Novels2Search

Chapter - 30: New Skill

Adam listened intently to Jordan’s explanation about the Life Flowers. Though still somewhat shocked, he nodded, finally understanding the deeper meaning behind Jordan’s words.

He glanced once more at the cluster of flowers, their delicate white petals shimmering in the soft light.

Internally, Adam made a firm resolution. I will never forget these flowers or their purpose. He clenched his fists and looked back at Jordan, his determination clear in his eyes.

Jordan noticed Adam’s renewed focus and gave a small nod of approval. “You seem normal enough now. Follow me. We’re still not at our destination,” he said. Without waiting for a response, Jordan turned and started walking ahead.

Adam, still feeling the effects of the flower’s sap, quickly fell in line behind him. His mind was calmer now, his focus sharper. Step by step, the devices strapped to his arms and legs, which had earlier felt unbearably heavy, now felt almost negligible.

The two walked along the riverbank, the sound of flowing water accompanying them. The surroundings grew quieter as Adam focused entirely on Jordan’s back, matching his mentor’s pace without much difficulty.

His breathing stabilized, and his body seemed to move in rhythm with the terrain.

After a while, the silence was broken by Adam’s voice. “Master Jordan, may I ask you something?”

Jordan didn’t turn to look at him. His steps remained quick and steady. “Go ahead.”

Adam hesitated briefly, glancing at the river beside them and then at the dense forest lining the opposite bank.

There was an unease in his voice when he finally spoke. “We’ve been walking for a long time now, and… this river—it just keeps going. Aren’t we too far from home?”

Jordan’s reply came without hesitation, his tone calm yet firm. “You’re right. We’re very far from where we started.”

Adam’s eyes shifted to Jordan’s back, a mix of respect and confusion brewing within him. “Master Jordan… how do you know the way so well? I mean, if I were alone here, I’d probably get lost.”

Jordan continued walking, still not looking back. “When you’ve lived in a place like this for fifteen years, you remember every path, every turn.”

Adam’s eyes widened in surprise. “Fifteen years?” he muttered to himself. The thought of living in such an isolated, wild place for so long struck him hard.

As they walked further, Adam’s mind began to fill with questions. Fifteen years… alone? No one to talk to, no one to share anything with… just surviving in the wilderness. A newfound respect for Jordan began to grow within him.

Breaking the silence again, Adam asked another question, his tone laced with curiosity. “Master Jordan, I still don’t understand one thing. Why are you walking so fast?”

This time, Jordan finally stopped in his tracks. He turned to face Adam, his sharp gaze locking onto him. “I’m walking fast for your sake,” he said bluntly.

Adam blinked, taken aback. “For… my sake? What does that mean?”

Jordan stepped closer to Adam, his expression serious. Raising his hand, he pressed a finger lightly against Adam’s chest. “You’ll understand soon enough,” Jordan said, his voice carrying a weight that made Adam uneasy.

The cryptic reply left Adam puzzled. He opened his mouth to ask more, but before he could speak, Jordan turned sharply and resumed walking—this time at an even faster pace.

Adam stood still for a moment, staring at Jordan’s retreating figure. He’s definitely up to something, Adam thought. But instead of questioning further, he took a deep breath and followed without hesitation.

As Jordan sped up, Adam broke into a jog to keep up with him, his mind racing with possibilities about what lay ahead.

Adam, still running to keep up with Jordan, was startled by how effortlessly Jordan maintained his speed. Despite Adam’s best efforts, even his sprinting couldn’t match Jordan’s walking pace.

His legs began to ache, but he refused to slow down. The two continued moving forward, with the sound of the flowing river accompanying them.

After what felt like an eternity, Adam suddenly heard a sound—a distinct rushing noise that echoed through the forest. Startled, he stopped abruptly, his eyes darting around to locate the source.

Jordan, however, didn’t pause, continuing his steady march ahead as though nothing had changed.

“I know this sound,” Adam muttered to himself, his ears straining to confirm his suspicion. A realization struck him, and with renewed energy, he pushed forward, quickening his pace to catch up with Jordan.

After a short distance, Adam spotted Jordan standing still. Ahead of him, a small hill loomed, and from its top, a waterfall cascaded down into the river below. The sight of the shimmering water rushing over the rocks made Adam gasp.

“I knew it,” Adam said, a hint of excitement in his voice. “That sound—it was a waterfall!”

He ran to Jordan’s side, looking up at him with a mixture of curiosity and hope. “Master Jordan, did you bring me here so I could bathe?”

Jordan turned slightly, a rare smirk appearing on his face. “You’ll find out in a few seconds,” he replied cryptically.

Adam’s initial excitement gave way to unease. There was something about Jordan’s tone that made him wary.

The warnings, the strange pace, the cryptic statements—everything felt like it was leading up to something he wasn’t prepared for.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

Before Adam could voice his concerns, Jordan pointed at him and gave a clear command. “Take off your clothes and sit under the waterfall.”

Adam froze, his eyes widening in shock. For a moment, he thought Jordan might be joking, but his stern expression said otherwise. “What?” Adam managed to say, bewildered.

“Do as I say,” Jordan repeated firmly, gesturing toward the waterfall.

Adam hesitated but then sighed in resignation. He trusted Jordan, even if the situation seemed bizarre.

Nodding slowly, he began removing his lightweight clothing, a task that didn’t take long. Once he was stripped down, he approached the base of the waterfall.

The sound of the crashing water grew deafening as Adam positioned himself beneath it. He lowered himself into a lotus position, sitting directly under the pounding stream.

The moment the cold water touched his head and body, a sharp, unbearable pain shot through him. His muscles tensed, and he let out a cry of agony.

It was as if the energy that had filled him earlier was being drained all at once. The euphoria from the flower’s sap vanished, leaving him feeling utterly drained and weak.

“What… what’s happening to me?!” Adam tried to stand, desperate to escape the waterfall’s punishing flow. But before he could move, Jordan’s voice thundered through the air.

“Don’t you dare move!” Jordan shouted. “Even if it kills you, you must stay under that waterfall!”

Adam froze, his body trembling as he forced himself to remain seated. The water continued to pound against his head and shoulders, its relentless force making it difficult to breathe.

His chest heaved as he struggled to control his ragged breathing, the water streaming down his face and into his mouth.

Adam’s mind swirled with questions. Why is this happening? Why did Jordan bring me here?

As if sensing Adam’s confusion, Jordan began to speak, his voice steady and deliberate. “The pain and exhaustion you’re feeling are because the effect of the flower I gave you is wearing off. The moment water touches your body, the flower’s influence is neutralized. That’s why it feels like you’re collapsing from the inside out.”

Adam clenched his teeth as he listened, the explanation making the situation clearer but no less painful. “So… this is why…” he muttered through gritted teeth.

Jordan continued, his tone unwavering. “This water isn’t hurting you. It’s simply forcing your body to return to its natural state. The flower’s effects weren’t real—they gave you the illusion of energy and healing. Now, you’re feeling the exhaustion and pain you should have felt all along.”

Understanding dawned on Adam, though it didn’t make the ordeal any easier to endure. His body felt as though it was being crushed under the weight of his own fatigue, his limbs trembling uncontrollably.

The devices strapped to his arms and legs remained unaffected by the water, their weight seeming heavier with every passing second.

Adam’s eyes closed as he fought to steady his breathing, water continuing to cascade over him in unrelenting streams.

He felt trapped in the overwhelming torrent, his energy nearly depleted. But Jordan’s command echoed in his mind, keeping him rooted to the spot despite his body’s protests.

Adam sitting beneath the waterfall, his body battered and his mind filled with questions, as the relentless water tested the limits of his resolve.

Adam sat motionless under the waterfall, his body trembling from exhaustion and pain. The relentless stream of water battered his head and shoulders, but he forced himself to stay seated.

His breaths were shallow and ragged, the cold water making it harder to draw air. Despite his efforts, his chest burned from the strain.

Jordan, watching from a distance, shouted, “Control your breathing, Adam! Slow it down!”

Struggling to follow the instructions, Adam began to take deep, deliberate breaths. It wasn’t easy; the pounding water felt like a heavy weight pressing down on him.

But with every slow inhale and exhale, the burning in his chest began to ease. Gradually, his breathing stabilized, and the overwhelming sense of suffocation subsided.

For the first time since entering the waterfall, Adam’s body stopped trembling. His mind, though still racing, started to calm. Jordan, still observing, gave a slight nod of approval.

“That’s it,” Jordan said firmly. “Once you master your breathing, you’ll gain control over your mana.”

Adam heard the words but remained focused on his breathing. A realization dawned on him, one that filled him with mixed emotions.

He whispered to himself, “I’ve never had any special talents—nothing but the ability to speak English. That’s all I’ve got.”

But the thought didn’t discourage him. If anything, it ignited a spark within him. If I don’t have talent, then I’ll rely on something greater—hard work.

Adam clenched his jaw, determination hardening in his mind. He knew this was just the beginning of a long journey, and he was willing to endure whatever it took to improve.

He closed his eyes, falling into a meditative state. His breathing became steady, each inhale and exhale deliberate and slow.

The water continued to crash against him, but he no longer flinched at its force. Instead, he focused inward, directing his attention to the center of his forehead.

As minutes passed, Adam began to feel a shift within his body. The fatigue that had gripped him started to fade, replaced by a faint but noticeable sense of recovery.

He could feel his injuries healing, albeit slowly, and his muscles regaining a semblance of strength. The meditative state seemed to be working in ways he couldn’t fully comprehend.

Meanwhile, Jordan sat a short distance away, his sword planted firmly into the rocky ground. He rested against the hilt, his sharp eyes fixed on Adam. A subtle smirk played on his lips as he watched Adam’s progress.

This training usually begins after a month, but Adam… he continues to amaze me. His determination and potential are exceptional, Jordan thought to himself.

But his face remained impassive, betraying none of these thoughts. I can’t let him know this, though. If I praise him too much, he might grow complacent. I need to keep challenging him, pushing him to uncover his true potential.

Jordan resolved to never reveal his admiration for Adam’s progress. Instead, he decided to mask it with criticism and harsh lessons, knowing it would drive Adam to work even harder.

Adam, still meditating, remained unaware of Jordan’s inner thoughts. His focus was solely on his breathing and the faint sensations in his body.

Slowly but surely, his mind became quieter, the noise of his doubts and fears fading into the background.

Jordan, noticing Adam’s growing calmness, stood up and took a deep breath. His voice cut through the roar of the waterfall.

“You’re too slow, Adam! Now try something harder. Close your eyes and sense the world around you. Feel everything—without relying on your mana or your magical spell.”

Adam’s eyes remained closed, but his brow furrowed at the challenge. He took a deep breath, letting Jordan’s words sink in.

Jordan crossed his arms, his expression stern. This task is nearly impossible for most beginners. It takes years of training for students to develop this skill in the clan. I don’t expect Adam to succeed, but I want to see how far he can go.

Adam, meanwhile, whispered to himself, “Focus, Adam. Feel. Concentrate. You have to see without seeing.”

He repeated the words in his mind like a mantra, urging himself to push past his limits. Slowly, his awareness began to expand.

At first, there was only darkness—a deep, endless void behind his closed eyelids. But then, faintly, a small light appeared in the distance.

Adam gasped softly, his concentration wavering. The light flickered and vanished, swallowed by the darkness.

“No… no!” Adam muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. “Come on, Adam. Focus. Concentrate. You can do this.”

He took another deep breath, letting the water cascading over his head cool his frustration. The cold helped clear his mind, sharpening his focus. Slowly, the light reappeared, faint but steady.

Adam narrowed his focus, willing himself to hold onto the light. His entire being was centered on that one point, every thought and sensation channeled toward the faint glow.

And at that moment, the chapter ended, with Adam standing on the brink of unlocking something new within himself.