For the next two weeks, Akio and Ren threw themselves into training. Akio, armed with his newly acquired books, spent every spare moment learning how to control his fire magic. By the end of the first week, he had managed to master two D-rank fire techniques: *Flame Bullet* and *Fireball*. Though basic, these techniques were his first real steps toward mastering his elemental magic.
In the mornings, Akio practiced conjuring *Flame Bullets*—small but concentrated projectiles of fire that could be shot from his palms. It required precision and focus, and more than once, he ended up singeing his own clothes in the process. But with Ren's guidance, he quickly learned how to control the flames, shaping them into deadly missiles.
*Fireball* was a bit more difficult. It required a large amount of magic to condense the fire into a stable orb, but once Akio managed to get the hang of it, the power behind the attack was undeniable. He could hurl the blazing orb with force, and the impact would send a wave of heat and flames across the target. Ren watched Akio's progress with quiet approval, knowing that the boy was on the right path.
While Akio focused on his fire magic, Ren continued honing his own skills, particularly his control over lightning. The sparring sessions between them became more intense as Akio's newfound abilities allowed him to challenge Ren in new ways.
One evening, after a particularly heated session, Akio lay on the ground, panting, while Ren stood over him, arms crossed. "Not bad," Ren said. "But you're still focusing too much on the fire itself. You need to think beyond just the attacks."
Akio sat up, wiping sweat from his brow. "What do you mean?"
Ren gestured to his own body. "Magic isn't just about casting spells. Your magic coils are part of your entire being. If you learn how to channel your magic into different parts of your body, you can strengthen them."
Akio frowned, confused. "Strengthen them how?"
Ren thought for a moment, then crouched down and placed his hand on the ground. Lightning crackled around his fingers, but this time, it didn't extend outward like it usually did. Instead, it seemed to pulse through Ren's arm, making his muscles bulge slightly with increased power.
"By focusing your magic into specific parts of your body," Ren explained, "you can enhance your physical strength. For instance, if I channel my lightning into my arms, it makes my punches stronger. If I channel it into my legs, I can run faster or jump higher."
Akio's eyes widened in realization. "So, I can do the same thing with my fire?"
"Exactly," Ren said, standing up again. "It's not just about offense. If you strengthen your body with magic, you'll last longer in a fight, and your attacks will hit harder. The stronger your body, the stronger your magic becomes. It's all connected."
For the next week, Akio focused on this new concept, learning how to channel his fire magic into different parts of his body. At first, it was difficult—he could feel the heat coursing through him, but it often felt uncontrollable, like his body wasn't used to containing such power.
But, as always, Akio refused to give up. Through trial and error, he learned to concentrate the magic into his fists, his legs, even his chest. With each day, he felt his body growing stronger, more capable of handling the intense heat of his fire magic. His punches became heavier, his movements faster, and his endurance improved.
Ren, too, focused on strengthening his own body through his lightning magic. By the end of the two weeks, both of them had not only improved their magic but had become physically stronger as well. Their bodies were now finely tuned weapons, able to withstand the strain of prolonged combat and high-level magic techniques.
---
One morning, after another grueling training session, Akio approached Ren with a grin. "I think we're ready," he said.
"Ready for what?" Ren asked, raising an eyebrow.
"To quit the labor camp," Akio replied, excitement bubbling in his voice. "We've trained hard enough. We need to take the next step. We should go and register as hunters."
Ren smirked. "You're feeling confident, huh?"
Akio nodded. "We're not just laborers anymore. We're strong enough to fight real battles, to take on real missions. If we join the hunter guild, we'll get the chance to prove it."
Ren thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "You're right. It's time to move on."
And so, after collecting their pay from the labor camp for the last time, Ren and Akio made their way to the hunter guild. The building was located on the edge of town, a large stone structure with a symbol of crossed swords engraved above the entrance. Inside, the atmosphere was buzzing with activity—hunters of all ranks gathered to take on jobs, collect bounties, or simply share stories of their adventures.
The receptionist, a stern-looking woman with short black hair, greeted them as they approached the counter. "Looking to sign up?" she asked, eyeing them both with mild curiosity.
"Yeah," Ren replied. "We want to register as hunters."
The woman nodded and handed them each a form. "Fill these out, then head to the back for your evaluation. We'll need to test your combat and magic skills to determine your rank."
Akio's heart raced with excitement as he filled out the form. This was it—the moment they had been working toward. After completing the paperwork, they followed the receptionist's instructions and made their way to the training grounds behind the guild.
The evaluation area was a large open courtyard, filled with various targets and sparring dummies. A group of senior hunters stood off to the side, watching as new recruits were put through their paces.
"Alright," said one of the evaluators, a tall man with a scar across his cheek. "Show us what you've got. Your rank will depend on your combat skills and how well you can control your magic."
Ren stepped forward first, his expression calm and focused. He wasted no time, launching into a series of attacks that left the evaluators watching with raised eyebrows. His fists crackled with lightning as he struck the targets with precision and power.
After a few minutes, Ren ended his demonstration with a powerful *Lightning Fist*, the electric shockwave blasting apart one of the training dummies. The evaluators murmured among themselves, clearly impressed.
"Not bad," the scarred man said, jotting something down on a clipboard. "You've got good control over your magic. I'd say you're D-rank material."
Ren gave a small nod of approval, stepping back to let Akio take his turn.
Akio's nerves buzzed as he stepped forward, but he took a deep breath to calm himself. He had trained for this—he was ready. With a swift motion, he conjured a *Flame Bullet* in each hand, firing them at the targets with pinpoint accuracy. The fiery projectiles exploded on impact, leaving scorch marks across the courtyard.
Next, Akio summoned a larger orb of fire—a *Fireball*. He hurled it at one of the sparring dummies, watching as the flames engulfed it in a wave of heat. His heart raced with adrenaline, but he kept his focus, channeling his magic into his fists as Ren had taught him.
For the final demonstration, Akio coated his fists in fire and charged at the remaining dummy, landing a series of rapid punches. His fists moved with precision, each strike stronger than the last as he channeled his magic into his muscles.
When he finished, the evaluators exchanged glances, clearly impressed by the progress Akio had made.
"Impressive for someone so young," the scarred man said. "Your control still needs work, but you've got potential. D-rank it is."
Akio grinned, feeling a sense of pride swell within him. They had done it. Both he and Ren had made it into the D-rank.
As they left the guild, official hunter badges in hand, Ren glanced over at Akio with a rare smile. "Not bad, kid. You're getting stronger."
Akio grinned back, his heart pounding with excitement. "And this is just the beginning."