Seeing Skal rushing at him, with no time to question it, Max reacted instinctively, letting this newfound power guide his actions. He sidestepped Skal's first punch, his movements fluid and precise. Then he raised his arm to block the second, the impact echoing through the yard, yet his arm felt firm, unbroken. The crowd gasped as Max retaliated, his fist cutting through the air to land a solid punch on Skal's abdomen.
The surprise on Skal's face was evident as he staggered backward, unprepared for the strength behind Max's counter-attack. But he didn't retreat for long. Instead, his resolve hardened, his eyes blazed with a fire that mirrored Max's own determination.
Their battle escalated, no longer a mere fight between students, but a clash between a burgeoning mage-knight and a physical powerhouse. Their fists met in a flurry of attacks and parries, each impact resounding with the echoes of their will.
With every exchange, Max could feel his strength growing, not just physically but mentally too. His punches were getting stronger, movements faster. He could anticipate Skal's attacks better, could see the openings in his defenses, could react faster than he ever had.
As their fight continued, Max could feel the foreign yet familiar energy within him settle. He was still filled with an incredible amount of power, but it was no longer wild and tumultuous, roaring throughout his body. Instead, it had blended into him, becoming a part of him, enhancing his capabilities and senses. It was a strange sense of completion, like a puzzle piece fitting into its designated spot, filling in the missing gap.
The training yard, the wooden staff, the shattered weapons, the sunset, the whispering crowd - everything was the same, yet everything was different.
The atmosphere around him, once filled with the mundane hues of twilight, was now laced with streaks of shimmering light, ethereal and translucent. It was mana, he realized. He could see the essence of magic that permeated the world, flowing through the air around him like a luminescent breeze.
It was almost invisible, barely discernible against the backdrop of the physical world. It didn't have a distinct color, nor did it cast any shadows. Instead, it was more like a constant shimmer, a distortion in the air that was only visible if he focused his gaze. It was there and yet not, an intricate part of the world he had been blind to until now.
Max tried to make sense of what he was seeing, but the concept was new and overwhelming. He had no context, no knowledge of what it meant to see the mana flow. However, it wasn't wholly alien to him. Like his newfound strength, this ability too felt like a piece of the puzzle clicking into place.
The fight with Skal, however, demanded his attention. Despite the awe-inspiring revelation, he couldn't afford to lose focus. His senses now divided between the physical skirmish and his sight of mana, Max prepared for Skal's next move.
The sight of mana was still blurry, elusive, but it added a new depth to the world around him. It was like seeing the world in high-definition for the first time. With this change, his resolve only deepened. He felt more connected to the world, more in tune with his surroundings, more ready to face whatever came next.
As he dodged another punch from Skal, a plan began to form in his mind. A strange intuition told him he could use this new perception to his advantage. How exactly, he didn't know, but he was eager to explore the possibilities. He was eager to test the limits of this newly awakened self.
In the heat of battle, Max continued to observe Skal, his senses sharpening as he noticed something unusual. With every movement Skal made, there was a faint ripple of mana that flowed ahead of it, like the wake of a ship cutting through the water. It was as though mana, in its ethereal form, was responding to the physicality of Skal's actions.
Max squinted, focusing more intently, his mind racing to comprehend this new information. His eyes followed Skal's fists, watching the almost invisible trail of mana that surged ahead of every punch. It was subtle, a mere distortion in the air, but to Max's heightened senses, it was like a beacon.
With each of Skal's moves, the pattern became more evident - the mana moved before the fist did. It was not a mere reaction but a precursor, an indication of the impending action. Max realized that this was a crucial insight. He could potentially read and predict Skal's movements through the flow of mana.
It was a revelation that brought with it a renewed sense of understanding. Mana, he remembered, was not just a force external to living beings. It resided within them as well, a part of their very essence. Each individual, regardless of whether they were Awakeners like him or not, carried this magical essence within them.
Although Skal hadn't awakened yet, he was, by nature of being alive, a conduit for mana. This internal mana was influencing the external flow, creating those ripples that Max could now perceive. The physical force exerted by Skal's movements was being mirrored in the ether, the mana responding to his intentions before the physical action took place.
Suddenly, everything clicked into place. The movements of mana were not merely a spectacle to behold; they were a guide, a tool that Max could use to his advantage. Despite the confusion and exhilaration of these new experiences, a sense of calm washed over him. He felt a deep connection with this mysterious force, a synergy that was gradually manifesting in his increased perception and improved combat capabilities.
Max braced himself, his mind clear and focused. His eyes were no longer just on Skal's physical form, but on the ebb and flow of mana around him. This was not just a physical fight anymore - it was a dance of energy, a delicate balance between the seen and the unseen, the physical and the magical. Max was ready to take it to the next level.
The fact that mana could be perceived in such a manner was not something that had been covered in his classes yet, but Max found that he was quickly understanding and adapting to it. This was a new and exciting layer to his reality, one that held infinite possibilities.
He moved with newfound agility and precision, using his understanding of mana to anticipate Skal's movements and respond accordingly. Each punch Skal threw was intercepted; each attack countered with surprising force. Max was no longer the underdog - he was matching Skal move for move, and then some.
The intensity of their fight escalated as Max seized the upper hand. His fists moved in a blur, his every move executed with an uncanny accuracy that left the crowd breathless. Every parry, every strike was punctuated by the subtle flow of mana, guiding Max, enhancing his reactions.
His movements were not just physical; they were an intricate dance of mana, a delicate weave of magic and might. Skal, despite his brute strength, was struggling to keep up with Max, his attacks becoming increasingly wild and less coordinated.
Finally, Skal stumbled, his footing unsure. He fell back, his chest heaving with exhaustion. Max advanced, the last remnants of the sun casting long shadows over the training yard. The crowd held its breath, their eyes wide with anticipation.
"That's not fair!" Skal protested weakly, pointing a trembling finger at Max. "You awakened too early! That's cheating!"
Max stopped in front of Skal, looking down at him. The once cocky bully now appeared small and insignificant. His victory felt more significant than any pool championship he had ever won.
"It's not my fault you're too slow," Max replied, his voice carrying across the silent yard. "If you weren't such a scum, you would have awakened by now. You don't get stronger by belittling others."
With that, Max swung his fist, his punch connecting solidly with Skal's face. Skal's eyes rolled back and he crumpled onto the ground, unconscious. Max stood over him, victorious, his fist still curled.
The crowd erupted into cheers, their awe-struck whispers replaced by a thunderous applause. The sun had set, but in the yard, a new dawn had just begun. Max, the pool champion turned mage-knight, had just won his first real battle.