章 8: Temple of King Chappa
"Is this the place?" Kaelor murmured, casting a careful glance at the imposing Buddhist-style temple before him.
Stowing the map in his bag, he discreetly activated a metamorphosis spell to hide his tail.
"This way, they won't judge me or associate me with Goku," he thought, satisfied with his disguise.
As he approached the bridge that led to the temple, he hesitated as he realized he didn't know how to proceed.
His gaze settled on the golden knocker on the door. Decisive, he used it to announce his presence.
The door creaked open heavily, revealing a dark-skinned man in a white turban, who promptly questioned him with a serious tone:
"What are your intentions, child? If you came on young Sapa's orders to play a prank, I..."
Kaelor, sensing the growing hostility in the man's tone, interrupted without hesitation:
"I'm here to fight King Chappa."
The man let out a laugh, but his smile quickly faded as he noticed the seriousness on the young man's face. After a brief pause, he replied:
"Boy, King Chappa is incredibly strong, and he is busy training. Do not disturb him."
Unwilling to back down, Kaelor moved forward. He easily pushed the man aside, advancing into the temple.
"Hey, boy! Don't go in there!" the man shouted, trying to stop him. However, upon laying his hands on Kaelor, he realized he couldn't move him.
Sighing in defeat, he changed his approach.
"Fine. Wait in that chair over there. I'll try to get an audience with King Chappa."
Kaelor smiled, satisfied with the man's change of attitude, and decided to wait. He sat in the indicated chair, observing the decorated walls of the temple as time passed.
After a few minutes, the man returned, announcing:
"King Chappa has agreed to see you. Follow me."
Kaelor stood up and followed the man, accompanied by a small entourage that seemed intrigued by the unusual visitor.
The group walked through a long corridor illuminated by lanterns and adorned with murals of ancient battles until they reached a large room.
The space was clearly meant for training, with various equipment and a large tatami occupying the center.
At the far end of the tatami, sitting in a lotus position, was King Chappa.
He appeared serene, with his eyes closed and his hands resting on his knees. Kaelor slowly approached him, stopping in front of him.
The King Chappa opened his eyes, fixing them on the young man. His voice was deep but calm.
"So, you've come to challenge me? Who is your master?"
Kaelor let out a provoking smile before answering.
"That doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm here to kick your ass."
For a moment, the room fell silent. However, Kaelor's words didn't seem to bother King Chappa.
On the contrary, he gave a faint smile, rising fluidly. He assumed a combat stance, exuding confidence and determination.
"We'll see if you're as skilled as you are talkative," he declared, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.
Kaelor smiled, taking his own fighting stance. The tension in the air was palpable, and the clash was imminent.
The sound echoed through the hall as King Chappa slid his feet across the tatami, adjusting his combat position.
His stance was flawless, a testament to years of discipline and experience.
Kaelor watched closely, a faint smile on his lips. He could feel the pressure radiating from the master in front of him.
"Prepare yourself, boy. You will face my most deadly technique: the Eight-Arm Fist!"
Suddenly, Chappa's arms seemed to multiply.
They weren't just quick movements but overlaid images, illusions created by extreme speed.
It looked as though eight real arms were moving in unison, each delivering powerful strikes in a hypnotic, unpredictable sequence.
Kaelor stepped back slightly as the first punch came toward him, followed immediately by an uppercut and two rapid side strikes.
Chappa gave no time to breathe; the punches came from all directions like an uncontrollable torrent, his feet barely touching the ground as he used his incredible agility to dominate the space.
But Kaelor wasn't fazed. He narrowed his eyes, studying the flow of movements as he dodged.
It was as if the punches were predictable to him, his body anticipating their trajectories with supernatural ease.
Spinning to the side, he avoided a barrage of strikes that cut through the air with raw power.
"You're fast," Kaelor said in an almost casual tone, "but I'm faster."
Chappa raised an eyebrow and intensified the pace. The punches now came with even greater ferocity, the illusions blending with real movements.
But no matter how fast he was, Kaelor seemed in control of the situation. He danced across the tatami, dodging with surgical precision.
And then, Kaelor decided to innovate.
"Interesting technique... Let's see if I can try something similar."
He stepped back for a moment, his energy starting to pulse. Chappa's eyes widened as arms made of energy projections emerged from Kaelor's shoulders.
In the blink of an eye, he was also moving eight arms, replicating the master's technique.
"That's impossible!" exclaimed Chappa, taking a step back.
"Not impossible, just a little more stylish," Kaelor teased as he advanced.
The turnaround was instantaneous. Now it was Kaelor in control, delivering precise strikes with his illusory arms.
Chappa tried to respond, but every one of his attacks was either dodged or blocked, and he couldn't keep up with the young man's unpredictable movements.
Kaelor stepped forward, seizing an opening. Two energy arms struck Chappa's torso, throwing him off balance, while two more landed a direct blow to his stomach, making him stagger with an expression of pain.
Chappa attempted to regain his footing, but it was too late. Kaelor launched a final attack – a concentrated, explosive punch with all his arms at once.
The impact raised a small cloud of dust as King Chappa was sent backward, landing on his knees on the tatami.
Panting, Chappa lifted his head and smiled despite his clear defeat.
"You're not just fast... You're incredibly skilled. And strong. It seems I still have much to learn."
Kaelor, relaxing his stance, let his illusory arms fade away. He extended his hand in a respectful gesture.
"You're an incredible master by human standards, but your technique... needs an upgrade."
Chappa accepted Kaelor's outstretched hand and stood up with some difficulty, though a broader smile began to form on his face.
"Well, I'm not sure what you mean by 'human standards,' but I'll take the compliment."
Still catching his breath, he gave the young man a thoughtful look and commented with a sigh:
"I was sure I'd be the favorite for the next Martial Arts Tournament... But seeing your strength, I realize I still have much to improve."
Kaelor, sensing a slight blow to Chappa's confidence, quickly interjected with an encouraging expression:
"Don't underestimate yourself! I'm not planning to enter the tournament for now, so I'm sure you have a great chance of winning. Your strength is impressive, King Chappa."
For a moment, Chappa stared at him in silence before letting out a hearty laugh.
"Am I truly accepting words of consolation from a child? It seems I've truly fallen! Haha!"
Still, his smile now carried a trace of genuine gratitude. He placed a hand on Kaelor's shoulder, slightly inclining his head in a gesture of respect.
"Very well, Kaelor. Thank you for your words. You are free to stay at the temple as long as you like.
There's much you can learn here… and I think I might learn something from you as well."
Kaelor smiled in response, enjoying the welcome. He cast a curious glance around, observing the temple's vast resources – the training equipment, the methodical arrangement of spaces, and even the aura of discipline that seemed to flow from the place.
"Great. I think I'll take this opportunity to study your martial techniques and training methods.
There's always something new to learn," he declared enthusiastically.
With that, Kaelor resolved to explore and expand his knowledge within King Chappa's temple, honing his skills further.
Kaelor woke early, feeling the temple's vibrant energy. Outside, the sky still held a purplish hue of dawn, but the rhythmic sounds of footsteps and controlled breathing could already be heard.
Curious, he left his quarters and followed the sounds to the main hall.
The training of King Chappa's martial artists was already in full swing.
Around a dozen disciples moved in perfect synchrony, their deep breaths matching a sequence of precise gestures and stances.
At the center of the tatami, Chappa led the session, his imposing presence maintaining discipline in the air.
"Ki is the essence of strength," he explained as the disciples remained motionless, meditating.
"Control your energy, and the rest will naturally follow."
Kaelor, leaning discreetly against one of the columns, watched in silence. The disciples seemed immersed in another plane, their bodies still, yet their auras radiated a pulsing energy that made the air around them vibrate.
Inspired, Kaelor closed his eyes and tried to emulate the process. Although he already mastered his own power, he felt that the absolute focus of the training helped him understand it better – as if there was a greater flow of energy yet to be discovered.
Later, the training transitioned to something more dynamic. The disciples moved outside, where they practiced speed and reflexes through a series of impressive exercises.
One challenge involved striking small bells hanging from the ceiling while dodging cushioned staffs hurled by Chappa and other masters.
Kaelor couldn't resist. He got in line, and when his turn came, he positioned himself at the center of the tatami.
The moment the bell began to sway, the sound of quick blows echoed throughout the hall.
Staffs came from all directions, swift and precise, but Kaelor dodged them all effortlessly, his movements flowing like water. In mere seconds, he struck the bell accurately, to the amazement of onlookers.
"Impressive," Chappa remarked, crossing his arms. "But you're not entirely in control.
Anticipating attacks is good, but foresee what comes after impact. That's what separates a good fighter from a true master."
Kaelor smirked. "If you want me to fight more seriously, all you have to do is ask."
"Oh, so you're holding back, are you?" Chappa replied, maintaining his playful tone.
The afternoon brought strength and endurance exercises.
In the courtyard, large stone blocks were carried uphill, while other fighters trained their techniques against sturdy targets.
Kaelor helped a group of smaller disciples push one of the heaviest stones. Despite his evident strength, he treated it as a game, encouraging the others to do the same.
"It's not the stone that matters, but how much you surpass yourselves," he said, dropping a stone to the ground with ease.
By the end of the day, advanced training took place.
The most experienced disciples practiced legendary techniques like Chappa's Eight-Arm Fist, recreating combinations of speed, strength, and precision.
Kaelor sat on the ground, legs crossed, watching everything.
Every movement, every sequence, seemed like a piece of a puzzle he wanted to solve.
After a while, he couldn't resist and entered the training area, trying to replicate some of the techniques on his own.
Unlike the others, however, Kaelor added variations that made him unique – enhancing the impact of strikes with concentrated energy or creating illusionary projections of his attacks to confuse imaginary opponents.
This didn't go unnoticed. "You don't just learn," Chappa said, observing from a distance. "You create. That is the spirit of a true martial artist."
As days went by, Kaelor became more involved in the training, not only learning but also sharing his skills with others.
His presence had transformed the dynamic of the temple.
Under his influence, the disciples began challenging their limits with renewed determination, while
Kaelor, in turn, absorbed every lesson, expanding his understanding of martial arts and refining his technique in a unique way.
The next morning, with the sun rising and the sounds of training echoing in the distance, Kaelor gathered his few belongings and left the temple.
Before departing, he gave a brief bow to King Chappa and the disciples as a sign of respect.
"You have a rare talent, boy," Chappa said, crossing his arms as he watched Kaelor disappear down the trail.
"May the winds of your journey guide your growth."
Kaelor moved forward, feeling the energy of the training still coursing through his muscles and his mind focused on his next goal.
His destination was now an equally legendary place in the martial arts world: the Crane School.
The prestigious Crane School, led by Master Shen, promised new challenges and, perhaps, another piece to the puzzle of self-improvement he sought to complete.
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