Successor?!

Strawberry stood before the massive rock, the whiskers painted on her face tickling her cheeks in the cool mountain breeze. The path had been long and grueling, but here she was—facing a task that she had completed once before, back in the beta. But this time, it was different. This wasn't just about earning a rare skill or completing a quest; this was about something deeper, something that called to her from within.

Muffin shifted slightly on her shoulder, his tiny paws gripping her jacket tightly as he watched, wide-eyed and nervous. She could feel his tremble, the little horned bunny's fear mingling with the weight of the challenge before her. She gave him a gentle pat on the head, offering a silent reassurance.

But her focus was no longer on Muffin or the world around her. It was on the rock—and on herself.

Her mind drifted inward, and as her breathing slowed, she closed her eyes. The world around her faded, the sounds of the wind in the trees and the crackling of the fire in the old man's hut disappearing as she centered herself. This was not a test of strength. It wasn't about the power in her muscles or the force of her strike. It was something more.

The old master had told her to channel her will, her inner strength. And Strawberry knew exactly where that strength lay.

She stood still, her palms pressed lightly against the cool surface of the rock. She could feel it now—the energy coursing through her body. Not just the passive abilities granted by her mask or her coat—no, this was different. This was her own energy, the natural aura that had always been inside her. Her ki.

Slowly, Strawberry allowed herself to focus on that energy, to feel it as it swirled inside her. Her aura wasn't something she wore or something she summoned through her gear. It was a part of her, as natural as breathing, as essential as her heartbeat. It was a part of her very soul.

And it had always been pink.

The faint glow of pink energy flickered to life within her, a soft, pulsing light that began in her core and spread out through her limbs. It wasn't a flashy, overwhelming force; it was subtle, controlled, but undeniably powerful. As she breathed deeply, she could feel the warmth of her ki flowing through her chest, her arms, down to her fingertips.

It felt like coming home.

Strawberry's focus sharpened, the world beyond her inner energy completely forgotten. Slowly, she directed the flow of her ki toward her palms, the warmth of her pink aura spreading down her arms. Her fingers tingled as the energy gathered in her hands, and she pressed them more firmly against the rock. It was time.

Her eyes remained closed, but she could feel the rock beneath her, solid and unyielding. Yet, as the energy within her continued to build, the rock began to feel less like an immovable object and more like something waiting to be broken.

With a sharp exhale, she released her ki.

The pink aura flared to life, rushing from her body into her palms, surging through her like a tidal wave. It gathered in her hands, the warmth of it almost overwhelming, and with all the force she could muster, she slammed her right palm against the center of the rock.

A deafening crack split the air.

The sound of the impact reverberated through the mountains, echoing off the cliffs and sending a flock of birds scattering into the sky. The rock groaned under the force, and in an instant, the surface of the stone split open, a jagged crack racing down the center. The entire boulder shuddered before finally giving way, splintering into pieces, shards of stone tumbling to the ground at her feet.

Strawberry's eyes snapped open, her chest heaving as she stood before the shattered remains of the boulder. The pink glow of her aura faded, but the warmth of her ki lingered in her palms, a reminder of the power she had just unleashed. She took a moment to catch her breath, her mind still reeling from the intensity of the experience.

The old master stood frozen in place, his eyes wide with shock. He blinked once, then twice, as if trying to comprehend what had just happened. The rock—an object that had challenged countless players—was reduced to rubble in an instant.

Finally, after a long moment of stunned silence, the old man took a step forward, his face a mixture of disbelief and awe. He stared at Strawberry, his voice trembling with excitement as he spoke.

"At last!" he exclaimed, his voice ringing with a fervor that Strawberry hadn't heard from him before. "I have found a successor!"

Strawberry blinked in surprise, still catching her breath. "A… successor?"

The old man nodded vigorously, his eyes gleaming with an intensity that made him look younger than his years. "For generations, I have searched for someone worthy—someone with the innate ability to channel their ki in such a way! Few have even come close to understanding the power within themselves, but you—you have done it without even knowingwhat you were doing."

He gestured to the shattered remains of the rock, his voice filled with reverence. "To break this stone with your bare hands, using only your inner energy—this is the mark of true mastery. It is not something that can be taught through mere words or practice. It must come from within. You, Strawberry, have the potential to surpass even me."

Strawberry stood still, processing the master's words. She had completed the quest, yes, but something about this felt different—deeper. In the beta, it had just been a matter of figuring out the mechanics and pushing through the challenge. But now, in this world where life and death were real, she had felt something awaken within her.

The old man approached her slowly, his expression softening into one of pride. "You have earned the Martial Arts Extra Skill, but know this—what you felt just now, that surge of energy, is only the beginning. Your ki is powerful, but it can be refined. Honed. If you continue to cultivate it, there will be no limit to what you can achieve."

Strawberry nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. The Martial Arts skill wasn't just a new tool—it was a reflection of her own strength. A strength that she had barely begun to tap into. She clenched her fists, still feeling the faint pulse of her pink aura in her hands.

The old man stepped back, his gaze steady. "You are my successor, Strawberry. I will teach you my personal Martial arts, however the path ahead of you is long and fraught with danger, but I have no doubt that you will walk it with strength and honor."

With a small, respectful bow, the old man turned and walked back toward his hut, leaving Strawberry standing amidst the shattered remains of the boulder.

Muffin, who had remained frozen in place during the entire ordeal, finally let out a relieved chirp, his tiny claws relaxing their grip on her shoulder.

Strawberry smiled softly, reaching up to pat his head. "We did it, Muffin," she said quietly, her voice steady with newfound determination. "And I think we're only just getting started.

The old man returned with two ancient looking scrolls. Strawberry could see wisps of white coming from them. They vibrated a strong aura, even from where she stood.

"These are my ancestors Martial arts styles," he raised the one in his left hand. "This is the 'Eclipse Pact' Martial styles. It is a mixed type hand-to-hand fighting style. It focuses on acrobatic movements and disorienting your opponents tactics."

Strawberry's eyes widen in shock. This will advance my fighting to a whole new level!

She wanted that. Needed it.

The old man raised his right hand, holding the the other scroll. This one felt... differently. Stronger.

"This has been in my family's possession for quite some time. It was a gift from a powerful being, long departed from this world. Noone in my clan was able to learn this. I hope, with your talent, you would be able comprehend it." He handed both crolls to Strawberry.

And without hesitation, she identified them.

Name: Eclipse Pact

Form: hand-to-hand

Type: mixed

Focus: acrobatic movements

Tactics: disorient your opponents

Techniques

Attacks: Eclipse blow, Eclipse tackle, Eclipse fang

Advanced attacks: Harmonic Eclipse Smash, Confusing Eclipse Fang, Leaping Eclipse Smash

Defenses: Eclipse Field, Eclipse Reflection, Eclipse Ward

Advanced defenses: Hollow Eclipse Carapace,

Movement: Eclipse Pursuit, Eclipse Haste, Eclipse Boost

Passive: Eclipse Meditation, Eclipse Glare, Eclipse Refrain

Special: Eclipse Alteration, Eclipse Snare

Name: Phantom Petal Paths

Form: Melee (Scythe)

Type: Mixed

Focus: Versatility and Speed

Tactics: Demolishing your opponent.

Techniques

Attacks: Phantom Petal Drive, Phantom Petal Cut, Phantom Petal Fall, Phantom Petal Razor

Advanced Attacks: Phantasmic Petal Cut,

Defenses: Phantom Petal Guard, Phantom Petal Ward, Phantom Petal Carapace

Advanced Defenses: Yielding Phantom Petal Shield

Movement: Phantom Petal Dash, Phantom Petal Bolt

Passive: Phantom Bluff, Phantom Petal Imprisoning

Special: Phantom Petal Sunder, Phantom Petal Execution

A Scythe Martial arts style? I mean, in my last life I did make a character build that used a Scythe. Spent a whole year, mastering it, before the game company was shut down due to the creator dying. His son decided to use all the money on gambling and drugs. It was really a shame since the fan base was so high.

Since then Strawberry moved to GaeaVeil and started using short swords and guns. So it had been awhile since using a Scythe. Should be fun.