The classroom was quiet.

  Too quiet for the state Ren was in.

  Seated in the third row, he stared at the holographic board without really seeing it. The professor was talking about motor optimization, muscle chains, energy efficiency—concepts that half the class already seemed to master.

  The words entered his ears.

  But his mind…

  …was elsewhere.

  In the ring.

  Again.

  Always.

  Kellan’s impact replayed in his memory with unpleasant clarity.

  The speed.

  The timing.

  The gap.

  His fingers slowly tightened around his stylus.

  Too slow.

  Too fragile.

  Too far behind.

  [User attention unstable.]

  The system window briefly flickered in his field of vision.

  Ren didn’t even react.

  His thoughts kept spinning.

  For several days now, something inside him had cracked.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Before Astraeus, he knew he was weak.

  But it had been abstract.

  Bearable.

  A distant idea.

  Now…

  He had felt it.

  In his bones.

  In his crushed lungs.

  In the way his body had refused to keep up.

  His teeth clenched.

  I can dodge a little better…

  I can read a little better…

  But when it really mattered—

  He had been swept aside.

  Simply.

  Cleanly.

  As if the gap between them belonged to two different worlds.

  A dull heat rose in his chest.

  Not shame.

  Not exactly.

  Something colder.

  Sharper.

  The system helps me…

  Yes.

  That was undeniable.

  Without it, he wouldn’t have lasted nearly as long.

  But an unpleasant truth was slowly settling in.

  The system wasn’t doing the work for him.

  It opened a door.

  That was all.

  The rest…

  …still depended on him.

  Ren lowered his gaze slightly to his hands.

  Still thin.

  Still weak.

  Even after several days of effort.

  A slow breath left his lips.

  If my body can’t keep up…

  The answer came almost immediately.

  Simple.

  Brutal.

  Obvious.

  Then I’ll force it to.

  His eyes slowly lifted.

  More stable than at the start of class.

  Colder, too.

  He remembered Kellan’s words.

  Your timing isn’t terrible… but your body can’t keep up.

  Direct.

  Unfiltered.

  Merciless.

  But not wrong.

  Ren briefly closed his eyes.

  One second.

  Then two.

  When he opened them again…

  Something had settled.

  By the end of class, the bell rang through the hallway.

  Students began leaving in small groups.

  Ren packed his things without rushing.

  His mind was still turning.

  But now…

  In a single direction.

  When he stood, his body still protested slightly.

  The soreness hadn’t faded.

  Good.

  It reminded him.

  He left the classroom.

  Crossed the hallway.

  Went down one floor.

  Then turned.

  Not toward the exit.

  Not toward the library.

  Toward the sports wing.

  His steps were calm.

  But decisive.

  Each sign he passed confirmed he was heading the right way.

  Advanced Training Zone.

  Specialized Rooms.

  Combat Ring.

  His heart was beating a little faster now.

  Not fear.

  Not really.

  More like…

  A sharp tension in his chest.

  Because this time—

  He was taking the first step.

  Voluntarily.

  He stopped in front of a reinforced double door.

  Above it, a simple plaque read:

  Boxing Room — Open Access

  Ren stood still for a second.

  His hand lifted.

  Then stopped a few centimeters from the handle.

  A thought crossed his mind.

  Clear.

  Sharp.

  If I do this…

  I can’t go back.

  His breathing slowly steadied.

  Then his fingers closed around the handle.

  His eyes hardened slightly.

  “…Whatever.”

  And he pushed the door open.