The first day was brutal. Yudo groaned as he pushed himself up from the dirt. His entire body ached from the shockwave Shujiro had released. Dirt stained his clothes while his muscles ached. Even now, his arms trembled as he forced himself upright.

“That old man hits like a truck…”

Shujiro stood across the clearing with his arms crossed, completely relaxed. A gentle breeze stirred his hair as if he hadn’t just launched someone halfway across the field.

“Is that all you got?”

Yudo rolled his shoulders, wincing slightly. “No, I won’t give up, ever.”

Shujiro chuckled. “That’s the right approach because the exam might kill you in that state.”

Yudo grabbed some dirt in his hand. He returned to his stance. The energy felt unstable, like several currents clashing beneath his skin, refusing to flow in the same direction.

…I’m still a mess. Yudo clenched his fists. If I can’t control this… I won’t be able to get into Aegis to save Two.

Shujiro’s voice cut through his thoughts. “Dude. Stop thinking so much.”

Yudo blinked, confused by the abruptness of his words. “Huh?”

“You take too long to make decisions,” Shujiro said. “Even the smallest hesitation can get you killed.”

Yudo frowned. “Isn’t that what instincts are for?”

Shujiro shook his head. “No. Instincts save you.” He paused. “But control, now that is what wins fights.”

Yudo stared at him. “Easy for you to say.”

Shujiro scratched the side of his head, thinking. “Alright, do you know what a generator is?”

Yudo tilted his head slightly.

“Are those the things that power light in rooms?”

Shujiro nodded.

“Yes, those. Think of your body like a generator. It produces energy that flows through you, and your Trait determines how that energy is used. For instance, my Trait is Shockwaves, so my body produces energy that my Trait converts into Shockwaves.”

He pointed at Yudo’s chest. “Remember this,” Shujiro continued. “You don’t have infinite energy. If you overwork your body…”

“...It shuts down, and if you push yourself too far, you can become corrupt.”

Yudo nodded slowly. Control… not output. Got it.

He shifted his stance. Slowed his breathing.

“Combat Mode: Dead Man’s Intuition.”

The world sharpened instantly and the sounds became clearer. He knew his body would react before his thoughts could form. So when Yudo stepped forward, he didn’t charge. He circled Shujiro instead. Watching and waiting to see if he would move.

Shujiro gave a slight nod of approval. “Better.”

Yudo didn’t respond. He’s testing me.

Every movement Shujiro made felt dangerous. 

How the hell do I even fight someone like this?

Then his instincts screamed.

Left!

Yudo moved instantly. A shockwave ripped through the space he had just occupied. The air cracked and leaves exploded from nearby trees.

Yudo slid across the ground.

“Great reaction,” Shujiro said.

Yudo grinned slightly. “Dead Man’s Intuition.”

Shujiro nodded. “Interesting ability.”

Yudo launched forward again. He gathered energy into his legs. He jumped and brought his leg down in a powerful axe kick but Shujiro moved to counter.

Yudo responded by vanishing. Space twisted. He reappeared behind him.

“There it is,” Shujiro said happily.

Yudo clenched his fist, striking for his vitals. 

Shujiro flicked his hand. The force stopped Yudo’s punch instantly.

Yudo’s eyes widened as his balance broke. 

What...

The shockwave followed.

BOOM!

Grass flattened beneath the impact. Yudo flew across the clearing and slammed into the dirt.

“That one was lighter,” Shujiro said casually.

Yudo groaned. “There wasn’t anything light about that one…”

He didn’t get up immediately. That realization bothered him more than the hit.

Teleportation isn’t enough. I need more control.

Unstable energy flickered across his skin. Shujiro’s voice cut in instantly. “Enough.”

Yudo froze.

Shujiro pointed. “That’s exactly what we’re trying to avoid.”

Yudo looked down. Energy leaked faintly from his arms.

“…How?”

Shujiro studied him carefully. “Your desperation keeps making you push your body to severe limits."

Yudo frowned. “I didn’t know that.”

Shujiro nodded. “I know.” He stepped back. “But desperation burns through your energy too fast.”

Yudo clenched his fist. Shujiro’s words made sense to him. All of his life he was fighting desperately just to survive. Control had never been an option. The next few days didn’t get any easier. The mornings started before sunrise. The air was cold. And every day began the same way.

“Again.”

Yudo gathered energy. Pain shot through his body, and the energy burst. He dropped to the ground.

“…Again.”

“Again.”

“Again.”

The days were brutal for Yudo. Bruises replaced old bruises. His muscles barely had time to recover before Shujiro pushed him again. Every attempt ended the same way. The thing that constantly pushed him was the thought of Two. 

By the end of the first week, Yudo could finally hold his energy steady. It still wasn’t perfect, but at least it wouldn’t explode immediately.

“…Better,” Shujiro said.

That was the first time he had said it to him. Shujiro’s training in the second week was worse. After the progress Yudo made during the first week, Shujiro expected more.

“You’ve got to try and move.”

Yudo blinked. “…While using it?”

Shujiro only nodded. Yudo stepped forward and activated his Traits. His footing slipped causing him to fall.

“Again.”

“Again.”

“Again.”

The sun rose. The sun set. Days passed. Yudo’s breathing grew sharper. His control improved, slowly. The pain didn’t go away, but he could endure it longer. Yudo tried to push himself even further. Then everything went wrong. The energy surged too much, too fast. His vision blurred and his body screamed.

“I…!”

The ground beneath him cracked. Energy burst outward uncontrollably causing dust to explode into the air. Nearby trees shook violently.

“STOP!”

Everything vanished instantly. Yudo dropped to his knees, shaking. Sweat dripped from his face onto the dirt.

Shujiro stood in front of him. His expression had changed.

“…You lose control like that again…” His worried gaze remained fixated on Yudo. “…you die.”

What Shujiro said wasn’t just a warning, but a fact. 

Yudo kept that in mind as he went into the third week. That moment changed everything. Yudo stopped forcing it. He focused on his breathing, the energy flowing within him, and controlling its movements.

“Again.”

Yudo moved towards Shujiro. He wasn’t rushing or panicking, just watching and waiting.

Shujiro smiled slightly. “Now you’re thinking.”

Yudo attacked but this time he adjusted mid-strike. Reacting and adapting. Even though Shujiro caught the blow, there was clear progress from where Yudo had started. He started to understand and see the openings before they disappeared.

By the final week, Yudo stood across from Shujiro. His breathing was steady, and his energy flow was stable. The flow wasn’t perfect, but it was controlled. 

The clearing looked different now. Countless small craters covered the training grounds. Broken patches of dirt marked where he had landed hundreds of times.

“Attack.”

Yudo moved faster and with more control. His fist drove forward, but Shujiro caught it effortlessly.

“…Too slow.”

Yudo pulled back and tried to land another strike. Every time he attacked, Shujiro blocked it. Yudo saw and felt it. For the first time sparring with Shujiro, he wasn’t reacting anymore. He was thinking.

Shujiro stepped back. “…Good.”

“You know why I keep telling you to push yourself?”

Yudo looked at him.

“Because the real growth is when you're at your limit and you need to…” He smiled.

“Surpass it! Supera!”

Yudo froze slightly. Shujiro turned toward the horizon. The setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange and gold.

“We leave tomorrow.”

Yudo exhaled slowly. His body still hurt and his Traits still weren't perfect, but now he could control his energy.

He looked out toward the distance.

If Aegis Academy can help me get stronger…

His fist clenched.

Then I’m coming back to save Two.