It was Saturday morning, one day before the tag team tournament.

The sun was shining brightly in the sky. The wind was casual. The birds chirped, perched on the roofs.

"Master!"

With an energetic bow, Jock arrived early in the Martial Redemption dojo, already dressed in his training getup.

There wasn't school today, so he could train all day, which was exactly what he needed because the competition was tomorrow.

After the trashing situation was solved, he kept training under Kiernan's guidance, and mostly kept doing the rope climbing exercises, some jump rope, and the Iron Style stance training.

Kiernan hadn't taught him a single technique just yet. He was far from ready.

While there wasn't any noticeable difference in Jock, he was actually feeling more energetic than ever before in his life.

The martial arts training was rejuvenating him like never before.

"Good morning."

Kiernan said, sitting down on the steps of the dojo building, and he had a syringe with a vial of something in his hand.

"What is that?"

Jock asked with a raised eyebrow.

At first, he thought of the worst and that Kiernan was doing some Power Drugs or something similar, but he quickly shook his head at the thought of that.

Power Drugs were immensely bad, even if they would give him a temporary boost, and then Jock paled, thinking that Kiernan was going to use that on him.

"Give your arm."

Kiernan said, not noticing the paleness in Jock's face, and he filled the syringe with the clear liquid.

"I don't want to use Power Drugs!"

Jock protested.

"Haha, this isn't Power Drugs. You know what Awakening Booster is?"

Kiernan asked.

"…Awakening Booster? I am sorry I have not heard of that before."

Jock said with a tilt of his head, wonderous and curious.

"It would help you to awaken that martial soul of yours. I have waited till the last day to do this with you because if I had done this with you on the first day, you wouldn't have awakened.

"You had zero experience in martial arts, and the martial soul refuses to awaken with someone like that.

"It is still quite early, and honestly, you cannot be called a martial artist just yet, but I think I have prepared you well enough to now awaken."

Kiernan said.

"Is that safe?"

Jock asked curiously.

In the schools, they have been taught that there were no shortcuts to succeed in Martial Arts Pathway.

Any medicine, drugs, and boosters would help in the short run but would be very harmful in the long run.

However, Jock thought about it more, and since he wasn't going to keep on practicing martial arts, he might as well use.

"It is very safe. This is a very powerful kind of Awakening Booster. It will help you open that tightly locked door of awakening."

Kiernan said.

"…If you say so."

Jock said, still slightly uncertain.

He wanted to trust his master, but he had never heard of Awakening Booster before, so there was a little bit of uncertainty left in him.

In that moment, Jock extended his arm to him. Kiernan looked for his vein and quickly inserted the needle with the Awakening Booster.

He pumped the liquid in, and in that moment, Jock's vision blurred as if he were seeing the world through a foggy lens.

The martial soul inside Jock's body started glowing. It was covered by a black cocoon.

In that moment, the cocoon slowly opened with a blinding light. The beautiful yellow light radiated outwards, enveloping Jock in a warm embrace.

"It worked!"

Jock said excitedly.

He was feeling power that he had never felt before. His strength doubled, at least. It was a revolutionary feeling.

'So this is what Kiernan has always been feeling? This overwhelming power.'

Jock thought to himself and looked at his master, but then chuckled and shook his head, as he must be feeling even greater power.

'What am I saying? He is Martial King. His strength is a thousand times greater. I am sure it is difficult for him to control his current strength, and he might accidentally sneeze too hard, which would destroy this dojo.'

"You are now a Low Stage Martial Recruit. I remember when I first awakened. It feels like just yesterday."

Kiernan said with a chuckle.

It had actually been only about three years since that fateful moment. It had been three years since his reincarnation.

The time sure had flown by.

"I do feel great, but I do have to fight Martial Soldiers in the competition. I don't know how well I will do. Can you teach me some techniques that will help me?"

Jock asked.

"…I can't. Your body would break if you did any of my techniques."

Kiernan said.

"Oh…"

Jock said, hanging his head low, and thought that Iron Style surely was a bad martial arts style for beginner martial artists.

Martial arts was created for the weak to overcome the strong. However, Iron Style couldn't be used by the weak, but the strong.

It went against martial arts concepts, Jock thought.

"I also cannot teach you anything in just a day."

Kiernan said, jumped to his feet, and looked at the newly awakened Jock, who had a little bit stronger aura than before.

It was, of course, as small as an ant compared to his own aura, but Jock had already begun to grow in power.

In the Earth strength, unawakened Jock was as strong as an ordinary 14-15-year-old kid, but now that he was awakened, his strength was equal to that of an untrained adult.

"Then what can you teach me? You're my master, but it feels like there is nothing you can teach me."

Jock said with a slight frustration.

He was feeling very nervous because of tomorrow's competition, and despite awakening, he still felt like he was far too weak to have any impact.

It was the same as if he had just stayed unawakened. He was going to get humiliated in front of Cleo!

"Take your stance."

Kiernan said.

"The stance…"

With a sigh, Jock moved into the Iron Style stance—the defense variation—and stood rooted on the ground like a tree.

"This stance is your lifeline. As long as you stay in that stance, you can win."

Kiernan said.

"How could I possibly win because of a stance? I need techniques, something that will help me to attack.

"I can't even properly use an offensive stance because I only know straight punches and jabs, which I learned during the school's physical education class!"

Jock shouted.

"You don't need offense to win. Trust in the defensive stance, and you will be able to conquer any opponent."

Kiernan said and started throwing sloppy jabs at Jock, which he easily parried with side slaps and smacks.

'How could I possibly win while defending? Does he actually know anything about martial arts, or what the hell is going on here?!'

Jock thought with a deep frown.

He started to feel suspicious about whether Kiernan actually knew what he was talking about, but he quickly shrugged off those thoughts and kept sparring against him.

"…"

Kiernan stayed silent, seeing his lack of faith in his teachings, but it didn't matter to him. It was all going to be revealed tomorrow.

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