Taking a deep breath, Jason exhaled a long stream of black, acrid smoke—the impurities forced out of his body by the dragon-line blood. The foul cloud drifted away on the evening breeze, leaving his lungs feeling cleaner than they had in years. He flexed his fingers, rolled his shoulders, and felt the new density in every muscle and tendon. Power hummed just beneath the skin, waiting.
He walked to the nearest sturdy tree, settled his stance, and threw a punch with everything he had.
The trunk exploded.
Bark, splinters, and chunks of heartwood sprayed outward in a wide arc. The upper half of the tree toppled sideways with a groaning crash, leaving a jagged stump. Jason stared at his unbroken knuckles, then at the destruction, a wide, disbelieving grin spreading across his face.
"This is incredible! Are you seeing this?"
*Yes, kid,* the bracelet answered inside his mind, voice dry. *And it's largely thanks to me. A little appreciation wouldn't kill you.*
Jason's grin turned sheepish. "Sorry. I got carried away. I won't forget again."
*Forget it. You're my master. Your growth feeds me as well, so I won't hold a grudge.*
Jason's excitement cooled into curiosity. "My energy? What do you mean?"
*A spirit treasure like me needs a constant supply of spiritual energy to remain active. Without it I would eventually fall back into true slumber—or worse, fade entirely. The cleanest source is the spiritual energy of my master. Secondary sources are other treasures or ambient energy, but a living cultivator is best. The moment you put your blood on me and formed the bond, I began drawing a small, steady amount. That was what fully woke me from the long sleep in the lake.*
Jason looked down at the simple band on his wrist with new understanding. "So you've been taking energy from me since the day I found you."
*A tiny amount. Nothing that will slow your cultivation. In return you receive guidance, access to sealed knowledge, and, eventually, more. Fair trade.*
Jason nodded slowly. The arrangement made sense, even if it left him feeling slightly less in control than before. He turned toward another intact tree, this one thicker than the first. He planted his feet, lifted his right leg, and hesitated.
The memory of the first time he had kicked a tree at full strength—white-hot pain, the fear of permanent injury, the long recovery—rose sharply. He no longer had the healing salve. One bad impact and he could cripple himself days before the tournament.
*What are you waiting for?* the bracelet asked.
"The first time I tried to train for the Phantom Kick I nearly ruined my legs," Jason said. "I put everything into the blow and paid for it. Now I'm stronger… but I'm still afraid of the same result."
*And you claimed you wanted to master the technique before the tournament.*
"More than anything. Time's running out."
*Then kick the tree.* The bracelet's mental voice sharpened. *With the body you have now, I find it extremely unlikely the tree will win. Your bones are denser, your tendons tougher, your skin harder. The tree should break long before you do.*
Jason's mouth quirked. "You're saying I can kick at full power and walk away without a scratch?"
*Precisely. Have I lied to you yet?*
"No. You've been honest from the start."
*Then stop overthinking and give the tree the kick of its life.*
Jason drew a slow breath, let the last of his hesitation go, and drove his right leg forward with every ounce of the new strength the dragon blood had given him. His foot connected solidly with the trunk. The impact traveled up his leg—solid, powerful, but free of the sharp, bone-threatening pain he remembered. The tree shuddered. For a moment it seemed to stand firm.
Jason lowered his leg, disappointment already rising—
—then a long, deep *crack* split the air. A vertical fissure raced up the trunk. The entire tree leaned, groaned, and toppled sideways, crashing into its neighbors in a cascade of breaking branches and flying leaves.
Jason stared, then let out a short, breathless laugh and ran to the fallen giant. "It worked. I actually dropped it with one kick!"
*What did I tell you about the refining?* the bracelet said, sounding almost smug. *Your legs can now handle the stress of the Phantom Kick. You can train the technique properly without fear of shattering yourself.*
Jason pulled the worn manual from his pouch, flipping it open. "I want to start right away… but I'm still not sure how far I can push in a single session."
*There's a better option,* the bracelet said. *With your current strength you can enter my internal space. Comprehension of techniques is significantly faster there. The limitation is time—your consciousness can only remain for a short period before the strain forces you out. Still, even a brief visit will advance you further than hours of ordinary practice.*
Jason's head lifted. "A space? Like a personal dimension?"
*Something similar. Specialized for accelerated insight. Because you are my master, entry is simple and safe.*
"How do I get in?"
*Sit. Calm your mind. Direct your consciousness into the bracelet the same way you speak to me. I will pull you the rest of the way.*
Jason lowered himself to the ground, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes. He focused on the cool weight of the band against his wrist and pushed his awareness toward it. A sudden wave of dizziness rolled through him. The forest sounds cut off. His body remained seated and still, but his consciousness plunged downward as though the ground had vanished beneath him.
He was falling through absolute darkness.
Panic flared for a heartbeat—then he struck something solid and rolled. There was no pain, only the strange sensation of impact without injury. He scrambled to his feet, heart racing, and found himself standing on a flat, featureless plain of deep shadow. No sky, no horizon, only endless black.
"Where—?"
A soft point of light appeared in the distance and began drifting toward him. It grew brighter as it approached, resolving into a smooth, luminous sphere the size of a man's head. Jason took an involuntary step backward.
*Welcome to my space, master.*
The familiar voice came from the sphere of light itself.
Jason stopped retreating, relief washing through him. "That's… you? Your spirit form?"
*Correct. This is how I appear when I choose to manifest here.*
Jason let out a long breath and managed a shaky laugh. "You scared the living hell out of me floating over like that."
The sphere pulsed once, almost like a shrug. *You'll get used to it. Now—shall we begin?*