Herbert looked at Otto. "Otto, it's your turn."
Otto looked at Fyren and said, "You can do it.
Foul heavenly thunderbolts, ten thousand arrows through the heart, five horses tearing the body apart...you want me to suffer all this alone? You really want me dead, don't you!
'I, Otto, today become a disciple of Senior Herbert and form a bond with Fyren...'"
Otto gritted his teeth. "Sworn brothers! From now on, honor your master and cherish your brother. If you break this oath..."
He followed Fyren's example and turned around. "Shifu!"
Fyren hurriedly said, "Big brother, you need to point to yourself when swearing."
"You could have just pointed at me!"
"That's right, you're the big brother! We are sworn brothers now. In the future, you'll go first when climbing a mountain of swords and crossing a sea of fire. You'll be first to die when our lives are at stake. As the senior brother, you have to protect and care for me."
Herbert said, "Right, Fyren is correct! You must point to yourself!"
Otto gritted his teeth as Fyren came over, broke his fingers and made him point to himself.
Otto said:
"If I break this oath, may heaven and earth strike me down! Is that acceptable?"
"Not bad."
Fyren patted Otto's shoulder. "Big brother, from now on we'll be brothers in the same sect. All past grudges are wiped clean! You can't hit me! Otherwise, may we be struck by lightning and die horrible deaths!"
Otto narrowed his eyes: So what? I don't need to kill you myself - Sherry can kill you a hundred times over!
Herbert said, "Good! Since that's settled, let this old man heal your wounds."
After a few hours, Fyren woke up to find Otto had regained consciousness earlier and was already channeling his energy to regulate his breathing.
Sherry, having been given medicine twice by Fyren, was recovering from her internal and external injuries at an astonishing rate. She sat behind Otto to protect him, glaring at Fyren with such intensity it seemed she wanted to slice him into a thousand pieces.
Fyren gave her an awkward smile, causing Sherry to look away, though her face reddened slightly.
Otto exhaled a mouthful of turbid air, finally smiling as he clasped his fists and bowed to Herbert: "This disciple thanks Master for saving his life!"
Herbert said, "You're all awake now - excellent, excellent. Well, since you're my disciples now, I naturally must teach you something. Fyren, your foundation is weak, so I'll teach you The Wind and Thunder Surging, the Great Divine Annihilation Sense - capable of shaking heaven and earth - the Immortal-Slaying Palm! The Immortal-Slaying Palm!"
Fyren was thrilled!
Incredible!
The Immortal-Slaying Palm!
How amazing is that? The name alone is impressive!
Wind and Thunder Surging!
The Great Divine Annihilation!
It shakes heaven and earth!
"If you learn this palm technique, you can beat up even immortals! Who would you fear then?"
"Thank you, Master!"
"Mmm." Herbert then said to Otto, "Otto."
"Master."
"Your roots are good, and your martial arts rank is higher than Fyren's. Master won't hold back, so I'll teach you the Little Monkey Fist."
"Thank you, Master... Wait!?" Otto said, "Master, the Little Monkey Fist is... the basic introductory body cultivation technique, isn't it? This... isn't it too elementary?"
"Master cares for you and wants you to build a solid foundation."
Otto thought to himself, If I couldn't beat you, I'd have blasted you to death with a cannon! What kind of teaching is this? Are you mocking me? I don't even need you to teach me the Little Monkey Fist!
Fyren was barely holding back his laughter and clasped his hands. "How enviable, Brother... Master has shown you such kindness... You must remember this favor!"
Otto was exasperated. "Master, how about this—since my cultivation is higher, teach me that Immortal-Slaying Palm instead. Let Senior Brother learn the Little Monkey Fist to build his foundation—he lacks one. As for the Immortal-Slaying Palm, teach it to me first, and I'll pass it on to Senior Brother later. That way, we'll both know it."
"Very well, that's acceptable."
Fyren was about to protest immediately. "Master, I—"
"Enough, Fyren. Remember this."
Herbert said, "The Little Monkey Fist has only four levels. The first level, Ape King Emerges!—it trains the body, strength, and qi. Once mastered, you can split mountains, shatter rocks, and break iron and gold!"
Fyren's eyes widened. "That powerful?!"
Otto's eyes grew even wider than Fyren's.
The first level is this strong?! This isn't a 'little monkey'—this is the fucking Monkey King, isn't it?!
Herbert continued, "The second level, Golden Fiery Eyes! After training, your divine sense will expand—hearing in six directions, seeing in eight, gaining profound insight and perception, as sensitive as a saint!"
Fyren and Otto blurted out in unison, "Holy shit!"
"Don't get too excited yet!" Herbert said. "If you're diligent and talented enough to reach the third level—heh, congratulations!"
"How so?"
"The third level is called Great Sage Equal to Heaven! You can move with your heart's will, protect your body with indestructible vajra, slay the strong when facing them, and stand unrivaled! Truly, it can be said: cutting down demons and commanding the world!"
Fyren was ecstatic. "Master, you truly are my one and only master! What about the fourth level?"
Herbert smiled faintly. "The fourth level is called Victorious Fighting Buddha! If you reach such a realm, I doubt there will be any rivals left in the world. You'll be qualified to speak with the strongest powers and discuss your fellow disciples. By then... hmph, I suppose this master will no longer be around. You must carry forward our school's martial arts and inherit the sect. The duty of saving lives and protecting the world will fall upon your shoulders."
Fyren hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed. "Although it sounds familiar, thanks to Master's teachings, I will definitely devote myself to training and live up to Master's grace!"
Otto took a deep breath.
Although this old man isn't quite right in the head, the things he knows are truly incredible!
If even the Little Monkey Fist is this powerful, then if I learn... the Immortal-Slaying Palm, I'll be able to storm the heavens and beat up the Supreme Lord and the Jade Emperor!
Otto was thrilled.
"Otto!"
"Master."
"Well, you're the eldest brother of this sect, so Master naturally won't treat you poorly."
"Yes, Master."
"I'll teach you The Wind and Thunder Surging, the Great Divine Annihilation Sense—capable of shaking heaven and earth—the Immortal-Slaying Palm! There are only three moves total, but each contains the power of The Wind and Thunder Surging, the Great Divine Annihilation Sense—capable of shaking heaven and earth, so listen carefully."
"Yes, thank you Master. But Master..."
Otto had a thought. "Shouldn't you ask Shifu to leave while teaching me?"
"Why?"
"Such... profound techniques should be passed down individually within the sect. It's not appropriate for everyone to be present!"
Herbert nodded. "Worthy of being my sect's eldest disciple—so thoughtful! Fyren, you and little Sherry go wait on the mountainside. Come back after I finish teaching your elder brother."
"Yes."
Fyren's heart pounded slightly.
[This old man wouldn't really teach him that overpowered technique, would he?]
[Otto's already the protagonist, blessed by fate, the Central Quadportal's master. If he learns The Wind and Thunder Surging, the Great Divine Annihilation Sense—capable of shaking heaven and earth—the Immortal-Slaying Palm, how will anyone else survive?]
Sherry looked at the preoccupied Fyren.
"MY YOUNG LORD won't lose to a ruffian like you!"
Fyren glanced at her. "Yeah, yeah, how amazing your young lord is! But I'm the one who just saved you! Your young lord's first thought upon getting the elixir was to take it himself—he didn't even consider you!"
"I'm just a servant! My purpose is to dedicate myself to helping the young lord ascend! If my death could hasten his rise, I'd have no hesitation or regrets!"
Fyren rolled his eyes dramatically. "Brainwashed."
"What did you say!?"
"I said I'm brain-dead!" Fyren cursed inwardly:
[Damn Otto, truly fate's favorite—born with a golden spoon.]
[His martial arts are top-tier, his harem endless, with four great beauties willing to walk through fire for him.]
Poor me—I'm a dead man walking, yet still worrying about saving this one and helping that one. Who the hell is going to save me?
Sherry glared and stepped aside.
Within minutes, Otto came out huffing and puffing.
Fyren studied him—it didn't seem to have gone well!
Guessing the kid wasn't too pleased, Fyren immediately approached. "Congratulations, Senior Brother, for mastering this divine technique! Ah, I'm so envious—you've received Master's true teachings! Just imagining it thrills me—The Wind and Thunder Surging, the Great Divine Annihilation Sense—capable of shaking heaven and earth! And it slays immortals! Though this palm technique has only three moves, each one carries The Wind and Thunder Surging, the Great Divine Annihilation Sense—capable of shaking heaven and earth..."
"You shut up!"
Otto grabbed Fyren by the collar.
"Ai-ya-ya, Senior Brother! We knocked our heads on the ground together and worshiped the same master! Killing me would be fratricide! According to our oath, you'd suffer heaven's wrath—thunderbolts from the sky, ten thousand arrows through the heart, five horses tearing you apart, plus someone spinning around to kick your little ding-ding..."
"Shut the hell up!" Otto trembled with rage. "What fucking 'Wind and Thunder Surging'? And that 'Great Divine Annihilation Sense'? Goddamn 'Shaking Heaven and Earth'? Only the names sound impressive—it's all worthless!"
"No way!" Fyren looked genuinely shocked. "But the name sounds so cool! 'Wind and Thunder Surging'—how powerful does that sound?"
Otto glared. "Want to learn? I'll teach you. Here: left hand wind, right hand thunder, clap them together and push forward!"
"That's it?"
"That's it."
"That's called 'Wind and Thunder Surging'?"
"Yeah, that's what Master said."
"Isn't that just a Hadoken?! Street Fighter?! KEN and RYU's signature move?!"
Otto gritted his teeth. "Figured it out, huh?"
Fyren scratched his head. "Then... the 'Great Divine Annihilation Sense'..."
"Jump up and punch the sky with all your might to keep the gods awake—that's the 'Great Divine Annihilation Sense'."
Fyren looked up, mimed the motion, and realized—"So just... SHORYUKEN? Also called Rising Dragon Fist or Sky Uppercut. Back home we call it 'SHO'."
Otto hung his head. "Shifu's messing with me on purpose. I'm starting to get it."
Fyren nodded. "Then 'Shaking Heaven and Earth'... Don't tell me—it's just making you float up, spin around, and kick your legs, right?"
"How'd you know?"
"Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku! Reverse half-circle plus kick."
Otto stared. "What the hell does that mean?"
"All fighting game moves... from the console."
Otto instantly saw red. He turned to charge inside. "And he made me kowtow so respectfully! Swear that poisonous oath! I'll kill him!"