Fighting A Cloud

Lem saw from the screen that changes had occurred in the mind of his simulated self.

If he had time, he would have wondered whether they were included within the simulator's option of 'cultivation.'

However, he was too busy observing his body's performance of the [Nine Bull Fist] to think in such directions.

[After a time, you sense that the pressure within you is no longer increasing. You are relieved, thinking that you were very close to death.

A few minutes later, as you are punching out with the [Nine Bull Fist], you see a dust cat in the treetops, approaching you. You do not even have the time to feel worried, as the cat quickly traverses the span of several trees and leaps down at you.]

Lem's mind was wrapped in the cycle of injury and recovery when the energy within his body suddenly became chaotic and agitated again, and he realized something was happening.

The continuous punches had been disturbed.

He was startled from his observation, and the fight broke out abruptly.

The dust cat fell at Lem's simulated self as a dark blur flying through in the air. It was roughly the size of a wolf, but lighter, fiercer, and much faster.

He was only barely able to make out the feline shape and the green eyes, as he realized what it was.

Lem watched as his simulated self punched at the beast.

Thwack!

A loud sound echoed through the air, but it was only the sound of the vibrating force against the air.

The strike was futile.

The dust cat had already moved two meters to the side, slipping behind a tree, by the time his fist reached its former position.

The cat quickly climbed up onto a branch.

It hissed and glared with its bright, green eyes, as he finally caught a good look at it. 

Sleek, and lethal, with dark patches of fur. The tail was stiff, and its claws were protracted.

Lem's simulated self jumped backwards, anticipating an attack.

It watched him quietly, before darting to a different branch in a flurry of motion.

He quickly adjusted his footing, but the dust cat continued to move, running circles around him in the treetops.

A dark blur appeared in his vision, and he threw a punch.

Thwack! 

It hit nothing!

He sensed something approaching from behind, and he turned, lashing out with another punch.

Nothing!

The blur left the trees in a lithe motion. It ran up close to him, near enough to touch.

He threw a punch and it escaped, unscathed.

While his simulated self was preoccupied, Lem could feel that the injuries within him were compounding. 

The delicate internal balance had been broken, and his physical state was going from bad to worse.

His muscles were torn and healing improperly, but the damage was also deeper. His body felt as though it was being ripped apart in every direction simultaneously.

At the same time, the spiritual energy within him was exciting his internal organs to greater and greater levels of agitation.

He spat out blood.

Making use of the opportunity, the dust cat came close to him, only a hair's breadth away.

He punched and it retreated.

It was as though he was fighting a cloud.

The dust cat suddenly pounded the forest floor with its hind legs, kicking up a large number of leaves and twigs.

Lem was startled, and it ran close again.

Its paw extended towards him, and suddenly there was contact.

With all the devastation already within him, it felt like a light tap, but he was jerked backwards all the same.

He swung his fist instinctively.

It felt like it was impossible to miss.

The dark blur of the dust cat was directly in front of him. All its momentum was carrying it towards him.

As his arm drew close to the dust cat, there was an unnatural ripple of movement.

Its paws pushed off of his body, and he felt the soft fur brush against his knuckles, but there was no impact.

With a strange contortion, the dust cat retreated once again. It jumped backwards several times, putting a few meters between them, as it began hissing.

Lem's simulated self caught sight of his side. The redness of his own blood startled him, and he realized he had been scratched.

At the same time, he had the overwhelming sense that he was about to burst. When guided by the technique, the spiritual energy harmonized with his body and was slowly absorbed, but when left alone, it was a dangerous power, constantly galvanizing his insides to vibrate at higher and higher frequencies.

If the vibration force reached a certain threshold…

A feeling of dread came over him.

Lem watched grimly.