~ Third Person Pov... ~
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"Learn how to do what, sir...?" Kairo asked, a little confused.
The instructor raised a brow, saying: "The Ki ball you just created... You arrived yesterday, right? Where did you learn how to make one, and don't lie to me either."
Kairo nodded, standing up: "Yes sir... I did start yesterday. And how I did what I did earlier... I just went on pure instinct. I remembered that I used it when I sparred against my squad member yesterday, and I tried copying the feeling today, and well, it just happened..."
The Saiyan instructor studied Kairo's eyes for even the smallest amber of deceit, but found none.
'The kid hasn't said anything off... Using Ki when your life is in danger isn't an uncommon phenomenon, when a Saiyan goes through certain situations, their instinct will take over and cause them to do seemingly unexplainable things, sometimes... But, for this kid to go off that feeling just once... Could it be that, he's some kind of prodigy?' The instructor thought.
He straightened up, his expression settling into something unreadable, saying: "That's it for now... Keep practicing."
He then walked off, leaving Kairo to himself...
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'Nexus... Is creating a Ki ball that impressive here?' Kairo asked.
[Yes... In this society, Ki is used for it's most basic applications. Strengthening the body, and dispersing energy into powerful attacks... As a Saiyan gets older, their affinity towards Ki grows. Furthermore, as they grow stronger, their chances of releasing that energy also increases. However, in this society, they cannot sense Ki, or shape it into advanced forms either.]
'Hmm... I'll keep that in mind then.'
Kairo then sat down once more, and kept practicing his Ki control. This time, finding the process significantly easier than before...
[Ki control has leveled up...
Ki control has leveled up...]
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"Phew!" Kairo wiped the sweat off his forehead. Now mentally exhausted from practicing for an hour... When he had stopped, he felt as if he was, stronger than before...
'Hmm... Am I imagining it…? Or, did I actually get stronger?' He thought for a moment, clenching his fists a little.
[You aren't... When your Ki control improves, so does your power level... At this moment, each level of Ki control you gain improves your power level by 10%. Currently, it is level three. Meaning, your power level is 30% higher than it should be.]
Kairo grinned faintly: 'I knew it! Still... I really need to get learn how to sense my own Ki at least. I wouldn't have to second guess myself there.'
"Oh, it's you."
Kairo heard a voice. Finding it familiar. He quickly turned around.
"Wait... You're the one that told me what I missed out on yesterday.
She nodded.
"Well, what's your name...? I didn't get to ask last time." Kairo asked.
"...It's Lira."
"Lira, it sounds nice." Kairo added.
Lira then crossed her arms, her tail swaying quickly: "Hmph! Flattery won't make you any stronger, rookie."
'Is she, happy...?' Kairo wondered, looking at her tail swirling wildly.
He then deadpanned: "I Didn't say it would... I was just being polite."
Before Lira could even think to reply, a shadow fell over both of them... A relatively tall, broad, stocky, and clearly in a mood child, strode up with another squad member. Kairo recognized them as his squamates.
'Huh... I thought he was pretty big sitting down yesterday, but it's worse when he stands... The kid's massive!' Kairo thought.
"Tch! Figures you'd be hiding here..." His eyes glanced to the faint scorch marks on the ground. "What? You been playing with fireworks instead of training?"
Lira shot him a glance: "I think you need to cut him some slack, Roko. He made a Ki ball. A clean one too."
That shut Roko up for a beat, though his expression quickly hardened: "What...!? On his second day!?"
Roko quicky looked back at Kairo, and scoffed;
"Whatever. Even if that is true. You're still a weakling."
Kairo met his glare evenly, causing the boy to flinch for a moment, but kept his mouth shut...
'He's just a kid.' Kairo thought, dismissing the taunt. He was already getting tired of being looked down upon and getting called weak.
Kairo, he could already feel it... Half of his new squad was likely curious about him now, the other half already saw him as some kind of threat.
[Interesting…] Nexus's voice slid into his mind;
'What's interesting?' Kairo asked.
[It's the fact that your little display just shifted your squad's perception of you. You will either earn their respect, or their resentment. Currently, the former is showing a higher probability of happening.]
Kairo sighed: 'Sure, I guess it helps... I'll probably be working with them for the years to come. Still, there was no need to be assholes about it.'
On the other hand, the instructor straightened, glancing toward the entrance as more footsteps echoed through the training hall. The last member of Squad 8 filed in, being Aka. Two of them were talking among themselves before quieting at the sight of Kairo standing apart with the instructor.
Roko's eyes narrowed especially, while Lira tilted her head slightly, and the rest spread out into loose lines...
"Alright, listen up!" The instructor barked, cutting through the all the discussions, after getting the needed silence, he continued;
"Today we're doing live sparring. Pair off, now!"
The squads moved fast, some already calling out partners, others sizing up whoever was closest. Mats thudded under boots as they spread out into the ring space...
Kairo had found himself standing across from a taller girl.
'Huh... She looks, familiar...' Kairo thought.
To his surprise, she spoke up;
"You're that new kid, Kairo, right?" She asked him.
"Ah, yeah, why...?" Kairo wondered.
"The name's Moka by the way, and you fought my younger sister yesterday."
Kairo's brows knit: "Your, sister…?"
'Wait, don't tell me-' Kairo thought, but got cut oof.
Moka's lips curved in a smile: "Aka."
He froze for a split second, remembering the blur of movement, the sharp strikes, and the cold stare from yesterday's fight: "Oh..."
'Of course, she has a sister...' Kairo thought.
Her smile got slightly larger as she spoke: "She told me you surprised her in that fight. That doesn't happen often."
'Surprised her? Kid, your younger sister absolutely kicked my ass in.' Kairo thought, deadpanning once more.
Moka then stepped into the sparring ring, jumping rhythmically: "So now I'm curious as well. I want to see if you can surprise me, too. Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."
"Uhh... Thanks?" Kairo said, not sure what else to say.
"Get ready you two!" The instructor said. Both of them got into their own stance... He noticed who Kairo had been fighting, and internally felt pity for the boy;
'Out of all the kids he could've been paired with, he got Moka... Sheesh.'
Seeing that the both of them were ready, he gave a sharp signal;
"Start!"
Moka lunged first, closing the distance with a burst of speed. Kairo sidestepped, deflecting her opening jab with his forearm, then ducked under a follow-up hook. Her strikes came fast, controlled but aggressive...
Kairo blocked and weaved, his footwork tightening with each exchange...
'Hmm, this is actually pretty fun.' Moka thought, her excitement growing with the exchange so far.
Moka caught his arm in a brief clinch, trying to pull him off balance, but Kairo managed to twisted out and countered with a sharp palm strike toward her midsection.
Fwish!
She blocked just in time with her knee, before pivoting into a sweeping kick aimed at his legs.
"Woah!?" Kairo yelled, surprised.
He quickly jumped back, landing lightly, but ensuring his gaze never leaving hers.
[Combat senses has leveled up...]
Kairo felt a slight warm tingling sensation with his mind, and muscles when he heard Nexus' notification.
Moka smirked: "Not bad. Most rookies eat mat after that sweep."
Kairo rolled his shoulders, settling into a looser stance: "Guess I'm not most rookies."
Her smirk sharpened, and she came at him faster. This time, her strikes began blurring, feints folding into jabs, jabs into hooks. Kairo's body moved before he could think, trusting his instincts. A duck, pivot, block.
Each strike being sharper than the last...
Now other were were starting to take notice, even some of the other students sparring;
'Waah! Isn't he super good for a rookie!?' Moka thought, genuinely surprised and excited.
'Sis said he had good fighting instincts (He was slippery), but he's actually keeping up with me really well.' Moka realized...
Kairo's breathing stayed relatively steady, his eyes now locked onto hers.
[Combat senses has leveled up...]
After some more time;
[Physical Fitness has leveled up
Physical Fitness has leveled up
Combat senses has leveled up...]
The warm sensations was spreading deeper now, even spreading throughout his muscles like they were remembering her movements and patterns, even if those sensations were slight...
'...Hell... This passive is insane!' Kairo thought. He could actively feel himself getting better as he fought.
However...
"STOP! Sparring is over... Get back to your squads." The instructor said.
Fwish!!!
Kairo and Moka froze mid-motion, with both just shy of hitting one another, and both breathing a little heavier than usual... Kairo was the first to step back, lowering his fists while feeling the heat of adrenaline still lingering in his veins...
Moka had mirrored him, smirking while letting her guard drop.
The other squad members were already gathering in loose groups, talking quietly among themselves at what had happened...
Roko scowled at Kairo from the side, but there was a bit of curiosity in his eyes now, a subtle acknowledgment of the rookie kid's abilities.
Lira, on the other hand, looked very impressed.
Kairo on the other hand exhaled through his nose: "Yosh! Not bad, me." He said under his breath, more to himself than anyone else...
Moka gave him a playful shove on the shoulder before stepping back toward her own group: "Next time, rookie, you fight pretty well... So, I won't go easy on you when we fight again."
Kairo nodded: "I should be thanking you for the experience."
She smiled, leaving while waving him off...
[Hmm... I think she fancies you host.]
'Dude... She's like what, ten maybe eleven tops?' Kairo thought, disappointed.
[It was just an observation..]
'Yeah, I'm sure it was...'
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END