Chapter 8: Learning is Pain

~Kuro POV (8 years old) ~

I was already awake early in the morning waiting for Raven in front of her tent with my friend beside me as well as Vernal, apparently, she was also training under Raven as well maybe this was how she was loyal to Raven?

We all woke up at what appears to be 7:00 in the morning considering I was able to see the sun rising again. Ah hello, morning sun how I miss you burn bright to keep me warm at the day.

With that, all of us heard the front tent open up to reveal Raven in her outfit with her katana out and says to the three of us, "First thing to do you must run around the outside of the tribe to see where you three stand in stamina… Now move it!"

With that, we all started to race to the outside of the building and started to run around the building for a few laps…

Wow, running feels so liberating to go off maybe I should go faster to increase my leg strength when I try to use Geppo and Shave as the saying goes gotta go fast.

With that, I run around the tribe base around about 20 times meeting my friend and Vernal about 20 times while Cinder stops at around 9 laps while Vernal stops at 14 already out of breath the same with me.

That was when we all heard the voice of Raven again saying, "Good! Now return inside so we can begin your combat training starting now!"

With that, I groan at the combat training but understandable as I need to further increase my own personal strength and break my limits each time.

When I was walking back to the gate, I received a mission from the system while I return to the tribe base.

"[Mission: Raven the Instructor

Description: Raven Branwen the tribe leader of her clan has decided to train you and your friend on how to be excellent warriors in her image.

Objective: You must impress Raven with your skills.

Bonus: You defeat Raven in your first spar by any means.

Reward: 115,000 Lien, DFTZ, and sets of clothes.

Bonus Reward: Vari Vari no Mi (Paramecia).]"

When I saw the mission and rewards, I really wish I was happy but if the mission is giving me these kinds of rewards… then how hard is the spar is going to be with Raven something tells me just no way is going to be this easy.

I was able to drag myself back to the inside of the base of the tribe as I ask Raven, "So, who – "

That was as far as I can say before I sensed I was about to be suddenly kicked to the face I consciously tried to use my Logia abilities this time but… I was kicked to the face while I have my Logia ability up, I felt pain like actual pain!

What the hell happened I thought my Logia ability would help avoid those kinds of attacks?!!

I thought only Haki can harm Logia Users?!?!!

How can Raven harm me with a kick unless… she used aura to do it that would be the only logical explanation that is possible.

If I remember correctly Haki is a mysterious power that allows the user to utilize their own spiritual energy for various purposes.

It can be used to sense people's spiritual energy and predict their actions, give the user a protective coating of spiritual energy…

That was when it hit me, aura already is a manifestation of the soul, a life force that runs through every living creature on Remnant, and its main function is to defend but it can also be used to attack!

I was already in pain, but I got up showing a glare at Raven for that cheap shot, "Oh, looks like someone wasn't prepared brat? You thought that Semblance of yours would just reform, again right? Well too bad I guess using my aura on you brats will be more useful instead of using my Dust elemental blades."

I had a shiver right now when she said she already has counters against me and Cinder this woman… truly is a hunter through and through…

Cinder was getting angry at my sudden attack while Raven says to the three of us, "Well would you three hurry up already and attack if you won't…"

I was hardly able to see Raven attacking Cinder by throwing a punch into her stomach while finishing off her sentence, "I will!"

When she said that I try to freeze her with my Ice Age trying to capture her but once again her aura took the damage and she hasn't frozen anywhere on her body not even dust of ice was seen on her clothing!

I can already see that Raven is trying to attack me I tried to make some distance between the both of us when I tried to create a blizzard tornado as a shield but Raven just powers through and throws another punch to my face again!!

I was hit to the ground hard showing some blood on my head on the attack to the head like for real why are you aiming for the face you're a madwoman and why on me?!?!!

I manage to get myself up again taking a fighting position while knowing to fight against her isn't wise at the moment, so I relied on my Observation Haki waiting for an opportunity while shutting my eyes and trust in my instincts…

I sensed she was going to attack me again with her aura think Kuro think what else can Ice do I know I have a solid form with ice, but what about I change the environment to my advantage using a cold enough temperature to freeze the air…

When I sensed she was coming at me I was releasing some kind of freezing gas all around my body and dodging her attack, but I made a counter of my own if I was able to dodge long enough.

When Raven left her to guard down, I released a blizzard vortex with the intention to further freeze the air in the atmosphere all around the area only surrounding me and Raven while the others are left out of the attack.

Cinder and Vernal saw what was happening but didn't interfere since Cinder has faith in my plan and for Vernal, she couldn't stand the cold, or else she would be the one to freeze to death in my attack.

I keep on trying to dodge her attacks, but she keeps on landing them on me most of the times while I can dodge for a few of them, I will at least try to win damn it!

Raven looks at me trying to keep on attacking me while I have been hit a few times while she thinks, 'Even though my aura is keeping me warm I feel more and more out of breath what the hell is happening here?'

I see that Raven was getting more and more breathless from the area wherein then I see her try to speak the keyword is try here, "Alright brat wh- "

That was when she finally notices my trap, I left for her she was now trying to breathe for oxygen in the air so bad that she can't in the area wherein I made sure of that.

When you freeze the air in the atmosphere or in an area it can cause Deoxygenation by way of freezing the oxygen needed to breathe, it can also bypass defensive powers, and most importantly even if aura defends your body doesn't mean it can help supply oxygen in a body for it to function.

When I see that Raven was breathing for air, I decide to end the spar with stop freezing the air around us so she can breathe again.

After a few minutes, she was able to regain her breathing again but she narrows her eyes at me and asks angrily, "What the hell did you do brat…"

I gave her my answer honestly with some sweat coming down from me since I just did try to suffocate her after all who wouldn't be angry, "Well I just freeze the air in our area making it cold enough for you to suffocate since your aura keeps protecting you against my ice so I had to be creative against someone who is stronger than me and please don't kill me."

What it's just reasonable to plead for one's life when an angry bandit lady is glaring daggers at me with the intent to kill and the rest of the other bandits since they are pretty much glaring at me as well, but then again I did try to suffocate their leader which is pretty reasonable to be angry.

I look at Raven nervously but she says while putting her hand on her chin while she has a thinking expression, "You thought of all of that in our first spar you tried to create the environment to your advantage knowing you have no way to win against me in a frontal attack…"

I see that she comes on over to my direction while I pray to any god to help me right about now, "…and kept taking punishment and bet your chance that I would be the one to wear down first since I'm the one moving around the most right?"

I could only gulp and slowly nod my head hoping she wouldn't end me on the spot but instead she just puts her hand on top of my head and shows a rare smile, "You are most definitely a prodigy to combat if you thought of all of this with your Semblance and to be able to defeat an opponent stronger than you with wits instead of brawn means you'll live a bit longer than most."

When she said that I really don't know what to say but be happy I got recognition I guess but it could be a lie after all ho-

But I was interrupted when I heard a notification from the system that I completed my mission which just confirms to what Raven said was true to what she feels geez thanks system for the update.

When I look at her again, I try to say, "Well ok then- "

That was when I was sucked punched on the face again seriously why go after my face where was my Observation Haki on that attack there me!

I see Raven cracking her knuckles together with an angry but smiling expression indicating that I was in for a beating luckily this time I wasn't the only one, "Crack… Pop… But you did try to suffocate me, and training hasn't ended yet so that just means that we are still continuing… Cinder and Vernal I hope you two are ready for your turn next."

When I see Cinder and Vernal see Raven's expression, they both grew a pale expression that was when I knew I wasn't the only one getting this treatment I guess Raven is a member of gender equality huh… the more you know right?

I was able to bring myself up again with every bandit just laughing at the scene and making bets to see which of us was the last one standing I might as well take a piece of that action.

Oh, shit Raven is going after me!

System:

Status, Shop, Mission, Inventory, Devil Fruit Raffle

Inherited Skills: Aura (Locked), Semblance (Locked), Electro (Locked), Natural Enhanced Body, and Sulong Form (Locked)

Skills: Hunting, Observation Haki (Beginner), Swordsmanship (Beginner)

Devil Fruits: Hie Hie no Mi, Fuwa Fuwa no Mi

Allies: Cinder Fall (Logia User)

Inventory: Curse Remover, sets of clothes, DFTZ, Doa Doa no Mi, Ryu Ryu no Mi Model: Pteranodon, Vari Vari no Mi

Lien: 202,200