章 19: Chapter 19: Breaking Limits
The island's sun hung high in the sky, casting harsh light over the jungle that seemed never-ending. Vulcan stood in the clearing where he had been training for days, his body aching from the relentless pace he had forced upon himself. Every muscle in his legs screamed from the repeated attempts to master Soru, but still, he pressed on.
He couldn't stop now—not when he was so close.
Sweat dripped down his face, mixing with the dirt that had accumulated from countless rolls and dodges through the underbrush. His fists clenched and unclenched in rhythm, as though trying to expel the frustration that had built up over time. His strength had grown, his reflexes sharpened, but Soru was still out of his grasp.
Each time he attempted the technique, he felt himself improving. The speed came easier now, his body reacting faster with each movement. But it wasn't fast enough. He needed to be faster—to the point where he could disappear from sight like Hina had.
"Alright... again," Vulcan muttered, his voice barely above a whisper as he braced himself.
He shifted his weight forward, focusing on the technique in his mind. His legs tensed, the muscles coiling like springs, ready to release all at once.
Now!
Vulcan kicked off the ground, his feet moving with blinding speed as he activated Soru. This time, something felt different—the ground beneath him seemed to vanish for a split second, his body propelled forward faster than he had ever moved before.
But as soon as the burst of speed came, it was over. Vulcan's legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the jungle floor, his chest heaving for breath.
He had moved farther than before, faster than before, but it still wasn't enough. His body couldn't sustain the technique, and the strain was beginning to take its toll.
Vulcan lay on the ground, staring up at the canopy of trees above him, the leaves swaying gently in the breeze. His muscles ached, his legs trembling from the effort of pushing himself to his limits. He closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind.
"I'm getting closer," he thought, but the exhaustion in his body weighed heavily on his spirit.
The Jungle Strikes Again
The jungle was never silent for long. As Vulcan lay there, trying to recover, the sounds of the island crept back into his awareness. The distant screeches of birds, the rustling of leaves, and the low growls of unseen creatures.
Suddenly, there was movement in the trees above him. Vulcan's eyes snapped open just in time to see a shadow leap from the branches.
Instinct took over. He rolled to the side just as a massive figure landed where he had been moments before. The impact shook the ground, and Vulcan scrambled to his feet, his body still protesting from the strain of training.
The creature that had appeared was unlike anything he had seen before—a massive, hulking predator with thick scales and razor-sharp claws. Its eyes gleamed with a predatory hunger, and its tail lashed back and forth, ready to strike.
Vulcan gritted his teeth, forcing his tired body into a fighting stance. His hand reached for the knife at his waist, but he knew that this beast was far more dangerous than the others he had faced.
The creature roared and charged, its claws slicing through the air as it lunged at Vulcan.
Vulcan dodged to the side, his movements slower than usual. His body screamed in protest, the strain of Soru still fresh in his muscles. But there was no time to hesitate—he had to fight.
The creature lunged again, and this time, Vulcan was ready. He kicked off the ground, using what little energy he had left to activate Soru. His body moved in a blur, dodging the beast's attack and positioning himself behind it.
With a sharp motion, he brought his knife down, aiming for the creature's vulnerable neck. The blade connected, but the creature's thick scales absorbed most of the impact. It roared in pain but shook off the blow, turning its attention back to Vulcan.
Vulcan's heart raced. This wasn't going to be a simple fight. The creature was too powerful, and his body was too weak from the strain of training. He needed to find another way.
As the creature charged again, Vulcan's mind raced. Tekkai (Iron Body)—he had read about the technique in the handbook. It allowed the user to harden their muscles to the point of being as strong as iron. It was a defensive move, one that could withstand powerful blows.
But Vulcan hadn't practiced it yet.
His eyes narrowed as the creature lunged at him, its claws aimed at his chest. Vulcan clenched his fists, willing his body to harden, to take the hit.
The creature's claws slammed into him with terrifying force, and for a split second, Vulcan felt his muscles tense, his body hardening like iron.
But the technique wasn't fully there. The force of the blow sent him flying backward, his body crashing into a tree. Pain shot through his ribs, and he gasped for air, his vision blurring.
The creature stalked toward him, ready to finish the job.
Vulcan gritted his teeth, his hands trembling as he pushed himself to his feet. He could feel the strain in his body, the exhaustion weighing him down, but he refused to give up. This was his test—his trial. If he couldn't survive this, then he wasn't worthy of mastering the Rokushiki techniques.
The creature lunged once more, its claws aimed at his throat.
With a final burst of energy, Vulcan kicked off the ground, activating Soru one last time. His body blurred as he dodged the attack, appearing behind the creature in an instant. His hand shot out, grabbing a thick branch from the ground, and with all his strength, he swung it at the back of the creature's head.
The branch cracked against the creature's skull with a sickening thud. The beast stumbled forward, disoriented, before collapsing to the ground.
Vulcan stood over the fallen creature, his chest heaving, every muscle in his body screaming in pain. His legs trembled from the strain of using Soru so many times, and his arms ached from the impact of the fight. But he had won.
Barely.
A Moment of Reflection
The jungle was quiet once more as Vulcan collapsed onto the ground, his body too exhausted to move. He stared up at the sky, the sunlight filtering through the trees, and let out a slow, shaky breath.
He had used Soru in the fight, but it still wasn't enough. His speed was improving, but the strain on his body was immense. And then there was Tekkai—he had tried to use it, but the technique hadn't fully activated. He needed more control, more practice.
But how could he train when every day on the island was a battle for survival?
Vulcan closed his eyes, letting the exhaustion wash over him. His mind raced with thoughts of the Rokushiki techniques, of how far he had come, and how much farther he had to go.
The beasts on the island were relentless, the environment unforgiving. But each battle pushed him closer to his goal. He could feel himself growing stronger, more resilient. His body was adapting to the challenges, even if it came at a cost.
He knew the road ahead would be difficult. There would be more battles, more beasts, and more moments where he would have to push himself to the brink of collapse. But that was the price of growth. That was the cost of mastering the Rokushiki techniques.
Vulcan opened his eyes, staring up at the sky. His body was broken, but his resolve had never been stronger.
"I'll master them," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the sounds of the jungle. "I'll master them all."
With that final thought, exhaustion overtook him, and Vulcan drifted into a restless sleep, his mind filled with visions of Soru, Tekkai, and the battles still to come.
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