A few months ago…
The morning air in the ashram was calm.
Birds chirped softly. Leaves rustled under a gentle breeze.
But in the middle of the training ground—
BOOM!
A circular surge of Prāṇa burst beneath Lioran's foot.
A glowing ring formed under his sole—
FWOOOSH!
He shot forward like a bullet.
Lioran landed on his other foot instantly.
Another circle formed.
THOOM!
He accelerated again.
Step after step—
Left.
Right.
Left.
Each time, a Prāṇa circle formed beneath his feet, launching him forward with explosive speed.
FWOOSH! FWOOSH! FWOOSH!
His movements became faster.
Sharper.
Smoother.
The ground cracked slightly beneath each impact as his speed kept increasing.
Finally—
He stopped.
Dust rose around him.
"…Not bad," Lioran muttered, catching his breath.
A small smile formed on his face.
"But now…"
His eyes sharpened.
"Let's take it a step further."
He turned toward a tall tree.
Without hesitation—
He dashed forward.
FWOOOSH!
A Prāṇa circle formed beneath his foot—
He stepped onto the tree trunk.
Then another.
Then another.
THOOM! THOOM! THOOM!
He was climbing vertically.
No hands.
Only his feet.
Each step was powered by Prāṇa Swift.
Higher.
Faster.
Smoother.
Until—
His foot slipped.
"—!"
His balance broke.
His body tilted backward.
And suddenly—
He was falling.
The ground rushed up toward him.
Wind roared in his ears.
But in that split second—
Lioran reacted.
A circle formed beneath his foot—
In mid-air.
FWOOSH!
His body flipped.
A perfect backflip.
Then—
THUD!
He landed cleanly.
Balanced.
Steady.
Lioran froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"…I used it… in mid-air?"
His breathing slowed.
"Incredible…"
A voice came from behind.
"Your Prāṇa Swift is improving."
Lioran turned quickly.
"Master!"
Behind him stood Shourya, calm as ever.
"I wanted to ask you something," Lioran said, stepping closer.
Shourya nodded. "Go ahead."
"Yesterday, I was in the library," Lioran began. "I found books describing Prāṇa techniques—Prāṇa Fist, Prāṇa Sphere… all of them."
"Yes," Shourya said.
"But…" Lioran frowned. "There was nothing about Prāṇa Swift. Not even its name."
For a moment, Shourya said nothing.
Then he smiled faintly.
He walked toward a nearby tree and plucked a leaf.
Holding it between his fingers, he said—
"That's because your technique… isn't common."
Lioran blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"Techniques like Prāṇa Fist, Prāṇa Kick, or Prāṇa Sphere—those are common techniques," Shourya explained. "Anyone with enough training can learn them."
The leaf slipped from his fingers, drifting down slowly.
"But…"
His gaze sharpened.
"There are others."
"Techniques that cannot be learned through effort alone."
Lioran's heartbeat quickened.
"…Others?"
Shourya looked directly at him.
"Forbidden Prāṇa Techniques."
The words echoed.
Lioran's eyes widened.
"Forbidden…?"
"Your Prāṇa Swift is one of them," Shourya said calmly.
A silence fell between them.
"You didn't learn it," Shourya continued. "You awakened it."
Lioran clenched his fists slightly.
"These techniques… are not meant for everyone. No matter how hard someone trains, they cannot master them."
The falling leaf touched the ground.
"…Unless they are gifted."
Lioran whispered, almost to himself—
"So… no one else can use Prāṇa Swift?"
Shourya stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You have talent," he said.
A faint warmth spread through Lioran's chest.
"You should be proud of it."
Lioran smiled.
A quiet, genuine smile.
Present time…
The forest was no longer calm.
It was broken.
Shattered.
Destroyed.
Lioran stood, breathing heavily.
His body trembled.
His vision—shaken.
Because in front of him—
Bheem was floating in mid-air by using Prāṇa Swift.
Lioran's mind refused to accept it.
"…Impossible…"
His voice rose.
"Tell me!"
His fists clenched.
"How can you use Prāṇa Swift?!"
Bheem looked down at him.
And smiled.
"I learned it from you."
Silence.
Lioran's eyes widened.
"…What?"
Memories flashed.
Their last battle.
That one moment—
When he used Prāṇa Swift.
Just once.
"But that's not possible!" Lioran snapped. "It requires talent—!"
"Talent?" Bheem chuckled softly.
"I have plenty."
Lioran froze.
Bheem's gaze sharpened.
"From the beginning… I've mastered every common Prāṇa technique."
A heavy pressure filled the air.
"There is no one in this world… more talented than me at mastering techniques."
Lioran felt it.
That confidence.
That certainty.
And worst of all—
It didn't feel like arrogance.
It felt true.
His thoughts raced.
"I relied on Prāṇa Swift to dodge every attack but now he can use it too… How am I supposed to dodge him?"
Bheem's voice cut through his thoughts.
"If you won't attack…"
He raised his fist.
"Then I will."
FWOOSH!
He vanished.
Reappeared in front of Lioran.
"Prāṇa Fist!"
"Prāṇa Swift!"
Lioran barely dodged.
He slipped to the side—
The punch hit the ground.
KRAAASH!
The earth shattered.
Lioran countered instantly.
"Take this—Prāṇa Fist!"
He lunged forward—
But—
"Prāṇa Swift."
Bheem vanished.
Reappeared behind him.
Another punch—
Dodged.
A kick—
Dodged.
Both of them moved like flashes of light.
FWOOSH! FWOOSH! FWOOSH!
Attack.
Dodge.
Counter.
Repeat.
The forest echoed with explosions.
BOOM! KRAAASH! THOOM!
They were evenly matched—
In speed.
In reaction.
In movement.
Then—
Both of them attacked at once.
"Prāṇa Fist!"
"Prāṇa Fist!"
Their fists collided.
For a moment—
Balance.
Then—
Darkness.
Bheem's Prāṇa turned black again.
It swallowed Lioran's golden energy.
"—!"
Lioran's eyes widened.
The pressure surged.
BOOOOM!
He was blasted away.
His body crashed into a rock.
CRAAASH!
The impact echoed.
"—UGH!"
Blood spilled from his mouth.
His body trembled violently.
Pain spread through every nerve.
"I can't…" Lioran muttered.
His vision blurred.
"I can't beat him… with Prāṇa techniques alone…"
Bheem walked toward him slowly.
Unstoppable.
Unshaken.
Lioran's mind raced.
Then—
A realization struck.
"He doesn't have an attribute which means he can't use Prāṇa Ability."
A spark ignited in his eyes.
"…That's it."
Golden light began to gather around his fists.
"If techniques won't work…"
His aura flared brighter.
"Then I'll use my attribute."
Bheem stopped.
"What are you thinking?" he asked coldly. "You still don't understand?"
"You can't defeat me."
Lioran looked up.
A determined smile formed.
"…We'll see."
FWOOSH!
He dashed forward.
Bheem raised his fist.
Lioran swung his arm—
Two Prāṇa spheres formed.
"GO!"
He threw them.
Bheem dodged instantly.
"Prāṇa Swift."
But—
That was the plan.
From behind the spheres—
Lioran appeared.
Right in front of him.
Mid-air.
A perfect opening.
Bheem's eyes widened slightly.
Lioran vanished again—
Dodging Bheem's counterattack at point-blank range.
"Now—!"
Golden energy erupted violently.
His fist blazed like a miniature sun.
"TAKE THIS—!"
The air trembled.
Light surged.
"GOLDEN BURST!!!"
His punch drove forward—
Aiming straight for Bheem.
TO BE CONTINUED…