"This," Dae said coolly, "Is a Neural Sync Analyzer. It scans brain waves, magical residue, even unnatural fusions. If you've encountered… something in that portal, we'll know."
The machine let out a soft beep.
On Dae tablet, a red signal appeared.
He stared at it for a moment, then nodded. "It's red. Nothing unusual."
Steve looked up. "What does that mean?"
Alex tapped the screen. "It means you're still the same rank. E-rank. No changes. No sudden awakening."
He gave a polite smile. "Sorry for the trouble. Just routine checks."
Steve nodded. "It's fine."
Without another word, Alex and his partner dae turned and left the room. The door closed behind them with a quiet click.
Steve sat in silence.
Then, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
"Did you miss me?"
A small smile touched Steve's lips. "You're still here?"
"Would you prefer I left?"
Steve shook his head, still smiling. "No. I'm glad you're here."
"Then get up. It's time to train."
Steve looked down at his hands. The same hands that once trembled in fear… now held something more.
"You've just begun, Steve. You have a long way to go."
Steve stood slowly, the soreness still in his body, but his mind clearer than ever.
"I'm ready," he whispered.
And with that, he walked to the window, eyes set on the horizon.
He wasn't just recovering.
He was preparing.
Steve stood alone in the forest clearing, the ground cracked from earlier energy surges. The wind was still. The sky above shimmered faintly something felt different.
Then Nygeris's voice echoed, smooth and sharp like cold steel.
"Stand straight, Steve. You survived the portal. Now survive your weakness."
Steve rolled his eyes, stretching his arms.
"I thought you were supposed to guide me, not scare me."
Nygeris spoke with serious tone "I am guiding you. First lesson don't rely on your mouth when your fists are empty."
Before Steve could react, the ground beneath him shifted. A circle of glowing blue lines lit up around his feet.
"Wha.."
Suddenly, the temperature dropped. From the shadows, a phantom creature emerged. Black, faceless a phantom warrior.
Nygeris spoke calmly.
"Meet your sparring partner. I created it from your fear and memory. It knows every weakness you've ever had."
Steve stepped back, fists up awkwardly. "I'm not a fighter"
The creature lunged.
Dust scattered in all directions as Steve rolled across the training ground, crashing hard into the stone wall behind him.
"Damn it…" he muttered, trying to stand, legs shaky, breath uneven.
The phantom striking with brutal precision. Steve barely managed to dodge the next blow, landing hard on one knee.
"Nygeris," he growled, wiping blood from his lip. "What the hell is this thing made of?"
Nygeris's voice echoed in his mind, calm and amused.
"You, Steve. It's made of you. Every flaw, every doubt, every moment you've hesitated... I just gave it a body."
Steve clenched his fists. The creature lunged again, fists flying. Steve barely ducked, the air whooshing past his ear.
He stumbled back.
How am I supposed to beat this thing?
Every time I try to land a hit, it's like it's already predicted me…
Then… a thought.
His eyes narrowed.
"This thing is created from my weaknesses," he whispered.
"Then… if I flip those,... if I turn my weakness into strength…"
He steadied his breath. Planted his feet. The creature rushed again but this time, Steve didn't retreat.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
"Let's gamble."
As the phantom launched a kick, Steve ducked low not to dodge, but to step into the attack. Using the creature's momentum against it, he twisted, pivoted, and drove his fist forward with everything he had
CRACK.
The blow landed square on the phantom's face.
The shadow figure flew back, skidding across the ground before crashing into a wall and vanishing into smoke.
Silence.
Then Nygeris say softly in his head.
"Well… that was unexpectedly satisfying."
Steve shook his knuckles, exhaling with a grin.
"I told you… I'm good at gambling."
Nygeris chuckled.
"And how did you figure it out?"
Steve looked at the fading smoke of the enemy.
"My weakness was always my fighting style. I hesitate. I'm sloppy. But that also makes me unpredictable. I stopped trying to fight how others would… and fought like me."
A beat of silence. Then...
"I'm impressed."
Steve didn't answer. He just looked at his fist, then the sky above, and muttered under his breath:
"Maybe I can survive this after all."
Steve nodded once. His body ached, but his spirit burned.
He turned to leave the training ground when the air shifted.
A strange gust, cold and sudden, brushed past his cheek.
Steve paused.
"…Did you feel that?" he asked.
There was a silence then a faint pulse.
It came from his chest.
Nygeris's voice dropped to a murmur.
"Yes. I felt it."
Steve's eyes sharpened. "Is it another portal?"
But Nygeris didn't answer right away.
When he did, his tone had changed.
"No. This… isn't a portal."
Then says
"It's something worse..."
END OF CHAPTER.