Jack stood behind the line and glared at the practice target. Its white and red wood stared at him mockingly, just out of reach. He narrowed his eyes.
You can start, Master Shol said. Jack fell into a stance, took a deep breath, and punched out. His outstretched hand t the air. The wind of his punch traveled out, eting the target and shaking it a bit, but not breaking it.
Good, the ghost spoke again. Now keep doing that until it works.
Jack looked back with half-doubt. He wasnt sure how to do that, but he could try. His punches shot out, sending gust after gust onto the target. It shook in the wind but held steady.
You are too focused on your fist, Master Shol said. Look at the target, not your hand. Imagine that your fist is a projectile.
Jack obliged. He struck out, picturing his fist as a missile. He rembered the bald mans strike in the vision; it had traveled through the air for a large distance and still drilled straight through the massive, skyscraper-like beast. He tried to imitate that feeling.
His punch shot out a tad straighter. Its force dissipated the mont he finished swinging, sending errants wind gusts around.
You are targeting the air. Your punch must only cross through it, not explode on it. The air is a delicate friend. The target is the enemy.
Jacks fist straightened. He didnt whip it to its final location, but shot it out more purposely and slightly slower, letting it ride its own wind. This ti, when his arm could stretch no longer, he didnt feel the recoil. A shimr in the air was the only indication his punch was still there; then, the target shook violently and cracked down the middle.
Much better. Master Shol nodded. That is the way. You have been content with using the Drill skill to penetrate only a superficial layer of armor, so it didnt matter if your energy dissipated. However, if you want to beco truly proficient, you must send the fist deeper, like a straight bullet that explodes only when and where you want it. At the later stages, this skill will allow you to send strikes through the vacuum of space, or from the earth to the sky. You will be able to punch clouds from the ground.
Jacks eyes widened. Really?
Yes. But to do that, you must first learn to punch a target from a foot away. Again.
Jack refocused. He had the feeling; now, all he had to was practice, keep practicing, and master it to such a degree that it would co by itself in the heat of battle. His gaze narrowed. The target beca his whole world. His bare upper body glistened with sweat as he punched over and over, letting the hours pass uninhibited.
He was making progress. The skill was there, and the System was helping him; he only had to learn to harness that power. After a mont, he entered a trance where he kept punching, retrieving his hand, then punching again. The wind gusts beca his breath. Every jolt of the target sent a ray of joy through his brain. Every crack was his pride.
His Dao Root of Indomitable Will sank him deeper.
He kept punching. One fist turned into a hundred, which turned into a thousand. Every ti the target cracked, it would repair itself as if mocking Jacks efforts.
Until one mont, when everything clicked. It ca without warning. Jack punched like every other ti, but sothing was different. His arm was straight. His entire being was aligned. The air parted in the wake of his fists shockwave, carrying it forward. It smashed into the wooden target so hard it broke into three, then the shockwave erupted, sending wooden shrapnel around the room.
Jack exhaled deeply, blinking rapidly as he returned to reality. A piece of sharp wood had shot at his chest and then fallen to the floor, unable to penetrate.
I did it! he shouted, pumping a fist.
Good job, Master Shols disgruntled voice ca from sowhere behind him. Turning to look, Jack found him overseeing Brocks work-out. They seed to be in so sort of disagreent as Brock insisted on Master Shol spotting him to lift so weights over his chest, but Master Shol repeated that he was incorporeal.
Taking the chance, he quickly left Brock alone and headed over to Jack, who looked into the void puzzledly.
I didnt get an upgrade? he asked.
Of course not. Its not that easy. Now that you can hit the target from a foot away, repeat until you can do it reliably, then move to two feet, then three. When you can consistently send your fist three feet through the air, we will move on to the next part.
Oh.
Master Shol smiled. The road to mastery is long and difficult, Jack. But while it seems like an ordeal now, one day you will look back, and all these little steps will form a beautiful path in hindsight.
Jack raised his gaze. I understand, Master. I am not afraid to work hard.
Of course not. You are an indomitable fist. If even you slacked off, everyone would. He snickered. Good job. Rest for a bit; then, well move to Parkour training. I have finished devising it.
Jack nodded, suddenly realizing he was tired. He plopped down on the floor as he was. Brock left his weights and ca too, giving Jack a big thumbs-up. Work hard, Brock, Jack said. There are so many things we dont know yetand if we want to explore the world and protect our pack, we will need to be strong.
Brock nodded, then took off again to lift more weights.
But rest is important too! Jack hurriedly added, but it was too late. Hed already set the young apes heart on fire. At this point, he could only chuckle.
As Jack rested, Master Shol remained by his side, each thinking about their own thing.
Can I ask you sothing, Master? Jack asked.
Master Shol looked up. Go ahead.
When I scanned you before, I saw that your faction was B-Grade, but I thought the Animal Kingdom was the only B-Grade faction in this constellation.
Under his thick beard and hard eyes, Master Shols lips played a small smile. That is true, he responded. My Exploding Sun rules the nearby constellation. However, this planet is very close to the border, and the Galactic Alliance instructed that ntors should be invited based on proximity, too. That is why I am here, though the Animal Kingdom would love to kick out.
Why would they?
Because our factions are enemies.
Jack raised both brows. Really? he asked.
Of course. We contest for the astral space between us and various resources. poaching disciples from them is the last thing they want; that is partially why they tried to disqualify you when they saw that I chose you.
Oh. Good thing you stopped them, then. But wait; why did those other immortals back you up instead of the lion bitch? Are they from your constellation, too?
Master Shol failed to hold back a grin at calling the C-Grade Planetary Overseer a lion bitch. No, though theyd love to be. The Animal Kingdom is not beloved by their subordinate forces. Their powers are based on lineage, which ans they dont take outside disciples, which in turn ans they oppress the factions below them freely. They are tyrants.
Oh, Jack said again. He thought back to how the scions acted, then how quick the judges were to favor them. Makes sense.
Why dont they revolt, then? he asked.
Because the Animal Kingdom is far stronger than all of them put together.
You could help them. Youre enemies of the Animal Kingdom, right? If you waltzed in with the full force of your constellation and half of this constellation joined you, I doubt the Animal Kingdom could resist.
That is correct. Master Shols face was now colored with amusent. Unfortunately, things are not so simple. The Star Pact forbids treason. If we attacked, the entire constellation would have to fight against us.
Jack scrunched his brows. The Star Pact again. That na keeps coming up...
Of course it does. It is the only true law in the galaxy.
Well, what does it say?
Master Shol shrugged. Too many things to ntion now. Just take it as a set of laws that let B-Grade factions coexist peacefully, as well as ensure that newly-integrated planets can grow into their power. The one-galactic year grace period and the Integration Tournant, for example, are enforced by the Star Pact.
Hmm. Jack frowned, fully invested in the conversation by now. His current knowledge had many gaps, and Master Shol seed capable and willing to fill them in. Ensure that newly-integrated people can grow into their power Doesnt the Hand of God do sothing similar? With the auction?
They dont do sothing similar. It is the exact sa thing. The Hand of God is an elite force sponsored by all B-Grade factions and dedicated to cultivating the galaxys first A-Grade. They are also the enforcers of the Star Pact.
Really? I thought they were just high-end rchants.
They are a bit of everything, from rchants to peacekeepers. Unfortunately, they have had their hands full with suppressing the Black Hole Church recently, leading to many monster outbreaks, planet poachings, and pirate invasions around the galaxy.
Hearing that, Jacks eyes shone. He was practically brimming with questions.
And what about this Black Hole Church? was the one he chose to ask. Hed heard about them before. Who was it that ntioned them? The Sage? Or Karvahul?
Do you never run out of questions? Master Shol threw Jack a side-glance. You jump from subject to subject like a rabbit. Are you not dizzy?
Jack took his words in stride and laughed. Brock, on the other hand, ca to his assistance instantly, angrily waving a fist at Master Shol and preparing to launch a poop. Jack stopped him.
Show respect, Brock, he said before turning to Master Shol. Im sorry, Master. Ill stop now.
Hed already gotten a ton of new information, anyway. This Master Shol really was a treasure troveif a bit uppity.
Master Shol himself, however, was of a different mind. No, boy. It is fine. I approve of your thirst for knowledge, just care not to overwhelm yourself; the higher the volu, the greater the loss.
Jack nodded thoughtfully.
Master Shol rubbed his beard and finally answered Jacks question. The Black Hole Church iscomplicated. He chose his words carefully. Theyre also an elite force like the Hand of God, but they operate outside the established fra. Nobody knows who leads them or what their goals are. By decree of the Galactic Alliance, theyre terrorists.
And also a cult, I assu.
In a way. What do you know about the Old Ones, Jack?
What? He stamred. You an like Cthulhu?
I have no idea what that is. I am talking about the Old Ones. The Gods of the universe.
Oh Jack hesitated. Well Nothing, I guess?
Master Shol sighed tiredly. Then work as we speak. You have already rested enough. Grab the instrunts I show and spread them around the other room.
Jack raised a brow but obliged. He grabbed a benchpress that Master Shol indicated and sohow managed to fit it through the door to the training room. Sparman watched with silent amusent. Help , Jack told him, and the robot got to work too.
The Old Ones are legends, Master Shol spoke as he directed Jack and Sparman around. Brock wanted to help too, so he carried so dumbbells one by one. It is unknown whether they actually exist or not. If they do, they have never appeared in our galaxy.
This one cant fit through the door, Jack said, then dropped the instrunt and went to grab another.
According to our current knowledge, the System ca from a distant part of the universe, Master Shol continued, his voice taking a slow, reverent tint. We can glimpse so things through the text of System notifications and the Dao Visions. There are almost certainly other galaxies, though its unknown why they dont contact us. As legend has it, the System was created by a race called Immortals for the purpose of fighting the Old Ones, who sought to dominate all existence with their godly powers.
There was a war, once. A crusadethough we only have fragnted knowledge about it. The Immortals and all the System races against the Old Ones.
Jack was still carrying instrunts to the other room, but his attention was fully on Master Shols wordsso much that he almost tripped, then whispered a curse.
We do not know who won, Master Shol continued, shaking his head. In fact, we know almost nothing about those things. However, the ones who claim to know are the Black Hole Church. They worship Enas, an Old One presumably trapped in a black hole in the center of a far-off galaxy by its own kind. It is unknown why they worship a being so terrible that even its godly companions would imprison it forever. But they do worship it, or so they claim.
And they are collecting power. They are gaining ground in the galaxy. There have been uprisings recently; entire planets have disappeared off the astral map. The Galactic Alliance and the Hand of God are worried, and they have sent entire armies of immortals after them. The problem is that the Black Hole Church operates in secret. Its mbers are hiding among us. Things are complicated.
He shook his head. But I overspoke. You dont need to bother with those things. What you should focus on is winning the Integration Tournant, accumulating power, then finding a way to save yourself and your people from impending doom. And the best way to do that is to parkour better.
Jacks brain short-circuited. What? he mumbled.
Parkour better. Look, you already moved everything. The training room is ready. Heres what youre going to do.
***
The Forest of the Strong burst with activity. Builders ca and went, carrying materials in abundance. Their enhanced bodies made everything faster.
Gymonkeys and brorillas swung through the trees, watching the humans below, while Harambe lounged at the roots of the bananarm tree, absent-mindedly lifting a 100kg dumbbell. A human arrived beside hima mber of the Bare Fist Brotherhood. Harambe didnt know her na, but he was used to her presence by now. He did not react.
With a small bow, the young woman reached up to the tree and plucked three bananarms. She then bowed again and took off, where three red-dressed n waited in the distance. Only a mont after she left, the bananarms regrew.
The situation around the Clear Pond and the High Speed Bush was much more hectic. People arrived occasionally, transferring a set amount of credits to a Bare Fist Brotherhood clerk before either picking a leaf off the bush or stripping to their underwear and entering the pond, which was packed full with no regard for gender.
The professor had been industrious.
After all their mbers had benefited from the resources, she had contacted the nearby towns and offered the resources for a price. They were magically renewed every ti, so they could be distributed freely.
They wouldnt last forever, of coursethat would make no sense. The Brotherhood had soone watching over the resources at all tis. If they showed the slightest hint of decay, the business would endbut everything was going great so far. The professor estimated that, in the short-term, the credits they made off this business were more useful than keeping the resources intact. After all, the faction shop offered many great things, including a goblin battle simulator she had already purchased.
For a hundred credits, anyone could access one of the resources. Three hundred would be enough to access all three, and that was a great price for the life-saving 10 in all Physical stats. Only the Ice Pond was kept a secret, as it was the true core of the Brotherhoods strength.
Cultivators stread in from the nearby towns, slowly at first. Then, news began to spread, and people arrived from farther and farther away to partake in the brotherhoods resources. Credits were flowing in at a trendous rate, more than ten thousand a day, and the brorillas took care of any troublemakers. Thanks to the influx of people, the nearby Valville was flourishing, too.
The Brotherhood was still relocating its headquarters from the town to the forest, and the main building was almost built by now, as were the training grounds and gyms. Due to the nature of their resources, most mbers chose Physical-oriented paths.
On the surface, everything was going great. But in realitythe professor was worried sick. Both for Jack, whose every battle she watched with bated breath, and for the future. Their factions leader had just defeated the sharken scion, revealing his true identity, and the Animal Kingdom wasnt above playing dirty. They had to gather power fast.
For that reason, she let so nearby factions use the resources for free in exchange for a sworn alliance. She also kept their massive profits at hand, ready to buy whatever defensive items were necessary at a monts notice.
All in all, things seed to be going great, but the professor didnt allow herself to relax. The clock was ticking. When the brewing storm arrived, it would be her job to protect everyone.
And to do that, the Bare Fist Brotherhood had to grow fast.
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