Two months passed quickly, like the flicker of a star in the sky.
During that time, Long Tian maintained a simple but firm routine. Each morning, he headed to the lake with his work companions. Together, they boarded the small boat and ventured into the calm waters, casting nets and gathering fish. The laughter, the silences, and the creak of the oar over the water became part of the rhythm of his life.
But, they always returned to the dock before nightfall. That rule, deeply respected, remained unbroken: no one was to stay on the lake once the sun disappeared.
With the money he had earned, Long Tian had managed to rent a small house on the outskirts of the city. It was humble, made of simple wood, but it had something more valuable to him than any luxury: a wide, solitary patio, covered in firm soil and bordered by old trees. There, every evening, his true work began.
In the center of the yard, Long Tian drew lines on the ground with chalk, marking distances, angles, and pivot points. These marks weren't random; they followed the instructions from the manual.
The training began with deep breathing. Long Tian would close his eyes and adopt a neutral stance, centering his balance. Then, in rhythm with his breath, he would begin the basic movements: short steps, sudden bursts, and rapid directional changes with almost animal-like speed.
The body had to learn to obey without hesitation, as if every muscle were a lightning bolt waiting to be unleashed.
He tied homemade weights to his ankles and wrists stones tucked into leather bags. Then came the "Thunder Steps": series of explosive movements in straight lines, zigzags, or spirals. Each step had to be as fast as possible, but always with control, as if he were walking along the edge of a blade.
Next came the muscular endurance stage. He held a single posture, muscles tensed like steel cables, for entire minutes. Sometimes under the sun, sometimes under the rain. Only when his body trembled from the strain would he allow himself to move again.
Night didn't stop him. When darkness fell, he lit an oil lamp and kept practicing under its flickering glow. The shadows of his movements danced across the walls, as if multiple Long Tians moved in unison.
At the end of each day, his clothes were soaked in sweat and his body covered in dust and small wounds. But his eyes... his eyes burned with a fiercer conviction each time.
After another day of work, Long Tian returned from the lake as usual. He had spent the day fishing with his companions in the small boat, sharing anecdotes and quiet silences under the sun.
As soon as he arrived home, he took off his shirt and made sure the weights were securely fastened before beginning his daily training in the yard. The steps, the turns, the bursts of movement... it all followed the same routine he had practiced for weeks. But this time, something was different.
His movements flowed like never before. His body reacted before his mind could even issue a command. His turns were more precise, his changes in direction more natural, as if he had finally internalized each step of the manual. The resistance he once felt in every transition had vanished.
Then, a system window appeared before his eyes:
[You have entered the Beginner Phase of the Scarlet Lightning Step!]
Beginner Phase Effects:
• Increased overall speed
• Significant improvement in reaction time
Long Tian stood still for a moment, feeling his breath synchronize with the new rhythm of his body. It was as if a knot within him had finally come undone.
At last, after two months of constant effort, he was beginning to see real results.
After finally reaching the Beginner Phase of the Scarlet Lightning Step, Long Tian didn't allow himself to rest on his laurels. Although his body was more agile and his reflexes had sharpened, he knew this was just the first step on a long journey. That's why he continued with his routine every day: at dawn, he went out fishing in the small boat with his companions; and at dusk, he returned to his yard to keep training with relentless determination.
But in the calm of his new life, something changed.
One morning, while preparing the nets near the dock, a heated conversation caught everyone's attention. Excited voices, rumors, and animated gestures spread like wildfire on the breeze.
"Did you hear?" an old fisherman exclaimed. "An island has appeared in the center of the lake!"
"An island? Are you sure?"
"I swear on my net!" he replied, eyes wide. "Some saw it at dawn, shrouded in strange mist. They say it wasn't there before… and that it hides ancient treasures."
The news spread like lightning throughout the city. Taverns, markets, and streets buzzed with speculation and excitement. Some believed it was the work of lake spirits, others spoke of a submerged ancient temple that had finally risen. The only certain thing was that a mysterious island now stood in the heart of the lake… and no one knew what secrets it held.
"They say the City Lord is planning to send an entire fleet," muttered old Hei, one of the oldest fishermen on the pier, as he mended his net with trembling fingers. "Elite guards, with full exploration gear and everything."
"For what? Does he fear the island is dangerous?" asked a curious young man.
"And what if it is?" replied another, gazing toward the center of the lake as if expecting to see the island's silhouette. "No one knows what's out there. Some say it's an opportunity. Others... that it's a trap."
One thing was certain something was brewing.
The docks were no longer just for fishermen. Mercenaries arrived from other cities, adventurers with poorly drawn maps, and merchants whose eyes burned with greed. Everyone wanted to be part of the first expedition.
The city, once quiet and peaceful by habit, was beginning to boil with excitement.