Chapter Eight
Kisame materialized in an arena.
The ground was covered in fine, pale sand, disturbed only by the footprints of previous trainees. Scattered at a distance were a few humanoid dummies, their purpose obvious: practice targets. Towering walls of dark grey bricks formed a perfect circle around him, enclosing the arena completely.
Two figures were training on the far side, their movements controlled but purposeful. Ali was nowhere in sight.
A twinge of worry clawed at Kisame, but he forced it down. He knew his cousin better than anyone. If Ali had taken on his quest, he had probably completed it swiftly and efficiently.
Kisame focused on his system. The interface shimmered before his eyes, listing countless skills. Yet, he could only learn a limited number at a time—six or seven—based on his current attributes.
He scrolled carefully, selecting his first skill:
Flash Step
Level: 01
Strength: 04
Speed: 09
Endurance: 00
Agility: 09
Perception: 00
Intelligence: 00
Willpower: 00
Stamina: 08
Mana Cost: 02
He clicked to learn.
Nothing happened.
His pulse quickened. Every second wasted increased the pressure in his chest. Training time was limited, and he could not afford delays. He waited, eyes fixed on the screen, but still—nothing.
Finally, frustration overtook caution. He took a deep breath and sprinted, visualizing himself moving several meters in an instant. A rush of wind surrounded him, and for a heartbeat, the world blurred. He nearly collided with one of the arena walls, stopping only a few centimeters away from disaster.
The system updated immediately:
Mana: 08 → 06
Kisame exhaled. It had cost exactly 2 mana. Relief and a surge of excitement ran through him.
He spent the next hour repeating the maneuver. Each attempt refined his control: distance, speed, and timing. Whenever his mana ran out, he paused, waiting—one minute per point of mana, exactly as the system indicated. Gradually, he mastered Flash Step, learning to move precisely and safely without risk of collision.
His second choice was simpler:
Double Jump
Level: 01
Strength: 06
Speed: 04
Endurance: 00
Agility: 05
Perception: 00
Intelligence: 00
Willpower: 00
Stamina: 06
Mana Cost: 01
Jumping higher and farther came naturally. The skill required less effort and no mental strain. In minutes, he had mastered it, bounding across the arena with effortless fluidity.
The last skill was different—dangerous and demanding:
Hunter's Awareness
Level: 02
Strength: 08
Speed: 00
Endurance: 04
Agility: 01
Perception: 14
Intelligence: 09
Willpower: 12
Stamina: 05
Mana Cost: 0
He activated the skill. Immediately, his vision shifted. The world expanded and condensed at once. He could see the wind patterns, the exact movements of the two distant trainees, and even the subtle shifts of sand under their feet. Every detail, every sound, every micro-movement crashed into his mind simultaneously.
Then something new happened. His eyes changed, brown slowly turning to red. A faint red aura radiated outward from his eyes, pulsating with his heartbeat, bathing the area around him in a subtle crimson glow. The arena seemed alive, responding to the intensity of his perception.
He froze. His breath caught. The information overflowed, his thoughts scattering like leaves in a storm. His face flushed red. He forgot to breathe. He forgot how to stop the skill. Panic surged, but he forced himself to focus, clinging to control.
After what felt like an eternity, he shut it off, collapsing to the sand, trembling. His eyes slowly returned to brown, the red aura fading like mist.
It was terrifying. Yet… it was powerful. Essential. He knew that mastering Hunter's Awareness, and controlling this red aura, would be crucial for the second trial.
For hours, he trained, failing repeatedly. Each failure left him exhausted, mentally and physically. But Kisame refused to surrender. With every attempt, he refined his focus, until finally—he controlled it. He could activate it, observe everything, and disengage at will.
He lay in the sand, chest heaving, body aching, completely spent. Hunger gnawed at him, though the sun hadn't risen high yet. The intensity of the training, combined with the adrenaline, had drained him faster than he realized.
At last, the system rewarded him: experience points, gold coins, and mastery of his three skills.
He tapped the teleport function and returned to the school.
The familiar schoolyard came into view—but something was… off.
"Huh?" Kisame muttered, blinking in surprise.