The sun was barely rising when Karim stood at the edge of the cliff behind the Academy. Below, the waves churned and crashed against stone, the sea glowing silver-blue.
His hammer rested on his shoulder, heavier than ever—soaked with water the night before.
> "Training above water isn't enough. If this hammer was born from the tide, then the sea itself must become my battlefield."
And with that, he dove.
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🌊 Underwater Discipline
The deeper he went, the darker it became.
Ten meters.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Most students at the Academy trained with spirit essence fields or sandbags. Karim trained by sinking.
Down here, every movement cost more.
The water resisted his swing. The current fought his stance. The pressure gnawed at his lungs.
And yet… he smiled.
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🛠 Techniques of the Deep
He created his own methods:
Tide Swing: A full circular hammer strike, using water drag to enhance rotation force.
Weighted Breath Hold: Carrying rocks while holding his breath to increase internal pressure resistance.
Hammer Suspension Stance: Remaining perfectly still on the seabed while maintaining spirit energy circulation.
Each session lasted minutes longer than the last. Every bruise taught him something.
> "Water is resistance. Pressure is weight. If I can swing freely here, I'll move like lightning on land."
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🐟 A Visitor Below
One evening, as he trained near the reef wall, Karim noticed a shimmer in the corner of his eye. A small spirit beast, no more than a meter long—its scales like obsidian glass.
A Deepscale Pike—fast, sharp, aggressive. Rank too low to use as a spirit ring, but dangerous enough to kill a careless child.
It darted at him—Karim shifted his stance.
The hammer moved like a shield, deflecting the creature's lunge.
He didn't kill it.
He just matched its speed, parried, redirected, learned.
> "Even beasts are teachers, if you listen to their rhythm."
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🔄 Training Report
Back at the Academy, instructors noticed his growing physical strength. He could now:
Hold his hammer submerged for over 30 minutes straight.
Endure double pressure training without strain.
Stabilize spirit energy circulation while breathless.
One teacher pulled him aside.
"You're progressing fast. When we take you on your first soul ring hunt, you'll be ready for beasts others your age would run from."
Karim only nodded.
> "I don't want just a spirit ring. I want the right one. One that belongs with my hammer