"How have you been, Dad?"
Expecting an answer, Jenny simply stared at the silhouette, her expression darkening as time progressed. However, no matter how long she waited, an answer did not come, as if the silhouette was merely a projection.
"Dad?"
She asked no one in particular, extending her arm. The silhouette was indeed tangible, but it offered no response when conversed with. It was as if it could only react to the movements of others.
Like a semi-auto robot that could sense and react, but could not act on its free will.
Jenny grimaced, her gaze darting from place to place, searching for nothing in particular. Suddenly, a few words entered her ears, startling her. Her ears tickled as a strong gust of wind swept by.
The silhouette began fading, eventually turning into tiny particles of dust that ran across Jenny's fingers. Jenny felt memories enter her mind. She simply glanced at the dust particles. She was uncertain if that was her father, but now…
'Father…'
The words that the silhouette said rang in Jenny's ears.
"In the dance of opposites, the outcome will be their connection."
Jenny didn't understand what those words meant. She was entirely oblivious to their true meaning–and no matter how much she pondered over them–was unable to decipher it. Her expression suddenly turned blank, and a piece of information entered her mind.
"Embrace your darkness."
Following those words, Jenny's body crumbled into pieces, her expression drowned under sorrow.
*
The numbing/burning sensation danced across her fingertips, but unlike a few seconds ago–when the snow was oppressive–it now radiated a sense of invigoration, as if fuel to Jenny's bursting desires.
'Father's words seemed so random… so blank,' Jenny muttered internally. 'But they held such a profound meaning.'
She was still unbeknownst to most of it, but simply the sentiment of not treating darkness, the cold, as something objectively bad-natured had already improved her control over the Yin Qi. If the Earth Chi (Yin Qi) was formerly a wild beast, it was now akin to a tame, farm animal capable of being manipulated freely.
To control darkness is to embrace one's own darkness.
It was similar to the saying, "To catch a thief, one must think like a thief."
Not the same, but similar.
Jenny looked at the bear with a dangerous gaze. The latter seemed to have several gashes on its hide, and was wounded quite badly. However, the former was not any different. Although the cold was not too painful, it still stung.
It was still excruciating… only bearable.
Moreover, her injuries were not excusable, and would eventually harass her once again. Once the adrenaline wore off, she would be subject to them.
'Fuck this.'
The two words lingered in her mind as she rushed forward, her eyes flashing with killing intent. A hint of craziness was present in that gaze, which caused shivers to shoot down the bear's spine.
However, ignoring the warning signals its body provided it, the beast roared, clapping once as a storm of snow and ice arose from the ground.
Jenny avoided the pieces of debris, speeding through the snow. Usually, her feet would sink a few centimeters, despite the restricted weight of her body. However, by manipulating the coldness, or the hardness of the snow, she could increase her speed to an incomprehensible pace.
Suddenly, a shard of ice grazed Jenny's skin, drawing blood that froze instantly, causing waves of pain to travel across her body.
But it was all ignored.
Roar!
Suddenly, Jenny swung Nightshade, while the bear swung its claw. The two weapons collided, causing a grand collision that shook the earth. Immediately, Jenny retreated, oppressed by the harsh winds of the storm that was brewing behind the bear.
'I have barely a few seconds before that is unleashed.'
Without any more thought, Jenny released the maximum amount of Yin Qi, surrounding the atmosphere in the energy. The bear couldn't absorb it, as most of its attention was centered on the storm.
Suddenly, Jenny extended her arm. Her arm released a cracking sound, after which a layer of ice crept upon it, encompassing the piece of flesh while breaking several bones in the process. Jenny bit her lip to suppress the urge to scream, drawing blood that froze yet again.
Suddenly, hundreds of ice shards burst from the frozen arm, shooting towards the bear. Jenny used the other arm to grip Nightshade as she rushed forward. Forming a barrier, she resisted the advance of the storm while hacking away at the bear's hide.
The ice shards impaled the bear, drawing blood from hundreds of locations.
The bear released several roars, swinging his claw.
Bam!
One of his swings collided with Jenny's body, sending her flying like a broken puppet. Several of her bones broke, while lightheadedness awakened. However, that only motivated her further, like a masochist.
Summoning several spells of the ice element, she released them all simultaneously, forming an unbreakable, unblockable barrage that assaulted the bear with terrifying speed and power.
She released several blade waves using Yin Qi while resisting the storm using the ice arm and the barrier. With her expression strained and her body showing signs of giving out, she continued to fight.
It had already been over an hour since the two began fighting, and both Jenny and the bear were exhausted beyond belief. During battles, the heart is incredibly stressed, resulting in the loss of logical thinking.
Clenching her teeth, Jenny rushed forward yet again, refusing to give up.
Retreating wasn't an option in a land coated solely by snow.
Even if it was an option, Jenny had already ignored it in order to continue fighting.
The two entities collided. The storm had already been unleashed, but hadn't been able to pressure Jenny. Shockwaves formed due to the collision, and with their last breaths, Jenny and the bear continued exchanging blows.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
The ground shook as they fought. Another hour passed, and the two were sprawled on the ground.
Suddenly, Jenny stood up, a victorious smile plastered over her face.
'It seems I've won.'
Forming a sword using Yin Qi, she promptly stabbed the bear's face, ending its life in an instant.
Following that, she collapsed on the ground, her breathing shallow.
