Chapter 129 Tryouts begins

Words : 1468 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

The dojo was louder than usual. Students, dressed in crisp white kimonos, whispered amongst themselves, their excitement thick in the air. The usual calm and controlled energy of Master Anng's class had been replaced with something far more chaotic—anticipation. Noah sat cross-legged on the polished wooden floor, arms resting on his knees as he watched the others. Some were stretching, others shadowboxing, and a few were already practicing their footwork in hushed determination. Everyone knew what today was. The interschool competition tryouts. And those who were chosen today would represent the entire military academy in the martial arts segment. It was a big deal. A chance to prove themselves. A chance to stand out. Noah exhaled softly. He wasn't particularly worried. If anything, he was more curious than nervous. His fingers tapped idly against his knee as he wondered just how much stronger his classmates had gotten since the last sparring session. Just then, the wooden doors at the front of the dojo slid open, and a hush immediately fell over the students. Master Anng had arrived. Master Anng entered the dojo with his usual composed aura, wearing his kimono and a white belt that marked his place as an instructor. Despite the simplicity of his attire, there was an undeniable presence about him. His broad, characteristic smile greeted the students, his eyes sweeping over them, reading the nervous energy in the room. "Good morning, students," his voice rang clear, confident, and somehow warm. "I know you're all anxious about the competition today, about being one of the three chosen to represent the school in the martial arts segment." The students stood at attention, their energy visibly tight with the nerves of the moment. Master Anng paused for a second, letting the atmosphere settle before he continued. "We'll get to that in a moment," he added, "but before we proceed, I want to see where you all stand with your chi control." The words hung in the air, and the entire class became instantly quiet, each student's posture stiffening slightly as the pressure mounted. "You've been working hard, training your bodies. But chi control is where it matters," Master Anng continued, his smile never faltering. "I want to know if you've reached the point where you can move your chi at will, or if you're still struggling, letting it flow at its own pace." Noah's chest tightened slightly as he felt Master Anng's eyes on him. He knew why. The memory of their last private training session still felt fresh. 'Great. Here we go again.' He hadn't mastered it. Not by a long shot. He'd come during off-hours just a few days ago, trying to make progress with his chi, showing Master Anng what he was capable of. But even after their training sessions, the control was still elusive. Each time he tried to channel his chi, it only resulted in painful muscle spasms. It wasn't like he hadn't made progress. He had, especially after that raid at school 8—but he was nowhere near the level of control Master Anng was asking for. 'It's like I'm chasing something I can't even see. Master Anng's level of chi manipulation... it's light years away from mine.' Still, Noah stood tall, eyes forward. There was a quiet confidence in him, despite the struggle. There was always room to grow. Always another challenge to face. Master Anng's eyes held his for a moment longer than necessary, a knowing look in his gaze. Then, with a slight nod, he turned his attention back to the class. "Now, I want each of you to show me where you are with your chi," Master Anng commanded, his voice cutting through the air. "Don't hold back." Noah inhaled deeply. He wasn't the best at this yet, but he wouldn't shy away from trying. The room was still. All around him, students shifted, preparing to display their control. Raven nudged Noah subtly, leaning in to whisper, "Hey, boss, you got your chi right yet? 'Cause I sure as hell haven't." Noah barely turned his head, eyes still fixed on Master Anng as the instructor walked through the lines of students, deciding who would go first. "Not yet," Noah replied simply. Raven sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Man, I really hope I get picked today. I mean, imagine—us representing the school. That'd be sick, right?" Noah gave the smallest smirk but didn't respond. Raven, ever eager to fill in the silence, kept whispering. "I swear, boss, if I don't get picked, I might just—" "Raven," Noah finally said, keeping his voice calm but firm, "we're in the middle of class." Raven froze, then let out a nervous chuckle. "Right, right. My bad." Master Anng clapped his hands once, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright," he said, scanning the room. "Step forward when I call your name. You will each demonstrate your chi control. Show me how far you've come." Noah remained still, waiting, watching. Raven, beside him, visibly tensed. This was his chance. Noah just exhaled. Whatever happens, happens. Master Anng's eyes swept the room before he finally settled on someone. "Mira Valdez. Step forward." A ripple of murmurs passed through the students. Mira? From 1C? Mira frowned slightly, then nodded again. "I'll fix it." Master Anng's lips curled into the smallest hint of a smile. "Good." He then turned to the class. "Take note, all of you. What Mira demonstrated wasn't just strength or speed—it was the application of chi in motion." He lifted one of the broken halves of the brass plate. "This wasn't done through raw force alone. It was the result of a precise combination of chi manipulation and technique." The students murmured amongst themselves, some nodding in understanding, others still trying to process what they just saw. Master Anng clapped his hands once, and the room quieted. "Next," he said, his sharp eyes scanning the students. "Danika Yurei, step forward." A girl from 1A—the most elite subclass—stood up. Unlike Mira, Danika had a polished aura of confidence. She was taller, about 5'8", with a sleek, athletic build. Her platinum blonde hair was braided tightly down her back, and her emerald-green eyes shone with sharp focus. Unlike Mira, who was trying to prove herself, Danika already knew her worth. As she stepped forward, a smirk played on her lips. "Alright," she said, rolling her shoulders. "Let me show you guys how we from 1A do things." Danika took her stance, her smirk unwavering. Unlike Mira, she didn't ask for a brass plate. She simply exhaled, and in that moment, the entire dojo seemed to feel her presence shift. Then—she moved. A single step forward. A blur of motion. And then—BOOM! A shockwave erupted from her position, sending a violent gust of wind rippling through the room. Students instinctively raised their arms to shield themselves from the sudden burst of force. At the point where her fist had struck—nothing. No plate. No target. Just empty air. But the wooden floor beneath her fist? It had split apart. A long, jagged fracture ran across the dojo's surface, as if a small earthquake had been poured directly into that one punch. The class fell dead silent. Master Anng stepped forward, his expression unreadable as he examined the damage. Then, without looking at Danika, he said, "Open your hand." Danika blinked, but obeyed. Blood dripped from her fingertips. Her knuckles were cracked, raw from the sheer force of her own strike. "You overdid it," Master Anng said simply. Danika's jaw clenched. Master Anng turned to her, finally meeting her eyes. "Power without control is self-destructive. Your technique was explosive—too explosive. You wasted energy, failed to contain your chi, and as a result..." He gestured toward her bleeding hand. "You ended up hurting yourself." Danika's lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to argue. But she didn't. She just stared at her injured hand. "Your raw talent is undeniable," Master Anng continued. "But if you don't learn to refine it, you will always be fighting against yourself." Danika clenched her fist. Then, without another word, she turned on her heel and walked back to her seat. She didn't even look at the other students as she sat down. Her posture was stiff. Her expression? Dark. Miserable. Offended. She hated being corrected. Hated it. Master Anng let out a quiet sigh before shifting his gaze across the room again. "Raven," he called. Noah felt a tap on his arm. Raven leaned in close and whispered, "Boss, forgive me... for I am about to embarrass myself."

Chapter 129 Tryouts begins

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