Master

Back in the temple

The elderly man was standing atop a wall, looking into the distance, behind him was a mid-forty-year-old man. His hair was gray in some spots, but his face was still very smooth.

-Master… Please, it's too cold now, you have been waiting in the same spot for two days, even if you want to see something, wait inside where it's hotter. He said

-... I might be old, but such cold isn't enough to affect me anymore. Now stop wasting energy bickering, and start to prepare.

-Prepare for what master?

-For the coming of the greatest…

He suddenly squinted his eyes. On the horizon, a small black spot was approaching.

-He's here.

His disciple looked at the distance, trying to identify it.

The old master suddenly jumped from the wall, a drop of over 10 meters.

His feet made contact with the cold snow, but not even a footprint was made. A golden wave spread around the area…

He waited in that place, waiting for the greatest and last disciple he is ever going to train.

…

Back to the kid

Finally, after walking for several days, I arrived. It's more majestic than I thought, considering that this place never appeared in the original.

I can't really see anyone from this location. My breathing is going very well but the results are subpar. Is my body not talented in this? No matter, with time my body will get used to it.

I suddenly remembered Lylia message

{... This was all for the boring stuff. You are currently 34 Km away from the temple. Head towards the North and you will find it. It's currently November 1 1927 eleven years before the start of the series, so make good use of this information. Your body is currently in the process of adaptation, so it might take some months, or even years until you can use your clones. As for your identity, I gave you a letter, just show it to the people in the temple. It's in your backpack. You are currently an orphan that one day received this letter and came here for help. Good luck!}

This was its contents. The first part talked about how to use both of the items she gave me, and also some rules and implications of her current promotion and of me being alone. nothing that I need to care for now.

While I approached the white walls of the temple, I saw something fall from the walls.

I squinted my eyes but I couldn't see what was happening. So I approached with caution.

After some time I could finally see what, or should I say who, fell from the walls.

An old man with an orange monk attire. He looked really old, at least 90+, he had dark skin, but if one looked well enough, they would be able to see what were once trained muscles in his arms.

This man didn't even tremble in the cold.

He just smiled at me and waved for me to get closer.

Once I got closer I just picked my letter and gave it to the man. He seemed surprised, but he accepted it regardless.

After reading the letter the old man showed a slightly angry face.

-How could they make a child do all of this alone? He mumbled in very proficient English.

(Why is this Tibetan monk speaking in English?)

-Welcome child, you must be confused. Please come inside first, I will explain everything on the way.

…

We started to walk towards the big doors in the wall.

-Say child. What do you know about your… Gift?

-Gift?

-Did you ever notice a slight golden glow when doing some things? Like playing in the snow or water?

I shook my head.

-No matter then. You will come to understand what this is. I don't really know much about your parents, child, but be sure that we will treat you just like any other family.

...He placed his hand on the big wooden door.

-Oh yes! How could I forget? My name is Tonpetty. Although the letter said your name, I would like to know from you.

-... My name is John, I don't have a second name.

-Nice to meet you little John.

Passing through the doors, I saw a couple of disciples training and fighting in some small arenas.

They were practicing their breathing while doing a series of activities. From carrying sandbags around the place to standing in very thin poles. This was clearly a very traditional martial arts organization.

From behind us a middle-aged man jumped from atop the walls. When his feet reached the ground, a small golden wave appeared in the contact point between his body and the ground. It was almost invisible to the naked eye, but I could see it with my enhanced vision.

He had a stern look on his face.

-So this was what you were waiting for master? You should have said earlier, else I would have asked for dinner to be made early…

-Nice to meet you little one. I am currently the head of this temple. You can call me Master Straizo.

-...I am John, master…

-Straizo. Don't scare the kid. Can you have someone prepare him some food?

-Aren't you going to eat something, master?

-Not now, it has been a very long time since I ate normal food. Have someone prepare a room close to this one.

-Master, could it be?...

-Not now Straizo.

We ate some very basic rice with some cheese… It was horrible. I will need to show them how to properly cook. But this place is really falling apart in some ways. Weren't they supposed to receive help?

-...Satisfied now, child?

-It's better than the orphanage. I said with a smile, obviously faking it.

-Haha! Now, come with me.

The old man led me to a separate section of the temple. Away from all of the noise made from the training disciples.

-From now on, this place will be your home. I will live over there. He pointed towards a house carved from the mountain rock.

-Humm. I see your breathing is stable, very stable in fact, so we can jump this…

-What I will show you is an ancient technique, passed down from master to disciple for over 2 thousand years.

He breathed in and out, faint smoke started to permeate his skin. He put his right feet ahead of his left one. And with a "humph!" he punched forward.

Golden ripples started to form in the air, before spreading into the surroundings, clearing all of the snow in a 5 meter area around him.

-...Fuhhh. This, child, is Hamon. From now on you will learn this ancient art every day from now on until you become a master in it. I, Tonpetty, will be your master!

(It should be obvious now...)

-I taught many generations of masters, including the current head, so don't think I am unqualified.

-Never!

-Ha! Good. Let's start with the basics, how to breathe and what effects does breathing correctly brings into the body…

The training proceeded smoothly. In the first month, I mastered all of the basics he imparted to me easily. From the forms to the less practical like history and mathematics. A Hamon master needs to understand some basic physics in order to properly apply and create his techniques, although some can "feel" the wave, being able to apply it easily without this heavy knowledge. This includes me, but I still studied everything he threw at me.

The biggest reason why I didn't become a master in a very short time was due to the fact I was not a descendent from a Hamon user. After all, Joseph Joestar became a master in a month. So I had to persevere constantly in order to show progress, and my body was constantly adapting to this foreign form of energy, making it easier and easier to use and produce. But my enhanced physique was already showing its effects.

My improved musculature allows me to have more blood and a stronger blood flow. It also allows me to breathe in more air into my lungs. These are only some of the many effects. Just with these, I could already become the strongest Hamon master in history, even without taking into account my mental capacities.

After 4 months of training, I was already known as this generation's greatest genius. I easily mastered everything they told me, to the point that even master Tonpetty got embarrassed. If it wasn't for the fact I was a small child I might've received the title for master.

They praised me for my creativity, principally in relation to the many recipes I made. This helped diversify the very bland diet of everyone here.

Master said that after my sixth month, he will look for another monastery to send me to train, since, by that time, I would have mastered almost everything.

But five months into the training, we received an unexpected visitor…

... To be continued.