More Crane Training for Baal (Tier 2 PRP) [Baal only]

(Thread PL: 58,185. Heavy weights on. Weighted PL: 14,546.)

Baalbatos had been tapping away at his data pad when the new summons came in. Ironically enough, the demon had actually just been making an entry in his journal regarding the training he'd done thus far at the Crane School. He recorded his knowledge of the Dodon Ray and what Saki had said on the matter of the so called Super Knee Uppercut. Not that Baalbatos suspected he would forget anytime soon. He was simply a writer by nature, and he liked to record his own thoughts and assorted information.

Baalbatos set his data pad aside and picked up the badge. It was time to get moving, he thought, time was not going to be wasted today. But first, the demon had to make a wardrobe change. With a sigh, he rose from his seat and made for the small dresser that he kept in the ship. Atop the dresser sat the first of the Crane uniforms that Crane Master Saki had provided for Baalbatos. The demon disrobed, once again training his finery for something more practical for training. In a jiffy, he slipped on the Crane uniform. Not a bad fit, thought the demon, even if the style of dress was not his first choice. Nor his second, or third. But he supposed that it would do for getting sweaty. Quickly, Baalbatos pulled his weights back on. He would do well not to forget them. Though they were not part of the Crane training regime, they were certainly a part of his own personal routine. He would not go without them, even if they tired him out rather quickly.

Satisfied, Baalbatos looked at the badge once again and examined the coordinates on it. Ah, he thought, that was where he was headed. He certainly knew how to get there. Baalbatos trotted out of his ship and took off into the air. He sped along in the air, towards the location provided by the badge and it was not long before he finally reached his destination. Soon, he was floating above a small, square compound. He floated downwards and shouted out. "Hello? Crane Master? I've arrived for the next step of my training!"

A small slit slowly opened in the dome before him. That, he thought, must be entrance. Wasting no time, the demon flew through the slot and descended into the training area. And there he saw the Crane Master, caught up in his own training it seemed. Baalbatos raised a hand in greeting and spoke. "Hell, Crane Master," said the demon, "It's good to see you once again. I'm eager to continue with my training. I do hope that I'm not too late. I hurried over as fast as I could."

The demon descended, as it seemed that they would be wasting no time in getting down to business. Good, thought the demon, just as he liked it. The ki-less man told him to watch as they were beginning to get ready for his next step of training. Another warm up, thought the demon, just what he'd been hoping to avoid. But still, he kept his eyes trained on the man, watching him like some sort of demonic hawk. He watched with vested interest as the man began to shave away at a rock with his bare fists, like it was nothing. An impressive feat, decided Baalbatos, but not outside the realm of possibility for one such as himself.

Baalbatos stepped up into the stone and stared at it for a moment. How best to do this? Well, he thought, there was only one way, really. He held up a finger, and began to channel energy into it. Before long, he was swiping away at the rock, shaving off pieces left and right, the pieces falling away as if they were nothing. He kept going and going until the rock was almost entirely giving away before him. In time, he'd finished and he turned back to the Crane Master. "How was that, Crane Master?"

It was time for the next lesson, it seemed. Baalbatos had done well enough, using his fingers to carve stone. But it seemed that the Crane Master wanted to move on to the next step in the stone carving. And here Baalbatos thought that he was learning martial arts, not masonry. But Baalbatos said nothing, choosing to listen instead as the Crane Master went on about combination attacks. The man held his hands up, taking a new stance as he stood in front of Baalbatos. They were like daggers, claimed the Crane Master, like snake fangs. Not like any daggers that Baalbatos had ever seen, and he'd seen quite a few in his day. But he supposed it was more about the idea behind the stance and positioning, rather than the appearance of it.

The Crane Master went on to explain that he must be comfortable in this stance, as well as make sure to channel his energy through not only his fingers, but the rest of the appendages as well. Very well, thought Baalbatos, he could manage that. Energy control was not a particularly hard task for the demon. He had decades of experience going for him, and this would simply be another extension of that.

Baalbatos watched as the Crane Master unleashed a flurry of blows, steadily breaking the rock down into bits as the punches weaved too and fro, making the rock cede before him like it was nothing. Minutes passed and before long, the rock had been reduced to mere bits and pieces, little more than dust. Quite impressive, thought Baalbatos, though he thought that there were probably more efficient ways to break down a rock like that. But he would not complain. Knowledge is knowledge, and he was just grateful for the training of the Crane Master.

The technique was called the Machine Gun Punch, and Baalbatos supposed the name fit for a technique based mainly on the rapid movements of the arms. It seemed that all of the techniques of the Crane School bore such literal names, with the seemingly sole exception of the Dodon Ray. Which Baalbatos actually happened to be more fond of than the other techniques he'd been shown so far. But, by the looks of it, the Machine Gun Punch was quite the technique. The multiple forms of the Crane Master used it on each other, with seemingly decent enough effect.

And soon, it was Baalbatos's turn to try the technique. Baalbatos nodded and approached the stone. He took up his arms and held the hands just as he had been shown. Carefully, he let his energy flow through him, filling every part of his arms with that latent, destructive force that was powerful enough to reduce stone to powder. He held for a moment, considering his strikes, but a second later, he cut loose and began to jackhammer the rock with the power of his fists. Surely, the stone began to fall away with each strike. He kept going and going until the stone was little more than rubble. As he finished, he turned back to the Crane Master and grinned. "Like so, Crane Master?"

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Unlocking [INT][OT-2] Machine Gun Punch!

So, thought Baalbatos, he'd done it wrong. He did not seek to cause his opponents great pain, like the Crane Master suggested. No, he shot to pulverize his foes, just as he had done with the rock. But, he realized that if he were going to finish this training, he would need to do it the way the Crane Master suggested.

A training dummy appeared, marked with the pressure points of what Jie Shan assumed to be a human being. Well, thought Baalbatos, he'd at least be able to take down a human with this knowledge of anatomy. He stood in front of the dummy and raised his hands once again. He took a look at the dummy, picking and choosing his point of attack before he actually got started. Finally, he made his move, enacting the Machine Gun Punch. He struck at the highlighted points of the dummy, attacking as fast he could. Finally, he finished. "Is that better, Crane Master?" He asked.

It seemed that he'd done it right this time, for they were finally moving on to the next step of Crane Training. The Crane Master claimed it was a rather sneaky technique. Good, thought Baalbatos, he quite liked the more underhanded techniques. Why be fair when one could use their cunning instead? Mind over matter and all that.

The man gave Baalbatos a pair of dark sunglasses and he put them on quickly. He felt as if he'd be needing them shortly. And it seemed that he would. Saki called the technique the 'Solar Flare', and it lived up to it's name. A bright flash of light lit up the area around him. Baalbatos grinned. Were it not for these sunglasses, he'd be blinded.

But there was one small caveat: Baalbatos already knew a rather similar technique. "Ah, Crane Master, I fear that I'm already a master of this," said the demon, "Here, let me show you."

And with that, the demon repeated the motion and created a large burst of light with the intention to blind. In a moment, the light faded away and Baalbatos was left looking at the Crane Master still. "I hope that doesn't throw a wrench in your plans."

The man asked if he had any questions, but Baalbatos shook his head. "No," said the demon, "I've understood everything perfectly, Crane Master. You teach well."

"I think I'll take off," said Baalbatos, "I'd hate to get in your way, Crane Master. I'll leave you and your monks to it. I appreciate and thank you for all the training I've received so far."

And with that, Baalbatos was ready to take his leave of the Crane Master. He gave the Crane Master one final bow before backing up and taking off into the air. As he flew off, he began to considering the training that had occured. So, this was the path of the Crane. It had been rather interesting so far. Such power and knowledge, and it all came forth so easily. So, this was the efficiency of a good teacher. And he'd need one, for a demon to end up learning from an Earth school. He was looking forward to the next training event. The Crane Master certainly gave interesting lessons, and he was eager to see what came next.

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Thread exit! Mastering Tier 2 of Crane! I'll take PL with heavy weights, dojo, and LMB! Thanks!