Path of infinity : the star wanderers

Jin groaned, struggling to push himself off the ground, his arms trembling beneath him. His face was pale, drenched in sweat. Kael knelt beside him, gripping Jin's shoulder and pulling him upright.

"Do you need some help?" Kael urged, trying to hide a smirk as Jin's unsteady legs wobbled beneath him.

Just as Kael suppressed a laugh, Jin's eyes narrowed. "You're so dead," he muttered, catching Kael's amusement despite his own exhaustion.

Before Kael could respond, a sudden warmth surged through Jin's body. His eyes widened as energy filled him.

"I… I feel it," Jin murmured, his voice gaining strength as a surge of energy coursed through him. His once trembling limbs steadied, and a faint glow began to radiate from his body. The weariness in his eyes faded, replaced by a sharp determination.

Jin's energy suddenly came to a halt. The surge of power he had felt seconds before, pulsing through his body with a raw intensity, abruptly faded. Confused, he blinked and looked at his hands, expecting more.

"That was it?" Jin asked, glancing around, bewildered. The rush had been so powerful, and yet it stopped as suddenly as it had begun.

Ryuunsuke chuckled from the sidelines, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "What were you expecting? To float in the air? The atmosphere to shift? Maybe a little lightning to strike down for dramatic effect?"

Jin raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't hate it."

Ryuunsuke smiled, a knowing glint flashing across his face. "And it will, in time. But right now, this is just the beginning. The first step. You're not there yet."

Jin let out a breath and straightened, rubbing the back of his neck. "So, what now? I mean, it's done, right? Shouldn't I stabilize this new power or something?"

Ryuunsuke waved his hand dismissively. "No need. That kind of stabilization is only required when the second orbit is opened, usually triggered by intense emotion ---rage, fear, something raw. When your rage takes over or you start to have self doubts, and that's when you lose control of your chakra. You were on the verge of unlocking it yourself, but I gave you a little push."

"It didn't feel like just a little push," Jin murmured, almost to himself, still processing it.

Ryuunsuke raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Do you want me to push you again?"

The teasing note in his voice made Jin huff in exasperation. "No thanks," he muttered, crossing his arms and staring at the ground, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. He still couldn't fully grasp what had just occurred, but he wasn't about to admit that out loud. The surge had felt so intense, so right, but then... nothing.

Kael stood nearby, watching the whole exchange, trying to hold back a laugh. His lips twitched, and his eyes sparkled with barely contained amusement. Jin noticed this immediately and shot him a glare.

"You....." Jin said, pointing a finger at Kael, who was now biting his lip to stop from laughing.

Kael raised his hands in mock surrender, chuckling under his breath. "Sorry, sorry!" He grinned widely, unable to contain his amusement anymore.

Ryuunsuke smirked and nodded toward the battlefield. "Now, enough talk. Continue with the fight," he said, his tone sharp but amused. "Let's see what you can do with that new energy."

Daroii, Kael, Jin, and Shun took their places on the arena floor, forming two tense lines. Shun and Jin stood face-to-face, each sizing up the other with an unspoken challenge in their eyes, while Daroii and Kael mirrored them, their postures rigid, ready to strike at any moment.

The air grew thick with anticipation, every heartbeat seeming to echo through the stillness. Neither side moved, their gazes locked, tension crackling like lightning between them.

Then, with a sharp clap of his hands, Ryuunosuke broke the silence.

Kael and Jin shared a knowing glance, communicating without words. Their body language suggested one thing: Kael would tackle Shun, while Jin took on Daroii. Both opponents braced themselves, reading into this apparent decision. But just as the two neared the center of the arena, they abruptly shifted direction, launching into an unexpected maneuver that caught their opponents off guard.

Kael lunged toward Daroii with his sword drawn, eyes steady with determination, while Jin spun and charged at Shun, his spear glinting in his grasp. Shun's eyes widened in surprise, and Daroii's tail flicked in response, sensing the change.

As Kael's sword arced toward Daroii, she swiftly intercepted it mid-air, her tail coiling around the blade with startling strength. She smirked, pulling back her fist, aiming for Kael's stomach with a powerful punch. But in that split second, Kael's eyes narrowed, and the sword's path shifted subtly in his grip, the blade slicing toward her hand instead. Daroii's confidence faltered, unable to react in time, as Kael's precise maneuver left her caught off-guard by the sudden redirection.

The blade grazed her arm, leaving only a shallow scratch as Kael's sword barely pierced her skin. He pulled back, eyeing the faint mark with surprise. Her skin is tough, he thought, tightening his grip on the hilt. Daroii glanced down at the scratch, smirking as if amused by his attempt. It was clear she wasn't going to go down easily.

Meanwhile, on Jin's side, he steadied his stance, realizing with a spark of hope that he could actually see Shun's movements now. But he quickly found that simply seeing them and reacting were two entirely different challenges.

. Shun's strikes still landed faster than Jin could counter. Jin's eyes struggled to keep pace, his body tensing with each blow that slipped past his defense. Shun smirked, clearly impressed yet unfazed, as he continued his relentless assault. Despite this small improvement, it was still hard for Jin to predict Shun's next move, the speedster's agility proving to be a serious test.

Suddenly, Jin halted his movement, planting his feet firmly on the ground. He closed his eyes, tuning out the noise of the arena, the hum of Shun's rapid steps, and even the sting of his own bruises. Instead, he focused inward, letting his senses sharpen as he concentrated. Each breath steadied his heart, allowing him to feel the subtle shifts in the air around him, the faintest tremors marking Shun's approach. He knew he had to stop reacting and start predicting, anticipating Shun's path before the speedster even chose it.

Jin tried to anticipate Shun's approach, his spear poised to intercept. The first time Shun dashed toward him, Jin swung his spear, but Shun sidestepped easily, delivering a sharp jab to Jin's shoulder before darting away. Jin gritted his teeth, refocusing. Shun blurred toward him a second time, and Jin struck again, only to meet thin air as Shun slipped past him, landing a quick hit to his ribs.

Jin took a steadying breath, his frustration growing. Calm down, he reminded himself, watching Shun's movements more closely. As Shun charged a third time, Jin's eyes tracked the speedster's path. He waited until just the right moment—then lunged, thrusting his spear low. This time, he felt a satisfying impact as his spear struck Shun's thigh, making Shun stumble slightly. Shun's eyes widened, clearly caught off guard.

"Finally," Jin muttered with a faint grin.

Jin's excitement flickered as he realized something crucial: while he could now track Shun's movements, the power behind his strikes wasn't enough to deal any real damage. I can hit him, Jin thought, frustration creeping back in, but it's not enough to make him feel it. He tightened his grip on the spear, searching for a way to harness the newfound focus into something stronger, something that would actually make Shun pause.

Jin took a deep breath, focusing his energy down through his arms and into the spear, feeling a faint warmth start to pulse through it. He began coating the spear with his chakra, the weapon almost humming in response as a soft glow encased its length. The aura felt dense, vibrating with potential, and he could sense the power behind his weapon growing.

This is it, he thought, his confidence rising. If I can control this... maybe I can actually make an impact.

Locking his gaze on Shun, Jin steadied his stance, feeling the newfound strength ready to be unleashed in his next strike.

Shun glanced over at Ryuunosuke, seeking a nod of approval for his next move. He wanted to unleash his full potential, to go beyond what he had already shown. However, Ryuunosuke shook his head, a clear signal that he wasn't ready for that level of intensity yet.

Shun's expression faltered for a moment, frustration flickering in his eyes, but he quickly masked it with determination. He refocused on Jin, his resolve hardening. If he couldn't go all out, he would have to adapt—quickly.

Shun took a stance reminiscent of an athlete preparing for a sprint, his muscles coiling with tension. Jin couldn't help but notice the shift in Shun's demeanor. It was as if Shun were channeling more chakra into his legs, a clear sign he was gearing up for an explosive burst of speed. The air crackled with anticipation, and Jin's heart raced.

Before he could fully process the change, Shun launched himself forward, his eyes locked on Jin with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. It was a split-second decision: Jin instinctively raised his spear, ready to block the oncoming kick.

But the sheer force behind Shun's strike was overwhelming. As the kick connected, Jin felt himself float above the ground, his body spinning helplessly through the air. Time seemed to stretch as he flew backward, the ground rushing up to meet him. He landed unceremoniously between Kael and Daroii, the impact knocking the wind out of him.

"Ugh," Jin groaned, struggling to catch his breath as he sat up. The world around him swam for a moment, but he quickly focused, determined not to show any weakness. Kael was beside him, a smirk coated on his face.

"Why do you keep falling today?" Kael teased, shaking his head.

As Jin stood up, ready to fight again, Ryuunosuke raised his hand, halting the match with a commanding voice. "Stop! Your fight is over—Shun wins." He turned to Shun with a grin, then mockingly glanced at Jin. "I don't blame you for getting my student injured," he quipped, a teasing lilt in his tone.

Laughter erupted among the other students, their voices echoing in the arena, the camaraderie lightening the mood. But Kael stood apart, his expression darkening. He didn't share in their amusement; instead, his brow furrowed in concern.

Ryuunosuke clapped his hands, breaking the laughter. "Now, Kael and Daroii, you continue your fight!"

Both fighters locked eyes, the atmosphere was shifting from light-hearted to serious. Instead of charging in, Kael stood still, his gaze drifting to the ground as he closed his eyes. Memories flooded back to him, vivid flashes of his past, particularly the way Laura wielded her sword with grace and precision.

He remembered her fluid movements, each slash perfectly timed, that dance between strength and elegance. Kael's heart raced as he recalled her technique.

Opening his eyes, Kael felt a surge of energy within him. The echoes of Laura's sword style resonated in his mind, guiding his movements as he prepared to face Daroii. With a deep breath, he drew his sword, the blade glinting in the light, ready to unleash that technique.