Beyond the Limits, Doka Degree 10%

There were still four months and twenty days until Hyuga Mami graduated early.

After thinking all night, Hyuga Sho went to the Main Family's dojo.

It was the same scene as yesterday.

Hyuga Mami was waiting in the dojo.

"Young Lady."

Hyuga Sho stared at her ethereal back as she... turned around.

"Starting now, I'll teach you the Sixteen Trigrams Palms."

Why was Hyuga Mami doing this?

It was something Hyuga Sho could not figure out no matter how much he thought about it.

Surely... it couldn't be because she thought he was handsome, could it?

Eight Trigrams Sixteen Palms.

It would have been one thing if a Branch Family Member had comprehended it on his own.

But for the Main Family to teach it? That was practically unheard of.

Was she trying to use it as leverage against him?

Or was she trying to set him up?

"Watch carefully..."

Hyuga Mami faced a humanoid target.

She spread her stance and planted her feet.

Sixteen Trigrams Palms.

It required delivering sixteen attacks in the shortest possible time, at the fastest Attack Speed.

The moves were unleashed in an instant, her hands moving so fast they became afterimages, as though she possessed sixteen arms at once.

This was the essence of Eight Trigrams Palms.

The attack motions themselves were not difficult to understand.

What was difficult was the method and technique of exerting force.

That was the secret to mastering the Sixteen Palms.

Through verbal instruction and personal demonstration.

As Hyuga Mami taught him personally, her movements were graceful and ethereal.

To let Hyuga Sho see clearly, she deliberately slowed her movements.

She explained as she demonstrated.

The Hyuga Clan Main Family's closely guarded secret was passed on to Hyuga Sho in this manner.

After demonstrating three times, Hyuga Mami drew her stance back in and stood still again.

She turned around, looked at Hyuga Sho's puzzled expression, and spoke calmly. "Are you wondering why I'm teaching you this move?"

Without waiting for Hyuga Sho's answer, Hyuga Mami's gaze drifted into the distance.

"This is nothing... truly nothing..."

"..."

With a baffled mind, Hyuga Sho began practicing the Sixteen Trigrams Palms.

He did not know whether Hyuga Mami's words had been a humblebrag.

Or what they had meant.

After Hyuga Sho "gave it his all" and practiced the technique with convincing form.

Hyuga Mami nodded.

By then, an hour had passed.

"From today onward, you'll be responsible for cleaning this place."

Hyuga Mami assigned Hyuga Sho the task of cleaning the dojo.

After she left.

Hyuga Sho glanced at the number before him.

[Doka Degree: 9.4%]

The additional 0.1% of Doka Degree gave Hyuga Sho some comfort.

Moreover, he felt that this was far from the limit of his rate of improvement.

So.

After cleaning the dojo, Hyuga Sho returned to the Branch Family compound and continued practicing the "Sixteen Trigrams Palms."

An hour later.

His Doka Degree reached 9.5%.

Two hours later.

His Doka Degree became 9.6%.

Three hours later.

His Doka Degree became 9.7%.

Four hours later.

His Doka Degree became 9.8%.

Sweating profusely, Hyuga Sho unknowingly practiced from six in the morning until nightfall.

"Whew..."

Hyuga Sho let out a breath.

He looked at the results of his efforts.

"These Eight Trigrams Sixteen Palms really are something..."

As a skill unique to the Main Family.

The Main Family relied on its advantage in techniques to maintain absolute superiority and control over the Branch Family.

Now.

Though Hyuga Sho, having mastered this move, did not dare claim he could contend with the Main Family.

At the very least... he could dominate everyone his age in the Branch Family.

When Hyuga Sho pushed open the door, he saw Hyuga Natsu waiting outside.

It was already dark.

The faint blush on Hyuga Natsu's cheeks was hard to make out.

"Sho, Sho-kun... you must be hungry. They saved some food for you in the cafeteria..."

"A-Natsu, thank you."

Hyuga Sho grinned.

Hyuga Natsu lowered her head, her cheeks turning even redder.

A moment later.

The two arrived at the cafeteria.

It was empty, and mealtime had long passed.

Thus, only Hyuga Sho and Hyuga Natsu remained in the entire cafeteria.

After practicing all day, Hyuga Sho wolfed down his meal.

Hyuga Natsu watched him with a gentle expression.

As if that alone was enough for her.

"Sho-kun... I saw you practicing Eight Trigrams Palms during the day. It looked like, looked like you had already learned the Eight Trigrams Sixteen Palms..."

Unaware of the truth, Hyuga Natsu's eyes held both concern and delight.

She was happy because Hyuga Sho's talent was so great.

She was worried that if the Main Family found out, they would inevitably suppress him.

A tall tree in the forest catches the wind first.

"A-Natsu, do you want to learn it?"

Hyuga Sho raised his head and asked sincerely.

Having long considered that others might have doubts, Hyuga Sho directly threw out this explanation.

Strictly speaking, the "Sixteen Trigrams Palms" was a hot potato.

Faced with this question, most Branch Family Members would probably want to run as far away as possible.

"Eh~? Sho-kun, that's not what I meant..."

Hyuga Natsu waved her hands repeatedly.

She had never intended to take advantage of Hyuga Sho.

She was merely worried...

"Don't worry, A-Natsu. I won't use this move carelessly."

Hyuga Sho suddenly reached out and took A-Natsu's soft little hand.

The blush on her cheeks instantly spread all the way to her ears.

Seeing Hyuga Natsu's reaction.

The merciless Training Machine, Hyuga Sho, nodded to himself.

As long as he could raise Hyuga Natsu's affection for him, he would not have to worry about her talking everywhere.

So...

It was necessary to give her a little sweetness from time to time.

After dinner.

Hyuga Sho said goodbye to Hyuga Natsu.

Back in his room, Hyuga Sho adjusted his plans.

Perhaps... if I don't sleep tonight, I can break through to 10% Doka Degree in one go... I really want to see what happens after reaching that level...

Thinking of this.

Hyuga Sho decided to stay up and fight through the night.

So.

After replenishing his strength, another round of training began.

Five hours later... his Doka Degree became 9.9%.

Seven hours later... his Doka Degree became 10%.

Hyuga Sho should have collapsed from exhaustion at that moment.

But he suddenly felt that something was different.

Reaching 10% Doka Degree brought about an astonishing change in his body.

Again and again, he increased the intensity of his training, breaking through his limits time after time.

Superhuman effort...

Training that would have worked his past-life self to death.

At last, it bore fruit.

BOOM!

A thunderous sound erupted inside the room.

It was as though thunder had struck out of nowhere.

It was the sound produced when Hyuga Sho's fist tore through the air.

After that, every punch and every kick Hyuga Sho threw carried the sound of Wind and Thunder.