Ren sat on the park bench, his eyes narrowing in concentration. Around him, a flock of birds pecked lazily at breadcrumbs and a few stray cats wandered the paths. He clenched his fists, drawing in a deep breath.
"Imperial Qi… hold," he muttered under his breath. A faint golden shimmer wrapped around him, and the animals twitched.
For a second, the cats froze in mid-step. The birds jerked their heads as though something unseen pressed down on them. Ren's heart leapt.
"Yes! Stay still, stay—!"
But a pigeon suddenly flapped wildly, breaking free, and the cats bolted into the bushes. The aura shattered like glass.
Ren collapsed back against the bench, wiping sweat off his brow. "So just by getting a skill doesn't mean I can use it properly," he grumbled. "Looks like I'll have to put in a lot of hard work…"
