form. The first blow, a swift, angled cut, was met with the expected resistance, a solid block that sent a tremor through Kan's arms. Yet, he pressed on, his movements a blur, a flurry of attacks aimed at his father's back. A thrust, aimed at the vulnerable nape of his neck, found its mark, or so it seemed. A shimmering, transparent barrier, an unseen armor, rippled across his father's skin, deflecting the blow.

Kan recoiled, a flicker of frustration in his eyes, and launched another attack, but this one was sloppy, predictable. His father's wooden sword descended like a guillotine, a swift, decisive strike that forced Kan to vanish, reappearing at his father's flank. A desperate swing, aimed at the exposed neck, cracked the invisible armor. Another strike, and the barrier shattered, the wooden blade finally meeting flesh.

His father, conceding defeat, lowered his sword. "Good job," he rumbled, a hint of amusement in his voice. "But that last lunge… what was that?"

"Risk," Kan replied, his gaze intense. "I put myself at risk, so my skill, 'Risk Accrual,' would strengthen me enough to land a strike. It's… risky."

His father chuckled, a deep, resonant sound. "Alright, Einstein. I'll go help your mother with lunch."

Kan turned his fiery gaze towards me, a silent challenge that crackled with barely contained energy. Before I could react, he was upon me, the flat of his wooden sword a hair's breadth from my temple. I ducked, sidestepped, but Kan was relentless, his movements a torrent of calculated aggression. He knew his only chance was to overwhelm me, to deny me the space to react.

I countered with a subtle manipulation of his emotions, a wave of agonizing despair that washed over him. He staggered, but then, a chilling smile spread across his face. "Thank you," he hissed, and then, a thunderclap of sound erupted as he moved, a blur of motion that left me reeling. Five strikes landed, a brutal barrage that targeted my neck, forehead, legs, and chest. He seized my wooden sword, crushing it with a sickening snap, the splintered remnants exploding outwards.

Kan, his face a mask of smug satisfaction, gloated over his victory. He deserved it; I had been caught off guard, nearly defenseless. But I knew my mistake. To truly test Kan's strength, I had to face him without tricks, relying on pure strength and skill. It was a lesson I had already learned, a necessity for the trials to come.

As Kan departed, his triumphant laughter echoing through the training yard, I sank into a meditative trance. I needed to refine my techniques, to push my abilities to their limits. A dreamscape, a carefully constructed illusion, would allow me to train for hours, with minimal mental exhaustion. I summoned a longsword, a blade of pure mental energy, and conjured twenty dire wolves, their eyes glowing with predatory hunger.

The first wave fell quickly, their savage attacks met with brutal efficiency. I re-summoned them, more vicious this time, and allowed them to close. As they lunged, a web of shimmering, hair-thin metal strings erupted, ensnaring them. A sharp tug, and they collapsed, a mangled heap of flesh and bone. The strain was immense, the mental effort of maintaining the threads a constant drain.

For three and a half hours, I honed my technique, refining the web of strings, pushing the limits of my control. But I had lingered too long. Kan's mother entered the training yard, her face etched with a stark determination. She picked up the shattered remnants of the wooden sword, her eyes questioning.

I rose, explaining the intricacies of our abilities, the delicate balance between mind and soul. "Your soul is the anchor, your mind the tool," I said. "To wield your ability, you must reach within, grasp that anchor, and bend it to your will. A strong will amplifies your power, a weak will diminishes it. It's like running; the stronger you are, the further and faster you can go."

I instructed her to visualize her ability, to force that image into reality. With a visible strain, she focused, and the shattered wooden sword began to ripple, growing longer, sharper. The effort drained her, but it was a start. She repeated the process, this time shrinking the sword, her brow furrowed in concentration. Panting hard Mrs min sat down and asked me a single question it was if the world would survive I answered the question with enough to satisfy her stating yes the world would survive and as if seeing my deceit ask in that novel you read did the world survive. Answer the question I answered the world itself survive but humanity wasn't doing to good but maybe later in the story it changed. Then Ms min after some time saw a blue liquid drop from her nose and rightfully so she ask why was a blue liquid dripping out her nose and nonchalantly state it because you are a Retainer and not a "Human" Anymore . Ms min looked at me with horror ecthed on her face I state that it just a smfew change the souland body mind and function but this fundenmelty human so your are not entirely alien. So to scientist and biologist we are not human but distantly similar. But the politics of it will be a hell of a thing to deal with. Then I ask respectfully is that it Kan mother statifed sayed that all and don't drain yourself to much. Leaving she also said lunch is ready if you want some. After she left I thought to myself in a couple of things like the "people" with power and retainer and the pillar and worst of all them they should start slowing themselves in the coming year so gaining power was a thing I need fast it was noon so I had some time to get pack to leave tomorrow and go looking for a general or mayor at least anyone with power and I need alot of authority.