The training hall buzzed with the murmurs of students, their gazes flickering toward Ethan as he stood at the center of the sparring arena. The events of the last fight had left an impression—an F-Rank had landed a solid hit on a C-Rank.
It wasn't a victory, but it wasn't the utter humiliation they had expected either.
"Oi, is he actually improving?" someone whispered.
"He's still F-Rank. He's just good at taking a beating."
Logan Pierce, standing at the side, scoffed. "What a joke. Letting someone like him land a hit is embarrassing."
Ethan ignored the whispers. His body ached from the bruises, but something inside him burned fiercer than ever. Unyielding Body.
His new passive ability had already begun its work. Though not a miraculous healing power, it reinforced his endurance and reduced the impact of incoming blows. It was subtle, but for someone like him, it was invaluable.
Instructor Reynolds, an experienced B-Rank Awakener, glanced at Ethan with mild interest. "Ethan Cross, step forward. You'll be sparring again today."
Ethan took a deep breath and stepped onto the mat.
"Your opponent—Alan Graves, C-Rank."
Alan smirked, stepping forward. His ability, Stone Skin, was well-known. He could harden his body to the durability of rock, making him a walking fortress.
Ethan squared his stance. He had no flashy abilities, no mana, but he had relentless training, endurance, and now, his new passive.
The match began.
Alan rushed forward, his body already turning grayish as his Stone Skin activated. A heavy fist came toward Ethan's ribs. He braced himself.
Thud!
Pain jolted through his body, but it wasn't overwhelming. Unyielding Body softened the impact, his muscles absorbing the force better than before.
He gritted his teeth and countered—a precise punch to Alan's gut. It didn't do much damage, but Alan took a step back, frowning.
Ethan exhaled sharply. I can do this.
Alan, irritated, lunged again, this time swinging a kick. Ethan dodged, barely. His reflexes weren't enhanced by mana, but his constant training had sharpened his movements.
He moved in, his fists striking—one, two, three times. The blows weren't powerful, but they were precise, targeting weak points.
Alan staggered.
The crowd murmured again.
"What the hell? He's actually fighting back."
"Tch, Alan's just holding back."
Ethan's breathing was controlled. He could feel the strain in his muscles, but compared to before… his body was holding up better.
Alan growled. "You little—"
Before he could finish, Ethan stepped in fast, ducked under a punch, and delivered a brutal knee to Alan's ribs. The C-Rank stumbled back, gasping.
The instructor raised a hand. "Enough. Match over."
Alan scowled but didn't argue. He knew what had happened.
Ethan hadn't won. But he had stood his ground.
And that meant everything.
Progress and Mockery
Ethan walked out of the training hall, sweat dripping down his face. His muscles ached, but the pain was satisfying.
He pulled up his system panel.
Passive Ability: Unyielding BodyProgress: 4%
He smirked. It was slow, but it was real.
"Oi, pretty boy."
He turned to see Logan Pierce leaning against a pillar, arms crossed, his lackeys beside him.
"You think just because you got a new little trick, you're something special?" Logan sneered. "You're still F-Rank. You'll always be F-Rank."
Ethan met his gaze, expression unreadable. "Then why are you so interested in me?"
Logan's smirk faltered for a second. His lackeys shifted uncomfortably.
Tch. "You'll learn your place soon enough."
With that, Logan turned and left, his lackeys scrambling after him.
Ethan exhaled, turning back toward the dorms. He had a long way to go. But today, he had taken a step forward.
And that was enough.
Late Night Training
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the academy's training grounds. Ethan stood alone, fists clenched.
His training wasn't over.
His strikes hit the practice dummy—again and again. Sweat dripped from his brow, his breath came in heavy pants, but he refused to stop.
He would push past every limit. No mana? No problem. He would build his body into something that didn't need it.
His Never Give Up ability pulsed in his mind, refusing to let him falter. His Unyielding Body absorbed the fatigue, allowing him to go longer than before.
He would keep going.
He would become strong.
No matter how long it took