Chapter 6 – The First Trial (Part 2)
The next morning, the sun rose pale and calm, but Kame Island was anything but quiet. Raiven had already leapt from his small hut, bouncing along the beach, tail flicking like a metronome of chaos. His fists sliced the air with playful precision, tiny kicks snapping the sand beneath his feet.
Roshi stepped out, rubbing his eyes. "Again? You just finished yesterday!"
"I don't need rest!" Raiven shouted, tail curling around him as he darted toward the rocks at the far end of the beach. "I need strength!"
Roshi shook his head, hiding a grin. "You really are a handful, aren't you?"
The boy ran circles around him, leaping, dodging, and occasionally colliding with stray coconuts. Each movement was raw energy, untamed, yet precise in its own chaotic way. Roshi's eyes narrowed slightly as he noticed the faint shimmer of aura around Raiven's small frame — not fully formed, but undeniably present.
He's starting to sense his ki already… at two years old… Roshi thought, astonished.
---
Without warning, Raiven barreled toward a cluster of stones he had been "training" with yesterday. His hands dug into the ground to drag one particularly large rock, but something inside him stirred. His muscles tensed, energy leaking out in a subtle surge, and the stone trembled, then cracked with a faint burst of light.
"Whoa!" Raiven jumped back, eyes wide, feeling a rush he didn't fully understand. What… just happened?
Roshi's jaw dropped, his staff trembling slightly in his hand. "Heh… that wasn't just strength. That was ki!" he muttered under his breath. "Touching ki this early… incredible."
The system flickered in Raiven's vision:
[Potential Detected: Ki Manifestation – Beginner Level]
[Training Efficiency +7%]
Raiven's lips curled into a small, mischievous grin. Heh… feels good… stronger than yesterday…
From that moment, the training became less about chores and more about experimentation. Raiven tested his strength with every motion — swinging, jumping, spinning — each movement sending small shocks through the sand and scattering small rocks. His tail acted almost like a sixth limb, balancing, blocking, and occasionally smacking him in the back, which only made him laugh harder.
Roshi followed silently, offering corrections, occasionally letting the boy's raw instinct dictate the pace. "Control it! Don't let your power run wild!" he warned. But Roshi also knew that uncontrolled energy was often the first step toward real growth for a Saiyan.
---
As the sun climbed higher, Raiven's playful antics shifted. He spotted a small injured seabird tangled in a piece of driftwood. Without hesitation, he dropped his rock and sprinted over, tail helping him balance. With gentle hands, he freed the bird and set it carefully on the sand.
Roshi watched, impressed. "Even in battle, compassion… that's good," he muttered. "He's already showing the gentleness his mother must have instilled… even under all this wild energy."
Raiven grinned at the bird as it flew away. "Heh… even small ones can't escape me!" he said jokingly, then shook himself off, aura flickering faintly as his excitement returned.
---
By afternoon, Raiven had begun to integrate control into his raw power. When he leapt and kicked sand, it flew precisely where he intended. When he picked up rocks, he could feel the weight not just with muscles, but with energy guiding him. The system remained a quiet observer, flickering only when it detected growth or potential.
[Hidden Trait Detected: Mystique Core – Dormant]
[Condition: Growth through Emotion and Battle]
The words flashed before Raiven's eyes, uncomprehended yet intriguing. He tilted his head, curiosity sparking. Mystique Core…? Heh. Whatever that is, it feels… exciting.
Roshi noticed his gaze linger on the faint shimmer in his vision. "Interesting… even without knowing what it is, he's already responding to it."
---
As the day drew to a close, the golden light of sunset bathed the island in warmth. Raiven, dirt-streaked, drenched from the sea, and utterly exhausted, stood on the shoreline, fists clenched, tail twitching. His aura flickered faintly, uneven but persistent.
He whispered quietly, almost to himself: Mother… I'll grow strong… I'll surpass every limit…
The system pulsed one last time that day:
[Training Log: Completed Day 2 – Efficiency Rising]
[Mystique Core – Dormant, Requires Emotion & Battle to Awaken]
Raiven's grin returned, sharper this time, pride lighting his young eyes. "Heh… I'm just getting started. Wait until tomorrow — old man, you'll see what I can do!"
Roshi leaned against a rock, watching silently. His expression was unreadable, but his mind raced. A Saiyan this young, with raw instinct, compassion, and pride… if trained correctly, he could surpass legends.
The waves lapped against the shore, carrying the laughter and energy of the young Saiyan across the island. Raiven's aura flickered once more under the first stars of night, signaling the beginning of his real journey — a path where every day would test his strength, pride, and heart.