15 Strike (1/2)

All the man wore was a plain loincloth. The morning sun cast its shallow light across his back, highlighting every rippling muscle fibre.

His dance was beautiful in a sense. It seemed strange to describe this monstrous muscle mountain as beautiful, but his every move flowed like a winding river.

There was a tangible tension in the air. I channelled qi to my eyes to see what was going on. I recognised the qi in an instant. It was father.

His flaming golden qi was acting different to usual. It was condensed into a thin layer that flickered across his skin. He held a shining golden orb in each hand.

He took a step forward, raised both hands above his head, and a greatsword erupted from the orbs. He paused for a second, then brought his hands down in one swift motion.

The greatsword cut a blazing path through the air. Father twisted his front foot, and the greatsword retracted back into the orbs. He drew his right arm back, turning his body as he did so.

The arcing spine of a longbow shot out from his left hand. He drew his right hand back, pulling a golden arrow from thin air with his right.

His thick upper back muscles seemed to grow by the second, reaching a peak when his hand drew past his cheek. Once again, after a brief pause the weapon retracted into the golden orbs.

He lowered his hands to waist height, and his muscles seemed to flow down to the backs of his arms. His back leg doubled in size and he shifted his front leg forwards.

A long pole grew, joining his hands. A wickedly curved spear tip formed at its front end. After a pause, he changed his stance again. This time the orbs formed a katana and wakizashi.

He cycled through many weapons and stances. A doubled headed battleaxe, a warhammer, even a weighted chain and sickle was in his repertoire.

I noticed something odd about his muscles. They weren't just tensing, they were growing. Muscles grew in key areas, depending on the weapon he wielded.

Twin axes were the last weapon I saw. He cleaved the air in front, then spun around to face the house with a spinning slash.

His steely eyes softened when they met mine.

”What are you doing here?” he asked. His voice was strong but not harsh.

He dropped his hands and qi swept across the patio. His muscles withered by the second, returning to their original form. His well-built body seemed tiny in comparison to a few seconds ago.

He walked into the library, picking his usual robe off a wall hook. Slinging it over his back, he picked me up.

”You shouldn't be here right now!” he looked over my shoulder and lowered his voice, ”Your mother will have a fit!”

I had been so captivated by his movements that I had completely forgotten to be sneaky. All I could do was play the innocent baby card.

I smiled at him and giggled. He sighed and looked me in the eyes. Confusion crossed his face, then suspicion.

”You were watching my qi, weren't you?”

He spoke with an accusing tone. I giggled again and tilted my head. A mischievous grin spread across his face.

”Do you want to see something really cool?”

I definitely did. I clapped my hands and gave a happy squeal.

”I'll show you what a real attack looks like, come here.”

He carried me over to the far side of the patio. The gorgeous view took my breath away.