Chapter 36 – Pressure and Presence
The morning sun cut through the thin veil of mist, casting long shadows across the courtyard.
The stone floor was cool beneath Steven's bare feet, its surface now familiar, scuffed with footprints and faded chalk lines.
Today, there were no forms or breathing drills. No gentle corrections. Only the tension in the air and the steady, quiet presence of Banyu, standing ten paces away in a ready stance.
They had already bowed.
Now, they fought.
Banyu moved first—fast and clean, a sweeping arc of motion aimed at Steven's shoulder. Steven dodged to the side, his reflexes aided by Spider Sense, his body reinforced by the new musculature.
He countered with a quick jab, testing Banyu's defenses. It was met with a block so smooth it felt like his arm had struck flowing water.
"Don't rush," Banyu said mid-motion. "Control the rhythm."
Steven grunted, ducking under a spinning elbow and answering with a hook. His fist connected with Banyu's side—barely—but it felt like striking a solid tree trunk.
He stepped back to reset, breathing hard. His body was faster, stronger—but Banyu's precision and timing made every advantage feel small.
"You hesitate," Banyu said, advancing again. "Why?"
Steven growled, stepping into a low stance and charging forward. His strikes were more aggressive now—an uppercut followed by a sweeping leg kick. Banyu blocked both, but this time, he didn't counter.
"I'm afraid," Steven admitted between breaths. "Afraid of hurting someone. Of losing control. Of becoming the wrong kind of powerful."
Banyu's expression softened slightly, but only for a moment. "Then today, we teach you restraint through motion."
The next exchange was fierce. Steven used the momentum from Banyu's deflections to redirect his own balance. He ducked a high kick, spun behind Banyu, and tapped his shoulder with the flat of his palm.
"Point," Banyu said, finally stepping back.
Steven staggered, panting. Sweat dripped from his brow, stinging his eyes. But beneath the fatigue was something new—confidence. Not in his strength, but in his ability to learn.
"Again?" he asked.
But Banyu shook his head. "You'll learn more by reflecting now than by moving further."
Steven nodded, sitting cross-legged on the ground, catching his breath.
It was late afternoon by the time Caitlyn arrived.
She didn't knock. Just appeared at the entrance to the courtyard, dressed in a tailored navy coat over her usual officer's vest, her rifle slung across her back.
She stood silently for a moment, watching Steven rinse sweat from his face using a bucket of water set against the wall.
"You really are taking this seriously," she said, her tone dry but amused.
Steven looked up, startled, then smiled. "You didn't think I would?"
"I didn't think you could stand still long enough to meditate," she quipped, stepping inside.
He chuckled and gestured toward a nearby bench. "Don't worry, I've only fallen on my face three times this week. Progress."
Caitlyn took a seat, setting her rifle down beside her. For a moment, neither spoke.
The sounds of the city hummed faintly in the distance—trolleys, steam whistles, far-off chatter—but here, it felt like a different world.
"How are you really?" she asked eventually, glancing at him.
Steven hesitated. "Better than I was. Worse than I want to be."
"Sounds honest," she said, then paused. "I heard about your last patrol in the Undercity. What you saw."
His gaze dropped. "Yeah."
Caitlyn didn't press. Instead, she handed him a small thermos. "Brought you tea. Not as good as what Banyu brews, probably, but..."
Steven accepted it gratefully. "Thanks. It smells like home."
She smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You know, I used to train in this kind of place.
Back when I was still trying to impress my instructors. Felt like the city disappeared when I stepped into the ring."
"I get that now," Steven said. "This place—it's quiet. It lets me breathe."
Caitlyn's expression turned thoughtful. "You've changed. You still talk too fast and try to do everything yourself, but... you seem more grounded."
"I'm trying," Steven replied. "I want to be the kind of person who can protect people. Not just invent things. Not just react. But really stand for something."
She leaned back, her gaze on the clouds drifting above. "Then I think Sera would be proud of you."
He looked at her, surprised. She didn't meet his eyes, but her words hit with quiet sincerity.
"Thanks, Cait."
She finally turned to him, offering a soft smile. "Just don't break your nose before our next case together."
"I'll wear extra padding," he joked, raising the thermos in salute.
They sat together in silence for a while longer, letting the breeze carry their thoughts.
Later That Night
Steven stood alone beneath the workshop's hanging lights. He extended his arm—and with a soft click, the Hidden Blade snapped out from under his bracer, gleaming silver in the dark.
It was a simple mechanism. Pressure trigger, magnetic lock. But there was something poetic about it. Precise. Controlled. Lethal only when needed.
A tool. Not a crutch.
He stared at his reflection in the blade's edge. "I'm not done yet."
In the background, the Project Archive panel flickered to life.
Project Archive – Echo Tech
Repulsion Bracer
Recon Visor
Shock Ring
Hidden Blade(Completed – Field Ready)
Arc Reactor Core(Under development)
Gatcha:
(C Grade) Spider Sense (Marvel)
(D Grade) Enhanced Musculature (Invincible)
Next Pull Available in: 24 Hours
And somewhere deep within him, Steven could feel it—that pressure building again. But this time, he welcomed it. Because pressure created resonance. And resonance forged strength.