location - Korin Tower
I woke up with a violent jolt.
Pain exploded through my body.
"Huff—!"
I tried to inhale deeply—
—and instantly regretted it.
The air felt thick, stuck inside my lungs. My entire body trembled violently, muscles twitching as if they were burning themselves alive from the inside. It felt like I was vibrating apart.
I forced my blurry vision to focus.
Three wooden barrels sat nearby, sealed with lids.
Water.
I didn't think.
I launched forward—no, crawled—dragging my shaking body across the cold stone floor. My hands trembled so badly I nearly fumbled the lid, but I tore it off and plunged my head straight into the barrel.
Cold.
The shock of it washed over me.
My arched, spasming muscles slowly began to relax as the cool water ran across my overheated skin. I gulped down mouthful after mouthful, water spilling down my chin, steadying myself enough to breathe without choking.
After a few moments, I forced myself upright.
Slowly.
I looked around and Spotted.
Stone stairs led upward to a hallway supported by evenly spaced pillars. I climbed them, each step heavy for the state my body was in .
At the center of the hall stood—
A white-furred cat.
Standing on two feet.
Holding a wooden staff.
I blinked.
"…What?"
The cat calmly watched me with half-lidded eyes.
What's a cat doing up here?
Where's the hermit master?
This can't be fake… right?
Then—
The cat spoke.
"Congratulations on reaching the top. And so quickly, too." His tail swayed lazily. "I've had quite a few visitors these past few years, but you… you're persistent. Nearly died before even reaching the summit. For a moment there, I thought you were actually dead."
"Huh?"
That was all that came out before irritation flared.
"Who are you calling dead, you dumb cat standing on two feet?!"
The cat's ears twitched.
"Oh, be quiet. You're rather loud."
I gritted my teeth.
"Where's the hermit master of Korin Tower? I came here to meet him."
The cat blinked slowly.
"You're looking at him."
He tapped his staff lightly against the floor.
"Though judging by that expression, you were expecting… something else."
"But—how is that possible?!"
He chuckled.
"Ho ho ho… perhaps you may call me the Hermit Meowster."
I rubbed my face, dizziness still lingering.
"…Right."
I steadied myself.
"If you really are the hermit master… can you train me. Teach me about ki."
That made him pause.
"Hm."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Most who climb this tower come seeking the Holy Water, believing it will multiply their strength. And yet… You climbed all this way hoping I would teach you about ki?"
I nodded.
He stared at me a moment longer.
"Then I refuse."
"…What?"
"If it's about earlier, I apologize," I snapped. "But that's not fair. I climbed this tower. At least teach me something!"
He continued rubbing his chin, then slowly nodded.
"Hm. That's true now, what to do, what to do, hm, here a idea."
He pointed his staff toward a flask resting atop a stone podium nearby.
"That flask contains the Holy Water. If you drink it… I will teach you about ki."
I looked at it.
"That did sound easy, drinking just the water from the flask."
I stepped forward—
—and something slammed into my face.
I hit the ground hard.
I pushed myself up and saw the cat standing there, staff resting casually in his paw.
Silence.
We stared at each other.
"Oh," he said lazily. "I forgot to mention the rule."
He twirled the staff once.
"You must drink it… while I prevent you from doing so."
My muscles twitched involuntarily.
He half-lidded his eyes.
"But looking at you, you're in no condition to even stand properly."
He sighed.
"Wait here."
He turned and walked off slowly, disappearing behind one of the pillars. A few minutes later, he returned and tossed something small at me.
I barely caught it.
I opened my palm.
A familiar green bean.
My eyes widened.
Korin smiled faintly.
"So Tien already gave you one before. Call me surprised, they sure are generous."
My gaze snapped up.
"How do you know about that?"
He lazily rubbed his belly.
"If I couldn't read the mind of a simpleton like you, I wouldn't be much of a hermit master, would I?"
My jaw tightened.
"Eat the senzu bean," he said. "Then we begin."
I popped it into my mouth.
Crunch.
The effect was immediate.
Warmth surged through my body. Every torn fiber, every aching muscle, every trace of exhaustion vanished. In less than a minute, I was in perfect condition—as if the climb had never happened.
I rolled my shoulders.
Stretched.
Took a stance.
Then I exploded forward toward the flask—
WHACK.
The wooden staff smashed into my face again.
I staggered back but planted my palm against the stone floor, using it to pivot into a sharp rising kick toward Korin—
—but he hopped backward effortlessly, staying just outside my range.
I pressed forward, launching a barrage of jabs and kicks.
He dodged.
Sidestepped.
Hopped.
Each time, just one step beyond my reach.
One step.
That meant I still had a chance.
Red markings began spreading across my face.
Flowing Reverse Scales.
My physical output surged beyond its limits. I launched forward again—
—but with a light "whoops," Korin leapt clean over my head.
I froze mid-motion.
His speed had increased.
I spun around and chased him across the hall, but I couldn't close the distance. No matter how I lunged, he remained effortlessly ahead.
Thirty minutes passed.
My breathing grew heavy.
The red markings faded.
Sweat dripped from my chin.
Korin stopped moving.
He opened one eye halfway.
"What's wrong? Already done?"
I clenched my fists.
He continued calmly.
"Your fighting instinct is poor. Your endurance is poor."
My jaw tightened.
"You know I can read your mind. And yet you charge in blindly."
He tapped the flask lightly.
"Your goal isn't to defeat me. It's to steal this."
Silence pressed between us.
"You put too much unnecessary movement into your attacks. Every wasted motion drains your stamina. You fight like someone trying to win quickly, but looking at the fading marking, you can't use it for too long."
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"The first lesson that the tower teaches is not about speed, how fast you can climb it ."
He lifted the flask.
"It is about patience."
He smirked faintly.
"Now… try again."
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to be continued
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