Rise of the Punch Monkey

Chapter 43

Three and a half years. The last time had been four months. This time had been three and half years. The abilities had had begun developing during my four-month stay were now polished and whole. Under Nylix's tutelage I developed others, and fine tuned my existing to a level I'd not thought possible. Nylix was a merciless instructor, thought not as harsh as Jim had been, she was still relentless. The time in the Aether rich environment had done wonders to my training but it didn't matter unless I met Jim's approval. The rift opened and I stepped out, arriving in front of Jim's door. I opened up my character sheet and inspected my stats.

Akaro - Level: 359

Hit Points - 26,960/26,960

Stamina - 29,719/29,717

Aether - 21,450/21,450

Attributes:

Strength II - 178

Dexterity II - 332

Intelligence I - 821

Vitality I - 991

Endurance II - 312

Aether I - 853

Spirit II - 546

I closed my eyes and stilled myself, breathing deeply of the earthy air. Nylix landed on my shoulder and I pulled open the door and stepped into Jim's chamber. As I stepped across the threshold Nylix landed on the handle and I walked deeper into Jim's chamber alone. I could feel him waiting for me. My ears found his steady breathing, my eyes focused and honed in on his dense, circulating Aether. The old man was meditating on the sparring yard, his breathe almost nonexistent as he moved an absurd amount of Aether through the dense channels engulfing his entire body.

"Boyo," he said softly, not opening his eyes. "I can feel yer strength. I felt it the moment ya walked through the rift outside my door. But there's somethin' else..." he said, his eyes looking at me from across the field. "Somethin' stronger than yer new power," he closed his eyes again and sniffed deeply of the air. "Ahhhh, yes. That's it," his eyes opened. "I can smell it on you. Like a freshly washed blanket. Resolve. And...a fierceness."

"I fought demons while I was in the Keshavinyu." I said, standing my ground under his heavy gaze. "I'm ready for this, Jim."

"Pah," the old man said, standing and pawing the air. He began stretching and pulling his arms across his body, loosening his shoulders. "Ya fought scouts, maybe a some other lowly Grunt. Weren't a hunter or even a fiend. If it had been ya wouldn't be so sure a yerself as ya are."

"I can do this, Jim," I said. "I am going to do this."

Jim arched an eyebrow at that, halting his stretch. "Think so, aye?"

"I know I can."

"Then show me," he said, turning and dropping into a fighting stance. Jim opened up his Aether gate and a surge of pressure came crashing down like a tidal wave. My knees waivered as I steeled myself, fighting the urge to fall onto my hands and knees. Jim closed his gate and nodded slightly. I released my own Aetherial Pressure and Jim smiled, closing his eyes as if he were basking in the warmth of a solitary sunbeam.

"Ahh ya have gotten stronger, lad," he rolled his shoulders again and settled back down into his stance. "Let's just see how much stronger ya are."

Without prompting I Wind Stepped forward, attempting to seize the initiative and Jim disappeared. He reappeared while I was still mid-stride with his leg pulled back. He slammed the top of his foot into my face, sending me summersaulting across the field, still being carried forward by the momentum of my ability. I landed roughly on my stomach then bounced to my back. I quickly rolled onto my feet as the old man's heel came down where my head had been in an explosion of grass and dirt. He lashed out with his fists while I intercepted and redirected his punches away from me. He smiled, then began increasing the speed of his blows. I filled my body with Resonance and matched his speed as it built. I caught his wrist, slammed my forearm into his extended elbow and bent him over. He continued with the moment and flipped forward onto his back, freeing his elbow from the lock and pulled me down. As I fell forward he lashed at my face with an Aether enforced kick. I released my hold on his wrist to block the attack and the force sent me sliding backwards several meters.