Within the Heaven Sect, on the peak of the second mountain, an old man sat cross-legged, appreciating the sky. The energy surrounding him was almost palpable. He seemed to be at a critical moment in his meditation when he finally broke his trance and said: "Tell me, young disciple, what do you need from me?" He finished, slowly rising. "Do you know anything about the boy?"
The Second Master's disciple knelt on one knee. "Yes!" The excitement in his voice was audible, but he also winced. "He recently received a beating from Lord Da Shi's disciples." His gaze dropped to the ground.
The Second Heaven Master began to walk from left to right with his hands behind his back. "So they are trying to eliminate him." Every word he spoke carried an indescribable weight. "Do you think we should take him under our care?" The Second Master concentrated, listening for his disciple's answer.
Before responding, the young man stood up, determination visible in his gaze. "No!" he said, shaking his head in negation. "We cannot let this continue." The pride emanating from the Second Master's eyes could only be described as that of one who teaches right from wrong to his son. "If he leaves the sect, I will protect him," he expressed, waiting for his master's confirmation.
Yi Jui returned to his position. "Very well, young Kuan," he finished saying as he returned to his meditative state. "Protect him and bring him to me."
The scene of Shoneyi eliminating the beasts stunned the Second Master's disciple. "But… what just happened?" In the moment he hesitated whether to go help him or not, the boy had finished off the three-core beasts in a matter of seconds.
From the shadows, the disciple moved stealthily. He needed to be sure that nothing could happen to him. Obviously a magical beast could end his life, but I'm worried about that damned old man's henchmen, he thought to himself, clenching his fists.
A loud roar appeared in front of the boy. "Eight cores!..." Young Kuan's face reflected concern. "I'll have to help him!" As he made the decision, another roar accompanied the first. "Two… no, three!" His eyes lost all kindness, and a powerful aura enveloped his body.
The sound of claws striking against metal was almost deafening. The shockwave sent the boy flying. "What is happening?" Shoneyi yelled, startled but unharmed.
Young Kuan wielded his sword defensively from side to side. "What are you waiting for?" The sound of the beast's claws against the metal was impressive. "Go!"
Shoneyi looked at the young man brandishing his weapon, and memories of his childhood returned. I won't let anyone else die protecting me. The boy stood up and searched his pockets for more stones. "Eat this, you filthy beast!" Desperate, he began throwing rocks.
"What are you doing?" The Second Master's disciple shouted. "I told you to leave… NOW!" The other beasts would be there in a matter of minutes. "A few rocks won't do any dam—" Kuan's eyes widened. How the hell could a simple rock do so much damage?
Kuan glanced at the boy. "They're magnified!" A smile and blood returned to his face. "Alright, kid. Show me what you're made of!"
The scene took no more than a few seconds. Young Kuan blocked one of its claws, Shoneyi threw his magnified rocks. The beast had a hole where its chest used to be. "One down, two left."
Shoneyi's face was worried. "I only have two left, Gambi," his hands searched his pockets for more rocks, but he knew they wouldn't be enough. "Now!"
Two rocks flew over young Kuan's head. The action repeated, and the beast fell to the ground. "Well done, kid!" The pride in his voice was something Shoneyi hadn't felt since his parents were alive.
The roar of the third eight-core beast approached, lurking with the intent to end the lives of both cultivators. "Let's repeat what we just did, little one." As Kuan said that, a puddle of blood fell onto Shoneyi.
"No… Blood!" Gambi's worried voice took over Shoneyi's blank mind.
Kuan blocked the beast's first two attacks and shouted: "Now, throw two more!" After a few milliseconds, Kuan decided to turn around to see what was happening with the boy. At that instant, the beast attacked, and a loud sound of tearing flesh took the place by surprise. "My arm!" Amidst groans and shouts, he responded with a swing of his sword.
After a couple of seconds, Shoneyi came back to his senses, but it was somewhat late. His companion's arm was completely shattered, and all his movements were strictly defensive. "Quickly, take the two cores from the other beasts!" Gambi exclaimed in distress. "I'll only do this once!"
The knowledge of the quill and inkwell's soul was being absorbed by Shoneyi like a sponge. While all this was happening, Shoneyi moved quickly and stealthily through the brush to get the cores. He took the first one and ran quickly to reach the second, sliding and ending in a meditation position.
The beast attacked with the intention of tearing its opponent apart. Kuan blocked and dodged while thinking: What the hell is this kid doing? One of the claws grazed Kuan's ribs.
Blood ran across the ground as Kuan continued to move and defend any lethal blow with his sword. He can't leave him. The thought of righteousness instilled in him by his master was evident. I guess this will be the end for both of us, he finished with a smile as he switched his stance to the offensive.
At the same time, Shoneyi closed his eyes to enter a trance. This time, everything was different; the networks that communicated each word with the connection points were visible and legible to the boy. I don't have time, he thought. Where are you…?
Shoneyi surfed every word and every spiritual connection network in search of something. "I found you!" A feeling of achievement invaded him. "Rock… explosion!" Shoneyi returned to reality and took the quill from the inkwell.
With a gesture of his hand, he attracted a piece of rock that was nearby. It flew and deposited itself in his right hand; his other hand danced while writing Gaijin and, without wasting a second, he threw it over Kuan's head while shouting: "Take advantage of the opening, it's my last one!"
The rock was traveling at a different speed than the others, and at the same time, something strange happened. "One… two… Th—!" The young man's face lit up with madness. "THREE!" Between laughs, Kuan took short steps backward to create distance.
Shoneyi's mind didn't understand. Why is he creating distance? His brow furrowed deeply.
As the rock passed over Kuan, his eyes focused on the white light that indicated the first magnification, the second faint azure glow, and the last shadow of blue that took over the forest. "A Triple Magnification!"