Rascal

Liam rubbed his gym suit free of its bloody stains. He left the river and dried himself off with a towel, before getting ready for his daily spar.

His body was covered with small cuts and light scars. A fresh wound in the shape of a claw spurted slight blood on his chest, which he had applied a special medicinal herb on a moment earlier.

"You've memorized the infernal breathing technique, yes?" Lloyd questioned, still perched atop a boulder.

Liam instantly nodded as he approached, and didn't wear his clothing.

"Can we begin?" He asked with hope in his voice.

Lloyd nodded with a brief smile, before turning stern a moment later.

"Sit in the lotus position." He instructed, and Liam promptly sat down cross-legged on the ground.

"You're already familiar with how the breathing method works, so I won't touch on that. Just remember your training and strengthen your resolve. No matter how tortuous it gets, do not breathe in air.

"Too much external influence can ruin the entire process, so you're on your own." Lloyd said, putting his hand on Liam's shoulder.

Training the young man took less effort than Lloyd had imagined. Liam was incredibly hard working, always looking for ways to improve.

Yet, in a moment, there was a chance he would no longer be alive.

Liam nodded with a resolved look on his face.

"Good luck, kid." Lloyd uttered before taking a step back. "You may begin using the breathing method."

Liam had patiently waited for this moment, the first step on his journey of cultivation.

'Can't screw up my beginnings.'

He let out a deep breath, completely emptying his lungs. Then, a series of quick, immediate breaths followed.

The goal of the Infernal breathing method was to heat the insides fast enough that it could forcibly purify and temper the body.

Liam repeated the process multiple times, until his lungs felt as though they were burnt rubber, flaring his body with heat.

After reaching a state of hyperventilation, Liam let out one last breath, the last before he was to endure one minute without oxygen.

This was the Infernal tempering method!

Seconds passed, which to Liam, felt like minutes.

His skin began to turn red, the need to inhale air wasn't an issue just yet, but the heat from his lungs began to spread throughout his insides.

Time seemed to pass in slow motion, and Liam's condition only worsened.

Steam seeped from his skin and moistened the air around him, while his lungs begged for a speck of air.

Liam denied his body's wishes and refused to yield, only thinking of what it took to get where he is now, and what he was to gain after.

Thirty seconds had passed, yet Liam could swear one minute had already flown past.

His heartbeat started to echo in his ears, slightly weakening.

A thin line between life and death had presented itself, a test of resolve and determination.

With his thoughts murky, Liam felt as though his head was filled with a dense fog. A moment later, his body went numb, convulsing violently.

A breath of fresh air sounded more enticing to Liam than a mountain of gold.

Bulging veins appeared on his neck, while his skin color transitioned from red to purple. Meanwhile, his eyes turned bloodshot.

The light of his consciousness was beginning to fade.

However, his pores turned from purple to dark black, a putrid smell exuded from his body as a thick, goo-like substance left his body.

Lloyd had watched the whole thing with a feeling of calm anxiousness he didn't know he possessed.

The second he saw Liam's pores turning black, his eyes widened as he shouted, "Enough!"

As soon as he heard Lloyd's voice, Liam's consciousness was already hanging by a thread.

Unable to hold back the urge to breathe any longer, he inhaled as much air as his lungs could allow him to.

Hant! Hant! Hant!

Each breath taken was sweeter than the last, and a newfound appreciation appeared in Liam's heart for air.

Lloyd smiled wide enough to showcase all his teeth. "You did it. A ten year old with a Rank-1 body!"

Liam's loud panting slowly abided, enough for him to furrow his brows and respond with a slightly angry tone, "Why are you so surprised? Were my chances lower than I thought?"

Lloyd laughed awkwardly, before clearing his throat. "Of course not. I taught you after all."

Liam shook his head inwardly, before inspecting his body. From head to toe, his figure dripped with black mud.

A disgusting smell assaulted his nose, and his consciousness was slightly woozy.

Yet accompanying it was a feeling of vigor and strength unlike ever before.

"Can we spar now?" Liam raised his head and asked.

Lloyd facepalmed and heaved a tired sigh.

"You rascal! Go jump in the river already!" He suddenly shouted, picking Liam up from his shoulders, before hurling him into the flowing water.

SPLASH!