Instinct protected him.
But instinct alone could not end a fight.
Ethan stood in the center of the room, his Ten active, his breathing calm, his body aligned. He could avoid strikes. He could control distance. He could create hesitation.
But he had not yet learned to end anything.
The door opened.
The fighter entered.
He stopped closer than usual this time.
Closer than safety allowed.
He looked directly at Ethan.
"Attack," he said.
Not a suggestion.
A requirement.
Ethan did not move immediately.
He observed.
The man's posture was open.
Balanced.
Ready.
He was not defending.
He was waiting.
Waiting for intent.
Ethan stepped forward.
Slowly.
He activated Ren—not outward, not wastefully—but defined.
Silent Authority existed.
Ready.
He raised his hand.
He struck.
The motion was correct.
Precise.
Controlled.
The man did not move.
Ethan's strike stopped just before impact.
Not because he missed.
Because he hesitated.
The man spoke.
"You do not intend harm."
Not an accusation.
A diagnosis.
Intent.
Ethan understood.
He had learned control.
He had learned survival.
But he had not yet accepted harm.
The man stepped closer.
He struck Ethan's chest.
Not hard.
Not soft.
Enough.
Ethan's Ten absorbed it.
But he felt it.
"You hesitate," the man said.
He stepped back.
"Hesitation preserves life."
A pause.
"But it loses fights."
Silence filled the room.
Ethan activated Ren again.
This time—
He did not focus on movement.
He focused on outcome.
Not striking.
Impact.
He stepped forward.
His hand moved.
Not stopping.
Not hesitating.
It reached the man's chest.
Contact.
Real.
Controlled.
Intent fulfilled.
The man did not move.
He looked at Ethan.
"You begin to accept it," he said.
Not praise.
Recognition.
He stepped back.
"Intent defines completion."
He turned toward the door.
"Control creates opportunity."
A pause.
"Intent ends it."
He left.
The door closed.
Ethan remained standing.
His hand still slightly raised.
He lowered it slowly.
His Ten remained active.
His aura calm.
He understood now.
Survival required avoidance.
Authority required control.
Victory required intent.
And intent—
Required acceptance.