Scene – Odela Kingdom, Underground Training Hall

Kirito lies on the ground, breathing heavily.

Kirito: "Huh… Where am I? Oh yeah, I was training here... Wait! That spirit—my hands! They’re healed? Completely?! So it wasn’t a dream?! I can feel… a different kind of power inside me."

He stands up and clenches his fist.

Kirito: "Let’s test it out."

He throws a punch at the iron pillar in front of him. The pillar shatters and crashes to the floor.

Kirito: "Whaaat…! Wow! So this is the power… hmm, what did Yama say again?"

Scene – Flashback

Yama, the spirit, appears before Kirito.

Yama: "Oh, and by the way… you now have access to 12 unique skills. Use them well."

Kirito: "12?! Which ones?"

Yama:

• Fire Bullet

• Water Shooter

• Sand Art

• Jujutsu

• Blue Blood

• Air Strike

• Mana Blast

• 3rd Step

• Over Control

• Heal

• Chinja

• Golden Yama

Kirito: "That’s a lot! What do they do?"

Yama (grinning): "Figure it out yourself."

Kirito: "Huh?!"

Scene – End Flashback

Kirito: "Guess I’ll try one now. Let’s start with… Fire Bullet!"

He extends his arm and opens his palm. At first, nothing happens.

Kirito: "Huh?"

Then suddenly, tiny fire bullets shoot from his fingertips, striking the walls and ceiling.

Kirito: "Awesome!! So this is how it works!"

He adjusts his hand into a pistol shape.

Kirito: "Fire Bullet!"

A stronger flaming bullet launches from his finger and slams into an iron pillar, melting it instantly.

Kirito: "That’s amazing!"

Scene – The Next Day, Palace Garden

Kirito runs excitedly toward Kolie and Asely.

Kirito: "Papa! Papa!"

Kolie: "Hmm?"

Kirito: "Today, I’ll show you how strong I’ve become! I trained really hard yesterday in the underground training hall."

Kolie: "Oh? Let’s see what you’ve got."

Asely thinks: “What’s gotten into him?”

Kirito: "Fire Bullet!"

A fireball shoots out from his finger and hits a tree directly, setting it ablaze. Within seconds, the entire tree burns to ash and collapses into dust.

Kolie: "Ohh…!"
Asely: "Hmm…"

Kirito (grinning): "So?! How was that? Pretty awesome, right? Tell me! (:"

Kolie: "It’s impressive. But… you still need more control. Instead of burning the whole tree, you could’ve just created a clean hole through it."

Kirito: "):!?"

Kolie: "You have the skill now, but you need to master it. I’ll help you with that."

Kirito: "Hmm ):"

Kirito thinks: “He never praises me…”

Asely: "Alright Kirito, best of luck."

Scene – 4 Years Later, Palace Garden

Asely: "Alright, let’s begin."

A now 10-year-old Kirito stands across from his father, Kolie. This is a formal battle, and Asely is the referee.

Kolie: "Kirito, today is your test. Show me how hard you’ve trained in the past four years."

Kirito: "Hmm… Here I come!"

He rushes forward, aiming straight for Kolie, then suddenly vanishes and reappears behind him.

Kirito throws a punch, but Kolie quickly sidesteps.

Kolie: "Not bad."

Kirito: "This is just the beginning!"

He summons his sword and launches a direct attack. Kolie draws his own blade and blocks. A sword fight begins—clash after clash echoes across the garden.

Clink! Clank! Channk!

Kirito suddenly jumps back, disappears, and reappears behind Kolie again. Though Kolie dodges, Kirito’s sword scratches his back, leaving a light cut.

Asely: "Hmm, not bad."

Kolie: "So, you’ve grown stronger."

Kirito: "Any doubt?"

Kolie: "Now, no more swords. Let’s move to skill combat."

Kirito: "No problem. Fire Bullet!"

A small flame orb shoots toward Kolie, who swiftly slashes it apart mid-air with his sword.

Kolie: "You’ll need more than that."

Kirito: "Then let’s turn it up!"

He raises his hand and points all five fingers at Kolie.

Kirito: "Fire Bullet!"

Five fiery spheres blast toward Kolie at once. They hit, and a small explosion erupts on impact. A dark fog spreads across the battlefield.

[End of Chapter 3]