Training, and More Training #14

Floating serenely on my back in the calm sea, I gazed up at the vast expanse of the sky, feeling a profound sense of tranquility wash over me. With each gentle rise and fall of the tide, my body bobbed effortlessly, as if I were one with the water itself, yet anchored in place by an unseen force.

This state of utter relaxation, almost miraculous in its nature, bore a name: Kami-e, one of the famed Rokushiki techniques utilized by the elite agents of the World Government.

Achieving such a state demanded absolute mastery over one's muscles, a feat unimaginable in my previous life. Yet, in this world, where the boundaries of human potential seemed boundless, such extraordinary abilities were within reach through rigorous training alone.

As my muscles grew stronger, so too did my ability to manipulate them with precision, a fact I only came to realize after an entire year of training, paving the way for the practice of the Rokushiki arts.

Using my newfound insights, I halted my exploration of the island and devoted yet another year to an attempt to copy and practice the Rokushiki based on my knowledge of them and a lot of experimental work.

Kami-e, known as the "Paper Art," wasn't my initial foray into mastering the Rokushiki techniques, but it was certainly the most intriguing. Before delving into the much more complicated Kami-e, I had set my sights on mastering the Shigan, or "Finger Pistol" technique.

In my past life, I had some understanding of these techniques from watching anime, and Shigan appeared to be the most accessible among the seven.

The concept behind Shigan was straightforward: hardening one's fingers to the point where they could pierce through solid objects, effectively turning them into bullets. It seemed achievable enough, relying on the same principle of muscle hardening that underpinned much of my training regimen.

 After a year's worth of dedicated practice, honing my body through exercise, combat, and the Starborn breathing technique, I felt ready to tackle this new challenge, and sure enough, I was able to easily replicate its effects.

While I couldn't be certain if my version of Shigan mirrored the exact technique practiced by agents of the World Government, it proved effective nonetheless.

Whether it was a faithful rendition or something entirely new mattered little to me; what counted was its practical utility and the progress it represented in my ongoing journey of self-improvement.

After mastering Shigan and incorporating it into my combat repertoire, I turned my attention to replicating the effects of Tekkai, or the "Iron Body" technique. Given its similarity in concept to Shigan, hardening the muscles for increased durability, I expected a relatively smooth learning curve. True to my intuition, mastering Tekkai proved to be a relatively swift endeavor, requiring no more than a week of focused training.

Although Tekkai rendered me impervious to gunfire, I found its drawback—rendering me immobile—unsatisfactory. Determined to overcome this limitation, I dedicated the next seven months to refining my technique and seeking methods to mitigate its weaknesses.

Through trial and error, I discovered a workaround: selectively relaxing and hardening specific muscle groups to enable movement while maintaining a defensive posture.

This nuanced approach demanded intense concentration and precise muscle control, but with persistence, I gradually acclimated to it. After two additional months of honing my skills through combat and exploration of the island, I seamlessly integrated this modified Tekkai technique into my fighting style.

Over the next two of months, my efforts were singularly focused on honing my mastery of Kami-e, and now I stand here, on the brink of success.

Unlike Tekkai and Shigan, where muscle tension was the key, mastering Kami-e demanded a different approach—an absolute relaxation of the muscles. It proved to be a daunting task, but I'm optimistic that within the next two months, I'll have it down pat.

Yet, the true challenge lies ahead in replicating the effects of the remaining techniques: Soru, Geppo, and Rankyaku.

 Soru seemed deceptively simple—merely a matter of kicking the ground rapidly to achieve near-instantaneous movement. However, I suspected there was a specific footwork sequence involved, one that would require careful study and practice to unravel.

Geppo and Rankyaku, on the other hand, presented a far greater mystery. How does one step on air, or unleash a flying sword slash with their leg? These techniques remained enigmatic, their secrets locked away beyond my current understanding, and I couldn't even begin to guess a way to approach learning them.

And as for Roukougan, the elusive "Six Gun King," I had no interest in it. Though it was sufficiently powerful, it had a lot of restrictions, like mastering all six techniques before even attempting to learn it.

Then, even when you learned it there were other restrictions like being unable to move and the need to immobilize the opponent before performing it, not to mention the toll it took on the body.

In my own opinion, it wasn't worth the effort when there were better, more effective options like the Hashhoken (Eight-Impact Fist) technique that's used by Don Chinjao and his family. In any case, that was all for the future since I've yet to fully master Kami-e, and stressing over every little thing wasn't my style.

What comes will come, and I'll face it head-on. That's how I've lived so far, and it's how I will continue to live from now on.

"That should be enough for morning practice..." I muttered, turning my body around in the water. "Time to get back to work..."

With that, I began swimming to the shore, eager to resume exploring the island.

...

Slicing through the thick foliage with a bone sword, I forged my path toward the tranquil lake shimmering ahead. With ample time on my hands, particularly during the nocturnal hours, I often found solace in perfecting the art of tanning leather and fashioning tools and weapons from the remains of conquered beasts.

This particular sword was just one among many creations borne from the crucible of my boredom.

But let's delve into my progress in exploring this island over the past two years. Though Tutorial Island wasn't sprawling or vast by any measure, fully navigating its expanse and reaching its core presented more challenges than I had initially anticipated.

Sure, there were the usual obstacles posed by the various beasts that roamed the land. However, the most vexing of all were the natural barriers that divided the island into distinct rings.

For instance, between the first and second rings stood a towering cliff, home to a bothersome clan of monkeys who made scaling it a Herculean task. And just when I thought I had overcome that hurdle, I encountered yet another obstacle separating the second from the third ring—a deep, menacing moat infested with monstrous, oversized sharks.

After two years of relentless training, I've managed to breach four of the island's rings, and now I'm poised to conquer the fifth. Though the exact number of rings between me and the island's heart remains a mystery, I'm confident that with my determination and skill, I'll reach my goal before long.

After all, this island isn't exactly sprawling, and I'm in no rush to leave until I'm certain of my ability to fend for myself. But enough about the future; for now, I've got work to do, and I've just arrived at my destination.

In the midst of the dense foliage, a serene lake unfolds before me, cradling a small island within its watery embrace. Perched atop this island stood a majestic tree with red bark, its branches reaching skyward, covered in wide yellow leaves.

With a grin, I swing my sword at the nearest tree, cleaving it in half with practiced ease.

With a grunt, I hoist the log and set it adrift upon the water. Balancing precariously with one foot on the log and the other on solid ground, I give it a strong push, propelling myself toward the island.

Stepping onto the sandy shores of the small islet, I was greeted by a sudden, ominous hiss that cut through the stillness of the air. Instantly, my attention was drawn to the source: a colossal python emerging from the foliage of the towering tree that dominated the landscape.

Its massive form coiled around the trunk as it fixed its cold, calculating gaze upon me, its intentions clear as it began to descend, poised for a deadly confrontation.

I brandished my bone sword and prepared to fight. "A giant snake this time, huh?" I said, my grin widening. "I sure hope you're as strong as you look!"

...

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