Chapter 352 Jin, the God of Discipline
Coughing up a bit of blood, Jack tumbled down the rocky valley wall and hit the ground beside Maynard and the others.
"Didn't think ya were as stupid as me," laughed Maynard.
Jack smiled and wiped the blood from his mouth. He then pulled out two bottles of life spring water Jack had collected back in Ponlinne's tomb. "Here. This will stop the internal bleeding."
While Jack and Maynard drank the healing water, the other party members were startled by Jack's statement.
"We're fine now, so don't worry about it," Jack added, calming the party. "Now, I think I know what to do."
Still in a rush, Jack returned to the water and hurried to the bottom at full speed. When Jack reached the tunnel, he didn't stop or slow down. Instead, Jack closed his eyes and aimed where he thought the barrier might be beneath the rock.
Lucky for Jack, his assumption was right. As his body came in contact with the rock, he phased right through it.
When Jack reappeared in front of the barrier, Lina was blown away. "Big Bro, how did you do that?!"
'I'm not sure. I want to say this rock tunnel is an illusion, but I think there's more to it than that,' Jack replied. 'Anyway, I need you to do something. Can you devour the barrier, Lina?'
"Really?! You'll let me eat it?!"
Not waiting for Jack to change his mind, Lina's body expanded and swiftly took the form of a long three-headed hydra. And thanks to the tunnel's strange ability, Lina's long body didn't destroy it. Back in her hydra form, Lina opened all three of her mouths and bit into the barrier. Her teeth ripped the barrier to shreds and left a huge, gaping hole. It was as if the magic barrier was a giant cookie and each of the three hydra heads stole a bite from it, savoring and chewing on the magic.
'That's enough, Lina, just enjoy your snack.' Jack noticed that Lina was enjoying the flavor so he didn't bother her with anything else. 'Everyone, the barrier's open now. Come one down!'
'What about Appa, Bowzer, and Phoro?' asked Eliza.
Jack replied, 'Store them. I'm sure there will be a place for them in the shrine.'
Eliza told the beasts of the plan and stored them away before she and the other party members jumped into the water.
'Also, that rock tunnel at the bottom is false. You can swim right through it. Just follow Lina's body and you'll find it.'
At first, the party was confused but they quickly caught on when they saw the hydra tail wagging through what was supposed to be solid rock. With that to guide them, the party didn't struggle to find the barrier and the hole she had made. Also, they saw Lina take three more large bites and smile at the taste.
Jack was already inside the barrier.
Once Jack crossed through the hole Lina had made, the flow of the water drastically changed. Jack felt his body being dragged down with the sudden shift of the current. As he fell, Jack realized what was going on. His new view was that of an upside-down shrine surrounded by a moat. And Jack presumed that the shrine wasn't upside-down, but that he was upside-down and inside of a waterfall.
"You!"
A booming voiced echoed within the hidden room. It was masculine but not too low of a register. Also, it's tone seemed more bothered than angry.
While Jack crashed into the moat below, he saw the rough figure of a man through the running water. He came to the side and gasped for air.
"You, it must be you! What did you do to my barrier?! Do you now understand how difficult it was to make that?" The now clear figure berated Jack.
"Sorry, we're just in a hurry to speak with Jin so I don't keep Daruun waiting," Jack replied as he clamored onto the carved stone floor jutting out of the moat.
"Daruun? What do you know of him? Speak, boy?"
Now breathing easier, Jack looked back to Jin. He was a man with average stature and height, but half of his toned torso was revealed by the kimono cut diagonally across the torso. Jin's hair was done into a tight bun and his facial features were just as sharp as his gaze.
"Jin, my name is Jack. I'm Daruun's champion and your nephew. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, uncle."
"Nephew?!" The man's piercing stare was shattered by that comment. "Who sent you?"
"Technically, Sterfen sent me so you could bless one of my party members, but Daruun also sent me and told me to hurry," Jack replied.
Jin squinted and stepped in front of Jack. He puffed up his chest and slapped his hands down onto Jack's shoulders without mercy. As Jack chuckled in pain, Jin grinned madly.
"Finally! So it was you who summoned him three days ago… And you're Sterfen's son, that would half explain the hydra outside my door. Oh, where's this party of yours? Are you sure that they'll fit my blessing and my requirements?"
Jack nodded with a laugh, "Uncle Jin, I'm sure he'll fit your requirements. Also, that's my little sister outside."
"Little… They found her?!" Jin boomed with laughter, gripping Jack's shoulders tighter and tighter with every guffaw. "That's wonderful! You'll have to tell me everything!"
"Uncle, calm down! You're squeezing a little too tight!"
"Oh, sorry about that!" Jin continued to laugh as he released Jack from his friendly yet torturous grip.
While Jack rubbed his throbbing shoulders, a giant splash happened behind him.
"That must be your party," assumed Jin. "I hope you're not lying about your party member being fit for my blessing. I'm extremely cautious about selecting disciples."
"Jin!" A loud voice interrupted their conversation, followed by someone hurriedly climbing out of the water and kowtowing to the god. "My name is Maynard. I'm a samurai on a search to seek thy blessing of discipline."
"Oh, a fellow samurai! I see why you brought him, Nephew," Jin chuckled and gave Maynard a once over.
Hearing Jin's statement, Maynard blinked. "Master Jin, may I raise my head?"
"Of course! A proud samurai should never bow his head so easily!" With a tap of his foot, Jin knocked Maynard back up onto his feet, stunning the samurai. "As a fellow disciple of the blade, You'd better show me everything you've got. Otherwise, I'll be forced to turn you away."
"Just curious, but do you know Tyre, Uncle Jin?"
Thrown off by Jack's question, Jin's smile fell from his face. "Why do you ask?"
Jack shrugged and smiled. "I only ask because Maynard here was desperate to train under Tyres. Even when I told him that it wouldn't work out, he only stopped insisting after Steren repeated what I told him."
"Oh… I see…" Suddenly, four katanas appeared and floated in the air around in. "In that case, I'll have to adjust my test…
"Maynard," Jin's armor-piercing stare returned and focused on Maynard, "I'll strike four times. If you can at least see or avoid all four of them, then you'll pass. You'll get three attempts to pass. Do you understand?"
Taking a deep breath, Maynard retrieved his two katanas and took a battle-ready stance. "I'm ready."
"Then here comes the first test."
A burst of aura exploded out from Jin's body, frightening the remaining party members still climbing onto the stone platform. They watched as Maynard remained calm before the god. Then, they saw Jin pick up two of the four floating swords.
What followed was truly shocking for Maynard and the party, minus Jack.
Two more phantasmal arms appeared from Jin's back. They seemed to take form out of thin air, yet they both firmly gripped the two remaining swords from the air.
"Here I come! Don't die!"