Training X Potential 1

'Huff. Huff~'

His chest heaved rapidly, each labored breath a harsh rasp as he struggled to catch his breath after the intense training.

Sweat dripped down from Valtor's face, wetting the snow, on the very ground beneath him.

He had never anticipated such training. Ever.

The old man had called this Endo-training — following a method designed to help him bind his Gi, a technique known as Darkness Binding — Absolute Form.

It comprised four initial steps,; 'Initial Binding, Pain Tolerance, control + Secondary Binding and finally, the Absolute Form.

He had passed the Initial Binding, by doing something that should've been simple—boiling a grain of rice.

Easy, right? No.

He was ordered to boil a single grain of rice in a deep pot, suspended over nothing but a candle flame.

And he had to keep his focus on it until it softened.

---*(Two Days Ago...)*---

After the long 'journey' across the walkway, Valtor finally reached the end.

Here, the ground was lined with fine cobblestones, smooth and polished in a way that felt almost unnatural.

The house ahead resembled the other residences in the Master's Quarter, except for one striking difference— there were no doors.

At the entrance, past the scattered pearl cobblestones, stretched the backyard, leading into the house.

No doors stood in the way,

Valtor had asked Master Gap about it, but his reply had been as vague as everything else about him:

"I wanted more fresh air."

Inside, the furnishing was simple—just a table, chair, and fireplace in the sitting area.

His room had little more than a bed, a burning lamp for nighttime, and a few sets of clothes—all perfectly his size.

That told him one thing—Master Gap had planned for his arrival long before today.

When Valtor entered the living room, the scent of food greeted him.

Without hesitation, Valtor devoured the meatloaf and hot soup. He attempted stealing more from the pot, only for his fingers to be struck down by a wooden spoon, from Gap, before he could even reach it.

It was after setting everything up and making sure he looked presentable that it all began.

Valtor had tried asking about the details of the Monarchs again, but Master Gap dismissed it once more, saying it was for, "Another Day."

That morning, Valtor sat on the wooden floor beside Master Gap, who had brewed tea.

The air was cool, and the snow in parts of the courtyard was already melting under the sun's rays.

Gap began, "In the Divine Academy, which would soon be your new home, a lot of powerful activities are going to happen just enclosed in those walls. I'll teach you two training Technique, one, you would benefit from or rather still, both. But, before we rush into the training, Burnwood said you have a strong amount of raw power. Is that right?"

Valtor nodded. He knew where this conversation was leading. When Gap started talking about the training, he knew for sure there was something about the strength.

(At this time, Blobby was busy splashing around in a tub bath, which wasn't exactly necessary.)

"So," Gap took a sip of his tea, "Can you show me?"

"Huh?" Valtor turned to him. "Show you?"

"Yes! Yes!" Gap nodded. "I want to analyze the speed of your fist through the air."

Valtor jumped to his feet and stepped forward.

He wore simple shoes, but the cold seeped through, bringing up a bad memory.

Still, he had to focus on the present.

He closed his eyes, clenched his fist, and pulled in a deep breath.

Then.

"Whoosh!'

He struck forward, the impact sending a sharp gust through the courtyard. Snow was blasted off the tree branches, leaving them bare.

"How was that?" He turned to Master Gap, whose face remained unreadable.

The old man wasn't impressed.

"You did well enough for a starter, but your focus is off balance. Your stance is predictable. It's like watching a leaf drop from a branch while trying to control the wind."

Gap set his tea down and suddenly stood.

At the same time, he pulled off his robe, revealing a rugged body that left Valtor speechless.

Every muscle on the old man wasn't just developed—it was beyond.

From his biceps to his abs, even the vastus and gastrocnemius muscles hidden beneath his trousers.

It was incredible. And shocking.

Gap took a stance, and Valtor swallowed hard.

He could see it.

The aura radiating from the old man was visible—flaming orange, like wildfire licking across tiger-striped skin

It was mesmerizing. And terrifying.

Gap raised his hands slowly, then swiftly clenched them mid-air.

His feet were spread wide, and the snow beneath him melted instantly from the sheer intensity of his energy.

He closed his eyes, took a breath, and Valtor could feel the air being drawn into his lungs.

Then. It stopped.

When Gap's eyes opened, he struck forward with a fist—so fast that Valtor barely saw the movement.

The impact ripped the tree and the surrounding ground from their roots, sending them flying away from the residence.

Valtor stared at the empty hole where the tree had once stood. Then back at the old man, who walked back sluggishly to his tea, picked it up, and took a sip.

"That was the power of Ni—"

Master Gap's body suddenly stiffened. His eyes went wide.

Valtor decided to copy his stance.

'Hands slowly rising from the side, feet wide apart…' he murmured, forming his fist.

But what unsettled Gap wasn't Valtor's movement—it was what he was pulling into himself.

Valtor thought he was filling his lungs with air.

He wasn't.

He filled the Gi space in his soul with the life force of everything around him

Dark purple energy slowly wrapped around his fist, radiating without a spark.

Just as he was about to strike—

"STOP THIS INSTANT!"

Valtor turned, startled by the sheer terror in his master's voice.

The purple energy faded, but Valtor saw something he had never seen before.

Master Gap was shaking.

Sweat dripped down his forehead. His tea had spilled across the ground.

"STOP!" Gap's voice was hoarse. "DO YOU WANT TO OPEN A SHADOW GATE? OR KILL US ALL?"