The Endless Pursuit of Strength
The roar of rushing water filled the air.
Jayden stood beneath a towering waterfall, his body tensed as the sheer force of the falling water crashed against his shoulders. The icy torrent battered him, threatening to push him down.
But he remained standing. Unyielding.
This wasn't the first time he had trained here.
Ever since he was a child, he had sought out harsher conditions to sharpen his skills. Lakes, rivers, and now waterfalls—each step had pushed his body beyond its limits.
Yet today was different.
Today, he wasn't just enduring the water's force. He was fighting against it.
Mastering the Flow
Jayden took a deep breath and drew his sword. The moment his blade left its sheath, he slashed upward, fighting against the crashing water.
The resistance was immense. Every strike felt like cutting through solid stone.
But Jayden refused to stop.
Again.And again.And again.
His movements remained sharp, controlled. He had to master his technique in any condition. If he could fight under this pressure, then nothing—not even a Nighlok—could stop him.
A Watchful Eye
From a short distance away, Ji stood silently, watching.
The mentor of the Shiba Clan had always known that Jayden was different.
Even from a young age, he had shown a relentless drive to improve. But this… this was something else entirely.
"He's pushing himself too hard," Ji murmured.
Most warriors would struggle to even remain standing under such intense water pressure. Yet Jayden wasn't just standing—he was fighting.
Breaking Through Limits
Jayden continued to move, his breathing deep and steady.
Suddenly—his grip tightened.
He lunged forward, unleashing a flurry of precise, rapid strikes. The sheer speed of his movements cut clean through the water, parting it for a split second before the torrent crashed down once more.
Then, in one final motion—
He traced a kanji in the air: "Strength."
A burst of Symbol Power surged through him, reinforcing his body. He swung his sword one last time—and the waterfall split for a moment, revealing the rock behind it.
Ji's eyes widened. That… was not normal.
Even for a Red Ranger.
The Path Forward
Jayden exhaled, lowering his sword.
His body was exhausted, but his mind was clear. He was getting stronger. But not fast enough.
Master Xandred was still out there. The Nighlok threat was growing.
He needed to push further.
Stepping away from the waterfall, Jayden sheathed his sword and turned toward Ji. He knew his mentor had been watching.
But Ji said nothing.
He simply studied Jayden, his face unreadable.
Finally, he spoke. "You are improving."
Jayden gave a small nod. "Not enough."
Ji hesitated for a moment before sighing. "You don't have to carry everything alone, Jayden."
Jayden didn't respond. Instead, he turned back toward the waterfall.
Without another word, he stepped forward—and resumed his training.