Feeling

"Buddy, that was amazing!" Said Bikou.

After the spar ended and a little rest, the two had gone walking back to their cabin.

Their battle has exhausted both of them, physically and mentally.

Especially Cao Cao, the strain that he experienced by forcing his body to rely on reflexes while simultaneously tapping into Senjutsu in the middle of the battle is just suicidal.

Even if it's just a friendly spar.

On the good side, he did manage to tap into the power of Sage Arts temporarily.

On the bad side, it hurts like hell! He felt his muscles being torn apart!

He does remember that Senjutsu can strengthen internal and external bodies of the user, just like how it can also cause internal damage to the opponent.

"Yeah I guess, though I feel shit." For the first time, Cao Cao uttered a foul language.

Bikou laughed at his friend.

"But damn, what did you just do? I can feel ki in your movements but it's not Senjutsu." The Future Monkey King scratched his head using his tail.

"You even broke my staff, Ahhh! Gramps is gonna be pissed." The Ryu Jingu Bang in Bikou's hands is the same as the signature staff of Sun Wukong.

In their spar, both of their weapons collided and resulted in Bikou's staff getting damaged.

Hopefully, Teacher won't get mad. Cao Cao prayed in his heart.

Remembering their battle earlier, his spear did come off weird, like there was something different about it.

He has a hunch but it's impossible, the chance of it happening, especially on True Longinus is one-in-a-million.

But what if….

Shaking his head Cao Cao buried the thought in his head. Here he is again, overthinking.

"Teacher wouldn't get mad…. Probably." Sounding unsure himself, the Hero Descendant comforted his friend.

Bikou's shoulder slumped hearing that.

"Besides, it's a result of a battle against the considered Strongest Longinus. I'm sure the Teacher would understand it." Cao Cao patted Bikou's shoulder. He did say sorry earlier but his friend had already beaten him up to it, saying that it was fine.

Hopefully, the Victorious Fighting Buddha wouldn't punish them for breaking his staff.

After all, even if it's just a replica, it still symbolizes Sun Wukong's legend and his story, Journey to the West.

—

Returning back to their cabins, Cao Cao washed himself first before laying into the bed.

'Tsk… What was that earlier?' He couldn't help but wrack his brain. By trying to use Senjutsu mid battle, he had entered a state of emptiness.

He could feel himself getting more flexible? He can't really describe it aside from the fact that his senses have been sharper than it usually is and his body is able to keep up with it.

But he feels there's something more, his Sacred Gear acting like that was also a nod to that thought.

He still rejects it though, it's just not realistic, and even downright ridiculous if you think about it.

"I can't sleep." Despite his body hurting earlier, Cao Cao couldn't feel the drowsiness hitting him.

"Might as well practice some Senjutsu." Sitting down in his bed, Cao Cao entered a state of meditation, trying to tap into the power that belongs to nature.

'Your heart is in chaos.'

Empty your heart.

The Hero Descendant emptied his heart and mind, the worries, the anxiety, the fear, all of it are vanishing, leaving

Nothing.

Few moments have passed. Cao Cao has entered a state of stillness, it's like he's one of the surroundings.

Or in this case, nature.

Slowly opening his eyes, he saw various vegetation around him blooming.

Cao Cao looked at his hands and saw blue wisps dancing around his fingertips.

'Senjutsu.' He smiled.

*Bang!*

The sound of the door being opened snapped Cao Cao at his state.

"Bro, what the hell?! I've felt an immense flow of ki in this room." Bikou exclaimed and looked at Cao Cao's hands, more precisely the wisps dancing around it.

"Y-You did it! You tapped into Senjutsu." Bikou said excitedly.

"Heh, yeah Bikou, I did it!." Cao Cao looked at his hands giddily, although it's just basic but still, he did it.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.

"Nice buddy, in our next spar, you'll be able to catch my movements more." Bikou gave a thumbs up. It seems that he really likes fighting strong opponents.Cao Cao didn't feel any malice from him, only pure fighting intent.

"Well, what will you do with this?" Pointing at the vegetation that sprouted on the room's floor, Bikou couldn't help but asked.

"Oh shit." Quickly using Senjutsu to make them wither, Cao Cao also used some light based abilities to eliminate the dust.

He hates his room being dirty.

"Oh well buddy, I'm gonna sleep now. I just got worried and thought you exploded or something." Bikou yawned and prepared to go back to his room. The spar earlier had truly exhausted him.

"Sorry about that." Cao Cao apologized.

Nodding to his friend. The Monkey Youkai returned back to his room and continued his rest.

Seeing his door closed, Cao Cao still couldn't sleep and decided to play around with his newfound powers.

Time passed and the Hero Descendant eventually fell into slumber.

—

Feeling the light of the sun hitting his face. Cao Cao stood up and yawned.

"Another day in this beautiful yet cruel world." He sighed. Although it's been a year since he awakened his memories, the experience is still surreal for him.

Who would've thought that someone like him will be reincarnated? He doesn't, that's for sure.

Stretching his body, the Hero Descendant summoned his spear and took a look at it.

The dark blue shaft and the circle pattern under its tip is proof that he holds the strongest Longinus.

Despite this, he feels something is missing. Like he had forgotten a very important detail relating to his Sacred Gear.

"Not this again." Shaking his head, Cao Cao recalled his Longinus. He trusts his intuition, very much so, but he knows that it's not the time to think such things.

"Step one on becoming the Strongest Human, here we go."

With that declaration, the wielder of the strongest Longinus left his room, ready to start his new day.