Ethan's body ached as he left the underground training hall, bruises marking his skin like battle scars. The duel with Selene had pushed him further than he expected, but he welcomed the challenge. Every pain was proof of progress, and that was all that mattered.
A Silent Determination
The whispers in the academy grew louder with each passing day. Ethan's endurance, his sheer refusal to fall, was becoming an undeniable fact. No longer was he just the 'handsome, useless F-Rank.' He was the guy who had stood against A-Ranks and still walked away.
Not that it changed anything for him. His goal remained the same—grow stronger, no matter what.
As he walked through the corridors, he noticed the stares. Some were of admiration, some of disdain, but most were simply puzzled.
"How does he even move like that without mana?"
"I heard his body's like steel, but he doesn't have any skills… right?"
"He's just lucky. Eventually, he'll hit a wall."
Ethan didn't react. He had nothing to prove to them. His battles were his own.
The Next Step in Training
Determined to keep progressing, Ethan headed toward the academy's restricted training grounds. Unlike the public halls, this area was meant for students who sought real combat experience. The only requirement? A partner—or an instructor's approval.
"Training alone again?"
Ethan turned to see an older man watching him with narrowed eyes. Instructor Cain, one of the academy's combat specialists, had taken an interest in him ever since his endurance trial.
"I need to push my limits," Ethan responded, voice firm.
Cain exhaled sharply. "You're not like the others, Ethan. No mana, no active skills, yet you push yourself beyond reason."
Ethan remained silent. He didn't need approval. Only permission.
Cain studied him for a moment before nodding. "Fine. But don't die."
With that, the doors to the restricted zone opened, and Ethan stepped inside.
A Battlefield of Monsters
The restricted training grounds were a simulated battlefield, complete with mana-formed monsters and enhanced gravity. This wasn't just about training—it was about survival.
A beast materialized before him. A Steelclad Direwolf. Though just a training construct, its physical strength was real. Most students used mana to enhance their strikes against its tough hide.
Ethan had no such luxury.
The beast lunged. Ethan barely dodged, Iron Stride kicking in as he maneuvered to the side. His footwork had improved, but not enough.
The wolf twisted mid-air, its claws slashing toward him. Ethan raised his arm, bracing for impact. The pain was instant, but Bloodforged Tenacity kept him moving. He countered with a punch straight to the beast's skull, feeling the impact reverberate through his bones.
It wasn't enough.
He needed more power.
The wolf lunged again, and Ethan welcomed the challenge.
Hours Later…
Ethan collapsed onto the ground, chest heaving. The battlefield around him was littered with defeated constructs, their bodies dissolving into mana. His fists were bloodied, his muscles screaming, but a sense of satisfaction settled in his chest.
Passive Ability Reminder:
Never Give Up (Progress: ???)
Iron Stride (Progress: 60%)
Bloodforged Tenacity (Progress: 25%)
Enduring Will (Progress: 15%)
He was getting stronger. Slowly, steadily—but undeniably.
A voice broke through his exhaustion. "You're insane, you know that?"
Ethan turned his head to see Selene standing nearby, arms crossed, amusement dancing in her eyes. "And you're still watching me," he replied, smirking despite his fatigue.
She rolled her eyes. "Someone has to make sure you don't drop dead."
Ethan sat up, wiping sweat from his brow. "I'm fine."
Selene sighed. "One of these days, you'll push too far."
"Then I'll push further."
She studied him for a moment before shaking her head. "I still don't get you."
Ethan chuckled. "You don't have to."
A Fateful Encounter
As Ethan exited the training grounds, he found himself face-to-face with an unfamiliar figure. A young man with sharp eyes and an air of arrogance stood before him.
"You're the F-Rank everyone's been talking about."
Ethan didn't reply.
The man smirked. "I don't buy the hype. I think you're just a stubborn fool who doesn't know when to quit."
Ethan sighed. "Then don't waste your time on me."
The man's expression darkened. "Oh, I intend to. Because I hate pretenders."
Before Ethan could react, the stranger's fist shot forward.