— About Five Months Later —
“Hah… Hah… Cough… Hah… Hah…”
“Mm-hmm, you’ve caught up to my speed faster than I expected. Seems like you’re worth training after all.”
“Old man… Are you a demon? What’s with this ‘ten times’ weight? It feels more like twenty!”
“Ten times is just a minor detail, isn’t it?”
“As if that’s a— Cough cough! Of course, it matters!”
I collapsed onto the ground, completely drenched in sweat. I knew the ground would get dirty, but I didn’t care anymore.
In addition to the relentless chase at the start, I had to avoid or parry the old man’s attacks—or get hit when I failed—and all the while, I was forced to wear these damn weights for months.
Honestly, I thought I was going to die. My bones felt like they were about to shatter, and I had to constantly enhance my body with magic just to avoid being crushed. I could barely sleep.
But in return for all that—
“—Congratulations on mastering body enhancement and magic barriers. You’ve done well.”
“Of course… I’d die for Hera if I had to…!”
I’d managed to nearly perfect body enhancement at an incredible pace, and I’d also gained decent proficiency in creating magic barriers.
Up until now, I’d only been able to channel magic over my entire body, but now I could coat each cell individually or enhance specific parts of my body. My physical abilities, reflexes, thought speed, and defense were now on a completely different level compared to five months ago.
Looking back, the way I’d been using body enhancement before couldn’t even be called that. It was more like a child’s play.
Though I still can’t match the speed I had when I cloaked myself in lightning, if I push myself, I can run just shy of the speed of sound—though it’d probably tear my muscles apart. Even at a normal pace, I’m faster than a bullet train.
As for magic barriers, I’d never used them before, but they’re surprisingly easy to apply and extremely useful. They opened up a whole new range of combat possibilities.
“So, care to have a sparring match with me? You must be itching for a fight by now, right?”
“I’m not a battle maniac like you, old man.”
Though, to be fair, there was a part of me that was curious to see how much I’d improved. But my body was about ready to give out.
“What’s it going to be? I won’t form a contract with a weakling, you know?”
“Tch… You’re really pushing my buttons… Fine, I’ll crush you.”
In the end, I was easily baited into sparring with the old man.
“I’m ready whenever you are. I’ll even let you have the first move.”
“Phew… I can take these weights off now, right?”
I pointed to the weights strapped to my arms, legs, and back. Frankly, I couldn’t imagine lasting long with them on.
“Go ahead.”
“Alright…!”
With a heavy thud, I felt my body suddenly become as light as a feather. The feeling was so foreign that I couldn’t help but let out a breath in amazement.
Is this my real body weight…?
It felt like gravity itself had lifted. Unlike five months ago, I felt like I could jump a hundred meters without even using body enhancement.
I clenched my fist and—after activating body enhancement—rushed toward the old man, who stood about 30 meters away.
“Huh?”
Before I even realized it, I was already right in front of him. Instinctively, I strengthened my brain and nerves, enhancing my thought speed and reflexes.
Understanding the situation in a flash, I swung my fist at the old man.
“Ha!”
In that instant, a sonic boom echoed around us, accompanied by the sound of the air exploding. The shockwave caused trees to sway and scatter.
However—the old man just stood there, unfazed, with a pleased expression.
“…Gods are really something else.”
“I agree. If I were human, I’d be obliterated by now…!”
The old man flexed his muscular body, and the rebound force from his strength sent me flying several meters backward.
But in mid-air, I adjusted my stance and prepared to strike again. This time, I channeled magic into my arm, delivering a punch that compressed the air and sent a wave of pressure toward the old man.
“Oh! You can do that now too? You’ve improved a lot, Shin!”
He dodged the invisible shockwave as if he could see it coming. But that was just a feint. The real strike was—
“—Right here!”
I silently reappeared behind him, once again concentrating magic in my arm for a punch. The old man blocked with lightning reflexes, but—
“Just as I expected.”
As soon as he blocked it, the magic between my fist and his arm exploded, launching him high into the air. He opened his eyes slightly in surprise, but still, that amused smile remained.
I’ll wipe that smug look off your face.
“Barrier.“
Chasing after the old man, I jumped and activated a magic barrier, leaping off it to propel myself further into the air.
“Hmm… You’ve already started incorporating your own techniques. Impressive, as always.”
“Thanks for the compliment, but—you sure you want to keep acting so cocky?”
“Hmph, what are you—?”
The old man’s smile faded as he looked around. He was completely surrounded by my magic barriers, and I’d infused them with enough power that they wouldn’t be easily broken.
“—Take this!”
I infused both my arms with magic and punched the air repeatedly. A series of magic-infused shockwaves bombarded the old man.
“That trick again? You’re not going to land a hit with that.”
Just as he said, he dodged every single one. But that’s exactly what I expected.
“Why do you think I surrounded you with magic barriers?”
“…You’ve really grown.”
The old man couldn’t block all the shockwaves, and a few of them hit him squarely.
“That’s enough for now, I think.”
“Yeah, I’m satisfied just surprising you.”
“…Shin, there’s something I’d like to ask you.”
With a serious expression, the old man looked me straight in the eyes and said:
“Can you help me with something that’s been bothering me?”
