A week had gone by since Hiro had fully feel the power of the first technique, Dragon's Tyrant. He had felt the surge of overwhelming strength and had learned to use it to its fullest. Now, however, a new challenge awaited him. With his sights set on mastering the second technique, Specter Mirage, Hiro understood he needed to change his focus entirely. This style required not just strength, but a mix of speed, control, and trickery—skills he still needed to develop.
Standing in the training yard, Hiro took a moment to think. The sun beat down on him, reminding him of the hard work he had done in previous training sessions. Yet now he felt heavy, the effects of strength training making his body feel weighed down. He realized that while strength was important, to master Specter Mirage, he would have to adopt a new way of thinking. This was about movement, smoothness, and the art of tricking opponents. The idea was overwhelming.
With a determined sigh, Hiro started with basic agility drills. He set up small obstacles around the yard—cones, logs, and a few weighted bags that he had been using for strength training. The goal was simple: weave through them as quickly as possible. However, as he began to run, his confidence began to fade. Every time he tried to move faster, his muscles, trained for power, felt slow and uncooperative. He found himself tripping over his own feet and falling to the ground.
"Why is this so difficult?" he muttered to himself, frustration boiling up inside him.
As sweat dripped from his forehead, Hiro recalled his father's words: "Before everything, there must be strength—but once you have that, speed is your next weapon." He repeated this in his mind, trying to find motivation in the chaos of his thoughts. Strength had come naturally; he had trained for years to build it. Speed, however, felt completely different.
Rose, who had been watching him from a distance, raised an eyebrow. She was intrigued by his determination, even though his methods seemed lacking. Hiro, a boy who had risen from the depths of the slave market to now stand before her as an aspiring warrior, was unusual. What made him work so hard?
"Hiro!" she called out, breaking his concentration. "You look like you're trying to push a boulder uphill. You need to lighten up!"
Startled, he looked up, wiping the sweat from his face. "I thought speed would come easily after strength," he admitted, a hint of embarrassment creeping into his voice.
"It doesn't work that way. Let me show you something," Rose replied, stepping onto the training ground. She gathered small, fast-moving objects—rocks, pieces of wood, and even a few rubber balls she had made for training. "These will help improve your quickness and footwork."
"What do you want me to do with these?" Hiro asked, confused.
"Dodge them," she said simply. "But you have to do it quickly and efficiently. Don't waste energy. Remember, speed isn't just about moving fast; it's about controlling your body."
Hiro nodded, determined to give it another shot. As Rose began to throw the objects toward him, he focused on his footwork. The first few strikes caught him off guard, and he found himself scrambling to dodge rather than thinking clearly. He felt slow, way too slow, and it only added to his frustration.
"Breathe, Hiro," Rose instructed. "Don't let your frustration take over. Focus on your movements and stay light on your feet. You have to learn to predict."
With each toss, he began to concentrate more. The rhythm of her movements helped him find a flow. He started to see patterns, noticing how she shifted her weight and changed angles. Slowly, he found himself dodging with more skill, yet the speed needed for Specter Mirage still escaped him.
As they trained, Rose grew curious about his drive. "You know," she said, pausing between tosses, "not many would push themselves this hard. What makes you different?"
Hiro hesitated. "I have a lot to prove," he finally admitted. "Not just to myself but to everyone who thought I was nothing. I want to become stronger, so I can protect those who matter to me."
His honesty resonated with Rose. She had faced her own challenges and fears, and seeing Hiro's determination reminded her of her own journey. "You're going to need more than just determination. Speed, control, and the ability to trick your opponent—these are all vital to the Specter Mirage technique. It's not just about moving quickly; it's about moving with purpose."
She began to demonstrate a few advanced techniques, showing him how to sidestep and quickly shift his body weight. "You need to practice moving smoothly in and out of spaces. Create distractions with your movements—make your opponent focus on where they think you are, not where you really are."
Hiro watched closely as Rose executed smooth sidesteps, transitioning between movements effortlessly. She made it look simple, but he knew it took a lot of practice. He decided to focus on that aspect during their next training session.
For hours, Hiro practiced. He repeated the sidesteps and sudden changes in direction, working on his quickness and trying to execute each movement smoothly. As fatigue set in, he began to understand the connection between his body and mind. He learned to trust his instincts and to move with purpose. Yet, despite his efforts, he still felt slow compared to what Specter Mirage required. The technique was based on creating afterimages that would confuse the enemy, a skill that demanded lightning-fast reflexes.
One afternoon, after another tough training session, Rose noticed Hiro's continued struggles. She decided to give him an idea to help improve his training. "Let's add some weights to your ankles and wrists. It'll force your body to adjust to the extra burden, and when you take them off, you'll feel lighter and quicker."
Hiro's eyes widened. "Isn't that risky?"
"Only if you don't train smart. You have to know your limits, but pushing them is part of growth." Rose smiled confidently, her own experiences guiding her words.
Reluctantly, Hiro agreed. With weighted bands secured to his wrists and ankles, he began to move again. At first, the extra weight felt cumbersome, and he struggled to maintain his quickness. However, he kept reminding himself that this was part of the process. As days turned into weeks, he embraced the challenge.
He practiced sidestepping, dodging, and executing feints while slowly increasing his speed. Each movement became more controlled, his body adapting to the weights. He focused on breathing, timing, and spacing, gradually learning to combine the elements of speed and trickery needed for Specter Mirage.
After a particularly tough week of training, he began to notice a change. The weights came off, and he felt a surge of energy flow through him. He dashed across the training yard, moving faster than he had ever imagined. With each movement, he felt lighter, as if the air beneath his feet was lifting him up.
Excited, he decided to test his training. As he approached a line of targets he had set up, he executed a series of feints, quickly sidestepping left and right, creating afterimages with his movements. To his surprise, the targets began to wobble as they struggled to follow his speed.
"This is it," he thought, exhilaration flooding his senses. "I'm finally getting it!"
Yet, as he practiced, he realized that mastering Specter Mirage was about more than just speed. It was about understanding the art of deception and manipulation. He needed to be aware of the battlefield, of his opponents' movements, and how to create openings. He would have to blend his newfound quickness with the raw power of his first technique, combining the strengths of both.
Days turned into weeks as Hiro immersed himself in this new training. Rose watched as he transformed, not just physically but also mentally. His determination and resilience shone through each day, and she felt a deep respect for his growth.
"Remember," she reminded him one evening as they prepared to wrap up for the day, "the heart of Specter Mirage lies in your ability to confuse your opponents. Use everything you've learned. Speed, control, and trickery. You're not just a warrior; you're a master of combat."
With her words echoing in his mind, Hiro knew the journey ahead would be tough. But he was no stranger to hard work and commitment. With every swing of his sword and every agile footwork drill, he was inching closer to mastering the second technique of the Amadeus clan. And in the back of his mind, he understood that each step he took was one step closer to fulfilling his destiny.