Charles strode along the Storm Clan's paths, his new black tunic brushing the ground. He'd decided to head to the clearing where Nora usually hung out, a spot surrounded by tall trees with a nearby river that always seemed perfect for training.
He hoped to find her there, maybe to talk or even train together, but when he arrived, the place was empty.
The wind rustled the leaves, and the sound of running water was the only thing breaking the silence.
"Huh? She's really not here…?" Charles muttered, frowning.
Still, he wasn't about to waste time. The upgrade to Control Level 2 had him pumped, and he wanted to test what he could do with his power now.
"System," he said, glancing at the clear sky, "show my status."
A blue panel appeared before him:
Name: Rian Cole
Element: Lightning
Level: 5
Stats
Health: 90/100
Energy: 100%
System Intelligence: 3
Control Level: 2
XP: 52/1600
Available Upgrade Points: 0
Charles grinned at his energy at 100%.
"That's what I like to see," he said, flexing his fingers. "System, teach me how to do that acceleration you mentioned before. I wanna move fast."
The panel replied:
[To perform an elemental acceleration, focus electricity on the body part you wish to accelerate. Visualize the energy flow from your core to your lower muscles and activate the electricity with a swift motion.]
Charles nodded, stepping back for space.
"Focus the electricity, sounds easy enough," he muttered. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, and pictured the energy in his body as a river of sparks.
He tried channeling that flow to his legs, feeling a slight tingle in his thighs.
"Here goes," he said, opening his eyes. He pushed forward, like he was about to sprint.
ZAP!
His legs moved at insane speed, the ground practically vanishing beneath him.
In a blink, he crossed the clearing and slammed into a tree, catching himself with his hands against the trunk.
"Damn it!" he exclaimed, panting.
His heart raced, and a grin broke out.
"That was… awesome."
He looked back, seeing the distance he'd covered in a second.
'I've never moved that fast,' he thought, thrilled.
"System, how much energy did I use?" he asked, still leaning on the tree.
The panel showed:
[Energy: 81%]
Charles blinked, surprised.
"Only 19% for that?" he said, laughing. "What a steal."
The idea of moving like that in a fight hyped him up, but he wanted to try more.
"Let's see what happens with a punch," he muttered.
He got into position, recalling Lira's lessons on balance.
He visualized electricity flowing to his right arm, pooling in his fist.
"Here goes," he said, throwing a punch into the air.
CRACK!
The punch was so powerful the air seemed to vibrate, but the force threw him off-balance. Charles spun a full circle and crashed to the ground, landing on his back with a THUD!.
"Ow, crap!" he groaned, rubbing his back.
The pain was mild, but his pride stung more.
"That didn't go as planned," he said, chuckling to himself. "System, how much energy now?"
The panel updated:
[Energy: 74%]
Charles frowned.
"Seven percent for a punch…" he muttered. "Not bad, but ouch."
He stood, brushing dust off his tunic.
"System, how much health do I have left?"
The panel showed:
[Health: 86/100]
Charles sighed, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Four points for a dumb fall," he said, shaking his head. "System, warn me if my health drops below 50, got it? I don't wanna die out here."
The panel replied:
[Understood. You will be notified if health falls below 50.]
Charles nodded and got back to training. He tried the acceleration again, darting across the clearing.
Each time he sparked electricity in his legs, the world blurred around him. But steering was tough.
On one attempt, he turned too sharply and tripped, face-planting into the grass.
THUMP!
"Damn it!" he growled, spitting out dirt. He got up, frustrated but determined.
'It's like learning to ride a bike,' he thought.
He also practiced electrified punches, but the results were similar. The power was insane, but he lost balance easily.
Still, Charles didn't quit.
He alternated between accelerations and punches, sometimes pausing to do physical exercises to recharge his energy.
He kept at it until the sun began to set, the clearing glowing orange.
Charles was drenched in sweat, his tunic clinging to him, muscles trembling.
"System, how much energy's left?" he asked, breathing hard.
The panel showed:
[Energy: 4%]
Charles groaned, leaning against a tree.
"This burns through more than I thought…" he said, exhausted. "System, how do I recharge energy mid-fight?"
The panel replied:
[Physical movement generates static electricity, recharging your energy. The amount depends on the intensity and duration of the movement.]
Charles grinned, despite the fatigue.
"That's an edge," he said. "If I keep moving in a fight, I can stay charged…"
But doubt lingered.
Was this enough against someone stronger?
His control was still clumsy, and the falls proved it. So, Charles kept training, ignoring the ache in his muscles, until night fell completely.
That is, until a panel appeared:
[Warning: Health below 50. Current Health: 48/100.]
Charles dropped to his knees, breath ragged.
Sweat dripped down his face, and his body shook.
"Damn it…" he muttered, punching the ground.
He was frustrated.
He'd improved his control, but mastering it was harder than he'd expected.
◇◆◇
Charles slept deeply in his new room, the black sheet covering him up to his waist.
The floor mattress was comfier than it looked, and the room's silence had lulled him into a dead sleep.
But suddenly, a shout yanked him awake:
"Everyone up! Training, now!"
Charles shot upright, eyes half-open, heart pounding.
"What the hell?" he growled, rubbing his face.