Chapter 4 – The Beast Within and the Calm Without (Part 2)
The silence of the island was pierced only by the rustle of the trees and the steady crash of waves in the distance. The moon hung high above, full and watching—its silver light painting the world in tones of cold serenity. Raiku sat cross-legged in the clearing, facing the ocean, tail curled tightly around his waist.
> [System Notice – Moonbound Discipline: Stage 1 – Initiated]
Objective: Meditate under full moonlight for 1 hour without emotional or Ki fluctuation.
Status: In Progress (0/3 Nights Completed)
Risk Level: 74% – Primal Gene Trigger Imminent if Suppression Fails
His breathing was steady. Measured. The glow of his inner Ki pulsed at a mere 19—a level he would've once called disgraceful. Now, it was his shield.
"I won't become a beast," he whispered.
His tail twitched. Somewhere deep in his chest, something ancient stirred. The moon's call was not gentle—it was a primal roar pulling at his blood, demanding he rise, grow, and lose himself.
Raiku's jaw tightened.
His vision blurred for a moment—just enough to flash with ghosted images. A towering shadow. A monstrous form. Red eyes staring back at him from within.
He slammed his fists to the earth and exhaled sharply. Dirt cracked beneath his fingers.
But his Ki didn't rise.
> [Ki Output Stable: 19]
[Emotional Pulse: High Stress Detected – Suppression Holding]
[System Passive Triggered: Spirit Stability (Lv. 1)]
Buff Applied: Lunar Calm – Resistance to transformation +10% during meditation
Timer: 1 Hour – 00:53 Remaining
Behind him, Master Roshi leaned against a tree, arms crossed, cane tucked beneath his elbow.
He didn't speak. Not yet. He knew this wasn't a lesson that required words. Raiku was wrestling something older than any of them.
The boy's body was still, but his spirit… burned.
And yet, somehow, Raiku remained in control.
---
By the time the hour ended, Raiku opened his eyes slowly. The tension in his shoulders eased, but sweat still clung to his brow.
> [Moonbound Discipline – Stage 1: 1/3 Nights Completed]
Reward: +1 Wisdom, +0.5 Ki Control
Transformation Risk: Dropped to 63%
He stood.
Roshi walked over. "Well… you didn't explode. That's a good start."
Raiku nodded. "The moon's pull is stronger than I expected. It's like it bypasses logic—like it calls to something deeper."
"You sure you're not just afraid of turning ugly?" Roshi smirked.
Raiku looked at him. "I'm always this pretty."
The old man let out a snort and tossed him a flask of water.
"But I need more than suppression," Raiku said after drinking. "If something triggers me mid-transformation… I don't know if this calm will hold."
Roshi nodded slowly. "Then we'd better toughen up your mind, not just your body."
Raiku's eyes narrowed. "You have something in mind?"
Roshi grinned. "Kid, you ever trained with an old man who knows exactly how to push your buttons?"
---
The next morning, Raiku stood in the clearing, suspicious.
Roshi wore his usual tropical shirt and sunglasses, but there was something different in his expression—something mischief-laced.
"What is this… 'emotional conditioning' you spoke of?" Raiku asked.
"Oh, nothing too crazy. Just poking at your pride until it screams."
Before Raiku could react, Roshi pointed to a bundle near the firepit. Raiku approached it cautiously, unfolded the cloth—and stared.
It was an oversized straw hat, patched-up overalls, and a bright red scarf.
"What… is this?"
"Today, you're training as a humble island farmer," Roshi said with a smug grin. "You'll plant kelp stalks in the shallows, barefoot, while reciting the phrase: 'I am but a speck of salt in the sea of life.'"
Raiku blinked. "You're not serious."
"Dead serious. Lose your temper, flare your Ki even once… and you start over."
Raiku's eye twitched.
> [New Subquest: Emotional Trigger Conditioning]
– Trial 1: Ego Agitation (In Progress)
– Objective: Remain composed under deliberate humiliation
– Ki Suppression Required: <25
Bonus: +1 Mental Fortitude if completed with no visible emotional reaction
He let out a slow breath, then slipped into the clothes, tying the scarf with slow, deliberate calm.
"I am but a speck of salt in the sea of life," he muttered.
"Louder," Roshi called from his beach chair.
Raiku gritted his teeth… and repeated it louder.
> [Trial 1 Complete – Ego Agitation Passed]
Reward: +1 Mental Fortitude
Passive Gained: Battle Focus (Lesser)
---
The next few days were relentless.
Roshi staged a mock ceremony around Raiku's tail, declaring it "the most glorious appendage in martial arts history," and insisted they bow to it every morning "to honor its wiggle of wisdom."
He served Raiku plain rice for three meals in a row and claimed "true kings eat humbly."
He even drew stick figures in the sand of Raiku getting tripped by a turtle.
Each test chipped at Raiku's composure, but the boy never lost it. Not once. Instead, he learned to feel the emotions without feeding them. To let the storm pass through him like wind through reeds.
And each night, the meditation resumed.
The moon always watched.
But now… he stared right back.
---
> [Moonbound Discipline – Stage 1: COMPLETE]
Meditation Nights: 3/3
Emotional Triggers Passed: 5/5
System Rewards:
– +2 Wisdom
– +1 Strength
– +1.5 Ki Control
– Passive Skill: Iron Will (Lesser) – Grants partial resistance to instinct-driven transformation
Transformation Risk: 41%
Stage 2 Unlocked: Simulated Rage Challenge (Locked Until Next Moon Cycle)
Raiku stood in the clearing, fists clenched and body calm.
"I'm ready."
Roshi exhaled and smiled.
"You're tough, kid. Prideful, stubborn, and half-crazy—but tough."
"I'm not afraid of what's inside me," Raiku said. "I just want to understand it."
"You will," Roshi replied, turning toward the waves. "But understanding the beast doesn't mean killing it. Sometimes, it just means giving it a place to rest."
Raiku watched the moon dip behind the clouds.
The full shape was already beginning to fade.
But in eight days, it would return.
And when it did—he would be ready.