Amber of its cruelity

Scene

Tai stands at the rocky edge of the endless sea. The wind howls — cold enough to bite through bone. He clenches his fists, voice half joking, half trembling:

Tai: "It's very sad to know… I didn't think that monster would be the one who did this. He killed my sister too — and he's gonna pay. I'm angry. I'm hunting him down — I swear it!"

Yue Ying watches him, calm as the ocean mist swirling behind her. Her one arm rests by her side like it's weightless.

Yue Ying: "Anger alone makes you blind. If you want revenge, you need balance first. Become cold — become still."

Tai scoffs, shivering as he sees the freezing black waves rolling under the moonlight.

Tai: "Balance? You're telling me to jump in? That's the ocean — I'm gonna freeze to death!"

Yue Ying's expression doesn't change. She steps forward and — without warning — pushes him.

Tai: "Wha— HEY—!"

He hits the water with a smack. The sea swallows him instantly — icy darkness wraps around his body like knives.

Tai sinks, bubbles bursting from his mouth as he shouts underwater:

Tai (muffled): "Yo— WTH—!?"

At first, panic grips him. But as the cold clamps his chest, he feels something… warm. A heat inside him, stubborn and alive. His eyes open in the black water — he spots a shadowy stone mound, like a sunken altar. Kicking through the cold, he pulls himself onto it.

Tai sits, drenched, trembling — but he shuts his eyes.

Tai (thinking): "She told me… meditate. Okay. Let's see if I can…"

But the darkness behind his eyelids flickers. Images come — Kon's smile. Yuna's throat, the blood. Tai's eyes snap open — breath ragged.

Tai: "Damn it…!"

He tries again — deeper. The whirl of the water rages around him. Then — a voice.

A figure appears in his mind: an old man, ragged cloak, long staff, eyes sharp but kind.

Old Man: "Tai. Listen. Fear is your lock — break it open. Trigger it. See it. Don't run."

Tai stares — teeth chattering.

Tai: "Who… who are you?"

But the old man only taps his staff on the stone. Thud. Then he dissolves into mist, swept away by the swirling current.

Tai: "…Where'd he go? Who was he?"

No answer — only the ocean's roar.

Tai clenches his fists tighter — closes his eyes once more.

Tai: "Alright. Again. Just like he said… trigger the fear."

Above the water, the sea churns into a small cyclone — but beneath it, Tai sits unmoving, a single ember of warmth in the endless cold.

---

Scene

Three days pass.

The endless sea thrashes under the stormy sky — but beneath the surface, Tai is still there, unmoving on the stone mound. His eyes are closed, but inside his mind — another world has opened.

In his mind's realm, Tai stands in a battlefield of shadows — a grey wasteland littered with broken weapons, scorched earth, and drifting ash. His sword is in his hand, breath heavy, sweat dripping from his brow.

All around him — figures appear: phantoms of old enemies, fears, monsters with Kon's smile, Yuna's blood. They rush him all at once — fangs bared, blades raised.

Tai grips his sword tighter.

Tai:

"COME ON!!"

He lunges forward — slashing, spinning, cutting down every phantom. Each one explodes into black mist — but more come, endless, roaring in rage.

Tai's muscles burn, but he doesn't stop. He roars back at them — eyes burning with the cold resolve Yue Ying planted in him.

Then — a voice cuts through the chaos: cold, mocking.

Balerion:

"You really think you can beat me, cub?"

The smoke clears just enough — and there he is: Balerion. Looming, armored, eyes glowing like dying suns. His sword is massive — resting easily on one shoulder.

Tai spits blood — plants his feet.

Tai:

"One day… I'll cut you down, Balerion. Just wait… just watch me!"

Balerion's laugh rolls like thunder.

Balerion:

"AHAHAHAHA! You have spirit — but that's all you have, child. Come, then. Show me your worthless courage!"

Tai roars — charges. Swords clash — sparks fly, steel screeches against scales and bone. Tai fights with everything he has — reckless swings, desperate dodges. For a moment, he drives Balerion back — an opening! He plunges his blade deep into Balerion's chest.

The giant shadow-beast freezes — then bursts into shards of black glass. Tai gasps for breath — but as he lowers his sword, he sees it: the glass shards swirl together — reforming behind him.

Balerion's eyes flicker open again — that same cruel grin.

Balerion:

"This realm is me, little dragon. You cannot kill what's inside you — not yet."

Tai stands there, sword shaking in his hands — but his eyes stay locked on Balerion's.

Tai (breathing hard):

"…Then I'll keep fighting. A thousand times if I have to

Scene

Tai explodes out of the freezing sea — gasping, drenched, but smiling. His eyes are bright with a new calm fire.

On the shore, Yue Ying stands with arms folded — her one sleeve swaying in the wind. She sees his grin and nods slightly.

Yue Ying (calm):

"You found your answer?"

Tai breathes out a laugh, wiping the water from his eyes.

Tai (grinning, full of energy):

"Yeah! I fought them all — my fears, my doubts — and I'm still here. So… what's next?"

Yue Ying turns — gestures to a carved wooden post, thick as a tree trunk, its surface engraved with old martial symbols. She places her single palm gently on it — then strikes with a short, sharp punch.

CRACK!

The entire wood pillar splinters down the middle — splitting clean like a dry reed.

Tai's jaw drops.

In his mind: "She's a monster…!"

Yue Ying turns to him, perfectly calm.

Yue Ying:

"This is Pai Mai's special training. The Cruel Tutelage. The test of your spirit — and your body."

She flicks her fingers — another wooden post rises from the ground, restored by her control.

She points at it with her palm — then curls her hand into a fist.

Yue Ying:

"✋… then 👊. Open the flow — break the barrier. Power means nothing without control. Even with strength, this post is made from the cell of Lord Sudo's Avatar — you must give more than your all."

Tai stares at the wood, then at his own hands. He clenches them — fire flickering in his veins.

Tai (to himself, pumped):

"So this is it, huh? The next wall… The next break…"

He plants his feet — breathes deep — raises his palm:

Tai (shouting, grin wide):

"ALRIGHT! Let's see if I can break a god's bone, then!"

His hand strikes out — open palm. Then immediately — fist snaps forward.

CRACK!

The wood trembles — but doesn't break. Tai winces, shakes out his knuckles — then laughs.

Tai (under breath, smiling wide):

"Yeah… it's gonna be hard. Good."

Scene (Continuation)

Tai stands before the unbroken post — knuckles bruised, breath steaming in the cold sea wind. The sea still drips from his hair, mixing with sweat.

He flexes his fingers, feeling the sting shoot through his bones.

A small grin flickers on his face — half pain, half thrill.

Tai (low, to himself, defiant):

"So yeah… it's gonna be hard as hell, no lie… But I'll keep trying. Again. And again. Till this damn thing cracks like my fear did."

Yue Ying watches him quietly — her eyes steady, but there's a flicker of respect in that calm gaze.

Tai plants his feet again. Breathes deeper — one palm — the strike rattles up his arm.

Fist — it thuds with a dull sound, the wood shakes but holds.

He doesn't flinch. He pulls back — huffs out a laugh through his grit teeth.

Tai (louder, fire in his eyes):

"It's gonna work. Even if it breaks me first — I'll break it back."

He wipes the blood from his knuckles on his sleeve — plants his feet one more time

Scene (Continuation)

Tai stands before the wooden post — hands raw, knuckles cracked. His breath clouds in the air as the sea wind bites at his wet hair.

He clenches his fists, shoulders heaving with tired breath — then slowly lifts his eyes to the wide sky above.

The clouds drift endlessly — cold, indifferent.

But Tai's eyes burn hotter than any sun hidden behind them.

Tai (under his breath, voice rough but steady):

"I'll do it… no matter how long it takes."

He opens his palm, stares at the bruises — then curls his fingers into a tight fist again.

Tai (firmer now, voice rising to the sky):

"I'll prove who I am — and who I'm gonna be. Even if the sky itself says 'No' — I'll break it too."

He plants his feet — breathes out — and slams his palm into the post again.

A crack — maybe small — but this time, it's real.

Yue Ying, arms crossed, watches from a short distance. The corner of her mouth twitches — a flicker of a grin she doesn't let him see.

Above them, the sky stays wide and cold — but Tai doesn't care.

He's here — fists bleeding — eyes wide open.

Scene (Continuation)

Tai takes one step back — plants his foot deep into the sand for balance. He breathes in, the cold sea wind cutting across his skin — but his blood feels like fire.

He tightens his fist.

Tai (low to himself):

"Again."

He strikes.

A sharp crack.

Wood splinters fly.

His knuckles split, pain blooming — but his eyes don't flinch.

He pulls his fist back — breathes — strikes again.

The post trembles under the next blow — Yue Ying watches in silence, arms folded, the wind lifting strands of her hair.

Another punch.

Another echo.

Blood drips, but Tai doesn't stop. His breath becomes a steady rhythm: in, out — fist, strike.

Tai (through clenched teeth, but his voice strong):

"I'll do it — I'll break it — I'll break myself if I have to — and build it stronger again."

Behind him, the endless ocean crashes and pulls away — as if even the waves pause to watch.