Ren stirred slowly, his head throbbing with a dull ache. The first thing he noticed was the soft sunlight piercing through the small opening of his tent, warming his face. He blinked several times, disoriented. The last thing he remembered was the chaos of the arena, the half-ox monstrosity, and then—nothing.
He lifted his hand experimentally, feeling the lingering stiffness of his muscles. His body screamed from inactivity, but he noticed something else—a faint tingling in his chest, a subtle reminder that his mana had fully recovered. Glancing around, he saw his pouch, now empty except for the few orbs of mana he had kept from the previous trials. His father must have paid the healer for him while he was unconscious; the thought made him feel a mixture of gratitude and frustration. Two days of unconsciousness, yet he felt as though he had lost more than he could measure.
Ren slowly got to his feet. His legs wobbled under him, but the forest around his temporary campsite provided a quiet, secluded area where he could train without drawing attention. He set up a small tent for sleeping and left enough space around him to practice freely. Today marked the beginning of something new—he would train all his techniques, learn to control them better, and finally understand the magic he had only glimpsed before.
Testing Old Techniques
Ren's first task was to practice the techniques he had written down in his notebook over the past week. Names like Sky Jet, Fury Slash, Icicle Barrage, and Edge Death danced in his mind. None of them were flashy on their own—they were all born from trial and error, some inspired by his past life knowledge, others entirely his own creations.
He concentrated, forming a small jet of ice beneath his feet. Sky Jet. Using wind magic to lift himself and fire magic to propel forward, the ice formed the base of his flying construct. This time, it was stable, smooth, and responsive. He propelled himself forward, twisting and turning midair, practicing maneuvering with precision. By the third repetition, he realized his control had improved dramatically. Less mana was wasted—he was now expending only about twenty percent of his total mana per full Sky Jet maneuver.
Landing lightly, Ren exhaled. The progress felt real. He could feel the difference in efficiency and control compared to the first crude attempts in the arena.
Sword Techniques
Next, he drew his blade and focused on sword techniques. His first attempt was a simple but powerful move he had always favored in his previous life: Fury Slash. He infused it with fire magic, letting flames lick along the edge of his sword. Swing after swing, he practiced slashes against imaginary opponents, keeping track of precision, speed, and mana consumption. Each strike carved a small scar into the forest floor, a reminder of both power and focus.
The second technique he worked on was a combination move he had been developing over the past few days. It was meant to overwhelm opponents with a sudden burst of speed and strength. He executed it repeatedly, watching how his mana drained and then recovered after short rests. It was exhausting, but he felt his body becoming more fluid with every swing.
Ice Magic
Finally, he focused on ice magic, specifically creating walls and shields. He remembered the first attempt at an Ice Wall—rough, uneven, and taxing nearly all his mana. Today, he wanted improvement.
Concentrating, he gathered his mana and shaped a thick Ice Wall at least three meters wide and four meters taller than himself. The first attempt wobbled slightly but was smooth enough to support his weight if he jumped against it. He tested it several times, stepping back and forth, climbing its edge, and observing how much energy it consumed. After several tries, he achieved a stable, smooth wall that cost only about twenty percent of his total mana—an enormous improvement.
Ren allowed himself a small smile. Not perfect, but usable. He imagined how he could use it in battle: cover, tactical advantage, or a launching pad for his Sky Jet.
Healing Magic Discovery
Exhausted from hours of training, Ren sat on a fallen log to rest. As he closed his eyes, memories of being healed in the arena came flooding back—the warmth of the healer's touch, the flow of mana into his wounds, and the miraculous recovery of strength. On a whim, he concentrated, focusing on the flow of his own mana, and tried to mimic what he had experienced.
To his astonishment, he felt a faint glow emanate from his hands. His injuries—the scrapes, bruises, and lingering pain—began to ease. Mana flowed steadily into his body, knitting muscles and bones back together. He had unknowingly tapped into a form of personal healing magic, his first real glimpse of a power that could sustain him independently.
He opened his eyes and looked down at his body—his muscles relaxed, his chest light, and his arms steady. This was a turning point. With this skill, he could train longer and harder without fear of long-term injury.
Reflection and Growth
Ren took out his notebook and jotted down new insights, noting how each technique could be improved. Sky Jet could be stabilized further, Fury Slash could incorporate subtle fire bursts mid-strike, and Ice Wall could be duplicated in rapid succession for defense. He also added a note about his personal healing magic, reminding himself that it would require careful mana management to avoid exhaustion.
He tested each technique multiple times, combining them in short sequences. Jumping onto the Ice Wall, launching a Sky Jet, swinging Fury Slash mid-air, and then landing safely—all felt possible now. His confidence grew, not because he was unbeatable, but because he knew his control had increased, and his magic was becoming reliable.
End of Day Reflection
By evening, Ren's training session ended. He had:
Mastered Sky Jet with low mana consumption
Perfected two sword techniques: Fury Slash and a combination move
Improved Ice Wall, now stable and smooth, usable in combat
Accidentally discovered personal healing magic, allowing him to recover injuries
Learned to manage his mana efficiently
He lay in his tent, exhausted but satisfied, thinking about the days ahead. His notebook was filled with sketches, annotations, and new ideas for future techniques. Tomorrow, he would continue refining his abilities, but for now, he allowed himself a rare moment of rest.
For the first time in this trial, Ren felt a sense of control over his destiny—a feeling he had rarely experienced in his previous life.