The Cloud Brawler 4 - (Pre-Honkai Star Rail, MartialArtist!SI)
These new two years should have been as manageable as the first two, but I could see why such an expectation was not acceptable by fate and Aha themselves.
I was an about this close to be made an Emanator by Aha if I pulled something insane out of my training considering that I was getting even stronger even faster due to my weight-training. I was feeling the stress as I picked up the heat at a faster pace, my growth finally bringing a greater control and yield of ki energy.
Within six months of starting training with weights, I would barrage small camps and bases with explosive ki blasts. While these were still low-powered to be a threat to someone like Shuhu, it allowed me to exterminate at a faster rate. Plus, the main point of destroying this planet was to do so out of 'brute force' within my power. Not by punches, but by energy-based explosions.
Speaking of Ki-related abilities, I knew that I shouldn't be limiting myself to attacks but also develop other important abilities- such as flying. It was the very basic step of Ki control of one self, and I spent a while trying to get my body to float.
Slowly but surely, I succeeded in this goal before I passed the third year on Ketu Mirage. I became more attuned with myself as I started to fly with more control and 'instinct'. It also made moving around easier to some extent as I got around faster and could train more once I was done relocating.
Another important skill I had to learn was ki suppression. One thing that I noticed was how easily the Abundance soldiers could 'notice' me due to the pressure my Ki exerted. I was anomalous in that regard, and I had to make sure I wasn't being tracked in the long run due to this issue.
I didn't get much of an opportunity to fully test out the effect of my efforts, but I noticed less eyes on me when I attacked those bases. Hunting also got easier due to how quiet my steps have gotten due to my newfound flexibility in trailing around the irregular grounds.
I was slowly but surely turning into the prime predator in this planet, with most disciples of the Abundance quick to fall to their knees and beg for mercy. Sadly for them, I couldn't give them any of that- the Abundance's corruption of those people was evident on the extent of Mara-corruption that had mutated their bodies.
They lived 'eternally', but it wasn't a fair life. Destruction was thus enforced, and I proceeded with my duties.
Unsurprisingly enough, there were no 'children' in the planet. The Mara tended to kill young and frail entities, thus kids were hardly able to survive the heavy 'poison' of this planet. There were only adults that had lost their minds.
As the third year came to pass, I decided to test out the endurance of my body after the weight training. The planet's gravity was far from 'heavier' compared to the Luofu, but it didn't matter since I had strained my body with my weighted attire. A crude effort considering the way those weights were not meant to be used to this extent as I had three for each arms measuring up to 20kgs each, and four of the same kind for each leg.
It was a hurdle to move around in those early on, but it became easier for me to handle the pressure as I turned to pick up the 'heat' for good. During one of my meditation session, I slowly weaved my ki to follow the purpose of the technique I wished to learn and slowly master. I doubted I was going to be using it to the extent I wanted before leaving this planet, but I had to start from somewhere.
"Kaioken."
A soft curtain of red wrapped around my body. While the specifics of such a technique were not explained in DBZ, the main biological purpose could be deduced: my triggering a reaction within my body, I was straining my muscles and my organs to work at a faster pace to produce energy. My ki doubled for about less than a minute as I had to drop out of it, exhausted even though I wasn't moving around.
The strain exerted by the Kaioken was evident as my muscles were shown a new dimension of stress I slowly trained to grow accustomed with. The constant ki-doubling also allowed me to further train my inner spiritual core to adapt to the biological growth.
My body was bulking in response to that- I was not a tank, but I was growing out of the athletic frame I had sported for a long while now. I was getting a bit closer to Teng Xiao's own build. I was still shorter than him, and yet just a bit 'less wide' in that aspect. But I expected to put up enough muscles to be as tough if not tougher than him by the time I was done with the intense regiment I was following.
Despite those good steps forward, I also made a severe mistake as those 'flares' of Ki got the attention of the Abundance. But where I thought that the usual raid from hounds was the worst to fear, I ended up learning that my constant prodding had gotten the attention of one of my main targets.
It was around the mid-way of the fourth year in this little hellhole. I was going by foot after I noticed that I had stumbled on a fairly large forest-like biome. One that... lacked Abundance. I was confused considering the nature of the planet, and I admit I should have seen the huge red flag in delving into it but...
I guess that I hadn't expected Shuhu to be smarter than I was told. Despite its 'known miracles', Shuhu was a mysterious Emanator that either did simple works 'done grand through the power given to him by Yaoshi', or it would be a mindless monster as described by Teng Xiao himself.
For the entire forest to suddenly collapse as the planet had a 'major cave-in' right where I was walking, I was definitely caught off-guard. Enough that I took notice too late of the several vines rushing at me, wrapping around and trying to keep me put.
I could have broken out of it with ease but... I saw an opportunity. I may have been dumb in falling for this trap, but I saw an opportunity to either wound Shuhu or actually kill it. After all, the stupid moron didn't try to either have me converted or have me killed on the spot.
No, a large Abundance-powered tree formed, and I recognized Shuhu's signature energy within it. The form was one that was originally noticed by those that heard of his sinful actions in Rahu, so I knew it was the Emanator itself.
"Greetings Li Chen. I heard and seen many of your grand deeds."
"Fancy meeting one of my foes. Shuhu, I heard so many ugly things about you too."
"I am sure you did, Chen," Shuhu replied confidently. "Alas, I am sure you understand that you are wasting your potential serving people that are so narrow-minded. Yaoshi wishes only the best for her people."
"Yaoshi offers an empty blessing that acts as a curse. Immortality, but with the price of eternal servitude."
"But isn't it the point of Aeons? To control others? To lead them to a glorious path within their vision?"
"Not if this means becoming a puppet. We are believers, yes, but what's the point of being born with free will if some dickface wants to deprive it from us and make us puppets?"
"It is obvious that we are too fragile to exist on our own. Weren't your ancestors those that searched for immortality out of fear of death? And yet they refuse the price to pay. A shame, indeed, but you will do well as an enforcer of Yaoshi's will."
I sighed, ignoring for a moment the ideological monologue to ask a good question.
"By the way, how did you find me? I thought I had suppressed my energy enough to avoid detection?" I asked, genuinely trying to pry more info out of Shuhu before I did my 'thing'.
"Your pattern is unique to the rest. The Elation's presence stands out compared to others, and you isolate yourself from other similar patterns. Sadly, you may not correct this mistake as... it is time for you to finally see the light of your misgivings. I am sure you that you and your friend Baiheng will be a wonderful addition to... hm?"
Shuhu paused as the ground all around started to tremble, and a red hue manifested from my body.
"What are you doing?"
I giggled. "You- You really think I couldn't break free from your vines, you perfidious viper?" I asked dryly, my wide smile widening some more as I felt more energy concentrating all around my body to form a small bubble. "Do you really think I am stuck here with you? And do you really fucking think that I would let you scot free after you brought her name out when you are unworthy of uttering any of the names owned by my friends and family?!"
The trembling increased as rocks started to get lifted up from the ground.
"Y-You are-"
Shuhu didn't get to finish that sentence as a massive blinding light exploded around us and burned away the tree and the forest itself. I had used 'explosive full-body blasts' before, but never to this extent- hell, I had never used 70% of my Ki in a single go for any particular reason, so... to see the level of vaporization I mustered from that blast, incinerating the forest and leaving behind only embers and ashes... yeah, I would dare to say I may start training with advanced ki blast once more.
Still, my vicious grin was replaced by a scowl as I noticed one issue. I could still perceive Shuhu, in the distance but... weaker. I couldn't finish off with how deep it had gone under the planet. So I was getting more convinced that I may have to blow Ketu Mirage up to finish the bastard off.
A dreadful discovery, but one that still put me on a good mood- I was a few years off from getting ready to blow up the planet on my own. If I picked up the Kaioken training some more... yes, I was going to make it. I just needed time and I needed to relocate my base ASAP. I bolted upward and flew rapidly back to base to wrap things up, and find a way to hide my position away once more after what I learned from Shuhu-
Like hell I will let him target me like that once again.
Jingliu felt a bit unnerved by how giddy Baiheng was at the news of 'developments' for Li Chen.
Albeit she had done what she had promised in looking into the young man's mission, she had been stunned by the insane plan pushed forward by Teng Xiao. Still, her position as Sword Champion didn't have the same political weight as an Arbiter-General, especially one as renown as Teng Xiao himself.
The conversation had been tense back then, but the man had promised her that 'his student was going to pull through without any issue'. Then the details rendered such a promise so abysmal to her mind, with Li Chen deprived of constant support and not being monitored as he should be during such a heinous mission.
One thing was also learning of the truth, and then another was delivering it to Baiheng.
Jingliu had never seen her good friend so angry. And not at Teng Xiao but-
"That dumbass! He should have told me- We could have had that silly thing done in less than two years!"
Angry and... worried. Usually the Foxian was hardly bothered by odds of death for herself, or for Jingliu, but when she asked about it, Baiheng's response stunned her in a positive way.
"I know you are wonderful and that you will never die before I do. But Li Chen? He is not as tough as you are."
And the logic made both sense and made her ashamed a bit. Maybe it was the way the Foxian sounded so affectionate over this friend of hers, but as she studied more the topic, Jingliu had to admit she could see a glimpse of herself in him.
A diligent student, one that had combat in his blood, and one that had a strong sense of duty. This was Jingliu's time spent training with her sword- but instead of a blade, Chen sharpened his body. And she had to admit that he was following a reasonably well-paced training schedule under Teng Xiao.
A sliver of curiosity remained on how much his training changed in such a lengthy mission. If Baiheng's words were to be taken truthfully, then there was no way that someone like her would ditch training during a mission as longstanding as this one.
And as the news that a new development had come through arrived her ears, and then Baiheng's, the duo found themselves rapidly moving for Teng Xiao's office. As they entered the familiar room, they were greeted by a promising sight as the general was smiling eye-to-eye as he wrote another piece of report. It took him a moment to notice them, and he stood up with a bright smile.
"If it isn't the Sword Champion and her girlfriend."
Jingliu blinked rapidly at that. "She is not-"
"We are friends," Baiheng squeaked rapidly, her cheeks flaring a bit much to Jingliu's inner delight. "And what happened to Chenny?"
"Straight to the point? Well, two things: one, my student is well and still on-duty. Second, he has almost accomplished half of his mission two days ago."
"How so?" Jingliu asked, and the general allowed for a holographic pad to land on the ground.
An orbital sight was soon played and they could see the familiar foliage of Ketu Mirage. Then the trees grew to glow a golden yellow as a large one manifested in the middle of the forest, vines bringing up a small entity before the tree and then-
A sudden explosion vaporized the entire large forest. It wasn't just a 'large forest' but a region-sized one. Such a massive blast would demand a lot of energy, but the general started to speak about it.
"My student used his capacity of harnessing spiritual energy to produce a massive blast and... he almost killed Shuhu with it."
This was indeed a surprise. But it wasn't the end of it as Baiheng's gaze was stolen by the video as she caught a important detail that Jingliu had failed tonotice.
"Chenny can fly!" The Foxian screeched loudly enough to draw the attention back to the holographic video. "Oh, can he teach me? Does this mean I can go flying around without a Starskiff? Can I hurl myself at the foes without having to pay back the maintenance bill?!"
Jingliu held back a facepalm at that last bit, well aware of Baiheng's habit of crashing vehicles into her targets to... 'exploit the element of surprise'.
"I am also surprised of this. He clearly learned of doing this during his time in Ketu Mirage," Teng Xiao commented mirthfully. "Also, since he managed to weaken Shuhu enough to pause any potential retreat, we can now monitor Li Chen more closely and... he is currently well. He relocated his base somewhere distant from other bases, and he should be fine for a while."
Nodding at those words, Jingliu continued to stare at the screen with growing intrigue.
I wonder if he can make for a good sparring partner.
AN
Next chapter will conclude the 'Planet Busting Arc'. And Chenny goes back home... to a very giddy Foxian that wants to know how to personally kamikaze into her foes' business without relying on vehicles.
