Magnus stood in the vast, starry expanse of the Lone Dream, his breath steady as he prepared for what was coming. The cosmic waves swirled around him, flickering with faint light. Finally, he had met all the requirements for his next evolution—Mana Eyes at Stage 3, an above-average body, and grueling training.
The familiar status window hovered before him in glowing text:
[Next Evolution Ready: All Requirements Met]
"Let's get this done," Magnus said, bracing himself as he gave the command.
The moment he said it, light engulfed his body, more intense than ever before. His muscles spasmed as power surged through him, feeling like his entire body was being torn apart and reassembled. The searing pain wasn't new, but this one hurt more than any evolution before.
Magnus grit his teeth, holding back any sound, refusing to give in to the pain. He knew the drill—this was the price of power. After what felt like an eternity, the burning subsided. Dropping to his knees, he gasped for breath as the light faded, leaving his body trembling from the intensity.
The status window flickered to life again, updating.
[New Ability Unlocked: Instant-Teleportation]
Magnus raised an eyebrow. Instant-Teleportation wasn't like his usual portals—it was quicker. No formation, no lag, just bam, right there.
"Nice," Magnus muttered, already thinking of the potential.
The next line caught his eye:
[Portal Creation Upgrade: Portals can now become see-through]
Now this was something. For years, he had blindly jumped through portals, hoping the other side was safe. Now, he could look through them like windows. Perfect for sniping, especially with the new gear the Sovereign of Armory had crafted for him.
"This is gonna be fun," he said, a small smirk forming.
But the last upgrade made his breath hitch.
[Dimensional Storage Upgrade: Pocket Dimension Unlocked]
The basic storage he'd used to stash gear just evolved into a full-on Pocket Dimension—a personal space he could enter, manipulate, and even hide in. It was more than just a vault now; it was a realm.
"Alright," Magnus said, pulling himself to his feet, stretching. "Time to test this out."
Before he could play around with his new abilities, a voice called out. "Yo, Magnus!"
Magnus turned to see Xavier, no longer a golden text, but standing there like a regular person. He looked more real now—tall, with scruffy black hair and wearing a loose shirt. His eyes still glowed with a faint otherworldly power, though. Leaning against the endless void of the Lone Dream, Xavier was watching him like someone who had just been killing time.
"You finished evolving, huh?" Xavier asked casually.
"Yeah, and it hurt like hell," Magnus replied, rubbing his shoulder. "But it was worth it."
Xavier's grin widened. "Show me what you got, then."
Magnus didn't need any more encouragement. He held out his hand, vanishing instantly with Instant-Teleportation, reappearing right next to Xavier.
"That fast, huh?" Xavier chuckled. "Good for dodging hits, or getting in and out of fights."
"Exactly," Magnus said. "And then there's this."
Magnus summoned a portal, but this time, instead of stepping through, he peered into it. He could see the other side clearly, the landscape of the Lone Dream laid out like a map. "Now I can see where I'm going before I leap."
Xavier raised an eyebrow. "That's some next-level recon. So, sniping just got easier?"
"Way easier," Magnus confirmed. "No more guessing."
Magnus wasn't done. He reached out and, with a flick of his wrist, opened a door to his new Pocket Dimension. Inside was an empty void—ready to be shaped. "I can go in here, bring stuff in, hide out if I need to."
Xavier gave a nod, now walking over to the Pocket Dimension doorway. "That's a hell of an upgrade. You could stash an army in there if you wanted."
Magnus smirked. "Exactly what I'm thinking."
Xavier shrugged. "Looks like you're all set, then. What's next?"
Magnus rolled his shoulders, still feeling the new power settling in. "Now? Time to test it out for real."
Magnus closed the Lone Dream behind him and re-entered the real world, still buzzing with the aftereffects of his evolution. His mind raced with thoughts about the new abilities he had unlocked, and he knew there was one person he needed to talk to about it first: Tri Tran.
After dressing quickly, Magnus made his way to the dojo. As he entered, Tri was already there, as usual, standing with his arms crossed, watching him with those same intense, unreadable eyes.
"Tri," Magnus began, "I've unlocked some new abilities after the evolution."
Tri didn't respond immediately. He just tilted his head slightly, waiting for Magnus to explain further.
"I can now Instant-Teleport, make my portals see-through, and I've upgraded my dimensional storage into a full Pocket Dimension," Magnus said. "I was hoping you'd have some advice on how I can train these new abilities—how to make the most of them."
Tri listened, but Magnus noticed something in his expression—a flicker of disinterest. After a few moments of silence, Tri finally spoke.
"Look, Magnus," Tri said, his voice steady but direct, "I can help you master your body, make you faster, stronger, more precise. But when it comes to powers? I don't know a thing about that." He unfolded his arms, gesturing broadly to the dojo. "I'm not an Ascender. My strength comes from years of martial training and hard work. I can't teach you what I don't know."
Magnus raised an eyebrow, a little surprised by the straightforward response. He had expected Tri to have some insight, but it made sense. Tri wasn't the kind of man who relied on mana or Ascender abilities.
Tri stepped closer, his eyes locking with Magnus's. "You've got great powers—clearly, some serious potential. But when it comes to mastering those abilities, you're going to need to find someone who understands that world better than I do."
Magnus nodded, feeling the weight of the realization settle in. "Yeah... I get it. I just thought maybe there'd be something you could help me with."
Tri cracked a small, rare smile. "I can help you train your body, but if you want to learn how to fully unlock the potential of those powers, you need someone who's smart about this Ascender stuff. Someone who understands mana and abilities on a deeper level."
Magnus thought for a moment. Who did he know that could help? Someone smart, someone who had the knowledge of powers and could help him harness these new abilities effectively.
Then it hit him.
"Nari Navesta."
Tri gave a slight nod, recognizing the name. "Now there's someone who knows a thing or two about Ascender's abilities. See her. She'll probably give you the advice you're looking for."
Magnus quickly grabbed his communication device and sent a message to Nari Navesta, explaining his recent evolution and asking for help in mastering his new abilities. He was hopeful, even a little excited. If anyone could help him understand the complexities of his newfound powers, it was Nari—one of the Sovereigns and a master of Ascender abilities.
A few moments later, his device buzzed with a reply.
Nari: I'd be happy to help, Magnus, but I'm tied up with some important matters right now. I can't meet for at least a month. Reach out to me then, and we can work something out.
Magnus stared at the message, his excitement deflating a bit. He had hoped for immediate help, but he understood. A Sovereign like Nari probably had more on her plate than he could imagine. Still, a month felt like forever when he was eager to train.
"Guess I'll have to be patient," he muttered, sliding the device back into his pocket. He wasn't going to waste time, though. He'd keep working with Tri until Nari was available.
Magnus made his way back to the dojo, trying to shift his focus back to the day's training. When he arrived, Tri was waiting, as always, his gaze sharp and calculating.
"Got your plans sorted?" Tri asked, noticing Magnus's slightly downcast expression.
Magnus nodded. "Yeah. Nari's busy for the next month, so I'll have to wait. Until then, I'm sticking with you."
Tri gave a short nod, not needing any more explanation. "Good. Then today, we're going to focus on something crucial—counterattacks. Being able to hit is important, but knowing when and how to strike back is what can turn a fight in your favor."
Magnus's interest piqued. Counterattacking had always seemed like a reactive move, but if Tri was teaching it, there had to be more to it than just waiting for an opening.
Tri gestured to the center of the dojo. "There are three stages to what I'm going to teach you today. The first is taking a hit and countering. You'll learn how to absorb damage, let your opponent think they've got the upper hand, and strike when they least expect it. The second is dodging, avoiding the hit entirely, and then countering. The third—and most difficult—will be to counter the attack before it even happens."
Magnus raised an eyebrow. "Countering before they attack?"
Tri's eyes gleamed. "It's about instincts and reading your opponent. You'll know what they're going to do before they know it themselves. But we'll get to that."
The lesson began with the first stage. Tri positioned Magnus in front of him and explained. "This is about absorbing damage. You're going to take the hit full-on, but instead of folding, you'll use the moment of impact to deliver a stronger counterattack."
Magnus tensed, readying himself as Tri stepped forward.
The first blow came fast. Tri's fist hit Magnus square in the chest, the force driving him back several feet. Pain exploded across his torso, but before he could recover, Tri was already moving again.
Magnus activated Body Enhancement, trying to absorb the next hit, but it didn't go as planned. Tri's punch connected, and while Magnus stood his ground, the damage was still intense, sending shockwaves through his body.
"Stop," Tri commanded. "You're activating Body Enhancement too early. You need to time it better. Enhance right before the hit, not during. Otherwise, you're wasting energy."
Magnus nodded, adjusting his stance. This time, he focused on sensing the moment the strike was coming. He waited, watching Tri's movements carefully. As Tri's fist came toward him, Magnus activated Body Enhancement at the last second, bracing his body for the impact. The blow connected, but this time, the pain wasn't as overwhelming.
Magnus used the momentum from the hit to push forward, launching a counterpunch toward Tri's ribs. His fist connected, and for the first time, Tri grunted in acknowledgment.
"Better," Tri said, stepping back. "Now for stage two—dodging."
Magnus readied himself as Tri explained the next step. "The goal here is to avoid the attack completely. Don't rely on taking the hit. Move out of the way and strike back before your opponent can recover."
Tri launched another attack, a fast kick aimed at Magnus's legs. Magnus barely dodged, jumping to the side, but his counterattack was sloppy. He threw a punch too quickly, missing Tri entirely.
"Sloppy," Tri remarked. "Dodge with purpose. You can't just react; you need to anticipate where the next opening will be."
They ran the drill again, this time with Magnus focusing on his movements. He dodged Tri's next strike, sidestepping just in time, and instead of rushing, he waited for the moment when Tri's guard was down. He struck fast, a well-placed hit to Tri's side.
Tri gave a nod of approval. "That's more like it. But now comes the hardest part—countering before the attack is even made."
Magnus furrowed his brow. "How do I counter something that hasn't happened yet?"
Tri smiled slightly. "Instincts. Eyesight. Reading your opponent's body language. Every fighter gives away their next move if you know what to look for. It's subtle—tiny movements in their shoulders, legs, or eyes. You'll have to be fast. In a real fight, it'll be the difference between life and death."
Magnus took a deep breath, focusing on Tri's every movement. He activated his Mana Eyes, hoping they would help him detect the slightest changes.
Tri moved slowly at first, testing Magnus's ability to read him. Magnus watched every shift in Tri's stance, every flicker of movement. When Tri's shoulder twitched, Magnus reacted instinctively, throwing a punch before Tri's fist could even start its swing.
Their fists collided in midair, and for a brief moment, Tri's eyes widened.
"Not bad," Tri said, pulling back. "But remember—don't just rely on your Mana Eyes. Your instincts need to be sharp too. Use the eyes as a tool, not a crutch."
Magnus nodded, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead. They ran through the drill again and again, Tri increasing his speed with each round. Magnus found himself relying less on his Mana Eyes and more on his instincts, reacting to the smallest shifts in Tri's body.
By the end of the session, Magnus was exhausted. His body ached from the repeated hits, his reflexes were slower, but he had learned something valuable.
Tri stepped back, his expression unreadable. "You've made progress today. But this is just the beginning. Countering isn't just about being fast—it's about being in control. You're getting there, but don't get comfortable."
Magnus wiped the sweat from his face, catching his breath. "Got it."
As he turned to leave, Tri called after him. "And Magnus—don't forget, even the best counterattacks are useless if you don't know when to strike. Timing is everything."
Magnus nodded, absorbing the advice as he made his way back to his room. He was sore, bruised, and mentally drained, but he felt a sense of accomplishment. Counterattacks—he could feel the difference already. And as he got better, so would his ability to anticipate and dominate his opponents.
With the training still fresh in his mind, Magnus couldn't help but think of his next challenge—how to put everything into practice when he faced real opponents again.