Hiro activated his Magic Sense once more.
Immediately, he could see the flow of magic inside his own body and the overwhelming amount of external magic he was drawing in from the environment around him.
The difference between the two was absurd.
His internal magic was tiny.
The outside magic felt endless.
This is impossible…
Hiro gritted his teeth as the restraints pressed harder against his body.
No matter how hard I try, I can't balance this.
The magic flooding into him created unbearable pressure, causing the restraints to grow heavier and heavier by the second.
If I can't figure this out, I'll be stuck on the ground forever.
Hiro closed his eyes.
Balance…
To achieve balance, he needed to think of something naturally balanced.
Something peaceful.
Something stable.
Then suddenly—
Hiro found himself standing within an endless ocean.
Crystal-clear water stretched infinitely beneath him while a brilliant azure sky spread endlessly above.
The boundary between the two was seamless.
Perfect.
Neither overwhelmed the other.
They simply existed together in harmony.
A deep calm washed over Hiro's mind.
The pressure vanished.
I see it now…
The sky supported the ocean.
The ocean reflected the sky.
Neither resisted the other.
They coexisted.
"It's peaceful…" Hiro whispered softly.
"So serene…"
For the first time, he truly understood what Theo meant by balance.
His body slowly rose from the ground.
Energy swirled around him in smooth currents, yet the restraints no longer weighed him down.
Within Hiro's mind, the image of the balanced sky and sea stabilized the flow of magic completely.
Hiro stared at his own hands in disbelief.
"I can move!"
Theo nodded approvingly.
"What you've accomplished is merely the easiest part."
Hiro's excitement instantly died.
"…Of course it is."
Theo crossed his arms.
"For this training to be effective, you must maintain perfect equilibrium between your internal and external magic at all times."
His gaze sharpened.
"The moment your concentration slips, even slightly…"
The restraints rattled heavily.
"…their weight will return."
Hiro rolled his shoulders confidently.
"So all I have to do is keep my magic balanced."
He smirked.
"That sounds easy enough."
Theo smiled.
"You must maintain that balance under life-threatening conditions."
"…What?"
Theo casually removed his shoes before stepping onto the dirt field.
Then he raised his fists into a kickboxing stance.
He bounced lightly on his feet while throwing a few practice punches through the air.
"You will maintain your magic equilibrium while fighting me."
Hiro blinked repeatedly.
"I don't know how to fight."
"That's fine," Theo replied calmly. "You'll learn."
Theo pointed toward Hiro.
"Balancing your magic while under constant physical and mental strain will force your magical capacity to evolve more rapidly."
Hiro groaned.
"So I have to focus on fighting and controlling magic at the same time?"
"Correct."
"That sounds terrible."
Theo ignored the complaint.
"Focus on two things."
He raised two fingers.
"Learning how to fight."
"And maintaining balance."
Hiro frowned.
"We both know you're way stronger and faster than me. There's no way I can win."
Theo shook his head.
"Combat is not determined solely by strength or speed."
He slowly walked forward.
"Technique."
"Knowledge."
"Control."
"Understanding your opponent."
Theo's eyes narrowed.
"And exploiting weakness."
He stopped a few feet away from Hiro.
"Besides, I'll only use roughly five percent of my strength until you adjust to the pace."
Hiro took a deep breath.
I'm going to spend my entire life fighting monsters stronger than me anyway…
A grin spread across his face.
"So what the hell."
Hiro raised his fists and copied Theo's stance as best he could.
"Let's do it."
Theo smiled faintly.
"First lesson, boy."
His presence suddenly sharpened.
"Pay attention to your opponent's movements."
Then—
Theo vanished.
Hiro's eyes widened.
"So fast—!"
Hiro spun around desperately, trying to locate him.
Too late.
Theo had already moved behind him.
Hiro turned to strike instinctively—
THUD!
Theo's kick slammed directly into Hiro's ribs.
The impact launched him violently through the air and into a tree hard enough to crack the trunk apart.
Pain exploded through Hiro's body.
The instant he lost focus—
The restraints activated again.
CRASH.
Hiro slammed onto the ground beneath their crushing weight.
Theo casually appeared in front of him and stopped a punch inches away from Hiro's face.
"Do not forget your magic."
Theo's voice was calm but cold.
"The moment pain distracted you, you lost control."
Hiro coughed as he pushed himself upright.
"The fighter who loses control of himself…"
Theo lowered his fist.
"…will always lose the battle."
Hiro slowly climbed out from the shattered tree and steadied his breathing.
Then he inhaled deeply.
The image of the sky and ocean returned to his mind.
Balance.
The restraints lightened once more.
Hiro raised his fists again.
This time, however—
His eyes had changed.
The panic was gone.
Now they carried calm focus.
Like a controlled inferno.
Theo noticed immediately.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"There it is…"
Excitement flickered in Theo's eyes.
"You're finally beginning to understand."
Theo clenched his fist.
"A fight is a battle between life and death—"
BOOM!
Theo punched forward instantly.
This time Hiro reacted.
He crossed his arms and blocked the strike.
The impact still sent him skidding backward several meters across the ground, leaving deep trails beneath his feet—
—but he stayed standing.
Theo's grin widened.
"—and the strong survive."
Theo rushed forward again and threw another punch.
Hiro blocked it successfully.
I can follow his movements now!
Excitement surged through Hiro.
Without thinking, he immediately tried to counterattack.
Theo's eyes narrowed.
Mistake.
Theo grabbed Hiro's wrist instantly.
With a smooth motion, he twisted Hiro's arm and trapped his elbow completely.
Pain shot through Hiro's shoulder.
"Lesson number two."
Theo tightened the hold slightly.
"Never become arrogant unless victory is guaranteed."
Hiro gritted his teeth.
"You'll encounter opponents stronger, faster, smarter, and more experienced than you."
Theo's expression darkened.
"If you lower your guard for even a moment…"
He suddenly released Hiro.
"…you die."
Hiro immediately tried sweeping Theo's legs in retaliation.
But Theo reacted instantly.
In one fluid movement, Theo wrapped his legs around Hiro's neck and placed him in a chokehold before flipping backward.
Hiro collapsed onto the ground coughing violently as Theo landed effortlessly nearby.
"Why can't I hit you?!" Hiro shouted between breaths.
Theo looked down at him calmly.
"Because you fight like a cornered animal."
His eyes sharpened.
"Your movements are erratic."
"Wild."
"Predictable."
Theo pointed toward Hiro's head.
"Outthink your opponent."
"Read their movements."
"Stay three steps ahead."
Hiro stared at him blankly.
"And if they're three steps ahead of me?"
"Then stay ten ahead of them."
"And if they're ten ahead?"
Theo smiled.
"Be a hundred ahead."
Hiro deadpanned.
"That sounds ridiculously impractical."
Theo laughed softly.
"Impractical is merely another form of practicality, my boy."
Hiro groaned.
"How am I supposed to think that far ahead while balancing magic and learning to fight at the same time?"
Theo's expression suddenly became serious.
"Adapt."
The word struck Hiro harder than any punch.
"Adaptation is the foundation of survival."
Theo looked toward the sky.
"Humans possess the greatest adaptability of any race."
Hiro blinked.
"…What?"
Theo nodded.
"Most powerful species become stagnant because they rely on innate power."
"But humanity survived without power."
His eyes locked onto Hiro.
"That struggle forced humans to evolve."
"To think."
"To improvise."
"To overcome."
Theo smiled faintly.
"And if a human ever learns to combine that adaptability with true magical power…"
A dangerous glint appeared in his eyes.
"…they become a threat to every living creature in existence."
Hiro's breathing grew heavier.
Can I really adapt the way he says?
Maintaining his magic equilibrium already pushed him to his limit.
Now he also had to fight.
Think ahead.
React.
Learn.
Grow.
Everything at once.
But Hiro clenched his fists tightly.
I have to adapt.
I must.
Energy surged around him once more as Hiro steadied his stance.
"Adapt."