Omake: Time for Torture
Daiki stood before the Torture Training Array, his long copper hair put in a bun, and his normally warm orange eyes coldly narrowed in anticipation. The array was an intricate construction of runes and symbols, many of which Daiki was unfamiliar with, etched into the stone floor of a secluded chamber, pulsed with an ominous energy. It was said to be a powerful tool for cultivation, designed to push the body and mind to their absolute limits, but at a potentially steep cost. The Sect had requested a volunteer to test its effectiveness, and Daiki immediately took the chance to take up the challenge.
Though known for his scholarly pursuits, Daiki was no stranger to pushing himself in the name of cultivation. He understood that true enlightenment often required enduring hardship, and this array promised exactly that. The Sect elders had warned him of the array's intense nature, designed to simulate the sensation of extreme torture while forcing the Qi to flow more violently through the meridians, thereby tempering the body and spirit.
With a deep breath, Daiki stepped into the center of the array. As soon as his foot touched the innermost circle, the runes began to glow with a menacing red light, and the air grew oppressively thick with heavy, violent energy. He settled into a lotus position, his usual posture for meditation, and closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing as he prepared himself mentally for what was to come.
The array activated with a sudden surge of power, and Daiki felt an invisible force ripping at his entire body. The pain shot through his limbs, sharp and relentless, as if he were being lanced by innumerable needles in every part of his body, inside and out. His Qi flows were forcefully accelerated, accelerating through his meridians at a speed that bordered on lethal. Every muscle tensed just short of exploding. His mind struggled to maintain focus against the onslaught of agony.
Despite the intense pain, Daiki's mind remained sharp. He had known this would be no ordinary meditation, he needed to be able to endure something as trivial as this if he wanted to prevent any of his allies from having to sacrifice themselves again. The Torture Training Array was designed to force cultivators to confront their physical and mental limits, to push beyond the boundaries they had set for themselves. Daiki's thoughts were disciplined, and he focused on guiding his Qi through his body, forcing it to circulate harmoniously despite the chaos inflicted by the array.
Each breath Daiki took felt like fire in his lungs, but he persisted thinking to himself that it surely couldn't compare to what Death had to experience. The pain was not merely a distraction; it was at a level impossible to ignore, all he could do was grit his teeth and endure failing would mean death. His Qi, though forcefully accelerated, began to respond to his control, gradually stabilizing as he slowly adapted to the array's brutal conditions. The more he endured, the more attuned he became to the flow of energy within him, and a strange clarity began to emerge from the suffering.
The chamber around him was silent, save for the faint hum of the array and the occasional flicker of the glowing runes. Daiki's body was drenched in sweat, his muscles trembling with exertion, but his mind was sharp, focused on the task at hand. He could feel his meridians expanding, his spiritual energy being refined and tempered by the relentless pressure of the array. It was as if the pain was burning away impurities, leaving behind only the purest essence of his cultivation.
Time lost meaning as Daiki remained in the array, his meditation deepening with each passing moment. The pain, once unbearable, became more like a nuisance, though if anything he believed it actually was slowly becoming more painful as time passed. Perhaps the array was faulty? He pushed these thoughts away though, at the very least could feel his understanding of his body, qi paths, and meridians growing, his connection to the spiritual energy around him growing stronger. The array, despite its brutal nature, was adequately serving its purpose.
When the array finally deactivated, the red glow of the runes fading back into the stone, Daiki slowly opened his eyes. His body ached, and he was exhausted, but there was a new light in his eyes, a deeper understanding of the path he walked. The Torture Training Array had pushed him to his limits, but it had also given him a glimpse of what lay beyond those limits. As such he decided to break the seal that Elder Nianzu had put on his qi to prevent his breakthrough.
Slowly rising to his feet, Daiki took a moment to compose himself, the aftereffects of the array still lingering in his body. He knew that this experience had been a significant step in his cultivation journey. As he left the chamber, the memory of the pain faded, replaced by the knowledge and strength he had gained. The Sect had asked for a volunteer to test the array, and Daiki had done more than that—he had proven that even in the most extreme conditions, the pursuit of enlightenment was worth the price. He also felt more assured in his decision, having felt a fraction of the pain Death felt hardened his heart and steeled his mind to become even stronger.
