Ki Horizons - [Litrpg, Adventure, Power Levels]

I tried to sit still. I really did try.

Within the first five minutes, I was losing my mind.

There was just, nothing to do but just sitting there. I tried to feel the energy inside me but unlike when I'd used Ki last time, I couldn't sense it at all. I knew it was there but it was like trying to figure out what was in your own stomach from feel alone. What had once been innate was now an empty nothingness I couldn't sense.

I'd gotten used to the crazy energy storm around me from Master releasing his Ki but I could only really tell it was there. It was danger without threat. Like, I knew instinctively it couldn't directly harm me but could only have come from something that could've. I tried to feel it deeper, to sense it better than just through some natural instincts, but… it was just there. 'Danger but not danger'. Focusing on the feeling anymore was like trying to see images in an inferno of fire. Maybe you saw something, but mostly it just felt like a trick at best. Was I supposed to physically see it? See it within my mind? Just, feel it? I could already feel the pressure from it but that was like feeling heat but not seeing flames.

And the connection to the universe… I'd done it twice by accident and trying to think back to those same feelings I'd had last time just felt, hollow. Like I was doing it all wrong and didn't know how to do it right.

The minutes ticked by and… nothing happened.

Five minutes.

Ten.

Twenty.

Thirty.

I opened my eyes.

"M-"

"No talking. Keep your eyes closed." Master said, his own eyes closed, fully focused on meditation.

I did as I was told. I was getting impatient. This took time. I shouldn't, I shouldn't force these kinds of things. This was going to take a while. I should be like Vincent. All I have to do is sit here. That's it. Just sit here. Just feel the Ki around me for long enough till I can sense it. That's all, that's it.

Fourty minutes.

Fifty.

An hour.

…

……

………

……………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

I'm going to go insane.

******

"Alright."

Master said and I practically exploded upwards. It was over! It had to be over right?! We were going to fight now right or do something else, or, or, or, anything else right?!

Master raised an eyebrow at me and I saw Vincent stay sitting out the corner of my eye, slowly opening his own.

"Well anyway. It's been eight hours now."

I checked my Vambrace, positive that couldn't be true. To my shock, it was. It, really had only been eight hours? But, but it felt like I'd been sitting down, unable to move or do anything, for days!

What fresh hell was this…

"This isn't the kind of training you can force. We will begin every morning at six from now on and go till two. You are free to do what you like for the remaining time but you must be here, fresh and ready by six every day."

Both mine and Vincent's faces showed our shock.

"Master…" Vincent said. "That seems…"

Vincent closed his mouth, unsure of what to say, unsure if he should say anything. After all, how could he possibly say 'isn't that too light?' or 'Why are you being so lenient?' He might spit blood if Master changed his mind.

"This isn't the kind of training you can force. There are times like this, where the path to power is slow, steady, and without violence. Any longer than eight hours simply wouldn't be helpful, or I'd be doing it. Do whatever you want, I'll see you tomorrow."

So saying, he got up, picking up Sparky who'd fallen asleep in his lap at some point. He meowed and stretched loudly, as he was woken up from his nap, curling into Master's arms.

I stared, mouth open, unsure of what to do. I'd spent my break like it was my last dying breath of freedom for so long to come and in many ways, that was true. What I hadn't spent exploring, I'd spent fighting and healing. Now I was… even if I slept eight hours, that still meant I had another eight to do with as I wished for the whole day and every day going forward.

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And on top of that… I'd have to spend another eight hours, every day, just sitting there and trying to feel what couldn't be felt. A cold, horrifying chill went down my spine at the thought of that. Just, just sitting there. Every day, over and over, however long it took.

A third of the day, every day, free to do with as I wished. Master… Master didn't seem like he was going to fight me anymore during this training.

What… what was I supposed to do?

******

"Mutai, where are you going?"

"My… tank? It's late."

Vincent blinked.

"You have a room with a bed, correct? I saw you have stuff in one. Why not sleep there?"

Vincent hadn't seen Mutai all day. He didn't leave the Dojo, but he seemed… unwell. Even now, he looked worse off than he did eight hours ago when the training had ended. He seemed to be struggling with this new kind of training. But why was he choosing a healing tank over a bed?

"The healing tank is more comfortable." He said with a firm look on his face, as if daring Vincent to say otherwise.

Vincent raised both eyebrows.

"More… comfortable?"

"Yes."

So saying, he walked down the basement stairs. Vincent watched, worry sparking in him, but he shook it off. Mutai clearly had a problem sitting still. He'd adjust to meditation soon enough.

*****

The next week passed uneventfully, the days seeming brighter than ever. Vincent gladly walked towards it, refreshed. Such intensity had been slowly destroying him over the past few months, and he was more than happy to do something that truly reminded him of home. How often had he sparred or trained in footwork or some other style, only to be told to sit down and meditate after? Too many, too many.

It was bittersweet, but he found it pleasant. It was like a breath of fresh air in many ways. He'd even gotten some basic blacksmithing done yesterday, having more than enough time to indulge in one of his old hobbies. It would've made his ancestors and people proud. The hammer Mutai had gotten him practically tore at his heart, as did the activity, but his people would not be forgotten. Never. He would never allow that. He was the last one left, and he would honor them and keep them alive.

The rage, the anger, it bit deep. Deep. And it hadn't gone away, only grown more and more. But the meditation was already helping. Rage had its place but he wouldn't insult his Clan by discarding their practices. The beauty and ferocity of metal would be etched down into the world and Clan Valorious immortalized.

As he sat down for another day of Ki sensing, he noticed how apprehensive Mutai seemed. Shards of worry began to grow, but so did amusement. Vincent had to push and strive harder more than he'd ever thought possible. And all the way, there was Mutai, practically swimming while he floundered. Better than him on the training gear, better than him at fighting and learning itself, already having used Ki twice before, fighting real life and death battles even while they were both in this city.

He was jealous. He was fiercely jealous and envious, and that heat inside him practically threatened to ignite and explode at a moment's notice. To burn, burn, burn. The fire…

Burn.

Like his family had. Like metal in the forge did. To break himself, over and over again, till he won! Till he was the victor. Never to let himself fall behind! He would… calm. He would remain calm. There was no point in his fiery attitude today or right now during this training. He needed to be calm and focus on the basics.

It wasn't hard

He closed his eyes and truly relaxed. He thought about the brutal lessons he endured as he was taught the Demon Style of martial arts and how he could better improve it. He thought about his family and all their lessons and all their words and past. He focused internally, trying to feel the Ki that suffused his whole body, from his toes to his fingertips. He focused on the air around him and that slight feeling of almost, pressure, that he felt that touched him. Like the air was heavier. He focused on trying to feel beyond either, past his own Ki, past the air around him, and to the wider universe. He felt the wall blocking his rising power, like the firmest metal and steel, as he slowly flexed against it. He let his thoughts flow in and out, never lingering for long, drifting through. He was, for the first time in a long time, at peace.

…..

……

………..

"Alright." Master's words slowly pulled Vincent out of his trance. He opened his eyes, a peaceful look upon his face.

Truly, this training was easy and effective. It may take a while but he could feel himself growing closer to enlightenment. Already, he had thought of a few new ways to improve his own martial arts and felt as though the pressure he had been sensing had deepened a bit.

He looked to Mutai-

Vincent's eyes opened wide.

Mutai looked… he'd never quite seen the combination on his face before. What made a man look like that? It was as if he was going crazy. He looked, pained. Almost stressed. His eyes seemed a little empty.

Surely… this wasn't just caused by having to sit for eight hours?

Master got up, leaving them and Mutai moved very, very slowly as if he was coming back to himself. If it was a trance, Mutai definitely hadn't been in a good one. Vincent lightly followed behind, both of them heading in the same direction of their rooms.

Vincent tried to calm the worries in his heart. He had suspected for a long while exactly what was wrong with Mutai, but he had thought himself wrong after the previous break. He was hopefully just adjusting to the new training. He saw Mutai go to his room for once, not bother to close the door, and lay down, simply staring at the ceiling.

Vincent put it out of his mind, focusing on his own tasks. He had metal and could use the hammer and his own physical hands to make things now. It was exhilarating, being able to bend the metal like so. Others in his clan had been able to, and he'd learned the styles, but it was only now that he could actually use them.

In time, he made intricate jewelry, simply for the ease of use and practice. To make more intricate, durable, or larger pieces he'd need a proper forge. He could probably rent one in the city with the money he had. He loathed asking for money, but as a Disciple he had no time to properly work. Even the metal he had was more leftovers than anything else. Perhaps he could sell them and turn a profit that way?

He had put Mutai almost entirely out of his mind, till he passed his room on the way to the kitchen shortly before they would have to sleep.

Vincent felt his heart nearly stop.

Mutai lay on the bed. In the exact same place. Still staring at the ceiling eight hours later.

Oh… Mutai…

Vincent's heart broke.

His worst fears had come to fruition.