Authors Note:
"" = Speech
<> = Other actions
B = Important thing
<()> = Techniques
“Today, we will be discussing internal energy - can someone tell me what that is?” asked Instructor Kim. A clan child then replied in a rehearsed manner, “It's the energy within our bodies that when utilized can perform enhanced actions.” “Right! Does anyone know how this energy can be used?” The instructor continued. Another kid speculated, “Can it enhance sword swings and strength?” “Indeed!" he nodded. "Internal energy can do all of that and more - it has the power to give form to your sword, fighting styles and more, which increases almost everything about them.
This was the class I had been anticipating ever since I read about it at the nearby library. Instructor Kim then took us to the practice area and began. "Ok everyone, in order to access this power you must focus your thoughts and connect with your subconscious mind. For those who have already unlocked their energy, practice it more in order to increase the amount of time that you can use it.
I looked in Yukito's direction and noticed that a thin layer of light blue energy had formed around him. Keiko was in the same state, her blue energy glowing a much more vibrant hue. I wasn't too surprised; this is something I'd observed them doing during their practice fight the day before. Finally, I took my own meditative posture.
After a while of meditating, I felt nothing. No clicks or any signs that I had tapped into the power around me. When I opened my eyes and glanced around me, I could see that almost everyone else had a thin but noticeable layer of different colored energy encapsulating them.
One hour had passed and the other students tried to infuse their swords with energy. Few of them were successful. I, however, still sat in my lotus position, meditating. When instructor Kim asked if something was wrong, I replied that I hadn't unlocked my internal energy yet and needed a bit more time.
When the day finished, I headed towards the training ground, with the hope that Yukito and Reiko had some advice on using my life energy. When I reached the area, I asked Yukito if he could help me, but he replied by saying that Keiko was a much better user and teacher when it came to internal energy, and suggested I should ask her instead. "Ah, okay," I answered.
I tiptoed up to Keiko who had her eyes closed and was emitting a bright blue energy, with sweat dripping down her face. I waited for about ten seconds when she stopped before speaking to her.
"Keiko, I was wondering if you could give me a few pointers on activating my internal energy," I questioned. "When in your meditative pose focus on your senses outwards, until you feel warmth in your stomach. Then keep concentrating on your other senses outwards until it unlocks then begin to feel and imagine it going through your body," she instructed.
"Thanks," I replied before leaving to find an open clearing in the woods.
Taking a deep breath, I settled into my meditation pose and began to focus. After some time had passed, I sensed the energy building up in me; it was hot at first but then slowly dissipated to a cold, sharp feeling. As I directed this force through my body, it immediately felt like thousands of swords were piercing through me. I screamed in pain before everything went dark.
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My eyes flew open and I was met with light sprinkled throughout darkness. When my vision adjusted, I saw that I was atop of a mountain surrounded by other peaks. The moon shone above me with its many stars twinkling like an array of fireflies in the dark sky. Trekking further up the hill, I reached a clearing filled with purple flowering trees. In the middle of these plants stood myself a mystical purple energy radiating off of it, eyes closed.
"Um... who are you?" I shivered, feeling the strong energy that radiated from his body. "I'm something your dad gave to you," he answered in a low voice. "What do you mean?" I asked again, my heart racing. "I'm the demon your father left with you," the figure growled his eyes opening as purple smoke escaped them.
"What do you want? What's your goal?" I questioned him. His answer came without hesitation: "It's easy. I want to take control of your body, like I did with your father." I attempted to walk away but he was right behind me. He tried a horizontal strike with his sword, swiftly moving towards my arm. Suddenly,
My left arm was severed from my body, and only an eerie violet fog oozed out of the injury. "Unfortunately I can't access my full strength, but I'll do it quickly," he stated before I could react. With a grunt, I swung my sword up in the air and shouted as I dashed forward with 'Crescent Dash'. My blade cut through him horizontally.
Dropping down behind him, I glanced back and saw no wounds on his body, which made me realize then what had just happened. An agonizing pain assaulted my abdomen as I noticed that my stomach had been slashed I shut my mouth in order to push through the immense pain.
He attacked me again, so quickly that I barely had time to react. If I hadn't jumped back, his edge that cut through my blade would have taken off my head. He walked towards me with a swagger, like he'd won the fight already. “I believed you could survive against me, but it's been proven that there's no chance for you. You're weak!”
The words made my blood boil. Without taking a moment to think I used <(Sword Dance 1st Form, Crescent Dash)> but he was able to parry it. He quickly positioned himself in front of me and seemed as if he was ready to skewer me in a mocking manner. Spotting an opening, I went for <(Sword Dance 2nd Form, Counter Crescent)> slashing across his neck with the sharp edge of the blade that he had cut off and that had been neglected by him and thus nearly decapitating him.
He shouted his curses as he drove the sword into my chest. The pain was intense, but I managed to find enough strength to latch onto him with one hand and strike his head with the jagged end of a broken katana. In a matter of moments, all that remained of him was a pile of purple dust. Then, as my consciousness drifted away into nirvana, that same purple dust seemed to be entering my body.