Ren stood in the center of the vast warehouse, his heart pounding as he steadied his breath. The sharp pain in his hand had dulled to a throbbing ache, but he forced himself to ignore it. This wasn't the time to let pain control him—Yukio had made that clear.
Across the room, Yukio watched him silently, his expression unreadable. He leaned against a support beam, his arms crossed over his chest as if waiting for Ren to make the next move.
Ren clenched his fists and let the power inside him build, not in the reckless, overwhelming surge that usually overtook him, but in a controlled, deliberate flow. He focused on keeping his body relaxed, letting the energy course through him evenly instead of pushing his muscles to their breaking point.
"Good," Yukio said quietly, his voice carrying across the empty space. "You're learning."
Ren glanced at him, his brow furrowed in concentration. "It's not easy," he muttered through gritted teeth.
"No one said it would be," Yukio replied, stepping closer. "But if you want to survive—if you want to fight—you have to master it. There's no other way."
Ren exhaled slowly, allowing himself to lower the intensity of the energy coursing through him. He could feel it stabilizing, the pain easing slightly as he kept himself from overexerting. Yukio was right—control was everything. The raw power he possessed wasn't just a weapon, it was a burden, and if he didn't learn to carry it properly, it would crush him.
"Now," Yukio said, his voice calm but commanding, "you need to practice maintaining that control under pressure."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Yukio didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached inside his coat and pulled out a small, silver device. He pressed a button on its side, and suddenly, a faint hum filled the air. Ren barely had time to react before the entire warehouse began to shift. The walls vibrated, and the ground beneath his feet trembled as if the building itself was coming alive.
"What the hell…?" Ren took a step back, looking around in confusion.
Without warning, the floor split open, and several mechanical arms erupted from the ground, each one tipped with sharp blades and sparking electrical wires. Ren's heart jumped into his throat as the arms lunged toward him, moving at terrifying speeds.
Instinctively, Ren pushed his power into his legs, launching himself to the side just as one of the blades slashed through the air where he had been standing. He hit the ground hard, rolling to avoid another attack, his mind racing.
"What is this?!" Ren shouted as he scrambled to his feet, his eyes darting to Yukio, who stood calmly on the other side of the room, watching the chaos unfold.
Yukio's expression was grim. "This is a simulation designed to test your reflexes and control under pressure. If you can't maintain balance while defending yourself, you'll never last in a real fight."
Ren's eyes widened as the mechanical arms came at him again, their movements fluid and relentless. He barely had time to think as he dodged and weaved between them, his breath coming in quick, shallow bursts.
Sweat dripped down his face as he pushed himself harder, using his power in controlled bursts to propel himself out of harm's way. But no matter how fast he moved, the arms seemed to anticipate his every step, forcing him to react on instinct alone.
One of the arms came dangerously close, its blade grazing his shoulder. Ren winced as pain shot through him, but he gritted his teeth and kept moving, refusing to let the injury slow him down. He could feel his control slipping as his body screamed in protest, the familiar burn of overexertion creeping in.
*Focus,* Ren told himself. *Don't let it overwhelm you.*
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, centering himself as the power surged within him. When he opened his eyes again, he felt calmer, more in control. He planted his feet firmly on the ground and focused his energy into his legs, waiting for the right moment.
As one of the mechanical arms lunged at him, Ren spun on his heel, dodging the attack with precision. Then, with a burst of power, he drove his fist into the arm's base, shattering the metal with a single, controlled strike. Sparks flew as the arm collapsed, and for the first time, Ren felt a surge of confidence.
"I got it!" Ren called out, but Yukio's expression remained unchanged.
"Don't celebrate yet," Yukio warned. "You're not done."
Ren barely had time to register the words before the remaining arms converged on him all at once. His heart pounded as he realized he was outnumbered, with no time to take them out individually.
*Think, Ren. Don't panic.* He forced himself to stay calm, analyzing the movements of the arms as they closed in. Then, an idea struck him—risky, but it could work.
Ren took a deep breath and braced himself. As the arms lunged, he let his power surge all at once, not into his legs this time, but into his entire body. His muscles tensed as the energy flowed through him, and with a powerful leap, he launched himself into the air, twisting mid-jump to avoid the attacks below.
The arms collided beneath him, their blades tangling as they missed their target. Ren landed gracefully on the other side of the room, breathing hard but feeling triumphant.
Yukio watched him silently for a moment before nodding in approval. "Not bad. You're learning to adapt."
Ren grinned, despite the exhaustion weighing him down. "That was intense."
"This is just the beginning," Yukio said, his tone serious once again. "The world out there won't give you time to think. You have to be ready for anything—ready to fight when you're tired, injured, or outnumbered. The more control you have over your power, the better your chances of survival."
Ren nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I get it. But... how do I get stronger without tearing myself apart?"
Yukio walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You don't just push harder—you push smarter. Power alone won't save you. Strategy, awareness, and control will. You have potential, Ren. But you're not fighting for your father's legacy. You're fighting for your own."
The words hit Ren harder than the mechanical arms ever could. He had spent so long trying to live up to the expectations placed on him, but Yukio was right—this fight was his, and he had to own it.
Ren looked up at Yukio, determination burning in his eyes. "I'm ready for whatever comes next."
Yukio nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Good. Tomorrow, we'll take it up a notch. But for now, get some rest. You'll need it."
As Ren left the warehouse, his mind buzzed with thoughts of what lay ahead. The city was on the edge of something catastrophic, and he could feel it—whatever was happening, it was bigger than just him. But for the first time, Ren didn't feel overwhelmed. He felt ready.
Tomorrow, the real training would begin.