The Hodgepodge Shinobi: A Gacha-Gone-Wrong Adventure

Chapter 21: Awakening the Fist of the Office Worker



Alex sat up slowly, cracking his neck as the aftershocks of hours—no, however-long-it-was—of training rolled through his body. Every joint ached, his shirt clung to him with sweat, and the soles of his feet were scraped from gliding across the glowing stone floor of the Universal Mindscape. Still, a grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.

That was progress.

"You've adjusted well," Oogway said, resting atop a boulder that had not existed moments ago.

Aang gave a quick bow, spinning his glider into his hand and resting it across his shoulders. "You move now like someone who's aware of their body. That's the first step toward real combat."

Alex wiped his forehead. "Doesn't feel like a step. Feels like a full damn marathon."

"Then you're doing it right," Aang said with a cheerful shrug. "You want to keep going?"

Alex hesitated. His arms trembled. His legs weren't doing much better.

The system pinged.

Physical Fatigue Threshold: 82%

Emotional Resilience: Holding (43%)

Motivation Driver: 'Don't Die Looking Stupid' – Active

"Well… yeah. Let's keep going," Alex said, rising to his feet and shaking out his arms. "I want to be able to do more than not die."

"That is an admirable goal," Oogway said. He stepped down from the boulder with impossible grace, his shell barely making a sound.

Aang's tone shifted slightly. More serious. "Then it's time we teach you how to read a fight."

"Didn't we just do that?"

"No," Aang said, stepping close. "We taught you how to move. And to hit. But if you can't read the person trying to hit you, you're just dancing."

"Cool. And how do I learn that?" Alex asked.

The system chimed again.

New Objective Added: Combat Perception

Requirement: Learn to analyze opponent stance, breath, eye movement, and foot position.

Passive Perk Unlock: 'Situational Reading' – 0/5

Oogway raised his staff. "By getting hit."

Alex blinked. "I hate everything about that sentence."

"Let's begin," Aang said—and before Alex could ask how they were beginning, the airbender was gone.

No—he had moved.

Alex felt the gust a moment too late. Aang's palm tapped his shoulder, and he stumbled forward. Another gust—Aang was behind him again.

"Read," Aang called out. "Don't react. Anticipate."

Alex gritted his teeth. He turned on his heel, squinted—and caught the blur of movement just before Aang struck again. He raised his arm to block—

Smack.

His forearm was slapped aside.

"Too slow," Aang said cheerfully.

A puff of wind grazed the side of Alex's face, and he spun, planting his foot like Oogway had taught him. Another tap struck his ribs.

"Still too slow."

"Okay," Alex wheezed, "can we not train like a Looney Tune?!"

Oogway approached with a nod. "Then slow the world, not your thoughts. Focus."

He placed a hand on Alex's chest. "Feel their breath. Their rhythm. Listen with your feet, not just your ears."

The system pinged.

Emergency Combat Tip Unlocked:

Trigger – Embarrassment + Impact Trauma

Temporary Focus Boost Activated

Aang lunged again—this time, Alex felt it. A twitch of the ankle. A puff of air. A subtle drop in Aang's weight.

He ducked just in time. A swipe passed overhead.

"Yes!" Aang said mid-spin, then twisted and tapped Alex's back again.

"Damn it—!"

"Progress," Oogway said calmly.

They continued—Aang attacking in gentle, rapid bursts, forcing Alex to read his intent. Each dodge was clumsy, but improving. Each block more natural. He was still getting hit. A lot. But now he saw it coming.

That changed everything.

Eventually, Aang held up a hand. "Enough. He's got the rhythm."

Alex dropped to one knee, panting, heart racing—but with a smile forming on his lips.

"I didn't fall this time," he said.

"Not bad," Aang said, grinning. "Want to try a technique?"

"Yes. Please. I need something to show for this."

Oogway tapped his staff on the ground.

"Very well. We will begin with a foundational technique—one that relies not on strength, but clarity."

He stepped into a stance—feet firm, arms raised like circling water.

"This is the Flow Reversal Palm. A method of redirecting a charging opponent's momentum, using their own weight to turn their attack."

Alex straightened. "So like a judo throw?"

"Only gentler," Oogway replied, and demonstrated.

A swirling, circular motion of the hands. A pivot of the foot. A turn of the hip. Oogway moved as if folding the air itself—and then an invisible opponent flipped over his shoulder.

Aang whistled. "That's a good one."

Alex stepped into place, mimicking the motion. "Like this?"

"Lower. Turn your core, not your arms."

He tried again.

"Good. Again."

He practiced the motion repeatedly. At first, it felt awkward—but soon, there was rhythm. The pivot. The weight shift. The redirection.

System pinged.

Technique Learned: Flow Reversal Palm

Category: Redirection

Effect: Incoming linear strikes can be diverted with 60% efficiency. Timing required.

Style: Internal Martial Arts

Alex grinned. "Now that's what I'm talking about."

"You've come far," Aang said. "But there's still a long way to go."

"No kidding," Alex said. "But if this is what it takes to survive… I'm in."

The Mindscape pulsed faintly around them. A new aura swirled beneath Alex's feet—barely visible, but there. His chakra was beginning to respond. Not wildly. Not in flares.

But in flow.

----

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