Chapter 50: Chapter 50 : Like Old Times

The next day.

After a scrumptious breakfast, Ralf dove into physical exercises. The acquisition of Telekinetic powers didn’t diminish the necessity of strengthening his physical body. The sturdier one's body was, the less force absorption Psi was needed to keep it from ripping and tearing.

In the higher ranks, this was totally irrelevant, but in the lower ranks, having a strong body made a huge difference, as the duo had come to understand. Still, as strong as their body was currently, they felt that their power ceiling was still far off in the distance. Thus, they - currently Ralf - made sure to exercise religiously.

All muscle groups were worked out using both standard and non-standard setups. To up the difficulty, they used their telekinesis to mimic the effect of increased gravity. Ralf started off small and was bit by bit increasing the 'weight'. While the benefits couldn’t be felt immediately, Ralf knew it would be in time.

The idea came naturally. This idea wasn’t revolutionary in his world. Hunters dating back to the time of Raven Tail had already been using this method along with weighted clothes.

Psi Drill.

Ralf glanced down at the drill over his right hand. The air screamed as the drill violently rotated in place. He examined it for a few seconds before dematerializing it and moving on to the next Psi technique. After physical exercises, came Psi testing.

The duo had to make sure that their Psi prowess in the Mental Space translated into the real world and carried out these tests. So far, everything had been pretty much one-to-one.

Ralf had an exercise ball-sized Psi sphere materialize before him. Using his telekinesis, he forced air into the sphere through a one-way filter. Air rushed into the ball. Doing so for a few seconds, he let up and shrunk the sphere to the size of a ping pong ball. While hardening the Psi making up the sphere's circumference, he had his telekinesis rile up the highly compressed air. It wasn't long before warmth began to caress his cheeks. Knowing not to continue any further, Ralf attached the projectile to the end of his 'gunhand' and took aim.

Boom!

The initial impact did little to the stone slab, but the follow-up expansion…

'Whoa, completely shattered. Looks like Rei was actually onto something with this. Too bad about the preparation time. Well, I'd rather have it than not. Okay, moving on. What was left, oh, Dragon Tail...mmm, maybe we shouldn't test it here. Yeah, let's save that for the forest.'

Nodding at his decision, Ralf turned to head to the pool situated on the eastern side of the house. But as he took his third step, a welcomed image flashed across his vision.

“Hey, just checking in. How’s your Psi training going?”

Ralf smiled. “Great. I’m already Hunter-level.”

“Hunter-level mmm,” Hana repeated while rubbing her chin. Her boy had a knack for ‘exaggerations’. Psionic powers had a steep learning curve. Only four days had passed since his awakening. She regarded her son's potential highly, still, she couldn't believe that he'd reach 'Hunter-level' so quickly.

“Doubting your own son, I’m hurt.” Ralf clutched his heart and fell to his knees with a pained look on his face.

Hana smiled wryly. ‘I don’t know about Hunter-level, but his acting ability has definitely skyrocketed.’

“Want a healing hug.”

“Yes,” Ralf answered immediately. “But before that,” he got to his feet and took a combat stance, “let’s correct the record. How about we go at it like old times. Though, things will be very different. What do you say?”

Hana smiled and fell into a combat stance as well. “Sure, let's see how much you’ve improved since then, son.”

The two’s Rank 3 auras flared up.

“Three.”

“Two”

“One.”

“Start.”

At this word, a battle between mother and son commenced.

***

‘It’s so different from back then,’ Ralf couldn’t help but think as he nonchalantly evaded his mother’s attacks.

The two, while both Rank 3s, were in completely separate dimensions, combat-wise.

Ralf, armed with a Psi stick, chose to mimic Rei’s combat style. While he preferred his own in actual battle, Rei’s Tai chi-esque style came off as more elegant and skilful, and he was looking to impress. Evading with minimal movement and redirecting attacks with flowing motions, Ralf coolly dealt with Hana’s frenzied attacks while occasionally delivering his own.

Ankles, thigh, stomach, back, shoulder, arm, wrist; his stick slashed and stabbed her all over. Of course, he smothered each hit with a thick helping of force absorption Psi to prevent his mother from getting hurt. Each attack landed with the force of a pillow hit, and a light one at that.

Dominating in this fashion, while predictable, felt very surreal to Ralf.

Old memories began playing through his head. The mother-son duels were a sort of household tradition.

It had started before Ralf was born. Robert was a lover of combat. He enjoyed the thrill one experienced while in this state. Wanting to share this feeling, he had Hana do sparring matches against him. Hana didn't become as enamoured with fighting as he was, still, she took to it. The sparring matches became a regular thing for the couple. Despite the large skill and power gap between the two, both parties greatly enjoyed it.

After Robert's death, Hana was left without a sparring partner, but not for long. Ralf had shown a similar love for battle from a young age. And so, starting at the age of seven, the two began their mother-son duels. Both parties greatly enjoyed these occasions, with Ralf treating it as part of his training for his future adventuring, and Hana treating it as bonding time. The two made it a daily activity, with Hana even crafting wooden weapons for Ralf to use.

With memories of those times swirling through his head, Ralf couldn’t quite square his current dominance.

He had heard of Astra, Soren, and Val, but in the eyes of the young Ralf, his mother was the strongest. She could block his strongest hits with a finger and she could vanish and reappear within the blink of an eye. Over the years, these feats had built quite an image in his mind. However, now facing her as a fellow psionic, that image was quickly being eroded.

A complicated feeling tore at him at this fact. On the one hand, surpassing his mother felt fulfilling, on the other, now that he was in the superior position, his mother’s cheeky smile and teasing actions were lost to him.

Usually, he could pull his punches, but now wasn’t one of those times. No, doing that would run counter to his intentions for this match. So, instead of hitting the brakes, Ralf stepped on the gas pedal.

'Huh, he’s gon- ah!’

Ralf’s existence vanished from Hana’s senses, before reappearing behind her. Now back to back, Ralf casually leaned on her stunned figure and said, “There’s no need to hold back, give it your all."

Hearing these words, a wry smile surfaced on Hana’s face. These words were words she had often said to him. “Sure.”

“Good.” Nonchalance bled from his response.

Hana smiled then obliged her son’s request. After taking a step forward, she performed a backhanded punch. But this attack would devastate nothing but air as Ralf once again vanished. From there, he began drawing an elaborate constellation through space as he sped around the yard. The wind swirled and dirt exploded in Ralf's speedy wake.

You are reading story The Silver Path at novel35.com

At her initial position, Hana watched in awe. The speed and skill on display left her astounded. Him skating on Psi, doing flips and twists, doing loops with Psi strings; everything was a marvel to look at. She couldn't get enough of it. Ralf was far from done though. After a few more seconds, he went for it.

Blade Storm Dance!

'Ah?!'

Hana's eyes flickered as she watched the Psi scatter before her. A moment later, they would flicker again as just before slashing her, Ralf's sword exploded into harmless particles. Only after the fifth repeat did Hana finally manage to regain her bearings. Though, this didn't change anything. Ralf was just too fast. Zooming in and out, he 'landed' slash after slash with his ever-changing blades.

He appeared to flicker in and out of existence. As he was now, her Psi Scan could barely track his movement. Hana was totally helpless before it.

Ralf’s intention in doing this wasn’t to prove his superiority, but rather to assure his mother of his strength.

He would be engaging in dangerous activities in the near and long term future, and didn’t want his mother worrying about his safety. He was strong; he wanted to convey this message clearly to her.

And true to his aims, that message was delivered successfully. ‘He’s gotten so strong.’

Hana’s heart swelled with joy and a parent’s pride at her son’s impressive performance. ‘If only Robert was here to see this, he would have been so proud.’

At the thought, her eyes began watering up.

‘Did I overdo it…’

The sight of her shimmering tears immediately broke Ralf out of his equilibrium. Applying his force absorption Psi, he quickly burned off his excessive momentum. With a backflip, he made his landing and approached Hana.

“Mom,” he called out.

Hana read the concern in his voice and shook her head. “You’ve grown so strong, Ralf. I’m just so proud of you.” She closed in and ruffled his hair.

“Told you, I’m Hunter-level already,” Ralf said with a cheeky smile.

“Mmm...”

Unlike the first time hearing it, Hana couldn’t immediately deny the claim. Though, she couldn’t affirm it either. Hunters were known as the most skilled combatants in the world. She knew Robert had been compared to one many times. Still, she didn’t have a good reference point on what Hunter-level entailed. Still, Hunter-level or not, one thing was clear, her son was strong. At the very least, much stronger than she was.

She refocused on her son, whose face was melting under her hair-ruffling actions. Hana smiled and then pulled him into her embrace. Ralf returned the gesture and the two entered a period of pleasant silence before Ralf broke it with his next words.

“The path I’m walking on is winding and filled with danger. I won’t tell you to not worry. Just know this, your son is strong…” Ralf pulled back and stared deeply into his mother’s eyes. Then, with his hands on her shoulders, continued, “...very strong. And this is only the beginning. I’ll continue to get stronger until no one but myself can harm me.”

Feeling his firm grip on her shoulders and taking in the resolve in his expression and words, Hana felt a sense of assurance wash over her. “I expect no less, Ralf," she said seriously.

Ralf nodded before once again making himself comfortable in her arms.

Hana smiled. "Ralf," she started with a question in her voice, "I'm overjoyed that you're so strong, but how did you do it exactly? It's only been a few days after all."

The ‘how’ behind this impossibility had been lingering in the background all this while. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t understand how Ralf was able to improve so quickly. Psionic powers were easy to use but difficult to master. She had expected a more or less even battle on account of his enhanced body, not to be totally outclassed.

To her question, Ralf went on to explain that he trained his Psi abilities in the Mental Space under realistic conditions.

Hearing it all, Hana was left stunned. The matter of time-slowing hit particularly hard. It was hard to believe, but it made perfect sense. It also explained his overly affectionate behaviour. Understanding what he had to go through to achieve his current strength overwhelmed her with emotions. Hana's hug tightened.

“A whole year, no wonder you’ve improved so dramatically. It must’ve been hard staying there, all alone.”

“The Mental Space isn’t too bad. Rather, it's great. Plus..."

“Plus?”

“Mm…plus nothing,” Ralf separated before walking away. “All you have to know is that it's fun in there. I learned a lot and have gotten a lot stronger. I’ll show you a bit more of what I’ve got,” he stopped and turned around. “Let’s continue.”

Hana nodded, and the two resumed their battle. Having gotten his point across, Ralf slowed down and chose to show off his various techniques.

The minutes passed by before the inevitable arrived.

“Haa, Ralf, I’m out.”

Performing her last Psi step, Hana said with a bitter expression on her face.

“What’s your exact percentage?”

“Around ten percent.”

"Guess we'll end it here then. Hey, try to guess what percentage I'm at?

“Your percentage, what is it?” Hana asked, a bit curious. During the sparring match, Ralf had easily expended twenty times more Psi than she did.

Ralf's lips curled up before saying, “Ninety percent.”

Hana’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

“Yeah. And it's only that low because the Mental Space is eating a lot of energy at the moment. If I were to subtract the Mental Space’s functions from the equation, I’d have ninety-nine point nine recurring as my percentage.” Ralf thumped his chest with his fist. “My Psi Capacity is basically infinite. I’m confident that no one can outlast me in a fight. I’ve been thinking about a title. How does ‘Undying Flame’ sound to you?”

Hana’s head lowered, her blonde bangs obscured her eyes. Still, her soft smile hidden in the shadows was unmistakable.

“Wonderful.”

 

You can find story with these keywords: The Silver Path, Read The Silver Path, The Silver Path novel, The Silver Path book, The Silver Path story, The Silver Path full, The Silver Path Latest Chapter