Gleam Karma Cultivator Isekai

“It is an urumi,” Jagg explained, walking back to them. “And it is a weapon that requires an incredible amount of skill to use properly – far more than most do. It is also very dangerous to the wielder, as I’m sure you could see. A mistake is more liable to cut you rather than your opponent. However, none of these are the reasons why I do not use an urumi. Do you know why I will not use this weapon?”

“Because you’re trying not to take out half your allies in the middle of a fight?” Chance guessed.

“Partially. But the main reason is the environment. All the skill in the world will not make up for an unfortunate slip. Battle is not predictable, but you can recover your balance without causing serious damage when using other weapons. Not with an urumi. If you lose your footing or find yourself the target of an unlucky strike, the urumi will likely strike you or your allies.”

“That sounds like a horrible idea for a beginner’s weapon,” Yeo said. “The urumi seems like it has a lot of similarities with my kusarigama, but at least I’ve only got one point to worry about, while he’s got the whole whip.”

“There are other differences between the weapons. A kusarigama has more mobility and range than an urumi. It’s more like a ranged weapon, while an urumi is a midrange one.”

“Can we get back to the part where I’m meant to use this??” Chance hedged. “I mean, it’s the coolest weapon I’ve ever seen, don’t get me wrong. I’d love to use it, but I’ve never used a sword in my life. This seems a thousand times more dangerous than anything else I could have chosen. Even a sword would be way safer.”

Jagg flipped the blade around and extended it, hilt first, toward Chance. Swallowing, Chance took it. The weapon was a lot lighter than he’d expected. It did have some weight to it, just not much.

“It’s an urumi. Not a sword,” Jagg repeated. “I feel your Essence, and I agree with your choice. The urumi is your weapon. You do not have to follow my instructions. You will simply be wrong.”

“What about me?” Yeo asked. “Is the kusarigama my true weapon?”

“Yes.”

“I guess that was easy,” Yeo muttered. He pointed at Pete. “What about gramps, then?”

“Warhammer.”

Yeo snorted in laughter. He glanced at Pete, then caught himself when he realized the old man wasn’t smiling.

“Seriously?”

Pete tapped his staff on the ground. The wood at its top bulged and gnarled wood reached out, forming into a heavy head in seconds. It stopped once the weapon was nearly as tall as Pete was – and it looked considerably heavier than the frail man.

“Well, damn,” Yeo said with a whistle. “That’s a weapon all right.”

“Jagg was the one who told me that it was what I was meant to use. He was correct,” Pete said. “I recommend trusting him, but I won’t force you to do anything.”

“Is there any way for me to try this without accidentally cutting myself to pieces?” Chance asked.

Jagg nodded. “To a degree. I will protect you from yourself. You may attempt to wield it. Just make sure you are standing in the ring, and not outside of it. It would be unfortunate if Pete had to break your weapon.”

Chance glanced at the old man, then nodded and walked out into the center of the dirt. He tightened his hand around the hilt of the urumi.

“Relax,” Jagg instructed. “Wielding your true weapon is cultivation in its own right. You must flow like water. If your movements are stiff, you will injure yourself.”

Chance let out a slow breath and let his grip loosen around the hilt until it rested naturally in his palm.

“Good. Cultivate your Essence. Then flick your hand to the side to extend the urumi. Do not stop moving once you do. Slow, deliberate arcs will keep it in motion. Keep in mind that the end of the whip will move faster than the hilt, so changes in speed will be magnified.”

“And don’t let go,” Yeo added with a smirk.

“Thanks,” Chance said dryly, trying to suppress a laugh. Getting distracted while swinging around a rope of bladed death didn’t sound like a very good idea. He called on the golden mist and the familiar burning sensation in his chest greeted him. Even though the urumi was an inanimate object, it almost felt like it was vibrating in his hand.

Chance flicked his hand and the urumi leapt to obey. It clicked apart, extending with a hiss and biting into one of the walls. He pulled it back, only barely stopping himself from turning the motion into a sharp yank.

The whip slid free of the wall effortlessly, and Chance transitioned the movement into a very awkward loop above his head. That felt like more than enough, so he flicked his hand again. The urumi whistled through the air and snapped back together in his hand.

“Very good,” Jagg said, giving him an approving nod. “As I said. It is your true weapon. If you put in the proper practice, you will be able to gain mastery over it.”

He reached into his pocket and tossed chance a small glass vial into the air. Chance nearly dropped the urumi as he ran to grab it. There was a handful of small, green pills inside it.

“What’s this?”

“For when you inevitably cut yourself,” Jagg said. “Much of your practice will not be here. Those pills have condensed life Essence within them. They will mend your injury, so long as you can swallow them.”

“Thank you,” Chance said. “This seems like it was very expensive.”

“You will pay it back eventually. The weapon is part of your allotted belongings as a Shikari, and with a blade such as this one, it would be remiss to not give you a way to properly learn it.”

“Is there a specific way I’m mean to practice? A guide or something?” Chance asked, feeling somewhat stupid at the question.

“Start by getting to know it. Once you can feel the blade like a part of your arm, then you may look at learning urumi techniques. There is a Shikari library that you may utilize after you are Squire rank.”

“Not before then?” Chance asked, frowning slightly.

I was really hoping I could start learning some techniques now. The sooner I get stronger, the sooner I can protect myself against whatever Yamish has waiting for me in the Old City.

“The books are in high demand,” Jagg replied with a shrug. “And there are a lot of Shikari. Generally, Foundlings don’t have the proper foundation to use techniques anyway.”

“I see. Thank you again, Jagg,” Chance said, bowing. He’d never bowed to someone before, but it just felt right. He glanced up, catching a flicker of surprise cross Jagg’s face before the battlemaster returned the motion and they both rose.

“Do I get cool things too?” Yeo asked.

“No. You already have a weapon,” Jagg said flatly. “And my services cost money for every meeting after the first. If you want tutelage or weapons, bring coin next time.”

“Thank you for your help, Jagg,” Pete said, putting his hands on Yeo and Chance’s shoulders. “As always, you’ve been an invaluable help.”

Jagg grunted and gave them a curt nod. “You’re welcome. I still think your talents are wasted in this role, Pete.”

“You’re welcome to have that opinion,” Pete said, steering them toward the armory’s exit. “Just as I am welcome to have mine.”

They left the armory and returned to their house on Shikari lane without any ado. Yeo and Chance exchanged a glance, each trying to see if the other knew what Jagg had been talking about, but it was clear they were equally lost.

“I’ve got some things I need to take care of,” Pete said as they drew up to the door of the Whiteheart house. “I’ll be back before nightfall.”

“Is that like a warning so we don’t do anything too stupid?” Yeo asked.

“No. Do what you want. I’m not your father.” Pete chuckled. “I’m just letting you know I’ll be out. You’re relying on my knowledge, after all. I’ll try to make sure I’m more available to help with training in the future.”

“It’s no problem.” Chance looked down at the urumi in his hand. “I’ve got my hands more than full with this. I think I’ll focus on getting competent with it before I try to get any fancier.”

“Good,” Pete said with a kindly smile. “Best of luck. Try to make sure you’ve got someone around when you’re practicing with the urumi. It’s quite the difficult weapon to handle. And keep those healing pills–”

The door flung open with a bang and Bella strode out of the house, her lips thin and her eyes burning in fury.

“Pete.”

“Yes, Bella?”

“They took my gods damned license,” Bella ground out. “Why have I been demoted?”

“Because you’re part of a team now,” Pete replied, his brows lowering in what might have been embarrassment. “I’m sorry, Bella. I know this isn’t what you wanted, but there was nothing I could do.”

Bella’s hands trembled at her hands, her knuckles white. She ground her teeth and let out a slow hiss, forcing her hands to open back up. “I did every single thing I was asked. All for one. Gods. Damned. Thing. How was that too much to ask for? I spent years, Pete! Years!”

Tendrils of dark water twitched at her feet like a nest of furious snakes. Pete sighed and shook his head. “I talked to Gibson, Bella. I did. He was dead set on this. He said that you’d gotten the rules bent for long enough, and this was just righting things. Nothing I say or do will change his mind. Is being on a team truly that bad? I think you could grow to like it.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Bella spat. She stormed past him, but Pete leveled his staff, blocking her path.

“You aren’t going anywhere in that state of mind, young lady.”

“You aren’t my father, Pete. Get out of my way. I’m going to go deal with Gibson myself.”

“Then I know I can’t let you go,” Pete said wearily. “If you come at him swinging, you might never work as a Shikari again.”

“That’s better than the alternative.”

“That isn’t true and we both know it,” Pete said. “Go back to the house until you’ve calmed down, Bella. I won’t stop you from talking with Gibson, but you won’t be doing it in this state.”

“Last warning.” Dark streams of water twisted up around Bella’s arms, forming into a jagged axes in her hands. “Move, or I’ll make you.”

Pete sighed and shifted his stance. “Perhaps this will help you blow off some steam.”

The staff in his hands bulged, branches sprouting from its top and forming into the head of a warhammer. Bella paused for an instant, but Pete showed no such hesitation. He shot forward, moving far faster than Chance thought possible for anyone, much less someone of his age, and swung the huge wooden weapon.

Bella’s water surged to form a shield, catching the blow before it could hit her. She whipped her knee up, but Pete deflected it with the side of his hand. He swept her legs out from under her, but she turned her fall into a cartwheeling kick.

Pete jerked his chin back just before her foot connected, then swung his hammer once more. Water molded to block it once more, this time racing down the shaft and engulfing Pete’s hand.

A powerful wave of pressure rolled off the old man and he stomped a foot into the ground, thrusting his free hand toward Bella. An invisible force launched her backward and into the wall of Whiteheart house.

She staggered to her feet, but not fast enough to block the violent hammer blow that slammed down on top of her. Water formed a cocoon around her, but it wasn’t enough to completely block the blow and she was sent flying into the air.

“Holy shit. Is he trying to kill her?” Chance exclaimed.

“She’s fine,” Yeo replied. “Look.”

Bella twisted midair, streamers of water spraying out from her back. She thrust her hands forward and they formed into razor-sharp tendrils, drilling down toward the old man as she fell.

With a flourish, Pete tapped his hammer against the ground. Another thrum ran through the air, vibrating Bella’s attacks so violently that the water fell apart into a harmless rain. Pete tossed his hammer to the side and drove a knee up into Bella’s chest as she fell.

It connected with a loud crack, but she managed to twist her body to drive her knee into Pete’s face at the same time.

They pushed apart from each other and Bella rolled across the ground before rising back to her feet. Pete rubbed his cheek and grinned.

“You’ve gotten better, Bella.”

She growled and dashed at him again. Pete raised his hand and his hammer flew back into it. He spun, building momentum before slamming it into Bella and launching her into the sky for the second time.

“Pete would be killer at baseball,” Chance muttered, still completely uncomfortable with the entire fight. Wasn’t Pete supposed to be teaching them? This looked more like aggravated assault.

As bad as the blow looked, Bella’s face was only a little bloodied. She reared back and water rushed into her hands, creating a massive axe. Screaming, she brought it crashing down toward Pete.

The old man snapped his fingers. Once again, her Essence disintegrated and he thrust a hand into her stomach. Bella caught the blow, then twisted her body sharply to the side. Laughing, Pete spun with the move.

Somehow, Bella turned into the one spinning as Pete’s legs found solid ground under them once more. He slammed her into the ground with a thud that made both Chance and Yeo wince.

“That’s enough,” Pete said.

Bella’s chest rose and fell heavily as she tried to gather her breath. The two stared at each other for several moments. Then Pete extended a hand. With a defeated sigh, Bella took it and the old man pulled her up.