I stare blankly at Master Wang, before I can speak up or give back the card, the girl from the reception desk runs over.

“HEY. What did I tell you about sneaking in here and harassing customers? We are bordering a school, for god’s sake.” She is running over with a broom, acting like Master Wang is some pest to sweep away.

“Alright kid, the address is on the back, come over at the earliest convenience.” I watch Master Wang sprint away out a different entrance. He didn’t even leave coolly, he just ran for it.

“Hey did that weird old man bother you, we’ve been getting complaints that he has been harassing low leveled customers about wanting them to ‘embrace pain’ or something,” she tells me since Master Wang is long gone.

“He was trying to persuade me to do something, but he wasn’t bothering me.”

“Alright, if he comes back and gives you trouble, just scream loudly, I’ll bring my broom with me.”

She walks back to the reception desk as I get back to my training.

Name: Rob

Nickname:

Species: Short Skeleton F (Uncommon Undead)

Level 1 0/100

Evolution Requirements Not Met.

~

Health Points 5/5

Mana Points: 25/25

Armor Points: 0

~

Might: 3 > 4

Agility: 3 > 6

Vigor: 1

Mind: 3 > 4

Spirit: 3

It seems Rob’s training is quite fruitful… I guess?

I wonder if there is a better way to do this. That crazy old man might know a thing or two about training.

I look at the back of the card. The address is not that far from the school, but it is in the opposite direction from my house. It's actually kind of near Jerry's place. I decided to text Jerry to see when I can visit him.

[Yo dude where r u]

[Ellis, is that you?]

[Yeah, can I come over and raid your fracture?]

[Sorry dude, not today. Tomorrow at the earliest. Also, my dad will probably want to talk to you about something]

[Gotcha.]

I guess going to this stranger's address will be better than nothing. I look at [Master Wang, the Broken Fist] on the internet and find some results.

Master Wang had a dojo that he ran, teaching his martial arts. His dojo ran out of business a few years ago, it doesn't say why. I search a little deeper and find some archived ratings on Kelp.

☆

I signed up my son thinking that martial arts would be good for him, little did I know is that 'Master Wang' was a pervert! He is both a sadist and a masochist, when my son came home he was crying like a baby. He's 28!

☆ ☆

What's the point of this dojo? It's too hardcore for casual use, and it's not like some hidden clan training warriors in a mountain. The place was nice, but not nice enough considering the massive price.

☆

He's old.

…

I'm contemplating, on one hand, that it's a fast way to build resistance and to consolidate strength. On the other hand, he's apparently an old sadistic money-grubber. How far am I willing to go for strength?

~

I'm standing outside the address, it looks like an eastern-style residential home if the home was in a massive courtyard. This whole part of the city is filled with rich people who want to live somewhere nice and calm.

The massive courtyard walls block my entry, I walk around until I find the door. The gate looks exposing, with hand-carved wooden doors. I push on it, and it doesn't budge. There is an intercom next to it with a little buzzer. I push it three times.

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ

A crisp female voice comes to the intercom after a short delay.

"Hello, who is this."

"Hi, an old man gave me an address that led me here, was that a prank?"

"Sigh, it wasn't a prank. I'll let you in if you want, but you should probably leave now while you have the chance."

The gates unlock. Inside is a beautiful garden filled with plants and butterflies. I look at a sign that prohibits shoes and footwear of any kind. The path to the building is covered by hot coals.

I sigh and take off my socks and shoes and roll up my pant legs. I walk barefoot onto the smoldering coals.

Ouch, ow, fuck, mother f-

The coals burn the bottom of my feet. Hopping doesn't help, as the impact of a landing makes it hurt more. I quickly make my way over to the front door.

[Resistance Fire 1>3]

Maybe this will be worth it after all. The door opens as I step onto the patio. I haven't healed myself yet, since it would be a waste unless I stopped burning myself.

"I knew you had a potential young one, my eyes never deceive me. When I saw you in that sham of a dojo, I felt that you-

"I don't have any money."

"... get inside, you ruined the moment."

The bloody footprints I leave contrast on the clean patio floor, looking at Master Wang, I was about to apologize, but he cuts me off before I get a chance.

“It’s fine, my granddaughter is used to cleaning up blood.”

“What the fuck, who says that with a straight face.” I already got this far, it would be a shame to leave before getting something more than a few points of resistance.

The front entrance of his house opens into a big room with tatami mats. I heal myself before entering, and Master Wang notices.

“Good, good. It's excellent that you have a healing skill, they are quite rare for martial practitioners like ourselves.”

“I’m a Tamer.”

“...”

“This is Flash Gordon, and here's Rob.” I go to open my bag, but Master Wang stops me.

“It’s no matter, a true warrior does not need confirmation on their status, what they truly need is an unwavering heart and a great conviction.” He turns around dramatically, showing me his back. The back of his gi has the same design as the card.

“Tell me why I should accept you as my disciple, I saw your conviction to get to the door, but it’s not enough.”

“You offered for me to come over? I also had some time to spare today, so I came over.”

He turns to look at me, he calms himself before I can see his face, but the vein in his head betrays his hidden emotions.

“Can’t you say something like ‘I heard about your great prowess, please teach me Master Wang!’ what's up with your attitude.”

“I won’t lie to try and butter you up, it’s dishonest. To be transparent, I heard of your unconventional methods for getting strong (on the internet) and was interested in what the (in)famous Master Wang can do for me.”

His bulging vein recedes, he seems to like my answer.

“Hm-hm, my martial arts were pretty famous back in my day, I used to fight in the great monster waves when the Collision first happened.”

Damn, this guy is old, way over a century for sure. I wonder if he knew my grandpa.

“I want to see what you are capable of before I let you join my dojo.” I was about to ask what he wants me to do, rattle off a resume, go on a fetch quest. Master Wang strikes me suddenly and forcefully.

-10

The damage isn't much, but I go flying across the room, hitting the wall. I should have left when I had a chance. What is this geezer doing bulling the younger generation, just for this I’m going to stop paying taxes, so his senior welfare checks stop coming in the mail?

“Your reaction time is lacking. Your body is pretty sturdy, you must have heavily invested in Vigor.”

He appears in front of me and starts beating me while on the ground. The damage isn't much but the force of impact rattles my bones. I use my extremities to protect my head and torso. At some point, he is just kicking me in the ribs.

“Your stats are imbalanced, that can be helpful for some, but it’s not helping you out.” He backs off from me, allowing me to breathe.

“Now attack, young man.”

I grit my teeth and get up off the ground. Rob must have perceived a threat, and bless his nonexistent heart, bursts out of the bag to try and get revenge for his master. Rob got fucking annihilated with one casual kick from Master Wang… Rob will definitely need time to reassemble from that one.

I use the brief distraction Rob gave to chuck Flash Gordon at my full strength at Master Wang. I use Empower on Flash Gordon’s Vigor.

[Empower D lv1

You can empower a single stat on your tamed beast for 1 minute. Cooldown: 10 minutes.

Mana cost: 10

Buff: 10%]

This should bring Flash Gordon’s Vigor to an impressive 101 Vigor. I also activate my Tanto, summoning it for 10% of my current health. With a spray of blood, my blade appears in my hand, since there is no handle, the blade cuts into my hand. I activate [Sacrifice Health]

[Sacrifice Health A

The User damages himself with the blade, empowering his next attack.

Health to damage conversion: 1-1]

I still have a little under 300 health, so a dump 200 points of my life into the blade. The blade cuts my palm deep, and I feel a surge of power. The skill never specifies that I must attack with my blade for the buff to work. I chuck Flash Gordon as Hard as Possible.

[Throw Levels up]

[Throw E lv3 > 4

Thrown attacks deal 12.5 percent more damage

2.5% more per skill level]

CRACK

I did the calculations and someone with no defenses would take over 470 damage if you include the extra damage Flash Gordon does to bones.

That cracking noise was the sound of Flash Gordon being caught in the palm of Master Wong. He tosses Flash Gordon in the air a few times.

“Good rock, well-balanced, nice heft. It looks like it can take a beating.” He tosses Flash Gordon back to me, I catch him with both hands staining him with blood, and my tanto drops to the ground.

Master Wang appears next to me and inspects my blade.

“Hmm, you’re not suicidal, are you kid?” I shake my head no. He continues, “Well the blade is well crafted, but the lack of handle ruins it for traditional combat, good thing I don't teach traditional martial arts.

“So I pass the test? I feel a little disappointed it was this easy… is what I would say if I was a closet masochist, good thing I’m not.

“The first test ends when you either pass out or if you make me bleed, and you passed it.” He shows me his palm, it broke the skin and I guess blood came out, but you wouldn’t have noticed it if he didn’t show you.

“So, then I would’ve passed the test no matter what?” I ask him.

“No, if you surrendered or tried to flee the room I wouldn't stop you, but you wouldn’t be able to continue with the next tests.” He says matter-of-factly.

“There are more tests? I have school tomorrow.” I would probably skip class and try to get Rob some levels at Jerry’s place, I’m confident that my Companion skill will level when my creatures go up in strength.

“I see, then come back when you have three days to spare. You have to complete tests 2-16 if you want to be the successor of The Path of the Broken Body.”

“Successor, Can't I just learn some techniques like a normal disciple?” Being a successor implies a lot more responsibility and connection than I’m comfortable having right now… I only came here to hurt myself for stats.

“Hahaha no. With your spongy capabilities, you have a natural-born body for my martial arts, anything less than a successor will be not enough.”

Sure ‘natural’, I respond, “Couldn’t you pass down your legacy to someone in your family?”

“My daughter has made it firm that she does not want to go through the grueling training that being my successor brings, and my grandson doesn’t like to get hurt,” he says seriously.

“... I’m going home now, bye, Master Wang.” I collect the pieces of Rob into my bag, so he assembles faster and I head towards the front door.

“You can go out the side door if you want, there are no coals that way.” He reveals.

Since my shoes are already off, I just walk the fiery path once more. I burn myself more and use the rest of my mana to heal me when in done.

[Resistance: Fire 3 > 4]

I look over, and Master Wang is looking at me proudly, I shudder a bit out of sight and start heading home. I don't need the commemorations from a rumored masochist.