Hansu stood against Apollo, his towering height still commanding attention over the young teenager. A smile parted his face, one Apollo had become so familiar with that the idle thought of why the man was so kind no longer crossed his mind.
Their feet shifted, the hard wood floor thumping with a low thud. Apollo was the first to move. His left foot slammed hard on the ground, the friction of the wood supported his movements as he twisted. His form, almost serpentine, was fluid. His leg crashed onto Hansu's forearm.
The attack made Hansu grunt, a sound of silent approval. But Apollo had no intention of waiting. His chest filled with a deep intake of air, his muscles pulsing with strength. The right leg that had just thrown a back kick now hung in the air, and his body swooped with a swish.
Apollo muttered under his breath, "Like a puzzle… Like a puzzle—fill the blocks." His body twisted a full 360 degrees, generating more force. His leg sliced through the air like a hunting knife cutting through hot butter. A soft swish followed by a thunderous blow landed on Hansu's defense.
'I guess I should call this one the Slithering Kick,' an idle thought grazed his mind. His reverse eyes gleamed with excitement under the brightly lit dojo. He almost smiled.
His leg, now firmly planted, twisted upward as his body followed suit, releasing as much force as possible. Hansu's eyes widened, witnessing the complexity of Apollo's movements, the sheer difficulty of it all.
'He really did it.' Hansu's hands pained, but he blocked the next kick. He could see how Apollo twisted, blending the principles of Taekwondo with another style. 'Perhaps… his friend's?' he noted.
A slight twitch of Hansu's lips, but with a quick adjustment, he composed himself. 'Can't let him see how proud I am… yet.' His blood surged as the fight consumed him further. His defense grew strong, unyielding against blow after blow. Apollo's new fighting style thrilled him. His heart pounded in excitement, and a thought brushed his mind: I need to make sure he's perfected it.
His muscles contracted, and then…
Nothing.
No thump. No swoosh.
One second, he was there, and the next, Hansu's leg descended on Apollo. It didn't slice through the air. The kick wasn't meant to be sharp. Instead, its sheer force pushed the air, like a tornado. The pressure was something Apollo didn't expect Hansu to unleash—not yet, at least.
Yet reality defied him. Even in such perilous circumstances, Apollo smiled. "My defense isn't as weak as you think, Sensei." Tough words escaped his mouth. His appearance was charming, as he tanked the kick without hesitation.
Unlike before, his stance wasn't the "Iron Fortress." No, this time it was relaxed, like standing in the middle of a still lake—tough, unyielding, with enough confidence to face anything the world could throw at him.
Belief.
BOOM.
The kick landed on Apollo. His chest nearly caved from the force. His eyes, stoic and playful, bulged with pain. He bit his lower lip, desperately holding back the urge to shout. Like a cannonball, his figure shot through the dojo, crashing into a cement wall with a deafening boom. Dust and gravel spread everywhere.
Hansu stared at the devastation, a sigh escaping his lips as he processed what had just happened. He lightly clutched his forehead with his left hand. Perhaps I went a little too overboard.
But as his thoughts unraveled, a faint sound echoed in the room. Hansu, with his sharp reflexes, picked it up immediately.
Out of the haze and the dust, a figure emerged. The left side of his chest was bluish and broken, yet the confidence in his eyes remained unchanged. Apollo's gaze locked onto Hansu's, and he declared, "I told you, my defense isn't as weak as you think."
Two Months Ago
After the Parting in Cheonliang
Apollo sat on a small stool in the dojo, his expression troubled. His hands were slightly clenched against his thigh, the pain focusing his thoughts.
Before he could drown in his own mental chaos, a clear voice cut through it. "What's troubling you, Apollo?" The voice was gentle, calming—like it belonged to a pacifist, someone who'd never fought a day in his life.
Apollo looked up, his eyes landing on the familiar figure of Hansu. Dressed in a simple Taekwondo outfit—a white robe with a black belt tied at his waist. The belt, although spotless, showed cracks and the occasional outgrown fiber, indicating its age. Despite its wear, it was clearly well cared for.
Apollo sighed. That's just how Sensei is. He lightly rested his head on his left hand. "I don't know, Sensei… You know I went to Cheonliang, right?" His voice lingered in the air.
Hansu nodded, a sign for Apollo to continue.
"I fought a man. He was strong. Nearly my level," Apollo said, his gaze distant. "I thought I had reached a point where no one could match me… at least, not for a long time." He pointed at his leg. "With, you know, the speed mastery and all."
Hansu processed Apollo's words before replying in his calm voice. "I know that feeling. When you break through to mastery, the gap between those who haven't and those who have is like the difference between sky and earth." He placed a calloused hand on Apollo's shoulder. Though rough, the touch was comforting. "But like everything in life, if you want to stay at the top, you must continue to improve."
Hansu paused, then continued, "When was the last time you thought about improving your martial arts?" His words served as a direct reminder. He had been paying attention.
'Since unlocking that threshold, you've only done the minimum and idled away,' his sharp observations rang through.
Apollo lowered his eyes, his thoughts churning like a boiling pot. Have I really not put effort into improving since I cleared that threshold?
It took him a few minutes to reflect before finally asking the most basic question. "Sensei… How do I improve now?"
Hansu smiled.
...........
I am excited for this arc, Can you all guess what I am going to do ;)
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