Chapter 6: The Weight of Strength
The morning sun rose over the mountain, its light spilling across the trees. Rhaizen sat near a small stream, his right hand still wrapped in cloth. When he moved his fingers, pain shot through them. His arm was sore, and his body felt heavy.
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He could still remember how the fire had burst from his fist. It was powerful — too powerful.
When he tried to move his Qi again, it hurt. His energy felt rough and unsteady.
"Too much…" he muttered. "I forced it too much yesterday."
He focused on his breathing, slowly guiding his Qi through his body. The black-red light appeared faintly around him, weak but steady. The flow slowly calmed his body.
After a while, the pain started to fade. He stood up and stretched.
"Crimson Flame Fist," he said softly, looking at his burned hand. "It's strong… but if I don't control it, it'll destroy me first."
He poured some water over his arm, washed his face, then picked up a small wooden stick he'd sharpened into a weapon. He didn't have a real sword, but he wouldn't stop training.
---
Later that day, while searching for food, he noticed claw marks on trees and torn remains of small animals.
The tracks were large — too large for normal beasts.
"These aren't from that wolf yesterday," he said quietly. "Something stronger is around here."
He looked around. The deeper part of the forest was darker, the air thicker. He could feel the pressure of strong Qi in the area.
Most people would have turned back — but Rhaizen kept walking.
"If I can't handle this," he muttered, "how can I survive the outside world?"
---
A low growl came from behind him.
Rhaizen turned. A Forest Fang Wolf stepped out from the bushes. Then another. Then two more.
Within seconds, a small pack surrounded him — five in total. Their eyes glowed faintly, their breath heavy and warm.
"Guess it's you again," he said, tightening his grip on the wooden stick.
The wolves moved slowly, spreading out. The biggest one — the alpha — stood in the back, its scarred muzzle twitching.
Rhaizen could feel his heart pounding. He let his Qi flow, his black-red aura lighting up around his body.
The first wolf lunged. Rhaizen sidestepped and struck its jaw with a punch powered by Qi. The hit sent it rolling, but two others came from the sides.
He ducked, kicked one away, and blocked the other with his arm. Its claws cut through his sleeve, scraping his skin.
Blood dripped down his arm.
"Tch…" He gritted his teeth. "Fine then!"
He pushed more Qi into his legs and dashed forward. His aura flared, and his movements became faster.
He jumped, twisted, and kicked another wolf straight in the ribs. It howled and backed away, limping.
The others circled again, smarter this time.
Rhaizen was breathing heavily, his body burning from the strain. He couldn't keep this up forever.
Then the alpha wolf growled and charged straight at him. Its speed was far greater than the others. Rhaizen barely had time to react. The beast's shoulder slammed into him, knocking him back against a tree.
He coughed hard, pain spreading through his chest.
He tried to stand, but the wolf was already leaping again.
He raised his arm out of instinct — and something inside him flared.
His Qi surged wildly, hotter than before. Fire burst out of his right hand.
His punch met the wolf's face mid-air — the impact exploded with heat.
Flames scattered, burning the wolf's fur. The smell of smoke filled the air. The beast howled and rolled away, its body scorched.
Rhaizen stumbled back, panting. The fire on his hand faded, leaving behind small burns on his skin.
"So that's… Crimson Flame Fist," he whispered. "But it takes too much."
He looked at his Qi flow — half of it was gone already. Just one attack, and it drained nearly everything he had.
But the wolves weren't done. The alpha shook off the burn and growled louder. The others followed, closing in from all sides.
Rhaizen clenched his fists. "Come on then… I'm not backing down!"
He ran toward the nearest wolf and hit it with a Qi-powered punch, then turned and elbowed another in the neck. The aura around him flared as he dodged, ducked, and countered.
The fight became a blur of claws, dirt, and movement.
He was scratched, bruised, and bleeding from his side, but his focus stayed sharp.
When two wolves jumped at him together, he slid low and used the last of his Qi to boost his strength.
He spun and punched the first one — the second he kicked in the chest, sending it flying into a tree trunk.
Only the alpha remained.
It circled him slowly, growling. Rhaizen could feel his energy fading fast.
He tried to summon his Qi again, but it was weak — his body trembled from exhaustion.
Still, he refused to fall.
He lowered his stance and waited. The alpha charged with a roar.
Rhaizen focused everything into his right arm. The black-red aura glowed bright. Heat built up fast.
He felt the fire starting again.
"Crimson Flame Fist!" he shouted.
His fist ignited as he threw a straight punch. The flame burst out stronger than before, hitting the alpha's chest head-on.
The explosion of heat sent dirt and leaves flying. The alpha rolled over, whimpering in pain before turning and limping back into the forest. The rest followed it, leaving the area silent again.
---
Rhaizen fell to one knee, breathing heavily. His right arm was shaking, his clothes torn, his body covered in scratches.
He looked at his hands — the fire had gone out, but the warmth remained.
"It's too strong," he said between breaths. "The more I use it… the more it burns me."
He lay on his back, staring at the leaves above. Sunlight broke through the branches, warm and calm.
His body hurt everywhere, but inside he felt something different — pride.
He had fought and survived. He had used his Qi, his body, and his will.
And now, he had a technique that was his own.
He sat up slowly and looked at his burned hand again. "Crimson Flame Fist," he said. "A power that burns both my enemies… and me. I'll master it someday."
The forest was quiet again. The wind blew softly through the trees, carrying away the smell of smoke and sweat.
Rhaizen stood, tired but smiling faintly.
He picked up his stick and walked deeper into the forest, ready for whatever came next.