Chapter 17: Restraint II

In just a week of training at the Muteki Dojo, Ren has already begun to master various martial arts, such as Jujutsu under Sho's careful guidance, Chinese Kenpo with Shin's strategic approach, Karate from Ryoga's disciplined techniques, Muay Thai with the fierce Batu, and weapons training led by the expert Rei.

He called Sho, Shin, and Ryoga "sensei" with respect, but with Batu, who acted more like a giant kid, Ren only sometimes called him "sensei" to keep him happy.

As for Rei, Ren insisted he wouldn't call her "sensei" because, in his playful words, "my girlfriend can't be my teacher."

It annoyed Rei at first, but her soft heart made it easy for Ren to calm her down each time.

Today, Sho had promised to help Ren learn to control his strength, which was becoming a problem during training.

"So what's your plan to help me control my strength, Sho-sensei?" Ren asked, wiping sweat off his forehead.

Sho smiled gently, stroking his mustache. "Nothing much. You just need to wear this for now."

He held up a handmade restraint device that looked like a heavy iron vest, complete with springs and sections where more weight could be added later.

The device would wrap around Ren's upper body, locking his arms and chest in place.

Ren's eyes widened when he lifted it. "You're kidding, right? This thing is at least sixty kilos! How am I supposed to move, let alone fight?"

Sho shook his head calmly. "You will wear it while eating, sleeping, training—everything. It will help you control your power, and in time, it will also increase your strength."

Ren's shoulders slumped. "I'll die if I wear this while sparring with Batu. You know how he is!"

Sho chuckled. "Don't worry, Batu won't be training with you for now. Focus on getting used to this."

Ren tried to argue, but in the end, he sighed and accepted it, strapping on the restraints with a groan.

The moment the iron locked into place, it felt like a boulder had been dropped on his back. His arms could barely lift past his waist.

Ren shuffled out of the room like a turtle. Shin, who was passing by, laughed softly. "Since you're carrying that weight, it's the perfect time to learn attack and defense control."

Ren struggled to raise his eyes. "Teach me then, Shin-sensei."

Shin nodded. "In Chinese boxing, there is a move called Black Dragon Skulling Top. When someone kicks, you grab the leg, pin it to your body, and crush their stance while setting up a headbutt. It's a counter-attack that uses minimal movement and maximum efficiency."

Shin demonstrated the technique slowly, letting Ren see each step before asking him to try.

Ren gritted his teeth and attempted to follow, but his heavy restraints made every movement stiff.

His body screamed in protest as sweat dripped down his chin, but he kept trying, again and again.

Shin didn't interrupt him, quietly stepping back to let Ren practice alone. Ren kept going for two hours, his body shaking with exhaustion.

Finally, he managed to perform the technique correctly, dropping to the floor immediately afterward, gasping for breath.

"I'm gonna die one day because of these insane teachers…" Ren muttered with a pained smile.

Nearby, Ryoga, Sho, Batu, and Shin watched him, arms crossed. Ryoga raised an eyebrow at Shin. "Did you tell him he had to master it today?"

Shin shook his head with a small smile. "No. But he's the type to assume it himself. Even I couldn't have done what he just did when I was his age."

They shared a quiet laugh, proud of Ren's determination. Not far away, Rei and Yumi Fuyuzora stood together, their cheeks pink as they watched Ren lying on the floor, breathing hard but refusing to give up.

Their hearts warmed at the sight, seeing the boy they cared about pushing himself for his growth.

Days passed, and Ren continued to live with the restraints on, learning to eat, sleep, and train while carrying the heavy iron every second of the day.

It had been nine days, and shockingly, he could now move normally despite the weight, his body adjusting quickly.

What Ren didn't tell anyone was that each night, when his body felt like it would break, he quietly focused on the warmth in his core, letting it spread throughout his tired limbs.

He didn't know what it was exactly, but it felt like energy moving inside him, helping him recover bit by bit, letting him keep going, no matter how heavy the burden became.

And so, under the weight of iron and the watchful eyes of his mentors, Ren's journey toward becoming stronger quietly continued.