Testing one's potential

Inside the box was a walking stick, It was fully black with no details in it.

-For now, due to its properties, it's impossible to engrave any patterns in it, much less paint it, I am sorry for its simplicity!

-There is no need to apologize, Uncle Robert. But I have a question. What is this made of?

-Our explorers found a strange rock formation in the Kingdom of Finland. Deep underground they found a strange black lake, made entirely of this substance they collected several samples but most of it vaporized on the way back.

-This is pretty much all that is left until the next batch comes…

-It's a great gift. I said while picking it up.

The moment it made contact with my hand I could feel it dissolving due to my body heat. I transferred a wave into it and this process stopped.

-Uncle…

-You don't even need to ask me! He snapped his fingers once again and a large jeep with something on its back appeared. A large group of bodybuilders removed it from its back with difficulty.

-This is another one of our creations! The veil covering the object was lifted revealing a metallic bronze cube.

-This cube is made of a special alloy of bronze that can absorb the Hamon wave! Reinforcing itself while nullifying the wave. This cube is perfect to use as building blocks for a training area but useless in battle as the weapon made of it would just keep absorbing its user Hamon, stopping him from performing any technique. Vampires can't use it! Since the cube stores Hamon for a very short time, even if the vampire wields it, they will eventually get affected by the wave stored inside when it dissipates. Try it out!

-How did you make it?

-I am glad you asked, we found a small pot made of the same material buried in Rome, during our excavations.

(Hamon can be stored even if only for a short while. Like how Ceasar stored his final wave in a bubble made out of his blood.)

Impressive. I didn't expect him to show results like this in a few months.

By using my current level of control I reshaped the can into a sword and plunged it into the cube.

[Metal silver overdrive!] I thought in my head. There is no need to scream the ability's name.

Bluish lighting traveled across the black sword as I swung it.

From other's perspectives, it felt as if the blade would pierce through the metal due to its speed and strength but when the tip made contact with the metal a large /clang!/ was made. The tip had pierced the metal but it stopped soon after. The blue lighting around it started to reduce.

I quickly pulled the blade back and said out loud:

-When the metal made contact with the sword tip, it already started to absorb the wave, but it wasn't strong enough to stop it, only after a while did it absorb enough to stop the blade. It then started to eat the Hamon in the blade, so I had to take it away before the metal started to turn into a liquid.

Robert seemed shocked.

-Th-This is impossible! When we did the tests, no one managed to even make a scratch in it using Hamon, so how can a … The engineer close to Robert seemed more than surprised, he then quickly ran to the mark on the metal and started to make measurements, he wasn't the only one as in less than 10 seconds the metal cube was surrounded by scientists.

-Perhaps it's a question of the strength of the wave. You should look for a master to test your equipment.

…

-You surprised me once again kid! Said, Robert

We were ready to leave, I said my goodbyes to everyone in the monastery and entered the Jeep. Our destination: China

This kid is destined for greatness. I can feel it. I know firsthand just how tough that metal cube is, but he pierced it nonetheless… I just hope he stays on our side.

…

We took around a month to reach our destination, from cars to planes, we used them all, I can only grimace at the lack of technology. We took so long due to the fact that most places didn't even have roads.

-... And just like I said, China is currently in the middle of a civil conflict, so be careful with who you cross while we are in there. Most people know who we are as we made a lot of deals with them, principally in the agroindustry. We are going to Fengtien, a place close to the Japanese empire. We will go there later after you finish your training in China. He said that while handing me a special medal.

-Put this in your Tuxedo later, or just pull it out if necessary. Most authorities will recognize it. You know Mandarin right?

-Yup.

-You know everything… Sigh, kids these days...

Our adventure took around a month, we reached our destination around the start of August. We used planes, boats, cars, pretty much everything this time has to offer.

The badges were very important since China is in the middle of a conflict right now. They allowed us to pass through most areas inhibited, but we also had to pass through many inspections, which ended up making our travel longer. But eventually...

-Here we are. Said Robert looking through the plane window

-We are going to a countryside area, so prepare for a bumpy ride.

The car ride took a few more hours but at the end of the afternoon, we found ourselves in front of a large stone gate.

-After this gate will be the shrine temple used by the village folk nearby. But in truth, it's a secret meeting place for the reclusive monks living in the mountains. They send a representative from time to time and it's here that we talk. It wasn't that hard to get in contact with them, thanks to Tonpetty's help in the past, but they are still rather reclusive. We can only enter their secret temple every three years. We sent a letter a few weeks ago telling about your arrival and they replied with a yes. They should be here soon.

After climbing about a hundred steps, we looked around the place to find no one, Robert said that they were yet to arrive.

We waited on a stone bench for about a minute before I felt something was wrong.

The moment I decided to tell this to Speedwagon, a small leaf cut the air towards my face.

Humph. I didn't even need to use Hamon to stop this. But I still did since they are most likely testing me. During the months of training, Tonpetty told me a lot about all of the different monasteries around the world and their cultures. He probably doesn't know all of them, but he still knows a lot.

The leaf stopped right between my two fingers, small golden sparks were made in the contact point between my fingers and the leaf.

Silence. Followed by Robert scream

-Are you all right little John?!

-I'm fine, uncle. The problem is the guys around us.

-...Ho? So you can detect that there are multiple of us here? I guess you truly are something else. Said an elderly voice coming from the shadows.

-You must be…

-Indeed. I am Huang Shoushan, the current head of this humble temple. Nice to meet you, disciple of Tonpetty.

He was… Surprisingly healthy for what his age should be. He is someone from Tonpetty's youth, but he somehow looks 70 years old.

-Surprised? Then, you are in for a blast, as you kids say this day, ain't I right?

-...

-Cough! Anyway, the reason why I am so young is due to our traditional Chinese medicine!

-I've heard of it. Said Speedwagon

-HO! Our fame is known far and wide. I can't say that we are the strongest, but our medicine is the greatest in the world! He said proudly.

If your medicine can make someone look 40 years younger then yes, you guys are super incredible.

-Unfortunately. We can't extend one's life expectancy by much. Even after centuries of research, the most we can do is make someone look younger.

-But enough talking. You want to learn our techniques right? As long as you pass our test, I will personally teach you everything! But don't think this will be easy. Previously, you felt the presence of multiple people right? The test is simple: You have until nightfall to collect all of their flags. I will also wear one. if you get mine, it's an instant win. What do you think?

-Where will the test be performed?

-Right on the mountains behind us. The max area one can go is determined by the Pagodas built on the mountain tops. So don't worry that everyone will just disperse.

-When do we start?

-NOW!

/BOONG!/

With the sound of a bell, I started my movement.

I had a feeling he was going to say this, so I directed my Hamon to my legs and kicked the ground.

[Jaguars quick sprint!]

Golden sparks were created on the ground with every step I made.

I quickly ran a few meters between us faster than the blink of an eye, but the moment I got close to the old man he suddenly disappeared.

-You are fast, I can see your determination, this might be more enjoyable than I thought. HOHO!

This isn't going to be easy huh…