Dec 13, 2023 14:34:25 GMT -5
Post by ABAS on Dec 13, 2023 14:34:25 GMT -5
ABAS's hands flickered through the air, kicking up a wind of their own as the bio-android practiced his sequences. Shen prowled around him like an animal, stopping every so often to correct an elbow or nudge a foot back into place. The pair had been at this for hours at this point, but neither were willing to show even the slightest hint of weakness to the other. To ask for a break would be to admit their stamina was lower than the other, and no true student of the Crane school would ever be caught dead admitting such fault. Even to a member of their own school.
However, as time went on, Shen was correcting ABAS less and less. It wasn't that the old man was growing soft-he was still a crotchety old man-but simply that the bio-android was making fewer and fewer mistakes. Through his battles with Liek and Opherla, and with Callion and Liari, ABAS had imprinted the Crane's fighting style onto his very soul. If there were any major variations in his movements now, they were out of choice rather than being born from a mistake.
"Enough." Shen said finally. ABAS looked at him in surprise, suprise that only deepened as he peered at Shen's face. The old man's visage was a study in emotional contrast: regret, annoyance, and even...pride? ABAS, his curiosity piqued, halted his movements and sat down to listen.
"ABAS. You have learned well in the weeks you have been here. While your childish rebellions and your bloated opinion of yourself hamper your usefulness, it is undeniable you have learned everything I have taught you in a....reasonably short period of time." Shen said, huffing slightly. "There have only been a few before you that have reached this point in their training. However, none have managed to bring glory to the Crane School. Some even betrayed ME? Can you imagine such a thing?!" Shen asked indignantly.
ABAS in fact could imagine that very easily, but he sensed it wasn't what the old master wanted to hear. "No Master Shen."
"Quite right. Anyways, as we have discussed you do not have that problem. As such, I don't have to worry about the knowledge I impart to you today. I know it will never be repeated." Shen explained, also dropping to the ground and assuming a meditation position. "Now... focus your mind cockroach. Feel the energy in the air move in and without. Join your mind with mine and follow where I lead you." Shen said softly. It was the voice of a predator, of a snake slowly luring in his prey.
ABAS thought for a moment about letting the old fool know of the true power of his mind, but ultimately decided against it. If Shen wanted to go to the trouble of joining their minds, there had to be a good reason for it. Slowly, reluctantly, he joined his mind with his Masters.
The space Shen took him to was blank, subliminal. It somehow felt infinitely large and claustrophobic at the same time, and it made ABAS's chitin crawl. He reached out, attempting to probe this strange space with the power of his consciousness.
"No you fool! Don't work against it! I went through all this trouble to construct an image space, and you're not about to just pop it!" Shen's voice echoed out, seemingly coming from everywhere at once. A metal cage slammed down around ABAS, locking itself around him as if by magic. ABAS gave it a punch, but the bars wouldn't budge. He was trapped, for the moment.
"Now YOU listen to ME ABAS. Before I teach you the ultimate weapon of the Crane, it is important that you know its history. Because, after all, it is not mine." Shen said, his booming voice growing uncharacteristically wistful. Below them, images flashed rapidly as if the floor was a giant screen. Mutated Namekians, rampaging and burning the Earth. Thousands of humans dying like logs as the aliens rampaged almost completely unchecked. And at the center of it all, a small cadre of martial artists holding out against the encroaching darkness, wielding light of burning gold. "The Tri-Beam was a creation of my master long ago. It is an extremely powerful technique, perhaps more so than any technique in the modern era. However, the cost is...great."
Below, the martial artists obliterated the mutated Nameks in a storm of triangular blasts, wiping them from existence. However, they too began to fall, without seemingly so much as a scratch. "The Tri-Beam is a move of last resort in the end. By drawing on your life, your soul, your very mind, you are able to supplement your raw ki output to extremely high levels. However, overuse it, and you will be the one to die instead of your opponent. Such was the fate of many of my brother-disciples. However, channeled effectively, it WILL be your greatest weapon."
The room darkened then, as Shen focused his mind on ABAS.
"Shall we begin?"
WC: 837
Learning Tri-Beam Week 1
However, as time went on, Shen was correcting ABAS less and less. It wasn't that the old man was growing soft-he was still a crotchety old man-but simply that the bio-android was making fewer and fewer mistakes. Through his battles with Liek and Opherla, and with Callion and Liari, ABAS had imprinted the Crane's fighting style onto his very soul. If there were any major variations in his movements now, they were out of choice rather than being born from a mistake.
"Enough." Shen said finally. ABAS looked at him in surprise, suprise that only deepened as he peered at Shen's face. The old man's visage was a study in emotional contrast: regret, annoyance, and even...pride? ABAS, his curiosity piqued, halted his movements and sat down to listen.
"ABAS. You have learned well in the weeks you have been here. While your childish rebellions and your bloated opinion of yourself hamper your usefulness, it is undeniable you have learned everything I have taught you in a....reasonably short period of time." Shen said, huffing slightly. "There have only been a few before you that have reached this point in their training. However, none have managed to bring glory to the Crane School. Some even betrayed ME? Can you imagine such a thing?!" Shen asked indignantly.
ABAS in fact could imagine that very easily, but he sensed it wasn't what the old master wanted to hear. "No Master Shen."
"Quite right. Anyways, as we have discussed you do not have that problem. As such, I don't have to worry about the knowledge I impart to you today. I know it will never be repeated." Shen explained, also dropping to the ground and assuming a meditation position. "Now... focus your mind cockroach. Feel the energy in the air move in and without. Join your mind with mine and follow where I lead you." Shen said softly. It was the voice of a predator, of a snake slowly luring in his prey.
ABAS thought for a moment about letting the old fool know of the true power of his mind, but ultimately decided against it. If Shen wanted to go to the trouble of joining their minds, there had to be a good reason for it. Slowly, reluctantly, he joined his mind with his Masters.
The space Shen took him to was blank, subliminal. It somehow felt infinitely large and claustrophobic at the same time, and it made ABAS's chitin crawl. He reached out, attempting to probe this strange space with the power of his consciousness.
"No you fool! Don't work against it! I went through all this trouble to construct an image space, and you're not about to just pop it!" Shen's voice echoed out, seemingly coming from everywhere at once. A metal cage slammed down around ABAS, locking itself around him as if by magic. ABAS gave it a punch, but the bars wouldn't budge. He was trapped, for the moment.
"Now YOU listen to ME ABAS. Before I teach you the ultimate weapon of the Crane, it is important that you know its history. Because, after all, it is not mine." Shen said, his booming voice growing uncharacteristically wistful. Below them, images flashed rapidly as if the floor was a giant screen. Mutated Namekians, rampaging and burning the Earth. Thousands of humans dying like logs as the aliens rampaged almost completely unchecked. And at the center of it all, a small cadre of martial artists holding out against the encroaching darkness, wielding light of burning gold. "The Tri-Beam was a creation of my master long ago. It is an extremely powerful technique, perhaps more so than any technique in the modern era. However, the cost is...great."
Below, the martial artists obliterated the mutated Nameks in a storm of triangular blasts, wiping them from existence. However, they too began to fall, without seemingly so much as a scratch. "The Tri-Beam is a move of last resort in the end. By drawing on your life, your soul, your very mind, you are able to supplement your raw ki output to extremely high levels. However, overuse it, and you will be the one to die instead of your opponent. Such was the fate of many of my brother-disciples. However, channeled effectively, it WILL be your greatest weapon."
The room darkened then, as Shen focused his mind on ABAS.
"Shall we begin?"
WC: 837
Learning Tri-Beam Week 1
