Rogue Nation

Krist barely registered what was happening. One second, he was in the ring, ready to flee, and the next, an ominous wave of energy was hurtling toward him with a ferocity that seemed alive. Instinct roared louder than his thoughts, and his hand shot out to grab the nearest shield from the weapon rack.

He spun just in time to face the attack. Ash's whip, now crackling with sinister black energy, lashed out like a viper. When it struck the shield, the force didn't merely stop—it exploded with a deafening boom.

The impact hurled Krist backward, slamming him into the wall outside the ring. The wooden shield fell to the floor, charred and smoking but miraculously intact. Krist groaned as he sat up, his ears ringing, and his arms aching from the recoil.

"Krist!" Blake's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding.

Before Krist could respond, Ash approached the edge of the ring, casually twirling the whip in her hand. Her expression was a mix of amusement and challenge. "Oh, come on, Krist. Don't tell me that's all you've got. I thought you were supposed to be a genius?"

"You're insane!" Krist shouted, scrambling to his feet, his voice breaking from frustration. "What the hell was that? You could've killed me!"

Ash tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Don't be dramatic. If I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead." She smirked, her eyes glittering with mischief. "You might want to learn essence control sooner rather than later, cousin. Or next time, I won't hold back."

Blake stepped forward, his expression cold and unyielding. "Ash. That's enough."

Ash shrugged, but her smugness faded slightly. "What? He's fine."

Krist glared at her, muttering under his breath, "Shameless bully."

"What did you just say?" Ash demanded, her eyes narrowing as her grip tightened on the whip.

"Nothing!" Krist said quickly, edging toward Delaney for safety.

Ash's expression softened into a mocking smile. "Good boy. See? You can be reasonable. Or was I supposed to be too harsh on you?" She giggled, but Krist's muttering carried over.

"She's just lucky I don't bully little girls. Otherwise, I'd have already sent her to the zoo she belongs in."

Ash's head snapped toward him, her face flushing red with anger. "Say that again."

Krist grinned, leaning against Delaney for support. "I'm a gentleman. I don't bully LITTLE girls." He emphasized the word with a smirk, knowing full well the reaction it would provoke.

Ash's fury boiled over. Her whip crackled with dark energy, the air around it humming with menace. "I'll show you who's little!" She lashed the whip again, but Krist dove to the side, rolling across the floor to avoid the strike.

Scrambling to his feet, Krist bolted toward Delaney, who remained calm despite the chaos. Ash swung the whip a second time, aiming directly at Krist, but Delaney caught the weapon mid-air with his bare hand. A faint shockwave rippled through the gym as the dark energy dissipated on contact.

Delaney gave the whip a sharp tug, disarming Ash effortlessly. He tossed it over his shoulder, the weapon landing harmlessly back in the rack. "Be careful, young miss. Someone might actually get hurt." His voice was calm, but the warning was clear.

Ash clenched her fists, her anger simmering as her gaze locked on Krist, who peeked out from behind Delaney, grinning like a victorious imp.

"Alright, that's enough," Blake interrupted, stepping forward with an air of authority.

"But—" Ash began, only for Blake to cut her off.

"No buts. Enough."

Delaney turned to Krist, gesturing toward the exit. "Come on. It's time to get started. You need to learn how to control your essence."

The trio left the training room and headed toward the back of the house. The estate was situated on the outskirts of the city, near the towering border wall that separated civilization from the untamed wilderness beyond. As they approached a small gate in the fence, Krist broke the silence.

"Uncle Blake, apart from letting someone control a part of nature, what else does essence do?"

Blake didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked to a nearby tree, flicked one of its branches, and shattered it with a force that sent splinters flying. He turned to Krist, his expression grave. "Essence strengthens you—physically, mentally, and spiritually. The more you cultivate, the more it enhances your body. Faster, stronger, sharper. But only if you learn to control it."

Krist nodded thoughtfully. "How long has Ash known about all this?"

Blake glanced at Ash, who gave Krist a suspicious glare. He held his neutral expression, prompting her to look away.

"About two years," Blake replied.

Krist's lips twitched into a smirk. "Well, that's disappointing."

"What do you mean?" Blake asked, curious.

"I mean, I've never cultivated a day in my life, but I'm already stronger than her. And she's only barely faster than me. If she got attacked by someone like Billy, she wouldn't last five minutes without essence. Maybe you should give her a little physical training. You know, to close the gap."

Ash's face turned crimson. "Who said you're stronger than me? I should—"

"You've got a point," Blake interrupted. "Delaney's been overseeing your training, but perhaps I should take over for a while. A month of physical training should do the trick."

Krist's grin widened. "Two months. One for physical training and one for mental discipline. She needs it."

Ash's jaw dropped, her eyes blazing with indignation. "WHAT?"

Blake nodded, ignoring her protests. "Good idea. She does need to be more level-headed."

Ash was dragged back toward the house by her ear, her furious protests echoing behind them. "You haven't seen the last of me, Krist! I'll pay you back for this!"

Krist chuckled as Delaney led him deeper into the forest. They arrived at a small clearing near a tranquil stream, where Delaney handed Krist a smooth, flat stone.

"Sit," Delaney instructed.

Krist obeyed, settling onto the stone.

"Close your eyes. Feel the essence within you. It's like a current—subtle, but steady. Try to guide it, move it, and connect with the nature around you."

He follows the instruction but no matter what he did feel anything there was no results it he was wasting his time.