Chapter 7: The Path Ahead
Two months passed.
The mountain forest had changed with the season, but Rhaizen had changed even more. His training never stopped. Every day, he practiced his Qi control, his movements, and his techniques until his body almost gave out.
At first, he could barely summon a small spark of fire without feeling drained. But now, he could hold flames longer, control their size, and even shape them with his will. The circle of crystals he found before was still there, glowing faintly under the soil — his silent teachers.
In those two months, he discovered how to use his Qi differently. Not just to boost his strength or defense, but to shape it.
He had learned to create a Flame Slash — a move that came from shaping his fingers like a blade and releasing a burst of Qi from the edge of his hand. It wasn't as powerful as a sword, but it could cut trees clean in half.
"Not bad," Rhaizen said, breathing hard as a thick tree fell before him, smoke rising from the burning cut. "Still rough… but it works."
Sweat ran down his face as he looked at his hand, which was glowing faintly with a red flame. He smiled faintly.
"It's a good start."
He had also improved the Crimson Flame Fist, making it burn brighter and hit harder. He could now launch small bursts of fire when punching, though it still drained a lot of Qi if he overused it.
"Crimson Flame Fist… Flame Slash…" he murmured. "Both are mine. I made them. Heh, not bad for someone who used to swing a broken sword."
He stared at the sky for a while. Birds flew freely above the forest, their cries echoing faintly. For the first time in a long while, Rhaizen felt calm.
But deep inside, he knew this peace wouldn't last. He couldn't stay in the mountains forever.
He looked toward the distant path that led down to the valley. "Maybe it's time," he said quietly. "I should see what's out there."
---
By the next morning, Rhaizen packed his small belongings — a few dried herbs, a piece of cloth, and some food he gathered. He glanced once more at the place he had trained. The ground was full of marks from his punches and burns from his flames.
"This place made me strong," he said with a small smile. "But it's time to move on."
He began walking down the slope, following a narrow trail between thick trees. His body felt lighter now, his steps confident. Every sound in the forest — every rustle or growl — he could sense clearly.
After hours of walking, he finally reached a dirt road. It stretched far into the valley below. Rhaizen followed it until the trees began to thin, and smoke rose in the distance — a small town.
"Finally… people," he said softly. It had been months since he last saw anyone.
But before he could continue, he heard something — shouting.
"Help! Someone, please help!"
Rhaizen froze. The voice came from deeper in the woods to his right. Without thinking, he ran toward it.
Branches whipped against his arms as he dashed through the trees. Soon, he saw two figures — a young girl and an older man — cornered by a large beast. It was a Hornback Bear, a creature almost twice the size of a man, with thick brown fur and a single horn on its forehead glowing faintly with Qi.
The man held a wooden spear, trembling, while the girl hid behind him, crying.
Rhaizen stepped out from the trees. "Move back," he said firmly.
The bear turned its head toward him, growling low. The ground shook slightly under its steps.
The man looked shocked. "No, you'll get yourself killed! This beast already—"
"Don't worry," Rhaizen said. His eyes narrowed as the black-red aura started to form around his body. "I've handled worse."
The bear roared and charged. Rhaizen didn't move until the last second. He jumped sideways, rolled on the ground, and struck the beast's side with his flaming fist. The hit left a burn mark, but the beast barely flinched.
"Alright… that didn't do much," he muttered, dodging again as the bear swung a claw the size of his head.
Rhaizen took a deep breath and focused his Qi into his legs, boosting his speed. His aura flared bright red, and the faint glow of heat filled the air.
He dashed forward and used Flame Slash — his hand cutting through the air like a blade. A streak of fire shot out and sliced across the bear's shoulder. This time, it roared in pain, black smoke rising from the wound.
The man watching gasped. "That's… Qi technique!?"
Rhaizen didn't reply. He kept moving, striking again and again with his fiery hand. The bear grew angrier, its horn glowing brighter. It slammed its paw into the ground, sending a wave of dirt flying. Rhaizen was knocked back a few steps but stayed on his feet.
"Tough one, huh?" he said, wiping the blood from his lip.
The bear roared again and charged. Rhaizen clenched his right fist, flames burning stronger than before. "Crimson Flame Fist!" he shouted.
He met the beast head-on, punching its chest. The explosion of fire burned through its thick fur, forcing it to stumble back in pain. The flames spread, forcing the beast to retreat into the trees. It turned and ran, leaving a trail of smoke behind.
Rhaizen lowered his hand, panting. His arm was shaking from the recoil. "Still burns… but I can handle it now," he said quietly.
The man and the girl ran to him. "T-thank you!" the man said, bowing his head. "You saved us!"
Rhaizen shook his head. "You're lucky it didn't go for the kill right away. Next time, stay out of the forest."
The man nodded quickly. "We were just gathering herbs for medicine. Please, come with us — we live in the nearby town. You should rest and eat, at least."
Rhaizen hesitated. He didn't want to draw attention, but he hadn't eaten properly in days. "Alright," he said after a moment. "Lead the way."
---
The small town wasn't much — wooden houses, dirt roads, and smoke from cooking fires filling the air. But to Rhaizen, it felt alive. People were talking, children were running, and the smell of food filled the streets.
He followed the man and the girl to a small home near the edge of town. They gave him bread and water, which he accepted quietly.
"You're not from here, are you?" the man asked.
Rhaizen shook his head. "Just passing through."
The man nodded. "Still, you saved us. If you need anything, this town owes you."
Rhaizen finished his drink and stood up. "I'm fine. But if beasts like that are showing up near the roads, you should tell your guards to stay alert."
"I will," the man said quickly. "Thank you again."
Rhaizen gave a short nod and stepped outside. The town's evening light glowed orange, and for the first time in months, he was surrounded by people again.
He looked at his hand — faint burn marks still visible. The Crimson Flame Fist and Flame Slash were both strong, but they were only the start.
He clenched his fist. "If I keep training, maybe one day I can control more than just this fire."
As he walked down the quiet street, the faint red glow of his aura flickered briefly before fading.
The path ahead was long, but Rhaizen was ready to face it.