Jul 28, 2024 23:34:41 GMT
Post by Sabia on Jul 28, 2024 23:34:41 GMT
In the desolate, barren areas of Oozaru Wastelands, Sabia found a shred of solace... A rare moment of peace. This rugged, unyielding terrain, unwelcoming as it appeared, was a perfect place to help her collect her thoughts. Indeed, there was a lot she had to think about. The wind raised layers of dust her way, howling between rock formations that made up this hostile land. The horizon was empty, only boulders and dust, stretching endlessly under the sky of Vegeta. This emptiness was crucial. Here, far away from the cacophony of apes she had heard all her life, away from their yells and fights, she could focus without distraction on what was really important. Of course - it meant her progress. Sabia breathed out slowly, the wind playing with her hair, lifting strands and tangling them in an almost playful manner. Without moving a muscle, like a statue, she was thinking and preparing for the day. Practice. That was the plan, as trivial as it sounded. The sharp, irregular rocks were her training partners, and the howling wind was her only audience.
The solitude of the wastelands was not just a preference but a necessity for Sabia. The shared space in the military area was a constant source of irritation for her; it was always too crowded, too noisy, filled with the stench of sweat and aggression. The solitude here allowed her to think and plan her next moves with a clarity that was impossible to achieve amidst the chaos of the barracks or the drill hall. Those places were a mosaic of grunts, shouts, and thuds of fist against fist. Typical. Truly, a place where brute strength was flaunted and subtlety was lost. Sabia hated it. A crude display of power that seemed to define her race - why should she partake in that? Her soul was a lone one. Besides, it wasn't like her to show off her cards when everyone could see. For many, she was just the lowest of the low - a low-class soldier, a nobody. Although this was annoying, being underestimated had its perks. It allowed her to operate in the back, to improve her skills away from prying eyes. They would never see her coming for their throats... Would they? And in this desolate place, she was free from the judgmental eyes of fellow Saiyans - or rather they were spared from her disapproving glare.
This solitude was crucial, a basic need akin to breathing and moving. Sabia needed this place to hone her skills away from curious eyes... To get her strength back after dealing with those idiots. Wastelands were perfect for her... And it's not like she liked or needed any other company than her own.
Before sunrays pierced the skies above her parents' house, Sabia was already outside. The cold air was refreshing, sharp, and cruel, waking her with a chilly breeze. It reminded her that before the harsh, scorching sun would start overseeing the planet, she had a couple of hours of pleasant coolness. One side of the sky was still dark, scattered with gleaming stars, night was barely slipping away.
Her training began with meditation. It was a practice that many Saiyans had little to no respect for because, to them, it was a waste of time. Sitting motionlessly and, by the gods, thinking - Sabia wasn't surprised. This concept was alien to her race. They preferred to polish their physical strength as the only means to achieve greatness, their definition of power confined to physical dominance. So, so very typical. To most Saiyans, the idea of sitting still and engaging in mental contemplation was not just a foreign but laughable matter. They didn't see the appeal of sharpening their minds when they could be training their bodies to deliver killing blows. But Sabia preferred the power of a calm, collected mind, which was the core of her whole being. She liked to think that she saw what her fellow warriors missed... That true strength came from mastering both body and mind. If they were ignorant, better for her, right? Though, it wasn't a brain-over-brawn situation - they often lacked both.
Meditation was not merely a part of her routine but the foundation of everything. To gain this level of composure, she had to practice a lot. Sabia learned to utilize this reflection as a child, remembering hours of breathing exercises, done under her parents' tutorage. In theory, back then she understood everything yet it took years for everything to click. She didn't try to hide her routine from anyone. Ultimately, it was easier to train here in the wastelands rather than in the middle of the barracks, where prying eyes and raging howls were following her every move. Thus, it became a necessity... This place was more than enough. Sabia would sit cross-legged on the grainy rocks, her eyes closed, breathing slow and steady, as she grounded herself. Each breath was an act of centering, a way to learn more about her body. It was given that she studied what she could. The way the blood flew through her veins, her heartbeat, subtle yet unseen twitching of muscles... The more she knew, the more she was in control. The discipline that kept her in check was something that perhaps she always had within. As well as all the personality quirks she got from her parents. It just worked for her, right?
In the quiet moments before dawn, when the stars still lingered at the very corner of the sky, Sabia soaked in the precious silence. There was a reason she picked one of the highest rocky cliffs she could find, overlooking the wastelands. The cool breeze brushed against her skin, carrying the faint scent of the dry air, sand, ashes... A familiar scent of a planet belonging to a war-crazed race. With half-open eyes, glancing at the world through her thick lashes, she looked down at the piles of sand, rocks, and boulders that littered the landscape. Were there times when the whole Vegeta looked like this, a barren land, full of nothingness? Not like it worried her in the slightest. This unyielding terrain could have been a reflection of her very soul - the one searching for solitude, hostile, and unforgiving. Sabia closed her eyes again. Focusing on her breath, she drew in the air and let it fill her lungs before exhaling slowly. And once more. Again.
Each breath was a deliberate act of centering herself, a way to ground herself in this repeated action while her senses were getting sharper. Sabia focused on them, trying to draw everything inside. The scent of wind... The darkness in front of her eyes. She could tell when individual grains of sand brushed against her skin. The rhythmic rise and fall of her chest kept her anchored in the present, though she appeared serene and quiet, her mind was anything but idle. To think is to be. Every inhale brought a wave of awareness of her surroundings, each exhale was sharpening her sixth sense from the inside. The vast emptiness of the wastelands allowed her to strip away the noise and chaos from her thoughts, rammed inside by the hostile surroundings she had to live in. The barracks, her missions, ugh. No, that wasn't important now. They weren't important... Sabia knew what and who was essential in her life and it wasn't going to change anytime soon.
She was careful, though. As the dagger of her mind was reaching deeper, to the very core of awareness, some things could start blurring midway. It wasn't that easy to balance the feelings of her body with what her mind could sense. Logic versus emotions, a tale as old as time. It would be of no use if she lost herself in this and started being unaware of her surroundings. Breath after breath, Sabia waited patiently. Her mind needed to be clear, like a still lake frozen solid—no disturbance would ripple the surface, but she would know if anything would be a distraction. This mental rehearsal was as crucial as any physical practice, to make her ready. Life was a struggle, unfair, and brutal, so she wasn't going into it unprepared. The landscape of her mind was as jaded and sharp as the cliffs around her, but in this moment of stillness, she found clarity. And silence. The line of balance that she found was uneven and needed polishing, but Sabia was on the right track.
She once heard that people from other planets used meditation as a means of relaxing their uneasiness... Why? The depth one's mind could reach wasn't about that; it was about an intense mental exercise. It was a practice to be in control, about discipline, about composure. Sabia viewed meditation as a warrior's tool, a way to forge mental resilience. She wouldn't allow the world to know how she felt, but she dared her own mind to play tricks on her. How could her thoughts betray her... Rude. It won't happen, her awareness had to bend to her will. As Sabia reflected on her actions, she confronted her emotions head-on... What was left of them, actually. Since she was a kid, she had been a quiet and calm individual; some things came to her naturally, and some did not. Rare fragments of anger, bitterness, and frustration lingered within her, she could sense them under the surface. Not enough to overwhelm her, but enough to irk her. Pathetic. To deny that she felt them would be a rookie mistake, even if she didn't like it. Sabia had to acknowledge these feelings and plaster them around her mental fortitude; otherwise, she would succumb to new impulses... Like a pathetic monkey. And no way in hell would she allow that to take place.
There was no choice but to accept irritation and anger, molding them into fuel of resolve. To have her body and mind polished and refined as much as possible, she needed to look deep into herself. Meditation wasn't about achieving tranquility for Sabia - it was about building an unshakeable core. What can enlightenment do? It was a load of bullshit. It won't heal her mother, it won't kick elites in the face. Hell, it won't even be useful. Each session she did was a test of her mental endurance, stretching boundaries of self-control. Meditation was meant for that, its spiritual value was lost on her. To reach her goals, Sabia had to be sharper than that, and if a tool isn't honed regularly it becomes dull. The path was long, but with each day, she steeled herself for the journey ahead. Her goal, right? She remembered very clearly what it was.
Information. Sabia joined the New Saiyan Empire because she lacked information and by the gods, she was going to dig them out even if it would be the last thing she has done.
Breathe in, and out... And again. The reasoning started to solidify, like a core in her brain. Sabia focused on her breath, each drawing in the crisp, cool air and each exhalation expelling any lingering distractions. Her mind was prepared for the grueling training session she had planned for herself. Her body... Well, she will see. She stood up, feeling the ground solid beneath her feet. Perhaps Saiyans preferred to train in groups, egging one another on with roars and flaunting their muscles, but Sabia embraced the silence. The only sounds she desired to hear were the thud of her feet hitting the ground and the swish of her kicks cutting through the air with razor-like precision. This was her sanctuary, her personal battlefield where she could practice her skills without the needless chaos... Oh, and she would make a quick work with anyone trying to take that away from her.
Right, there was no time to waste. Her mother had beaten the basics into her skull, drilling them into her until they were second nature. That's why Sabia's training was so methodical and quite time-consuming. She began with the essentials, performing obvious stretching sessions to heat her muscles. What followed, was a rigorous series of push-ups, calisthenics, and squats, basic stuff, though vital. Each exercise was repeated several times, not out of redundancy but to perfect each movement. Her actions were executed with purpose and control - a form of active meditation where every muscle movement was deliberate. She didn't have to think about it, her body followed this pattern on its own. It was nothing to scoff at and without a proper warm-up one could get harmed while training... Of course, Saiyans were too strong to get something like pulled muscles but Sabia knew better than to ignore her routine. Thanks to that she moved with the grace of a dancer yet held the strength of a warrior. It was all thanks to her work. Her body would react instinctively in combat, embodying the discipline she had cultivated through countless hours of solitary training.
Once satisfied with the heat growing inside her body, Sabia moved on to more advanced exercises. Warm-up was over. Her training routine was something she had developed herself after a great deal of contemplation. Experiments went south here and there, but ultimately, she had her own fighting style. She was a Saiyan, a fact that often conflicted with her desire for individuality... And independence. As much as she disliked the reputation of her race, she couldn't deny that she was inherently skilled in combat, and equipped with the instincts and abilities to be a formidable force on the battlefield. It was in her blood, a legacy she couldn't escape... To her annoyance, to be fair. But perhaps, she could redefine what it meant to be a menace in combat. There were people she could look up for inspiration though blindly copying someone's technique wasn't her style.
Thinking about her mother, Sabia knew that no one could deny that she was a force to behold. Izuna the Annihilator relied on brute strength, but she had a cunning streak too. Smashing through obstacles and opponents with sheer force sometimes was a flaunt to provoke the enemy. Her reflexes and thinking outside of the box were the main reason why she used to be a role model to many warriors... Her work was effective, undeniably so, but Sabia found it too crude and lacking subtlety at crucial moments. Her father, on the other hand, was a pinnacle of craftiness and resourcefulness. He was so different from the typical Saiyan, that his antiques surprised even Sabia. Shi'so approached battles with a tactical mind, staying on the sides to observe the opponent. His strategies were clever, but they often lacked the immediacy and impact that Sabia needed. She could be patient but sometimes in battle timing was everything. Still, she respected both methods but felt that neither fully captured what she was capable of. And it's not like she was blindly going to follow each of her parents' footsteps...
She was their daughter, of course, but Sabia was different from those two... And still, very alike. Fate has granted her a gift, she was naturally fast and agile. Her movements were precise like a blade when she only wished to. The young warrior possessed a grace that was rare among her kind, a trait she chose to perfect among everything else - well, aside from gaining standard knowledge. Instead of relying solely on brute strength or cunning tactics, she aimed to combine speed, agility, and finesse. Her idea was about control and efficiency, delivering maximum impact with minimal effort. She needed power to strike, and wit to make it all work. That's what she wanted to focus on. She planned to be like a shadow on the battlefield - unseen, unpredictable, and unavoidable.
Though... Easier said than done. To put all the cogs in this machinery, she had to gain more experience. There was no time to be idle.
Her advanced training routine reflected this philosophy, though it would be useless without a disciplined mind. It was the beginning of the real training... Sabia used elements of acrobatics to start, leaping and spinning through the air with an almost supernatural grace. No one knew how much pressure her muscles had to withstand for her to use a certain set of movements. She focused on her reflexes, practicing rapid strikes and evasive maneuvers that, hopefully, left no room for error. Her training was a fusion of strength and agility, each movement executed over and over again, until it was perfect. She wouldn't accept anything less... Sabia didn't just want to be strong; she wanted to be untouchable. A force of nature that her enemies couldn't pin down... Given her aversion to being touched, that was a logical conclusion. Hit but be unable to catch. In this pursuit, Sabia found her idea, a path that she was slowly shaping with her own hands.
So she was going to make it work. Until her hands bled, until she couldn't move, she would get there one way or another.
Using the natural landscape as her gym equipment, Sabia wanted to practice the speed of her movements. Flying was banned, so the real fun was starting now. She would leap from boulder to boulder swiftly, scaling rock constructs with ease, her muscles rippling under the black bodysuit. The rugged terrain became a challenging playground where she had to test her limits. Each jump was a calculation of distance and force... She had to be precise, keeping her mind open - there was no room for errors. Of course, there were days when she fell to the ground, but it was countless trainings ago. Her practice was not about brute force but about the mastery of her reflexes. She needed a perfect balance. She needed her instinct ready to react to the faintest changes in her surroundings. Every movement was executed with grace, ensuring that not a single rock cracked under the force of her impact. It was all about the control. The subtlety of a feather falling... But the effectiveness of a hunting lioness. She wasn't trying to hit the hardest; she was trying to hold back as much as possible.
Like the best gymnast, she would leap into the air, twisting and rotating to find the perfect pose before landing softly on the ground. And all this while wearing high-heels, which forced her to be even more precise. One wrong move, and she'd broken an ankle... Yeah, no, she was too skilled for that. Sabia's heels gently clicked against the rocky surfaces, as she continued. If, during training, she couldn't feel every fiber of her being strained and strengthened, she was doing it wrong. Her muscles burned with exertion, a familiar and welcomed sensation. The barrens's natural obstacles provided endless opportunities for her to challenge herself - she couldn't let it be wasted.
Sabia's gymnastic prowess was more than simple leaps and bounds. That would be too easy. After all, she has been practicing for years - under Annihilator's watchful eye. She included complex aerial maneuvers and sequences into her training, transforming the harsh wasteland into an obstacle course of agility. With a series of daring flips and spins, she would navigate ravines and jagged cliffs, as if it was a child's play. Despite the strain, her body was moving with the precision of a seasoned acrobat. From a witness's perspective, it could have looked easy - a display of finesse... Graceful but playful training, nothing much to it. But Sabia had to be mindful of her every muscle to have that desired, perfect control. Each movement was executed with confidence, her black bodysuit a stark contrast against the rugged terrain. The high heels she wore were a tool for practice too, forcing her to adjust her balance and refine her landings constantly. Maybe everything looked so swift, like a dancer's performance, yet the amount of discipline over her body only proved how much work Sabia was putting into it.
The most complex task she weaved into her training routine, was jumping from the edge of the highest cliff she could find. After running up, Sabia would launch herself into the air, which gave her a time limit before she would reach the ground below. And of course, the way down wasn't smooth, all the rock formations were getting in the way - jagged, sharp edges, layers of stone, and dusty boulders. If she'd power through, blasting her way out... That would be boring. Instead, Sabia would perform a series of somersaults and twists to maneuver her way on a narrow ledge below. She couldn't use too much power, she didn't want to damage the structure around her... This required not only control over her physical strength and agility but also steady confidence in her abilities. She could do it, of course - once her faith would waver, it would be the end... So there was no point doubting herself. During the fall she would transition into a series of handstands and backflips, using the natural formations of the wasteland as her training gear. Each successful landing, each perfect flip, reinforced her reflex and self-reliance. Sabia was honing her body and the mind too, looking for the fusion of agility and strength that would perfectly suit her needs.
For now, this part of her training was over. Sabia dusted off her clothing, taking a seat on the cliff that overlooked this lonely side of the Oozaru Wastelands. Once she stopped practicing, all the echoes and sounds died out - only the breeze was left. Not without a hint of disgust, she realized that she was soaked in sweat. The bodily function was natural, but it was still unpleasant. Gross even. Her body was a machine for battle, but even machines needed maintenance, and she was no exception. A shower would have to wait until she completed her plans for the day; the cleansing rush of water and the relief it would bring was a distant promise. For now, a break wouldn't hurt anyone.
Sabia reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of water. Twisting off the cap, she welcomed something that could have soothed her parched throat. She drank half of its content, then wiped her lips with the palm of her hand, quietly enjoying the fleeting moment of rest. Her eyes scanned the horizon, taking in the raw beauty of the barren landscape. The silence was profound, broken only by the whisper of the wind. Sabia treasured these moments of solitude, where she could rest away from the noisy life and strategize her next moves without interruption. The break was brief, but it was enough.
The sun was only starting to peek from behind the horizon, painting the landscape with a vibrant orange hue. The young warrior sighed, brushing her hair away from her face.
The barren landscape was harsh, sure, but something about it was calming. She didn't dislike the other places like lakes, or jungles, though the unforgiving expanse before her eyes was right up her alley. It was funny how Saiyans were considered harsh, cruel, and durable, but most were sitting in the Royal Palace on velvet pillows. Desolate plains and towering, jagged mountains piercing the sky... It looked lonely. Maybe that's what struck a chord within Sabia. She was alone, though she didn't feel lonely. The ground here was a rough, uneven tapestry of scattered boulders, cliffs, holes in the ground, remnants of ancient geological upheavals. Sparse vegetation struggled to survive in the cracked soil, with only the toughest, most resilient flora managing to take root. A stubbornness that they and Sabia shared. The air was dry and the relentless heat from the sun above made the terrain even more hostile. In this brutal environment, only the strongest could thrive, making it the perfect training ground for her... Because who would expect to find her here? Sabia found peace and solitude amidst this rugged though majestic nothingness.
If only the rest of the planet could be like this... She smirked at her own ridiculous thought. That wouldn't be the best for planet Vegeta, but no matter. As long as this little spot was here, waiting for her next training session, Sabia was content.
Would she ever feel at peace like this among fellow Saiyans? No. Of course not. Sabia's black eyes followed the clouds forming on the distant horizon. Inhabitants of Vegeta openly disliked her disdain towards the traditional Saiyan hierarchy... She understood why. It threatened their sense of power if someone was stepping out of line. They were pathetic in their stubbornness, seeing her as a menace betraying the status quo. To bow down in front of anyone with slightly better standing and power level, no, she refused to do so. Either, Sabia wasn't the one to rub her status and strength into the faces of those considered lower than her. Sickening, that's what it was. And when a warrior would get promoted, they always seemed to forget where they came from - spitting down on companions who were their equal a moment ago. Perhaps they didn't like it being pointed out but Sabia's independent nature couldn't be contained. She faced constant criticism and challenges because of that, but she would rather die than yield. After all, she had her pride.
Though, pride couldn't do much when elites were on her tail. They had enough power and influence to hinder her life - but Sabia wasn't idle. Maybe she was petty in her own rights, but she kept pushing forward despite the odds turning against her. Out of spite, maybe, but she was driven by something... By many things.
Yeah, let's leave it at that.
After taking a brief respite, Sabia stretched her limbs, feeling the tension ease slightly from her muscles. The sun had risen higher, casting long shadows across the rocky terrain, and the heat increased within the dry air. With her mind and body aligned, she was ready to delve into another crucial part of her training – combat and martial arts. Although she was taught combat mostly by Saiyans, there were many means of learning martial arts from around the universe. And she was always eager to learn. As boring as it sounded, Sabia was able to read quite a lot of books deciphering how various races depicted martial arts in their culture. From brutal moves based only on strength to light, quick strikes taken from the origin of flickering flames... Truly, it was a marvelous thing to think that every race had a similar idea - but very different needs.
After exhaling air from her lungs and focusing her senses, Sabia began with basic postures. At first, slowly, she let herself be swayed by the symphony of motion and discipline. Her movements were fluid. Precise. There was nothing to rush in this training, her body followed the memory of training before, and she had it ingrained in her mind. Each punch, kick, and block was a natural and expected extension of her motion, slicing through the air with surgical precision. She thrived in this harsh place, transitioning seamlessly between one stance and another as if it were a stage, not a scorched-by-sun wasteland. As difficult as those movements were, slowing them down was a real training here... To stay in a certain pose for longer, enhance the muscles, and engage the core of her body. It was different than her previous gymnastic practice, here she had to focus on the control of slow, soft gestures. It would be easier to trash around and pretend to hit invisible opponents but that was below her - at least during this part.
After another round of repeating stances, Sabia started to catch on speed. The sequences were steadily getting faster, as she focused on adjusting her stamina and momentum in this... To the point when she moved between stances so swiftly, her body became a blur of motion. Invisible strikes hit the air with relentless efficiency. She flowed from one movement to the next with grace, her stances were grounded and strong - though light enough so she could easily combine gymnastics figures between the hits. That was the rhythm. The black eyes remained focused, her mind clear and dedicated to the training. Sun shone from above, but she didn't care about the heat. The barren wasteland around her started to fade into the background of her mind. It was there, but something else was more important... This rhythm.
As she continued, Sabia included more complex sequences, her body moving in a smooth blend of power and agility. Her high-heeled boots made gentle clicking noises when she put her feet on the ground after each kick. She was forced to maintain perfect balance and control, though she wouldn't change her outfit... A good kick with a solid, four-inch heel hurt more and added some extra damage to her opponent. Plus, she had a killer look. With each movement, Sabia started to visualize opponents attacking from all angles, her body responding instinctively to counter their blows - even if they were only pawns of her imagination. Her fists struck with the force of a battering ram, while her feet danced across the rocky terrain with the elegance of a ballerina. Just how she liked it. Every twist, turn, and leap was executed with a deadly grace, her body a finely tuned weapon. Saiyans didn't need any tools to fight, they were enough. She was always enough, no matter what anyone would say. As she moved through the next sequences, a sense of calm and satisfaction grew in her chest. With each practice, she was becoming a little bit stronger - and in the same way, more independent.
Quickly, Sabia moved on to more dynamic exercises. Again she visualized opponents surrounding her. All angles, all possible ways of attacking her, tricks or not... She thought this out through and through. It wouldn't mean anything if she wasn't prepared for the unexpected - that's why Sabia liked to think. And she liked to think that she was good at it. It gave her the leverage to see an incoming action or reaction, so her body could answer instinctively. To know her enemy was to have the battle won, as her father liked to say. Her response this time was immediate and brutal, a whirlwind of strikes and counters. She moved around elegantly with the speed of lighting. High kicks sent imagined foes flying, while swift jabs and powerful elbows incapacitated others. Each movement was calculated, and not one unnecessary gesture wasted her energy. Reflexes honed to react almost passively to any threat... Well, perhaps that's why she was known for punching people standing too close to her. After all, anyone invading her personal space was a threat.
Though it wasn't all, was it? To simulate real combat, Sabia incorporated the landscape into her training, just like she did before. It was necessary, and something she couldn't practice in a closed drill hall. This rhythm was different, she couldn't stay immersed in her little training world. Now it was about the terrain and what she could use to her advantage. She never thought about herself as a person with a wild imagination, but who knew? Practice makes perfect. She leaped onto a narrow ledge swiftly, balancing on the tips of her heels as she delivered a rapid series of kicks. From there, she sprang onto a larger boulder, using it as leverage to launch a devastating aerial assault. Again, no flying. Twisting and spinning mid-air, she landed with feline grace, ready to continue her imaginary onslaught. The wasteland's natural obstacles provided the perfect background to train, and her familiarity with this place was surely a plus. Mental note - she ought to try this type of training in a foreign spot, practicing improvised combat.
Sabia liked to make her training harder. Her no-flying rule was inspired by an event that happened to her mother, Izuna. The enemy she once fought had cast a spell nullifying her ability to use Ki for flight, leaving her at a severe disadvantage. Those warriors who had overly relied on their aerial combat skills found themselves grounded, vulnerable, and struggling to adapt... This story had Sabia think, sparking a series of questions and what-ifs and she decided to include them in her training.
In the same manner, a teenage Sabia began to contemplate various scenarios where traditional combat advantages were stripped away. She wondered what would happen if, hypothetically, she couldn't stay on the ground during a fight. The entire battle would have to take place midair. Her mind then wandered about the possibility of fighting without weapons. Some warriors of the Empire relayed on blasters and fancy machinery in combat. How would they fare if they were disarmed, relying solely on their physical prowess? Moreover, the thought of lacking control over her Ki or being unable to use it at all presented an uncomfortable challenge. These thoughts pushed current Sabia to train under conditions where her advantages were suppressed. Just in case, so she would be prepared for everything. She practiced fighting without use of her Ki, and trained only aerial maneuvers to ensure she could adapt to any scenario. There were many strategies she could think of...
She had to try out every possibility and train under every circumstance to be prepared for the unexpected. But not know. She couldn't rush practice, so for now, she was implying only one scenario. No flying, no Ki.
Sabia's eyes scanned the rugged landscape, identifying potential routes and challenges in the terrain. There were many ways she could use things around her. She sprinted towards a crooked rock formation nearby. With a powerful jump, she scaled the rocky surface, her fingers holding onto the uneven edges. Her muscles tensed as she swiftly climbed the structure, parkour style. At the summit, she paused for a fraction of a second, surveying the imaginary battlefield below. With a burst of speed, she launched into a series of somersaults, descending the rock with controlled precision. Her feet touched the ground lightly, and without missing a beat, she pivoted, delivering a spinning back kick to an invisible opponent. Each movement was calculated. The terrain itself seemed to challenge her at every turn, and Sabia embraced it with cold determination... No dumb rocks would be better than her, right? She could feel herself smirking at this ridiculous thought, but that was the truth. Sabia won't be bested by a pile of pebbles.
A large rock archway loomed ahead, and she saw it as an opportunity to practice another maneuver. She sprinted towards it, leaping at the last moment to grab the edge. Pulling herself up, she swung over the top, using the momentum to flip into a downward kick that shattered the ground beneath her. The dust and pebbles fell to the ground, in the right circumstances they would have blinded a stubborn opponent... Or the whole rock would have dropped on them, covering them with rubble. Perhaps. There was no time to think about it during a real battle, so she moved toward her next move. Fluidity in combat was crucial but it wasn't something that could be easily trained... It was rather a unique value. She liked to think she possessed that skill - though her experience in real combat wasn't that great. Still, it wasn't a reason to abandon her training. Remembering to be precise with her hits, Sabia struck again. Kicks and elbows attacked the invisible opponents, pushing them to the ground, where her heels did the rest.
The more Sabia exercised in her combat training, the more her blood surged through her veins. A pulsing sensation was filling her head. She always paid meticulous attention to her breathing, as synchronizing it was crucial... So if her control here faltered, her body would follow suit succumbing to premature fatigue. Without missing a bit she aligned her breathing with her strikes and footwork, her pulse growing steady and the sensation faded away from her head. Tch. That was careless of her... Her basic medical knowledge confirmed that a delicate balance was required to maintain optimal performance. To sustain her energy and keep her body going she needed to be better than that. Even heartbeat, effective breathing, clear mind. Everything needed to be in check, always. As sweat streamed down Sabia's face and her muscles burned, she remained unwaveringly quiet. This little misstep wasn't pleasant but she had to keep going - and she will.
The day slipped away. The oppressive heat of the daytime mellowed, giving way to a cooler, more forgiving ambiance. Sabia slowed her relentless pace, giving way to a more meditative exercise. Unhurriedly and steadily, she kept moving. Her chest was heavy with each breath, the sweat that dripped from her brow catching the fading sunlight in a shimmering dance. Her body, simply, ached like hell. Yup, no matter how pretty her surroundings were and how graceful she was during her practice, the prolonged training session left her aching. Despite the fatigue weighing on her limbs, she was satisfied enough. She did what she planned, with results that pleased her. It was all that mattered. As the sun dipped lower, Sabia slowed down her movement and finally, stood still amidst the silence of her desolate training ground. Her muscles were screaming but somehow, everything was silent. Though no one else was there to witness her growth, Sabia was unfazed. She didn't yearn for approval. The progress she made, the small but significant improvements in her technique, were enough for her. In the quiet of the evening, she allowed herself a moment of rest. Each drop of sweat, every ache in her muscles was worth it... Even if now her mind was focused only on getting home and getting that hot and well-earned shower.
It was finally over. Sabia stood atop the outcrop, surveying the landscape with a quiet sigh. She was somewhat in a rush, but decided to wait, silently looking at the world around her. Something was drawing her in. As the sun began its descent beyond the horizon, planet Vegeta was bathed in blood-like colors. The sky was transformed into a canvas of fiery hues, slowly turning grey, like a pile of ash was cooling down... The landscape below, with its cliff peaks and barren plains, was cast in long shadows. The towering cliffs and boulders seemed to glow with a warm, amber light, their harsh edges softened by the fading sunlight. Such a small change, but so significant. The air, once hot and merciless, grew cooler, carrying the faint scent of dust and scorched earth. She watched, as the golden gleam faded with time when the last silver of the sun vanished from view. The winds howled their songs, now veiled in darkness.
The night welcomed her with pleasant coolness and an array of stars above but as the last traces of sunlight faded for good, Sabia turned her gaze away. It was time to leave, for now, there was nothing keeping her here. Her training was over.
Until the next time.
Word Count - 6,501
PL - 4,173
The solitude of the wastelands was not just a preference but a necessity for Sabia. The shared space in the military area was a constant source of irritation for her; it was always too crowded, too noisy, filled with the stench of sweat and aggression. The solitude here allowed her to think and plan her next moves with a clarity that was impossible to achieve amidst the chaos of the barracks or the drill hall. Those places were a mosaic of grunts, shouts, and thuds of fist against fist. Typical. Truly, a place where brute strength was flaunted and subtlety was lost. Sabia hated it. A crude display of power that seemed to define her race - why should she partake in that? Her soul was a lone one. Besides, it wasn't like her to show off her cards when everyone could see. For many, she was just the lowest of the low - a low-class soldier, a nobody. Although this was annoying, being underestimated had its perks. It allowed her to operate in the back, to improve her skills away from prying eyes. They would never see her coming for their throats... Would they? And in this desolate place, she was free from the judgmental eyes of fellow Saiyans - or rather they were spared from her disapproving glare.
This solitude was crucial, a basic need akin to breathing and moving. Sabia needed this place to hone her skills away from curious eyes... To get her strength back after dealing with those idiots. Wastelands were perfect for her... And it's not like she liked or needed any other company than her own.
Before sunrays pierced the skies above her parents' house, Sabia was already outside. The cold air was refreshing, sharp, and cruel, waking her with a chilly breeze. It reminded her that before the harsh, scorching sun would start overseeing the planet, she had a couple of hours of pleasant coolness. One side of the sky was still dark, scattered with gleaming stars, night was barely slipping away.
Her training began with meditation. It was a practice that many Saiyans had little to no respect for because, to them, it was a waste of time. Sitting motionlessly and, by the gods, thinking - Sabia wasn't surprised. This concept was alien to her race. They preferred to polish their physical strength as the only means to achieve greatness, their definition of power confined to physical dominance. So, so very typical. To most Saiyans, the idea of sitting still and engaging in mental contemplation was not just a foreign but laughable matter. They didn't see the appeal of sharpening their minds when they could be training their bodies to deliver killing blows. But Sabia preferred the power of a calm, collected mind, which was the core of her whole being. She liked to think that she saw what her fellow warriors missed... That true strength came from mastering both body and mind. If they were ignorant, better for her, right? Though, it wasn't a brain-over-brawn situation - they often lacked both.
Meditation was not merely a part of her routine but the foundation of everything. To gain this level of composure, she had to practice a lot. Sabia learned to utilize this reflection as a child, remembering hours of breathing exercises, done under her parents' tutorage. In theory, back then she understood everything yet it took years for everything to click. She didn't try to hide her routine from anyone. Ultimately, it was easier to train here in the wastelands rather than in the middle of the barracks, where prying eyes and raging howls were following her every move. Thus, it became a necessity... This place was more than enough. Sabia would sit cross-legged on the grainy rocks, her eyes closed, breathing slow and steady, as she grounded herself. Each breath was an act of centering, a way to learn more about her body. It was given that she studied what she could. The way the blood flew through her veins, her heartbeat, subtle yet unseen twitching of muscles... The more she knew, the more she was in control. The discipline that kept her in check was something that perhaps she always had within. As well as all the personality quirks she got from her parents. It just worked for her, right?
In the quiet moments before dawn, when the stars still lingered at the very corner of the sky, Sabia soaked in the precious silence. There was a reason she picked one of the highest rocky cliffs she could find, overlooking the wastelands. The cool breeze brushed against her skin, carrying the faint scent of the dry air, sand, ashes... A familiar scent of a planet belonging to a war-crazed race. With half-open eyes, glancing at the world through her thick lashes, she looked down at the piles of sand, rocks, and boulders that littered the landscape. Were there times when the whole Vegeta looked like this, a barren land, full of nothingness? Not like it worried her in the slightest. This unyielding terrain could have been a reflection of her very soul - the one searching for solitude, hostile, and unforgiving. Sabia closed her eyes again. Focusing on her breath, she drew in the air and let it fill her lungs before exhaling slowly. And once more. Again.
Each breath was a deliberate act of centering herself, a way to ground herself in this repeated action while her senses were getting sharper. Sabia focused on them, trying to draw everything inside. The scent of wind... The darkness in front of her eyes. She could tell when individual grains of sand brushed against her skin. The rhythmic rise and fall of her chest kept her anchored in the present, though she appeared serene and quiet, her mind was anything but idle. To think is to be. Every inhale brought a wave of awareness of her surroundings, each exhale was sharpening her sixth sense from the inside. The vast emptiness of the wastelands allowed her to strip away the noise and chaos from her thoughts, rammed inside by the hostile surroundings she had to live in. The barracks, her missions, ugh. No, that wasn't important now. They weren't important... Sabia knew what and who was essential in her life and it wasn't going to change anytime soon.
She was careful, though. As the dagger of her mind was reaching deeper, to the very core of awareness, some things could start blurring midway. It wasn't that easy to balance the feelings of her body with what her mind could sense. Logic versus emotions, a tale as old as time. It would be of no use if she lost herself in this and started being unaware of her surroundings. Breath after breath, Sabia waited patiently. Her mind needed to be clear, like a still lake frozen solid—no disturbance would ripple the surface, but she would know if anything would be a distraction. This mental rehearsal was as crucial as any physical practice, to make her ready. Life was a struggle, unfair, and brutal, so she wasn't going into it unprepared. The landscape of her mind was as jaded and sharp as the cliffs around her, but in this moment of stillness, she found clarity. And silence. The line of balance that she found was uneven and needed polishing, but Sabia was on the right track.
She once heard that people from other planets used meditation as a means of relaxing their uneasiness... Why? The depth one's mind could reach wasn't about that; it was about an intense mental exercise. It was a practice to be in control, about discipline, about composure. Sabia viewed meditation as a warrior's tool, a way to forge mental resilience. She wouldn't allow the world to know how she felt, but she dared her own mind to play tricks on her. How could her thoughts betray her... Rude. It won't happen, her awareness had to bend to her will. As Sabia reflected on her actions, she confronted her emotions head-on... What was left of them, actually. Since she was a kid, she had been a quiet and calm individual; some things came to her naturally, and some did not. Rare fragments of anger, bitterness, and frustration lingered within her, she could sense them under the surface. Not enough to overwhelm her, but enough to irk her. Pathetic. To deny that she felt them would be a rookie mistake, even if she didn't like it. Sabia had to acknowledge these feelings and plaster them around her mental fortitude; otherwise, she would succumb to new impulses... Like a pathetic monkey. And no way in hell would she allow that to take place.
There was no choice but to accept irritation and anger, molding them into fuel of resolve. To have her body and mind polished and refined as much as possible, she needed to look deep into herself. Meditation wasn't about achieving tranquility for Sabia - it was about building an unshakeable core. What can enlightenment do? It was a load of bullshit. It won't heal her mother, it won't kick elites in the face. Hell, it won't even be useful. Each session she did was a test of her mental endurance, stretching boundaries of self-control. Meditation was meant for that, its spiritual value was lost on her. To reach her goals, Sabia had to be sharper than that, and if a tool isn't honed regularly it becomes dull. The path was long, but with each day, she steeled herself for the journey ahead. Her goal, right? She remembered very clearly what it was.
Information. Sabia joined the New Saiyan Empire because she lacked information and by the gods, she was going to dig them out even if it would be the last thing she has done.
Breathe in, and out... And again. The reasoning started to solidify, like a core in her brain. Sabia focused on her breath, each drawing in the crisp, cool air and each exhalation expelling any lingering distractions. Her mind was prepared for the grueling training session she had planned for herself. Her body... Well, she will see. She stood up, feeling the ground solid beneath her feet. Perhaps Saiyans preferred to train in groups, egging one another on with roars and flaunting their muscles, but Sabia embraced the silence. The only sounds she desired to hear were the thud of her feet hitting the ground and the swish of her kicks cutting through the air with razor-like precision. This was her sanctuary, her personal battlefield where she could practice her skills without the needless chaos... Oh, and she would make a quick work with anyone trying to take that away from her.
Right, there was no time to waste. Her mother had beaten the basics into her skull, drilling them into her until they were second nature. That's why Sabia's training was so methodical and quite time-consuming. She began with the essentials, performing obvious stretching sessions to heat her muscles. What followed, was a rigorous series of push-ups, calisthenics, and squats, basic stuff, though vital. Each exercise was repeated several times, not out of redundancy but to perfect each movement. Her actions were executed with purpose and control - a form of active meditation where every muscle movement was deliberate. She didn't have to think about it, her body followed this pattern on its own. It was nothing to scoff at and without a proper warm-up one could get harmed while training... Of course, Saiyans were too strong to get something like pulled muscles but Sabia knew better than to ignore her routine. Thanks to that she moved with the grace of a dancer yet held the strength of a warrior. It was all thanks to her work. Her body would react instinctively in combat, embodying the discipline she had cultivated through countless hours of solitary training.
Once satisfied with the heat growing inside her body, Sabia moved on to more advanced exercises. Warm-up was over. Her training routine was something she had developed herself after a great deal of contemplation. Experiments went south here and there, but ultimately, she had her own fighting style. She was a Saiyan, a fact that often conflicted with her desire for individuality... And independence. As much as she disliked the reputation of her race, she couldn't deny that she was inherently skilled in combat, and equipped with the instincts and abilities to be a formidable force on the battlefield. It was in her blood, a legacy she couldn't escape... To her annoyance, to be fair. But perhaps, she could redefine what it meant to be a menace in combat. There were people she could look up for inspiration though blindly copying someone's technique wasn't her style.
Thinking about her mother, Sabia knew that no one could deny that she was a force to behold. Izuna the Annihilator relied on brute strength, but she had a cunning streak too. Smashing through obstacles and opponents with sheer force sometimes was a flaunt to provoke the enemy. Her reflexes and thinking outside of the box were the main reason why she used to be a role model to many warriors... Her work was effective, undeniably so, but Sabia found it too crude and lacking subtlety at crucial moments. Her father, on the other hand, was a pinnacle of craftiness and resourcefulness. He was so different from the typical Saiyan, that his antiques surprised even Sabia. Shi'so approached battles with a tactical mind, staying on the sides to observe the opponent. His strategies were clever, but they often lacked the immediacy and impact that Sabia needed. She could be patient but sometimes in battle timing was everything. Still, she respected both methods but felt that neither fully captured what she was capable of. And it's not like she was blindly going to follow each of her parents' footsteps...
She was their daughter, of course, but Sabia was different from those two... And still, very alike. Fate has granted her a gift, she was naturally fast and agile. Her movements were precise like a blade when she only wished to. The young warrior possessed a grace that was rare among her kind, a trait she chose to perfect among everything else - well, aside from gaining standard knowledge. Instead of relying solely on brute strength or cunning tactics, she aimed to combine speed, agility, and finesse. Her idea was about control and efficiency, delivering maximum impact with minimal effort. She needed power to strike, and wit to make it all work. That's what she wanted to focus on. She planned to be like a shadow on the battlefield - unseen, unpredictable, and unavoidable.
Though... Easier said than done. To put all the cogs in this machinery, she had to gain more experience. There was no time to be idle.
Her advanced training routine reflected this philosophy, though it would be useless without a disciplined mind. It was the beginning of the real training... Sabia used elements of acrobatics to start, leaping and spinning through the air with an almost supernatural grace. No one knew how much pressure her muscles had to withstand for her to use a certain set of movements. She focused on her reflexes, practicing rapid strikes and evasive maneuvers that, hopefully, left no room for error. Her training was a fusion of strength and agility, each movement executed over and over again, until it was perfect. She wouldn't accept anything less... Sabia didn't just want to be strong; she wanted to be untouchable. A force of nature that her enemies couldn't pin down... Given her aversion to being touched, that was a logical conclusion. Hit but be unable to catch. In this pursuit, Sabia found her idea, a path that she was slowly shaping with her own hands.
So she was going to make it work. Until her hands bled, until she couldn't move, she would get there one way or another.
Using the natural landscape as her gym equipment, Sabia wanted to practice the speed of her movements. Flying was banned, so the real fun was starting now. She would leap from boulder to boulder swiftly, scaling rock constructs with ease, her muscles rippling under the black bodysuit. The rugged terrain became a challenging playground where she had to test her limits. Each jump was a calculation of distance and force... She had to be precise, keeping her mind open - there was no room for errors. Of course, there were days when she fell to the ground, but it was countless trainings ago. Her practice was not about brute force but about the mastery of her reflexes. She needed a perfect balance. She needed her instinct ready to react to the faintest changes in her surroundings. Every movement was executed with grace, ensuring that not a single rock cracked under the force of her impact. It was all about the control. The subtlety of a feather falling... But the effectiveness of a hunting lioness. She wasn't trying to hit the hardest; she was trying to hold back as much as possible.
Like the best gymnast, she would leap into the air, twisting and rotating to find the perfect pose before landing softly on the ground. And all this while wearing high-heels, which forced her to be even more precise. One wrong move, and she'd broken an ankle... Yeah, no, she was too skilled for that. Sabia's heels gently clicked against the rocky surfaces, as she continued. If, during training, she couldn't feel every fiber of her being strained and strengthened, she was doing it wrong. Her muscles burned with exertion, a familiar and welcomed sensation. The barrens's natural obstacles provided endless opportunities for her to challenge herself - she couldn't let it be wasted.
Sabia's gymnastic prowess was more than simple leaps and bounds. That would be too easy. After all, she has been practicing for years - under Annihilator's watchful eye. She included complex aerial maneuvers and sequences into her training, transforming the harsh wasteland into an obstacle course of agility. With a series of daring flips and spins, she would navigate ravines and jagged cliffs, as if it was a child's play. Despite the strain, her body was moving with the precision of a seasoned acrobat. From a witness's perspective, it could have looked easy - a display of finesse... Graceful but playful training, nothing much to it. But Sabia had to be mindful of her every muscle to have that desired, perfect control. Each movement was executed with confidence, her black bodysuit a stark contrast against the rugged terrain. The high heels she wore were a tool for practice too, forcing her to adjust her balance and refine her landings constantly. Maybe everything looked so swift, like a dancer's performance, yet the amount of discipline over her body only proved how much work Sabia was putting into it.
The most complex task she weaved into her training routine, was jumping from the edge of the highest cliff she could find. After running up, Sabia would launch herself into the air, which gave her a time limit before she would reach the ground below. And of course, the way down wasn't smooth, all the rock formations were getting in the way - jagged, sharp edges, layers of stone, and dusty boulders. If she'd power through, blasting her way out... That would be boring. Instead, Sabia would perform a series of somersaults and twists to maneuver her way on a narrow ledge below. She couldn't use too much power, she didn't want to damage the structure around her... This required not only control over her physical strength and agility but also steady confidence in her abilities. She could do it, of course - once her faith would waver, it would be the end... So there was no point doubting herself. During the fall she would transition into a series of handstands and backflips, using the natural formations of the wasteland as her training gear. Each successful landing, each perfect flip, reinforced her reflex and self-reliance. Sabia was honing her body and the mind too, looking for the fusion of agility and strength that would perfectly suit her needs.
For now, this part of her training was over. Sabia dusted off her clothing, taking a seat on the cliff that overlooked this lonely side of the Oozaru Wastelands. Once she stopped practicing, all the echoes and sounds died out - only the breeze was left. Not without a hint of disgust, she realized that she was soaked in sweat. The bodily function was natural, but it was still unpleasant. Gross even. Her body was a machine for battle, but even machines needed maintenance, and she was no exception. A shower would have to wait until she completed her plans for the day; the cleansing rush of water and the relief it would bring was a distant promise. For now, a break wouldn't hurt anyone.
Sabia reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of water. Twisting off the cap, she welcomed something that could have soothed her parched throat. She drank half of its content, then wiped her lips with the palm of her hand, quietly enjoying the fleeting moment of rest. Her eyes scanned the horizon, taking in the raw beauty of the barren landscape. The silence was profound, broken only by the whisper of the wind. Sabia treasured these moments of solitude, where she could rest away from the noisy life and strategize her next moves without interruption. The break was brief, but it was enough.
The sun was only starting to peek from behind the horizon, painting the landscape with a vibrant orange hue. The young warrior sighed, brushing her hair away from her face.
The barren landscape was harsh, sure, but something about it was calming. She didn't dislike the other places like lakes, or jungles, though the unforgiving expanse before her eyes was right up her alley. It was funny how Saiyans were considered harsh, cruel, and durable, but most were sitting in the Royal Palace on velvet pillows. Desolate plains and towering, jagged mountains piercing the sky... It looked lonely. Maybe that's what struck a chord within Sabia. She was alone, though she didn't feel lonely. The ground here was a rough, uneven tapestry of scattered boulders, cliffs, holes in the ground, remnants of ancient geological upheavals. Sparse vegetation struggled to survive in the cracked soil, with only the toughest, most resilient flora managing to take root. A stubbornness that they and Sabia shared. The air was dry and the relentless heat from the sun above made the terrain even more hostile. In this brutal environment, only the strongest could thrive, making it the perfect training ground for her... Because who would expect to find her here? Sabia found peace and solitude amidst this rugged though majestic nothingness.
If only the rest of the planet could be like this... She smirked at her own ridiculous thought. That wouldn't be the best for planet Vegeta, but no matter. As long as this little spot was here, waiting for her next training session, Sabia was content.
Would she ever feel at peace like this among fellow Saiyans? No. Of course not. Sabia's black eyes followed the clouds forming on the distant horizon. Inhabitants of Vegeta openly disliked her disdain towards the traditional Saiyan hierarchy... She understood why. It threatened their sense of power if someone was stepping out of line. They were pathetic in their stubbornness, seeing her as a menace betraying the status quo. To bow down in front of anyone with slightly better standing and power level, no, she refused to do so. Either, Sabia wasn't the one to rub her status and strength into the faces of those considered lower than her. Sickening, that's what it was. And when a warrior would get promoted, they always seemed to forget where they came from - spitting down on companions who were their equal a moment ago. Perhaps they didn't like it being pointed out but Sabia's independent nature couldn't be contained. She faced constant criticism and challenges because of that, but she would rather die than yield. After all, she had her pride.
Though, pride couldn't do much when elites were on her tail. They had enough power and influence to hinder her life - but Sabia wasn't idle. Maybe she was petty in her own rights, but she kept pushing forward despite the odds turning against her. Out of spite, maybe, but she was driven by something... By many things.
Yeah, let's leave it at that.
After taking a brief respite, Sabia stretched her limbs, feeling the tension ease slightly from her muscles. The sun had risen higher, casting long shadows across the rocky terrain, and the heat increased within the dry air. With her mind and body aligned, she was ready to delve into another crucial part of her training – combat and martial arts. Although she was taught combat mostly by Saiyans, there were many means of learning martial arts from around the universe. And she was always eager to learn. As boring as it sounded, Sabia was able to read quite a lot of books deciphering how various races depicted martial arts in their culture. From brutal moves based only on strength to light, quick strikes taken from the origin of flickering flames... Truly, it was a marvelous thing to think that every race had a similar idea - but very different needs.
After exhaling air from her lungs and focusing her senses, Sabia began with basic postures. At first, slowly, she let herself be swayed by the symphony of motion and discipline. Her movements were fluid. Precise. There was nothing to rush in this training, her body followed the memory of training before, and she had it ingrained in her mind. Each punch, kick, and block was a natural and expected extension of her motion, slicing through the air with surgical precision. She thrived in this harsh place, transitioning seamlessly between one stance and another as if it were a stage, not a scorched-by-sun wasteland. As difficult as those movements were, slowing them down was a real training here... To stay in a certain pose for longer, enhance the muscles, and engage the core of her body. It was different than her previous gymnastic practice, here she had to focus on the control of slow, soft gestures. It would be easier to trash around and pretend to hit invisible opponents but that was below her - at least during this part.
After another round of repeating stances, Sabia started to catch on speed. The sequences were steadily getting faster, as she focused on adjusting her stamina and momentum in this... To the point when she moved between stances so swiftly, her body became a blur of motion. Invisible strikes hit the air with relentless efficiency. She flowed from one movement to the next with grace, her stances were grounded and strong - though light enough so she could easily combine gymnastics figures between the hits. That was the rhythm. The black eyes remained focused, her mind clear and dedicated to the training. Sun shone from above, but she didn't care about the heat. The barren wasteland around her started to fade into the background of her mind. It was there, but something else was more important... This rhythm.
As she continued, Sabia included more complex sequences, her body moving in a smooth blend of power and agility. Her high-heeled boots made gentle clicking noises when she put her feet on the ground after each kick. She was forced to maintain perfect balance and control, though she wouldn't change her outfit... A good kick with a solid, four-inch heel hurt more and added some extra damage to her opponent. Plus, she had a killer look. With each movement, Sabia started to visualize opponents attacking from all angles, her body responding instinctively to counter their blows - even if they were only pawns of her imagination. Her fists struck with the force of a battering ram, while her feet danced across the rocky terrain with the elegance of a ballerina. Just how she liked it. Every twist, turn, and leap was executed with a deadly grace, her body a finely tuned weapon. Saiyans didn't need any tools to fight, they were enough. She was always enough, no matter what anyone would say. As she moved through the next sequences, a sense of calm and satisfaction grew in her chest. With each practice, she was becoming a little bit stronger - and in the same way, more independent.
Quickly, Sabia moved on to more dynamic exercises. Again she visualized opponents surrounding her. All angles, all possible ways of attacking her, tricks or not... She thought this out through and through. It wouldn't mean anything if she wasn't prepared for the unexpected - that's why Sabia liked to think. And she liked to think that she was good at it. It gave her the leverage to see an incoming action or reaction, so her body could answer instinctively. To know her enemy was to have the battle won, as her father liked to say. Her response this time was immediate and brutal, a whirlwind of strikes and counters. She moved around elegantly with the speed of lighting. High kicks sent imagined foes flying, while swift jabs and powerful elbows incapacitated others. Each movement was calculated, and not one unnecessary gesture wasted her energy. Reflexes honed to react almost passively to any threat... Well, perhaps that's why she was known for punching people standing too close to her. After all, anyone invading her personal space was a threat.
Though it wasn't all, was it? To simulate real combat, Sabia incorporated the landscape into her training, just like she did before. It was necessary, and something she couldn't practice in a closed drill hall. This rhythm was different, she couldn't stay immersed in her little training world. Now it was about the terrain and what she could use to her advantage. She never thought about herself as a person with a wild imagination, but who knew? Practice makes perfect. She leaped onto a narrow ledge swiftly, balancing on the tips of her heels as she delivered a rapid series of kicks. From there, she sprang onto a larger boulder, using it as leverage to launch a devastating aerial assault. Again, no flying. Twisting and spinning mid-air, she landed with feline grace, ready to continue her imaginary onslaught. The wasteland's natural obstacles provided the perfect background to train, and her familiarity with this place was surely a plus. Mental note - she ought to try this type of training in a foreign spot, practicing improvised combat.
Sabia liked to make her training harder. Her no-flying rule was inspired by an event that happened to her mother, Izuna. The enemy she once fought had cast a spell nullifying her ability to use Ki for flight, leaving her at a severe disadvantage. Those warriors who had overly relied on their aerial combat skills found themselves grounded, vulnerable, and struggling to adapt... This story had Sabia think, sparking a series of questions and what-ifs and she decided to include them in her training.
In the same manner, a teenage Sabia began to contemplate various scenarios where traditional combat advantages were stripped away. She wondered what would happen if, hypothetically, she couldn't stay on the ground during a fight. The entire battle would have to take place midair. Her mind then wandered about the possibility of fighting without weapons. Some warriors of the Empire relayed on blasters and fancy machinery in combat. How would they fare if they were disarmed, relying solely on their physical prowess? Moreover, the thought of lacking control over her Ki or being unable to use it at all presented an uncomfortable challenge. These thoughts pushed current Sabia to train under conditions where her advantages were suppressed. Just in case, so she would be prepared for everything. She practiced fighting without use of her Ki, and trained only aerial maneuvers to ensure she could adapt to any scenario. There were many strategies she could think of...
She had to try out every possibility and train under every circumstance to be prepared for the unexpected. But not know. She couldn't rush practice, so for now, she was implying only one scenario. No flying, no Ki.
Sabia's eyes scanned the rugged landscape, identifying potential routes and challenges in the terrain. There were many ways she could use things around her. She sprinted towards a crooked rock formation nearby. With a powerful jump, she scaled the rocky surface, her fingers holding onto the uneven edges. Her muscles tensed as she swiftly climbed the structure, parkour style. At the summit, she paused for a fraction of a second, surveying the imaginary battlefield below. With a burst of speed, she launched into a series of somersaults, descending the rock with controlled precision. Her feet touched the ground lightly, and without missing a beat, she pivoted, delivering a spinning back kick to an invisible opponent. Each movement was calculated. The terrain itself seemed to challenge her at every turn, and Sabia embraced it with cold determination... No dumb rocks would be better than her, right? She could feel herself smirking at this ridiculous thought, but that was the truth. Sabia won't be bested by a pile of pebbles.
A large rock archway loomed ahead, and she saw it as an opportunity to practice another maneuver. She sprinted towards it, leaping at the last moment to grab the edge. Pulling herself up, she swung over the top, using the momentum to flip into a downward kick that shattered the ground beneath her. The dust and pebbles fell to the ground, in the right circumstances they would have blinded a stubborn opponent... Or the whole rock would have dropped on them, covering them with rubble. Perhaps. There was no time to think about it during a real battle, so she moved toward her next move. Fluidity in combat was crucial but it wasn't something that could be easily trained... It was rather a unique value. She liked to think she possessed that skill - though her experience in real combat wasn't that great. Still, it wasn't a reason to abandon her training. Remembering to be precise with her hits, Sabia struck again. Kicks and elbows attacked the invisible opponents, pushing them to the ground, where her heels did the rest.
The more Sabia exercised in her combat training, the more her blood surged through her veins. A pulsing sensation was filling her head. She always paid meticulous attention to her breathing, as synchronizing it was crucial... So if her control here faltered, her body would follow suit succumbing to premature fatigue. Without missing a bit she aligned her breathing with her strikes and footwork, her pulse growing steady and the sensation faded away from her head. Tch. That was careless of her... Her basic medical knowledge confirmed that a delicate balance was required to maintain optimal performance. To sustain her energy and keep her body going she needed to be better than that. Even heartbeat, effective breathing, clear mind. Everything needed to be in check, always. As sweat streamed down Sabia's face and her muscles burned, she remained unwaveringly quiet. This little misstep wasn't pleasant but she had to keep going - and she will.
The day slipped away. The oppressive heat of the daytime mellowed, giving way to a cooler, more forgiving ambiance. Sabia slowed her relentless pace, giving way to a more meditative exercise. Unhurriedly and steadily, she kept moving. Her chest was heavy with each breath, the sweat that dripped from her brow catching the fading sunlight in a shimmering dance. Her body, simply, ached like hell. Yup, no matter how pretty her surroundings were and how graceful she was during her practice, the prolonged training session left her aching. Despite the fatigue weighing on her limbs, she was satisfied enough. She did what she planned, with results that pleased her. It was all that mattered. As the sun dipped lower, Sabia slowed down her movement and finally, stood still amidst the silence of her desolate training ground. Her muscles were screaming but somehow, everything was silent. Though no one else was there to witness her growth, Sabia was unfazed. She didn't yearn for approval. The progress she made, the small but significant improvements in her technique, were enough for her. In the quiet of the evening, she allowed herself a moment of rest. Each drop of sweat, every ache in her muscles was worth it... Even if now her mind was focused only on getting home and getting that hot and well-earned shower.
It was finally over. Sabia stood atop the outcrop, surveying the landscape with a quiet sigh. She was somewhat in a rush, but decided to wait, silently looking at the world around her. Something was drawing her in. As the sun began its descent beyond the horizon, planet Vegeta was bathed in blood-like colors. The sky was transformed into a canvas of fiery hues, slowly turning grey, like a pile of ash was cooling down... The landscape below, with its cliff peaks and barren plains, was cast in long shadows. The towering cliffs and boulders seemed to glow with a warm, amber light, their harsh edges softened by the fading sunlight. Such a small change, but so significant. The air, once hot and merciless, grew cooler, carrying the faint scent of dust and scorched earth. She watched, as the golden gleam faded with time when the last silver of the sun vanished from view. The winds howled their songs, now veiled in darkness.
The night welcomed her with pleasant coolness and an array of stars above but as the last traces of sunlight faded for good, Sabia turned her gaze away. It was time to leave, for now, there was nothing keeping her here. Her training was over.
Until the next time.
Word Count - 6,501
PL - 4,173