Duality (DxD) (Part 1)

Ch 16 - A Loud Bang

Ban was cooking dinner. He always made sure to make food of high protein meals. It was to make sure Jin grew a strong body. Ban knew Jin trained hard. Now harder than ever. He didn't know why, but he would aid Jin's development. Giving him enough food to give Jin a strong foundation. A strong body.

Ban: {Jin eats a surprising amount so I'll feed him the quantity he needs. With that being said...}

*BANG*

Ban jolted as the house shook. His eyes widened as he grabbed the kitchen desk hard. Gripping it hard enough to crush the wooden kitchen counter completely into splinters. Rapidly breathing as he looked at the kitchen counter. Dropping the shards on the floor as he rushed down stairs and saw the missing stair. Jumping down it and saw Jin smiling with the book.

Ban: GIVE THAT TO ME!

Ban quickly snatched the manual from Jin in a blur as Jin flinched back and looked shocked. A bit scared as Ban looked at Jin with an expression he had never seen before.

It looked like Ban was about to attack him.

Ban: {I should have burned this book!} What have you done?! How far have you got?!

Jin: I... I've been able to perform all of it.

Jin was a prodigy but he didn't know it. He had never been told he was good at martial arts, he hadn't heard praise. He thought if he learned this technique, what he considered a hidden technique, he could impress Ban. Especially if he learned it quickly.

The Exploding Heart Release Fist style was unlike the Fist of Flowing Water, Crushed Rock style that was defense-oriented and focuses on redirecting attacks, only including a few attacks and methods of throwing normal punches. Exploding Heart Release Fist style revolved around brute force and destructive power. The fighting style worked by causing the heart to pulse explosively in time with the impact of their punches, allowing Jin to surpass his bodily limits as a result of the massive flow of adrenaline, enabling him to hit much harder than the maximum force his body would normally exert. Creating a grenade-like bang in the punch.

Jin found it easy to learn just from reading the manual. He used a similar theory of Awakening Breath and the opposite theory to what the Fist of Flowing Water, Crushed Rock style used. Turning the punch he threw into a punch that generated shockwaves and turned his arm into an afterimage.

Jin preformed the fighting style and saw it the exact opposite of the Fist of Flowing Water, Crushed Rock style. Its punch would damage anyone who attempts to deflect the punches.

Jin performed the style and thought it was cool, he thought he would impress Ban. But instead, it looked angry.

Ban: Never perform this technique again!

Jin: What?

Ban: This was hidden for a reason! Never perform this technique again!

Jin: Why?

Jin gripped his hands as he looked down. Trying to slow his speeding heart rate down. Taking deep breaths. Trying not to get angry but he couldn't seem to not get angry at Ban. Jin wanted something so simple but Ban wouldn't give it to him. It was like he was incapable.

Ban: Why?! Because I said so!

Jin: No I...

Ban: What?!

Jin: WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BE HAPPY FOR ME! WHY CANT YOU SAY I'M DOING WELL OR IF I'M DOING SHIT AT LEAST TELL ME!

Jin shouted as the floor shook and Ban looked at Jin. Before he couldn't say he was looking at Jin. He was seen someone else. Someone else who had suffered like Jin, someone else in a similar position. That somewhat acted like Jin. No. That Jin acted like.

Jin: Am... am I doing that badly that you can't be proud of me? W-What am I doing wrong? I practice and practice but you never once say anything. Then when I find something I think I could use to impress you, and do it right first try. It... it looks like you want to kill me.

Ban looked at Jin with widened eyes as tears fell. But not from Jin's eyes. From Bans. Quickly hugging Jin to his surprise. Hugging him tightly.

Ban: I'm so sorry!

Jin: What?

Ban: I... I'm so proud of you.

Jin widened his eyes and he pushed Ban away. Looking at Ban shed tears for the first time. Jin didn't know why, but he was confused, happy and angry all at the same time.

Jin: Why... Why are you crying?

Ban: You... *Sigh* Jin. Do you want to know why my dojo is completely empty besides you and me?

Jin: It's because no one wants to be taught by an old man who looks like he could drop dead any moment.

Ban gave a small chuckle as that was what Ban said. Yet while that was true, no one wanted to be taught by Ban because of how old he was. That wasn't the main reason.

Ban: While that's true now, it didn't use to be. I used to have many disciples, in fact this whole dojo used to be full of them. Ones I taught the Fist of Flowing Water, Crushed Rock style to. But there was one exceptional disciple. A prodigy that absorbed martial arts styles like I've never seen. A prodigy like you.

Jin looked surprised at Ban. Jin had not once been complimented. But now he was being told, he was a prodigy.

Jin: I'm... I'm a prodigy?

Ban: Yes. If not more talented than him. He was someone that got bullied as a child. Stood up against his bullies like you. Someone I had great hopes for. But also someone I made my most mistakes on. His name was Garo.