Five hours after the Cory incident, T.J. had just finished mastering the principle of “Flow”. Now, he was beginning to practice “Glow”. Ameer opted not to alert T.J. of what happened. He knew he would likely have ran off after his old enemy. He wanted him to at least master all the basic principles first though. So he decided to speed up the process. One of his light bending drones appeared before TaeJean. T.J. spoke up “You know that’s creepy right?”
Ameer: “Yeah well, I have been watching you the whole time. Don’t worry. I didn’t follow you when you went to the bathroom. Changing the subject, just sitting here concentrating your energy is redundant at this point. Now for combat training!” T.J.: “But I haven’t fully mastered the basics.” “You’ve mastered the first two, so you have a feel for Conceptual Energy and how to use it. Glow uses the same principles. Make it ‘Flow’ as much as you can, but keep it right above the skin like ‘Flare’. Then compress it and and bring it back into your body, while keeping the exact same ‘Flow’ output. Not to hard right?”
TaeJean thought about it. “It doesn’t really sound hard. But hearing and doing are two different things.” Ameer responded. “Oh you’ll definitely figure it out in this next exercise. Now, you see those towers of junk cars? Pick one.” T.J. walked over to one, Ameer's drone following. It had about 14 crushed car frames, stacked on top of each other. Ameer spoke. “Are you able to use ‘Flare” instantly?” TaeJean answered “Ummm, what do you mean by ‘instantly’?” Ameer: “Releasing your power as soon as the strike lands. Not half a second later or before.” “I’m pretty sure I can,” said T.J. “Well we shall test this. I want you to strike this tower with the strongest ‘Flare’ you can muster at once! I'll be ready when you are.”
Within his base, Ameer selected some options on a screen. The UI read “Energy Measurement”. Underneath this title were two charts for measuring the following: striking speed and Joules produced. Ameer repeated, “Ready when you are.”
TaeJean looked at the junk tower. He jumped, and struck at the center, instantly releasing his Flare the second his fist made contact! The car frames were sent flying at various angles, eventually landing various places in the junkyard, creating noise like canon balls! “Phewwwww” T.J. and Ameer both whistled at the boys work. The charts read: 3149.57 MPH and 1.1311 j respectively.
“I’d say that’s pretty impressive for a beginner, right?” T.J. said with pride. Ameer: “Actually, I've seen a few more impressive beginners.” He pressed a button. “And now, the real fun can begin.”
Suddenly, twenty of Ameer's light bending drones appeared around TaeJean. They broke off into groups of five, taking a formation reminiscent of the human body, with 4 limbs and a head. The photons around them bent, and suddenly there were four completely white humanoid forms devoid of features surrounding T.J.
Ameer spoke up, “This should go without saying but, fight to kill. I won’t try to kill you, but these will definitely make it hurt. Now shall we beg..”
T.J. didn’t allow Ameer to finish the sentence. He struck one of the Humanoid Photon Constructs (H.P.C), in it’s facial area, but to no avail! In fact, his fist bounced of and his had burned! “Sh*t!” He held his hand and sucked his teeth. The muscle and blood vessels were exposed, but his hand had started to heal, the pain slowly subsiding.
“I didn’t have you strike those cars for no reason. I had to assess how strong to make these constructs. After all, you have faced no ability yet, or anyone who can trade blows with you. You don’t want to be caught of guard when you face Cory. Now, when you can actually harm these, when you strike a vital spot they will dissipate.” T.J. stood there, and began preparing for another strike. “I’ll use ‘Flare’, this time,” he thought to himself. “Now as I said earlier,” Ameer's voice said, just as one of the constructs struck T.J. in the cheek! “Arrrgh!” The boy was sent flying into one of the towers of car frames, causing it to tumble as he blew through it. His new jacket tore at the sleeve as he slid across the ground. His cheek was burned and bleeding, but almost instantly began healing.“Shall we begin?,” Ameer continued as all four constructs surrounded TJ.
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“Is he sure he isn’t trying to kill me?!” T.J. thought as the enemies before him started charging him. One struck at him, but T.J. dodged just in time, and the construct struck the ground! The place of it’s strike was left cratered! A relentless assault began, and all TaeJean could do was dodge!
“This is kinda unfair for a training exercise, ain’t it?!” T.J. yelled out as he dodged under the punch of one construct. Now he was no longer surrounded, and began fleeing. Ameer chided him “This line of work isn’t fair at all. This isn’t just a training exercise, but an exercise in survival! Sometimes, you have to stand strong against overwhelming odds!” T.J. had put some distance between him and the constructs, but was running in a straight line.
Ameer decided to juice up the constructs. T.J. looked back, and suddenly, the foremost one appeared right by him! “Oh, sh__” “Stop cursing!” Ameer sounded off like a stern father as the construct swung its fist at TaeJean's face.. This time, he protected it with “Flare” just as the blow landed. Conceptual Energy released from his chin! The constructs fist glanced off him, but the assault was not done. Next came a low blow towards his abdomen! T.J. brought his arms to his stomach, blocking but forgetting to activate “Flare”. His arms were shredded, and the muscle began to cook “Grrrrr!” T.J. winced in pain. “Good job blocking,” Ameer said. “However!” Another construct kicked TJ in the back, hitting him into into another pile of junk. This time, he released “Flare” from the top of his head as he jetted forward like a missile, dampening the impact. He now sat there, panting and catching his breath. His damaged back bled only a little before it began healing. Ameer's constructs once again surrounded him.
Ameer spoke. “Human conflicts are unfair. Child abuse. Human trafficking. War. Super human conflicts are much more unfair, and magical conflicts turn this up to eleven my boy! As you learn more and more about what you will be fighting, you will learn that it’s just apart of the life! You are fighting like a human! You are much more than that! I know you know how to fight dirty! We are in a junk yard! Think. This is no mere jumping!”
T.J. began to listen. Suddenly another attack from one of the constructs! He dodged! Ameer yelled “You won’t win any battle only playing defense!” T.J. realized it was a true statement. But he still ran for a bit. He decided to boost his speed. “Flow” started, spawning from his legs. He continued to sprint, and the constructs gave chase! T.J. guessed even at this speed, they could catch up to him. He neared another junk pile. The instructions of Ameer and the animation he saw earlier streamed in his head. “Bring in, and compress right?” He slowed ever so slightly, and concentrated what felt like 50% of his “Flow” under his skin. Just as he did, one of the constructs came into range and struck at him. Ameer spoke up again. “Why slow down?!” The construct struck out its fist, and TaeJean did a spin move at the last instant, circling around the junk pile 180 degrees! Using the centrifugal force, TJ threw in a kick towards the pile, causing it to scatter like buckshot upon impact! One of the car frames impacted the closest construct in the chest! Had it been a human, everything above the waist would have been scattered like road kill!
Ameer spoke up. “Heh. Good job! You’re finally getting it!” TaeJean responded. “Thanks!” As he completed the word, another construct dashed and struck, but TaeJean caught the blow with a “Flow” infused hand!
TaeJean grinned. “Just three more? Light work!” Ameer smirked. “Okay, we’ll see about that.” Then the two remaining constructs created photon weapons, a staff and hammer respectively. The one whose fist T.J. clasped changed shape, keeping it’s humanoid top half, but growing five tails shaped like squid tentacles, each with a maximum length of twelve feet! Now the fist T.J. clasped began to expand in his hands, and the center tail lifted above the constructs head. Suddenly it struck down! “CRACCCKKK!” TJ activated Flare within his calve muscles, dodging by 2 inches as the ground where he stood shattered! “Well’ Ameer said, “are you having a good time?” The hammer wielding construct came from the air, swinging down! T.J. dodged again, this time jumping away 20 feet at a diagonal angle! Asphalt fragments scattered from the impact area. The instant his foot touched the ground, T.J. leaped forward, striking the cranium of the hammer wielder with a Flare Infused Punch! The photons began to dissipate, revealing the drones beneath the hardened hologram. T.J. smiled again. “Yessir!” he said as he began to sprint towards his two remaining opponents.