Kael arrived back at the small plateau weary but satisfied, the three pristine Ironhide Sinews carefully stored in his makeshift pouch. He finished reinforcing the woodshed walls and stacked the last of the gathered firewood neatly beside Master Hu's hut. Only then did he approach the monk, who was once again meditating on the flat rock, seemingly oblivious to the world.
Kael waited silently until the monk stirred, then respectfully presented the three unblemished sinews. Master Hu took them, inspecting each one with a critical eye, running a gnarled finger along their length. He gave a curt, almost imperceptible nod.
"The diligence is noted," the monk rasped, tucking the sinews away somewhere within his robes. "You have fulfilled the task. Very well. We shall begin with the foundation."
He rose fluidly and led Kael to the center of the raked gravel garden. "The Way of the Empty Hand begins not with the fist, but with the feet. With the breath. With stillness." Master Hu settled into a low, rooted stance, his weight perfectly centered, his breathing slow and deep. "Observe. Emulate."
Kael attempted to copy the stance. It looked simple, but holding it felt immediately awkward. His muscles, accustomed to explosive bursts of strength or bracing for impact, protested the sustained tension and demand for precise balance. He felt top-heavy, his immense Strength and Vitality not translating into stability here.
Master Hu circled him slowly, his sharp eyes missing nothing. "Too rigid," he commented. "You rely on brute force even in stillness. Your breath is shallow, impatient. Your focus wavers." He tapped Kael's shoulder lightly, causing him to stumble. "Your power is a raging river confined to a narrow, cracking channel. All force, yes, but lacking breadth, depth, control."
He stopped in front of Kael. "You focus only on the striking fist [Strength] and enduring the blow [Vitality]. These you have honed, excessively so. But true mastery lies in total harmony. The sharp mind [Intelligence] directs the flow, anticipates the opponent, perceives the weakness. The unwavering spirit [Wisdom] endures hardship beyond the physical, maintains focus, resists distraction and fear. The swift foot [Dexterity] finds position, evades, creates opportunity. Body, mind, spirit – all must be honed equally. Neglect one, and the whole structure weakens, no matter how thick the walls."
Kael frowned, confused. Intelligence? Wisdom? How would those help him survive a punch from a Golem or the claws of a Lynx? He was a physical combatant, relying on overwhelming his opponents or outlasting them. The monk's words seemed counter-intuitive to everything he'd experienced in Genesis so far.
Yet... he thought back to the crushing mental pressure exerted by the Guardian in the Resonator Chamber. He recalled the intense focus needed to gather the delicate sinews without damaging them. He remembered the whispers in the ruins, hinting at knowledge and forces beyond simple physical might. And he couldn't deny the monk's effortless handling of him moments ago, which felt less about physical power and more about understanding and timing.
Could it be that his relentless focus on STR and VIT, mirroring his desperate desire for tangible power and validation he lacked in real life, was itself an imbalance? Another version of the inadequacy he felt, just masked by huge stats in two areas? The monk radiated a profound sense of calm and control, a completeness Kael had never possessed, inside the game or out.
A surge of trust, illogical perhaps but deeply felt, washed over him. He came here seeking change, seeking mastery, not just raw power. Maybe this strange, holistic approach was the key. It was a radical departure from any gaming strategy he'd ever considered.
"I... I think I understand, Master," Kael said slowly, though true understanding felt distant. "You speak of balancing all aspects of the self."
Master Hu gave another slight nod, a glimmer of approval in his eyes. "Understanding begins the path. Walking it requires discipline. From this day forward, how will you nurture this balance?"
Kael knew what he had to do. It felt almost insane from a pure efficiency standpoint, but the monk's words resonated with a deeper longing for genuine competence, not just statistical superiority. "When power is granted," Kael stated, making the decision firm in his mind, "I will distribute it evenly. Strength, Dexterity, Vitality, Intelligence, Wisdom. All five. Equal measure."
With 15 points per level, that meant 3 points into each core stat, every single time he leveled up. His STR gains would plummet compared to before. His HP pool wouldn't balloon quite as quickly. But his DEX would rise faster, his meager INT and WIS would finally start to climb from their base levels, potentially unlocking new awareness, resistances, or even unforeseen skill synergies down the line.
"Hm," the monk grunted, his expression unreadable. "An arduous path. Seeking balance often feels weaker than leaning on a single strength, initially. We shall see if your resolve matches your words." He gestured back to the stance. "Now. Breathe. Find your center. Not just the center of your body, but the center of your focus. Hold the stance until the sun touches the western peak. Contemplate balance."
Kael settled back into the awkward stance, the Master's enigmatic words echoing in his mind. His first true lesson involved no punches, no kicks, only stillness, breathing, and a radical commitment to a new, balanced path forward. The EXP bar might climb slower in terms of raw damage potential, but perhaps, Kael thought, his true growth had just begun.