The fog of early morning clung to the forest floor like breath of a titan. Somewhere between exhaustion and clarity, Ryu sat cross-legged, his hands resting on his knees.
Ryu:Can we train now?
Yizo: (calm, patient)Before anything else—tell me... do you know your magic nature?
Ryu:My what?
Yizo:Your body is aligned with a specific element. That's your magic nature.There are the basics—Fire, Water, Wind, Earth. But beyond them lie... stranger forces. Some you're born with. Others are inherited through blood, or something worse.
Ryu:And how do I figure out mine?
Yizo:You already have.You survived the fusion with me. That alone gave you a piece of Destruction. But I can sense something else in you... something fiery.
Ryu:So what now?
Yizo:Close your eyes.Feel the mana running beneath your skin. Not as energy—but as a living river. Shape it. Focus it. Command it.
Ryu inhaled deeply. His heartbeat slowed. Something stirred—a pulse beneath his ribs, black and hot. He stretched his hand forward. At first, only heat... then, a flicker of light—black flame bloomed in his palm like a cursed flower.
Ryu: (shouting)I DID IT!
Without hesitation, he took off—chasing a flock of baby monsters, hurling unstable flames as he cackled like a maniac.
Yizo: (sighing)This child is hopeless...
Ryu: (panting mid-run)WHY IS EVERYTHING MOVING SO FAST?!
Yizo:Because you're weak.Your mind might be learning, but your body is still a twig in a storm.We'll fix that—starting now.
Six Months Later
The air in Hell Forest carried a new scent—burnt fur, scorched leaves, and blood long dried. The monsters no longer attacked Ryu without caution. He moved differently now—his steps quieter, his reflexes faster.
His flames had changed too. No longer chaotic flickers, but deliberate, controlled strikes.
Yizo:You've grown fast. Faster than I expected.Your fire doesn't sputter anymore. It listens to you.
With time, your body has adapted to this cursed land. You're ready to hunt without supervision.
Ryu:Then I want the demonic deer.
Yizo:Ambitious. Good.
Ryu lay hidden in the underbrush. Across the clearing, a horned deer sniffed the air. Its eyes glowed faint red—intelligent, calculating. These weren't prey. They were predators that looked like prey.
Ryu didn't move. He exhaled slowly, whispered under his breath—
Ryu:Fire Cage.
Flames erupted in a ring, encircling the deer. It screamed, bolting toward the wall of heat—but the fire held.
Ryu:Fire Bolts.
Blazing darts burst from his fingers, striking the beast through the shoulder, the chest, the eye. It collapsed, smoking.
Yizo: (from the shadows)You've adapted to the forest's rhythm... to its speed and cruelty.Your magic is only part of the equation. The rest—comes from how you hunt.
Ryu:Food time.
He dragged the carcass to a clear space and began skinning it with practiced hands. The fire was lit with a flick of his wrist. No wasted motion. No hesitation.
As he sat back, chewing on roasted meat, Yizo's voice echoed again—low, almost proud.
Yizo:These deer can sense heartbeats from ten paces.That fire trap was clever. You're starting to think like a monster...That's the only way to survive this place.
But Ryu didn't reply. His eyes had closed mid-chew. His breathing slowed. Within moments, he was snoring again, curled beside the fire like an animal.
Yizo: (grumbling)Every time he learns something, he collapses like an old man.Still... he's getting there.
The fire cracked quietly. Around him, the forest listened. And for once, it didn't bite.