Bright lay sprawled on his bed, the newly bought technique scroll spread out before him. His eyes were wide with excitement as he read through the details. Indra Veins... a body technique blessed by the God of Thunder himself… The words alone made his heartbeat quicken.
But then his smile faded.
His eyes caught a line buried deep in the scroll's cryptic script:
"To awaken the veins of Indra, one must not call upon thunder… but feast upon it. Only then shall the storm recognize its vessel."
Bright's eyes narrowed. "Feast upon thunder…? What kind of logic is that?" he whispered.
He leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "Does it mean I have to let a thunder attack hit me? Or… is it speaking about absorbing it? Or maybe…" His thoughts spiraled. It wasn't written like a modern manual—it felt more like a riddle whispered by a god.
Frustrated but intrigued, he muttered, "Ughh, why can't it just say what to do normally?"
With a sigh, Bright picked up his phone and dialed Arashi.
No answer.
"Tch. This guy's always free when I don't need him, and busy when I do," Bright grumbled.
He stared at the scroll again. The markings shimmered faintly with each passing second, as if daring him to solve its secret.
Bright finally placed the scroll aside and pulled up the files Arashi had sent him earlier. Thunder cultivation resources, chakra channeling tips, and a few high-grade energy diagrams. His expression shifted into determination.
"Alright… this Indra Veins thing will have to wait. I'll focus on the training Arashi gave me first. Once my thunder control improves, maybe I'll understand that scroll better."
Bright sat cross-legged on his bed, his phone in hand and a file opened on the screen. Arashi had sent him a new technique earlier that day — a high-rank thunder flow technique titled "Heaven's Vein: Thunder Flow."
"A thunder flow technique… and it's high-rank too?" Bright muttered, excitement building in his chest.
He read further. To perform the technique, it stated that he would need the assistance of another thunder user — not just any user, but one with high thunder energy. Bright's smile dimmed a little.
"If only Arashi was here… he could've helped me easily." He leaned back against his bed frame, thinking. "But now… who else?"
Suddenly, a realization struck. His eyes widened.
"Wait! Raj's mom! She's a thunder user… and she even played in the Assam League back in the day. Of course! She should be strong enough!"
The light in his eyes returned. He continued reading. The scroll explained that mastering the flow of thunder would allow the user to sense its movements more clearly and gradually gain deeper control and understanding of the element.
"That's it?" Bright raised an eyebrow. "Just better control and sensing? Doesn't sound too crazy, but… I guess it's still worth trying."
Without wasting another second, he picked up his phone and called Raj.
"Hey bro, is your mom home right now?"
"Yeah, she is. Why?" Raj asked.
"Can you ask her something for me? I need a little help with thunder energy… it's for a new technique I'm trying to learn."
Raj paused. "Hold on, I'll ask."
Bright waited, tapping his fingers.
A moment later, Raj returned. "She said it's fine. You can come over — she's ready to help."
Bright lit up with a grin. "Seriously? Thanks a lot, bro!"
"No problem, man. Just come soon," Raj replied.
"I'm on my way!"
Before leaving, Bright told his mom, "Mom, I'm going to Raj's house for a bit."
She just nodded from the kitchen, "Okay, but don't be too late!"
Bright stepped out, his heart slightly nervous but determined. After a short walk, he reached Raj's home. Raj welcomed him at the door with a cheerful grin. Bright glanced around and asked, "Uncle's not home?"
Raj shook his head. "Nah, he's at work."
"Ohh, got it," Bright nodded.
Raj's mom appeared from inside, calm but already a bit busy. "If we're doing this training thing, let's start now. I have to leave soon too."
Bright quickly replied, "Yes, Auntie. Let's begin."
He took off his T-shirt and placed his phone on the table, scrolling through the instructions Arashi had sent. He carefully studied the preparation steps, then turned to her.
"I'll sit in the meditative pose. When I go into the deep sea state, you'll need to inject your thunder energy into my body — as much as you can," he explained seriously.
Raj's mom gave a short nod and stood opposite him. She began gathering her energy between her palms, thick sparks forming and crackling in the air.
Bright sat down, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
Silence.
Inside his consciousness, he began descending into what the technique described as the "Deep Sea of the Soul" — a tranquil yet unstable dimension within. Everything felt heavy. Distant thunders echoed around him.
Meanwhile, Raj's mom concentrated deeply, guiding a precise stream of thunder energy into Bright's body, through his veins — just as the technique required. The power was intense, raw, and wild.
Bright could feel it inside his deep sea. His veins tingled like burning wires. He gritted his teeth, fighting the pain, and started trying to shape the energy.
"Form the flow. Understand the pulse. Ride the storm."
The technique's instructions repeated in his mind.
He slowly began molding the thunder into a swirling flower-shaped pattern inside his sea. It was complex, delicate, and almost impossible to stabilize.
Seconds stretched into minutes.
Outside, the sun set. The clock ticked past 7:00 PM.
Suddenly — a flash!
A burst of thunder erupted around Bright's body. His muscles tightened, and a small trail of blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
Raj gasped, but Bright lifted a hand — signaling not to interfere.
He clenched his fists, focusing harder. The thunder calmed.
Inside his deep sea, the glowing flower bloomed perfectly — flowing with rhythm, strength, and clarity.
Bright opened his eyes slowly, breathing heavily.
With a faint smile, he whispered,
"Finally… we did it."
Raj's mother hovered nearby, concern in her eyes. "Bright, are you all right?"
Bright took a deep breath, still feeling the thunder's warmth pulsing through him. "I feel… better than before," he said, flexing his fingers. "My energy— it's flowing so smoothly. I can sense it, channel it. I think I can use it and release it more easily now."
Raj's mother exchanged a glance with her son. Raj pinched his nose and quirked an eyebrow. "That's great, but…" he hesitated, "can you take a shower first?"
Bright frowned and glanced down at himself. A sour, acrid smell hung in the air—like ozone mixed with sweat. "Oh, right," he said with a chuckle. "I guess expelling all that bad energy left me a bit… ripe."
"Go on," his mother urged. "I'll show you where the bathroom is."
Moments later, Bright emerged fresh and clean. His skin glowed faintly, as if tiny sparks still danced across his arms. Raj's mother handed him a pair of her son's spare gym shorts. "Here—wear these. Your own pants got pretty grimy when you stripped down."
Bright pulled on the shorts with a grateful grin. "Thank you, Auntie," he said, hugging the waistband into place. Turning to Raj, he added, "And thank you too, Raj."
He waved goodbye and headed out into the night. As the door clicked shut, he could hear Raj's mother sigh from the hallway.
"Oh no—" she muttered to herself. "I was supposed to go visit a friend's house today. Now it's too late. I'll have to go tomorrow."
Raj laughed softly from behind her. "Sorry, Mom. We got carried away with training."
She smirked. "Next time, let's plan around my schedule."
Their laughter echoed down the hallway .
Bright slipped quietly through the front door, mud caked on his shorts and a faint electric tingle humming across his skin. Before he could even exhale, his big mom rounded the corner, eyebrows knitting into a scolding frown.
"Why are you home so late—and in this state?" she snapped, pointing at his filthy clothes.
Bright winced. "I was training, Mom. Really intense stuff." He held up his shorts. "Can you wash these, please?"
She took the shorts with a dramatic sniff. "You're a mess! I hope you learned something better than how to ruin laundry tonight."
With a sheepish nod, Bright retreated to his room, calling over his shoulder, "Thanks, Mom. I'll explain later."
---
Inside his room, Bright unrolled the digital blueprint of Heaven's Vein: Thunder Flow on his tablet. His pulse raced as he settled into a cross-legged meditation. The glow of the "flower" pattern he had forged in his deep-sea practice flickered in his mind's eye. He inhaled deeply, seeking to unlock the next layer of power.
After several long, silent minutes, Bright opened a video file Arashi had also sent—a highlight reel of Japan's top ten thunder-element masters dueling in a brutal showcase. The electric arcs, the rhythmic surges of energy flowing through each fighter's veins… Bright's skin prickled with goosebumps.
"This is what I've been chasing," he murmured. Watching the mastery of movement—the way each thunder strike rode an invisible current—something clicked in his mind. "I need to learn not just to flow with thunder, but to observe that flow—to become part of it." He rewound, studying every shift of stance, every flicker of electricity along a fighter's arm.
---
Two hours later, Bright stood in the empty training yard, dusk settling around him. He replicated the stance he'd seen on screen: feet shoulder-width, knees slightly bent, fists relaxed at his sides. He summoned a gentle pulse of thunder aura, feeling it flow through his limbs as he executed the precise movements. Foot pivot, elbow sweep, wrist flick—all in perfect rhythm. Each motion sent a spark of energy rippling along his skin.
He repeated the sequence, faster this time, until sweat dampened his brow. Astonishingly, each strike flowed smoothly, the energy coalescing exactly where it needed to go. He felt the hidden currents of thunder respond to his will.
Panting, Bright let the aura dissipate and checked his reflection in a nearby window. His hair stuck to his forehead, eyes blazing with triumph. He had mastered the borrowed technique—and in doing so, he'd proven he could learn at a glance.
A phrase echoed in his mind—the final instruction Arashi had sent: "Observe." Only by truly seeing each nuance could its full power be understood.
Bright clenched his fists, excitement surging through him. "All right," he whispered fiercely. "On to the next technique."
Behind him, the warm glow of the house spilled into the yard as his mom's voice called out, "Dinner's ready! Come eat before it gets cold!"
Bright grinned, his heart pounding with purpose. "Coming!" he replied.
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To be continued...