Two weeks had passed since Liora began training Ren in a brutal new fighting style she called the Iron Body. Every day, from dawn until dusk, Ren pushed his body to its absolute limit. The Iron Body required him to channel his magic into his muscles at precisely the right moments, strengthening his body beyond its normal limits, but only as long as his magical stamina could sustain it. Each punch, each stance, each defensive block—it all took intense focus and exact timing to maintain his durability and power without wasting energy.
"This technique requires more than just strength, Ren," Liora would tell him, watching his every move with a critical eye. "It's about control and endurance. You have to know your limits and expand them—push past the pain, or you'll break."
He followed her instructions, grinding through the soreness and exhaustion. He could feel his body adapting, bit by bit, his magic capacity stretching with each grueling day. His muscles ached constantly, but he was beginning to feel stronger, his body tougher. By the end of each training session, he was left soaked in sweat, his arms trembling with fatigue.
But the Iron Body wasn't all physical. Every night, Liora had him meditate for two hours, teaching him to calm his mind and sense the magic within himself. The meditations were almost harder than the physical training. Sitting perfectly still, he could feel the energy pulsing in his body, swirling like a slow-moving river. Gradually, he began to channel it with more accuracy, learning to direct it with his mind rather than his instincts alone.
The two weeks of relentless training began to pay off. His magic stat had risen from 5 to 15, a clear sign that his stamina and capacity were increasing. Liora watched his progress with a nod of approval.
Finally, one morning, Liora told him, "Today, we hunt."
They ventured out into the dense forest near the cabin, moving silently through the underbrush. Ren's senses were heightened from the training, and he could feel the energy crackling in his body, ready to be channeled if needed. As they moved, Liora explained their target: a lion-like beast that had been prowling too close to her home. She wanted him to face a real opponent and test his newfound strength and control.
As they crept forward, they spotted the creature lying in a sunlit clearing—a massive, muscular beast with a dark mane and eyes that glinted with a savage intelligence. Ren's heart pounded. He had fought before, but this was no human opponent.
"Stay quiet," Liora whispered, glancing at him. "Watch closely."
She moved forward with an unnatural grace, like she was floating rather than walking. Just as the beast's head snapped up, sensing her approach, she leapt from the underbrush. But to Ren's amazement, her body dissolved into a fine mist in mid-air. The lion lunged, but its powerful jaws passed straight through her ethereal form, snapping on empty air. Before it could react, she reformed behind it, slashing a shallow wound across its chest with a blade that gleamed in the sunlight.
The lion roared in pain, whipping around to face her, its eyes filled with fury. But then its gaze shifted, landing on Ren, and the fury in its eyes intensified. With a bone-rattling roar, a row of bony spikes emerged from the earth, piercing up toward him. One of the spikes grazed his hand, drawing blood, and Ren gritted his teeth, fighting down a surge of panic. This beast was far more dangerous than he had anticipated.
Liora's voice echoed in his mind. Use what you've learned, Ren. Focus.
Remembering her training, he tightened his grip on the small knife she had given him and rushed forward, channeling his magic into his legs to close the distance quickly. As he neared, he lunged and drove the blade into the lion's eye. The beast howled in pain, thrashing as it tried to dislodge the weapon. Blood poured from the wound, staining the ground beneath it.
The beast snarled, its body shuddering as a thick armor of bones erupted across its form, covering it like a spiked shell. Ren's stomach twisted as it turned toward him again, anger radiating from its every movement. It charged, barreling forward like an unstoppable force. Ren tried to sidestep, but the creature was faster than he expected.
Iron Body, he thought, instinctively channeling his magic into his arms as he braced himself. He managed to twist his body just enough to throw a punch, hitting the beast's armored flank with everything he had. The impact sent a jolt of pain up his arm, barely staggering the creature as it lunged past him.
In a flash, Liora appeared at his side, her sword raised. With a single, fluid slash, she cut through the beast's neck, severing it cleanly. The creature crumpled to the ground with a final shudder.
Ren dropped to one knee, panting heavily. His body was exhausted, and his hands throbbed with pain. But as he looked at the fallen beast, he felt a surge of pride. He had stood his ground against it, even if only for a moment.
Liora gave him a nod of approval. "You did well, Ren. Iron Body is a difficult skill to use in combat. The more you train, the more you'll be able to withstand."
They dragged the beast back to her cabin, where they cooked it over a fire, feasting on the meat and savoring their victory. The meal tasted like a reward, rich and smoky. Ren felt his strength returning as he ate, with each food he was receiving +1 defense + Defense, the food and warmth restoring his energy after the exhausting battle.
As they finished, Liora looked at him with a satisfied smile. "Tomorrow, we continue. You'll push yourself further, learn to refine your control even more. There's still much to learn before you're ready for what lies ahead."