Chapter 396: Hiro and Ryun

Chapter 396: Hiro and Ryun

Technique

The {Azure Mind} was a strange one. Hiro was not used to it at all. He didnt quite like what it did to his mind. It sharpened it, put it into a razor focus to the exclusion of all else. But that was what he needed now. He ran as the technique took hold, hoping that his focus wouldnt make him stop. If he was being honest, he hoped that he would just forget to stop running, that stopping would be too much of an effort, distract from his true goal.

His mind underwent a shift, his skills fell into the background and the draw on his willpower lessened. In a way, though he hadnt been aware of it at the time he made the decision, running helped him. It was a repetitive act that helped his focus. So, the pain fell away, all thoughts and reasons for why he was in this situation, his worries and fears, all of it was stripped from him. Leaving only a single minded focus on his technique, or rather how to change it.

The reason why he wanted to change it didnt matter, all that did was that it had to be better, stronger, faster. The technique of {Spatial Sword Storm} created six copies of his sword around him, made out of his Qi. In practice, it created three blades that shifted space when they encountered something, and cutting by tearing apart Essence. The they were focused on him, and followed as he moved, which did make them somewhat good protections, though they were clearly visible as lines that bent the space. Releasing the technique would cause the spatial blades to flicker and move, cutting anything in their path. But he couldnt target them, they just whirled around him.

He had used that part against the monsters, but unfocused, they hadnt done almost any damage. The Essence that held the monsters body together was stronger than his Qi.

As the {Azure Mind} deepened, he started to think about all that he knew about techniques, about how Qi and techniques worked. He focused on a breathing pattern, though it was not necessary. He of course wasnt good enough not to use it. The breathing helped one focus their mind and draw out Qi, moving that Qi in a pattern inside of his conduits created a technique.

The {Spatial Sword Storm} technique infused his weaponthe swordand the area around him with Qi. First the sword, in the same way as when using {Spatial Ward}, then through his body as when using {Onslaught}, then out to create copies of his blade in the space around him.

He couldnt control the Qi copies, he didnt have the control or the mastery of it. He had been told that the fruit techniques could be changed in almost any different way, as long as the core idea behind the improvement remained the same and was consistent with his base and branch techniques, and as long as it remained true to the Cultivation Path.

The Path of the Sword as was explained to Hiro was about living by the sword. He had an affinity with the weapon, and so the Path seemed like a fit. What masters Ryun and Tali had told him was that he would need to figure out what the Path meant to him, to shape it to his needs.

He his focus narrowed again, and all those superficial thoughts were purged.

Through his eyes he saw the chasm surging by him, as he ran, his ears heard the monsters behind him, and then that too fell into the background. His body continuing on its own as his mind delved deeper, focused on the technique.

Change, improvement. He knew how the patterns worked, the theory behind it. To change it, all he had to do was make a different pattern. The change wasnt what was important, his need was. He needed an attack that could kill, that was precise and fast.

He had the elements already there, his base and branch techniques, the current fruit. All he had to do was rearrange them.

The monster twitched, Hiros sword stabbed into flesh and then got caught on the plate as it moved. It was stronger than him, the sword didnt puncture deep enough, but was now stuck. Hiro tried to cycle his Qi, but exhaustion was more than just a physical thing. Ryun saw his attempts at creating a technique fail.

The monster rounded on him and opened its maw to bite his head off.

Ryun moved, Qi burst out of him, the monsters head disappeared as if it was never there. He landed next to Hiro and Tali followed a moment after.

That was good, Ryun said.

Hiro looked at Ryun, breathing heavily and his eyes holding relief and the aftereffects of shock and fear. Then they narrowed as if something had just occurred to him. Whatever it was he didnt get to say it, his eyes rolled back into his head and he collapsed on the ground.

You couldve caught him, Tali said.

So couldve you, Ryun added.

Well, Tali coughed, then knelt next to him as she pulled out a healing potion. You want to keep him without the arm? Let him train a bit without it?

Not necessary, Ryun said. He was obviously capable enough to compensate. I assume that the wardens trained him to know what to expect should he ever lose the use of a limb. It would be pointless.

Tali hummed. Want to gouge his eyes out?

Ryun blinked. You are not funny.

Im just saying, Tali said, trying to keep her mouth from twitching.

Just heal him, its a long way back.

He shook his head. Though, while she was joking, he was starting to get some ideas. Perhaps later, after they returned from the dome and he had more time to devote to training his new pupil.