After a few days of orientation, they fell into a rhythm. Days turned to weeks and then months.

Lorcan woke with the breaking of dawn and ran with Baldy and his fellow monks ten miles around the training complex. This was followed by a cold shower and guided meditation. Then came his favorite time. Combat training. Until now, he’d only had the basic combat training every grunt in the army got. During the grueling campaign before the tournament, he’d seen much more personal combat than expected. He’d barely survived by luck and with the help of his teammates and warriors on guard duty.

His footwork had improved immensely in the last months. His sweeping roundhouse kick followed a perfect trajectory… and missed, as his foot phased right through his enemies’ feet.

His trainings partner stepped back and nodded at him: “Now it’s your turn. I kick, you concentrate on the Dao to phase your legs.”

He used [Evasive Spatial Shift], but it was much less effective than he’d expected, due to the fact, his opponents used the Dao of space themselves to lock space around him and block his evasive maneuver. Brother Tsuba was highly impressed that he already had a spatial combat skill and after three months, he’d been granted access to a skill crystal out of the Dao repository of the monastery. For a modest fee of course.

[Strike of the five ways] – Proficiency: Early. Strike at one direction, hit from another.

He kicked at the ground, but could redirect the kinetic energy at another point, like the face of his opponent. This kinetic energy could be increased with extra Cosmic Energy expenditure. It wasn’t a high-quality skill. Mostly because the low energy efficiency. More direct attack skills cost much less and could not be as easily blocked. Many cultivators could use the Dao to seal their surrounding against spatial manipulation. After getting his butt literally kicked by brother Tsuba, he had turned to Baldy: “Well, do you want to try?”

“I prefer watching you get kicked around, but since brother Tsuba is eyeing me for his next round, I’ll prefer to take you on instead.”

Lorcan looked to brother Tsuba for confirmation, who nodded.

In the serene courtyard of the monastery, sunlight filtered through the verdant canopy, setting the stage for the training session of two freshly initiated monks, Lorcan and his new friend, Baldy. Clad in humble robes, they faced each other, their expressions composed yet eager.

"Remember, Lorcan, Baldy, the Dao of space transcends mere evasion. It is the art of dimensional manipulation," Brother Tsuba's gentle voice resonated, guiding them as they readied for their unarmed combat practice.

Nodding in understanding, the pair focused, aligning their thoughts with the teachings, preparing to weave spatial principles into their martial exercises.

Baldy, with a shaved head and a contagious grin, assumed a defensive posture, his movements poised and anticipatory. Lorcan, his countenance serene yet determined, mirrored Baldy's stance, their gazes locked in mutual understanding.

Launching the practice, Lorcan initiated a swift strike. Baldy seemed to blur and shift, effortlessly sidestepping as if he coalesced with the surrounding space, evading the attack with a graceful fluidity.

In response, Baldy unleashed a series of rapid strikes, channeling kinetic energy through the air. Lorcan, attuned to the incoming force, deftly manipulated the spatial currents, diverting the kinetic energy away, dispersing it into the ambient atmosphere.

Observing their progress, Brother Tsuba nodded approvingly, acknowledging their growing comprehension. "Excellent. Begin to harmonize your movements with the ever-shifting tapestry of spatial distortions. And watch your footwork. Don’t let your enemy dictate your rhythm."

With each exchange, Lorcan and Baldy synchronized their motions, aligning their actions with the subtle flux of dimensional warping. Their choreography transformed into a fluid spectacle, a seamless fusion of combat and spatial manipulation.

In a momentous display of mastery, Baldy executed a forceful strike aimed at Lorcan's midsection. Lorcan's eyes sparkled with focused intent as he manipulated the space around him. Swiftly, he folded the spatial fabric with [Evasive Spatial Shift], to move out of the way of the attack.

Brother Tsuba's eyes gleamed with pride. "Your control and synchronization show promise, young monks."

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Breathless yet exhilarated, Lorcan and Baldy exchanged grins, their budding camaraderie and shared progress evident. Their training had not only refined their combat proficiency but also deepened their insight into the mystical art of spatial manipulation, underscoring the harmony between martial discipline and the enigmatic forces of the Dao of Space.

The two had become good friends, finding a natural fit in their contrasting views of life. Baldegarath was the epitome of pessimism, always anticipating the worst-case scenario and expecting chaos to erupt at any moment. Despite a life filled with setbacks, he endured, refusing to let disaster pull him down. Baldy firmly believed in Murphy's Law - if anything could go wrong, it would - but he faced each challenge with a combination of resignation and resilience. He accepted being thrown off balance by life's curveballs, yet always managed to stand up again, whether with a smile or a groan.

On the other hand, Lorcan harbored his own collection of personal disasters, which he preferred to keep private. While he occasionally shared war stories from his past, he kept the details vague.

Later in their room, Baldegarath took a sip of water before posing a question: "Say, I was wondering. You seem to genuinely enjoy physical exercise. How?"

Lorcan shrugged nonchalantly. "Why not? I’ve been cooped up most of my life studying array positioning, inscription, and utilizing natural formations to enhance array effectiveness. I've spent the majority of my funds on medicinal baths and information crystals. There wasn’t time or money left for physical activities."

"Didn’t you receive combat training in the army?" Baldegarath inquired.

"Of course," Lorcan confirmed. "The standard training every grunt undergoes. Push-ups, running, weightlifting, working in enhanced gravity—nothing out of the ordinary. But here? Using spatial manipulation for defense and offense? Warping the very fabric of spacetime? What’s not to love?"

A hint of apprehension crossed Baldegarath's features. "I hope I can keep up. I'm not exactly the most physically gifted."

Lorcan offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. We're all here to learn and improve. Besides, with your skills in inscription, you'll find your own way to excel."

After training, Lorcan went straight to the communications room of the monastery, where he asked to be allowed to use the communication array. After paying a hefty sum of Nexus Coins, he was alone with the equipment and used it to open a channel to his trustee.

The voice of Torran Tuskan filled the room: “Lorcan, my valued beneficiary. My friend. It is good to hear from you. What can this humble merchant do for you?”

“Any luck finding a suitable Cultivation Manual for me?”

“Alas, no. The heavens have not answered my requests and none of the great information houses even named a price. No known faction or sect is known to use your specific Dao combination. If a Manual for you exists, not even its existence is common knowledge. I have however commissioned a custom Manual for you by one of the finest experts in this field. Lung Tsun Tsabbasa, a Hegemon with legendary insight into cultivation. He will visit your area to buy a Cosmic Vessel in a few months. I will arrange a meeting with you as soon as he arrives. He will need to inspect your pathways himself to finish his work. I have given him a copy of your old manual.”

Lorcan’s eyes widened: “How did you get my Cultivation Manual? It’s safely stored in my Cosmos Sack.”

“You mentioned the name of your Manual and it is a quite common manual for basic personal. It was not hard to acquire a copy on the open market.”

“I look forward to meeting master Tsabbasa. But now that I’m here, I have one more topic. I have a fellow monk here that seems trustworthy. I would like to hire him permanently, if he is willing. He is a array writer and in need of proper training material and education.”

“No problem. I was wondering why you’re not already collecting a supporting retinue. I will use my contacts in the monastery to make everything available.”

“How about some Dao fruits for him? I used far too many to get any effect for the next year or so, but he’s never used one. Higher Dao grade could increase his potential tenfold.”

“Do you think Dao fruits grow on trees?” The merchant sounded outraged.

Lorcan blinked, then answered uncertainly: “Well, I thought they did.”

“That… Ok, they do grow on trees, but only on very special trees, in rare energy rich locations, guarded by beast lords. You can’t give them away like candy!”

“I don’t think I’ll go broke from one single Dao fruit.”

Torran sighed audibly over the connection: “Fine. I’ll arrange everything, so you can check it out at the monastery’s store. I still can’t believe the system gives you free delivery on just about anything. If I could have something like that on my usual merchandise, I’d be filthy rich in a week.”

After a short discussion with some of the monks in administration, Lorcan returned to his room, where he found Baldy reading an information crystal. He waited until he looked up: “Any luck finding a manual?”

“Nope, but I had an interesting discussion with some monks in the human resources department. Seems like they value your contract at only Fifty E-grade Nexus coins.”

“Fifty? That’s ten times what they bought me for.”

“They claimed your worth has tripled through training. They also added transport, lodging and handling charges.”

“Handling?”

“Their words, not mine. They probably thought that would discourage me from trying to buy the contract.”

“Why would you buy my contract?”

“You told me you wanted to join my organization.”

Baldy rubbed his hand thoughtful over his bald head. He hesitated: “But… That was just a joke. Mostly. I didn’t think you could afford even the old sell price. I don’t know anything about your organization.”

“And you won’t, until you join and sign an extensive system enforced non-disclosure agreement.”

“System enforced… Well…” Baldegarath’s face lit up: “Will I have to serve as a space marine on a Cosmic Vessel?”

“If we should travel with a Cosmic Vessel, the marines on board will serve us. Following me will not be without danger. I will fight my way to supremacy and there is no easy way to the top.”

“Will it be a certain death level of danger?”

He made a considering gesture: “I’d say only almost certain death.”

“Sounds great. I’m in.” Baldy got a system prompt, read it and accepted. Then he grinned: “Well, now tell me who your mighty organization is.”

“Basically, only me, you and a system-controlled trust fund.”

“What?”

“Make yourself comfortable, this explanation might take a while.”