It was an absolute, one-sided suppression.
Kawashima Toya found himself unable to bridge the gap, whether in technique or raw power.
Even as his training session came to a close, he hadn't managed to secure a single advantage.
Master Li's strikes were relentless, each blow saturated with a crushing internal force.
In the center of the silent coliseum, Li Shuwen cupped his fists toward Mery and chuckled.
"If you have further need of me, do not hesitate to call. I am more than happy to act as a sparring partner for a King."
"Kawashima-kun's potential is truly remarkable."
Mery gave a nonchalant wave of her hand. "Of course it is."
"Just wait. I'm certain the situation will be entirely different in a few days."
"I have a similar premonition."
.....
Inside his room, Toya opened his eyes and let out a dry laugh as he rubbed his aching shoulder.
Master Li's offensive is brutal. One missed step, and you're trailing for the rest of the match.
Once you choose to defend, finding an opening for a counter becomes nearly impossible.
During the nearly five days spent in that mental space, he had been trapped in a defensive loop, unable to strike back.
Even just maintaining a parry had pushed his endurance to the limit.
However, despite the constant suppression, the benefits were immense.
He had gained a wealth of experience, and he felt confident that he would eventually overcome the old master.
I recall the system store having martial arts categories.
Toya opened the interface with a hopeful thought, quickly locating the combat techniques.
[Skill: Bajiquan]
[Rank: D]
[Description: A fist to rend the skies, a step to rock the earth. Greatness is earned through hardship—and every legend starts from nothing.]
[Price: 100 Origin Points]
Only a hundred points? Toya found the price suspiciously low, though he didn't expect a basic purchase to grant instant mastery.
He had seen the price for Li Shuwen's level of Bajiquan earlier; its cost was comparable to an EX-Rank Noble Phantasm, making it entirely out of reach for now.
I'll take it. Even a fundamental understanding should keep me from being so thoroughly pinned.
[System Notice: 100 Origin Points consumed. Bajiquan acquired.]
As the essentials of the style flowed into his mind, Toya couldn't help but sigh.
Years of physical conditioning, countless duels... and most importantly, one's own enlightenment.
A hundred points was actually quite expensive for just this.
The version provided by the store was essentially a collection of notes.
Aside from a few techniques lost to history, it was virtually no different from the standard forms.
It's enough to at least familiarize myself with Master Li's patterns, he comforted himself.
Early the next morning, Toya broke his usual routine of lounging and began practicing the forms of Bajiquan.
Kasumigaoka Utaha watched him, her wine-red eyes filled with curiosity.
"Kawashima-kun, what are you doing? This looks quite different from what they show in dramas."
"It doesn't seem to have any... impact."
"You're comparing my technique to a television show?" Toya gave a faint smile.
"Even without a specific style, I can be far more dangerous than anything you've seen on screen."
Dramas used flashy, entertaining movements for show; they couldn't compare to the real Bajiquan he had obtained.
"But the way you're moving... it looks harmless," Utaha said, a hint of hesitation in her voice.
"It looks like an old man practicing in the park."
Toya's expression turned serious. "It seems I need to show you something. I can't let that comparison stand."
He walked over to a tree in the agency's courtyard.
Thud.
Toya pressed his palm against the trunk and applied a sudden, focused burst of strength.
A clear palm print appeared on the bark.
But he wasn't finished. The opposite side of the trunk suddenly exploded outward, sending wood splinters flying.
Utaha stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Kawashima-kun... are you perhaps the strongest human alive?"
"You just tapped the tree, and it nearly snapped."
"You can remove the 'perhaps,'" Toya said calmly. "I am the strongest."
His power was undeniable.
But there was a more important point: he was the Savior of this era.
His duty was to save the world, which meant he had to remain the pinnacle of this generation.
Beings from the past might be stronger, but in this current age, no human could surpass him.
Utaha's eyes shimmered with excitement. "Kawashima-kun, could you teach me?"
"Since you're the strongest of the era, you should be able to take on a disciple, right?"
Toya glanced at Utaha's slender figure with a playful glint in his eyes.
"I could. However, the path of martial arts takes ten years to bear fruit."
"During that time, your physique would inevitably become... robust."
"Your arms would grow like tree trunks. You would become broad and muscular, like a tigress."
"Especially for a woman, the physical changes are quite drastic."
Before Toya could finish, Utaha waved her hands frantically.
"Never mind. I'll stay just the way I am."
"Just the thought of that gives me chills."
Toya chuckled. "I'm glad you understand. Didn't Yurine bring back those Onmyodo manuals?"
"You could try practicing those instead."
He didn't want Utaha to ruin her aesthetic by turning into a bodybuilder.
"Don't even start," Utaha said, shooting him a sharp look.
"We all wanted to learn, but it's impossible. There's a certain substance required for Onmyodo that is completely missing from the atmosphere."
"The manuals are just gathering dust."
A missing substance? Toya realized the truth immediately.
Abe no Seimei, the Savior of the previous era, had exhausted the world's spiritual foundation to resist Nyarlathotep.
The mortal realm had been drained of its mystery, and the supernatural was withering away.
Naturally, the world could no longer produce the energy required for cultivation.
Unless one traveled to the most remote, untouched corners of the earth, there might not even be a trace left.
A few lingering scraps of mystery weren't enough to sustain someone's training.
"Hold on, let me check the situation," Toya told Utaha. He sat down on the ground and closed his eyes.
He expanded his perception, searching the world for any remaining traces of mystery.
If there was enough left, it would be worth bringing back.
He could guide that lingering energy here to allow Utaha and the others to practice.
In the dark void of the world's spiritual layer, Toya's mind swept across the globe.
He passed over continent after continent, finding nothing.
The "sacred lands" described in ancient novels had all turned into barren wastes, devoid of any supernatural presence.
As Toya observed the empty space, he felt a surge of doubt.
Was Abe no Seimei's status as a Savior that powerful? He actually managed to affect every continent?
Even the foundation of the other country had been drained until nothing remained.
Not a single trace of mystery could be found.
It was as if the entire world had been scrubbed clean.
"That shouldn't be possible," Toya murmured solemnly. "There must be something I'm missing."