Chapter 41: SoundlessxStrike

The elevator hums softly as we ascend, the weight of excess gravity pressing down on us even as the elevator moves upward. Hanzo stands next to me, not saying much. He's been waiting for this waiting for me to finally take the training wheels off and give him something more advanced. Something that's going to push him even further.

The elevator finally slows, the familiar ding echoing in the air as the doors open to my floor. I give him a brief glance as we step out of the elevator, my eyes flicking over his form. His movements are smoother now, more natural. But it's not enough yet. It's time to sharpen that blade even further.

"Hanzo, you ready?" I ask, my voice low.

He nods. No hesitation, no need for further words. That's how I know he's serious.

"Follow me." I gesture toward the center of the floor where the target's set up.

We don't waste time. I step forward, positioning myself a few meters away from the dummy. Hanzo's eyes lock onto the target immediately, his focus absolute. "This is called the 'Soundless Strike'," I say, my voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "It's all about precision. It's not speed for the sake of speed. It's not brute force. You need to strike cleanly, sharply, but silently. No energy wasted. You're not just hitting a target, you're eliminating the very sound of your movement."

I don't wait for him to respond. I don't need to. Instead, I take a breath, stepping into my stance. I've seen Hanzo's progress, but this will test him. I move silently closing the distance between myself and the dummy.

 The punch lands squarely on the target, with no sound, no air displacement nothing. Just the quiet thud of impact, absorbed by the dummy. I step back just as fast as I struck. The air around me is still. There's no sign I even moved.

I hear Hanzo's sharp intake of breath beside me. He's watching, taking it in, learning. His eyes are focused on the subtlety of the strike, the lack of sound, and the way the air seems to remain undisturbed even after I've moved.

"You see?" I ask, turning toward him. "That's the key. It's not just the strike. It's everything around it. You move without disturbing the environment. That's the art of Soundless Strike. You can hit an opponent with lethal force, but they'll never know you were there."

Hanzo's expression doesn't change, but I know he's processing. He's already started moving, his stance more deliberate, more measured. I step back, watching him closely.

He's trying too hard. I can tell the way his shoulders tense up, his muscles contracting as he overcompensates. He's forcing it, pushing his Nen with too much urgency.

"No," I say, my tone sharp but calm. "You're trying to rush it. This technique isn't about speed. It's about precision and control. You need to feel the movement, not just execute it. Let the energy move through your body naturally. Don't force it. Watch again but this time use Gyo."

He nods and watches me use it with Gyo. He finally starts speaking saying, "Okay boss, I think I got it now. So you have your nen flow calmly out of your body and let it saturate the air. Then after you saturate the air enough you can control it to not make a singular sound. Right?"

"Yeah, that's basically it," I reply as I watch him closely as he resets. The tension in his frame softens, just a little, as he closes his eyes for a moment and takes a deep breath letting nen flow out of his body.

"Now try again," I say, stepping back.

Hanzo takes a slow step forward, his body almost a blur as he moves into the strike. This time, there's no forced rush of energy, no unnecessary burst his nen makes a path for him through the air making no sound. His movement is sharp, and fluid, but silent. The air barely shifts as his fist makes contact with the dummy.

I nod once, satisfied with the progress. "Better. But you're not there yet. You're still using excess movement. Let's try again. This time, focus even more. You can't let anything escape. No noise. No wasted movement."

Hanzo steps forward again, this time with even more focus. I can feel the shift in his energy as his Nen hums with precision. He strikes again, his movements now smoother, cleaner.

"That's more like it," I say, stepping closer to him. I look him in the eyes, studying his face for any hint of satisfaction or doubt. There's nothing just a sharp intensity in his gaze.

"You're still not perfect," I continue, taking a step back. "But you're close. Soundless Strike is about more than just the hit it's about the control of your Nen, your body, and your environment. Every movement has to be in sync. When you've mastered it, you'll be able to close the gap between you and any opponent without them ever hearing you coming."

Hanzo exhales, nodding. His body relaxes slightly, but his focus doesn't waver. I can see it in his eyes he's determined to perfect this.

"Keep practicing," I tell him, turning toward the center of the room again. "We'll run through it a few more times. Don't stop until you can do it without thinking."

Each strike Hanzo lands is quieter, and more controlled than the last. There's a small change in his movements, a subtle shift in the way he flows from one strike to the next. With each passing second, I can feel his control growing, his understanding deepening.

He's starting to get it. Slowly but surely, Hanzo is evolving. He'll get there. He just needs a little more time and maybe a bit more of a push from me.