Chapter 13

Uncle?

 

Tiger) "Bwu" 'What happened?'

Fox) 'You fainted. A few hours ago. Am I really that surprising?

T) . . 'Yes. To reach Tier 1 before a full year old.'

F) 'I didn't yet.'

T) 'But you can, literally anytime you want?' to which I nodded 'Is unheard of. Anywhere. Add to that not just one, but two Unique Abilities. You might be the only one on the continent.'

F) -Just two. Yeah, that's the ticket.- 'So they're like one in a million?'

T) 'Closer to 100 million, but yes.'

F) 'All this is new to me. I had to flee from the section of forest my family was in, less than 10 days after we started to learn how to forage and hunt. And after that . . I've never had anyone who could tell me about this stuff.'

F) 'Would you mind if I called you Uncle?'

T) "HMHMHM" he rumbled out a chuckle 'You just want to mooch off of This King's authority. Huh?'

F) 'No, I insist on relying on my own strength. By the way, what is your name?'

T) 'I don't have one.'

F) 'Do you want one? How about Khan.'

T) 'Konn? What kind of name is that.' (shakes his head)

F) 'You have to pronounce the "H", "K-Han", "Khan". And in my previous lifetime it was a title used by a particular barbarian tribe for their leader. But only if he was a good enough warlord to conquer an empire.'

T) "HMHMMHMM!" 'Yes, a fine name then.'
"ROOOAAAR!!" 'LET IT BE KNOWN! FROM THIS DAY ONWARD MY NAME IS KING KHAN!'

. . whoops, shoulda saved that one for a mega-gorilla.

F) 'So then King Khan, is there anything you would like as a greeting gift?'

T) 'The best thing for a Steel Tiger like me would of course be metal. But there's no way a young fox who's never been out of the forest could have-'

F) 'I found a dozen anvils yesterday.'

T) (POUNCE) 'WHAT? WHERE?'

F) 'In the nearby sect ruins. Up on that mountain. But is it really that good?'

T) 'If I eat and refine enough metal, my Physique will rise up to a Silver Tiger! After that is Gold! Let's go, show me the way!'

F) I guess it's time to take this *big* kid to the candy shop. 'Alright, just relax.' Then I make an animal Barrier to hoverboard the two of us at a fair clip, around 150mph (240kph) over the rivers and also the woods.

T) "HMHMHMM!" 'If this is your best speed then you almost stand a chance at fleeing from me.'

F) 'I can still go 3 or 4 times faster. More if it's just a few minutes.'

. .

Wondering why he stopped bantering, I turn my head. And see him slack-jawed and saucer-eyed.
Just staring in my direction.

T) (Blink, shake) 'Right, of course. So how long have these ruins been there?'

F) 'I was going to ask you, I just got here yesterday. But if I had to guess based on what I've seen so far, at least 300 years, perhaps a few thousand. Even if I was experienced at carbon-dating I don't have any equipment for it.'

T) (Blink) 'What?'

F) 'Nevermind, It would take the rest of the day and into the night to explain. Mostly because of all the tangents, as each answer would spank 3 more questions.'

F) 'Anyway we're here. The anvils are one each in the fourth row of caves. The lower ones are completely empty. And the higher ones, I guess they were to cultivate faster? I'll grab a bit to eat, then wait for you in the last one on the left.' Then I set him down at the entrance of the right-most forging cave.

And swung myself around to go to the waterfall's pool. I will have to keep a strong will, to not deplete this precious resource.
My PRRRECIOUSSS!  

A quick snack later I went back to the left cave. Then sat onto the anvil and started my cultivationing.

-POV Khan-

I finished off the first 3 anvils and was on my way to the fourth, when I felt a wave of Qi wash over me. It was like, just for a heartbeat, there was nearly 5 times as much Qi density in the air as usual. It felt like it went toward the other side of the cave section. So I decide to investigate.

As I get close enough to feel it, it definately seems stronger. 7 times . . now 8 . . . 10 times stronger.

It's heading into the last cave. That's where the cub said he'd wait for me. Maybe it has to do with how he trained up so fast.

I head into the cave right on the edge of feeling the Qi wave. 12 times . . 15 . . 20. I see him right at the center of the Qi wave, sitting atop the anvil.

30 times . . . 40 . . 50. It continues to grow in strength ever faster as it also grows smaller.

70, 80 . . 100 times. Now the Qi wave is small enough I can tell the center is actually the anvil.

120, 150, 200! This . . what? HOW? The anvil begins to glow slightly in the darkness of the cave.

300! The Qi wave has reduced in size, only a few times larger than the anvil.

400! It's still growing in strength, but slowing down.

450! . . The anvil's glow is intensifying.

500! The Qi wave has reached the exact size and shape of the anvil.

480, 460 . . 400

. . .

Eventually the full total of the Qi wave settles into the ancient, rusty steel anvil.
Right after, the little fox cub atop it stirs, and opens his eyes.¹yes, a little fox should be called a kit instead. but one: he isn't a kit anymore, and B: this is from the perspective of a tiger whose species has cubs

F) "BWAH!" 'How long have you been there!?'

T) . . . 'Long enough to figure out what you were doing, but still . . WHAT WERE YOU DOING?'

F) 'Well, I figured if my cultivation method was so good for myself, maybe I could use it on materials too. You said you wanted to eat and refine the metal in the anvils. So what if it was better somehow? I didn't know if it would work, but it seems to be coming along fine.'

T) 'Why didn't you say anything earlier? I already finished off some of them!'

F) 'It's rude to interrupt someone when they're eating. And sometimes dangerous. Besides, I didn't know it would work. And look, it's still not done. I'll have to do it a few more times before it evolves or whatever.'

T) 'And you can do this endlessly?'

F) 'What? No. I'll still get tired, same as if I was running. But keep this a secret. If this type of ability became widely known, the whole CONTINENT would be bathed in blood as every powerful group or individual tries to keep me as theirs alone.'