บท 16: The last training {+}

The first rays of dawn Shown through the entrance of the cave, waking up Nexus from his sleep.

He rose with a jolt, feeling more energized than ever, no doubt an effect of his cultivation.

Now nexus was stronger than ever, from his mind to his body he could already feel the improvements.

Nexus swung his muscular legs over the side of his leather bed, his feet striking the rocky floor with a solid thud that seemed to carry more force than his look suggest.

"Whoa!" He exclaimed, a surge excitement flushing through him,

He flexed his compact muscles, watching in mild amusement as they tensed, each muscle looked like it was sculpted to perfection by the Gods themselves.

Even after relaxing them, his muscles looked magnificent.

A faint smile played across Nexus's face as he used his soul energy to flow through his body at an even faster pace.

His muscles immediately expanded to an even bigger proportions.

When he felt like his body couldn't take it anymore he stopped.

"So this is my current limit" he mused

Satisfied nexus Willed his soul energy back to a steady pace, a few breaths later he was back to normal.

"Considering my strength it'll probably my last day of training,"

Nexus knew his father would most likely stopped training him now that his strength has improved.

He already learn the basics after all, the only thing missing is actually experience.

After preparing everything he needed, Nexus finished dressing in simple leather breeches and woven top before exiting the Cave.

Basking in the warm morning sunlight filtering through the cave's opening.

The Tribes fires had only just been rekindled by the early risers as the community began to stir for the new day.

The scents of smoking meat and Grethel root a herb similar to ginger wafted through the crisp morning air.

At the central firepit, a few familiar faces turned as he emerged, breaking into approving smiles and nods of greeting.

Nexus acknowledged them with a smile as usual, inwardly he was excited.

They had no idea of it yet, but soon they will become the Start of civilization as whole.

He quickened his step, intent on eating a hearty portion of the fresh-cooked day's provisions.

His mother, a short but solidly-built woman with what could only be said as a "MILF" body greeted him with a smile as he approached.

"Gahr! You're up earlier than usual this morning," Urda said warmly as her son took a seat on the log next to her.

She handed him a flat wood containing chunks of meat still steaming from the firepit's embers.

"did something good happened Gahr?"

Nexus accepted the simple meal with a thankful dip of his head.

"It's nothing mother I'm just more energized today" he replied evenly, before digging into the food.

After eating all of it, he was still hungry making him realized that his appetite have improve aswell and shyly ask for more.

Yiv chuckled before handing him another portion of meat, "as you age you will always need more meat"

"Especially one training as diligently as you," she said with an indulgent pat on his shoulder.

Nodding Nexus quietly ate the meat, originally he wasn't planning to ask more and planned to use his soul energy instead of asking for more but it doesn't seem to work like that.

"Well not yet but soon maybe" he thought.

After devouring the entire portion in what felt like mere seconds, he let out a satisfied belch before handing the emptied slab back to his mother with an apologetic look.

Since now that he'd eating more than, other children will have to eat less, a rather harsh but essential thing to the survival of the tribe.

"Seems like I need to develop agriculture earlier than expected" he muttered.

While Nexus was busy thinking his mother suddenly hug him.

Looking at her son's serious expression, she ask, "is there something wrong my little gahr?"

Nexus blush, although he still a child in this body he is already 1 billion years old in a sense so he feels a bit embarrassed whenever he gets treated like child.

"Mother, please, let me go," he muttered, trying to squirm out of her embrace.

"Why, Gahr? Have you forgotten all about your dear old mother already?" she teased, a playful glint in her eye.

Their familial banter was quickly interrupted by the timely arrival of his father, emerging from the cavern's entrance.

Carrying the sturdy wooden practice spears they used for their daily drills.

His normally impassive face broke into a wide smile when he spotted hi son already up and awaiting him.

"You're eager this morning, Gahr," Lorh noted with an approving nod towards Nexus.

"Perhaps you will finally best your old teacher on this day."

"And as always you look beautiful Yiv" his father teased with a affectionate smile.

She Chuckled sweetly, and let go of nexus as she went to lorh's side.

They both kissed as Nexus watched in embarrassment.

After a few seconds the kissing finally stopped, his father laughed, "well be going now Yiv take care while we're gone"

With a smile she replied, "Don't worry dear I will, make sure to save some strength for tonight"

=⁠_⁠=

"Father let's go now" Nexus urge his father to go after saying their goodbyes.

Soon they arrived at the training area and readied themselves for another intense training session.

As a warm up, Nexus started doing jumping jacks, before doing 100 pushups, sit ups....

After about 23 minutes he was done, as expected it was faster than his previous record of 30 my minutes.

With determined expression nexus heads to his father who was casually sitting on a log.

"You finished earlier than I thought" he remarked, "let's see if you've improve gahr, show me your strength"

Nexus felt his heart rate increase with anticipation as his father handed him one of the sturdy spear.

Now he could finally test his strength after his breakthrough last night.

"We shall have to see, won't we, Father?" Nexus replied, his tone filled with confidence rather than arrogance or boasting.

They made their way out to the training field, where Nexus carefully set down the wood shafts before assuming an open stance.

He took a few deep, cleansing breaths to center himself.

Looking closely at nexus, lorh asked, "Are you ready Gahr!?"

To which he replied with, "Whenever you're ready, Father," while focusing his gaze.

Lorh awaited him for a moment, then nodded, retrieving his own practice spear and taking a balanced combat stance mirroring his son's.

Both of them circling each other, ready to attack at any moment.

As they walked, Nexus circulated his energy through his body, with every stride he could feel his body getting stronger.

His senses heightened, the world appearing more vibrant and alive than he could previously recall noticing.

Sounds, smells, and visual details all conveyed vividly, as his perceptions operated on a higher frequency.

"Would I be able to hear colors in the future" he inwardly joked.

He look at his father, impressed as always by hid sturdy bearing.

Lorh walked with the centered balance of a true warrior, his tread smooth and unhurried yet ready to burst at any moment.

At this moment a leaf fell off a tree, swaying as it fall, just as it hit the ground the two clash.

The two spears sparked as they touch, charring them black.

With a side step, nexus aim his spear to his fathers sides.

With a step back, lorh Dodge the in coming attack and countered with his own.

The two started trading blow after blow, just their previous sessions.

Nexus attacked with precise jabs and slashes, while Lorh deflected and parried his attack.

At first, their sparring picked up with the same rhythm as before but After several minutes of harrowing back-and-forth.

Nexus began channelling his soul energy into his body, amplifying his speed and striking power by a margin.

The clash quickly became more intense as his father started going all out after noticing his strength.

Nexus continued slowly ramping up the soul energy into his body, until he reach his limits.

His strike became stronger than ever, Nexus now moved and struck with the same force as his father, a surprising amount of power given his age, truly impressive!

"You've...improved again, I see," Lorh grunted, sweat beading on his brow as he kept pace with Nexus's accelerated attacks, "Your strikes...have more force..."

his parries becoming weaker as he struggled to evade the furious storm of strikes and feints now raining down on him.

Yet his father remind strong, as nexus failed to completely overwhelmed him.

With no choice Nexus started channelling his energy way beyond his limit.

His movements turned into an outright blur of afterimages, each strike shockingly heavy and stronger than the last.

The wooden practice spars clanged like metal as Lorh's hasty deflected his attack, struggling to keep up,

"Wha...? Amazing!" Lorh exclaimed, shocked, even as his body moved on battle-honed instinct.

Just as Nexus was preparing for another barrage, his father sprung to action, using his Feet to kick his son before following up with an attack of his own.

Immediately nexus was bombarded from all sides of his limbs, now struggling to deflect his fathers rapid attack towards him.

Although his strength was nearly the same his father still manage to get an upper hand on the fight, with lorh targeting each of his limbs forcing him to either deflect or Dodge.

Making him unable to counter his father, eventually Nexus started to get tired after pushing himself to his limits.

Not missing the opportunity his father immediately strike and in a flash nexus spear was thrown away by the force.

Just like that the spar ended, with nexus losing to his father.

With a smile, his father remarked, "That was good, Gahr, but I've faced similar opponents before."