"Now, let's see how well ya survive, brat," she said, her voice full of anticipation.
And as the fireballs rained down on him once more, Rowan began to regret each decision he ever made that led him here. This wasn't just about dodging anymore, it was about surviving. If one of those attacks hit him he'd be toast.
His Master wound up her arm, the muscles in her body coiling like a spring. She launched another barrage of fireballs, each one more intense than the last. The air around her shimmered with the heat, and Rowan could feel the intensity of each one like it was a living force of nature.
"Consider this me doing ya a favor!" she shouted, her voice ringing with excitement. "The world won't show ya any mercy or allow ya rest in the heat of battle!" Her words hit him like a hammer, pushing him further into the fray.
"If ya can't survive, then I'll allow ya to rest in Hell!"
Rowan's legs felt like they were about to turn into ash as the fireballs exploded all around him. The heat felt unbearable. His body screamed for him to stop, to run, to escape—but he couldn't. Not this time.
He grit his teeth, forcing himself to keep moving. No more running away. His heart pounded, and every breath felt like it could be his last, but his mind was sharpening.
"Show me the intensity of your will!" Her's voice pierced the air, her words spurring him forward.
Rowan's body moved on instinct, dodging another fireball, this one aimed directly at his legs. He leapt into the air, flipping mid-flight. As he sailed through the air, memories of his past flooded his mind. The look of disappointment on his parents' faces. The moments where he had failed—failed to be strong enough, failed to keep his promises, failed to be someone worth believing in. The sting of those failures echoed in his chest.
And then, the burning sensation in his right eye flared up again, sharper this time, as though something was stirring deep within him. His breath caught in his throat as the world seemed to slow down.
Time stretched. The ground beneath him felt like it was sinking away, and the air itself thickened. A huge ball of fire came hurtling toward him, its brightness blinding, its heat unbearable. It was right in front of him now, a wall of destruction.
Rowan's heart hammered, but something snapped inside of him. His chest tightened, and his voice broke through the chaos in his head. 'I'll show that even someone like me.. That even a loser can change himself!' he yelled internally
With that thought, the world around him seemed to shift. His right eye burned again, hotter this time, like it was pulling in the fire, consuming it. The very world seemed to bend around the burning ball of destruction, as if time itself had paused for a single heartbeat.
And then, from deep within his eye, black energy began to swirl. A maelstrom of dark energy spiraled outward, drawing in the fireball in front of him. The flames twisted and converged on his eye like a blackhole pulling everything toward the center.
Rowan could feel the immense power within him growing, a force he didn't understand, but one he knew he couldn't stop. The fireball in front of him slowly disintegrated, absorbed by the black whirlpool swirling in his right eye. The fire's energy was consumed, vanishing into nothing.
And then, silence.
A strange, angelic voice echoed through his mind, gentle yet commanding. "Absorption complete. Magic analyzed as: Fire Magic. Would you like to redirect attack, disperse the mana, or store the magic within yourself?"
Rowan blinked, his body still trembling from the intense experience. The warmth in his right eye still lingered, and for a moment, he wasn't sure what to think of the situation.
The voice continued, calm and clear, as if it sensed his confusion.
"Redirect attack: Control the flow of the absorbed Fire Magic. You may direct it toward a specific target or area, focusing the energy into a controlled attack. This allows you to use the magic at will, but requires concentration."
Rowan furrowed his brow. The idea of redirecting the magic sounded useful, but he felt he was far from ready to control it.
"Disperse the mana: Spread the absorbed Fire Magic throughout your body, increasing your mana pool and boosting your physical abilities temporarily. This would allow you to enhance your physical strength, speed, and endurance at the cost of mana reserves."
That sounded more manageable; using the mana to reinforce his body. Rowan could already feel the strength within him, but the idea of dispersing the mana to boost his body was an intriguing option.
"Store the magic within yourself: Retain the Fire Magic you have absorbed, locking it within your body for later use. This option preserves the magic for future battles, but you may not be able to access it immediately unless you choose to release it."
Rowan's mind whirled. He could store the magic for later, keeping it within him for a time when he was ready to use it. That option felt like a safer bet, especially considering his lack of control.
He sighed, still unsure.
Master, standing across from him, was silent for a moment. Then, her lips curled into a satisfied grin. "Not bad, brat," she said, her voice filled with both approval and something darker.
"Looks like ya finally woke yer mana up, brat. 'Bout damn time." Her eyes glittered with a dangerous excitement.
"Something like that happens only one in a million"
"But don't get too cocky. The real challenge is still ahead." she said.
The searing pain in his right eye slowly faded into a warm pulse, leaving a burning sensation coursing through him, fierce and exhilarating. His entire body thrummed with newfound energy; like fire had replaced the blood in his veins.
Master stood tall in front of Rowan, her eyes locked on him, filled with a seriousness that cut through the air. The wind around them seemed to pause, as if the world was holding its breath.
"Listen up, kid," she said, her voice rough but clear. "Once you unlock yer mana, you ain't just a regular human anymore. You become somethin' different, somethin' that can break through barriers you couldn't even imagine before."
Rowan blinked, still processing everything that had happened. His right eye hummed slightly as he could feel the Fire Magic swirling inside of him, waiting for a release.
"Normal humans?" She continued, her voice growing more intense. "They can't compete with someone who's got their mana unlocked. A regular person could never beat one of us."
"Watch." she said.
Rowan examined her closely, his heart racing. She suddenly dropped into what he assumed was a fighting stance, feet spread wide, her knees slightly bent, and her arms spread out like the claws of a mythical beast. Her posture was perfect, a picture of focus and strength.
She inhaled deeply, her chest expanding with each breath, then slowly exhaled. As she did, a visible wave of energy rippled out from her, a force so powerful that the ground beneath her feet shuddered. Rowan's breath caught in his throat as he felt the heat in the air rise. The pressure around them was so intense, it made his skin tingle with the force of the energy.
Rocks trembled beneath her, rising and swirling gently in a slow orbit around her form, obeying an unseen force.
The temperature continued to rise, and Rowan could feel the sweat begin to bead on his forehead. The very air seemed to burn, a reminder of the raw power Master was wielding. Her eyes remained closed for a moment as she centered herself, but Rowan could feel the intensity building, like a storm was about to break.
Then, something incredible happened. The air around Master shifted, and Rowan saw it. A massive, red figure manifesting behind her—like a demonic spirit. Rowan's legs felt like they might give out. That monstrous creature was a mountain of fury, towering over them, each of its six arms wielding deadly weapons and the severed heads of other monsters, its eyes glowing with fire and rage. It was like something out of his nightmares.
So massive, so powerful, it felt like the entire world was shaking with its presence. The fire pouring from its mouth made the air feel scalding, and the very ground beneath him seemed to hum with danger.
His heart dropped to his stomach. For a moment, he thought he might just turn around and run. The fear was suffocating, crawling up his spine, urging him to flee, to escape this madness. His palms were slick with sweat, his face hot and flushed. He couldn't move. It was like his body was frozen in place, rooted to the spot by the weight of the overwhelming intensity before him.
His breath turned ragged, lungs burning. Sweat poured down his face, dripping into his eyes; but he dared not look away." His heart pounded in his chest, his mind a swirl of panic and doubt. Run, Rowan. Get out. Get away from her. The thought flashed through his mind, so loud he almost thought he'd said it aloud.
But as the malevolent spirit continued to tower over them, he realized he wasn't going anywhere. He was trapped.
And then the voice of his Master cut through his thoughts, that confident, almost mocking tone. "Ya seein' it now?" She sounded so calm, so unbothered by the terrifying power surrounding them. "If ya can't stand the pressure, then yer already dead."
The spirit loomed over them, casting a shadow, but then Master powered down. The monster vanished in a puff of smoke, and Rowan was left breathless as the world around them returned to normal. The rocks fell back to the ground, the pressure in the air dissipated, and the heat around them faded.
"Feel it flowing? Every drop makes ya stronger. Body, soul, everything. Understand?"
But Rowan felt different. The weight of what he had just witnessed settled on him. That was the kind of power he was up against. The kind of power he needed to learn to wield.
Master stood back up straight, brushing the dirt off her cloak with a satisfied grin. "Yer not just dealin' with basic spells anymore. Mana and soul work together, kid. The stronger yer mana, the stronger yer soul. And when it's strong enough, ya unlock yer Battle Spirit, just like I did."
Rowan's mouth went dry. "That... that was your soul?" The idea of that monstrous spirit, the sheer force behind it, was incomprehensible.
"Yep, ya got it," Master said, flashing him a quick, crooked smile and thumbsf up. "It's what makes us different, kid. Makes us strong enough to take on Magic Beasts. But don't think just 'cause you unlock yer mana, you're gonna get that kind of power right away. Nah. It's all about control. That takes time."
Rowan was still catching his breath, his body still shaking from the intensity. "What... what was that? I mean, that spirit..." He couldn't finish his thought, his mind struggling to process the magnitude of what he had just experienced.
His master grinned. "That's Battle Spirit, kid. Ya use yer power to make yer enemy feel the weight of yer mana. If they can't handle it, they'll break. It's not just about looking tough, it's about commanding respect, making the other side hesitate before even stepping foot in front of you."
Rowan's mind was still spinning. "So, it's all about scaring them before you even fight?"
"Exactly," she said, nodding. "Perfect for weakening opponents before ya even start throwin' punches. Mess with their minds, make 'em second-guess themselves and retreat. But remember, it ain't just for intimidation. If ya can harness that power, you can turn the tide of a fight before it even begins."
Rowan could hardly believe what he was hearing. But the towering spirit, the raw power, the intimidation.. He knew one thing for sure: he needed that kind of power.
"Alright, kid," she said, her grin widening as she stepped forward clapping him roughly on the shoulder, eyes blazing with challenge. "Yer gonna need every ounce of guts ya got, brat. Let's see what kinda soul's burning inside ya."
Rowan's chest was still tight, the pit of fear still lingering. But something else stirred inside him, a flicker of excitement. This was the power he had to gain, the power that could let him change everything.