Chapter 300 - Lacking

A few minutes earlier, Doppo Orochi, otherwise known as the God of Karate, Man Eater, and Tiger Slayer to name a few.

He was a man who had devoted his life to mastery the martial art of karate to utmost perfection, nearly becoming the very essence of the style.

The days had been far too peaceful, meeting a wall in the mastery of his martial art, unable to find a worthy opponent that made this warrior's blood boil. 

Spending his time in the usual spot for him contemplates ways to improve his martial art. 

The night seems to be the same as the rest that followed, However, Doppo Orochi spotted an unusual young man who wore a traditional fantasy robe found on people called cosplayers.

Though he does not criticize the modern life of the Japanese yet witnessing the decline of the warrior in recent years has wounded his heart. 

It instantly changed when he took closer inspection and found that the young man had the air of a great warrior. It was the infant essence of a martial that had yet to blossom and nurture.

He primarily prided himself in Shinshinkai Karate and Orochi-Ryuu Karate that took years of nurturing to reach his level of skills when a new style was being made.

The young man appeared to have a martial art style that he created that had yet been given enough time to grow. He lacked the purity of a warrior that made it impossible to truly show its potential. 

Doppo Orochi knew that the young man thought the same based on his glances. He silently observes him settle the fight with the group of drunken men. 

His movement was quick, nearly connecting and flowing like it was predestined. 

The style appeared to be a multitude of martial arts combined to form a new fighting technique.

It was difficult to completely master a combination of styles only a few were able to pull through. 

After knocking out drunk men decided to approach the young man to invite him to his dojo. 

......

The man introduced himself as Doppo Orochi exuding a thicker aura around him like a wild beast that every time the thought of fighting him seemed to be blocked. 

He could see his ability to sense his intention blocking every attack. It was mere imagination yet both felt the sensation of fighting mentally. 

They assessed each other's strength with Caelum no match for him in his current weakened state.

Caelum was completely unaware that the person was a character from the series Baki that did not exist on his earth and was unable to use his Omniscience to know about it.

He only assumed that the person was martial art mastery in an alternate earth. 

"How about you, young man. What is your name?"

"Caelum Mercer and yes, I am a foreigner. I'm a bit lost and my wallet was taken from me. I wonder if Orochi-donno could help me?" 

"Hahaha I see, I'll gladly help and you've caught my interest. Perhaps we have little sparring using that imperfect and impure martial art of yours."

Caelum heard his laughter before confusion from his last words. He wanted to know what his martial art and himself lacked to further improve his martial art. 

Doppo noticed his confused understanding that he had yet reached a state where his pride as a warrior is in place. 

"Come and follow me but first, I'll buy you some clothes."

He pointed at his eye-catching clothes opting for a wry smile and nodded in response heading to the clothes store only for the employee of the shop to give a light bow.

Caelum noticed that the people knew Doppo base on the way they greeted him and made it clear that all of them were students of his martial art dojo. 

Picking new clothes from the wide selection opted for a simple sleeveless turtleneck and cargo pants with high boots. It showed his muscles allowing him to move freely with little restraint from his movement.

Exiting the feeding room, Doppo Orochi gave a nod as if the young man was his son seeing how despite his small frame showed the workplace into his body.

Caelum muscle had been greatly reduced only gaining a leaner body that shows the shredded lines of individual muscles. 

"Great body, it shows the story of your training. I'm interested in who has taught you martial arts."

He placed his hand into his shoulder, perplexed at how solid and senses his muscles were. 

Doppo gave a bit more of his strength only then did he feel it was more akin to a fleshed.

"Thank you for doing this, Orichi-Dono."

"It's not a problem. I would have wanted you to be one of my students but alas I could see it would render your style."

"I see. Though I might be unable to join your Dojo, I'm still going to spar with you. As I've been in a dilemma with my martial art."

"It's got the best of us. I've been itching for a fight now and finding you is the perfect opportunity to ease my boredom."

They share their frustration having been blocked by a solid wall from entering a new level of mastery over their martial art.

After getting clothes, Caelum followed Orichi to an old traditional Japanese home showing the quality of his life. He went inside removing his shoe that was similar to his old lifestyle when he was only a human.

'How oddly this feeling came back after so long. I wonder if it's a good thing or not.'

"Is that you, Honey?"

The voice of a middle-aged woman could be heard before revealing herself. She saw Doppo opting for a sweet smile while curious who the young man her husband had brought was.

"Who is this young man that you brought with you? Is he a new student?" 

"No, I found him at the park and had nowhere to go. I decided to bring him here for the time being."

"How odd. I know there's a reason you've brought but you can tell me later. Come inside young…?"

"Caelum Mercer, my last name is Mercer."

"Oh a foreigner, I thought you were Japanese when you appeared and spoke."

Caelum came from the country of the Philippines that had a confusing ancestral fusion due to many invasions including the Japanese that made them appear a crossbreed.

In short, he appeared to be Japanese, and how fluent his words came out made it look like he was born in Japan.

"Well, have a taste of my cooking. It's been a while since we received a new visitor."

Caelum felt welcome into their home and was invited to the dinner table being met with a young man around the same or older than his age. 

He noticed his whole right arm from his biceps. Caelum knew that the person before him recently acquired something that he had lacked. 

"I heard that dad brought someone and as expected you're a martial artist but style is baffling to me. "

"I could say the same thing. Did you appear to be in the process of creating a new style?"

"Now now we can have chit-chat later, for now, take a seat at Caelum-san."

Caelum joined in with their meal, taking their hospitality to heart that began to stir something inside that made him intrigued. He decided to check it out later and focus his attention on enjoying his meal. 

After the meal, Caelum was given room to stay for the night and laid on the futon but unable to sleep as the mortal emotion had been bugging him. 

'I can't seem to understand it. What am I missing? From Doppo-dono words, my martial art is impure but what does this mean?'

He pondered through the night repeating the words while visualizing his unarmed fighting technique. Even without illusionary or dream energy still have to achieve a level of imagination that causes pain.

It was a similar sensation when you see a sour fruit that causes your mouth to become watery, feeling the sourness of the fruit inside your mouth. 

This was no different than what he was doing, he kept on performing his martial art for nearly countless amounts of time while thinking about this impurity. 

Caelum had not been born a natural warrior and never realized it since he relied on the power that gave shortcuts. 

He kept going with his mental training unaware of time until a voice called out his name that brought him back to reality. Caelum's whole body was bleeding and bruises everywhere while his clothes and the sheet below had been soaked in sweat. 

'It's morning already yet I still got nothing.'

"Caelum, breakfast!"

Caelum stood up stretching his body for a few minutes unaffected by the pain and enjoyed the sensation as it showed his improving.