Master White thought Lucien was only fast, but then he noticed something strange. He could no longer sense Lucien's presence.
At first, Master White was confused.
Then he realized it.
Lucien had started using Phantom Step.
Master White calmly waited for Lucien's attack.
Suddenly, Lucien struck from below with an upper punch. Master White blocked it with his sword. In the next moment, Lucien appeared behind him and attacked again.
Master White dodged, grabbed Lucien's arm, and threw him into the air. He followed instantly, appearing above Lucien.
Lucien's thoughts raced.
How will I land safely?
Before he could react, Master White threw a heavy punch downward.
Lucien noticed too late. He quickly crossed his arms over his chest to block.
The impact still broke through his defense.
Lucien crashed into the ground with force.
Two seconds later, it felt as if gravity itself was crushing him into the earth. The pressure nearly made him lose consciousness.
But Lucien endured.
The force suddenly stopped.
Lucien stood up.
I am not giving up yet.
He used Phantom Step again, but this time he had a different plan.
Master White spoke calmly.
Do you think that will work on me again?
Lucien did not respond.
He moved behind Master White, jumped into the air, and used Silent Blade Second Form with his bare hands.
Air slashes formed and struck from multiple directions.
Master White blocked them one by one.
While Master White was focused on defense, Lucien moved again using Phantom Step.
Lucien thought to himself.
Can I hide my attack presence with Phantom Step… or combine it with Silent Blade?
He tried it.
Lucien activated Silent Blade Second Form while using Phantom Step.
He attacked.
At first, Master White thought the attack had failed.
But just before it reached him, the attack revealed itself.
Master White was surprised.
He dodged, but the attack still grazed his face.
Before he could recover, Lucien appeared in front of him and threw a punch with full power.
For the first time—
Lucien landed a clean hit.
But it was not over.
Lucien used Phantom Step again and attacked.
Master White dodged, wiped the blood from his face, and smiled slightly.
If I were a normal person, I would be dead by now.
I thought fifty percent would be enough.
But you have grown more than I expected.
Lucien spoke honestly.
Even at fifty percent, I cannot keep up. At any moment, I could fall.
Master White laughed.
That is because I am no longer using fifty percent.
I am using sixty nine percent.
The moment he said that, he dropped his sword.
Then he disappeared.
Phantom Step.
He appeared behind Lucien and attacked.
Lucien barely dodged.
The force of the punch alone shocked him.
If that hit me… I would be dead.
Master White spoke.
You will not die. What do you think I have been training you for?
He attacked again.
This time, he appeared in front of Lucien and punched him in the stomach.
Lucien felt the impact instantly and spat blood.
Before he could recover, Master White grabbed him and slammed his head into the ground.
The mountain shook.
The forest trembled.
Master White looked down at him.
You still are not giving up?
Then I will beat you until you faint.
Lucien blocked several attacks, but eventually—
A final punch landed on his stomach.
Lucien lost consciousness.
Master White looked at him and smiled.
You have grown strong. That makes me proud.
He looked around.
Everything was destroyed.
Even his house.
He sighed.
Beating you makes me happy… but now I have to rebuild my house.
He left Lucien there and went into the forest with an axe.
---
Seven days later
Lucien woke up.
He stepped outside the tent Master White had set up.
Master White was roasting a boar.
When he saw Lucien, he called out.
Come and eat. You have been asleep for a week.
Lucien sat down and ate.
After he finished, he picked up another wooden sword.
Master White spoke.
Keep swinging your sword. I am going to hunt.
Lucien nodded.
Yes, Master.
Lucien began swinging his sword.
One hour passed.
As he continued practicing, someone appeared.
A girl.
Lucien paused.
He thought he was imagining things.
He walked toward her.
Little girl, what are you doing here alone?
She frowned.
I am not a little girl. Do not call me that.
Lucien stared at her.
Maybe someone told her that.
He sighed.
If you are not a little girl, then who brought you here? You are not injured… how did you—
Before he could finish—
Roots shot from the ground and attacked him.
Lucien reacted instantly and dodged.
The force pushed him back.
She spoke coldly.
Do not call me a little girl.
Lucien stood up.
Little girl, I do not know why you attacked me—
But that was your mistake.
Her expression darkened.
My name is Sylvarion.
And I will kill you.
Lucien rushed forward.
So even a child here is a monster…
Now I understand why I was sent here.
He swung his wooden sword toward her.
Roots blocked the attack instantly and wrapped around the blade.
Lucien released the sword and switched to hand to hand combat.
But before he could act—
Roots grabbed his leg.
He was thrown off the mountain.
---
Lucien was falling.
If I hit the ground… I will die.
For a moment—
He panicked.
Then he stopped thinking.
No.
I am not dying here.
He closed his eyes.
Focused.
Breath.
Heartbeat.
Blood flow.
Warmth.
Then something responded.
Not power.
But life itself.
Ki.
---
Lucien began to feel it.
Ki flowed through his veins.
Pressure built inside his muscles.
A quiet vibration formed under his skin.
I know this feeling…
---
KI CONTROL EXPLANATION
Lucien calmed himself.
Ki is not about force.
It is about control.
He drew Ki from his breath.
From lungs to core.
His center.
He kept it stable.
No spikes.
No chaos.
If the core becomes unstable, everything collapses.
Then—
He compressed the Ki.
Focused it beneath his feet.
At the right moment—
He released it downward.
A short, sharp burst.
The air compressed beneath him.
A temporary platform formed.
Timing mattered more than power.
Too early, it fades.
Too late, you fall.
Step.
Release.
Shift.
Step again.
This is not strength.
It is rhythm.
---
Lucien opened his eyes.
Only thirty seconds left before impact.
He stepped—
On air.
Abyss Step.
He stabilized his flow.
Maintained constant Ki output.
Now he was not just moving.
He was standing in the air.
---
He smiled.
So this is Abyss Step…
Thanks to father… I survived.
He turned back toward the mountain.
---
Sylvarion looked up.
You are still alive?
I will take this seriously now.
Lucien landed calmly.
Thanks to you, I can use Ki again.
She narrowed her eyes.
Then I will stop holding back.
---
The battle began again.
Roots attacked from every direction.
Lucien dodged faster now.
Ki enhanced his speed.
He spread his Ki outward—
Sensing movement.
Tracking attacks.
Why are you attacking me?
She replied coldly.
It does not matter. You will die.
Her attacks increased.
Thousands of roots surrounded him.
Lucien realized.
So that is why she was not hurt.
This is her territory.
---
He created a dust screen by striking the ground.
Then used it to block incoming attacks.
Silence.
She thought he was defeated.
She stepped forward—
But Lucien was gone.
He appeared behind her.
But instantly—
A root shield formed.
Lucien punched it using Ki.
No damage.
Who are you?
She replied.
I came here peacefully.
You insulted me.
Lucien sighed.
All this… because I called you a little girl?
Then leave. I do not have time for this.
She snapped.
Her killing intent exploded.
Lucien felt it.
How can someone like her have this level of killing intent?
She attacked again.
Roots surrounded him completely.
Lucien ran toward his sword.
She created a net to trap him.
Lucien jumped.
Abyss Step.
He ran through the air.
The ground is your domain.
Then I will fight in the sky.
She smiled.
You think I cannot reach you?
She formed root bullets.
Shot them upward.
Lucien dodged mid air.
How are you this strong?
Even your defense and attack speed…
She hesitated slightly.
Then regained confidence.
That is what makes me powerful.
Maybe I will not kill you today.
Lucien realized.
She really is just a child…
He spoke calmly.
Let us stop this and talk.
She refused.
Attacks continued.
Lucien blocked the bullets using Ki.
He saw his sword.
He released Ki.
Fell straight down.
Landed.
She tried to grab him again.
He cut the roots instantly.
Now I will take this seriously.
---
Lucien charged forward.
Cutting through every root.
Ki flowed into his blade.
He activated Phantom Step.
She reacted instantly.
That will not work again.
She guarded behind herself—
But Lucien did not appear there.
He emerged from her shadow.
Grabbed her.
I got you—
But instantly—
Roots pierced his body.
Shoulder.
Stomach.
Moving toward his head.
Lucien froze.
He snapped back.
How did I get here?
She looked at him.
You do not understand.
I am far stronger than you.
Lucien thought.
She could have killed me…
Why did she not?
Then he became serious.
I will not hold back anymore.
---
She trapped him completely.
Roots bound his legs.
His sword was taken.
His hands restrained.
She formed a massive root hammer.
It descended toward him.
She smiled gently.
Do not worry.
It will not take long.
Lucien struggled.
But his energy was draining.
The hammer struck.
No pain at first.
Then—
Everything hit at once.
Pain flooded his entire body.
He could not move.
He could not resist.
She looked at him and smiled softly.
Now you can feel the pain…
For calling me a little girl.