The direct feedback of John's overwhelming power, combined with their own growing abilities, accelerated their learning exponentially. More trainees from the observing group, witnessing the tangible progress, found their own Chi connections, swelling the ranks of those eager to spar. Their collective determination hardened into a shared, desperate resolve.
The final week was a relentless grind. The sparring sessions were no longer one-sided displays of John's dominance, but fierce, exhausting battles of attrition. The Chi-aware trainees, now numbering almost all of the survivors, attacked with synchronized intent. They had learned from John, mimicked his economy of motion, and adapted his principles of pressure and efficiency. Their Chi, though still far weaker than John's, was now a consistent, if unrefined, presence in their combat.
They forced John to move faster, to think quicker, to access higher levels of his own Chi on a continuous basis. His Broken Step became a whirlwind, his Dog Fang Grapple a series of lightning-fast locks and throws. He was constantly deflecting, parrying, and subtly countering, pushing his Iron Flow Method to its absolute limits to absorb the sheer volume of their Chi-augmented attacks. He found himself forced to execute near-masterful applications of his Chi, making his body momentarily almost insubstantial or imbuing his blocks with incredible density. He was truly fighting them now, not just sparring.
This was the week of consolidation and refinement. He cemented his ability to use Chi instinctively, seamlessly, and powerfully in the most chaotic combat scenarios. The prolonged, high-pressure engagements honed his mental and physical Chi endurance to an unprecedented degree. He felt himself approaching the true proficiency of the Master stage, not just its basic understanding. The increased resistance from the Chi-aware trainees, forcing him to sustain complex adrenal manipulations over longer periods, significantly boosted his mental strength, achieving a level of control over his body he once thought impossible. He was ready for his final assessment.
For the Trainees, they had achieved what seemed impossible weeks ago. They could now utilize their Chi in combat, however clumsily. Their coordination was excellent, their individual styles now blending into a cohesive unit designed to overwhelm. They were still far from John's level, but they had earned their place as potential Chi Masters. They were battered, bruised, and exhausted, but they carried a quiet pride and a new, terrifying confidence. They knew they had pushed John, and in doing so, had unlocked their own survival. The final assessment loomed, but they faced it with a grim, hard-earned readiness.
The growth of John and the other trainees certainly didn't go unnoticed. Both Sensie and Ra's kept a close eye on this particular batch. Sensie's gaze was calm, tinged with a hint of expectation, while Ra's's eyes held a complex mix of envy and ambition. His envy, surprisingly, wasn't directed at John, but at the other trainees in John's batch.
They simply didn't understand how lucky they were to have someone like John among them. Now, because of John—whether he intended it or not—they had grown into elites and potential martial masters. Ra's found himself wishing he were younger, or that John were older, pondering how much the boy could have pushed him, how much he would have been forced to grow to keep up.
But for John, Ra's felt only ambition. In John, he saw a new path of power for the League. John was now the League's primary investment and resource, a unique tool that could be used to train more capable assassins and martial masters to further the League's goals.
Yet, for all his remarkable growth and impact on those around him, the boy remained a hard nut to crack. Even with his recent actions involving the other trainees, he had shown no sign of emotional connection, nor a hint of ambition to be seen as the small leader of his batch.
No, the boy simply viewed everything as a transactional matter. The others forced him to grow, and in turn, he also helped them grow. And that was where it stopped, nothing more. The girls in his group had even shown their affection and liking for him, but he paid them no mind, keeping his distance. Ra's wouldn't deny he found himself having fun thinking of ways to break the boy.
Sensie spoke up at this time, his tone light and almost jovial. "It seems in the possible future, the League would have another Chi Grandmaster beside me to teach, and the world would gain another martial artist who would further push the extent of Chi."
Ra's turned to his father, a hint of curiosity in his usually impassive gaze. "Do you think the boy would reach the level of the Tibetan masters?"
Sensie shook his head. "If on his own, he would, but that would take time. But if he had their guidance, he would and go even beyond them. His talent is the envy of all martial arts or Chi practitioners."
Ra's's eyes flickered, a calculated glint within them. "I see. We could get him to them, but seeing the boy's nature as he is, we might lose him in doing that. That is a matter to consider once we have him in our grasp."
"In our grasp," Sensie echoed, a subtle smile playing on his lips. "An interesting choice of words for one we wish to see grow to such heights. Do you truly believe he can be 'held' in such a manner?"
Ra's leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his expression showing he was in deep thought. Ultimately, he shook his head. "I am not sure."
"I have a way to guarantee the boy's loyalty to the League, or rather, a way to control the boy has long since made itself known. You just aren't seeing it clearly like I do," Sensie said to Ra's's surprise.
Ra's turned to him fully. "I would like to hear what that is?"
In response to his words, Sensie made a bowing gesture. "If that is your order as the Demon's Head then I will, but if that is not an order, then as a father who hasn't seen his son's mind this active in a while, I think it's best I keep it to myself until you find the answer yourself."
Ra's furrowed his brow; he wanted the answer immediately, but he stopped himself. "That isn't an order, Father."
Sensie nodded at his words. "I will take my leave then. We will see each other at the boy's last assessment."
Ra's watched his father depart, the swish of Sensie's robes the only sound in the room after his exit. The faint scent of the tea, usually so calming, now seemed to prickle at Ra's's senses. He had come here seeking answers, a clear path forward for this unprecedented talent, and instead, he'd been given a riddle. His father, the venerable Sensie, had subtly turned the tables, forcing Ra's to confront his own limitations.
"A way to guarantee his loyalty... or control," Ra's muttered to himself, pacing the polished floor. He replayed every interaction with John, every assessment, every piece of data. He thought of John's cold pragmatism, his transactional view of relationships, his utter detachment from sentiment, even towards his dog. What weakness could possibly exist in a boy who so readily discarded emotional ties for the sake of survival?
check out patreon.com/Emmaony