The First Master

I narrowed my focus in on each of my new techniques.

[Battle Aura (20/100)]: Fills the host's body with the intense heat and passion of battle, akin to a furnace blazing with firewood. When used correctly, you can feel your hair standing on end and every cell in your body primed for combat. Your senses become razor-sharp, your battle instincts heightened, and your readiness for conflict unparalleled. This skill transforms you into a fierce combatant, ready to face any opponent with the ferocity and determination of a true beast.

[Face Mask (10/100)]: Grants the host the ability to conceal their emotions from even the most perceptive individuals. When used correctly, your face becomes an impenetrable mask, revealing nothing of your true feelings or intentions. Your expressions remain perfectly controlled, allowing you to bluff, deceive, and maintain composure in any situation. This skill makes you a master of deception, capable of withstanding the scrutiny of the sharpest eyes.

[Concealment (15/100)]: Grants the host the ability to hide their presence and movements from the perception of others with exceptional skill. When used correctly, you can disappear into the shadows and blend seamlessly with your surroundings, eluding detection from even the keenest observers. Your movements become silent and undetectable, allowing you to bypass enemies and avoid traps with the finesse of a master infiltrator. This skill makes you a phantom in the night, putting any ninja or assassin to shame.

[Dodging (15/100)]: Enhances the host's ability to evade incoming attacks with extraordinary agility and reflexes. When used correctly, you can weave through a barrage of blows with the grace of a dancer and the precision of a seasoned warrior. Your body moves almost instinctively, sidestepping danger and avoiding harm with ease. This skill makes you a difficult target, capable of evading even the most relentless of opponents.

'Hmm, I probably got [Face Mask] from all the emotions I've had to replicate while pretending to be the previous Kuzan. [Concealment] and [Dodging] were probably acquired when I snuck up on Melissa this morning, and [Battle Aura] must have been the strange heat I felt in the shower before,' I analyzed why trying to process my new skills. 'Looks like I need to try to attain more skills in the future.

I wonder what counts as a skill for the system. From its name, I can probably assume that the skills need to be relevant to fighting, but then again, [Face Mask] is a skill that is relevant in a lot of situations. I'll need to do more research once I finish building my underground lab.'

Unlike what I told Albert about it being solely a training facility, if I want to keep up in a world of prehistoric creatures come to life and souls fighting after returning from the afterlife, I definitely need a base of operations where I can study my body and progress. 'The Genes Synced tab especially worries me. I need to make sure that I have the necessary medical professionals and expertise for all future scenarios,' I thought to myself.

I drove home with my Uncle and ate some dinner before retiring to my room to avoid more interaction with the family. It was more exhausting than my daily workout routine, I swear. I got down on the ground and began my workout. It might not seem like a lot in a world of crazy fighting maniacs with years of fighting experience, but I need to make up for my lack of foundation as soon as possible. I began my daily routine of 1000 pushups, sit-ups, and squats, along with a 10 km run.

"Although a run at nighttime might draw a little attention from Uncle Ikaria, however Kuzan was well known for being persistent once he got interested in a project. Once my base is finished construction, I can basically move there and not have to worry about all of this. From my call this morning, I would assume it should be finished in around 3 weeks. It's really amazing how money can motivate some builders to speed up the process. I still need to ask Aunt Elizabeth about hiring some trainers and martial artists as soon as possible."

However, I was too tired from my workout and passed out as soon as I finished. The next morning at the breakfast table, I brought up the matter as the first topic of conversation.

"So, Aunt Elizabeth, were you able to get into contact with some of your friends for my training?" I pleaded.

"Oh Kuzi, you look so cute when you want something. Don't worry sugar cake, your Aunt got you the best training this side of the Mississippi. He should be on his way right now to begin your training. I can't wait for you to become a macho man just like your Uncle Albert."

"Now Elizabeth, we don't want to make our nephew jeleous here do we?" replied my Uncle with a smug look on his face. Sure he was on the buffer side for his age, but nothing to write home about.

"Really Uncle Albert, I heard my dad was the one to get you to start exercising, Aunt Lizi told me."

"Come on love, you are ruining my image in front of little Melissa over here."

"I'm sorry honey, but what comes out in girl talk is not up to me." defended Elizabeth while fluttering her eyes.

"So, can you tell me the name of the trainer at least?" I interjected into their couple's spat.

"Sure, his name is Yurai Nomusana, apparently he is a karate teacher specialising in something called Goutai-Jutsu. He works in classes training new officers in police academies across the world. I've heard and verified that he can smash bowling balls in a single karate chop so I asked him to come teach you some basics."

"Thanks aunt Elizabeth, but I thought with all of your talk you would get me a more "un-convention" trainer, you know, someone who fights dirty or whatever?" I remarked throwing out the bait.

"Oh honeycrunchs, I wanted to get you the meanest and scariest looking trainer out there to toughen you up from the get go, but your Uncle stopped me. Don't worry though Kuzi, you can always have multiple masters, I have a whole list of some guys who'll teach you what's what." said my aunt why throwing air punches my way.

"That's ok for now, I will see what this one can teach me for now. Hopefully it's not a gimmick."

'I need Aunt Elizabeth to pick the trainers for now until my base of operations is complete, then I can vet and hire the trainers by myself with my own resources. Really Kuzan, despite being a genius, you sure were naive in some areas. Not setting up your own web of connections with this much money is asking for trouble later down the line. I don't know if it was your love for family, but you really should be more independent going forward I would say.'

About an hour later, we heard the front doorbell ring, and Uncle Ikaria went to greet the guest. Of course, the doorbell was just for show, as the various security features in the front yard made it impossible for anyone to trespass unnoticed. 'Apparently, Kuzan's father chose to remove the security systems on the property because they disrupted the homey environment with his wife or something. I swear, this whole household is full of lunatics. At least for the safety of the family, they still patrol around the mansion.'

"Greetings, my name is Yurai Nomusana, and I am here for a karate lesson for Kuzan Rosen. It was Madam Elizabeth who hired me to teach the boy," introduced the Japanese man with a serious expression on his face.

"Of course, Mr. Nomusana, we have been expecting you. Please come in and have a seat while we serve some refreshments, and you can have a conversation with your new student," replied Uncle Ikaria, guiding the man across the hall to the living room. I introduced myself to my new teacher, and we got right down to business.

"Master Nomusana, although I have some knowledge about fighting in general, I have had no previous standardized training. I would appreciate it if you could teach me everything you know without mercy. I need to become stronger." I expressed my plight to my new trainer, knowing that the sooner we were on the same page, the better. This was perhaps the first time I had let my emotions show since becoming Kuzan.

"Kuzan, I appreciate your sentiments, and by looking at you, I can now tell that unlike what I thought before, you aren't just a kid messing around to become stronger for vain reasons. Especially from that look in your eyes. But I have to ask, why do you want to become stronger?"

I stared at the man with a dumb look on my face. I could think of many responses to this question, which I was sure would be acceptable, but reveling in the chance to not have to mask my thoughts anymore, I replied honestly, "Why wouldn't I want to become stronger?"

For the first time since our conversation began, I saw a small smile break from the otherwise solidified face of the serious man. "I guess that was a bad question for someone like you. Let me ask you another: how strong do you want to eventually become?"

I laughed while replying with only one word;

"Inhuman."