Scene shifts to the calm night of that day, where Kazuki and Emperor Shang stood in the royal courtyard under a starry sky. The cold air carried the sound of clashing wooden swords as father and son sparred. The glow of the palace lanterns reflected off the polished training grounds.
Shang moved with the effortless grace of a seasoned warrior, his every movement precise and powerful. Kazuki, standing before him, gripped his training sword tightly. He was no ordinary eight-year-old child, and both of them knew it.
As their wooden swords met in a sharp clack, Shang offered a knowing smile.
"Why don't you try using your spiritual abilities through your spirit's help?" Shang suggested mid-spar, parrying a swift strike from Kazuki. "You have the highest spiritual force confirmed in the kingdom, so spiritual energy consumption won't be a problem. But remember—use techniques that won't damage your body. Even though you've reached Tier 2 of body refining, spirit abilities are not to be underestimated."
Kazuki grinned, lowering his sword slightly. "Alright, Dad."
With a deep breath, Kazuki closed his eyes and entered his soul realm. The vast, ethereal space within his soul was illuminated by a gentle, holy light. Elsa, his Celestial spirit and guardian, stood before him with a calm, radiant expression.
"So, you want an ability suitable for your current level?" Elsa asked, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Yes." Kazuki nodded.
Elsa smiled and gently raised her hand, sending a soft wave of energy toward him. "Then take this — 'Two-Second Future Sight'. It's simple but efficient. It allows you to glimpse two seconds into the future in your current timeline, seeing what would happen if you didn't have the ability at that moment. It's subtle, but it'll make a huge difference."
"Perfect." Kazuki smiled, feeling a surge of power as the ability settled within him.
Returning to the normal world, Kazuki opened his eyes. His aura flickered briefly before stabilizing. Shang immediately sensed the shift.
"Good," Shang chuckled. "Let's continue."
They resumed sparring. This time, Kazuki could predict Shang's moves — not through instinct or experience alone, but by glimpsing the immediate future. He sidestepped, countered, and parried with an ease that caught Shang's attention.
"Not bad," Shang said, amused. "Now, borrow strength from your spirit and see how you truly measure up."
Kazuki nodded and once again entered his soul realm briefly. Elsa, already anticipating his request, infused him with a surge of spiritual energy. His body felt lighter, faster, stronger. A shimmering yellow aura wrapped around him.
Back on the training ground, Shang borrowed strength from his own spirit as well, his aura glowing with a deep crimson hue. The air around them thickened with power as both figures moved at transonic speeds, just shy of breaking the sound barrier. To any ordinary onlooker, their movements would have been invisible.
Kazuki thought to himself, "When I was just a newborn in this world, I remember seeing my parents sparring, their auras clashing in the courtyard. Back then, they were only taking it lightly. Now, Dad isn't holding back as much. He still underestimates my control, but at least he's taking me more seriously than before."
They exchanged dozens of strikes, wooden swords clashing with powerful force. Though the weapons were blunt, the sheer speed and force behind each blow was enough to send shockwaves across the training ground. Shang's strength was still leagues above Kazuki's, but the boy was narrowing the gap quicker than anyone could have imagined.
"You're not bad, kid," Shang grinned between strikes. "But you're not beating me tonight."
"Maybe not, but one day I will," Kazuki smirked back, eyes gleaming with determination.
Their battle continued into the night, both of their spirits supporting them, their auras illuminating the royal grounds. Unbeknownst to them, servants and guards watched from a distance in awe at the sight of the Emperor and his prodigious son, locked in a breathtaking display of power and skill.