Seeing this, a look of understanding flashed through Toki’s eyes.
Without wasting any words, he quietly gathered his strength and deliberately limited himself to the absolute physical limit of an ordinary human.
Then he threw a powerful punch straight toward Furina’s shoulder.
Sure enough, the instant Toki’s fist was about to make contact, Furina reacted instinctively.
She shifted her body slightly to the side and gently swept up one hand, catching Toki’s wrist at exactly the right moment.
Immediately afterward, she rotated her arm with the motion, gently pulling and redirecting his force!
With that single technique, she skillfully dispersed all the power behind Toki’s punch!
His fist instantly lost its momentum.
Following Furina’s movement, it was gently guided off course and struck nothing but empty air.
This was one of the Flowing Counter Fist’s fundamental techniques— Guiding Sweep!
Yielding against force and turning an opponent’s own strength against them!
Although the movement appeared gentle, it could easily neutralize a powerful attack, guide the opponent’s force elsewhere, and then create an opportunity for a counterattack!
Furina froze for a moment.
She looked down at her own hand, then back at Toki, her face filled with surprise.
“W-Why did you suddenly punch me?” “You don’t remember what you just did?” Toki smiled as he withdrew his hand, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.
“What you just used was a Flowing Counter Fist technique.” “You simply reacted before you even realized it.” At the same time, Toki threw another punch toward Furina.
This time, his fist was fast and precise.
Sometimes he struck directly toward her chest.
Other times he swept toward the side of her waist.
Every punch carried the maximum strength an ordinary human could produce.
Yet without exception, Furina instinctively neutralized every attack using the Flowing Counter Fist.
Her movements became smoother and smoother.
Her steps were light, and her posture relaxed and fluid.
Guiding Sweep, Single Arc, Flowing Hands— one technique seamlessly connected into the next!
The movements looked slow and gentle, yet she always managed to intercept Toki’s fists with perfect precision and effortlessly redirect their force.
Occasionally, she could even follow the movement with a light push that sent Toki stumbling several steps backward.
After testing her for a while, Toki finally stopped.
Furina also slowly lowered her stance.
She stood frozen in place.
Her eyes were unfocused, and her face was filled with disbelief as she muttered, “Those techniques just now…
I really did all of that?” “I actually managed to stop your punches that easily?” “Now you understand why I wanted you to learn this martial art even though it looks slow and useless, right?” Toki walked over with a smile.
“The Flowing Counter Fist is all about yielding against force and using your opponent’s own momentum against them.” “If you encounter someone physically stronger than you who relies heavily on explosive power, there’s no need to clash with them head-on.” “Using these techniques, you can directly counter that kind of opponent.” “You prevent them from properly applying their strength and then turn that same force back against them!” He paused before continuing, “With your current physical condition combined with the techniques of the Flowing Counter Fist, even an ordinary Vision Holder definitely wouldn’t be a match for you anymore.” “The Flowing Counter Fist…
is actually that powerful?!” Furina instantly snapped back to reality, her face filled with both surprise and delight.
Her eyes sparkled as though she had discovered an entirely new world.
Without asking anything further, Furina turned around and resumed practicing by herself in the private meeting room.
She carefully repeated each movement and technique.
She wanted to master this powerful martial art as quickly as possible.
The exhaustion and battered appearance she had shown earlier had already been completely replaced by excitement.
Toki smiled and nodded without disturbing her.
Meanwhile, his consciousness quietly entered his mind.
A new system notification had appeared.
[Your partner “Furina” has learned Flowing Counter Fist.] [You have obtained the Enhanced Flowing Counter Fist skill.] A satisfied smile appeared on Toki’s face.
Just as expected.
He immediately checked the exact effects of the Enhanced Flowing Counter Fist to see how it differed from the original version.
Original Flowing Counter Fist: A purely physical martial art that uses yielding force to overcome strength and redirects an opponent’s momentum against them.
It possesses no elemental enhancement and can only redirect force and counterattack.
Enhanced Flowing Counter Fist: Can be used in combination with Bolstering Bubblebalm, perfectly integrating Hydro with martial techniques!
Every movement and attack deals additional Hydro damage and can apply Wet, restricting the opponent’s movements and creating opportunities for further attacks.
In addition, its fundamental functions—including power generation, force redirection, and binding force—are all 50% stronger than those of the original version!
Its techniques are faster, transitions between movements are smoother, and its ability to redirect incoming force is significantly improved!
Toki’s eyes lit up, surprise and delight appearing on his face.
“So if I use the Flowing Counter Fist now, every punch can deal Hydro damage?” “Then if I eventually obtain Pyro, Cryo, and abilities from other elements too…” “Wouldn’t I basically become a walking elemental reaction engine all by myself?” “Thank you, Toki!!!” Just then, Furina finished practicing the Flowing Counter Fist twice.
Sweat covered her face as she walked over to Toki with a brilliant smile.
Her voice was filled with heartfelt gratitude, and her eyes carried obvious admiration.
“Because of your help, my combat strength has increased so much!” “I feel much more confident now!” “I don’t have to spend every moment terrified that someone might discover my secret anymore!” “Keep working at it.
You’re still a long way from possessing power on the level of a god.” Toki waved his hand, his tone calm but encouraging.
“Mhm!
I’ll keep working hard!” Furina nodded firmly.
Her eyes were determined, and her face was filled with fighting spirit.
She looked as though she had already resolved to devote herself completely to becoming stronger.
Toki looked at Furina’s excited and grateful expression.
Then, almost unconsciously, he glanced at the system interface showing Furina’s Intimacy with him.
He figured that giving her such a useful martial arts manual should have increased her Intimacy by quite a bit.
Sure enough, Furina’s Intimacy had already risen to 19 points.
But just like what had happened with Sigewinne before, it had become stuck at 19 and refused to increase any further.
The system notification remained the same: A Special Event must be triggered before Intimacy can continue increasing.
Toki frowned helplessly.
He was currently imprisoned in the Fortress of Meropide.
He was an inmate.
There was no way for him to spend long periods of time together with Furina.
Under those circumstances, triggering Furina’s Special Event would be extremely difficult.
“Looks like I really need to get out of prison.” Toki silently thought, “Only after leaving the Fortress of Meropide will I be able to spend more time with Furina outside.” “That’ll give me more opportunities to trigger her Special Event and increase her Intimacy.” “Besides, there are plenty of other people outside whom I can try binding as partners.” “I’ll be able to unlock more skills and increase my combat strength even further.” With that thought, Toki raised his head.
He looked toward Furina, who was still excitedly experimenting with the techniques of the Flowing Counter Fist.
Then he seriously asked, “Furina, do you think there’s any way you could use your position as the Hydro Archon to have my case brought back for a retrial?” (End of Chapter)