10 Chapter 9: First day of training

As I made my way to Erhai Lake, the journey was shorter than I expected, barely a ten-minute walk. Along the way, I encountered familiar faces from K'unlun. Pema, the chef, greeted me with a jovial wave; Tashi, the blacksmith, offered a nod of recognition; and even the gardening lady, whom I had never spoken to, gave me a warm smile.

Their greetings felt tinged with relief, likely due to the concern over my recent absence.

Pushing these thoughts aside, I focused on the task ahead. As I approached Erhai Lake, I spotted Lei Kung. He waved to beckon me over, but my attention was drawn to another figure beside him – a kid about my age.

He had tanned skin, a buzz cut, and brown eyes that seemed to burn with a rigid, intense energy. His posture was stiff, exuding a sense of controlled discipline, but it was the undercurrent of repressed anger that really caught my attention.

Strangely enough, I could almost smell his anger. It was a sharp, almost spicy scent that hung in the air around him. This realization was perplexing – since when could I smell emotions? I quickly glanced at Lei Kung, trying to sense any similar olfactory cues, but he had no distinct smell, akin to the neutrality of water.

Gelong-ma Dolma and everyone else I had interacted with were the same – their presence didn't carry any discernible aroma.

The realization that I could smell the anger of the boy before me was both startling and intriguing. It was a new sensation, something I hadn't experienced before.

Was this a result of those sequences and the Chi-surge I had undergone, or something else entirely? My curiosity piqued, I decided to focus on the present situation.

This boy… It was most definitely Davos AKA the Steel Serpent AKA The Iron Fist's archvillain AKA MY future archvillain.

Welp, time to see how much I can change.

Walking up to Lei Kung and Davos, I prepared myself for what was to come and slowly walked towards them. Lei Kung's presence at Erhai Lake, coupled with the introduction of Davos, suggested that my training today wouldn't be ordinary. 

As I approached Lei Kung and the boy, I offered a respectful greeting. "Hi, Lei Kung," I said, to which he responded with a nod of acknowledgment.

Lei Kung then turned to introduce the boy beside him. "Daniel, this is Davos," he said. Davos scrutinized me with a critical eye, his gaze traveling from my head to my feet before he remarked, "You're a child."

I couldn't resist a playful retort. "It's like looking in a mirror," I quipped back, a hint of a smile playing on my lips. Davos seemed taken aback by my response, not expecting a light-hearted reply. He turned to Lei Kung, a hint of disapproval in his tone. "He lacks discipline and manners as well."

Lei Kung let out an exasperated sigh. "You're the same age, Davos," he pointed out. Seizing the opportunity to keep the banter going, I added, "And you seem to lack a sense of humor."

Davos appeared momentarily thrown off by the casual nature of the exchange. It was clear he wasn't used to this kind of interaction. Lei Kung, sensing the need to steer the conversation back to the matter at hand, intervened. "Davos, this is Daniel. You both will be training together."

He then turned his gaze to me. "And Daniel, this is Davos, my son and your training partner."

I put my hand forward to introduce myself. "Nice to meet you, I'm Daniel."

Davos looked at me, and then at my outstretched hand.

He grabbed and shook it firmly.

"Davos." He replied, curtly.

Lei Kung clapped his hands. "Wonderful, now set your bag down Daniel and both of you go stand near the lake."

I complied, I put my bag down and started walking along with Davos next to the glistening lake.

We looked at him waiting for instruction.

Lei Kung immediately snapped in and his tone became stern, "Both of you are to run 60 laps around the lake in under 90 minutes. Anyone who doesn't finish under that time will do 100 pushups counted out by me."

He looked at us both as if waiting for objections, when he saw none; he nodded.

"Start now."

Me and Davos immediately took off running. 

Erhai lake was basically an ear-shaped lake. It wasn't considered too big; a single lap was roughly three hundred meters or so. 

To normal people, running fifty laps around the lake in the given time limit was definitely not a simple task. However, as long as we ran our best, we would definitely be able to finish the laps under 90 minutes.

Let's see. 300 meters x 60 laps = 18,000 meters

Uhhhh, Yea that's around 11 miles. 

Yup, that would definitely not be possible in my past life by a child.

As we started our run around the shimmering Erhai Lake, I paced myself next to Davos. The rhythm of our feet hitting the ground was almost synchronous, and a silent understanding passed between us to conserve energy for the long run ahead..

As we continued our laps around Erhai Lake, maintaining a steady pace, Davos cast a sidelong glance at me and asked, "Why is my dad training you?"

I shrugged as we ran, "No idea, actually."

Davos seemed to ponder over this for a moment. "You have no idea how lucky you are," he said earnestly. "My dad is the greatest warrior of K'unlun. Being trained by him is your greatest honor."

I couldn't help but respond with a bit of humor. "I thought the greatest honor was getting the last dumpling at dinner," I quipped, trying to keep the mood light.

He looked at me, slightly bemused by the joke, before I continued in a more serious tone. "But you're right. I do understand how important this is. I'm really grateful for the opportunity to learn from Lei Kung."

Davos seemed surprised by my sincere response, then he nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he's the best."

As we ran side by side, I realized that beneath Davos's rigid exterior was just another kid who couldn't help but admire and respect his dad.

How cute.

As we continued our laps around Erhai Lake, I couldn't help but notice the sheen of sweat beginning to form on Davos's skin. We were on our 34th lap, and although he was visibly starting to tire, his competitive nature kept him pushing to match my pace. 

I maintained a fast jog, operating at about 70 percent of my speed. Surprisingly, this level of physical exertion felt comfortable, almost easy, which was a stark contrast to my capabilities just a day before.

Glancing at Davos, I realized that in normal circumstances, I wouldn't be able to keep up with him. He had presumably been training under Lei Kung for at least a month, if not longer. My newfound endurance and speed were undoubtedly a result of the strange sequences that had affected me.

As I ran, my mind raced through the possibilities. Which specific sequence was responsible for this enhancement? The 'Zygote' seemed like a likely candidate, considering it sounded like it pertained to physical changes and adaptations.

'Specter', on the other hand, sounded more mental, perhaps linked to my ability to manipulate souls or something along those lines. It was probably where this smelling emotions ability comes from.

A part of me wished for a simpler explanation from the entity that granted me these abilities. Why did there have to be sequences and gradual activation? 

Why couldn't the powers just be straightforward? But then, things were rarely simple in the world I was in. Honestly, though if I ever become something like the entity and I have to reincarnate someone with the same parameters, I'm not doing any cryptic BS like this. 

I sighed in annoyance, pushing these thoughts to the back of my mind. I focused on the run, this training was more than physical; it was a test of will, endurance, and the ability to push beyond perceived limits by Lei Kung.

I knew my performance in this definitely mattered.

As the laps continued, the gap between Davos and me started to widen. By our 40th lap, he was lagging a few meters behind. I could sense Lei Kung's watchful eyes on us, his gaze analytical, assessing our endurance and spirit. 

But there was something else in the air, a heavy, musty scent that reminded me of the earthy smell of mold. It was the smell of shame, and I glanced back it was unmistakably emanating from Davos.

I understood his feelings. The shame of lagging behind, especially in front of his father, was weighing heavily on him. I decided to take action, but I had to be subtle about it. Lei Kung's perception was sharp, any obvious attempt to ease Davos's burden would be immediately noticed and I would be caught

As we passed Lei Kung for our 42nd lap, I implemented my plan as our backs faced him. I started breathing more heavily, making it audible enough to be noticed only by Davos. Instead of the efficient, light landing on the balls of my feet, I began to heel stomp, intentionally making my running less efficient and slowing down my pace slightly.

He definitely noticed as I felt the footsteps behind me quicken, and the musty scent started to fade. It was instead replaced by the sharp scent of pine trees or like the strong musk of coffee. 

This smelling power was weird, but it was more about the feeling conveyed after smelling the smell rather than the smell itself. Like, this smell was sharp, it's made to be noticed, to wake you up.

This was determination at its finest.

I tried to keep the smirk off my face.

Halfway through the lap, I further reduced my pace, bringing myself to just a few feet ahead of Davos. This subtle change in my running technique and speed allowed Davos to catch up without making it too obvious that I was easing his path.

As Davos caught up to me, . "Tired already, Daniel? Don't tell me you've gassed yourself out," he teased, a competitive glint in his eyes.

I returned his smirk with a grin of my own, happy that he was warming up to me. Sweat dripped down my face – not entirely from exhaustion, but the warm spring weather and the vigorous exercise certainly contributed. "You wish," I retorted, keeping my tone light but competitive. "Just warming up to leave you in the dust on the final lap."

Our banter continued as we ran, each of us throwing quips back and forth, our competitive spirits fueling the friendly rivalry. "Hope you're ready to eat my dust, Davos," I jested, pushing myself a bit harder.

Davos responded as a chuckle escaped him while he was breathing heavily, "Dream on.. Ha.. ha….Daniel. I've been doing this way longer than you."

Our form started to falter as exhaustion began to set in; we stumbled a few times, nearly collapsing but always managing to catch ourselves at the last moment. The laps wore on, but our spirits remained high, fueled by the playful back-and-forth.

"Yeah, well, experience isn't everything!" I called out as I narrowly avoided tripping over my own feet.

"Maybe not, but it sure helps!" Davos shot back, almost tripping himself but regaining his balance with a grunt.

There was a sense of mutual respect and camaraderie developing between us. We were both striving to meet the challenge set by Lei Kung, and in doing so, we were pushing each other to be better. 

The strain of the run was beginning to take its toll. My unorthodox and inefficient running method, combined with my deliberate efforts to appear more fatigued than I was, had gradually sapped my strength.

 The sequences had undoubtedly enhanced my endurance and fitness, but even they couldn't negate the sheer physical demand of running 60 laps around Erhai Lake.

By lap 56, I was genuinely exhausted, reaching the level of fatigue Davos had shown at lap 42. Davos himself was on the verge of collapse, his face etched with determination and exhaustion. Yet, he kept pushing forward, and his perseverance spurred me on. 

My lungs burned with each breath, my calves were on the brink of cramping, and every muscle in my body screamed for rest.

I remembered my life as Ethan, I had endured worse. Hell, I was the guy that wore his nose on the side of his face and got back up for a fight. But this body was new to such extreme exhaustion. It had never been pushed to these limits, never experienced the deep burn of lactic acid coursing through its muscles.

In contrast, Davos, while not as physically gifted as I was at this moment, had a body that was conditioned for endurance. His training under Lei Kung had prepared him for this sort of challenge.

My mind was solid, but my body was failing me. How annoying.

Pushing through the pain, the exhaustion, and the burning desire to stop, I kept my pace steady, drawing on reserves of strength I knew I had. ]

As we approached the final stretch, Davos and I were neck and neck, both of us summoning every last ounce of energy for a final sprint. Our pace, though a mad dash for us, was considerably slower than our usual speed, but it was the best we could muster in our exhausted state. The end of the last lap loomed ahead, a beacon urging us to push beyond our limits.

We didn't need to glance sideways to know the other was right there; we could feel each other's presence, both of us unwilling to yield. Our focus was unwavering, fixed on the path ahead. Every labored breath, every pounding heartbeat was synchronized in our shared determination to finish first.

"Come on, Daniel!" I heard myself panting, the words barely escaping between breaths. "Almost there!"

Davos grunted in response, a non-verbal agreement to our unspoken challenge. His footsteps thundered alongside mine, a testament to his resolve.

With the finish line in sight, our sprint became a testament to sheer willpower. Our muscles screamed in protest, but we ignored the pain, driven by a mix of competitive spirit and mutual respect.

"You're not... beating me... today!" Davos managed to gasp out, his voice strained but laced with determination.

I let out a half-chuckle, half-groan, too winded for a witty retort. "We'll... see... about that..."

As we crossed the finish line, it was unclear who had edged out whom. We both collapsed onto the ground, chests heaving and bodies drenched in sweat. Our vision blurred, and for a moment, the world around us faded into insignificance.

Lying there on the ground, gasping for air, the feeling of mutual accomplishment was palpable. We had both given everything, it was a moment of pure exertion, a testament to our potential and the strength of our determination.

Lei Kung's authoritative voice cut through our exhaustion, acknowledging our effort. "Impressive, both of you. Eleven miles in 75 minutes flat is something to be proud of."

His words barely registered as my ears were still ringing with the sound of my own heartbeat. It was so loud, like a drum echoing in my head, drowning out everything else.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lei Kung tossing water bottles towards us. Instinctively, Davos and I reached out, our hands grasping the bottles from the grass. We were both desperate for hydration after the grueling run. I uncapped mine and started gulping down the water, the cool liquid a relief against my parched throat.

After a few moments, I let the empty bottle fall from my grasp onto the grass, noticing Davos doing the same.

"Don't lay down immediately; your hamstrings will cramp," Lei Kung advised as he approached us.

Before we could protest, he was already pulling us to our feet. Our bodies protested weakly, muscles aching from the exertion.

"Stand up, but put your hands on your knees," he instructed, guiding us into the position. "It will allow you and your knees to rest. Remember to breathe in from your nose and out from your mouth."

I followed his instructions, taking deep breaths in through my nose and out through my mouth. The rhythmic breathing helped steady my racing heart.

"After your heartbeat has settled, only breathe in and out from your nose. This will allow for better oxygen efficiency," Lei Kung continued. "The reason to use your mouth while exhaling is to release the excess CO2 in your bodies during or after intense exercise, like right now."

Of course, I knew all of this. But I learned this from various coaches monitoring my heart rate using various equipment to measure my VO2 max during intense conditioning to build the best workout program for me during my fighting days. 

For Lei Kung to know this was surprising, especially without any real advanced scientific equipment present in K'unlun.

He gave us a moment, watching as we steadied our breathing. "You have five minutes of rest. Afterward, shake it out and straighten your backs for the rest of today's regimen."

I nodded, too winded to speak. The rest period was brief but vital. As I stood there, hands on my knees, breathing deeply, I felt a slow recovery of my strength. The discipline of controlling my breathing was a lesson I engraved in myself– understanding and harnessing the body's responses to physical demands was crucial in physically demanding situations.

As the five minutes passed, I straightened up, shaking out my limbs to loosen the muscles. I glanced at Davos, who was doing the same, a silent acknowledgment passing between us.

"Get into the horse stance," Lei Kung commanded us both, his voice still stern.

He then explained the how-to. "Do a jumping jack, but when you open your legs, keep them at your full range of motion and then stop. Then, sit down in an air wall sit position and extend your arms out in front of you."

I followed his instructions, getting into the wide stance and feeling the immediate burn in my legs, a reminder of the laps we had just completed. The horse stance was challenging enough, but the addition of the jumping jack and wall sit intensified the exercise exponentially.

As I lowered myself into the wall sit, maintaining a 90-degree angle at my knees, my legs trembled from the strain. Lei Kung, meanwhile, circled around us with a wooden staff in hand. Where he had acquired it was a mystery to me.

Without warning, he struck Davos on the side with the staff. The sound was sharp and clear, a "Pah" that echoed slightly. I glanced at Davos, seeing the surprise and sting on his face from the impact. "Sit lower," Lei Kung instructed him.

Biting my lip to focus through the pain, I willed my legs to hold the position. But as fatigue set in and my legs began to dip below the 90-degree angle, Lei Kung's staff found its way to my ribs with a swift thwack. The sudden sting forced a grunt from me, but I quickly adjusted, pushing myself back into the correct position.

As we continued the exercise, sweat dripped down my forehead, each second feeling like an eternity. I closed my eyes and tried to drown out everything, to focus on something else, anything else.

It would let time pass by quicker.

Damn, this body is unconditioned.

Just as I was reaching my limit, a surprising change occurred. A cool sensation began to circulate through my body, subtly at first, but growing steadily stronger. It was as if a refreshing wave had washed over me, reinvigorating my tired muscles.

 My legs, which had been trembling with the effort of maintaining the stance, felt a renewed surge of strength. My core steadied, and most importantly, the burning pain that had been consuming my muscles began to fade.

My posture visibility improved as if I got injected with a second wind.

It wasn't a huge increase at all, dare I say it felt minimal.

My legs got the tiniest bit stronger and my core got the tiniest bit more stable.

However, it was an increase that I could feel immediately and as long as these added up over time… it would be very helpful.

This was the work of the 'Sequence 9: Zygote'. 

Hmmm… Sequences… where have I heard that before…

Suddenly, the name triggered a memory from a novel I had read, 'The Lord of Mysteries'. The connection was uncanny.

Goddamn it… I don't want to deal with eldritch madness.

Hold up... both 'Zygote' and 'Specter' don't match any of the 220 Sequences that I know from the novel, and they definitely don't match with the Sequence 9s from the novel.

Apolyto… If you're listening. Please tell me that you only modeled the abilities after Lotm and not actually made them have the same lore and backstory…

I sighed and looked at the sky. This was genuinely getting on my nerves now.

As I contemplated this, I kept my position, feeling a newfound ease in maintaining the stance. Lei Kung continued his inspection, his staff occasionally lashing out to correct our posture, but I was able to respond more quickly now, the rejuvenating effect of the sequence helping me to adapt.

Lei Kung eventually stepped back, observing us with a scrutinizing gaze. "Good," he finally said, a note of approval in his voice. "You're learning to endure and adapt. Remember, the path of a warrior monk is not just physical strength, but mental resilience."

I opened my eyes, taking in his words. The cool sensation continued to flow through me, a subtle but constant reminder of the changes occurring within my body. The training session had taken on a new meaning – it was not just about enduring the physical challenge, it was making sure that the cold sensation circulated as long as possible. 

As Lei Kung called an end to the exercise, Davos and I straightened up, only for us both to fall on our asses.

Lei Kung looked at us and spoke firmly, "From now on, both of you are to call me Shifu. If I am to tell you to give me 30 pushups, you are to do so with a smile and an acknowledgement of 'YES Shifu', lest you wish to do 60 pushups.

We simultaneously yelled, "YES Shifu!"

Our voices echoing throughout the lake, with Shifu nodding in satisfaction.

He kept on staring at us and me and Davos were realizing why.

We hurriedly went up, our knees shaking as we did.

"Get in a plank position, but with your knuckles. When I say 'down' you are to go down and stay down until I say 'up' and then you are to resume plank position.", Shifu said.

 We yelled "YES shifu!" again before going back on the ground with both of us silencing out grumbling about having to get up from the floor just to go down to it again. The grass was really warm, but I could feel the small rocks mixed with the hard dirt pushing against my knuckles and- 

I was interrupted by a "DOWN"

I immediately went down, I could feel the grass tickling my neck and it felt nice but kind of annoying. I glanced to my left and Davos's face was just flat out in the grass with a huge neck vein popping out and some space from his torso to the grass showcasing that he wasn't just laying down.

*SMACK

A wooden staff hit my ass with PAH. I grumbled. I couldn't believe this.

"Lower your butt Daniel, it wasn't outrageously high but I expect nothing but perfection from a simple plank."

I grunted.

*THA 

I didn't even need to glance that Davos was hit on his ribs again.

"Get your face out of the grass and breathe Davos. That poor neck vein is going to burst from the lack of oxygen."

Davos explosively jumped in the knuckle position getting a few inches off the ground to change his positioning to get his face off of the spot with higher grass.

He was now opposite from me.

I adjusted my position to lower my body, ensuring my form was as close to perfection as Lei Kung demanded. If he wants perfection, I will show him perfection.

"UP!" Lei Kung's command came sharply, and I pushed myself back into the knuckle plank position. My arms trembled slightly under the strain, but I focused on maintaining a steady breath and a solid form.

Davos, now positioned opposite me, had a look of intense concentration on his face. His body was taut, every muscle straining to comply with Lei Kung's exacting standards. It was clear that he was pushing himself to his limits.

The sun beat down on us, the warmth of the grass a stark contrast to the hardness of the rocks and dirt beneath. The training was grueling, but the slight cooling sensation surfacing in my body again made it much more bearable.

"DOWN!" Lei Kung commanded again.

We both lowered our bodies in unison, holding the position just above the grass. The tension in our muscles was palpable, but we both knew better than to let our forms falter.

Lei Kung circled us, his eyes keenly observing every slight movement, every minor imperfection in our posture. The intensity of his gaze was almost tangible, a silent pressure that pushed us to excel.

"UP!"

Again, we rose to the plank position. Sweat dripped down my forehead, my breathing controlled. Beside me, Davos mirrored my actions, his determination evident in his strained expression.

I relaxed my facial muscles, I was as cool as a cucumber compared to Davos.

Lei Kung continued to issue commands, his voice unwavering, pushing us to the edge of our endurance. With each command, we responded, our bodies moving in a rhythm dictated by his voice.

As the exercise continued, I found a certain clarity in the repetition. This was more than a test of strength; it was a lesson in discipline, in pushing beyond what we thought possible, in mastering not just our bodies but our minds.

I missed this feeling, ever since I had retired from fighting and by default any real intense exercise in my late 30's, this was my first time training like this.

In fact, I daresay I haven't trained like this in nearly 42 years.

When Lei Kung finally called an end to the exercise, we both collapsed to the ground.

Lei Kung looked down at us, a slight nod of approval on his face. "Adequate." he said simply, but in his voice, there was a hint of pride. 

"Tomorrow we will start the real training", Shifu said after we caught our bearings.

"This was more of a test for me to assess your physical fitness, Daniel," he explained. "I was already aware of Davos's capabilities, but he surprised me today. Bringing you here was a good decision, it seems."

The smell of nectar instantly made my body sag. I looked over, Davos had his head down. But his happiness could literally be felt.

He then shifted his focus to recovery. "Now, let me show you both some stretches to minimize soreness for tomorrow," he said.

Lei Kung proceeded to demonstrate a series of stretches, each designed to target specific muscle groups. Despite their simplicity, these stretches were highly effective, some reminiscent of yoga poses, allowing for a deep and relieving stretch.

The first stretch was a classic hamstring stretch. Lei Kung instructed us to extend one leg forward and lean into it, keeping our back straight. The stretch sent a soothing sensation through my hamstrings, which were tight from the running and planking.

Next, he showed us a quad stretch, where we stood on one leg and pulled the other foot towards our buttocks. This stretch was a relief to the quads that had been heavily engaged during the wall sits.

For the calves, Lei Kung demonstrated a stretch where we extended one leg behind us, pressing the heel to the ground and leaning forward. The stretch was simple yet effective, releasing some of the tension built up from the continuous laps around the lake.

We then moved to stretches for the upper body. Lei Kung guided us through a series of arm and chest stretches, including the classic arm-across-chest stretch and a yoga-like pose that involved interlacing our fingers behind our back and straightening the arms, which opened up the chest and shoulders beautifully.

Each stretch was held for about 30 seconds, with Lei Kung emphasizing the importance of breathing deeply and steadily into each pose. He moved between us, making minor adjustments to our posture, ensuring we were stretching correctly to maximize the benefit and minimize the risk of injury.

As we moved through the series of stretches, I could feel the tension in my muscles gradually easing. The combination of the physical exertion and the stretching was therapeutic, not just for the body, but for the mind as well.

It was a grounding experience, a reminder of the importance of balance in our training – the balance between pushing our limits and taking the time to recover and care for our bodies.

By the end of the stretching session, I felt a sense of rejuvenation. Despite the fatigue, there was a newfound lightness in my limbs.

As Shifu Lei Kung gave us the signal that we were free to go, I approached Davos with a sense of newfound camaraderie. Extending my hand, I said, "It was nice meeting you, Davos." His response, though still somewhat curt, carried a trace more warmth than our initial introduction.

 It seemed that the rigorous exercise had indeed begun to forge a bond between us, however nascent it might be.

Turning to bid farewell to Shifu Lei Kung, I was oblivious to his contemplative gaze following me. As I walked away, Lei Kung stood silently, his eyes fixed on my retreating figure, deep in thought.

'This boy.' he thought to himself, a hint of excitement tinged with a touch of concern coloring his inner monologue, 'he's not just talented, he's exceptional. The way he adjusted his form during the run to stay alongside Davos – it wasn't just about physical endurance. It showed emotional intelligence, an understanding of camaraderie and rivalry that's rare at such a young age.'

Lei Kung's thoughts then drifted to the stretching session. 'And the way he performed those stretches... not just correctly, but with an intuitive understanding of his body. When I corrected him, his body adapted and held those positions without faltering....'

Davos, while immensely talented and physically adept, had shown minor fluctuations in maintaining the stretches post-correction – a completely normal response for a K'unlunian body pushed to its limits and our bodies were naturally gifted for our martial pursuits.

 However, for Daniel; a human to hold the stretches flawlessly, without any deviation, was something both extraordinary and slightly concerning. It wasn't just perfection; it was an indication of a physical capability that bordered on the monstrous….'

A contemplative frown creased Lei Kung's brow. 'It's unusual, to say the least. For a human body, especially one still adapting to rigorous training, to outperform Davos who is immensely talented even by K'unlunian standards, and to display such control and precision is extraordinary. It's almost... unnatural.'

He watched as Daniel's figure disappeared into the distance, his mind racing with the possibilities and implications of such unusual talent. 'What potential lies within this boy? His journey here in K'unlun will be one to watch closely. He's not just a student; he might well be a phenomenon in the making.'

With these thoughts, Lei Kung turned away and waited for Davos who was gathering his stuff to leave as well, his mind already planning the future training sessions. He knew that guiding Daniel would require a careful balance of pushing him to his limits while understanding the unique aspects of his abilities.

"What a remarkable addition to K'unlun. Wendall, old friend you would be proud." he mused out loud, a sense of anticipation for the future stirring within him.

THE END.

(Alright, folk. I felt very nice, so I'm handing the chapter for next Sunday here right now. In an hour, the weekly power/collection list is going to open. Go CRAZYYYYY, and that will motivate me too to hand out some goodies for everyone. Oooooh, Davos has been introduced. Let's see how this goes.

Anyways, let me know how was it in the comments. I enjoy reading them and replying.)