Wobbleâ!
I staggered as dizziness hit me, barely managing to steady myself to avoid collapsing.
âHooâ¦â
My breathing was uneven, and I had to make a conscious effort to steady it.
But that wasnât the only issue.
Thump!
I felt a heavy pulse from my chest.
Tension built up in me as I braced for the backlash that was sure to come.
Kuuuuungâ!
âUrghâ¦!â
As expected, the reverberation hit me hard, and a groan escaped my lips.
I felt like I might collapse at any moment, but I managed to endure. I couldnât afford to fall now.
âHuff⦠Huffâ¦!â
The pain weighed down my already exhausted body, as if something vital had been drained out of me.
I felt lethargic, hollow.
This sensation⦠Iâd felt it before. A truly miserable feeling.
Through it all, I forced myself to assess my condition.
I carefully examined how much pain I was in, whether I could move after using that power, and committed everything to memory, even in my fatigue.
Clenching my fist, I thought to myself,
âThe backlash is too much.â
Just like the last time I used it, the recoil was brutal.
Pain, I could endure. Butâ¦n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âIt takes a toll on my body.â
Was it like Paejon had said? Was the strain affecting my soul?
Or was it simply that my physical body couldnât handle it?
I wasnât sure, but one thing was certainâit wasnât something I could use consecutively.
Still, in the endâ¦
âThe important thing is that I can use it.â
As I steadied my breath, I lifted my head to look ahead.
The barrier that had previously stood in the way was now shattered, leaving behind a massive opening.
Fwooshâ!
The edges of the opening were lined with flickering blue flames, remnants of the power released by the Heart Fist.
Though it wasnât as destructive as the time Iâd shattered an iceberg, it was still a testament to the power it held.
I forced myself to straighten my upper body and assessed my limits.