Adam stood tall, his voice carrying authority as he declared:
"Now both of you will stand in front of me. You'll fight together, trying to defeat me if you can. I'll only use one hand. Your goal is to force me to use the second."
Curious, I asked, "What element can you use?"
"Water," he replied without hesitation.
He continued, his tone shifting into that of a teacher:
"Everyone has a different element and a different rank. At each rank, you unlock new powers within your element. For example, if Sammy and I were F-rank, we could only summon water but not manipulate it. Once we reach E-rank, we gain access to manipulation. As we climb higher, the powers evolve, and so does our control. That's the essence of ranking."
I hesitated, then asked, "Um… it might sound silly, but what about me?"
Adam's blunt response hit harder than any punch:
"Rudra, it's difficult to teach you anything. You don't have mana. In this era, that's a curse. Without it, you can't compete—others are stronger both mentally and physically."
The words stung. "So I really am useless…" I muttered, but Adam cut me off sharply:
"I know that. But you can train your reflexes, sharpen your senses. If a ranker attacks, you'll be ready to negate it—physically and mentally. That alone will put you miles ahead. And if you master it perfectly, even Headmaster Alex would have nightmares facing you."
His conviction lit a spark in me.
Adam ordered, "Rudra, sit at the end of the room. Meditate. Visualize every attack Sammy and I launch."
Sammy protested, "Hey, what about me?"
Adam smirked, "You'll spar against me multiple times. Suck it up and step forward."
I sat on the cold floor, the chill amplifying the seriousness of the moment. Closing my eyes, I forced out stray thoughts, steadying my breath. Soon, I heard the clash of water and ice, their attacks echoing like waves colliding. But gradually, the sounds faded. Alarmed, I opened my eyes—only to find both of them staring at me.
Adam approached, Sammy trailing behind. "Can you differentiate the attacks between us?"
I shook my head. "No… I tried, but I couldn't tell who launched what." Disappointment weighed heavy in my voice.
Adam's reply was firm yet reassuring:
"Don't be disappointed. It's your first time. Progress takes repetition. And here's a secret—not even the Headmaster has fully mastered this technique."
I asked, "So what now?"
Adam's answer was merciless:
"We'll train together the whole week. No classes. No sleep. Not until you can identify every attack correctly. Then we move to the next step."
Sammy screamed, "Why ME!!!?" as Adam dragged him back into the ring.
I laughed quietly, returning to meditation. Again and again, I failed. Again and again, I tried. Breaks only came when Sammy and I were utterly destroyed—drenched in sweat and blood. I collapsed from mental fatigue; Sammy bled from sheer exhaustion.
I failed.
Again.
And again.
And again.
But after two brutal days, something clicked. I began to notice the subtle differences—the unique wavelengths of each attack. Finally, I could tell them apart. When I shared this with Adam, he nodded.
"Good. That's step one. Now we move to step two—training your body to anticipate where the attack will come from."
I asked, "Why are we doing all this?"
Adam's reply was cold, pragmatic:
"Because when an attack comes and your mind freezes for even a millisecond, your body must react instantly. That's what saves your life."
I exhaled. "Got it…"
Adam barked, "Get up. Fight me and Sammy. Sleep later."
Sammy groaned, practically crying, while I smirked at his misery.
Adam gave his next command:
"Close your eyes. Visualize the entire room, especially the ring. Once you do, I'll start attacking."
I tried. I failed. I tried again. Slowly, I began to sense the distances—the ring, Adam's movements, the vibrations in the air.
Adam's voice cut through:
"Now that you've got the gist, I'll attack from all directions. First punches and kicks, then elemental strikes."
I braced myself, eyes shut. Suddenly, pain exploded in my stomach. I hit the floor hard. Opening my eyes, I saw Adam towering above me, his words chilling:
"The party has only just started."