The bushes parted, and an elderly man stumbled into the clearing. He looked like he had lost a fight with a laundry basket. He wore drab, olive-green robes wrapped loosely around a thick waist. His gray beard was bushy and unkempt, and his hair was pulled up into a messy topknot. In one hand, he clutched a large ceramic jug marked with the symbol for 'Sake,' and a string of large prayer beads dangled from his wrist.

"What the hell you kids doing out here?" the old man slurred, swaying slightly.

"We're out here training," Jin stepped forward. "What's it to you, old man?"

"Training?" The old man scoffed, taking a swig from his gourd. "Ha! You call that training? Sounded like a gaggle of idiots setting off fireworks to me."

Noah, high on his recent success, stepped up. "Who you calling an idiot, you old drunk?"

"Well," the old man squinted at him with one good eye. "If you were one of the idiots out here making noise, I'm calling you an idiot. Matter of fact, looking at that red hair, I can tell you’re the biggest idiot of the bunch."

"That's it, old man!" Noah yelled. "I'm going to pound you!"

"Oh please, numbnuts," the old man laughed. "You can't even beat your meat."

Noah roared and charged, throwing a wild haymaker.

The old man didn't even look concerned. He lazily side-stepped, letting Noah stumble past him. With a casual flick of his wrist, he delivered a light chop to the back of Noah's neck.

Thwack.

Noah’s eyes rolled back, and he face-planted into the dirt, out cold.

"Who the heck are you?" Jin demanded, dropping into a combat stance.

"Someone who doesn't have time for loud children," the old man grunted, adjusting his robe. "Come get your friend and get the hell out of my woods."

"Hold up," Jin growled. "First of all, that idiot isn't my friend. Secondly, you don't own these woods. And thirdly... you just attacked a civilian."

"Civilian?" The old man raised an eyebrow. "He attacked me. I just put him down for a nap. Now leave, or I'll have to tuck the rest of you in too."

"Old man," Jin warned, Ki flaring around his fists. "Don't get cocky just because you knocked out the village idiot. I'm a Guardian. I could hurt you."

"Oh ho ho," the old man chuckled, shaking his prayer beads. "Big words coming from such a little punk."

"Okay, that's it."

Lynn grabbed Jin's arm. "No, Jin, don't. It's not worth it. He's just a drunk hobo."

"Yeah, Jin," Luna added nervously. "Let's just go."

"That's right," the old man sneered. "Listen to the little ladies. Go home with your balls in your purse."

Jin snapped. "I'm kicking his ass."

He charged. He didn't hold back this time. He threw a Kinetic Punch straight for the old man's face, moving at speeds that would blur to a normal human eye.

Thud.

The old man caught the fist. He didn't block it; he caught it. In his open palm.

What?! Jin’s eyes widened. Who the heck is this guy? No normie could take that impact!

The old man gripped Jin's fist, crushing it slightly. He lifted Jin off the ground with one hand and delivered a stiff kick to the gut.

BAM.

Jin went flying. He smashed into a massive oak tree, splintering the wood, and crumpled into the bushes below.

"Holy crap," Maya whispered. "His power... it’s extraordinary. Am I dreaming?"

"Okay ladies," the old man dusted off his hands. "Now get your friends and get out of my woods, or I'll have to—"

"You'll do nothing!"

Jin burst from the bushes, leaves in his hair, eyes burning with rage. He launched himself into the air, drawing back a fist charged with red energy.

"Damn, boy," the old man sighed. "You just don't learn, do you? I guess this time I have to put my back into it."

The old man shifted to dodge, but he froze. He looked down.

Noah, conscious but groggy, had crawled over and clamped onto the old man’s ankle with a death grip.

"What the hell?" the old man grunted. "Let go!"

"Pay attention, old man!" Jin yelled.

The split-second distraction was enough. Jin’s fist connected squarely with the old man's face.

CRACK-BOOM!

The impact echoed through the forest. The ground shook.

Jin landed, breathing hard. The old man hadn't moved an inch from his spot, but his head was snapped back. He stood there, frozen.

"Got ya, old man," Jin panted. "What do you have to say now?"

The old man said nothing. His eyes had rolled back into his head, and his mouth hung slightly open. He was out on his feet, standing upright only by sheer stubbornness.

Luna ran up, horrified. "Oh my god, Jin! You didn't have to kill the guy!"

"He isn't dead," Jin checked the pulse. "Just knocked out. Tough old buzzard."

"Serves him right," Noah groaned, letting go of the ankle. "For all that trash he was talking. And that brutal attack he hit me with."

"You mean that little love-tap chop?" Jin scoffed.

"Hey, shut up!"

"Anyway," Maya looked nervously at the standing unconscious man. "We should probably leave. Like, right now."

"What? After all that, you want to leave?" Noah complained.

"She is right, Noah," Jin said, rubbing his sore hand. "It would be best if we get going. I don't need him waking up and causing more problems. He’s... strangely strong. We will come back and train later."

"Yeah, you're probably right," Noah muttered, limping away. "The old fart was just lucky I didn't get serious with him, or he would be in a million pieces right now."

"Do you take drugs to get to that fantasy world you live in?" Jin asked. "Or do those delusions just come naturally?"

"Hey, shut up, Motozawa! I just about had enough of you."

"Oh no, please don't hurt me! My chopping hand needs a rest!"

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

The group bickered as they retreated from the woods.

Once they were completely out of sight, the old man’s eyes rolled back down. He blinked, rolled his neck with a sickening crack, and spat on the ground. A smirk formed on his lips beneath his bushy gray beard.

"Hmm," he muttered, rubbing his jaw. "So that is the Guardian Jin Motozawa? Stronger than I thought he would be at this stage. But still nowhere near strong enough."

He took a long drink from his sake jug, watching the path they had taken.

"And that Luna girl... she is nowhere near ready. But it is what it is. I will just have to make my move when the time is right.”