Juichi exhaled sharply, sweat dripping down his brow as he steadied his stance. The air around him shimmered with residual energy, proof of the brutal training he had endured under Sakata's relentless guidance. The so-called "Pervy Sensei" might act like a clown, but his combat drills were anything but humorous.
"Again!" Sakata barked, his voice sharp like a whip. He stood a few feet away, arms crossed, observing Juichi's form with narrowed eyes. "You think a real fight is going to give you time to catch your breath? You'll be dead before you even blink."
Juichi gritted his teeth and lunged forward. Flames erupted around his fist as he aimed a strike toward the wooden training dummy reinforced with magic. But before he could land the blow, Sakata appeared behind him in an instant, sweeping Juichi's legs out from under him. The world spun before Juichi crashed onto the hard ground.
"Tch." Sakata clicked his tongue. "Your reaction time is still slow. You've got power, kid—but raw power without refinement is like slapping someone with uncooked meat. Messy, smelly, and ultimately useless."
Groaning, Juichi pushed himself up. His muscles ached, his mana reserves were nearly drained, but he refused to stop. Deep within, he felt something stir—a heat not born of exhaustion.
There it is again... that pressure inside my chest.
The flames in his veins churned unnaturally. For a moment, the world dimmed and he heard a whisper:
> "You're not ready yet… but you're close."
A single link in the spiritual seal around his core snapped—a fragment of the great power lying dormant.
Juichi shuddered and clenched his fist. Just a little more…
Sakata watched him with an unreadable expression before giving a small nod. "Alright, take a break. Even you need to breathe." He stretched with an exaggerated groan. "These hips weren't made for continuous awesome. I'm gonna take a leak—don't go burning down the mountain."
"Wait—" Juichi blinked. Did his voice just change slightly?
He squinted suspiciously at Sakata's retreating back. "Tch. Whatever."
---
Meanwhile... Somewhere Far from the Training Grounds
In a secluded grove at the edge of a shadowy forest, the real Sakata crouched beneath a tree, peeking through a telescope made from hollowed bamboo and enchanted mirrors. He scribbled furiously in his pocket notebook.
> Operation: Ultimate Demon Army Ass Shot Peeping Log
Target: Succubus Elite Platoon, Bathing Time = Approx. 18:40 Local Twilight
"Just a few more seconds... aaaaand—bingo. Jiggle confirmed." He grinned with a nosebleed. "For the preservation of historical research, of course."
But before he could etch the next observation, several presences surged toward him.
"Ah crap. I knew it was too quiet."
A squad of Dark Army elites appeared from the shadows, weapons drawn. Their leader, a tall warrior in obsidian armor, snarled. "You've been interfering with our revival rituals, monk. We tracked your magic signature."
Sakata stood, slapping the notebook shut and sliding it into his sleeve. "Hmph. Can't a man enjoy some outdoor... meditation?"
The soldiers charged.
Sakata's grin twisted.
> "Secret Technique: Thousand-Palm Peep Pressure Burst!"
He spun forward like a lewd tornado, palms glowing with chi. The first three soldiers went flying with nosebleeds of their own, knocked unconscious from precise pressure-point strikes.
"Your chakra is misaligned," he muttered, dodging a spear. "Here, let me realign it—with my foot!"
---
High above, hidden on a cliff, Tym observed the fight. His eye narrowed.
He's stronger than before... that damn monk's still hiding his full strength.
---
Back in the Demon Lord's Castle, some hours ago
Tym and Xandros stood before the recovered device—an ancient mana array with circling glyphs of time and perception.
"This artifact doesn't just block outside forces," Tym said, crouching beside it. "It bends space-time. Delays the Demon Lord's revival. And…" He pointed at a faint rune hidden beneath the base.
"A listening spell," he added coldly. "Someone's been eavesdropping on our every move."
Xandros's face twisted in rage. "Sakata. That degenerate monk!"
He slammed a gauntlet into the wall, cracking the stone. "Then I'll kill him myself."
---
Elsewhere: Juichi's Growing Awareness
Juichi sat on a rock, catching his breath. His mana was slowly recharging, and the ache in his body was starting to subside.
But something still felt… off.
Wait a minute. That "Sakata" earlier... he never once said anything perverted. That's not him.
He narrowed his eyes at the distant figure practicing poses near the dummy. A clone? That dirty geezer pulled a fast one on me!
Juichi smirked. "Old man... what the hell are you planning?"
---
[Status Update: Juichi Nakamura]
Name: Juichi Nakamura
Class: Dragon-Blooded Adventurer
Race: Human (Multi-Elemental Dragon Resonant)
Level: 20
Rank: C-Rank
Elemental Affinities:
Wind (Primary)
Earth (Secondary)
Void (Partial Awakening)
(Fire affinity dormant/sealed)
---
New Skills Gained:
Crimson Cyclone → Gale Spiral Lv1 – A fierce, spiraling wind slash that cuts through enemies with razor-sharp pressure.
Stonegrasp Lv1 – Mid-range technique that summons jagged earth pillars to trap or crush enemies.
Void Step Lv1 – A blink-like short-range teleport with partial invisibility. Highly unstable, consumes large mana.
Elemental Sync (Passive) – Grants resistance and boosted channelling when syncing Wind and Earth.
Dragon Pulse Lv1 – Temporarily surges with Wind or Earth depending on emotional state and surroundings.
---
Passive Awakening:
> [Seal Fragment: 1/5 Broken]
Fire Affinity: Dormant
True elemental core in flux. User approaching Hybrid Dragon Phase.
Void affinity detected. Access remains limited.
To be Continued...