Memory One.
Seven-year-old Jack and his grandfather were in a small training dojo. His grandfather, descended from an Asian mother, considered Tai Chi his most precious inheritance—a gift he was duty-bound to pass on to the next generation.
"Jack, never forget: Tai Chi is the channeling of your energy and that of your enemy.
First, feel your own energy, then try to understand the flow of your enemy's energy and use it against them."
"But Grandpa… I don't get it. How do I do that?"
"You must meditate until you can feel the energy flowing through your body." Jack sat there cross-legged, meditating… and drooling heavily.
"WHAT! Don't fall asleep, you spoiled little brat!" his grandfather yelled, whacking him over the head with a rolled-up newspaper.
Man, this kid is incredibly lazy.
"OUCH! Grandpa… I wasn't sleeping!" Jack whined, rubbing his head with both hands.
His grandfather leaned down closely.
"Oh yeah? Then what's with the drool running down your chin?" "Ahhh… that?... I was just concentrating really hard, Grandpa."
The old man raised the newspaper and smacked him again.
"LIAR!... You were drifting off right in the middle of training!" his voice boomed, his face red with anger.
"OUCH! I'm sorry, Grandpa, I'm just really tired… Can we go get ice cream instead? Please?" Jack pleaded, rubbing his head again with a wide grin.
Lying little rascal.
"Fine. We'll go out for a bit, but then you're coming right back to meditate… understood?"
"Yes, sir… Grandpa!" Jack cheered, jumping off the floor mat, hand still on his forehead.
…..
The area was brightly lit, leaving both combatants completely visible to one another. The ceiling was lined with small lights that made it impossible to hide even the slightest movement.
Tai Chi… huh?
*I'm sorry, Grandpa. Because of how much I hate my father, I sometimes forget your teachings.*
Jack lay on the ground, his breath catching in his throat.
"Damn it, I'm almost at my limit, and this bastard hasn't even broken a sweat," he muttered, dragging himself up incrementally, head hanging, staggering…
He faced his enemy. He extended his left hand into the air like a claw as a surge of hot air erupted from within him. Closing his eyes, he inhaled gently. He lowered his center of gravity, spreading his feet wide apart, bending his knees slightly, and bringing both hands to his waist with palms facing upward… keeping his eyes locked onto his foe.
He exhaled slowly, and a violent vibration enveloped his entire body. He took two steps forward, the ground shattering beneath his feet with every stride.
Caught off guard, his enemy fired two quick attacks. "Thankho!"
…
Tempo!
…
Yet, Jack could still move within the domain. He kept advancing firmly, silent and composed, while the floor, the lights, and the walls cracked under the sheer pressure radiating from him.
"Panraka zu zuna Direct Than!"
…
Double Directed Air Palm.
…
"Panraka zu zuna Direct Than!"
…
Double Directed Air Palm.
…
He thrust his vibrating left hand out and deflected the first strike. He kept moving, and as he anticipated the second, he dropped to his knees. One blast pierced his right flank, while the other grazed his cheek.
He spat blood twice. His enemy was no longer where he had been standing.
…..
I blacked out again.
No time to waste, I have to finish this guy.
I only have two forced regenerations left before my body completely shuts down. Meanwhile, my right hand is barely growing its fingers back.
He dropped both hands and knees to the floor… his breathing hammering against his chest. He stayed down for a while before standing back up, his vision blurred, finding himself once again facing the two tunnels.
Jack stood tall. He raised his left hand, and his body began to close the wounds completely. He stumbled forward… landing face-first onto the ground.
"Damn it… I'm running out of time," he wheezed.
I'll take the left tunnel…
Entering it, he noticed the walls were smeared with blood.
The stench of the dead rat was unbearable. Covering his nose, he saw the red light flickering just ahead: *"Exit."*
Back at the starting point again. I'm not even surprised anymore.
He walked back out of the tunnel.
…..
I blacked out again.
No time to waste, I have to finish this guy.
I only have two forced regenerations left before my body completely shuts down. Meanwhile, my right hand is barely growing its fingers back.
He collapsed onto his hands and knees… the pressure in his chest feeling twice as agonizing as before. He tried to suppress the pain… but all he could do was clutch his chest and wait for it to subside.
You bastard, you looped me back to the exact same spot.
Jack stood up incrementally. He raised a trembling left hand, tears cutting through the grime on his face… his body forced the wounds to knit shut. He dragged himself forward, tripped… and smashed face-first into the dirt.
God damn it. I hate loops.
This time, he went down the right tunnel.
The light was practically nonexistent—even worse for his blurry, near-collapse vision. Fatigue accumulated with every step; his legs shook violently, threatening to give out.
No matter how heavy my body feels, I have to get out of here.
Just before the tunnel exit, a high-pressure pipe burst above him, venting scorching air to his right. He was only saved because his left leg buckled at that exact moment, sending him crashing to both knees… watching in shock as the boiling steam roared just over his head.
"Phew… that was a close one," he muttered, wiping the sweat dripping from his chin. He decided to sit down for a second, leaning his back against the damp wall.
Memory Two.
"Grandpa, what do I do if I have to fight and meditate at the same time?"
"If you're fighting someone, you won't need to meditate anymore. Meditation is just a tool to help you feel the energy inside your body so you can project it outward."
"I don't… get it," Jack said, his face a total blank.
You never get anything, kid.
"I mean you need to keep your energy flowing constantly while you're in motion. That is the key to fighting someone without needing to sit down and close your eyes."
"Ahhh… I still don't get it," he yelled, looking even more bewildered.
Man, you really are an idiot sometimes.
His grandfather looked Jack in the eyes and smiled, hoisting him up onto his shoulders.
You don't have a care in the world… and I suppose that's your charm.
"Let's call it a day."
"Okay, Grandpa!" Jack cheered with a massive grin.
The two walked out of the dojo.
…..
I drifted off again.
Alright, time to end this fight. At least I got a little rest.
Jack pulled his legs in and rested his hands on his knees. He opened his palms, forming a circle with the thumb and pinky of his left hand. Finally, he closed his eyes.
He took a slow breath in through his nose and out through his mouth, repeating it three times. His veins bulged once more as vibrations slowly rippled across his flesh.
The dirt of the tunnel began to crack steadily with every breath he took. A few minutes later, Jack stood up.
"Here we go," he whispered. He took two steps forward, and the tunnel began to collapse behind him.
Jack marched straight ahead at a measured pace. Torrents of water and mud erupted around him as the tunnel caved in at his heels, the collapse gaining speed.
Jack cleared the exit and stepped into the next chamber. "Thankho!"
…
Tempo!
…
The ability shattered the moment it touched Jack's body. He kept walking, maintaining his steady, calm breathing.
"Panraka zu zuna Direct Than!"
…
Double Directed Air Palm.
…
"Panraka zu zuna Direct Than!"
…
Double Directed Air Palm.
…
Jack extended his left hand—palm open, fingers tightly locked—and sliced the first attack clean in half, deflecting the split blasts to his left and right simultaneously.
Don't forget, Jack. Watch your enemy closely, and turn their own power against them.
The creature's smirk finally faltered, replaced by terror and desperation.
Jack took two more steps. He dropped his stance, squaring his feet. He brought his right palm to his hip and extended his left hand toward his enemy, palm facing the
ceiling, thumb and pinky locked in a circle… He caught the monster's second attack, anchored it for a fraction of a second, and hurled it straight back with his own vibrations added to the mix, aiming dead center at its chest.
The monster blasted backward into the wall, coughing up fragments of bone. Jack kept advancing, slow and unbothered. The entire chamber groaned and fractured with every step he took; the light fixtures overhead flickered violently and blew out from the intense heat radiating from his skin.
The creature panicked completely. It raised its right hand to its mouth, trying to reclaim control.
"THORM ARM!" it roared, glaring at its prey.
…
Air Storm.
…
A massive, tornadic gale of wind ripped through the room, hurtling toward Jack.
Jack paused and dropped his center of gravity once more. Replicating his earlier movements, he deflected the beast's tempest back at it with twice the velocity.
Infuriated, the skull entity rapidly deployed a defensive skill.
"Proriz Arm!" it shouted, throwing its hands out to the sides, halting the storm.
…
Air Barrier.
…
Heh… so you still have a few tricks left.
Doesn't matter. I don't have much time left anyway.
"It's time for you to die, you bastard!" Jack yelled, his voice rising as he kicked his right foot forward. Keeping his head low, he pulled his right hand back behind his shoulder. He extended his left palm toward his foe, fingers pressed tight, forming the index-and-thumb circle.
Scalding steam began to hiss into the room. Dozens of lights exploded, and water main caps blew off, shooting pressurized water in every direction.
…..
"Valentine, why is everything shaking? This heat is unbearable!" Alicia gasped, forcing her eyes open. Overhead, light fixtures were tearing away from the ceiling, and the glass windows of nearby storefronts were spiderwebbing.
"I'm so glad you're awake, Alicia," Valentine whispered, tears pooling in her eyes. "Jack is fighting. I can feel his rage all the way from here."
A window shattered, followed by several others. A flying shard grazed Valentine's cheek, slicing it open. She raised a hand to cover it, but the blood wouldn't stop flowing…
Alicia froze for a few seconds before panicking. "VALENTINE! No!" she screamed.
"Don't worry. I'm fine," Valentine managed a smile.
"We need to… no, we have to find Jack and get out of here," she added, looking into Alicia's eyes with a gentle smile.
"Yeah… but first, hand me my crutch, please." Alicia stood up to grab the crutch, turning her back.
"Valentine… Jack's body… it's tearing itself apart piece by piece. He can't hold out much longer. If he keeps this up… he's going to die."
Valentine went entirely numb, completely stripped of words.
…..
Heh… so you still have a few tricks left.
Doesn't matter. I don't have much time left anyway.
"It's time for you to die, you bastard!" Jack yelled, his voice rising as he kicked his right foot forward. Keeping his head low, he pulled his right hand back behind his shoulder. He extended his left palm toward his foe, fingers pressed tight, forming the index-and-thumb circle.
He slowly raised his gaze to meet the monster's eyes. "Chrono – Tempo: Space-Time Fracture!" he roared.
Instantly, Tempo engulfed his entire body, and the sewer water evaporated into mist within seconds.
Jack blitzed his opponent, delivering a devastating kick straight to its neck that launched the creature across the room, embedding it deep into the left wall.
By now, his right hand was already reforming its knuckles.
The beast dragged itself out of the crater, wheezing loudly, missing several teeth and two fingers from its left arm.
Looks like that wasn't enough.
"Proriz Arm."
…
Air Barrier.
…
"THORM ARM THAN THANKHO RER!" it bellowed, straining for breath.
…
Double Directed Air Storm – Time Regenerated.
…
Two massive cyclones surged forward, cloaking the monster's advance.
Heh… well, look at that. Interesting.
Jack launched himself at his prey again.
Right side… palm strike. Missed—the storm regenerated instantly.
Left side… right kick, aiming for the skull. Missed—the storm knit back together.
Blindspot… left kick to the ribs.Impact. The beast crashed to the floor, spitting out more bone fragments, but its abilities remained active… and seconds later, it dragged itself back up.
Left side… left hook to the face. Countered:
"Parziri Thankho," the creature muttered, touching Jack's left hand and freezing it in place for a few seconds. But it was futile; time fractured under the strain, and Jack smashed his fist into its face, sending it flying back into the rear wall, burying it deeper.
…
Partial Tempo.
…
The beast emerged from the wall, panting heavily, its barriers still active. Jack dropped to one knee.
"Damn it!... this thing is durable," he muttered, his breathing erratic.
"THORM ARM KHAN THANKHO RER!" it roared, coughing up shards of bone. It spread both arms wide, locked its eyes onto Jack, and smiled.
…
Triple Directed Air Storm – Time Regenerated.
…
The structural integrity of the area began to disintegrate. Pipes ruptured, releasing massive columns of scalding gas.
Jack stood up, glaring at his enemy. Next to him, a massive metal support beam collapsed, bearing down on him—but the sheer kinetic pressure radiating from his body shattered the beam into pieces the moment it touched his head.
Jack ignored it, keeping his steady stride forward.
The creature paused in surprise, crossing its arms to direct two of the storms right at him—but Jack was already gone…
He was right behind it.
Rear… right kick to the skull. Missed.
Right side… left strike to the chest. Missed.
Left side… left kick to the ribs. Missed.
Frontal… left hook to the face. Missed.
He disengaged, keeping his eyes glued to the target. A faint tightness began to constrict his chest.
I can't pierce his defense like this.
All of the monster's cyclones and barriers remained fully operational, but its physical form was breaking down. A massive fracture split its skull down the middle, running from its left eye socket to its mouth.
Jack spotted the flaw. He slowly lowered his stance, squaring his feet. He extended his right hand forward, palm up, and brought his open left palm down to his waist, also facing upward… He inhaled slowly. His right hand was now fully regenerated.
The beast hurled all three air storms at Jack. He simply smirked, closing his eyes for a split second before curling his hand into a claw, thumb pressed against his palm,
pulling his arm back behind his head.
"Chrono – Tempo: Collapse," he whispered, snapping his eyes open.
He whipped his hand forward like a slingshot, unleashing a colossal shockwave of vibrations… it tore through the three vortexes effortlessly, grazing the monster's skull and severing its right arm in a single, clean slice.
The tremors ceased. Dead silence claimed the room.
The skeletal entity tried to scramble away. But it was too late…
"I've got you… you bastard!" Jack roared, driving a brutal right uppercut into its chin—launching it into the air and shattering every single one of its remaining teeth.
We're not done yet.
Jack overcharged his body even further, wrapping his fists in pure fire as he leaped into the air, giving his prey zero time to recover.
"Thanks for putting up a fight!" He smashed his right fist directly into its fractured skull, driving it violently into the dirt as his flames began to incinerate the monster completely.
The entire area convulsed. A massive section of the ceiling caved in, and several storefronts from the mall above began to sink into the ground.
Jack's body gave out mid-air, crashing hard onto the stone floor. His breathing was dangerously shallow, his limbs refused to respond, and his vision faded into a blurry haze…