**Earth Kingdom. Somewhere in the Shi Wong Desert.**
The silence of the cloudless sky over the planet's largest desert was shattered by the sound of a passing object. Its high speed created a loud noise, startling the local tribes of sandbenders in its path.
"Tell me another story! Please-e-e," Driya began to whine like a child, pressing her ample figure even closer to my body. Her unconscious seduction techniques improve every day… sooner or later, I might not hold back.
We've been flying for almost half a day on a plant—one that even I don't fully understand—created by my dryad. It vaguely resembles a bird, thanks to her abilities and unhealthy imagination. At least it has wings. This thing can boldly be called a 100% eco-friendly mode of transport: zero emissions, autopilot flight. What do you think about that, Elon Musk?
"Maybe next time," I replied. On any other day, I'd be happy to tell her something, but our destination brings up too many "good" memories. Even now, I occasionally shudder when I recall Van Shi Tong locking me in that room and refusing to let me out until I mastered everything I knew about bending.
If it were up to me, I'd avoid visiting the knowledge-obsessed owl for another five years. Unfortunately, circumstances are stronger than us. The knowledge stored in his library could help me gain even greater power. According to my calculations, my chi should return in three and a half months, and immediately, the waterbending will reach its highest level. Add another month, and the next solstice will arrive, with a good chance of acquiring one or more new bending arts. Of course, it's all up to chance whether new "slots" for bending will open as I reach the next level.
My plan is to spend all these months in his abode. It's long overdue to immerse myself in the knowledge accumulated there over millennia. There are no urgent matters at the moment. My family has been successfully informed of my prolonged absence. I'm incredibly lucky that one of Jong Jong's people is a trainer of dragon hawks. Thanks to his trained birds, we can send letters to each other.
Suyuki has mastered the fundamental skills of earthbending, and now she just needs to refine her mastery using the scrolls I've written. She's a capable girl; she'll figure it all out. I'm also not worried about the island's safety. Unagi and her children can handle passing bandits and pirates. And if they can't, Shizuki and Suyuki will give them a warm welcome on the shore.
"I hope there are no surprises this time," I muttered as soon as I saw the peak of the sand-buried library.
"Big Owl, we've come to visit!" Driya shouted at the top of her plant-spirit lungs, forcing me to cover my face with my hand. I knew she'd do something like this. Now I just hope Van Shi Tong didn't hear her. He'll take it out on me and my nerves.
"Welcome to the home of the Big Owl," greeted the benevolent voice of the spirit of knowledge. His gaze made me uneasy. This doesn't bode well. Maybe it's not too late to turn around and run?
"I've been expecting you, especially you, Yuki," the spirit said. "You can read something for now. Tonight, there's a surprise waiting for you." He finished just as cheerfully, dramatically flapping his wing and disappearing.
"Driya, create that flying bush again. We need to leave as soon as possible," I said, but Driya was already gone.
"You won't find her," came a sly voice from behind me. "I whispered to her that we have new books from Aunt Lan."
"It's you again! I know you and Van Shi Tong are up to something. I strongly advise you not to play games with me. I'm very vindictive!" The best defense is a good offense.
"Oh-oh, I'm so scared," the fox said, feigning fear. "Alright, don't stress. You know Shi Tong—everything he does is for the best. Take a cue from your friend and go read something."
For a couple of hours, I tried to read, but the words wouldn't sink in. My mind was flooded with guesses about what the spirit had prepared for us. When Driya and I were called back to the main hall, I actually sighed with relief. Anticipation of the unknown is worse than the unknown itself.
"Right on time," the spirit said, diving down from the upper floors. "I won't keep you in suspense any longer. As you know, a very angry and powerful spirit will soon be released from the barrier, and we'll need all the strength we can muster—and more," he continued gravely. "I can't significantly influence the development of peaceful spirits due to our nature. But, Yuki, I can make you exponentially stronger!" he declared dramatically, staring straight into my eyes.
"Well, if it really makes me stronger," the devil knows how to motivate, "then why not?" I said, still doubtful.
"I wasn't expecting any other answer," the spirit patted me on the shoulder. "Driya," he called to the dryad, who was still reading a book with a rather risqué title.
"Hmm?" she replied, still trying to read with one eye, which looked quite comical.
"I've already arranged things with the other spirits. Tomorrow, I'll send you to their spirit world. You'll exchange experiences, and at the solstice, you'll return with Yuki."
"Okay, okay," she replied absentmindedly, not looking up from the book and seemingly missing everything.
"Come with me," Van Shi Tong led me away. "It's good that one of my assistants is always with you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had time to create a special training field suited to your current state, where you won't need to use your bending."
"Your records inspired this idea. Authors of various books have come up with something similar!" With these words, a door opened before us, leading to a half-empty room. In the center was something resembling a simple mattress. What was truly interesting, however, was that all the free space on the walls, ceiling, and floor was covered with faintly glowing symbols and writings.
"In your world, they'd call it a virtual reality room!" he proclaimed with a hint of pride.
"What does it do?" I asked, now much more curious. As far as I remember, such technology didn't exist in the 21st century. The most I've seen was a crude version of augmented reality.
"While you sleep, your consciousness will remain awake and engage in battles with various spirits and benders. All the experience gained will be stored in your memory, and you'll just need to recall it!"
"That's really amazing," was all I could say. "And how does it work?" I asked, still examining the intricately inscribed walls.
"You won't understand much, but in short—this room gathers data directly from the planet's information field, where all events that have occurred are stored. What interests us are specifically past spirit battles. The room analyzes them and recreates almost perfect copies of the spirits you'll face. There are countless spirits, and you should get to know all their traits better. After all, it might one day save your life," he said instructively, almost patronizingly. Well, given his age, we're all like children to him.
"During the day, you'll have special training sessions based on the most effective exercises collected from my entire library. Today, gather your strength and rest. Tomorrow, your young warrior's course begins!" Van Shi Tong said with manic enthusiasm. "So much new data. Don't forget to check the writings in the room. After all, we can't afford to lose the only hybrid of spirit and human—a kind of endangered species," I heard a whisper. I'll pretend I didn't hear that…
*
Van Shi Tong wasn't exaggerating when he said he'd gathered the essence of all knowledge about martial arts and training that humanity has ever known. In some cases, he was even too modest. I never expected to see EMS training adapted for the bending world—but there it was, waiting for me the next morning. Van Shi Tong admitted he's still processing some ideas from my past world and wouldn't mind talking to certain people. And all this was said with a certain respect, which is extremely, I repeat, extremely hard to earn.
The spirit of knowledge replaced muscle stimulation with a form-fitting sports suit embedded with "runes" that generate electrical impulses instead of the attached electrodes from my first world. The next feature of this wonder-suit is that it periodically interrupts the peaceful flow of chi in my body, meaning not only my body but also the channels through which my life energy flows are improving.
At first, I couldn't even take a few steps in it. The comprehensive stimulation completely disrupted my concentration, and I was drenched in sweat just from standing still. There were many "pleasant" moments. But the most interesting was yet to come…
No sooner had I gotten used to one level of electrical frequency and chi interruption than Van Shi Tong increased their intensity. It only escalated from there. The suit was paired with a gravity room, and the big owl didn't skimp on time or resources, creating an entire marathon of torture for me. But it was extremely beneficial torture!
I saw the results of my efforts every day when I took off the hated suit and left the gravity room. There's a good chance the next firebending chakra will open even before my energy fully recovers. In my opinion, the third chakra is the most useless for me personally—improving the senses when I already have good sensitivity to elements and bending doesn't seem worthwhile. Still, if it's offered, why not? Situations vary, and you never know what's ahead.
While they were breaking me in the real world, I was breaking others in the virtual one! I wish I could say that, but even there, they were hurting me… can I go home now… please?
The virtual reality system Van Shi Tong invented doesn't care about the user's feelings; it just does its job, which is to recreate spirits of varying strengths. Defeated one average spirit? Here are ten more just like it! Killed them too? Then catch another ten spirits from each of the primary bending arts!
Legions of average spirits tore me apart, two higher spirits split me in half, and I even became a snack for an ancient spirit, experiencing the process of being digested in its spiritual body. Not a single opponent was alike, always a different location, and always I was the loser.
The protective waterbending film covering my body proved ineffective against higher-level spirits. Most of them have some kind of pinpoint, concentrated strike or technique that pierces my boasted defense straight through. It was painful, like teeth being pulled with pliers, but I knew what I was getting into. Such a wealth of experience without risking my life can only be gained by enduring phantom pain in the dream world.
If before I focused on the techniques I wanted to use, now I pay more attention to the opponent himself, no longer even thinking about specific moves. I can't wait for my chi to activate so I can start consolidating everything I've suffered for. And it seems there are additives in the food the spirit assistants bring that keep me from completely losing it under such stress.
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