Staring at Tomoe blankly, He almost laughed. Almost.
Because now he knew what kind of monster he had to become to be acknowledged.
"Don't let it get to you," She said, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. "You survived. That's more than most could've done, even doped up on serum."
Lowering his head, he didn't answer right away. His fingers flexed around searching for the carving knife she had given him. It seems he might have left it lodged in the panther's skull.
"Was it really the strongest?" he asked. "The First One?"
Tomoe shrugged, shifting her gaze outside toward the trees.
"Strongest, yes. Most dangerous? Not quite. That one only knew how to charge, slice, and bite. The others... they'll ask more of you."
"Like what?"
"Like analysis and control, they'll be crucial since the remaining four beasts still possess skills and the serum has worn off."
His Jaw tightened at that last sentence.
"The serum saved my Life?"
"Made you faster and enhanced your senses," she said, "but it didn't make you smarter. That thrust through the eye? Lucky. Clean, but lucky. The next one won't give you the same opening."
Raising his hands, he was still trembling slightly.
"I lost the carving knife," he muttered. " It's still in the forest."
She gave a quiet snort, not mocking. Almost... Amused.
"I'll get you another."
She said it, like she was offering him a refill of water. As if weapons came as easily to her breath.
"But first," she added," let's step outside and do a little meditation."
Following her lead, he slowly rose to his feet, his body strangely light. It felt like the pain had left faster than the memory of it.
" Sit and close your eyes," she said.
He hesitated.
"Why?"
"It's easier to meditate this way."
obeying his master, he took a seat on the grass and closed his eyes.
"Now listen, "She said, her tone softer. " Your body holds spiritual energy the way a bottle holds water. But it doesn't stay still. It leaks. Constantly. Wasted with every breath, every twitch, every wandering thought."
He furrowed his brow. "So I'm just....leaking power all the time?"
"Yes, "she said bluntly, "Every living thing is. Unless they learn to contain it."
Her fingers tapped once, lightly, against her temple.
"There is a core node. Yours sits here, for now. It can be moved, but only when you gain control. Until then, it's like an open wound. Leaking strength, you don't even know you're losing."
He sat in silence, trying to feel it.
"This should be a little easier since you've already felt it. Imagine your energy as warmth. Pressure. A subtle hum. It's there just beneath the skin, waiting"
He focused, his breath slowing. The wind faded, and the sounds of the birds dimmed.
And then
A flicker.
A soft pulse, like a second heartbeat, emanated from his head.
"There you go, now compress it around the node. Imagine a fist closing around it slowly. Don't crush it, or it might collapse instead; contain it."
His Face tightened as sweat beaded from his temple. The pulse wavered then steadied.
"Good," she murmured. "Now direct the flow. Pick a limb, an arm, a leg, doesn't matter. Imagine an open facet flowing, not out. Let it circulate like blood.
Purposefully and precisely."
Choosing his right hand.
The warmth slowly shifted through his shoulder, elbow, and wrist.
His fingertips tingled.
"That's it, well done. Later, you can also try compressing it inside the node; doing so, you can hide your energy to remain undetected, but for now," She said as a short blade appeared in her hand. The blade was thick, double-edged, and about thirty centimeters long.
The edges glinted faintly in the twilight, wickedly sharp.
"You get a Tonto blade this round," she said, tucking her arm into her sleeves. " Keep it close. Don't drop it this time."
He nodded once, not rising to the jab, instead turning his gaze towards the forest's edge as he stood up. Shadows were pooling beneath the trees now, thickening like ink. The light was almost gone as night approached.
Rising to her feet, she turned, walking back to the house.
"The second beast is waiting. When you enter the forest, try directing your energy to your eyes and ears."
Hearing her voice, he glanced back.
"Why?"
"Because the forest is darker than it looks." With that, she said no more. Disappearing into the house.
Taking a deep breath, he entered the forest once again with a blade in hand.
The trees swallowed him.
There was no trail. No markers. Just the rustle of wind and the faint crunch of leaves beneath his boots. The deeper he walked, the more the forest changed, colors drained, sounds quieted, as though the woods themselves were holding their breath.
He kept low, trying to compress his spiritual energy as the air clung to him, damp, but still.
'I can feel something out here.'
His steps slowed. Each breath sharper than the last.
Just as Damon felt his presence grow lighter....
SHIIIING----!
Something streaked through the air, coming at him from a nearby shrub. It was so fast that he had no time to react.
Before he even had the chance to prepare, an intense pain flooded his brain from his left shoulder.
Dropping low, Damon grit his teeth, swinging his blade, but the beast was already gone.
The pain surged fresh and hot down his arm.
Breathing heavier now as his heart began racing, Damon held up his guard for the follow-up attack.
SHIIIING----!
Once again, too fast to react to the second strike that came, A cut across his thigh, precise, shallow, but mocking.
He stumbled, catching himself on one knee as he tried to steady his breathing.
Whoosh!
Hearing the third strike in the wind headed for his back, Damon swung the blade behind, but to his surprise, there was nothing.
Quickly realizing it was a feint attack, he tried spinning around to guard his back, but it was too late; the third strike had connected.
SHIIING-----!
The impact from this strike knocked him into the dirt as the shallow gash across his back stung like fire.
Quickly jumping to his feet, Damon closed his eyes just for a moment, recalling what master Tomoe said.
'Try directing your energy to your eyes and ears.'
The warmth returned, stirring in Damon's temple. The node pulsed rapidly as he pushed spiritual energy towards his hands, feet, ear, and lastly, his eyes.
The eyes were the most difficult as a burning sensation spread through them, but then... as he reopened them.
The dark peeled back.
Not gone. But thinner, like a veil had been lifted.
Before his eye, the forest took shape in deeper hues, veins of energy trailing through the grass, branches trembling with unnatural rhythm.....
And there it was
Lurking in the bushes, Long legs bent taut. Razor claws twitching. Soulless black eyes locked to him with devilish cruelty.
A beast like a hare stared for war.