Ethan stood in the academy's training hall, his breath steady despite the dull ache that had settled deep into his muscles. The aftermath of the Endurance Trial still lingered in his bones, but he had endured. Ten minutes. He had set a new record, and the whispers of his name among the students were growing louder each day.
Yet, he knew this was just the beginning.
The Pressure of Recognition
Walking through the corridors, Ethan could feel the gazes of other Awakened trailing him. Some were filled with curiosity, others with disdain, and a few with genuine intrigue. The academy was a place where rank dictated status, and an F-Rank holding his ground against an A-Rank was nothing short of absurd.
He overheard a group of students murmuring as he passed by.
"That guy… he lasted ten minutes against the guardian?"
"Must've been a fluke. No mana, no skills, just raw endurance."
"But his body… did you see how he moved? That wasn't normal."
Ethan ignored them. Let them talk. He wasn't here for their approval—he was here to grow stronger.
Training Beyond Limits
Ethan arrived at the underground combat hall, a more secluded area where students trained without an audience. He had no interest in performing for others—only in testing his limits.
A large training dummy, reinforced with enchanted steel, stood before him. Most used mana-infused strikes to damage it, but Ethan had no such luxury.
He took a deep breath, positioning himself before the dummy. His hands clenched into fists, Iron Stride activating as he planted his feet firmly on the ground. He launched forward, delivering a crushing blow to the dummy's core.
A loud clang echoed through the hall, but the dummy barely budged.
Ethan exhaled. Not enough. He adjusted his stance and struck again. And again. And again.
Pain shot through his arms, but he didn't stop. Bloodforged Tenacity ensured his injuries wouldn't slow him down as much, while Enduring Will dulled the pain and sharpened his focus.
Passive Ability Reminder:
Never Give Up (Progress: ???)
Iron Stride (Progress: 45%)
Bloodforged Tenacity (Progress: 18%)
Enduring Will (Progress: 9%)
Each strike made his muscles burn, each impact tested his resolve. But he welcomed the struggle.
After an hour of relentless training, sweat dripped from his chin, pooling at his feet. His knuckles were raw, but a small, satisfied smile crept onto his lips.
He was progressing.
A Test of Strength
Just as Ethan prepared to leave, the doors of the underground hall creaked open. A familiar voice called out.
"You're still here?"
Selene Aldridge.
Ethan turned, finding her watching him with crossed arms. The A-Rank beauty had an expression of mild amusement mixed with something else—curiosity.
"You're pushing yourself too hard," she commented, stepping closer. "After what you pulled at the Endurance Trial, people are paying attention."
"I don't care," Ethan replied, grabbing a towel. "Attention doesn't make me stronger."
Selene smirked. "Maybe not. But challenging stronger opponents will."
She extended a hand. "Spar with me."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You sure? Last time, I could barely keep up."
"Last time, you didn't have Enduring Will helping you."
A slow grin formed on his lips. "Fine. But don't hold back."
The Duel Begins
Selene wasted no time. The moment Ethan got into his stance, she lunged forward, mana flaring around her fists.
Ethan barely dodged in time, Iron Stride enhancing his movements as he pivoted away. She was fast—too fast. A strike brushed past his ribs, and he staggered.
She pressed the attack, forcing him on the defensive. He could feel Enduring Will kicking in, dulling the pain, sharpening his senses. Bloodforged Tenacity ensured he wouldn't slow down even after taking hits.
He ducked under a high kick, countering with a low sweep. Selene leaped back, her eyes gleaming with interest.
"You're adapting."
Ethan exhaled. "I don't have a choice."
She smirked. "Good. Then survive this."
With a burst of speed, she closed the gap, her fists moving in a blur. Ethan reacted on instinct. He couldn't match her strength or speed, but he could endure.
Each attack landed like a hammer against his body, but he didn't fall. Instead, he kept moving, kept dodging what he could, kept absorbing what he couldn't.
Minutes passed. Then more.
Finally, Selene halted, breathing heavily. "Damn… you really don't go down easy."
Ethan wiped the blood from his lip, grinning. "Told you."
Aftermath and Reflection
Selene sat beside him on the bench, stretching her arms. "I don't get you, Ethan. Most F-Ranks would've quit by now. Hell, even some B-Ranks don't train as hard as you."
Ethan looked down at his bruised knuckles. "Because they have other options. I don't."
Selene was silent for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough." She stood up, giving him a glance. "I'll be keeping an eye on you. You're interesting."
Ethan watched her leave before glancing at his system panel.
Passive Ability Reminder:
Never Give Up (Progress: ???)
Iron Stride (Progress: 50%)
Bloodforged Tenacity (Progress: 20%)
Enduring Will (Progress: 12%)
He clenched his fists. His progress was slow, but it was there.
And he wasn't stopping now.