With each step heavier than the last, Luca trudged through the dungeon, his heart racing while the weight of his training pressed down on him. He played back in his head all the discussions that he had shared with Psyros.
"You have to understand, Luca," Psyros' voice rumbled low in his mind, growling with the deep timbre of a dragon. "Your power is not a gift, but a burden-one that requires respect and discipline. You are so much stronger than you know, but you have to push past your limits."
Luca grunted as he hacked another monster down. His sword was an extension of himself, and with it-the precision of a person honed through relentless effort. Months now, finally, some results could be seen.
As he walked back into the village, Luca got curious stares and questions: "Where were you? You returned to the old place? What happened?"
He plastered a smile on his lips for them, masking the weariness in his eyes. "Just training and all that, trying to be strong enough to bear more of Psyros' power. Nothing special."
He kept to himself that the training had been brutal, one continuous fight against his limits. Psyros' voice had been the voice of the drill-sergeant, never relenting, ever pushing him to the breaking point.
During the past three months, Luca's schedule had been brutal: every day started with the most exhausting type of physical conditioning, his body taken to its limits by strength- and stamina-enhancing exercises; he then went ahead to do combat drills in which he faced monsters set up according to his skills. As for nights, they were used up meditating, channeling Psyros' power, and trying to strengthen their bond.
His body changed in this time: from 162 cm, he grew steadily up to 180 cm within three months. Now, the muscles were well-defined, with flowing powerful movements.
"Why the sudden growth spurt?" Luca had asked Psyros, who only rumbled with an amused hint. "It's because of my power," Psyros said. "Your body is adapting to the immense energy you're channeling. Such growth is a side effect of your training."
One evening, after measuring his height once more, Luca looked into Psyros determinedly. "How much power can I use now?
Psyros' voice came as a rumbling growl. "You are still at 20%. That is your current limit. The growth you have experienced is impressive, but it doesn't change your capacity to harness my power."
Luca looked surprised. "All this effort, and I'm still at 20%? Why?
Psyros' voice became very sharp: "Because you are human. Your body has its limits. Do you really think that you could just tap into all my power without consequence? You're not a god, Luca. With your progress and all, you're still bounded by human constraints."
Luca was very frustrated. "So what's the use of all these trainings if I could only stay at 20%?"
Psyros' voice was softer, but still carried the weight of his dragon-like presence: "You are stronger than most Symbiote users. Most average users can only harness 4% to 8%. You've reached 20%, and that is an achievement. You need to accept that and move forward."
Determined to prove himself, he focused on the sword. Psyros's voice turned into a commanding roar: "Try feeling my power inside the sword; it's there, just waiting for you to grasp it."
He closed his eyes, extending his senses. He could feel the ebb and flow of Psyros's energy running through the blade, but as he reached out for it, agony ripped through him like a bullet. He fell to his feet, panting for air. Psyros' voice was thick with anger. "Again!"
Luca leapt up, dripping with sweat. He tried again, shaking his hands out as he reached for the power inside the sword. Agony raged on with every attempt, but he refused to give up. Psyros's voice was becoming increasingly urgent: "Push yourself, or you'll never be more than a weakling!"
Finally, Luca's will set. He took the power, and his scream of pain reverberated in the room, the concrete cracking below him. Psyros' voice thundered, "STOP!"
Luca shook, exhausted, and looked to him, eyes full of pain and triumph. "Did I… did I do it?"
Psyros almost sounded impressed-the tone was begrudging. "You're now wielding 25% of my power. It's a considerable leap forward."
Luca's eyes bulged in incredulity. "Twenty-five percent? All this time and effort just for five percent more?"
Psyros' tone sounded mocking. "What did you expect? For you to use all my power with ease? You have done great work indeed. So do not complain too much."
Luca exhaled deeply, still trying to wrap his head around what he had just heard. "At least it's something."
Luca said, "alright I need to rest, my body is about to give up on me, I can feel it."
As he lay there, feeling this surge of power within him, Luca knew this was but just the beginning of it. A long and arduous road it would be until he was finally able to harness the strength of Psyros in its entirety. Yet, he was ready to face it, whatever came his way.